Stalking His Assassin

Chapter 10

ten

CHRISTOS

It's been three weeks since Tomas dropped me on Grace's doorstep. Three of the best weeks of my life. Besides disappearing from bed after our shared bath that first day, she hasn't left the apartment. Even then, she was back in less than fifteen minutes with an elevator full of bags and boxes of things she'd ordered for me.

I've enjoyed every minute of our time together, but living in this bubble couldn't last forever. After a week, Grace added me to the security system, giving me freedom even though she claims she's keeping me forever. It's the only quasi-fight we've had because the last thing I want is freedom from her. I haven't left the apartment or even hinted at wanting to. I want her to realize that I'm hers, and she's mine. She can tell me I can go a million times, and I'll refuse a million and one times.

Tomorrow, our bubble is being popped.

The Syndicate contacted Eris about a problem that needs handling. She's been walking around the apartment mumbling to either herself or Potato—it's hard to tell which—for hours. When I asked her what was wrong, she waved me off and said she needed to work, then disappeared into her office for a while. I've done my best to give her space, but I'm nearing the end of my rope.

Still mumbling, she heads to the front door.

"Where are you going, little wolf?"

She jumps as if she forgot that I'm here. I frown because it's not like her to be jumpy and unaware of her surroundings. Yes, she's relaxed around the apartment, but even so, I can't sneak up on her. She's trained to always be alert. It's second nature for her at this point.

"Downstairs," she says absently.

I follow her to the elevator. She doesn't protest, but I can see her jaw tick in agitation. She doesn't like me leaving the apartment. I've come downstairs with her several times to the gym, and every time, she tenses as if she's waiting for me to run. My poor little wolf… so afraid of being abandoned.

"Are you nervous about the job?" I can't see Eris being the type to get nervous about a job, though. Nothing about her is weak, and she's more than competent at what she does.

She scoffs. "No. This one is barely child's play."

"Then why are you upset?"

"I'm not," she says flatly.

She stalks off the elevator, obviously agitated. I follow close behind her to the armory. I've only seen the inside of this room once when she gave me the full tour of her space. It's just as impressive as I remember. She has every weapon imaginable neatly displayed. I watch her grab a well-used black backpack and start to fill it. I'm not surprised by most of it… leather gloves, her favorite mask, a lock-picking kit, two guns and several clips for each, a bevy of knives, and, to my surprise, explosives.

"Is that necessary?"

She shrugs. "Never know when blowing shit up is necessary."

"Fair enough."

She opens a smaller black bag and starts emptying it. It's a trauma kit that's obviously been picked through. I remember the thin pink scar on her thigh and anger flares in my gut. She was hurt on her last job. She could be hurt this time too. Even though I know she's the best at what we do—better than even me—I hate the idea of her in danger.

I watch her restock the kit with gritted teeth. I hate the thought of her without me there to watch her back. We should be a team. I want us to be a team. We're no longer lone wolves. Charging into danger doesn't just affect us alone anymore. There are someone else's feelings to consider now.

She stuffs the replenished kit in the bag and zips it up. She shoulders the bag, then wordlessly walks past me. Eris is in complete control right now. All the softness I've been privy to these last few weeks seems to have disappeared. She's completely shutting me out, and I won't accept that.

I silently follow her back upstairs. I wait until she sets her bag down, then I'm on her. I crowd her against the wall. Before she can protest, I wrap my hand around her throat. Her eyes flare with anger. The first show of genuine emotion she's given all day.

I'll take it. Anything is better than Grace shutting me out. To the rest of the world, she can be the cold, detached Eris, but not with me. I want the fiery, passionate woman with a gentle heart underneath the prickly exterior.

"Let me go," she demands, her tone dangerous.

I'm not holding her hard enough to hurt her, just enough to get her attention. We both know she could get out of my grip if she wanted to. That she's standing here, glaring at me, tells me more than she's willing to admit. She wants me to take control of the situation. She's feeling too much, and it's overwhelming her. It's not the first time since I got here that she's gotten lost in her head.

One day, she'll trust me enough to know she can show me vulnerabilities without fear. For now, I'll push her into letting go. I'll always be here to catch her; only time will prove that to her.

"Tell me what's wrong," I counter, adding pressure to my grip on her delicate throat.

Her hand latches onto my wrist, but she merely holds onto me.

"Nothing is wrong—" she starts.

"Don't lie to me, little wolf."

"I'm not," she snarls.

"Do you know what happens to liars?"

Her eyes flare with awareness. We've briefly touched on the idea of punishments. Mostly in jest, but her reactions to the threats have been tinged with interest. I've spanked her during sex to heighten her pleasure, and she liked the bite of pain. I think a good spanking is exactly what she needs to remind her that she's not on her own anymore. She needs to remember that I'm her partner, and her worries are my worries. Her joys are my joys.

"What happens?" she asks, breathless.

"I think you know, love. Bad girls who lie get punished."

A shiver rolls through her, and her muscles relax in submission. That's the only permission I need to take this further. I throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the living room. I set her on her feet and make quick work of pulling her jeans and panties down to her knees. She gasps when I spin her around and push her over the arm of the couch.

She shifts on her feet, rubbing her thighs together. I'm pleased she's turned on by the thought of being punished by me. Let's just hope that she still feels that way after I paint her ass red with my palm. I put a hand on her lower back, pinning her in place. Her breath gusts out, and she relaxes into her position.

My hand slaps down in a firm swat, not giving her time to overthink things. She gasps at the sharp sting but doesn't protest. I set a steady pace, alternating cheeks until both pale globes are an attractive shade of pink. Her thighs are clenched tight, and she wriggles her bottom between spanks as if asking for more.

"Are you ready to tell me what's going on in that beautiful head of yours?" I ask, rubbing her bottom roughly.

"Nothing's wrong," she says in a near moan.

"Very well," I reply, not hiding my disappointment.

I resume spanking her pert ass. Each swat is harsher than the last. I pay particularly close attention to her sit spots. After a few hard spanks, her hands fly back to protect her sore bottom. I catch her hands in one of mine and pin them to her lower back, then resume spanking her. It doesn't take long for her entire body to go limp in complete submission. I give her two more swats, harder than all the ones before. She sucks in a breath and lets out a muffled sob.

Everything inside me wants to pick her up and hold her, but I know she'll shut down again if I offer her softness right now. She needs me to be in control, and even though it kills me to listen to her cry without comforting her, I know it's what she needs to release, whatever she's bottled up.

"Talk to me, love."

"I-I'm leaving tonight."

"We knew one of us would have a job come up sooner or later, little wolf. Eris and Hades can't hide away forever."

"Y-you'll l-leave m-me," she wails.

Finally, the truth. She's worried that I will leave her if she's not here. I should've known that would worry her. She gave me access to her security system so I could leave at any time, but I stayed because I knew it was a test, even if she wasn't aware that's what she was doing. I won't fail her. I cover her back with my larger body and wrap my arms around her tightly.

"I'm not going anywhere, love," I croon, pressing gentle kisses to her shoulder.

"You w-will. I won't be here to keep you."

"Oh, my love. How do you not know that you own my heart and soul? There's no me without you. Leaving you would be the death of me."

"I h-hate that you made me love you!" she wails.

My heart soars at her confession. "I'm not sorry, little wolf. I've loved you for so damn long it's about time that you caught up."

She lets out a choked laugh. "I don't want to lose you."

"I'm right here, love."

She shifts on her feet, causing her ass to rub against my cock. I've been hard since I bared her beautiful ass. Even our serious conversation isn't enough to get rid of it. Being pressed against her like this has only made me harder—needier. Hearing her confess her true feelings for me has me even more turned on. She gasps at the feel of me and presses back against me again. I grip her hip, preventing her from rubbing her sexy ass on me.

Grace whimpers at being denied.

"What's wrong, little wolf?" I ask, nipping her neck.

"I need you."

"You have me."

"Inside me. I need to feel you… please," she says pleadingly.

I stand and make quick work of undoing my belt and jeans. I push them down enough for my cock to spring free. I run my fingers through her pussy lips, finding her absolutely soaked. I line up with her opening and thrust into the hot clench of her pussy in one hard motion.

She moans, arching her back. She so fucking tight like this. Her legs are pinned closed by her tight jeans around her knees, making her feel even tighter. She feels like my own personal heaven.

"Oh God, Christos!" she cries out.

"You feel so fucking good. My good girl. Who owns this pussy?" I growl.

"You!"

"That's. Right. It's. Fucking. Mine." Every word is punctuated by a hard thrust that has her clenching around me like a silken vise.

"Yours… yours… yours…" she pants.

I force my hand between her body and the couch so I can circle her clit. She makes an unholy noise as her orgasm overtakes her. Her pussy flutters around me like she's trying to milk me, but I'm not done with her yet. I pull out and flip her so her ass is perched on the edge of the arm of the couch and enter her in another hard thrust.

"Oh fuck! Fuck… fuck… Oh God, Christos… It's too much…"

"Look at this pretty little pussy taking my big cock. You like it, don't you? You like when I own you with this thick cock."

“Yessssss…” she hisses.

"That's my good girl. Now you're going to come for me again."

She shakes her head in denial, but her body is already tightening around me. I keep the same relentless pace until her pussy locks down on me. It's the most exquisite torture I've ever felt. I bury myself deep and let go. My cock jerks inside her as I fill her with my release. I come harder than I've ever come in my life. I swear it's like she's sucking my fucking soul out with her pussy. I don't care. It's hers anyway.