Chapter 15

Octane

Trinity is wrapped around me. Her arm is across my chest. Her leg is slung over me, too. Her breath tickles against my side. My arm is around her, holding her close.

I could get used to this.

It's what I told her earlier. The same words run through my head right now because they are true. I could get used to this. It feels good. She feels good.

It's such a pity that everything about this is wrong.

Wrong!

Wrong!

So fucking wrong!

I should push her away. I should call Shadow to come and take the Red, but I can't. I won't let them hurt her. As much as I hate it, I've grown to care for Trinity. I like her. No, make that, I really like her. She's unlike any Red I have ever met. Then again, she is technically the first Red I have ever actually met, and I like her. Have we been wrong about them? Perhaps. Then I think about the males who attacked Blaze and Kim. I think of Titan and his cronies, and I falter. I don't know what to believe anymore. I'm sure there must be good Reds, just as there are bad Draigers. It isn't as black and white as I once thought. Everything I once knew to be true is on its head right now, and I don't like it much.

I look down at her, at how her chest rises and falls. At how relaxed she is. How fucking beautiful she is with her hair black and glossy about her shoulders. Her skin is soft and smooth. Her—

"You really shouldn't look at me like that, Draiger," she says in a groggy voice. A lazy smile slowly forms on her full lips. Her lashes flutter open, and she looks up at me with her big chestnut eyes. They're so expressive, just as beautiful as she is. I'm mesmerized. I can't look away. I don't want to.

"And how exactly was I looking at you, Little Red?"

"Like you might want to…I don't know," she shrugs a shoulder, "eat me."

"That would be correct."

She laughs softly, but the sound dies a quick death on her lips as I lean in, hesitating just a breath away from her mouth. This would be crossing a line, but I find that I don't care. The outcome will be the same, whether I kiss her or not. No! I take that back; it won't be the same. To go through life without knowing the taste of her lips, the feel of them against mine would be a terrible shame. One I aim to correct and right now.

I cup her jaw, my gaze dropping to her mouth, and then I close the distance between us, my lips brushing against hers ever so gently. She sighs, her hand resting on my cheek. I pull back slightly, changing the angle but holding back for a few beats.

She gazes at me, questioning, longing, and then she leans forward, her mouth seeking mine once more. This time, there is no hesitation. Our lips come together with a burning passion. Her fingers trace the stubble on my cheek before threading through my hair and caressing my scalp, which sends what feels like electric sparks up and down my spine.

I deepen the kiss, our tongues dancing together, exploring each other. She moans. I moan harder, rolling her onto her back. I start to cover her body and then remember her belly and flip us over so that she is the one on top, the one in charge.

She leans in and takes back my mouth, her nipples abrading my chest.

I grip the back of her head, my fingers twisting through her hair, pulling her closer. I kiss her hungrily, our tongues mingling in a primal dance that does things to me. We kiss until our breaths come in ragged gasps that fuse together.

She pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine; they are filled with desire and longing. "This is a mistake," she whispers.

"Maybe," I tell her, my voice rough with need. "But I can't deny that I want you. That I need you. You want me too." I keep my eyes on her.

"You know I do, but that doesn't make it right." She kisses me again, and despite her words, it's harder this time, her passion matching my own. Her hands roam over my body, exploring, touching, learning. I caress her back; her skin is warm and smooth beneath my fingers, and her heart races against my chest.

I knead her ass, groaning at how fucking amazing her flesh feels in my hands. How perfect. Then I slide my hand between us, find her clit with my finger, and rub on it ever so gently.

She gasps, her hips bucking involuntarily.

"You know exactly how to touch me," she whispers, her voice a little more than a hoarse whisper.

I keep slipping and sliding over her little nub, loving how she arches her back. Her nipples are tight, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes are closed.

"Take me," she pants. "Please."

I need to be inside her so badly that I'm practically vibrating with the need. I position myself at the entrance to her slick folds.

Her eyes lock onto mine. She leans in and kisses me as I push into her, feeling her heat envelop me. Trinity moans softly with each gentle thrust. I breathe in deeply; the scent of her arousal is utterly intoxicating. Once I am seated inside her, I begin to thrust up into her, my fingers digging into the flesh of her lush hips.

Trinity gives a choked cry. I cup her face and kiss her, watching her. Her eyes open, locking with mine. She rocks into me, her breathing hitching.

Our bodies move together in a frenzied dance of passion. Her nails dig into my shoulders. Her breasts bounce and sway as she takes what she needs from me. I've never seen anything more beautiful in all of my days. I'm lost in this moment, in her, and nothing else matters.

As we continue, I can see that she's close. I can feel it. Her breaths are coming faster, her body tightening around me. I thrust harder, pushing into her with punchy jerks of my hips that have her crying out.

I'm making one hell of a noise, too. Grunts, groans, and growls. I don't care. I don't care about anything right now except her. This woman…Trinity.

Her eyes go wider. Her breaths come in gasps.

I find her clit again, and I rub on it using the pad of my thumb. Her mouth falls open as her back arches; then she is bouncing on my cock like she owns it. She yells my name as her pussy tightens around me. My balls pull tight, and I roar as I spill my seed into her hot channel. I keep rubbing on her clit, easing off slightly. Trinity milks me. Her pussy spasms around me in a way that has me seeing whole fucking solar systems.

I choke out her name as we come down, rocking into each other. Sweat beads on my brow.

She puts both her hands on my chest and leans forward. There's a look of concern on her face. "Shit! Did I hurt you?"

I laugh. "Why would you think that?"

"You were injured. I broke you all over again, didn't I? I was rough."

"You broke me in the best kind of way." I reach up and kiss her. "I like it rough."

"You're not in pain?" she says as she pulls back.

"No…that was one hell of an orgasm. You sure are something, Little Red…something special." My voice goes all tender. I cup her face and brush my lips over her mouth.

"You shouldn't be saying things like that."

"You're right. I shouldn't. It's true, though; you're special…you deserve everything. I wish I could be the one to give it to you."

She leans down and kisses me. It's soft and tender.

"I would have liked that," she says as we break apart. "But some things are not meant to be." She lifts off me, moving to lie next to me.

I pull her into an embrace. I half-expect her to pull away from me, but she doesn't. I nuzzle into her neck, putting my hand on her belly. I feel the baby. I feel his soft kicks, which are easy to feel now that I know what to look for.

"Let's lie like this for a little while," I say; there is an edge to my voice.

"Just a little while," Trinity says.

My phone vibrates on the side table. I ignore it. A few minutes later, it vibrates again.

I keep stroking up and down Trinity's arm.

It vibrates again, and she stiffens. "It sounds like someone is trying to reach you." She looks up at me.

"Well, they can keep trying."

"You're going to get into trouble for this, aren't you?"

My phone vibrates again, and I groan, reaching across and grabbing it. There are several missed calls and multiple messages, all from Shadow.

What are you doing?

Are you insane?

Sleeping with the enemy, Octane!!!! WTH!

I want to see you right now.

Another message comes through, this time from Dagger. There is a whole line of laughing emojis followed by:

You're in deep shit. Sounds like you and the Red are getting along well.

I fire off a text to Shadow, telling her that I will see her in the morning. Then I switch my phone off.

"They can all go to hell," I mutter under my breath.

"They're right," Trinity says, moving to lie on her back.

"Yes, and no…maybe." I grind out a breath and push some hair out of my face.

"They're right. What happened in the cave was one thing. This…this was something else." She props up the pillow behind her head.

"You said it yourself: we're not so different. I'm beginning to believe it. After meeting you, I—"

"We can't do this," Trinity says, injecting some reason into the conversation. Of course she's right. Shadow is right, too. "We can't," she adds with far less conviction.

Fuck!

"I like you, Trinity. I like you so much. It feels wrong, but it also feels right. It's messing with my head. With everything I believed in for so long. I'm confused."

"There is nothing to be confused about."

"How can you say that? There's everything to be confused about. I don't know what to believe anymore. It was always so clear to me."

"We Reds are supposed to all be the enemy, but now you're not so sure."

"No, I am sure. I'm sure that you're not my enemy. I'm sure that you are good, which means that Reds are not all bad. You're not all…the same."

"Of course not," she says. Then she smiles. "Just like you're not all bad…and evil and wrong. Grumpy at times? Arrogant? Hell, yes, but an evil monster?" She shakes her head. "No…not even close. Most of you are good. You're doing what you're told. What you were taught. Hate can be taught."

"Is that what your kind think of us?" I sound shocked. "As evil monsters?" I can't believe it.

"Yes. You're seen as power-hungry oppressors."

"You're not serious!"

She starts laughing. "You should see your face. The shock. The horror." She laughs a whole lot more. "It's what Draigers are to us. Since meeting you and Shadow and Goliath and Devil and the others, I've come to realize that it isn't true. I see things very differently now, too. You're not all evil monsters."

"Even after what happened? Even after I treated you so badly? I threatened to take your child."

"You never treated me badly. I was never hurt. You may have threatened to take him, but I know that you would never have gone through with it. It's not you. Not in here." She slides her hand to above where my heart is.

I close my hand over hers.

"It is true that many of my people firmly believe that Draig is a terrible place with evil dragons. You make awful rules and kill to uphold them. I know better."

"No, I think your people are right, to a degree. We're not evil, but what we are doing is wrong. It is oppressive. We've lost so many people in this conflict." I swallow thickly, thinking about it. "I wish we could end it."

"The Reds have also lost so many. I'm with you, Octane. I want peace. There are those among my people who feel the same."

"We are a good start, Trinity." I reach up and kiss her. "You asked me about my past," I say as I pull back.

"You don't have to—"

"I want to. I want you to know me, even if it's only the really important parts of me."

"I know you," she says. "The parts that count…but tell me, anyway. I get the feeling that our time is running out."

I don't say anything because she is right. "My father showed me that cave. We used to sleep there sometimes when we hunted on that side of the island. Back then, it wasn't as bad as it is now. The good old days. Dangerous, but still not like it is today."

"You guys were close?"

I nod. "Very. He was my best friend first and my father second. He taught me all I know about the jungle. What plants are edible, and how to find them. He taught me how to fish and how to hunt both in my human and my dragon forms." I pause, feeling both warm at the memories and cold at what came after. "He was a frontline dragon. Then, one day before my sixteenth birthday, he went to work and never came home. He was killed by a Red. I was told that it was in cold blood. That several trespassed onto Draig soil. My father lost his life to a Red. I vowed to become a frontline dragon, too. I was going to finish school, go to the academy, and then bond with a human so that I could make a difference. I had a clear plan and plenty of focus."

"I'm sorry about your father."

"Me too." My voice hitches a little. "I guess I was in that time of my life when a boy needs his father. I looked to him as an example. I have a much younger brother, so it was up to me to look after my family after my dad died. I took the responsibility very seriously. I got a part-time job, and I worked hard. I didn't do any of the things that normal teenagers do. I didn't drink and party. I had no time for females."

"So, I was your first?" Trinity smiles. I know that she is trying to ease the tension that is so thick between us.

I smile. "I would have liked that, but no…"

She laughs. "I know that. I was making a joke. Probably not the best idea. I'm sorry. I feel your pain and wanted to… It's stupid."

"It's not stupid. You're sweet." I smooth some hair behind her ear. "I've fucked…" I lick my lips. "There was no time for sweet sentiments. I took my pleasure, and I moved on. You are the first female I have lain with like this. I've never had time for tender moments. I guess I have been missing out. I've come to realize that my bitterness and my anger haven't been spurring me on; they've been holding me back."

"I'm sorry, Octane." She gets up onto her elbow, her big eyes on me. They're filled with sympathy. "That had to be tough. You had to grow up far too young."

"It was hard on all of us. My mother never fully recovered. She became ill three years later and died. She was never the same. You see, Trinity…I blamed the Reds for the death of both my parents. I hated your kind. I blamed you all for both of their deaths."

"I'm sure you did. I would have done the same."

"It was just the two of us. Jed and me. I can't believe how well he turned out. Especially considering how bitter and twisted I was. How angry I was all the time. I was wrong. I know that now."

"You are a good male, Octane. You suffered a great loss at an early age and had to take on a huge responsibility…but you are ultimately sweet and kind and loyal and funny. Yes, you're angry; that's to be expected. But your heart is ultimately kind, and your brother would have felt that. I'm sure he is grateful to you. I'm not surprised by how great he turned out, given who he looks up to." She puts a soft hand on my chest, which tightens a little inside at her comments. I value the woman's opinion. "Is Jed a frontline dragon? Did he also take on the fight?"

I shake my head. "My brother chose a different kind of fight. He works at the hospital and is studying to become a doctor. We have many humans on the island, and every now and then, a dragon needs medical intervention. He will qualify this year. I am very proud of him." I feel warm inside just thinking about Jed. I warm some more when I look at Trinity.

"I'm going to tell you how Titan and the others are getting onto the island. You need to promise that you will never use this knowledge to hurt my people. Can you do that?" Her gaze is unwavering.