Page 91 of Retrograde

Corrado keeps muttering until I snap and point out to him that I can kill him a lot faster and uglier than a bit of radiation unless he shuts the fuck up. On a better day, I might have explained that these levels aren’t high enough to bypass the protection of our suits in so little time.

But this isn’t a good fucking day. I’m overheating, restlessness crawling underneath my skin. I need to get the fuck out of here.

On the way back to our bikes, they both have to jog to keep up with me. Neither has any breath left to say a word, and soon we’re finally speeding away, miles disappearing beneath our wheels in a blur. But today, even the roar of the motor isn’t enough to drown out my thoughts.

34

ARON

Before going to my rooms, I take a shower in the communal bathroom in one of the lower-level caves. Grabbing my weapons, I leave my clothes in a bundle by the ladder—with luck, one of the eager newbies will take care of it. I climb up the ladder with only a towel wrapped around my hips, held in place by the tactical belt.

“Where the hell have you been?” Riley’s irritated voice reaches me as soon as I push the door open.

“What fucking business of yours is it?” I snap at her, mostly to stomp on the warm, stupid feeling that comes out of nowhere to melt my insides. I really need to stop thinking with my dick.

“You asshole!” She stomps her foot. “You left me no food, nothing to do, no word when you’d be back ... I have needs!”

Needs I have no reason to give a shit about. Needs I should frustrate and neglect on purpose, if only the idea of catering to some of them wasn’t so fucking appealing.

“I’ll see to your damn needs.” My mouth crashes against hers, silencing her protests and complaints.

I grab her—roughly, my grip bruising—pushing her towards the bed. My towel slips from underneath the belt and slides to the ground.

“Aron, I’m serious...” Her eyes stray to my hard, precum-covered cock, a thick vein pulsing along its length.

“Shut up.” I shove her, and she lands on the covers, her legs splaying to the sides.

My T-shirt has hiked up her smooth thighs, and I can see her pussy. I lean over her with a guttural growl, tugging the fabric out of my way, my eyes glued to the glistening treat in front of me.

“Aron, I’m hungry,” she whines in a half-assed protest that I dismiss with a simple “so am I” before my lips close around her clit.

I suck at it in rhythmic tugs, grazing my teeth against it with controlled precision until I have her moaning loudly and bucking her hips, thrusting into my mouth. Her juices dribble down my chin, my tongue plunging deep into her slit, and I’m completely overwhelmed by her. All my senses are hijacked by her taste, her scent, the feel of her skin underneath my fingertips, the way she looks and sounds when she’s about to tip over the edge.

By the time I slip my fingers into her soaked cunt she’s ready to clench around me. I know exactly the kind of pressure she needs, the tempo to make her shatter. But I don’t give it to her. Instead, I tease her on and on, relenting anytime she comes close, until I have her writhing with soft, desperate cries.

“Why won’t you fuck me?” she mewls. “Please.”

“I will,” I assure her, squeezing her hips. “But I want your ass today.”

“What?” she gasps, the sleepy slits of her eyes ripping open.

Seeing that I’m serious, she bolts, backing away. “Why?” Hurt and confusion contort her features.

Everything inside twists and aches, things I don’t want to name threatening to split me apart.

“I told you that was agony for me!” The shrill accusation in her voice is enough to gut me on the spot. “I thought you liked making me feel good.”

“I do,” I admit, the words tearing from my mouth before I can stop them. “I’m fucking addicted to it.”

“Then why would you want this?” She shrinks away from me with each step I take until she’s crouching in the uneven rock corner.

“Calm down, Riley.” I reach out to touch her, but she lets out an unhappy cry, and I drop my hands—for now. “You know you’ll love it when I do it.”

“No.” She is shaking her head, her hair flying. “Please no.”

Why the fuck does it have to be so hard for me to see her this way? I shouldn’t give a shit, but instead every word, every tear and every broken breath cuts through me like a blade.

“Riley.” The warning in my voice is sharp and crystal clear. “Remember what I told you when I was in the chains? That I would make you ...?”