Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress #5)(94)
Author: Gena Showalter

“Tell me you’re okay,” he commanded.

“I’m okay, but you, you were stabbed in the back.” She held him as tight as she could, praying she never had to let go. Then she remembered his skin—now she could actually hear the sizzle—and tugged him into the shadows between two buildings.

She removed her shirt, uncaring who saw her bra, and tried to pull the material over his head, protecting him where the shadows couldn’t reach. He flinched, grabbed her wrists, and stopped her.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you.” She tried again.

Again he stopped her. “Your shirt will cover your beautiful br**sts or nothing at all.” He practically wrestled the fabric out of her hands and jerked it back over her head. All the while, his gaze swept the agents behind them. He hissed at anyone who looked her way.

Ava thought she heard Noelle laugh as she hugged him, ready to restart that holding-on-forever thing. How close had she come to losing him?

“Uh, Ava, sweetheart? You’re running your fingers through the very wound you mentioned,” he gritted out.

That’s right, and she didn’t stop. “We almost died, and here I am, alive and affectionate. Yet you’re standing there complaining about a little wound?”

“Yes! That hurts. And it’s massive.”

She grinned as she loosened her grip, rocked back on her heels, and stared up at him, reassured, happy, thankful. “You’re such a baby.”

“You’re a vixen.” His fingers tangled in her hair, angling her chin higher. “You’ll never allow yourself to be taken unaware again. Vow it.”

“I vow it. But you, too, Ax. You’ve got to be more attentive to your surroundings.”

His lips twitched with humor. “I vow it.”

They both knew they couldn’t keep those vows, but Ava didn’t care about that either. She felt better, knowing they would try to be more careful.

“Mia says she’ll be here in five,” Noelle called.

Ava tensed, reminded that the real danger hadn’t passed yet. “One or all of us could be infected,” she whispered. “There was blood on the ground. Infected blood.”

“I know,” he replied gravely. “I don’t fear for myself, but for you. And if you’re infected, I’m going to turn you.” He latched onto her forearms and shook her. “Do you understand?”

Turned, she’d have a chance with him. To make things work, despite her hang-ups and fears. And having almost lost him, she was suddenly on board with that plan. Before, she’d hated the thought of never being able to go out in the sun again. But what did the daylight matter if she couldn’t be with McKell?

“I—okay,” she said. “Okay. I don’t like being forced to do it before I’m ready, but okay.”

“Thank God.” He jerked her into his body, kissed her, tongue thrusting deep.

She took, she gave, she conquered. Ultimately, she submitted. They made love with their mouths, savoring, slow one moment, lightning fast and grasping at each other the next. It was a desperate kiss, one born of fear and determination. Of passion and more of that fear.

He might be selfish, possessive, and straight-up mean, but he left her reeling, falling, and reaching for an anchor. For him. He was her anchor. Had been since the day she’d met him.

He didn’t run when a fight got rough. He made the fight rougher. He didn’t turn away when she threw attitude in his face. He got right up in her face. He didn’t back down, he didn’t cry, he didn’t bend to her will.

Actually, he bent to no one’s will.

A relationship with him would never be easy, but it would be fun. And yeah, if things ever fell apart, she would be destroyed. She doubted she could be with him and not give him everything. He wouldn’t settle for anything but full measure. Men like him never did. Not that there was anyone like him. So decision made. She was in it for the long haul, no matter the reason he wanted her. Human, vampire, trash, royalty. Good enough, not good enough. She would give him everything—and demand equal measure.

In the distance, she heard sirens.

Fear of infection hit her again, and she ended the kiss. She’d told McKell someone “might be” infected, but she knew the truth. Someone was infected. No question. When Schön blood left its host, it always found another. She and Noelle had been closest.

McKell licked his lips as though savoring her taste as he smoothed the hair from her brow. His hand was shaking. “I won’t allow them to separate us.”

“Good,” she said with a nod. She had a feeling she would need him in the coming hours.

Tires squealed as vehicles parked. Finally, she looked away from McKell—one of the hardest things she’d ever done—and faced the coming agents. They wore protective gear from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet, not an inch of skin visible. They knew it wouldn’t help, but it probably made them feel better.

First thing they did was find the blood splattered over the concrete and spray some kind of chemical over it. They had to know the disease had already found a new host, that the blood was no longer contaminated.

How long until the newly infected sickened? She gulped.

The new agents hustled her, the once-again-sizzling McKell, Noelle, and the trainees into a metal van. Without a word. The door locked, sealing them inside. There was a bench on each side, hard, no cushions. Everyone, including McKell, sat. She’d expected him to balk at such treatment, but he never did. And when she tried to sit between him and Noelle, he tugged her into his lap.

She snuggled close, her gaze finding and staying on her friend. The fear Ava felt was mirrored in Noelle’s pretty gray eyes. Ava reached out. Noelle did the same. They twined fingers, squeezed. Their earlier fight was forgotten.

“Now isn’t the time to make out, girls,” McKell said. Was that, dare she think it, amusement in his voice? “Well, all right. If you insist. You can kiss, but make it quick.”

“Wow. McKell sharing something he considers his.” Noelle smacked her lips in mock astonishment. “Will wonders never cease?”

“When you’ve had something precious taken away from you,” he said, “you learn to guard everything else. Especially that which means the most to you.” His warm breath trekked over her temple. “Are you comfortable, sweetheart?”

Something hot bloomed in Ava’s chest. Sweetheart, again. “Oh, yes.”