ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 28

━━─── • ───━━━

• Luna •

They've slowly turned you and me against each other.

Luna wasn't sure how to respond to BARDA's plan to follow them, get Amir to fight a Defective named Eric, and try to separate her from her husband. It was unsettling how he spoke about it, how honest and fierce he was. The whole hunting thing had been thrust upon her after she found she could become a Trojan, a human programmed to kill others.

Being around him now didn't feel the same. It was like having a ticking time bomb in the front seat, waiting to go off.

Amir had killed people already, but it was in self-defense. She had faith that he would resist the urge to be destructive, and he had confidence that she would do the same. She just hoped that they could both keep their emotions under control and get past this temporary setback.

Greer woke up from his two-hour nap, and the three of them stopped for a minute to eat before continuing on their way to the cabin. Luna ate most of her food soon after Amir pulled up to the house in the woods, which was part of a large resort. Tall trees. She could see the glitter on the driveway and in the corners of the two-story high rise even at night.

"Tanzanite," Greer chuckled. "Clever idea. Eric brought it in because there are no natural deposits available. It prevents others from detecting us and disrupts their wavelengths."

Stepping out of the car, she looked at the tiny flecks shimmering in the evening light. "They're pretty."

How many times could she have overlooked something like this? When Amir pulled a suitcase from the back, she turned to look at the scattered trees crowding the driveway.

"What are you doing?" she asked, meeting his stare.

"I'm going to get some," Amir replied.

"We could stay for the night since it appears that this area is closed off and the electricity is on," Greer suggested.

After letting go of the bag, Amir shook his head and rested his hands on his hips. "I don't know about that. Anyone could drop by."

"Who?" Greer snickered when he stood under a porch light, waving his arms around. "I'm pretty sure Eric won't be back until the morning, and we won't be able to meet Zander until eight. It's not even midnight."

Luna shifted her gaze to Amir and smiled softly. "I think we should stay. Just overnight. No more."

He narrowed his eyes and shook his head before returning his attention to her. "It's still not a good idea. I gave Eric enough sleeping tablets to keep him down until tomorrow night. I'm sure whoever he contacts will be wondering about his whereabouts."

"I didn't think about that," Luna said. "But we'll keep an eye out for any unusual activity."

"Nobody's here, right?" Greer pointed out, and Amir nodded.

"According to Eric's memories, no one comes out here after sundown."

"Then let's stay for one night. It can't hurt us," Greer continued.

"Yeah," Luna said, nearing her husband and reaching for his hand. "We don't have any other options, and we don't want to risk encountering another bounty."

Amir inhaled a deep breath, then nodded. "Okay. If that's what you want, we should get some rest."

"How do you feel around the stones, by the way?" Greer asked, and Amir's smile brightened.

"Like I'm standing on the tallest mountain," he answered. "It feels really good."

"How about you, Luna?" Greer wondered, her eyes locked on his.

She smiled a little, skeptical about how to express her feelings. There was no difference, and she didn't feel the same when she touched a stone, which was strange. "It's all good. I feel fine."

Once inside, she recognized Eric's unique taste. The foyer walls were painted red. A majestic chandelier dangled from the ceiling. The doorknobs were all painted a bright scarlet color, and the grand staircase's treads were also made of the same design.

"Wow," she murmured, staring at the walls.

Eric was standing in front of a lake in one of the pictures. He was in his twenties, tall, with dark skin and short brown hair. She looked around and didn't see any pictures of his family or friends, so she thought the man lived alone. Who could blame him? He seemed to have great taste, Defective or not.

Amir's lip curled while he looked around. "It is nice in here."

Luna smiled. He was taken aback by the luxurious interior design of the house, and she assumed he recalled Eric's memories. She and Greer walked around the house, beginning with the downstairs and working their way up to the master bedroom.

Amir headed straight for it, grinning his teeth off.

"I'm sure there are some spare rooms." She nodded down the hallway. "Perhaps we should pick one of them."

He bit his lower lip when he looked over his shoulder. "Where is the fun in that?"

She let out a soft laugh. "You're so bad."

But she followed him into the lavish master suite. It was large, with a four-poster canopy bed in the middle. He placed their bags on a settee after she checked out the bathroom.

"Holy whirlpool," she gasped. "This thing is massive."

From behind, her husband gathered his arms around her and tugged her back. "You know you like things that are . . . massive."

She blushed when she felt his hand on her lower spine.

Her body warmed as her craving grew stronger. "Your ego keeps growing."

Before brushing his lips to her temple, he chuckled. "I was being myself; the man you married."

Amir then stepped back, and she leaned against the wide sink, also painted crimson, and watched him.

She was already out of breath, and all she could think about was her husband's modesty. Ludicrous.

Amir's lips curled up as if he were reading her mind, which he probably was. She ignored the burning sensation that penetrated her veins.

"Are you sleepy, Moon?"

She shook her head, even though it was late and they hadn't gotten much sleep in the last few hours. His expression became quiet. "I know you want to do it."

Luna's stomach tightened when curiosity spread through her. "Do what?"

He knocked his head forward and then did the unexpected. He got into the big tub while wearing dirty clothes and soiled boots. "You want to enjoy this."

She laughed a little. "Kind of, but I also feel strange."

"Why? Because we're uninvited and are making ourselves at home?"

She swallowed and nodded when she looked at him.

"No, go ahead and enjoy yourself. I'm going to talk to Greer and check out the property to make sure it's truly safe."

"Plus, snag more Tanzanite while you're at it."

Amir wrinkled his nose at her and nipped her bottom lip. "I might just take it all. We'll need it for a lot of people."

"True."

Before leaving, he gave her a peck on the cheek, and after hearing his sinister laugh, she wished she had a large object to throw at him. She inhaled deeply and walked over to the sumptuous, spacious, and spherical bathtub. She turned on the faucets and adjusted the water's temperature. The linen cabinet was full of different items, and she chose something that had a citrus scent. She undressed and dove into the steaming water.

Despite the war, everything in the house continued to work, and she assumed that BARDA had been in control of everything for Eric.

Luna stretched out, resting her head on the back of the tub while the bubbles grew larger and wrapped around her neck, even though her sores were still burning. Finally unwinding, she lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"That is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. My God."

She jerked up and her eyes snapped open with a screech. Bubbles and water poured over the sides. "Crap! You frightened me!"

Amir was alert when he stood in the front of the tub, completely bare with all of his chiseled, rippled goodness on display.

He was . . . really alert.

Luna followed his short glance onto her front while observing his fast movements.

She looked up. "You're a total perv."

He laughed. "Only when you bring it out of me."

"I've said it before, but your flattery will get you everywhere."

Amir kept his eyes on her while spreading his legs two inches apart and stretching his arms out. "I think you need help bathing. May I?"

"May you what?"

He looked at her with a menacing "you know what" expression.

Then he opened his mouth. "You know the answer to that."

Her lips formed a tiny grin. "I'm a little dirty." She was tempted to bury her face in the water, but when his eyes opened, she realized she had no reason to be bashful.

It pleased him, too.

He climbed in behind her once she scooted up. He placed his legs along her hips and rubbed his hairy, wet body against hers. The water moved as the heat from the bath touched her skin.

After Amir brushed her hair off her shoulder, she felt his lips touch the spot in the middle of her back, right between her shoulders.

This kiss . . .

She wasn't sure why it made her cortex go into meltdown, but it did.

Luna couldn't deny the emotional impact their road trip had on her, no matter how rough it was.

During their trip together, she fell in love with him even more. Even with the minor issues, they had shared, done, and felt so much that nothing else mattered. She had never done anything better than loving him, and the fire in her chest was untangling the knots in her heart. Even though their lives were a mess, they had each other.

The government, BARDA, and other superhumans were after them, but none of that mattered to her soul.

Loving her husband was magical in all the right ways, especially on this expedition.

Amir wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her between his legs. She turned to face him. "Did both of you get a good look around the house?"

He kissed her on the cheek, and she melted. "This area is safe." He lowered his head and nipped at her jaw, reaching around her to pick up a bar of soap. "I'd like to wash you."

That was the only request she'd ever heard him make, and the way he said it made her stomach muscles tighten. He put soap on both hands, then curved one down her arm, over her fingers, and in between them.

"I enjoy it when you help wash me," she said.

He slid his hands back up, bringing water with him, and smiled. "I take care to touch all the important spots."

She chuckled. "You do."

He smiled when his cheek rose against hers. "I feel better as long as you do."

"And you want to do that?"

"Always." He then moved to her other side, brushing her breasts with his knuckles. When Amir washed the soap away, she jerked at the contact while he repeated the action. "Did that make you feel . . . refreshed?"

She bit her lip slightly. "Maybe."

"I think you crave more." He ran his hand over the flare of her hip and down her back. "Behind the bookshelf downstairs is a safe that keeps the case of ankle bracelets. I gathered enough for everyone when we return to the base."

"The base is not safe anymore, Amir." After his soapy hand slid over her stomach, she found herself motionless. "Right?"

"Unfortunately, I think so, too," he admitted. She struggled to concentrate when his hand continued to brush her arms and legs while smoothing up her stomach. "But let's not worry about anything now. Greer and I were talking, and he told me about a good underground hiding place in Washington where we could stay. We will be impossible to locate with the stones."

"Are you talking about after we have this meeting with Enzo and hopefully win this war?"

He nodded. "Even if we succeed, the experiments will continue. They'd carry on like nothing ever happened."

"That's terrible. What is the point of putting a stop to this mess?"

He laughed and rubbed his hands together, rinsing away the soap. She held her breath when he ran a soapy hand over her right and toward her left shoulder.

Her hips twisted into achy knots while she exhaled a breath.

"This war must be stopped no matter what. Those responsible for these terrorist acts should be held accountable." His thumbs moved over her tips while he cleaned her body with both hands. She thought he was being extra cautious about cleaning her front half. "That is what I believe. I just want us to live in a different reality than the one we currently are in. Particularly when we have more children."

Luna grinned against his beard. "You talk a lot about having children."

He kissed her forehead before dipping his hands into the water. "Because one day I'd like Sarah to have a younger brother or sister. Or both." Water poured over her cleavage, causing her body to tremble. "I enjoyed watching Adnan over the years. It prepared me for becoming a parent."

She wondered how their group was doing in California and prayed everything was fine, but she didn't want to risk tethering to anyone and compromising their progress. "You're still keeping an eye on him. Even Liberty keeps tabs on me."

"Exactly." His arms surrounded her. "It's fine if we don't have children. Sarah will be an only child and our pride and joy."

Luna smiled, attempting to keep a tear from falling on her cheek.

"Can I tell you something without you freaking out?" Amir slid his hands along her hips and down to her ankles, sending goosebumps across her limbs.

She tilted her head at him. "Tell me."

"I think . . ." He cleared his throat after a brief pause. "I believe Eric is the reason I've been more touchy with you."

Okay. That was not what she expected to hear.

Luna moved forward with her hand over his chest. "What do you mean?"

"When I absorbed Eric's abilities, I also consumed what he desires in life, and that is having a family," he explained, keeping a steady gaze on her and running a hand over the back of her shoulders.

"Understandable. Plenty of people want that."

"But Eric will never be able to," Amir asserted.

She wiped her eyes and snuggled into his arms. "Why not?"

"The organization made it to where he can't produce any children," he answered.

"That's . . . really sad," she whispered. "That's not fair."

"Life isn't always fair, honey." Amir slipped his hands over her thighs again, his lips brushing against the slope of her jaw. "They use him as a bounty, an agent, and a weapon. Just like us. We are their tools."

"No."

"I'm a weapon capable of destroying you, Moon."

Heat erupted within her, sending chills down her spine. "Amir, you are more than a weapon. Much, much more."

"I've already felt it," he declared, his voice thick with emotion. "This desire to explore my dark side. It's how Eric was programmed."

"Fight it. You can because I have."

"I am." A frown formed on his lips. "As long as we don't fight each other, we can fight our darkness together."

"Seriously, A. You must fight it."

Once his hand slid between her legs, she couldn't focus on anything else. After his hands touched her sex, he sent her into a daze of blissful ecstasy.

"I didn't want to miss a spot this time," he said calmly.

Her head collapsed against his shoulder. "What else is new?"

"I don't want you to think I'm not taking this bath seriously," he continued. Slowly, his fingers moved. "Because this is the most vital thing I've ever done."

"Besides making love to me," she quipped.

"That as well." Amir placed a soft kiss on her temple.

"You can't stop it." Because the pressure of his touch increased, her hips jerked. She wiggled, trying to move him. "Angel . . ."

His other hand reached forward and cupped the back of her neck. He steered her head back and to the side. His lips skimmed over hers. "I cherish that name. Say it again, Moon."

"Angel."

When her hips moved back and forth over his length, he pushed his finger deeper into her while closing his mouth over hers to absorb her moan. She reached behind her and wrapped her arms around his neck.

As the intensity of their kiss deepened, she felt herself becoming restless and desiring more. The continuous movement of his finger inside drove her wild, drawing her dangerously close for comfort, but it wasn't enough.

And he knew it.

Amir continued to taunt her.

His lips drifted along her throat once his mouth left hers. She groaned after he tasted her skin with his wet tongue. "A . . ."

"Say my name, baby," he said sternly into her ear.

"Amir . . ."

He shook his head, his hand gripping the back of her neck. "My other name."

"A-Bomb . . ."

His grip tightened when she addressed him by that phrase. "You know what name I want to hear."

"An . . . gel," she said slowly and tastefully.

With a satisfied hum, he grabbed her by the hips, lifted her, and turned her. Even though the water was dripping everywhere, she was focused on him.

Her knees fell to his thighs when he lowered her. Although his massive manhood waited patiently, he captured her mouth in a searing, deep kiss. While he did this, she had her hands on his shoulders and she tasted and felt him. There was no stopping the passionate love she felt for him.

Amir moaned, "Moon, I want to make love to you. Now."

She reached down and clasped her hands around his thick base, feeling his mass slide in. She put her hands on his shoulders and ran her thumbs over his abs while his fingers caressed her hips. After he made a sudden move and she gasped, he pulled her into an embrace and held her securely. Every time she found a rhythm that penetrated deep inside her, she whimpered and her inner vibration pounded. After he rose, he cupped her rear and pulled her down, keeping his eyes on her.

Suddenly, neither of them could use the slow rolls and thrusts. After she breathed, he began to pant.

Their lips pressed together.

Their bodies were moving quickly, almost feverishly, and she was holding him there with her hands around his face. A sensual surge of intense pleasure washed over her. He had her completely in his hands, but she had been all along.

This moment was more, so much more.

He slammed up, then down, and said, "You feel incredible," before wringing a strangled whimper from her. "You are perfect for me, Moon, and always will be."

With those words, Luna lost control and fell into a release that completely captivated her. He was right in everything he'd said. She was perfect for him and always will be.

━━─── • ───━━━