Spider Game (GhostWalkers, #12)(111)

Trap. She kissed him again, melting into him. I would give you anything. I want to give you what you’re asking, but you aren’t being logical.


Fuck logic. He lifted his head, his hand spanning her throat, his thumb on her jaw, holding her head still. “Fuck logic,” he said aloud for emphasis.


That little tongue of hers came out again, moistening her lips. Lips swollen from his kisses. “I have to be me. I’m a warrior, just like you. I have to be me. You have to love that part of me, Trap, just like I love all of you. Was I terrified for you? Yes. Did I know you had to do it? Yes. Did I believe in you? Yes.”


“It isn’t about believing in you.” He raked his free hand through his hair, wanting to fist it and tug in sheer frustration. “I can’t do this with you in danger.”


“Yes, you can. You have to. Because we’re always going to be in danger,” she said. “When we have children, they’ll be in danger. You have to trust us. Trust me that I know what I’m doing just like you know.”


“They have armor-piercing bullets. You think they aren’t going to use them?”


“They did. That’s why the bullet penetrated almost completely through the silk, but Trap, I knew it would. I’ve been shot before. Did you think they hadn’t used them on me when I was in that maze with them? They tried everything. I couldn’t let Nonny die. I won’t be able to do anything but stand in front of our children either. That’s who I am.”


“Fuck.” The word exploded out of him.


“Trap.”


That was her answer. That would always be her answer. He could dictate, and he knew he would, but she would go her own way when she believed she was right. The rest of the time she’d give him everything.


He repeated the expletive several more times. She kept her eyes on his. He shook his head. “We do this your way, baby, and you’re f*cking locked to my side. And by that I mean you go where I go, and you do what I say when we’re out in public. You have any more cooking lessons I’m there, not cute f*cking Malichai. You got that?”


Her green eyes moved over his face. Soft. Warm. Loving. Turning his heart over. Making it stutter hard in his chest. A slow smile curved her mouth. That beautiful mouth he was putting to work the moment they got home.


“I got it, Trap.”


“You giving that to me?” he insisted. He wasn’t going to give her wiggle room. She was going to be with him for a long time. He wasn’t certain when the terror would recede enough to give her breathing room.


“I’m giving that to you.”


“Tell me what that is.”


“I’m glued to your side and you’re with me even when I do more cooking lessons with Nonny. You owe cute Malichai your thanks. He took good care of me.”


“Don’t want to hear that, baby.” But he could breathe now. Draw air into his lungs and let it out without that raw burn. Without the pain in his throat and the visceral tearing of his gut.


She leaned into him very heavily. “I want to go home, Trap. I want to be in our bed with our silks cocooning us. I want to feel your heartbeat. I want your cock in my mouth and then in my body. Deep. I want to feel you pounding into me hard and rough so I know you’re alive and that you’re mine. Can you give me that? I’m giving you what you need. Give me what I need.”


His thumb moved along her jaw. He doubted if there was a man alive who could hear his woman ask for that and turn her down. “We have to be careful of your bruises, Cayenne.”


“I need this more than I need to worry about a few bruises. Take me home, Trap.”


CHAPTER 18


Trap took his time examining every inch of Cayenne’s body. She lay sprawled out beneath him like a gift. A feast. A treasure beyond all price. Her hands stroked through his hair, fingers sifting, rubbing along his scalp as he kissed his way along her collarbone and down to the dark bruises marring the lush curve of her breasts.


“Baby, we’re getting married right away. I don’t want an argument about it either. Flame sent the papers. Gator’s bringing her with him. They missed Wyatt’s wedding because Gator was out of the country. Flame’s been anxious to meet her three nieces, so our wedding will be the perfect opportunity.”


She smiled, looking serene. Her hands communicating love right through the strands of his hair. “You were in touch with them, planning our wedding even before you talked to me?”


He nuzzled the valley between her breasts gently. She drew in her breath sharply. He licked along the dark bruises tenderly, wishing he could heal her with his mouth. With his love. “They were in touch with Wyatt, and he told me earlier. They gave him the information that your background was complete and any reporter looking into you would believe the history they created for you. Wyatt knows I mean business. I’m not waiting to make you mine. Tomorrow I leak the news to the magazines and papers. I want to send a photograph of the two of us together as well.”


“You’re daring your uncles to come out in the open.”


Again, her voice was matter-of-fact. Giving him everything. This time he wasn’t fooled. She would give him everything because she liked to please him. She wanted him happy. But the moment she felt she needed to do something he wouldn’t like, Trap was well aware his woman was going to do it. She made that plain enough. He couldn’t have everything his way.