He grimaces, fights the urge to join me.
His inner animal is disciplined a lot more than mine is. His father taught his two sons well how to control themselves. I’ve seen it on the missions, and now I’ve had my first taste of it in sex.
I wouldn’t have chanced this if I couldn’t bank on that control. I’ll be damned if Atlas causes a war by leaving a baby in my belly.
Because I’d keep it.
And then where would we be?
Stuck.
No, thanks.
As the throbbing wanes ever-so-slightly, the first signs that I’m coming down, I shove him off of me. Atlas reacts with shock, until I dive and take his cock in my mouth to finish him. Sucking and licking his slippery length, I taste myself and love every second of it. It’s meant to be this good. It’s supposed to be dirty. It’s supposed to be fucked up.
To drive him absolutely insane, I cup his tender sack and press on the skin just behind it. Poor guy has to bite his arm to stop from roaring as hot semen shoots between my lips in thick pulses. I tease the intensity of his orgasm to lengthen it as long as I possibly can. It only ends for guys quickly when they’re in their heads, think you don’t enjoy it, or when they don’t give a shit about you. But I’m a woman who loves to get men off, and that trait will melt even the most jaded male.
On the road I’ve taken more lovers than I can count. I’ve also lost track of how many have cried when I casually announced I was moving on. They didn’t bawl or beg because they particularly liked my company. I’m not easy to spend time with. I’ll tell you my opinion even if you don’t want it. My standards are high, but unpredictable. Some things matter very much to me, and other things that might to another woman, don’t. But you never know which until I make it really fucking clear.
I’ve been called a bitch, a whore, a cunt, a demon, the devil incarnate, insane, dangerous, fucking crazy, out of my damn mind, and once…a sociopath. That’s the only one I argued with because it was so far from the truth that it pissed me off. Sociopaths don’t feel anything. They don’t experience other people’s pain. They’re the serial killers of the world whether they’re actually taking lives, or just emotionally and spiritually killing people for the sick fun of it.
I’m not a sociopath in even one cell of my being. I feel more than I want to, and I fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. We all do here. You’re not a Cipher if you don’t give a shit.
“Sofia!” my mother calls from the house. “Dinner!”
I’ve just eaten, thanks.
CHAPTER 2
SOFIA SOL
T he back screen door clatters behind me as I walk into the Ciphers’ kitchen, alone, bearing no signs of the secret we gave birth to. It won’t come crying into the world in nine months but it, too, will last a lifetime.
My mother glances over, her dark beauty shimmering even in her older years. Sophia Loren had nothing on Luna Cocker. Raquel Welch maybe could compare. Mom’s been likened to Penelope Cruz more times than she cares to know about. To me all of those old screen beauties don’t hold a candle to the fire that blazes from this woman’s heart after all the good she’s done for a society who doesn’t even know she exists.
But she can be a real bitch sometimes.
“You didn’t hear me call, or were you just ignoring me?” she demands, fists propped on her hips.
“I’m not wearing a leash, am I? Give me a fuckin’ break.” I mount a stool beside the industrial-sized kitchen island so I can eye the ravaged platters better. “Looks like you all did fine without me.”
My father ambles in, huge shoulders swaying as he smacks Mom’s ass, throws his arm around her and kisses her grey-streaked, long black hair. It shuts her up for a second, and he takes over, locking onto my matching grey eyes that he passed down to me, his sharp as he barks, “Talk to your mother like that, and I’ll take your bike apart and hide the pieces.”
A half-grin tugs at my mouth. “Fine.”
Removing herself from his side to come face me, her nostrils flare. I feel my heart quicken as she nears. Even as an adult she’s the only person who makes me nervous. I care way too much about what Luna Cocker thinks. “Lose the smirk. Don’t let your father’s charm make you forget who is boss around here. He is. Show respect to him and to me, or I’ll make him follow through with that threat and you won’t join us on the next mission, understood?”
My eyes widen.
She hit me where it hurts.
I live for our work. Just like she does.
“I’m sorry.”
“Where were you?”
“Taking a walk.”
Her dark eyelashes narrow. “You smell like sex.”
My lips part, and I flick a worried glance to Dad. The look on his face is horrible. He had no idea that was a possible reason for my absence…and now he’s ready to kill.
I mumble, “Just one of the neighbor’s ranch hands. I was celebrating.”
But Ciphers tsunami into the room, changing the air in an instant with loud laughter and shouts of victory. It appears that Honey Badger, Atlas’ father, just got his ass handed to him in a pool game by Tonk.
Before Dad can demand a name, Honey Badger smacks his shoulder. “You lost fifty
