them was visible to the human eye, though, so there was no slowdown, no gawking at the bombshell “woman” in the pool of illumination.
Luckily for the contingency of humans, they just sped right by, getting out of range.
“Nothing?” she prompted.
Jim narrowed his eyes. “Not that you’d want to hear.”
“I know about Nigel.”
No reaction. He refused to show any reaction at all. Maybe the Maker had told her? “Do you.”
“That puts them at a disadvantage, you know.” She waited as if expecting something, anything to come back at her. “They’re vulnerable.”
“‘They’ as in who?”
“Don’t be a fucking asshole, Jim.”
He shrugged, but she did have a point. The pair of them were kind of beyond any coy routine. “And you’re telling me this because…?”
“I thought you’d want to know. Assuming you don’t already.”
“No offense, Devina, but I find it impossible to believe you’re trying to help me.”
“Everything’s changed now.”
“Because Nigel bit it? I’m not sure he’s that important, frankly—but the point’s moot.”
She shook her head. “You don’t get it, Jim. You’re the one they’re going to have replace him.”
Years of training and experience were the only reason his expression didn’t change. But shit, that had certainly never dawned on him.
“Not in my job description,” he drawled, like he didn’t give a shit.
“Wait for it. Whether or not you win the war—”
“
“That’s your future now, Jim, and you’re not going to have a choice. You’re going to be conscripted.”
“Oh, come on, Devina, you’re so full of shit—”
“How do you think those four got their jobs? You think they were born up there? Don’t be naive, Jim. Your fate’s been sealed.”
He stared at her for a long time, connecting the dots and not liking the map that came into focus. “And you’re telling me this why?”
Even though he knew. He just wanted to see if she’d admit it.
Devina’s voice was the most level he’d ever heard it: “You need to think long and hard about where you’re at. You’re going to be in a jail for eternity. You’re going to be Nigel.”
“And you really think I’m going to believe you. About anything.”
It was satisfying to see her wince as the barb hit home. “I knew you were going to say that,” she whispered thinly. Except then she seemed to recover. “But that doesn’t change what is fact.There is a way out, however.”
“And what’s that?”
There was a long pause. “We quit. You and I refuse to play the game anymore.”
Chapter
Forty-five
As Duke drove into his woman again and again, his body was on the best kind of autopilot, no thoughts contaminating the sex, no emotions clouding the purity of the pleasure. The tight hold on his cock was transmuted through every inch of him, each thrust and retreat echoing outward under his skin, everything magnified.
It had never been like this with anyone for him. Not even Nicole back in the old days—
The orgasm slammed into him, locking his hips tight into the cradle of Cait’s pelvis, the rhythmic pulses of her own release milking him, making his head spin. Collapsing against her, he turned his face into her sweet, soft neck and breathed heavily.
So impatient for her. Every time it seemed like it was the first.
And he was still hungry.
But they weren’t taking the chance with doing a double again. Reaching between them, he held on to the base of the condom as he slowly retracted.
“Where’s your bathroom?” He had paid no attention to anything when they’d come up.
“Over there.”
Rolling off, he went in the direction she was pointing, going through a narrow doorway, locating the light switch by patting the wall. His eyes blinked hard as he was momentarily blinded, but then he took care of things, flushing what they’d used, cupping his hands under some cold water and taking a drink.
It was not a surprise that everything had its place, all the towels hanging precisely on the rail of the sliding shower door, the single toothbrush standing up straight in its holder, no brushes or makeup cluttering the counter around the sink.
As he straightened and wiped his mouth off, he met his stare in the mirror.
The unmistakable conviction that he was walking the same path he had before dogged him. G.B. was a seductive son of a bitch … but she wanted Duke. She really did—
Hadn’t Nicole been the same, though?
“Shut up,” he told himself. “Just shut the fuck up.”
“Are you okay?” Cait called out from the bedroom.
He hit the switch like he could turn off his thoughts, too. And as he walked back out, he hung tight to the way she had just been with him.
As if to prove a point to himself, he returned to her with a vengence, fusing his flesh with hers, finding her mouth in the dimness, licking his way inside of her. He was instantly hard again, his body raring to go.
Totally out of his mind, he took her from behind this time, maneuvering her onto her side, moving in tight on her. Easing her top leg up, he swept his palm down her smooth skin, grabbing hold behind her knee. Then he pushed inside, his erection finding her entrance like it knew exactly where to go.
So smooth, so hot, even deeper, even better.
Sweeping her hair aside, he bit at her shoulder, nipping at her, before twisting her head around so he could kiss her—but only for a short time. The rhythm got fast quickly, making it impossible to sustain the contact.
When she called out his name? He nearly came. The only thing that stopped him was that he wanted to concentrate on the feel of her release. He wanted to know that he’d given that to her, that he was that close to the heart of her, that he alone was able to do that for her.
Cait’s fingernails bit into his side, and the flares of pain nearly pitched him over the edge—except then she went stiff underneath him, and he surged in deep and held still. Closing his eyes, he became acutely aware of everything about her, especially the way her hips moved against him, creating the friction, working herself.
Just as she was slowing down, he knew it was his turn and he burrowed his arms around her so he could dig—
“Shit!”
He withdrew so fast, he nearly flipped off the bed.
“Duke? What—”
“No condom.” He rubbed his face. “No condom, damn it, I’m sorry.”
“Did you—”
“No, no, I didn’t come.” But talk about not having any game head going. “Thank God.”
She sat up and brushed her hair back. “Wow.”
“I’m clean—I never do stuff like this.” And wouldn’t that be more convincing if the mistake itself hadn’t just happened. “I lost my damn mind.”
“It takes two.”
“My responsibility.” As he flopped onto his back, he could feel his balls already protesting—and that was going to get worse. “I’m sorry. Shit.”
