She kissed his mouth, dueling her tongue with his. She ground against him, not knowing what she needed, but needing it badly. She wanted him in her, touching her, filling her. She opened her legs wider, ready to receive all of him.
It was an invitation he couldn’t resist. He kissed her deep and with one smooth hard stroke, he broke her barrier.
She gasped and stiffened.
He held as still as he could. “Look at me, Nile.”
His voice was husky and raw and she was addicted to it.
“We’re almost there...let it happen...let me have you.”
A tear rolled from the corner of her eye back onto the pillow. It wasn’t sadness or pain. All she felt was joy. “Yes.” The whispered word tumbled off her lips.
Dylan couldn’t wait anymore. Having done everything he could to give her an exquisite, lasting memory, his aggression took charge. He eased his penis in and out of her, reveling in the ecstasy. At first, slow deliberate strokes, then increasing to a steady pounding rhythm.
Her body rose against his and fell again as he brought them closer and closer to the pinnacle. Their words were reduced to grunts and incoherent sounds of pleasure. The storm outside receded, but the storm inside was breaking, crashing over them.
When the explosion came, Nile’s body froze, locked in place. A low scream spilled from her throat as she burst into raw fragmented pieces.
Dylan threw his head back. His was a cry of victory. He was in paradise, perfection, one-ness. He knew what he was supposed to do. He had every intention of pulling out...but it was impossible. He couldn’t. Their spirits were tied. If he separated from her now, he would die.
The hot rush of his orgasm mingled with hers and they rode the fire together.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nile’s phone woke them.
“Leave it.”
“I can’t.” She tried to wiggle out of his arms.
He wouldn’t free her.
“It’s Tigris. She’s five minutes away. If I don’t answer, she’ll come over.”
He let her go. “Tell her to stay her ass at home.”
Nile giggled, then read the text. She dropped the phone, sat up, and buried her head in her hands.
Dylan sat up too. He pulled her back against him.
She was shaking.
“What’s wrong?”
“Jordan made a decision. Two of them.”
Dylan waited.
“He will help one of you. Jake gets to choose.”
Motherfucker.
“His other decision is to no longer assist anyone without a provable alibi until further notice.”
“A provable alibi for what?”
“Somebody put Limetech and your brother in the same room. We need to know who that person is.”
Dylan nodded. It made sense, but hell.
“This puts a mark on you and Jacob and Sonny. Without witnesses, there’s no proof.”
That made sense to Dylan too. “Now my life comes down to a choice between Jake’s guilt and some hick’s self-preservation.”
She pushed her hair behind her ear. “Dylan, I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know what Jordan would do. But, he has a responsibility and every right to decide how his blood will be used.”
“Why is this about his blood?”
She thought about how to answer, then shook her head no. “I’ve told you too much as is.”
“Who would I ever betray you to?” He knew it was true as soon as he said it.
She believed him. “We all have our gifts. My blood has strong healing properties. We run the Bakery...and the restaurant so innocent people don’t die for the sin of passing through. Tigris and my cousin, Sugar, keep everybody tied to Rain stable and balanced. Jordan and Ernest have two jobs. Their blood is aggressive. It brings the very ill to manageable levels for Tigris and Sugar to maintain...”
He encouraged her. “The other superpower?”
“You know how the rest of the country is struggling with the unfair treatment of black men?”
“Yes. It’s a shit-show.”
“We don’t have that here. Black boys are a precious rare commodity. Nothing we do to maintain people’s health works without at least one shot of happy-boy-juice. It’s tied to that Sickle Cell trait, the Y chromosome, and a certain level of melatonin. Even if Tigris or Sugar were to help you, you have to start with Jordan...in a good mood.”
“Wow.”
“We think it’s a natural defense. You can’t force him, because if he’s not happy, the melatonin level won’t be right.”
“Thus, the ass-kissing and arrogance.”
“My brother is not arrogant.”
“Yes, he is.” He kissed her shoulder.
“He earned it. My dad is getting older; Jordan has to bleed more.”
“What about your cousin, or Mackey? How does their blood work?”
“Ernest is like Jordan; they work together.”
“So, this declaration might as well have both of their names on it?”
“Technically, it does.”
“Mackey?”
“Stay away from his blood. He’s just starting puberty. Right now, his blood is toxic.”
“Toxic as in...”
“Until his voice changes, my little cutie is the angel of death. We think it’s a natural defense as well. Nobody is stealing little black kids and forcing them to bleed.”
“This is some mad scientist shit.”
“My grandpa took the madness and found the science.”
This time, Dylan’s phone interrupted them. Jake got the news.
“Hell.” He showed her the frantic message. “I have to get over there. If Jake doesn’t lose his shit completely, Sonny definitely will.”
She nodded. He got up, and she pulled the covers around her. She felt letdown, but she didn’t know why. They couldn’t stay in bed forever.
Dylan was broody getting dressed.
The room felt cold.
Nile hugged her knees and withdrew into herself.
When he was ready, he sat on the bed beside her. “I have no idea what’s going on in your head right now, but this wasn’t a conquest—”
“It was a conquest.”
He kissed her forehead. “It wasn’t only a conquest. We’re not done, Nile. I’ve never experienced what happened between us. It’s never been that good. Ever. I want to crawl back into bed and make love to you again. I want to take you to dinner and learn your middle name and guess your favorite color. But, I have to put a lid on Jake’s hysteria, block Sonny’s stupidity, avoid being assassinated by your neighbors, and find a way to not die without offending your brother. I can’t do that here...where I want to be.” He kissed her.
She smiled and the whole room felt better.
“So, can I take you to dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He kissed her forehead and got up to leave.
“Dylan.” She stopped him at the door. “Elizabeth. My middle name is Elizabeth. What’s yours?”
“Xavier.” He came back and picked up something off the floor. “I’m keeping this.” He pocketed her bra on his way out.
NILE SHOWERED AND CHANGED; her body was sore like she’d worked out. Technically, she did work out. The bedding went into the wash as she tried to reconcile her feelings. She did it. This big, life-changing thing. She gave herself to Dylan, a man she hardly knew, who was by definition, her enemy...without a future.