Remy (3 page)

“Take off the mask,” he ground out, staring down at her.

Harlow shook her head.

As if in blissful retaliation, he thrust into her hard and Harlow gasped, arching her back.  He was stretching her, filling her.  Balls deep already, she didn’t think he could penetrate her further. That’s when he began to work inside her.  She watched him watch himself as he slid back and forth into the wet heat of her.  He liked what he saw, she could tell.  His muscles bunched and tensed as if he was barely in control.  His breathing was the same, labored and shaky.  Feeling heady with the power she had over him, Harlow clenched on the length of him, which had him dropping his head back on a hissed, “Fuuuuuuuuck!”

God, he was beautiful and really, really good at making love.  Typically, Harlow didn’t enjoy sex and she rarely ever came, but right now she was seconds away from her second orgasm. Was this too much? Could she handle so much bliss? Then the thought struck her that, honestly, she didn’t even know this guy.  He wasn’t even wearing a
condom
and she was going to let him blow his load inside her?

Part of her thought better of it, and she whispered, “Sh-should we stop?”  Then, more firmly, “We…we should stop.”  But her lips were saying one thing while her body said another.  Seconds later, she was swept up off the table.  

Her hips rolled against his as she met each of his urgent thrusts, her ankles locking together behind his back to hold him in place as she was shoved up against the wall.  Her breast filled his mouth while his pounding cock filled her pussy and Harlow threw her arms back against the wall, the sound of their wet sex filling the room.  She arched against him, her orgasm clamping tightly around him as she screamed.  He was frantic now, one hand gripping her hip, the other leaving her breast to curl over her shoulder as he used the leverage to help his hips pummel into her.  Her orgasm was drawn out by the friction and, just when she thought it was too much, he stilled, gnashing his teeth on an animalistic growl as she felt him shooting his seed deep inside her, drawing out her own pleasure even further.

Dress in shreds hanging at her hips, bare chest heaving, and body glistening with a sheen of sweat as she came down from the high of ecstasy, she felt a moment of regret.  She might have asked his name before, but it wasn’t what she’d wanted.  She’d sought raucous, anonymous, non-committal sex, and that’s just what he’d given her.

After they caught their breath, he lifted her easily and slid from inside her as they both moaned.  Placed on her shaky legs, she could feel his essence sliding down the inside of her thighs where he’d overfilled her.

Towering over her, he didn’t make to move.  “I should clean you,” he stated softly as he stepped back.

“No!”  She had to get him out.  That was the best sex she’d ever had, and she didn’t want to ruin it.  She needed him gone before she broke down and asked him his name, asked him to stay, asked him to hold her.  She knew to her soul that, if he didn’t leave, she’d end up removing her mask and giving more to him than she’d intended. But that couldn’t happen, this was as far as they could go.  She didn’t look up.  “I’d like you to go.”

He didn’t move, and she could feel his gaze boring into the top of her head.  “Are you alright?  I didn’t hurt you?”

She shook her head.  “It was fine.  Good actually. 
Really
good.  But this is where it ends.  Please go.”

For long minutes he stood in silence before drawing in a long deep breath and exhaling it just as slowly. One hand plowed through his hair, then he turned and opened the door. He stalled there a few more minutes and, when he finally left, Harlow rushed to the door and locked it before sinking to her knees.  Bathed in a beam of moonlight, she huddled in a pile of tattered chiffon pleats, sweat, champagne, and the stranger’s essence still sticky on her thighs.

Chapter 4

  Remy McCabe took the stairs two at a time to his quarters and office.  To the outsider, the facility looked like six large grain silos lined up two-by-two on the furthest northwest corner of the StoneCrow Estates. In reality, they were the Sentry barracks at the new training facility. Having an openly visible military-based training facility at the Estate wasn’t feasible, so before he knew he was doing something that would so distress his Angel, Monroe had leveled Eden’s favorite flower field, turning it into a large wheat field with accompanying silos.  No one would suspect that, inside each of four silos, two floors had been created to house Walker Sentries in training. The remaining two silos were for the training staff.  Remy shared his silo with Legion Knight, who was currently absent from training for a special mission assigned by Monroe.

Booted feet clanging on the metal stairs spiraling the outside wall of the silo, Remy jerked the door open that led into his quarters.  His floor of the silo didn’t house much, one cot, one footlocker, one desk with a phone, and one mini-fridge.   That was it.  Stepping inside, he stilled at the sight of Mason EnemyHunter staring out Remy’s lone window overlooking the training grounds.  He’d been informed that Monroe would be meeting him in his quarters at exactly three o’clock, but he hadn’t expected to find his rival, Mason, waiting on him in the too-small space.  Room in the silos was at a premium.  The quarters assigned to staff were much smaller than those housing trainees.  It was why the Officer Silos were separated into two floors to give each Officer their own much-needed space. 

Shutting the door behind him, Remy lingered by the door, his beasts not liking Mason in their quarters.  Hell, they’d been restless since he’d walked away from that mystery woman at the hotel a few days back.

Just thinking of her made his gut clench.  He shouldn’t have just walked away.  He’d been regretting it since it happened.  He’d even gone back the next day to try and find her, but she’d been gone and he’d been beating himself up for it ever since.  Something about what had happened between them didn’t feel as meaningless to him as the woman had tried to make it.  Even now, when he remembered being with her, his cock got hard and his heart began to race.  But he didn’t have time for that now.  No, his hated enemy was currently in his quarters, and his Dominant was on his way.  Something was going on, and whatever it was, it was something he didn’t have time for.  Since York McDonnough, his fellow Walker, had returned from the Philippines with his Angel and a group of Keepers, Skin Walkers were on high alert.

Keepers were a new species to the Skin Walkers. The Keepers carried what they called Soul Sentries—animals they could emit from their bodies, fully realized—and they were creating quite the stir on the Estate.   They were almost completely unused to interaction with others, and Monroe was attempting to assimilate them into the culture of StoneCrow while simultaneously keeping his distance.   A compound was being built for them down south in the Crazy Mountains of Montana, a fitting place for them, to Remy’s point of view. Until their new home was constructed though, Keepers and their Soul Sentries would be on the Estate, and that meant more work for Remy. A lot more work. He’d previously been busy training Walker Sentries, but had lost half his team to patrols and security.  Monroe had doubled-down with the Keepers on the Estate, and Remy wondered if it didn’t have something, or possibly everything, to do with Keepers’ views on females.  Walkers appreciated the fairer sex to be sure, but Keepers seemed unable to control themselves.  Once a Keeper saw a female he wanted, he simply took her, with or without the females consent.  It was dangerous, brutal, and totally unacceptable to the Skin Walkers, who considered females precious.  Remy knew from the other Walkers and his interactions with the estate doctor that something had affected the Skin Walker affliction, which was supposed to be an instantaneous indication that a Walker had met his mate, his Angel.  There had recently been delays in the affliction between several of the estate’s residents who later became mated pairs. What it meant was that any female on the Estate could be any Walkers Angel, but with the delay in affliction, they could be unaware of their connection until it actually kicked in.  The Keepers were attempting to forcefully claim females who could belong to Walkers, which had Remy’s fellow Walkers on edge, making training difficult. 

Monroe had insisted that Remy begin training a few of the Keepers brought to the Estate by their Ruling Keeper, Fatal.  Said ‘training’ was going like shit, to say the least.  Keepers didn’t seem to understand the difference between mock battle and actual battle.  Skin Walkers were easier to control, but just as dominant, so when they felt challenged by the Keepers, especially with the tensions over the possible loss of Angels, all bets were off.  Hell, there’d been more out-right brawls than actual training, and it was getting to be a pain in the ass for Remy and the other trainers.  Maybe that was the reason for Monroe’s request to see him?  Silently, he prayed that Monroe was going to tell him that the Keepers were leaving the Estate.

Eyeing Mason, he growled, “Where’s Monroe?”

“Coming.” Mason supplied, coolly turning to face him with his usual disdain.

Remy and Mason had a past, and it wasn’t a pretty one.  The CFO was currently mated to Remy’s ex, Amanda Chandler…or Amanda EnemyHunter as the case was.  His split from Amanda wasn’t amicable. Hell, he hadn’t even
known
they were over until after Mason had already claimed her.  Mason and Amanda’s betrayal led to some—admittedly—idiotic actions on Remy’s part, the worst being his kidnapping of Aries Drago.  He’d thought she was Mason’s long-lost sister, and to get back at the Walker for stealing Amanda, Remy had kidnapped Aries.  Turned out, she wasn’t Mason’s sister.  It also turned out that Aries was claimed and mated to Commander Conn Drago, who subsequently took great and abiding pleasure in beating the living shit out of Remy the second he got his hands on him.  Remy hadn’t fought back.  He knew he deserved the beating, especially after Aries had nearly died trying to escape him.  After that, Remy had vowed to give up on his obsession with injuring Mason through his sister—who had only recently been found.  The girl’s name was apparently Harlow, but that’s all Remy knew of her, and it was all he wanted to know.  He’d completely avoided the welcoming party thrown for her at the Estate’s reception hall and since then had obsessively avoided inquiring into her. He didn’t care.  No, he’d opted to let the fire that was his hatred of Mason simmer to a slow burn until it fizzled completely.  Now, he was indifferent.  Truth be told, if Amanda were truly his Angel, Remy was certain he’d have felt more for her than the simply enjoyment at being in her company, or the pleasure he found in her bed.  She hadn’t been his, and he was finally Walker enough to admit it now.

Pacing and staring down a clearly displeased Mason, Remy stepped away from the door when he heard feet clanging up the stairs.  Monroe.

Monroe entered, flanked by King Mulholland, Chief of Security at StoneCrow and Monroe’s personal guard.  If the room had been uncomfortable earlier, now it was downright nasty.  Four dominant Walkers filled Remy’s space, and his inner beasts were snarling in outrage. 

Smirking at Remy’s clear displeasure, Monroe jerked his chin toward the door while eyeing King, who took the hint and exited the room, taking up vigil just outside the door.  Monroe eyed the space before crossing to stand next to Mason, looking out the window over the grounds.  As dominant males weren’t comfortable in too close proximity to one another, and no one was more dominant than Monroe, Mason moved away from the window.

“Gentlemen.” Monroe spoke without turning.  “Why don’t you have a seat?” 

Remy’s eyes didn’t leave Mason’s. “I’ll stand, thanks.  What’s this about?”  His nostrils flared as he scented Mason’s fury.  Nothing new.

“As you know,” Monroe turned to face them as Mason paced to the wall opposite Remy, the three of them standing facing each other from the furthest points in the room, “Mason’s sister, Harlow, has recently been located and brought the Estate.”

Remy made no move to indicate his knowledge of the fact.

“She’s been trying to find her niche’ here at the Estate, and has recently requested assignment with the Sentries.”

That had Remy’s eyes tearing from Mason’s to frown fiercely at Monroe.  “What?”

“Seems she feels the need to earn her keep.”

“No!” Remy balled his hands into fists.  Avoiding Harlow was one thing, but having her dangled in front of his face every day?  That was out of the question.  “I’m not doing it.”  He sliced his angry gaze to Mason.  “Tell her no.”

“I tried.” Mason gritted out.  “But she’s determined.  Which means…”

He didn’t get the chance to finish as Remy cut him off, turning back to Monroe.  “I don’t have time for this, you know that.  I’ve got Sentries to train. 
Real
Sentries.  The Keepers are still here, causing more than their fair share of trouble, and who knows what in the hell is going on with the Megalya?  It’s too busy.  She’s going to be a distraction.  Tell her no.”

Monroe smirked and lifted one shoulder in a ‘so what’ gesture.

“Send her to Apex!” Remy demanded.  “Let Tyce deal with her training.”  He turned steely eyes on Mason.  “Surely you can’t want this for her.”

“Of course I don’t,” Mason snarled.  “If it were up to me she’d stay in the office with Amanda.”  His eyes flickered dangerously at the mention of his Angel’s name.  “But she won’t be deterred.”

Remy turned back to Monroe.  “Are you fucking serious?  Do you actually expect me to do this?”

Monroe made a show of smoothing non-existent wrinkles from the sleeve of his suit coat.  “I do.”

“If I do this,” Remy snarled, as he stepped forward.  “Then know now, she’ll get no special treatment.  I’m not babysitting out there.  If she can’t make the cut,” his eyes slid to Mason.  “She can’t make the cut.”

“That’s all we ask,” Monroe replied.  “Give her a fair shake.” He shrugged.  “Who knows?  A week with you and your men and she might be running back to Mason begging to work the office with Amanda.”

Remy had gone so tense that his muscles began to whine under the strain.  “What do I need to know?” he gnashed out between clenched teeth.

“She’s a fighting non-con.” Mason offered.  “Treat her accordingly.”

Remy’s eyes jerked around to stare at Mason in disbelief.  “A fighting non-con?” He snorted.  “Get real.”

“She is!” Mason growled. 

Remy understood the terms passed around in the screening rooms by the psychiatrists and doctors who had to clear each individual for the rigors of Sentry training.  The evaluations were done mostly to ensure no Megalya or government assigned lackeys infiltrated StoneCrow.  It wasn’t just Sentries that had to go through the rigorous pre-testing though.  All human staff had to endure the evaluations.  Monroe had to be absolutely sure. 

In this case, non-con was short for a non-confrontational individual.  So, it was funny that Mason was labeling his sister as a fighting non-con.  It was oxymoronic. 

“What do you mean she’s a fighting non-con?” Remy hissed. “She can’t be both.  It’s one or the other!”

“Not in her case.  She is non-confrontational by nature, but her upbringing has turned her into a pugilist.  She’s not afraid to defend herself and, while she isn’t inclined to start a fight,” he turned to pin Remy with dark eyes, “She’ll finish it.”

Remy grinned.  “A fighting non-con.”  He nodded once.  “Fine.  She’ll be placed accordingly, but again, I’m granting her no special privilege.  I don’t give a shit how hard her upbringing was.  She either makes the cut, or she doesn’t.  No favoritism because she’s your sister.”

Mason smirked.  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. And Remy.”

Remy met his gaze.

“If she gets hurt, you’re fucking dead.  Touch her inappropriately, and you’re fucking dead.  Use her to get back at me and…”

“Yeah, yeah,” Remy snorted.  “I’m fucking dead.  Got it.”  The floor under them shook, and Mason’s eyes darted about the room as he tensed, but Remy and Monroe didn’t even flinch.  They knew what that rumbling vibration meant.  Out in the fields below the silos, large metal panels covered in faux wheat were retracting to reveal state of the art obstacle courses lifting from where they were kept hidden underground.  Anyone flying over the Estate would never know the training facility existed unless they happened to be overhead when the equipment was raised, and that wasn’t likely to happen as the Estate housed its own satellite surveillance.

Remy paced to the window, turning his back on Mason as he stared down at the precise line of Sentries as they exited their barracks to begin drills.  Cason was his Second until Legions return.  He watched as the beast of a Walker shouted orders to the Sentries.  Movement from the edge of the grid caught his eye, and Remy’s gaze snagged on Leto Reigns and the slight female he was leading toward the barracks.  Remy pulled his eyes away.  He was done wasting his time on Mason’s sister.  It had already cost him too much.  He’d train her, he’d break her, he’d be rid of her, and that’d be it.

Glancing over his shoulder he eyed Monroe, then Mason. “Anything else?”

The look on Mason’s face let him know his previous nemesis wasn’t finished.

Mason took a step forward.  “This should go without saying.”

Remy turned to square up, showing with his posture that he wasn’t afraid of Mason before holding up his hand.  “Yeah.  I know.  You
already
said it.  Hurt her and I die.  Let her get hurt and I die.” He pointed at the door.  “Save it.”