Delgano: The Intro - Page 110

“Most of them Julien’s,” Lattimore teased.

She managed a weak laugh. “As far as what I want to do, I’ll try relocating again, somewhere more densely populated,” she said. “This time, I think I’d like to go to Brazil.”

SNEAK PEEK – THE ENFORCER

Joel’s gaze flicked to his. “What?”

Adrían held in a laugh. “Would I be able to have a talk with the group? Is that something you think you might be able to arrange?”

“That depends.” Joel spun Ayesha around in his arms, enclosed her in his embrace, and kissed her neck. “When do you want this talk to happen?”

“As soon as possible.”

“And where are you staying while you’re in the area?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet.”

“Well, you’re free to stay at the empty house until you figure that out. Mo and Pozza are throwing a barbecue next weekend. That gives you time to really think about what you want to talk to us about.”

He didn’t need time.

After the shit he went through with Spettro and Lavigne, he should have been reluctant to want to be part of another unit. But with this team, a life outside of darkness could be possible. A future, no matter how brief, seemed probable, and he preferred to spend his time around people who treated him well as opposed to wasting away, alone, in a villa in France he’d bought sight unseen.

“That would be good,” he said. “Thank you.”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Joel scooped Ayesha up into his arms, and she let out a shriek, “you have yourself a good night. I know I will.”

They left, Ayesha’s laughter rising to the moon.

Once he managed to tear his gaze away from their retreating forms, he made his rounds, letting everyone know to have a good night and that he appreciated the way they’d welcomed him. Tayler offered him a ride to the house, but he chose to walk. It was a nice evening, and he was headed to an even nicer place. Thankfully, although it had belonged to Ayesha, remnants of her didn’t remain behind to torment him when he was alone.

Tonight, that changed.

He pressed his palm against the door panel and crossed the threshold, and Ayesha’s scent cupped the side of his face, coaxing him inside. It cradled his arms and laid its head against his chest until he could feel the warmth of her palms on his biceps.

He’d perfected ignoring most feelings, emotions, and the like; anger, hatred, murder were all his playthings. When necessary, he could turn his empathy off with the flip of a psychic switch. Some things, however, never went away completely.

He smelled her in the shower.

As he dried his hair.

As his clothing touched his body.

Then Ayesha crawled on top of him in his dreams, and he didn’t pause, hesitate, or try to push her away. Instead, he pulled her nightgown off over her head and sucked on her nipples. He heard her moan, felt the bud grow firm on his tongue. And when she rode him, kissing his lips, face, and neck and rolling her hips until pleasure sparked all the way down to his toes, he woke up and groaned as he came in his hand like a fucking juvenile.

Disgusted, he went to the bathroom to clean up.

Rather than return to bed, he went to the back patio, lay on a lounge chair, and stared up at the stars. Many people had purely sexual relationships. Why did his body insist on needing more?

“Adrían?” Larke’s sister appeared on the other side of the screen mesh with a pair of heels in one hand, a large bag slung over her shoulder, and her hair pulled up into a braided bun. “It’s me, Wren. Larke’s sister?”

“I remember,” he said.

“Do you mind if I crash here? It’s full at Dez and Larke’s, and I need a little more breathing room. I’ve stayed here before, but I didn’t want to wake Julien up and ask him to program a code for me.”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t mind at all.”

“Are you sure? Really, if I’m imposing?—”