Zeno: #8 (Luna Lodge) (13 page)

Ava leaned forward over him. Her soft breasts brushed against his chest as she stilled her hips over him. She pressed down until he was fully rooted inside her. Her hips gyrated around, moving his hard cock deep inside her.

“Ava,” he grunted. The feel of her tight pussy squeezing him was almost too much.

“What do you need?” she whispered. “Show me.”

Zeno rolled her over. She yelped in surprise.

He sat up, still inside her and found the nub at the top of her fold. Zeno pressed on the bundle of nerves and watched as she writhed on the bed, eyes closed, chest heaving as her insides clutched him in a vise grip.

In one smooth stroke, Zeno pulled back and slammed into her.

Ava cried out and fisted the covers around her.

Continuing to circle her clit, Zeno lifted her legs over his shoulders and used her own body as leverage. His hips slapped against her in smooth hard strokes.

“More,” she groaned.

He dropped his hand from her clit and leaned forward, her hip now angled so he could go even deeper inside her.

Ava brought a hand to his ass. Her nails bit into the skin there, but the pain of it only excited him more.

She was close. He could feel it.

He sped up, hammering into her until he felt the first flutters as she came around him, pulling him in even deeper with each thrust.

Zeno came deep inside her. Her cervix pulsed against his head, and he shivered as the last drops were squeezed out.

He rolled off her and dropped to the other side of the bed.

Surprised she could still move, Ava pulled herself next to him and laid her head on his chest.

She peppered the skin there with soft kisses that somehow almost did more for them than the amazing sex.

Ava wrapped an arm around his middle and snuggled in deeper.

They lay quietly for a moment before she sat up to look at him.

“Everything about you is different,” she said quietly. “I can feel it deep inside. Like I’ve known you all my life.”

Zeno opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.

This wasn’t what he did. Talking about how he felt. How she made him feel. There were no words to describe the sort of peace that came over him when she was near and how being with her was like knowing the other half of himself. His Vestal.

Not sure what to do, Zeno did the only thing he could: show her his feelings.

This time the kiss was soft. He explored her mouth like he’d wanted to before when he couldn’t seem to find the restraint. His tongue slipped into her mouth, and they moved in one motion against each other.

Ava shifted over him and molded her body to his. Zeno slipped his hand to her cheek and caressed the soft skin there.

She moaned low and deep. The sound rippled through him, and he cursed his lower half for responding. This was supposed to be about his feeling for her, not about his lust.

She brought her hip up and bumped his rigid cock. He heard her gasp.

She pulled back to stare at him in disbelief. His heart sank. Even when he was trying to show her what she meant to him, he still couldn’t.

He frowned when she gave a little chuckle but relaxed into her hand when she smoothed out the worry lines on his face.

“Easy, big boy,” she whispered. “I just wasn’t expecting round two so soon.” She shook her head and trailed hand from his face down his body. “Sometimes it’s nice for a girl to know she’s wanted.” She smiled.

He loved the way her eyes crinkled in the corner when she did.

“Do you want me?” she whispered.

“Always,” he said.

The word came out without a moment of hesitation. He was surprised by his own revelation.

Always.

The more he thought about it, the more he knew how true it was.

He groaned when her hand stroked the length of him, her fingers massaging him.

“Show me,” she said, her voice low and husky.

Zeno growled, ready to show her just what his mouth couldn’t say.

Chapter Eighteen

Ava took the stairs more slowly than she might have normally and blushed when she thought about how many times she and Zeno had come together. She’d never been with a man who wanted her as much as he did. For that matter, she’d never been with a man who could have sex so many times in a row.

She’d wanted to continue with the pleasure right on through the day, but when Luís returned to open the restaurant, she knew there was no way she’d be able to stifle the sounds she made with Zeno. Reluctantly, they had to stop.

Instead, she’d continued to go through Antonio’s books and paperwork. There was little to really go on, but the Potestatem company kept popping up. Whatever he had going on with them had been a steady thing for the last year.

What exactly that was, she wasn’t totally sure, but it would make sense he’d be able to pick up Glycons during his cruises. She doubted that Antonio needed Glycons for simple smuggling or drug running.

“You ready?” Zeno asked when she stepped out into the back of the restaurant.

Luís had stayed late to let them out when Apollo and Val arrived in a car.

Ava’s face heated when her eyes met Zeno’s. She nodded.

Zeno extended his hand to Luís. “We are in your debt.”

The man waved his hand to dismiss the claim, but when he shook Zeno’s hand, the old man glanced over to her and leaned in.

“He will come for her,” Luís said. “No matter the blood he must spill.”

Zeno nodded, like he expected it all along. “And he will lose.”

Luís gave a nod. “We protect those we love. No matter what.”

Zeno stepped to the car.

She watched, not quite sure if the old man had just helped get Zeno to declare his love or if he was just agreeing she needed to be protected.

Ava smiled when Luís held open his arms to give her a hug.

She walked into his embrace. The smell of spice clung to him.

“Will you be all right?” she whispered.

Luís pulled back and laughed. He thumped himself on the chest. “I am stronger than I look.”

Ava smiled at him. She believed that was likely true. He had no problems dealing with the men when they had come by.

“‘Gold, when beaten, shines.’”

It was something Piero often said. The old saying was at the very heart of the people there.

Luís nodded and looked over to Zeno.

“I think your friend knows this as well,” he said to her in Spanish.

Ava turned to look at Zeno, who only frowned. She knew he hated not knowing what was being said.

“We should go,” he said gruffly.

Ava turned back to Luís and gave one last hug. “Thank you.”

* * *

The car was quiet as Apollo drove them to the small private airfield. Being out so late at night meant that not many people were there to see them as they made their escape.

He pulled the car outside the hangar. A small four-seat plane rested inside, its pilot doing his final checks. Not exactly the fanciest ride out of the country, but it would do.

Ava climbed out and yawned. Maybe she’d be able to get some sleep finally.

She looked back to the car and frowned. Apollo still sat in the driver’s seat, the car idling as he did.

“Aren’t they coming with us?” she asked.

Zeno climbed out of the other side and walked to where she stood.

“No. Just you,” he said finally.

Her heart leapt into her throat. “What?”

He placed a hand on her arm, and she shook it off.

“We still have work to do,” he said.

Ava scoffed at the words. Work? It wasn’t the first time she’d heard that excuse.

She glared at him. “So you’re just going to dump me off?”

Zeno shook his head, but she didn’t want to hear it.

“Ava—”

“No,” she said and angrily slung her backpack on to her back. “You know what, fine. I’m sure you’re glad you don’t have to babysit me now.”

The words came out with a bitter taste.

It didn’t matter. All she wanted now was to get on the damn plane and take a nap. She stomped off.

As she walked away, a part of her wanted him to call her back, to say what it was that he was feeling.

The silence cut through her heart. His lack of words spoke to her more than anything.

She tilted her chin up and marched toward the terminal and the plane that would finally take her home.

Zeno watched her, not sure what he could say to make this right. Once again he opened his mouth to explain, but nothing came out. The words stuck in his throat.

He let out a quiet grunt and climbed back into the car. There was nothing he could do now.

Besides, this was for the best. Luís had been right. Antonio would never stop. The best place for Ava was back in the United States and far away from the crazed criminal and his strange Glycons.

For now, Zeno had a job to do, and that was going to have to come before his feelings. They could talk when he returned to the United States.

Val turned and scowled at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“Val,” Apollo said, his voice warning her of the lines she was crossing.

“No, you’re right,” she said to her bonded and then turned back to Zeno. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

He glared at her as they pulled away.

“She had to go home,” he said and watched as Ava disappeared into the plane. “We barely escaped from the estate, and she could have been shot by Antonio’s men after the hotel attack.”

Val snorted. “And you didn’t to maybe say, ‘Hey, baby,’” Val lowered her voice in mock imitation of him, “‘you’re going to go home now so I know you’re safe because I worry. But we’ll be together soon, so we can fuck like bunnies.’”

Apollo snorted at his woman, surprising Zeno. Val smirked.

Zeno turned away from her.

“We’ll work it out,” he said, now feeling even more unsure of just what his role was. “She’ll understand.”

Val shrugged and plopped back into the seat in front of him.

“Whatever,” she said. “I’m sure the girls will help smooth it over. We all have some experience with idiotic men, especially of the hybrid variety.”

Apollo turned and frowned at her.

Val smiled and patted his knee. “Relax.” She smiled at him. “You’re far less idiotic now.”

Zeno ignored them. He didn’t want to talk about Ava anymore.

“You have the location?” he asked.

Apollo nodded. “We’re in for a bit of a hike,” he said. “The pings are coming in strong from that mountain.” He pointed.

Zeno followed his finger and groaned inwardly.

“How far can we drive up?” he asked.

Val turned to look at him. “We scouted an entrance tunnel for service workers. We didn’t go far in, but our guess is that the tunnel runs a good couple miles into the mountain.”

Relief filled him. A road was much better than having to actually climb a mountain. He could do it, but it wasn’t exactly exciting. And he wanted excitement to keep his mind off Ava.

“We’ll ditch the car outside the opening and go on foot,” Apollo said.

Zeno nodded. “And what are orders after that?”

“Observe and report back,” Apollo said. “We are not to engage unless absolutely necessary. The longer we observe, the more we’ll know about what we’re dealing with.”

Zeno nodded. If there were Glycons, and their numbers were too great, they would be easily overwhelmed. This new breed was different. Strong. Stealthy. Dangerous.

He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

Last night had left him drained, and he’d ever bit of energy to make it out alive.

Chapter Nineteen

Ava woke as the plane bounced on the runway. It hadn’t felt like she’d been out for more than half an hour.

Still exhausted, she opened her eyes and looked out the window. She frowned.

“Is something wrong?” she shouted up to the pilot.

The man shook his head and waved back to her. She searched her brain for “mechanical difficulties” in Spanish, but the words eluded her in her post-sleep fog.

The door next to her jostled open. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn’t right. No. Something was very, very wrong.

The door swung open, and an arm reached in to pull someone up, an arm with some very expensive looking clothing.

Ava shivered as Antonio stepped into the tiny enclosed space.

“So good to see you Ava,” he said in English. “I’ve missed you.”

His dark eyes watched her with an ownership that scared her.

“Let me go,” she said.

Antonio laughed, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His expression darkened, promising her more pain the more she resisted.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he said and stepped further into the plane. “You see, you have something I need, and I’ve spent a lot of time looking for it.”

Ava grabbed her backpack and tossed it over to him.

“It’s all there but the money,” she said. “All the papers and notes. I gave the money to Anita. She deserved it.”

“Money? You think I care about the pitiful money you stole?” Antonio laughed and opened the bag.

She nearly gagged when he pulled out the black lace nightie she’d bought. He held it up and raised a brow. She turned away from him. Maybe if she didn’t acknowledge him, he’d just take the bag and go away.

Ava jumped when the bag plopped in the seat next to her.

“No,” Antonio said. He snickered. He leaned toward her and placed one hand on the chair next to her head. “I want something far more valuable than some papers.”

She shook in the seat so badly the belt around her rattled nearly much as it had during landing.

Ava swallowed and lifted her head. She refused to be anyone’s pawn anymore.

“If you want it from me, you’ll have to take it,” she snarled, her voice far more confident than she was feeling.

“Good,” Antonio said. His lips curled into an evil smile. “I like a challenge. And I think you should have learned by now I always get what I want.”

He pulled out a needle from behind him containing clear liquid.

Ava leaned back from him as far as she could. “What’s that?”