Plague of Mybyncia (47 page)

“I do,” he leans in, “Jesus, more than
anything,” a lump rolls down his throat as he presses his forehead
against mine. “I’ve wanted you again since Harrizel. I’ve wanted it
every day… you have no idea how…” he shuts his eyes, playing
through some internal argument. A beat and he opens them again,
gazing at me, “I wasn’t sure how long I needed, how long I’d have
to wait before…” he shakes his head, “but I can’t wait
anymore.”

“If you need more time—”

“Fallon,” he breathes, his powerful eyes
holding mine. “I don’t need more time. I need…” he gulps, suddenly
dropping to his knees in front of me. Hooking his fingers into my
panties, he peels them down my legs and already shaking, I step out
of them. Standing again, he runs his hands along my backside and
swiftly lifts me up, pinning me against the tree. “Wrap your legs
around me.”

My heart races, my blood boiling as I do what
he says. Eye to eye, our brows touch as I watch another lump roll
down his throat. His chest expands and after a quick maneuver, I
feel him between my legs. He looks into my eyes and in this heated,
heavy moment, I’m lost to him.

“Ready?”

I nod and, ever so slowly, he slides inside
me, filling my body in the most glorious way. His mouth drops open,
a silent groan of pleasure rippling across his handsome face. He
places one hand on the tree behind me and holding me with his
other, he begins to rock his hips against mine.

“
Reid
…” I bite my lip, already drowned
in this fire, my entire body thriving and glowing as he buries
himself deep within me. Gripping him, I try not to cry out with
everything I’m feeling, every spike of swelling deliciousness that
sweeps up my body as he moves inside me.

Reid pants against my neck, trying to keep
quiet but a soft groan escapes. Something takes over in him and he
starts moving faster, thrusting harder as he pins me with his hips.
He needs this—he’s
needed
this… and so have I. Suddenly, I’m
unable to see or feel anything other than him. I’m lost to the
world outside of Reid; his body moving inside mine is the only
reality left. He groans again and I’m rising higher and higher, his
heavy panting fueling every nerve of my body. I’m nearly there, at
the peak of everything beautiful and real, about to topple over
into the glorious valley below.

“
Fuck
…” he croaks.

I grip his hair, my mouth dropping open in a
silent scream. With the way he’s moving, thrusting inside me like
his life depended on it, I can’t help it. I close my eyes and come
apart, shattering into a million tiny pieces of white glowing
wonderment.

It’s all spectacle, all blinding fireworks
and for a moment, I’m not sure I survived. But as I’m coming down
and drifting back to my energized skin, I open my eyes to find
Reid’s strained mouth hanging open. And suddenly, he pulls out of
me, placing me on my feet. His body convulses as he spills between
us, his labored breaths still coming hard. I watch wide-eyed at his
release, somehow even more turned on and unable to look away.

Once he’s done, and his body has stilled from
all the aftershocks, he looks up, focusing on me. I’m paralyzed,
lost in his gaze and it takes the tree behind me to keep from
falling. Closing the distance between us, Reid sweeps me up,
squeezing me into a tight hug. His entire body is one solid mass of
muscle, and it’s wrapped around me like a vise. I can’t breathe—not
from his hold, but from what it does to me. Reid is gripping me
like a life line, like he’s afraid to go, like he wants this to
last forever.

“Baby?” I whisper.

Still clutching me, he nuzzles into my neck,
inhaling. “You have no idea…” he whispers, “
no
idea what you
mean to me...”

My heart races, my need to know pushing me to
ask. “What?”

“The world,” his voice is soft.
“
Everything
,” he pulls back and with a deep inhale, he gazes
at me. A lump rolls down his throat as his eyes flicker between
mine. “
You
are the second chance I prayed for, Fallon. It
was
you
.”

I want to cry with joy, with gratitude for
him, for being able to call him mine. I did nothing to deserve this
wonderful man but he’s here, giving himself to me,
choosing
me. Unbidden, a small tear rolls down my cheek. He brushes his
thumb over it, planting a gentle kiss in its place.

“I mean it,” he says. “You’re it.”

“You’re it,” I smile, my voice shaky with
elation, “…for me. When you told me you couldn’t… that you had a
fiancé…” I gulp, trying to find my words and suddenly, they come
gushing out of me, a waterfall of emotions I wasn’t prepared for.
“I didn’t know what to do. You were promised to some other girl,
and it was…” my chest tightens, “
devastating
. You picked her
and I didn’t know what to do…”

He frowns, watching as the words I never
meant to use come tumbling out.

“I wasn’t sure what would happen. How could
you leave some girl you already loved? And for me?” I sniffle,
stepping back. “Who am I? You didn’t even know me and you were
planning a life with her. I still don’t understand why you—”

“Fallon,” Reid cuts me off, wiping another
tear from my cheek, “there was never any choice.”

“What?” I sniffle again.

He holds my face in his hands, his eyes
flickering between mine, making sure I understand. “There was never
any choice,” he inhales, his voice softening. “It was always
you.”

My heart sings and suddenly, Reid picks me up
in another tight embrace, holding me to him. He presses our bodies
together and I’m melting, pure liquid in his strong arms. After
another long moment, he places me down again, still squeezing us
tight, “always you…”

“What’re you guys doing?” Pratt asks.

“Nothing,” I wipe my eyes quickly as Reid
jets back from me. “Just taking a break.”

“Where’s uh...” he clears his throat, looking
over Pratt’s shoulder, “Mae?”

“Talking to Vix, I think,” she glances back,
following his focus. “Sampson asked that I find you. Wanted to make
sure you and Walker weren’t off fighting somewhere.”

“No. Not tonight.”

“Okay…” she glances at me, a frown forming.
“You sure you’re okay?”

I nod, wiping my eyes dry again. “Great.”

“Okay…” her mouth turns into a mischievous
smile as Reid threads his fingers in mine. “Well… I guess I’ll
leave you to…
whatever
you’re doing…” she snickers to
herself, walking back toward the lit clearing ahead.

Once she’s gone, Reid turns to me. Cradling
my face in his hands once more, he leans in and captures my lips
with his. The kiss is soft and slow and burns me from the inside
out, leaving me absolutely breathless. Just as my heart starts
racing again, he drops to his knees in front of me and reaches for
my panties that he discarded around the tree. “Let’s get these back
on you before anyone else comes knocking.”

“If you insist,” I step into them.

“I don’t,” he kisses my knees, sending goose
bumps over my skin. He slides the fabric back up my legs and once
they’re in place, he brushes his lips against my cheek. I close my
eyes, absorbing the feeling, thanking the universe for this. For
him.

“Come on,” he whispers, threading his fingers
with mine. “We should find the others.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he laughs, “if we don’t leave now,
I won’t be able to.”

“Okay,” I open my eyes. “Let’s stay here
forever.”

His smile weakens, as if he’s actually
contemplating the idea. Would we be able to forget everything else,
everyone else and just stay here? Together? Is that possible? Reid
looks like he wants to ask if I’m serious because… maybe he is.
Maybe there’s no point going forward when we’ve found the perfect
spot.

“We will,” he leans in and kisses my
forehead. “I promise.” Tightening his fingers around mine, he
finally withdraws. “Come on.”

Reluctantly I follow, gazing at Reid as he
leads me from the tree. My chest swells, a deep ache growing inside
me as I watch him, watch our hands clutching one another. It’s hard
to breathe as I realize what I did once before, back on Harrizel.
This man… I’m
in
love
with this man. Unconditionally,
overemotionally… he really is it for me. Imagining life without
Reid… it’s impossible. It’s a choking fear to think any sort of
future could exist without him. I guess I was afraid to really
acknowledge this, not since Harrizel, when we got our memories
back. When he told me he couldn’t. Because even though I didn’t
admit it then—to him or myself—it crippled me. He’s too much not to
have and until now, I wouldn’t allow myself to really believe it.
That it could end up this way—us together. Him actually choosing
me. But it happened.

Reid chose me.

“Where have you two been?” Able raises a
playful brow as we approach the small circle of Rogues near one of
the bone lamp posts.

Reid brings our entwined fingers up to his
mouth and kisses my knuckles. Grinning from ear to ear, he glances
back to me and all I can do is blush.

“Ah…” Jace laughs, looking to the other
Rogues. “Told you so. Good for you,” he cups Reid’s shoulder, “that
should shut Walker up for a while.”

“Speaking of the devil,” Reid’s face hardens
as he glances around, “where is he?”

“Off with Zeed and Perry somewhere,” Tucker
says. “Left after you and Fallon did.”

“Guess we’re not as good company,” Able
shrugs with a sigh. “Boss—you alright, man? Sorry Walker was being
such a dick earlier.”

“Assholes are assholes,” Reid shrugs,
gripping my hand tighter. “So, what’s the plan for the rest of the
night?”

“Not much of a plan,” Able glances to where
Sampson, Clarence and Vix are standing. “Sampson wants us to start
heading back soon. Especially before,” he gestures to Jace next to
him, “
someone
starts up with the ladies.”

“What’re you talking about?” Jace crosses his
arms. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yeah,” Able scoffs. “For
now
. Doesn’t
mean you won’t disappear for twenty minutes.”

“Only need ten,” he winks, scanning the
nearby girls as he tugs on his chin, considering. A small group of
barely covered tribe girls pass, long dark hair flowing down their
slender backs. They smile at Jace, giggling as they leave.

“Really?” Able grunts. “I’ve been here for
two
weeks and they’re looking at you?”

“Got to know how to put it out there,
Commander.”

“I put it out there,” he mumbles, crossing
his arms with a sulk.

Jace throws his arm over Able’s shoulder with
a laugh, “we’ll work on it when we get back. Cool?”

Able nods as the three Dofinikes approach,
Sampson looking between us. “I hope everyone has enjoyed
themselves, and maybe, had enough celebration for the night?”

“Oh… I don’t know,” Jace grins, spying the
group of girls a few feet behind the Fychu. “I could still manage
another ten minutes.”

“Perhaps you can save it for the next
celebration. It’s very late and we must be up early tomorrow. As
Tucker has his own home now, we will be spending the night there.
Tucker,” Sampson turns to him, “you did outstanding today.
Truly.”

“Indeed,” Clarence nods in agreement. “Not a
doubt in my mind, son.”

“Thanks.”

“So,” Sampson looks around, “let’s grab Pratt
and Mae and get some sleep. It’s been a long day and we have an
even longer one awaiting us tomorrow.”

“We leaving early?” Able asks.

“First thing.”

“Well,” he looks around with a sad nod.
“Guess it’s time I finally left this place.”

“Yeah, but we’ll be back here in no time.
There’s uh…” Jace glances around, pausing on the same cluster of
tribesgirls, “
definite
reason to return.”

“Way to focus on the important things,
Commander.”

“It’s what I do,” he winks. “It’s what I
do.”

***

“All ready?” Clarence asks.

We’re on the forest ground again, surrounded
by half of Zinnollo’s population. Located within the thick trunks
and surrounded by the low hanging, tear-drop leaves, we’re close to
the same place the Zingfinolds captured us two days ago. We’re all
in our earth clothes except for Able, who never had the opportunity
to get his post-Vermix invasion. They’ll probably be gone forever,
or until we return to Harrizel. Even so, the Vermix probably
would’ve torched all the remains. But at least his Zingfinold
apparel isn’t as bad as Pratt or Mae’s.

They’re still wearing the traditional
Zingfinold tribal wear. What’s it going to be like without them?
There will be a huge lack of estrogen. I can deal with that—it’s
not like I’m not used to it. But I’m going to miss them. I’ll have
Ariana and the queen of course, and I know we’ll be back here soon
but still… I feel weird leaving Pratt and Mae behind.

“Everyone who should be going, at least,”
Sampson clarifies and doing a final sweep over me and the Rogues,
he nods. “Looks like it.”

“Fychu,” the king offers a slight nod before
turning his focus on the Rouge Leader. “Brother Tucker. We wait you
return.”

“Many thanks for your hospitality,” Sampson
offers a return bow, the bag of Nazuals strung to his chest. “We
trust in your protection and guidance over our friends,” he
gestures to Pratt and Mae, Walker and Perry.

“They be watched over.”

“Very good.”

“How long you be gone?”

Sampson takes a breath, considering, “Not
terribly long. I would estimate maybe a few days. A week at the
most.”

“A whole week?” Mae frowns, glancing
nervously to Pratt.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can,” Clarence
assures them both with a wink. He heads toward Sampson, Vix and the
Rogues, motioning for the rest of us to gather for departure but I
jet past him quickly, stopping in front of Pratt. I can’t leave
without saying something. But what’s appropriate at a time like
this?