Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen, #3)(68)

I groaned as that image filled my mind, then my heart sank when I thought of what would have happened if Rider hadn’t let them go. If she’d never come back to me.

My hands began to grind on the handlebars. We had miles left until we got home, but I needed to stop, I needed to f*cking stop.

Giving a sharp left, I pulled onto a dark patch of dirt and cut the engine. I breathed in and out, in and out, Maddie still behind my back. But the feeling never left, and I jumped off the bike. I set to pacing beside the bike, then I looked up. And Maddie’s huge green eyes were looking up at me, her cheeks pink and her lips full. And those legs, those legs were on show.

I groaned and ran my hand through my mohawk, then I stopped. My heart was as loud as thunder in my chest, and I couldn’t stop looking at Maddie… at those naked legs.

Then on a long groan, I rushed forward and threw my leg over my bike, my back to the bars, my eyes directly on Maddie. She swallowed as I sat before her, and I shuffled closer, my hands lifting to land on her cheeks. Maddie was breathing hard, and feeling the heat of her cheeks under my palms, I closed in and brought my lips to hers.

Maddie sighed into my mouth. I liked her mouth on mine, but it wasn’t enough, I wanted closer. I wanted to get as close as I could. There were no flames and I needed to fill the dark that was in my heart with her f*cking light.

As Maddie’s soft mouth opened, I pushed my tongue against hers, Maddie moaning as they met. She was hot and wet and I moved my tongue faster, but it didn’t feel like enough. Dropping one hand from her face, I ran it over her arm, down her waist and to the top of her thigh. Then I moved it lower still, until my hand met her bare thigh.

Maddie’s tongue stilled, and pulling back, I stared into her eyes. We were both breathing fast, then I looked down. My hand was flat on her bare skin. And I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight. Her skin was so soft, so pale and I had to move my hand. I had to feel it.

My hand began moving down, then when I reached her knee, I moved it back up until my hand lay at the top of her thigh, my fingers slipping under her dress. Maddie’s hips rolled forward and a shocked gasp slipped from her throat. Her green eyes were glistening and my heart sank.

“Don’t be afraid,” I said as I ran my finger down her cheek.

Maddie’s eyes closed as she sighed, but when they opened, she took a deep breath and whispered, “I am not scared. I… I cannot explain what I am feeling right now.”

My cock twitched again, and groaning, I shook my head. “Maddie, I… I… I need…”

“I know,” she rasped. Her hand lifted to land on my face. “I understand you Flame. And I am beginning to understand myself. What you and I are to each other.”

“And what’s that?” I asked gruffly.

Maddie bowed her head. “Everything.” My heart missed a beat, then she lifted her head and said, “Love.” Maddie’s hand dropped down over her racing heart, and she whispered, “You, to me, are the only one I could ever love.”

I fought against my clogged throat. But with what just came from her mouth and my hand touching her thigh, I couldn’t. I couldn’t catch a f*cking single breath. Groaning, I crashed my lips to hers once again, but Maddie’s hand pushed my chest back and she said plainly, “Flame. Take us home.”

Her cheeks were blazing red, but I nodded my head. I removed my hand from her thigh and clenched my hand into a ball. It felt different. Touching her that closely had felt different.

Then Maddie’s hand was in mine and she said, “Let us go home. I wish,” she took a deep breath, and leaning closer, her forehead kissing mine, said, “I wish to be alone with you. I wish to… touch you more. I wish to see you more… I wish, I think… I need to show you my love.”

Dropping her hand, I turned in the seat. My skin felt on fire. My soul felt on fire. But this time, I wanted the heat to stay. Because it was burning off the bad memories in my head, and it was filling me with Maddie’s light.

In my f*cking head was Maddie’s light.

As I started the engine, Maddie’s hand sipped low on my stomach, my cock reaching for her touch. And with her mouth at my ear, she said, “Home, Flame. Take us home.”

She didn’t have to ask me again.





Chapter Twenty-Two


Maddie



I did not know what had overtaken me. But it was both terrifying and liberating at the same time. My body felt alive with Flame’s touch. On my thigh was a brand, the searing brand of Flame’s touch.

And my heart swelled when it had not felt like that of Brother Moses. It felt… special, and right, and only good things.

And after fearing I would never see him again, any barriers I had left crumbled to dust when I saw him running my way. I forgot to breathe, watching his dark eyes set on mine. In that moment, I had no past, nor did he, it was just us. One boy and one girl feeling the heady relief of reunion after separation.

And all I had wanted him to do when he was before me, was to hold me. I wanted to feel small and protected under the heaviness of his inked and pierced arms. I wanted to feel his hot skin beneath my cheeks, and I had wanted to feel his soft lips on mine.

And he had delivered. He had cared for me so softly. And I could see the same desperation to feel one another’s touch reflected in his eyes. And then something else took root. A feeling between my legs. A craving to have more of him. Because, and I was sure of this, I would never feel like this about anyone else. So mindless and free with my body and touch, so at ease and willing to fall into his arms.