2. Hellena

2

HELLENA

“ B old. And an A-plus for being careful.” Gavin’s rumble comes from under the hood. His entire body is tense, poised to attack at my threatening move. He could have tossed me across the room before I could blink.

Especially in my condition.

That knowledge and the relief that washes through me nearly take me to my knees.

“Dammit! Gavin, you scared the shit out of me!”

“You? I definitely didn’t expect to walk in to a knife at my throat. Shoot, Hellena, I could have shot you. Gotta be more careful at keeping my instincts under wraps.” Gavin holsters his gun, cocking his head and popping his neck as the violent edge leaves his stance.

I suppose that training his entire life for one purpose made him into a bit of a machine. Still, it’s nerve-racking and somehow reassuring that he’s on my side.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” I lean back against the wall, exhaustion weighing me back down and a cold sweat breaking out across my forehead. “Could have left me a note, though.”

“And I’m glad you’re finally awake and have your wits about you. But I was worried you might not wake up. And we needed food. Didn’t think I’d be gone that long.”

He shifts the bag to his other hand and pulls me up, close to his side. Warmth floods through me, and his single arm is enough to support my weight. After feeling scared and tense, it’s too easy to let my whole body go slack against him.

Kicking the door closed, he helps me across the room to the kitchen, depositing the bag on the counter and turning to face me, scooping me up into a full, firm embrace.

“Damn, I’m glad to see you. Up, that is.”

I savor his scent, the swelling sensation of security, and the ache he causes in my chest.

“You smell like heaven,” I grumble into his collar, inhaling him.

“I missed you too.” He chuckles. “I’ve been a mess, debating whether to take you back to the hospital or risk exposing you out in the open. You’ve been out for almost a week.”

“A week? Wow.” I don’t feel as weak as I probably should, but I’m shaky, frail. “Where are we? Where are Tell and Evan, and?—”

“I’ll get there. I have just as many questions for you. Let me get some food started. You need to eat,” he says, leaving me on a barstool and getting to work in the kitchen.

“I’m starving. Please tell me you brought me something amazing?”

“As amazing as the general store down the road can offer. And that’s great that you’re hungry. Appetite’s a good sign.”

“I’m not dying, yay!” I roll my eyes.

Gavin gives me a flat look. “Nothing keeps you down, huh? Your wound is stitched, but you need to take it easy, alright?”

“Sir, yessir.”

“Smartass.”

“Are you going to tell me where we are?” I bounce slightly in my seat.

“Yeah, yeah. One thing at a time. First, we’re at one of Evan’s places, a lot closer to Severance than Sanctum Harbor. Basically in the middle of nowhere. It’s a place no one knows about, even the Sinful, allegedly.”

“Wow. Sneaky boy.” I bit my tongue from asking where the hell that sneaky boy is and how he’s doing.

“His assets have been pretty instrumental in getting us through the past week. That’s how long we’ve been here.”

“Since the… incident?”

“How much do you remember?”

“Not much after a bullet went through me. And too much from right before it did.’

“So, you have no clue who shot you?”

“Nope. Any guesses?” Dread and anxiety threaten to wiggle up from inside, but I keep my voice chipper, distracted.

“My best guess would have been Rachelle, if she wasn’t bleeding out along with you. We found out she'd tracked you and were trying to get to you. We didn’t know what her intentions were.”

I stare at him intently for a few seconds, trying to decide what to ask next.

“Alright, breakfast is served! You eat. I’ll talk.” The smell of the food and his presence reminds me of how things were before, at his house, our little domestic life out in the woods, before the world exploded.

“Mmm!” My mouth is already full of bacon and eggs. “So, Rachelle?”

Gavin settles down next to me, way closer than necessary. I love it.

“After we found you, I got pressure on your wound, loaded her up in the van, and hauled ass out of town. Got a call in, and they life-flighted her when we got close enough. You, we took to one of Evan’s contacts, a doctor who wouldn’t squeal on us or blink twice at patching up a gunshot. Couldn't afford to take you to a hospital. Too many questions, and they’d have to call the cops.”

“I didn’t even think of that… but?—”

“Rachelle was too dire to do the same with. We had to. She’s at Severance Regional in the ICU. They’ve got her stabilized, but she is in a coma. It’s minimized the questioning with no relatives showing up to answer them. We should have an update in the next couple of days. Tell’s been popping in to check on her.”

“They just let him go in?”

“Ha, no way. He’s been posing as a nurse’s assistant to check up on things. I still don’t know how he pulls it off. Guy’s got personas all over the place.”

I nod, diving into my buttered toast, the blackberry jam making me hum with delight. That, and the fact that Gavin knows about Tell, that they are working together.

“How is he?’

“Busy as hell, but I know that’s not what you mean. He’s guarded. Hard to read. That, coming from someone like me, is saying something.”

“You still didn’t answer my question…”

“I know. I won’t lie. We’ve all been a mess, Lena. You scared us. We got there, found you bleeding and unconscious. And before that…” I see the shadow pass through his eyes, the accusation and anger.

“Gavin, I’m sorry.”

“You were just gone. I woke up and you were just gone.” The hurt in his eyes stabs at me, worse than the pain in my side.

“I'm so sorry, Gavin. I should have told you or said something . It wasn’t really planned. And I know you wouldn’t have let me go?—"

“Damn right, I would have?—”

“Stopped me.”

“No. You're wrong, Hellena. I would have come with you in a heartbeat if you would have asked. If you would have told any of us what you wanted, that you wanted to run, we all would have come.”

“You… would have?”

“We all want to be there for you, with you. To protect you.”

“That’s what I was trying to do for you, for everyone, draw the threat away from Sanctum and the people I love.” My protest, my excuse seems so frail in the face of his reasoning and his sympathetic smile.

“Why didn’t you just tell me? You know I’m yours.”

“Because I’m an idiot and I’m impulsive.”

Gavin smirks, a little half smile that makes him look insanely handsome. “Impulsive? YES. Idiot? Never. In over your head? As usual.”

I throw the wrapper from the butter at him. “Rude. But it's true.”

“So. How are you feeling so far?” Gavin runs a hand down my back.

“Better. I was pretty freaked. And speaking of waking up alone and worried…”

“I should have left a note.”

“Seriously. I woke up and there were bars on the windows and a security system. For a split second, I thought I was going to have to ‘put the lotion on its skin’ or some dude with split personalities was going to harass me in his basement.”

Gavin snorts, shaking his head. “Well, Evan did mention that we should tie you up…”

“Oh-ho-ho! You boys and your fantasies.” I tongue the inside of my cheek, eyeing him.

“Where is Evan?”

“He and Tell are doing what they do best, gathering intel and effectively running Sanctum Harbor. They’re putting out fires where they can, keeping people from abandoning their jobs where they can to keep things running for the time being.”

“Keeping the town running? I thought that was the Sinful’s job.”

“Well, the Sinful have been quiet. And the higher ups in city council and local gov are slipping out of town, trying to buy shelters or escape routes and covering their trails. Fortunately, Evan controls a lot of those requests and resources.”

“That’s good, I guess. But not sustainable.”

“Everyone is biding their time, holding their breath to see what comes next. Most folks don’t have a clue what’s really happening, but it’s in the air. Even the average Joe can feel that something’s up. Even the Block and the Holy Ghosts have gotten really hush-hush.”

“Like they’re waiting on Marco Vice to come back, you mean?”

“Yeah, basically. That's what we think. I believe he left a presence here, people in key places keeping watch, reporting back to him.”

“I can’t believe he found me…”

“Or that your Aunt works for the Sinful, or?—”

“Or yeah, all of it.”

“Kind of par for the course, with you,” Gavin teases, kissing the top of my head.

“And you just brush it off. It’s a big deal, Gav. This is all insane.”

“But it’s you. Your life. Which means it’s mine too.” He rises, putting our plates in the sink. “I'm gonna go start a load of laundry, get you some fresh clothes. How's that sound?”

“That sounds amazing. Can I shower?”

“Bath only. Until the stitches heal completely.”

“Right. By the way… why don’t I feel as grimy as I should after a week in bed?’

“Uh, I've cleaned you up, as best I could.”

“You cleaned me up?” I raise an eyebrow. “Like sponge bath?”

“Yeah. Somebody had to. I couldn’t leave you filthy in bed, you know?” Gavin winks.

“I’d like to get filthy in bed with you,” I mutter under my breath.

Gavin’s nostrils flare, his eyes simmering. “You're in no condition to do any of that.”

“I'll tell you what I'm in condition for.”

“Go bathe, stinky.”

“Shut up!” I swat him as he darts away.

“Finish your toast.” The water kicks on in the back room, the smell of soap filling the little hallway and wafting out to me. Another little reminder of our days living together in Sanctum.

I'm through my food and almost up the stairs when he comes out, frowning at me.

“I would have carried you up here.”

“I don't need you to carry me.”

“Maybe I want to carry you.

“And maybe I'll let you next time. I've been lying down for over a week, in case you forgot. I need to stretch my legs.”

“I would love to help you stretch…” he rumbles, trotting up the steps.

“Stretching, spreading… you can do whatever you want with my legs.”

“Yeah, keep teasing, Lena!” Gavin chases me down the hallway, beating me to the bathroom and flicking on the light.

“Right, because I can’t do anything for myself.”

“I’m just saying that you don’t have to. I want to take care of you.”

“Fine, then draw me a bath and scrub my back, Jeeves!”

Gavin rolls his eyes dramatically, stripping his shirt off over his head. “All or nothing, huh? Fine. Mistress, if you please?”

“Indeed, I do.” I raise my hands, eyeballing his bulging chest muscles, the boulders of his shoulders, and flexing tendons in his massive arms. He huffs a little laugh as he helps me out of my clothes, the sleep shirt and little shorts offering little resistance.

I let my arms fall, dragging my fingers down his perfectly tanned skin, years of working outdoors painting him a luscious, smooth golden tone.

Tracing along the curves of his cabled forearms, I tickle up over his tattoos, up over the smoke and skull, draping my hands over his shoulders, reveling in being near him.

He’s firm and safe, and yet deadly and dangerous at the same time. Not to me, but I know what he’s capable of, and that promise, what he would do to protect me, makes me weak in the knees.

It also makes me bold, brave.

Like I can overcome anything with him at my side.

He pulls away for a second, testing the water. As he does, I graze a finger up the line of his powerful back in the crease of his spine. His muscles twitch

“Hey, now, you trying to get me riled up?”

“It looks like you already are…” I pop my eyes a bit, looking down at the bulge in his pants.

“Just what you do to me,” he grates out in a rough whisper, dipping to claim my lips in a deep, full kiss.

It raises me up onto my tiptoes, brushing my peaked nipples along the hair on his chest, eliciting a shuddering breath.

“Damn… you make me nuts, Lena…”

“Mmm, too bad I’m in no condition…” I feel him through the rough fabric of his jeans, straining the zipper. With a flick of my fingers, the top button pops, the fly opening from the pressure. I guide his pants down, dragging his boxer briefs with them, letting him slip over the band, every throbbing inch of him standing to attention for me.

“Get in the tub, smart ass. I can at least enjoy the show.”

I comply, dipping my feet into the steaming tub, lowering myself with a light hiss. The water is perfect, soothing my aching muscles and joints as I sit.

“Speaking of conditions…” The steam and hot water make me flush, seeing the way Gavin watches me, worships me with his eyes. He steps out of his clothes, kneeling beside the tub.

Grabbing a washcloth, he starts low, soaping up my feet, up my legs. It’s torturous, having the cloth between his hand and my skin, and the slow pace he takes, dragging it out, makes me squirm.

I want to reach out and grab him, touch him. But he presses me back, and I let him, leaning on the back of the tub. He works the rag along my arms, up my shoulders, careful to avoid my injury and my midsection above the water.

“That feels amazing.”

“Sit up so I can wash your back.”

“Hmm, not going to work. I’m going to need you to get in and help me with the rest…”

Gavin bites the tip of his tongue at me, narrowing his eyes. “You’re too fucking tempting.”

“Are you resisting me?”

“Like I could.” He slips in behind me, the water rising slightly. Carefully, he unbinds my bandages and checks the wound.

It doesn't look as bad I expected.

“Clean shot. You were lucky.”

“Somehow, I wonder… we still don’t know who did it?” I don’t want to ruin the moment, but I forgot to ask.

“No clue,” he mutters, and I feel him shrug behind me.

Cautiously, he starts scrubbing me again, first my back, then my front. I rest back against his scalding hot abs, feeling the tense, flat plain of them offset by the rigid pillar of his cock pressing into my lower back.

I almost giggle as I shift and feel him flex, a tiny grunt escaping his lips.

As if to retaliate, he scrubs the hot washcloth down my belly, veering into my inner thighs at the last minute. My back arches unintentionally, and he chuckles.

My hand drifts through the hot water, sneaking around behind me. I have a hold of him before he can react, gently gripping his shaft.

“Fuck…”

“I’d love to…” I moan, stroking down and running my palm lower, over his balls.

“You sure?”

“Are you really asking me that right now?” My voice is a hoarse whisper. His hand slides down without any more coaxing, two fingers softly pinching my clit before spreading me open, caressing my entrance.

We play for minutes, teasing and barely touching. His lips find my neck, my earlobe, my clavicle, licking and sucking my steam-drenched skin.

“I need more. Now,” I breathe back into his ear as I rest my head against his shoulder, nipping at his jaw.

“Your wish is my command.”

But we both realize that’s not going to happen in this bathtub. I stand with a little assistance, waiting for him to pull himself up before pressing into him, dragging his face down to lick his lips.

His tongue lashes out, drawing me in, dancing passionately for several seconds, our hands trailing through the trickling water pebbling our skin in the cool air outside the tub.

Rising up onto my toes, his length slides between the apex of my thighs, making me gasp as he slips along my folds.

“Towel?” It comes out as a garbled moan, and he snatches one off the rack, wrapping me in it, softly patting me dry while we keep kissing, pulling at one another’s lips.

It takes every ounce of willpower to pull away and step out of the tub.

But then he’s beside me again, and I prance in a circle, letting him dry me off like I’m his queen and he’s my servant. He raises one eyebrow, like he can read my thoughts.

“Oh, yeah? Just like that?”

“Just like this .” I slip out of his reach, planting my hands on the door frame and bending over, spreading my ass for him to see.

Toweling himself off, he follows, reaching for me, but I dodge, slipping out into the hallway along the loft walkway. Leading him to the banister, I turn, resting my ass against it and beckoning him with one finger.

With a firm, smooth motion, he cups my ass and lifts me onto the rail, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

“Don’t let me fall…”

“I’ve already fallen…”

“Cheesy.” I kiss him, grinning like a fool. The tip of him brushes up against me, gliding along my soaked, slick opening. “Oh…” I flinch, my abs clenching slightly.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine, but maybe we should go lie down instead…” I eye the bedroom, wagging my eyebrows. No way I am going to let this moment slip by, wounded or not.

“Good idea,” he rumbles, setting me down and pulling me into another kiss, diving deep into my mouth with his tongue, sending pangs of desire rocketing down into my feet and tingling into my scalp.

We’re a second from rushing into the bedroom when we hear the door slam shut, the two of us going stock still, our eyes bugging.

“Hey, what the fuck are you guys up to?”