Chapter 24

Igot a double room for us at the far end of the building. If we get into trouble, it will be easier for us to get away.

Wilder is standing with Lara in his arms when I walk out. Five days ago, I would have questioned every little thing. But now, it just seems right.

“I got us a room, and there’s an ice machine around the corner. Let’s get you inside, and then I’ll grab some,” I tell Lara, who nods.

I walk to the room and unlock the door, opening it for them to enter. Rufio trots in behind Lara and moves around the room, sniffing everything before he curls up at the foot of the bed.

“I guess it passed his inspection.” I chuckle. Lara doesn’t say anything, her eyes fixed on the queen-sized bed.

“I…um… They only had one room?”

“If you think we’re letting you out of our sight, you’re insane.” I walk over to her.

“I’m not going to run.”

“I think you believe that, but what happens if you come back and find a note on your pillow threatening us?”

She flinches and looks away, knowing I’m right.

“I left because it was the right thing to do. And yes, I’d leave again if I thought it would keep you safe. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same if the roles were reversed.”

“We’re used to working as a team. We are trained that having a partner to rely on is a blessing, not a curse. You don’t get that yet, but you will.”

“And how does watching over me translate into you sleeping with me?”

“Watching over you is our duty,” I murmur, stepping closer until my front is pressed against hers. “Sleeping beside you is our privilege.”

Her face flushes as she dips her head. I slip my finger under her chin and tip her head back so she has no choice but to look into my eyes.

“We want you. Every part of you.”

“I thought my whole being seventeen was an issue.”

I cock my head and grin. “At midnight, that won’t be an issue, now, will it?”

“You know when my birthday is? Is that why you came, so you could to get laid?”

Before I can say anything, Wilder spins her around and tosses her over his shoulder, making her squeal. And he slaps her ass hard.

“You know better than that. Don’t cheapen yourself or us by insinuating that this is all about getting a cheap fuck. We can get our dicks wet anywhere. But we don’t want anyone else. We just want you.”

He tosses her on the bed, making her yelp, before he climbs up beside her. I do the same on the other side.

“From now on, this is where you sleep. Between us.”

“Do I get any say in this?” she huffs.

Wilder shakes his head. “No. It’s a done deal. We’ve decided to keep you.”

“Keep me? I’m not a freaking toy.”

“I don’t know about that. You sure are fun to play with,” I tease, skating my lips down her neck, my hand moving to rest on her stomach just under the hem of her shirt.

She shivers under my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. Wilder kisses her jaw, one of his legs pinning hers in place. I want nothing more than to watch him strip her bare and?—

Shit. I thought I had a better handle on myself. I pull away and tug Wilder with me before we all get carried away.

“Midnight.” I don’t know if I’m reminding them or myself that we need to wait a little longer, but it seems to have the effect of a cold shower.

“Right. How about I get the ice and our bags? I need a second.” He presses a kiss to Lara’s lips before climbing off the bed and adjusting his cock with a grunt. He yanks the door open and stomps out, slamming it behind him.

Lara looks at me wide-eyed. “Did that just happen?” She slaps her hand over my mouth before I can answer.

I lick her palm, making her gasp, and drop her hand. “Make no mistake, Lara, we both want you badly. But we will wait until you’re ready. Despite how irresistible you are.”

“I don’t want to wait. I’ve been waiting forever for my life to begin. If there is anything I’ve learned, it’s that I can’t keeping waiting around until my life is calm and easy before I start chasing my dreams. If I do that, my whole life will pass me by as I stand on the sidelines just watching.”

“Life with you is always going to be chaotic, isn’t it? What am I saying? Of course it is, with your group of hellions.” I grin at her, her smile fragile.

“Are they okay?”

“Yeah, but they miss you. They know you well, by the way. They knew you only would have left them to keep them safe.”

“Are they mad at me?” she whispers as I brush my thumb across her cheek.

“No. They’re not mad. They just want you back safe and sound.”

She buries her head against my shoulder.

“I want that too. I know most girls my age dream about leaving home, going to college, traveling, and a million other things that seem alien to me. But I just want to have a family. I want to be loved and to love people who don’t care about my gift but who just care about me.”

“You have that with Apex. And as soon as it’s safe, we can go back.”

She sighs and nods, but I’m not sure she sees an end in sight.

Wilder’s voice breaks the moment. “Here we go. Ice and our bags.”

I roll Lara off me and sit up. Wilder has dropped our bags by the door. He holds the bucket of ice out to me as he heads into the bathroom. He comes back with a small white towel. He fills the towel with ice, twists the ends, and gently places the homemade ice pack against the injured side of Lara’s face.

“Ouch,” she hisses.

“Yeah, that’s going to hurt like a motherfucker tomorrow.” He coughs when he realizes he cursed. “I mean, it will hurt like a?—”

Lara holds up her hand.

“I’m a big girl. I can handle your dirty mouth. Besides, if what you guys are saying about me being yours at midnight is true, I might enjoy it.” She wiggles her eyebrows at him, making me curse and a pained expression cross his face.

“She’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?”

I glare at Lara and nod as she gives him her best innocent look.

“How about I take Rufio to the pet store and get him what he needs while you relax? Then we can order some food and come up with a plan.”

“A plan?” Lara looks between me and Wilder.

“A plan,” he confirms. “Running your father around in circles might work for now, but at some point, he’s going to change his tactics. If he can’t catch you, he’ll try to draw you out. And what better way to do that than with bait?”

“The kids!” She jumps off the bed, dropping the ice pack. I grab her before she can get any farther.

“Apex is on lockdown. Nobody will get to the kids. But if there are other people out there, he’ll use them.”

She slumps in my arms, and I hold her tight. Rufio stands up and rubs his head against our legs.

“Come on, Rufio, let’s go get you some food. Why don’t you and Crew get cleaned up while I’m gone.”

She grips my T-shirt as Rufio goes with Wilder. He pauses in the doorway, looking back at us. The dog must be happy with me looking after her because he follows Wilder out.

I let go of Lara and walk over to the door, locking it before walking back to her.

“Alright,” I say, running my hands up and down her arms. “First things first. How about a shower?”

“That would be amazing.” She smiles, making me smile.

“Okay, I’ll run one for you. While I do that, why don’t you go through the bags and find something comfortable to sleep in.”

“Okay.”

I place a chaste kiss on her lips and let her go before walking into the bathroom, happy to find it clean and tidy. I turn the shower on and note that they have little complimentary bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. That saves me from having to dig around for our stuff.

I walk back into the bedroom and see her standing there with her clothes in her hand. “There are towels and toiletries already in there, so we don’t have to worry about any of that.”

She nods, taking a step toward the bathroom.

I reach out and stop her. “Do you need a hand?”

She looks at me and blushes but shakes her head.

“Alright, but if that changes, call me. And leave the door open a crack, okay?” She looks at me, unsure. “I’m not going to watch you if that’s what you’re worried about. But you hurt your head today, and I’ll feel better being able to hear you.”

She bites her lip before agreeing and scurries off into the bathroom, leaving the door open a crack.

I sit on the end of the bed and take a deep breath. She’s as skittish as a wild animal, but she said she wants more. She just doesn’t know what more entails.

Fuck. I rub my hand down my face.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been with a virgin, and part of me is fucking terrified of hurting her. The other part of me, the side born with caveman instincts, is over the fucking moon that the only men to experience Lara’s tight pussy will be me and Wilder.

My dick throbs at the thought. I look toward the crack in the door, and though I can’t see anything, I have a pretty good imagination. In my head, I can picture the water sliding down her naked body as she lathers herself up. I groan and lean back. I need to get a fucking grip on myself and not on my dick like I really want.

Needing something to distract me, I go through our bags and take out what I think we might need for the night. I spot the little bag with Lara’s toothbrush at the top of her backpack, so I don’t go looking any further.

The last bag belonged to that dickhead Giles. I sit it on the bed and empty its contents. As much as I’d happily toss the clothes, you can’t be too picky on the road. There isn’t much else in there. A couple of books, snacks, some money, which is probably for emergencies, more ammo, and a handgun—a Smith and Wesson—that I check over and put on the table. Everything else I toss back in the bag for now.

I hear the shower shut off, so I grab the sweatpants I pulled from my bag, readying myself for the shower. I leave the books on the bed in case Lara wants to take a look and find a pen and notepad in the bedside drawer with the hotel’s logo on it. I leave that with the books and the snacks.

A few minutes later, Lara comes out of the bathroom in one of my T-shirts, her hair wrapped in a towel on top of her head. My mouth immediately goes dry. I like to think I’m a good man, but Lara would test the morals of a saint. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything sexier than my girl wearing my shirt.

My girl. Fuck yeah, I like the sound of that.

I cough to clear my throat. “I’m going to jump in the shower now. I found some snacks and books and left them on the bed. I won’t be long. I’ll leave the door open a little in case you need me.”

She smiles coyly. “I promise not to look.”

“Lara, you can look at me any damn time you want. I’m all yours.”

When her mouth drops open, I wink at her and walk into the bathroom with a smirk on my face.