The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood #16)(76)

How Vishous managed to be in all those places at once was something to ponder—at a different damn time.

Bumping her butt against him signaled what she wanted and he was right on it, releasing his fangs, and lifting his weight off her so that she could get up on all fours. As soon as she was set like a table, V was back on her, his body so much bigger that he became a cage around her, one arm planted next to her, the other coming under her torso, between her breasts. His gloved hand locked on her collarbone and she got herself good and braced.

The pistoning force was so great that without his hold on her, she would have been thrown into the headboard—but fortunately, her male was strong enough to keep the pace and her in one place.

Holy hell, they were probably waking Butch and Marissa up with the bed banging like this.

Something to apologize for later.

Jane wasn’t going to waste a moment of time on anything but what they were doing. There was just such joy in giving herself up to the experience, laying down her inclination to dictate, anticipate, plan, and execute—and letting go. The trust she had in V was the conduit; the love was the connection. And there was also the knowledge that, at least when it came to her, he was willing to do fair turnaround. He would give himself to her in any way she asked or wanted— An orgasm lightning’d through her, hitting her sex like the crack of a whip, and as if he had been waiting for that, V’s pelvis clapped forward once, twice…three times. After that, it was all inside of her, his erection kicking as he filled her up.

Then it was the great collapse.

When her eyes were able to focus, she looked at the clock. 8:38 a.m.

“You are the best alarm clock in the world,” she said.

V’s laugh was low and a little evil. “No hitting my snooze button, huh.”

“Nope.”

“Pity.”

They rolled over and spooned, and then she had to motivate. “So here’s the plan,” she said. “I go and do this check-in at Assail’s, and then I’m back for the rest of the day. Ehlena’s covering at the clinic, and Manny and I are on at nightfall.”

“I like this new schedule.”

“Me, too. And I wouldn’t be going anywhere now if we weren’t running those checks on him still.”

She twisted around and kissed Vishous, and then slid out from his arms. Heading for the shower, she was smiling, and she made a point of turning on the bathroom light. There, in the mirror, was the happiest version of herself she had seen for a long while, and she wanted to enjoy the view.

“I’m going to meet Payne in a half hour,” V said from the bed.

Jane leaned back out into the bedroom. “You are?”

“Yeah.” He put his arms behind his head and crossed his legs at the ankles. “You know, to spar. In the gym.”

“You’re going to talk to her about your mom, huh.”

His eyes shifted away. “We figured if we did it this time of day now, we could have some privacy.”

“I think it’s a really good idea.”

“Mary’s—you know, Mary’s going to be there.”

Jane popped her brows. “Really?”

“I was the one who suggested it.”

Jane smiled some more and then paused to appreciate the sight of Vishous’s enormous, naked body, lying on that messy bed like he was a lion in the sun.

Those diamond eyes swung back around to her. “Take a picture,” he drawled, “it’ll last longer—and you can keep it in your pocket while you’re gone, to remember me.”

“You’re pretty unforgettable.”

“You’ll make me blush.” He eased onto his side. “Do go on.”

His sex lay on his thigh, shameless, half-erect, and as she looked at it, the thing hardened even more.

V slipped his hand down and palmed himself. “Can I get you all messy again as soon as you’re out of the shower?”

“You are—”

“Hungry still. I have a couple of months to make up for, you know.” Stroke up. Stroke down. “Plus I like the idea of you out in the world with me in your panties.”

Jane laughed. “How about you do my back in the shower?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said as he jumped out of bed. “We have enough time for me to do your front, too, if we’re quick about it, true?”



* * *



—

Forty-five minutes later, Sola was pacing around Assail’s kitchen. Doc Jane, as folks called her, had arrived just a little late, the woman apologizing profusely as she came in through the garage door.

Doctor and patient were currently in the vast living area, their soft voices unintelligible. Sola had wanted to be in there with them, but she thought it was important for the two to have a little privacy. Plus she didn’t trust herself not to break down. It seemed inconceivable that Assail would do anything other than continue to improve, get stronger every day, be here next week and the month after and the year after that.

She could swear he was becoming better by the moment. The trouble was, feelings were a response to reality. They didn’t dictate it— As the door up from the cellar opened, Ehric and Evale filed in. The two brothers were half-asleep, their hair sticking up in exactly the same way, as if not only did they look alike, but they slept the same.