We returned to Valen, updating the Chief over the radio about the success.

  Numerous pillars of light shone from the vehicle as everyone opened their reward boxes. Excited chatter passed through the radio and vehicles as everyone discussed what they got.

  The urge to pull over and open my box soared through my body but I suppressed it. Focusing on the drive and NOT my desire to find out what sweet, sweet loot I had received.

  When we arrived at the detachment, more firefighters, paramedics and Michelle were waiting with Chief Dobson for our arrival.

  Michelle rushed forward and hugged Kira, then surprised me by reaching out and pulling me into the embrace as well.

  “Thank goodness you both are safe.” Michelle said as she hugged us.

  “Mooomm.” Kira complained in embarrassment but I hugged Michelle back, the motherly affection foreign to my upbringing.

  “Thanks Michelle. It is good to be back. Where is Jeff?” I looked around but didn’t see him in the crowd.

  “That’s my fault.” Chief said. “I have him working at the farmland to see what his skills can do. You guys can go pick him up after the debrief.”

  The debrief took around an hour.

  “I am sorry for the loss of Ethan.” Chief said looking everyone in the eyes as he scanned the room.

  “We couldn’t even retrieve his body.” I said, my head lowered in shame.

  “I know if you could have, you would have. Try not to be too hard on yourselves. I am proud of each and every one of you. You closed the gate. Got as many people home safe as you could. You are heroes. Don’t spiral. You said it yourself, mourn their deaths but don’t let them hold you back. Get stronger in their name.” Chief rested his hand on my shoulder, drawing my eyes from the floor. There was no judgement in his eyes.

  “Apparently, I hate being quoted back to myself, but yes, I understand.” I gave him a half smile.

  Chief gave me a sympathetic nod before continuing. “Alright. Go home, get some rest. There will be more work tomorrow. So rest while you can.”

  Everyone filed out of the office but I stayed behind, waiting for the last person, Kira, to leave. She gave me a questioning look before closing the door leaving me alone with Chief.

  “Elias? How can I help you?” Chief asked as he raised an eyebrow, his hand twirling the end of his mustache.

  “I want to get stronger. Better. I want people to stop dying under my watch.” I vented as frustration boiled over.

  Chief stared at me for a long moment, taking his time to decide his next words as my frustration ebbed away. “Are you a god Elias?”

  “Sorry?” I asked, the question was so far out side of what I expected that it shocked me.

  “Are you a god?” He asked again. “Or do you have a god complex?”

  “No Sir?” I said cautiously.

  What is he getting at?

  “What I mean is. It seems like you want to be able to decide who lives and who dies. Like you want to control everything.”

  “I don’t… I just.” I paused looking for the right words.

  “I get it.” Chief said before I could find them. “Before, we were powerless to stop death. We were always showing up when someone was already dead, whether it was a vehicle collision or murder. We were powerless to stop it. Now we have power.” Chief leaned against his desk as he spoke, crossing his arms. “Now we are faster, stronger, can save the people we normally couldn’t. But we have to be careful. People still die Elias. We can’t be everywhere at once. If you take to much responsibility for that, it will eat you alive. I saw it happening to you before the system.

  You were burnt out from all the trauma. Jaded and cynical of everybody and everything. Now you are a leader, because you feel strong enough to fight those traumas. To stop people from getting hurt or dying.”

  He paused as the words sank in. “But we can only be responsible for so much. We can only do so much. Remember that, work hard to save as many people as you can but give yourself some slack. Everyone who goes in the dungeon understands the risks. They choose to be there, to fight for this world. Their deaths are honorable, don’t take that away from them and cheapen it by blaming yourself.”

  I felt the weight on my shoulders slightly lessen and I took a long breath.

  “Thank you Chief.”

  “Don’t need to thank me for the truth boy.” He clasped me on the shoulder again before turning and walking back to his desk.

  I turned to leave when an idea popped into my head. “Chief?” I called from the doorway.

  “Yeah?” Chief looked up from the paper he had picked up from the desk.

  “Do you mind doing some training with me to level some of my skills when we have a chance? Like we did in the dungeon?”

  “That sounds like fun. Get some rest, we will talk more about it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks Chief.”

  Jon was waiting for me in the hallway as I exited the Chief’s office.

  “What’s up Jon?”

  “Hey. Can I ask you something?” Jon said, his face pinched with concern.

  “Of course buddy.”

  “Why didn’t you tell Chief about my discovery?” Jon was cautiously watching me as he waited for my response.

  “Because it wasn’t my information to tell.” I said simply. “ I never asked your permission to tell so until I spoke to you about it, I wasn’t going to mention it. Then honestly I forgot about it.” I gave him a tired smile. “Long day am I right.”

  “Oh…” Jon suddenly looked sheepish.

  “Why? What did you think was the reason?”

  “I thought you might have thought it was stupid. That playing with plants and chemistry was not important.”

  His answer stunned me for several moments. “You do realise how revolutionary your discovery is? You found us another healing options and who knows what else?”

  “I dunno, you guys are just such frontliners that I was afraid you wouldn’t actually care about it.”

  “The only thing I am worried about is how much demand people will put on you when they find out.” My suddenly serious tone had Jon looking up from the floor.

  “For all we know, you are the only player in the world who has created something that can heal as a standalone product. That makes you one of the most important players. You need to be careful who you tell. The old world no longer exists and I can imagine the risks someone would take to get that ability for themselves.”

  Jon nodded as my words sunk in.

  “So do you want me to tell the chief? We could also help with protection for you and your family.”

  Jon took a moment to consider. “Let me take some time to perfect or enhance the recipe then you can tell him. Ill keep it just between our team of players for now.”

  “Okay, if you need anything let me know. Make sure to send me some when you finally have enough to hand out.” I beamed at him as we began walking out of the building together.

  “Not a chance.” Jon gave me a wide grin. “You will have to pay for them. I jack the price up every time you steal a kill from me.” Jon gave me a wink before leaving to Join Shanira, Gideon and Flynn who were saying goodbye to Logan, Jamie and Jace.

  I joined Kira and Michelle near the Police Truck. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes please, I need a shower.” Kira said before getting into the passenger seat.

  We reached the farmland faster than I expected.

  The road curved gently along the inner perimeter of the city’s rising walls, massive slabs of concrete and steel climbing skyward in segmented stretches. Beyond them, the world waited in uncertainty. Inside, Valen was trying to learn how to breathe again.

  The greenhouse dominated the plot.

  It was new. Too new. Steel supports still shone beneath the translucent panels, and the structure stood in stark contrast to the three acres of dark, freshly turned soil surrounding it. Long furrows cut clean lines through the land, waiting for their turn. This was only the beginning. Once the inner farmland stabilized, expansion would push outward beyond the walls. Controlled. Planned. Safe, if anything could be called that anymore.

  As we stepped closer, I noticed the glow.

  It wasn’t harsh or artificial. It pulsed gently, like a living thing, casting soft waves of green and amber light against the greenhouse walls. Something was growing in there. Growing fast.

  The moment I opened the door, the air hit me.

  Warm. Thick. Alive.

  The scent of soil and vegetation wrapped around me, rich and heavy enough that it clung to my clothes. Humidity beaded on my skin within seconds, and sweat formed at the base of my neck as if I had stepped into a jungle rather than a controlled agricultural space. Leaves brushed my arms as we moved inside, broad and healthy, veins glowing faintly beneath their surfaces.

  Jeff stood at the center of it all.

  He was surrounded by half a dozen people in coveralls, wide-brimmed hats, and dirt-stained gloves. Farmers, volunteers, survivors. Whatever they had been before, they were something new now. Something hopeful.

  Jeff’s hands glowed.

  Not brightly. Not violently. A steady, earthen radiance flowed from his palms into the soil beneath a raised planting bed. Sweat poured down his face, soaking into the collar of his shirt, his jaw clenched in concentration. The glow intensified for a moment, then settled.

  The soil shifted.

  I watched vines creep over the edge of the bed as if nudged by an unseen hand. Leaves unfurled, deep green and waxy. Thick stems twisted upward, and within seconds, bright orange squashes pushed free, swelling visibly as they grew. The glow faded, leaving behind nothing but vibrant life.

  Jeff stumbled back a half step, breathing hard.

  Then he laughed.

  A sound full of disbelief and triumph.

  “Yes,” he breathed, wiping his forehead. “That’s it.”

  “Wow, Dad.”

  Kira’s voice carried across the greenhouse, filled with something warm and unguarded. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. Jeff stiffened for a moment, then returned the hug, one hand patting her back gently.

  “That was amazing.”

  Jeff chuckled, holding her at arm’s length as he looked her over. His gaze was sharp despite the exhaustion, the instincts of a father and a man who noticed details. “Are you okay? You look tired. How was the dungeon?”

  “We’re both fine, sir,” I said before Kira could answer, forcing my voice steady. “Gate was cleared. We returned safe.”

  Images flashed through my mind before I could stop them. Splashing water. Blood. Screams. Then stillness.

  I smiled anyway.

  Jeff nodded slowly, then turned to Michelle. “Then I guess it’s time to go home.”

  “It is,” Michelle said softly.

  Jeff clapped his hands together, energy returning despite the fatigue. “Let me say goodbye to the gang and grab that box of produce.”

  “Gang?” Michelle echoed.

  She and Kira exchanged a look before breaking into matching smiles.

  “Seems like he fits in,” I said, watching as Jeff shook hands, accepted claps on the shoulder, and even returned a few hugs. These people had only known him for the day, maybe less, and yet he already belonged.

  “He’s only been here a day, right?” I confirmed with Michelle.

  “Hours,” she replied, pride unmistakable.

  We left with a heavy box of fruits and vegetables, the warmth of fresh growth still clinging to them. Jeff insisted we take two of the glowing squashes. By the time we reached the car, the light had faded, leaving behind perfectly ordinary produce. Ordinary, and priceless.

  Kira headed straight for the shower the moment we got home.

  Jeff and Michelle moved into the kitchen, voices low as they talked about the greenhouse, the farmers, plans for tomorrow. I followed them in, my pulse picking up with every step.

  Jeff noticed immediately.

  “What’s on your mind, son?”

  “Huh?” I realized I had been staring at the floor.

  “You’re vibrating,” he said, pulling out a chair beside him and patting it. “Sit. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

  I swallowed and sat.

  “I have two questions,” I said, meeting his gaze.

  “First. I asked Kira out on a date. I’d like your blessing.”

  Jeff burst out laughing, slapping his knee. “About time.”

  I blinked. “Huh?”

  “Son, we’re living in your house,” he said, gesturing around the kitchen. “You’ve risked your life for her more than once. If you didn’t have feelings, I’d be more worried. Took you long enough to ask.”

  Heat crept up my neck.

  “Stop teasing him,” Michelle said, smacking Jeff lightly with her oven mitt. “You have our blessing. It’s not the sixties anymore, but it’s still a kind gesture.”

  Relief hit me harder than any dungeon fight.

  “Thank you.”

  “Now,” I said, turning to Michelle. “Second question. Can you teach me how to cook Kira’s favorite meal? I’ve been a bachelor a long time, and with everything going on, I want to do something nice for her.”

  Michelle froze.

  Then she smiled, eyes soft. “Absolutely. Her favorite is steak.”

  “Steak I can do.”

  “I bet you can,” she laughed. “Medium-rare. I’ll help with the sides. Roasted vegetables.”

  “And potatoes,” Jeff added.

  “Herb potatoes,” Michelle said, kissing him on the cheek.

  I exhaled. “Okay. Steak I’ve got. The rest… not so much.”

  “We’ll fix that,” Michelle said. “And take one of the bottles from downstairs. White wine. Red’s too dry for her.”

  “Thank you, truly.”

  We started that night.

  Peeling potatoes. Cutting them just right. Seasoning. Into the oven. I watched Michelle prepare dinner, her knife flashing as she worked with practiced ease. Every movement was precise, calm, confident.

  I paid attention. Every detail.

  Kira joined us with damp hair and a towel over her shoulders. “Shower’s free.”

  I smiled at her. “Thanks.”

  After dinner and discussing the days event I decided to open my reward box from the dungeon. I sat on the couch and summoned the box, black in color with gold lines and bow.

  I pulled the lid off and reached into the light, my hand clamping around a scroll.

  I pulled it from the light and examined it.

  Passive Skill: Arcane Tempo

  The duel is rhythm. Magic follows intent.

  Effect:

  Consecutive melee or spell-assisted strikes build Tempo.

  Each successful hit within 3 seconds grants:

  +1% Mana Control

  +1% Attack

  Stacks up to 10 times

  Tempo decays after 4 seconds without a successful action.

  Learn?

  Yes/No

  Yes. The scroll disintegrated. This will be useful for bosses or large groups of enemies.

  “New skill?” Kira asked sitting on the couch next to me as the scroll disappeared. She handed me a beer as she took a sip of her own.

  “Thank you and yeah it’s a passive skill for continuous attacks. Increasing mana control and attack as they chain together.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “That’s handy! I got a skill as well, Harmonious Focus.” She said excitedly. “If I focus on healing either one person continuously or multiple people one after the other without getting distracted, then it increases the effectiveness by fifteen percent and reduces mana cost the longer I stay focused. Pretty big drawbacks if I get interrupted though.”

  “Oh that is equally handy. So we can learn skills by coming up with concepts but the system also rewards us with more comprehensive skills for our class.” I summarized before taking a long sip of beer. The cool liquid helping clear some of the noise of the day.

  “I wonder what happens when our skills reach one hundred percent?” Kira wondered aloud.

  “I think we should push our skills and find out. Start training them every change we get.”

  “I was thinking of volunteering at the hospital. I bet I could help a lot of people there.”

  I smiled at Kira as she took a sip of beer. “What?” she said after finishing her sip.

  “You truly love to help people eh?” My smile broadened before I too took another sip.

  “Oh like you are one to judge.” She gave me a playful shove. “Mister ‘I must sacrifice myself to save everyone else’.”

  “Fair enough.” I laughed.

  “Just a couple of softies aren’t we?” she raised an eyebrow in my direction with a playful smile.

  “So many things could be said but I am a gentleman.” I laughed again.

  “Oh? Since when?” Kira mused.

  “Since right now, it would seem.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter Stormson.”

  “Hey, you are the one who said it. Not me”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I could see the red tinge rising in her cheeks.

  The moment was warm. Nice. Kira’s hand rested on my thigh and I didn’t remember her putting it there but it stirred a hunger deep inside.

  “So… about the dungeon today?” Kira said, the tips of her ears turning scarlet.

  “Ahhhh yes. About that.” I said as a mischievous grin crossed my face.

  “Mhmmm?” Kira took another sip but kept her eyes locked on mine.

  “What day is it today?” I asked instead.

  Her lips left her bottle in a pout. “Elias!”

  Her adorable pout making me chuckle. “I’m serious. What day of the week is it today?”

  Kira rolled her eyes before answering. “It’s Monday.”

  “Okay. How about Friday?”

  “What?” A look of confusion crossed her face.

  “For our date. You, me, Friday, I will cook. Does that work for you? Or would you rather something else.”

  Kira eyes sparkled as she bounced in excitement. “No, no Friday is perfect.”

  “Then Friday it is.” I beamed at her as I finished my beer.

  “I am going to head to bed. That dungeon was exhausting.” I stood to my feet, Kira doing the same.

  Our faces lingered close together, the tension rising as my heart threatened to pound out of my chest. Kira’s breath caught, she bit her lower lip as she leaned closer.

  Movement from the kitchen had her suddenly stepping back, her hands behind her back like she had just been caught stealing from the cookie jar.

  “Kira, can you tell me about these stats? It says I have available stat points but I don’t know what to put it in?” Michelle said as she walked out of the kitchen into the living room.

  “Yeah I can help you, be right there.” Kira gave me a longing look before walking pass to follow Michelle into the kitchen.

  “Hey Kira,” I called to here before she disappeared.

  “Hmm yeah?” She said clearly distracted.

  I gave her a wide smile, “ I’m looking forward to Friday.”

  Kira’s eyes lit back up and she beamed back at me. “Me too.”

  Kira turned and walked into the kitchen as I prepared to head to my room.

  As I passed the kitchen I heard Kira talking to her parents in a hushed voice.

  “You guys can NOT be here Friday” she warned them sternly.

  I heard Jeff chuckle as I returned to my room, still smiling like an idiot.

  Over the next few days, routine became structure.

  Mornings meant breakfast, patrolling the newly constructed walls, training my skills whenever I could until my mana felt depleted.

  Afternoons were spent at food distribution lines, reinforcing order and responding to complaints.

  Around 1600 hours every day, I met Chief Dobson in the parking lot. We summoned our weapons and began light sparring. Slowly enhancing combat abilities through repetition. Chief walked me through several motions to better utilize my swords, maneuvering them more efficiently to reset and reengage.

  Evenings belonged to cooking lessons with Michelle and mana training with Kira. We worked on Mana Control, Mana Sight, Mana Tether. I focused on controlling my mana along my blades, feeling how it glides along the blade, refining and honing it. Then I would pass out from exhaustion.

  Sleep was never a peaceful affair. Nightmares visited more often then not. Several times I forced myself awake after climbing through dead bodies. Theo, Charlie, Ethan, all the faces of the dead or sometimes the living, their dead eyes accusing me of not being fast enough. Not being strong enough.

  I would wake in a cold sweat, muscles tight with tension and I would train until the sun rose. Too afraid to go back to sleep.

  The North District players updated us constantly and it was becoming increasingly worrying news. No walls. No farmland. No leadership. Political factions arguing while people started scavenging to survive. Sometimes those people didn’t return. Desperation was setting in. We had to turn away a few refugees from their city. Our own food supply unable to feed the current population.

  I offered what help I could. Offered them the things we learned. The new professions. However after sending one of our awakened farmers to help, they did not return. Ryker was actively looking for them with the rest of North District but they had vanished without a trace.

  [Any news on the farmer?] I texted the group chat.

  [Ryker: Not yet. We scoured the city but found nothing. I’m so sorry Elias.]

  [Jace: Need me to head that way to try tracking him?]

  [Ryker: I don’t know if that is a good idea. There is something going on here. Numerous groups have suddenly gone quiet. I am afraid what will happen next.]

  [Do you guys want to grab your family and bring them to Valen?]

  [Ryker: I don’t want to give up on our city. We are the only hope the innocent people have. If we leave who will protect them.]

  [Well if you need to send your families down here, let us know. We will send people to escort them.]

  [Ryker: Thanks Elias.]

  [Chief: if we can stabilize the food production then I will task the construction crews to build residential towers for refugees. For now, Valen comes first. If there is anything I can do to help otherwise, just let us know.]

  [Ryker: I wish our Chief was half the commander you are. Most of us follow Captain Clarke but she is getting pressured and threatened daily.]

  [Chief: Stay safe and don’t hesitate to ask for help.]

  [Ryker: Will do.]

  I opened a private message to Jon.

  [Hey mate, how are things going?]

  [Jon: It’s been weird Elias. I think you were right about your warning. Even more so after that farmer disappeared. No one knows about the potion yet but I had to find some pretty unique equipment to conduct my experiments. People started asking strange questions.]

  [Are you in danger?]

  [Jon: No, I don’t think so. I have taken precautions but I will let you know of anything suspicious.]

  [Be careful Jon.]

  [Jon: I will. In other news I have made some huge progress with the healing potion. I was able to put it through a sieve and refine the process to make it more potent and without floaty chunks.]

  [That is amazing news. When can I buy a batch? ;)]

  [Jon: After I supply enough to Ryker and our team. The next batch will be yours. Just wish I could get a proper lab going.]

  [Well if you want to defect to Valen I am sure Chief Dobson would build you whatever you asked for lol]

  [Jon: Thanks Elias. I will consider. Especially with how things are right now.]

  [Let me know if you need anything.]

  [Jon: I will thanks again Elias.]

  I closed my phone and let out a long sigh.

  Why do things have to be so complicated.

  Friday finally rolled around.

  After the day’s routine, Jeff and Michelle grabbed their coats and headed out to check on the greenhouse, the door closing behind them with a finality that made the house feel suddenly, conspicuously quiet.

  Too quiet.

  Kira lingered in the hallway instead of heading straight to her room. She shifted her weight, fingers twisting together, a sheepish smile tugging at her mouth like she wasn’t used to feeling nervous.

  “I’m just going to… get ready,” she said.

  “Yeah,” I replied, a beat too fast. “Take your time.”

  Her smile widened, eyes lingering on me for half a second longer than necessary before she disappeared down the hall.

  I exhaled slowly.

  I went to my room and pulled out the black dress shirt. It was the nicest one I owned, usually reserved for court. Still crisp from the dry cleaners. I slid into it carefully, button by button, grounding myself in the small ritual. The top buttons refused to do up due to my new physique. Brown Lululemon pants, belt to match. I rolled the sleeves back to my elbows—practical for cooking, but I’d be lying if I said that was the only reason.

  I checked myself in the mirror.

  I looked completely different than a month ago. The signs of aging and accumulation of scars were gone, repaired by the alien system. Only the tired eyes remained. Eyes that have seen too much.

  I was still afraid to look directly into those eyes, the memory of their pull fresh in my mind.

  By the time I made it to the kitchen, I’d already started prepping. Knife on cutting board. Garlic crushed. Potatoes washed and quartered. The steady rhythm helped settle the nerves buzzing under my skin.

  I was halfway through seasoning the steak when I felt it again.

  That shift in the air. Like the house itself had noticed.

  I looked up.

  Kira stood in the doorway.

  She’d changed completely.

  Her hair was down, styled just enough to look intentional without trying too hard. She wore a fitted top that hugged her waist and dipped just low enough to be distracting, paired with dark jeans that fit like they’d been chosen carefully. Subtle makeup caught the light—nothing heavy, just enough to draw attention to her eyes and the soft curve of her mouth.

  No armor. No staff.

  Just Kira, dressed like this moment mattered.

  My hand stilled on the knife.

  For a second, all I could do was stare.

  “Wow,” I said before I could stop myself.

  Her lips curved, a hint of color touching her cheeks. “That’s… good wow?”

  “Yeah,” I replied, forcing my brain back online. “Very good wow.”

  She stepped into the kitchen feet soft against the floor. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”

  “High praise,” I said. “Coming from you.”

  She leaned against the counter across from me, crossing her arms under her chest in a seductive way. I felt it like a physical thing, the way her gaze moved over me, slow and assessing.

  “Need help?” she asked.

  “Only if you want to,” I said. “I am happy cooking for someone so beautiful.”

  She reached for an apron and tied it around her waist, fingers quick and confident. “I want to.”

  That did something to me, an electric tingle down my spine that had nothing to do with magic.

  I handed her a bowl and vegetables. Our fingers brushed and our eyes met, there was a hunger in her eyes that I didn’t think had anything to do with food.

  We worked side by side, the space between us shrinking naturally, shoulders nearly touching. I could smell her now, clean, faintly floral, something warmer underneath that made my focus slip more than once.

  “You always this serious when you cook?” she asked.

  “Only when it matters.”

  She glanced up at me, brows lifting slightly. “Is this that important to you?”

  I met her gaze. “More than you could ever know.”

  Her knife slowed and stopped as she appraised me again, her teeth biting her lower lip as her eyes rested on my lips.

  The sound of sizzling butter brought me back to the task at hand and I threw the steak on the pan, the sharp sizzle louder now in the moment. Butter foamed, thyme crackled, heat blooming up toward my face. Kira leaned closer, watching, her elbow brushing mine.

  “You look very in control right now,” she murmured.

  “Careful,” I said quietly. “You’re making it harder to focus.”

  Her smile turned dangerous. “Good.” I felt her hand graze my back, sending shivers down my spine.

  Dinner passed in a blur of quiet conversation and charged pauses. Her foot brushed mine under the table and I found myself brushing hers back. Soon we were playing footsies like teenagers while we talked.

  When I stood to clear the plates, she followed, taking one from my hands. That hungry look still in her eyes.

  “Elias,” she said softly.

  I turned. She was close, her face filling my vision as my heart hammered in my chest.

  “Yeah?”

  Her hand rested on my forearm, warm and steady. “I’m really glad I dressed up.”

  A corner of my mouth lifted. “Trust me. So am I.”

  She searched my face for a second, the hunger growing and I am sure my eyes showed the same. She leaned in eyes closed.

  I met her halfway.

  Our lips met and it felt like my heart would jump out of my chest.

  Our lips molded together, hungry, animalistic as desire over took both of us. Her lips parted and this time I took the invitation. My tongue exploring hers and intriguingly enough she began to explore mine. Her desire driving me back a step as her tongue pushed into my mouth. We began taking turns devouring each other, our breathing heavy.

  She broke away for a breath and I followed. My hands rising to take her face and bring it back for more. This time I pushed the kiss further.

  She made a quiet sound when I deepened the kiss, fingers curling into the front of my shirt like she was anchoring herself.

  Or pulling me closer.

  I slid one hand to her waist, fingers splaying over the curve of her hip. She fit there like it was instinct, like my hand had been meant to settle there all along. She leaned into me without hesitation, heat pressing through fabric, awareness snapping sharp enough to steal my breath.

  She was warm and hungry. I felt her hand pull my body into hers. Her legs parting so I could feel the warmth between them.

  I broke the kiss just long enough to rest my forehead against hers, breathing hard.

  “Kira,” I said, low. Not a warning. A check.

  Her eyes were darker now, pupils blown wide. Her lips were flushed, wet, and the sight of it sent a pulse straight through me.

  She didn’t step back.

  Instead, her fingers slid up my chest, slow, deliberate, tracing the line of buttons I’d fastened with so much care earlier. She stopped at the top where the buttons wouldn’t do up, her thumb brushing skin where the shirt gaped, sending a shiver through my body.

  She leaned in again, this time kissing the corner of my mouth. My jaw. Down the side of my neck. Every touch slow. Intentional. Like she knew exactly what she was doing to me. A soft moan escaped my lips and I felt her shiver with excitement.

  My hand tightened at her waist.

  I backed her gently toward the counter, not rushing, giving her every chance to stop me. She didn’t. Her hips brushed the edge and she gasped softly as my body settled pushing her against the counter.

  Her hands slid into my hair, nails grazing my scalp as she tilted her head, giving me access without asking. That quiet invitation almost undid me.

  I kissed her neck, slow, open-mouthed, feeling her pulse jump beneath my lips. She inhaled sharply, fingers tightening, her body arching just enough to make my control fray.

  “Elias,” she breathed.

  I wanted more. I needed more.

  My kisses became more aggressive as I traced her collarbone, another moan escaped her lips as her legs rubbed together.

  She pulled my head to her lips by my hair, her mouth devouring mine as she pulled me tight against her body.

  My knee parted her legs so I could get closer. I felt her body grind against mine, we pulled apart gasping for breath.

  “Bedroom, now.” Her eyes were hazy as she spoke, her hunger sending chills down my spine.

  She grabbed my hand and led me to my bedroom, glancing back with excitement as we got closer.

  She opened the door, my hand still in hers. She pulled me into another kiss and we flopped onto the bed.

  Her breathy giggle dissolved into a ragged gasp as I reclaimed the sensitive curve of her neck, my lips branding her skin. Her legs clamped around my waist, a desperate vice pulling me against her, and when I grazed her skin with my teeth, I felt the full-body shudder ripple through her. My hands weren't gentle anymore; they mapped the expanse of her thighs, fingers digging into the soft flesh, dragging upward to claim the heavy globes of her ass. She was radiating a blistering heat, a scent of pure, unfiltered lust that drugged me, demanding I drown in her.

  I tore myself away just long enough to shred my shirt. Buttons rained down on the floor, forgotten casualties as I bared my chest. Kira had already discarded her top, pushing herself up on her elbows to devour the sight of me. Her gaze was predatory, raking over the hardened lines of my muscle with a hunger that made my blood thicken. “Damn, Elias,” she breathed, her voice husky. “I saw you at the first gate, but this...” She sat up, her fingertips tracing the ridges of my abs, trembling. My eyes dropped to the heavy swell of her breasts, barely contained by a scrap of black lace. She saw where I looked and smirked, reaching behind to unsnap the bra with a practiced flick. The lace fell away, and I groaned aloud. Her breasts were perfect, pale mounds topped with tight, rosy nipples that begged for attention.

  I surged forward, crushing her mouth under mine as I pinned her to the mattress. My hand filled with the soft weight of her breast, thumbing the stiff peak until she was writhing beneath me. I swallowed her soft moan, my tongue dueling with hers, tasting the desperation building inside her. I broke the kiss to blaze a trail down her jaw, lingering on the frantic pulse in her neck. When I bit down, her back bowed off the bed, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling, urging me lower. I teased her, kissing the hollow of her throat, smiling against her skin as she tried to direct me to her aching breasts.

  Finally, I took pity on her—or perhaps I just couldn't wait any longer. I latched onto her right breast, drawing the tight bud deep into the heat of my mouth. My tongue circled and flicked, my teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Kira cried out, her hips bucking against the unbearable friction, and my cock throbbed in response, straining against my clothes. God, that sound. It drove me wild. I worked her over with aggressive, suctioning pulls, leaving her panting and incoherent. The metallic snap of a zipper broke through the haze, and I looked down to see her shoving her pants down her legs, kicking them away frantically.

  She lay there in nothing but a matching black lace thong, her legs falling open in blatant invitation. Her hand slipped between her thighs, rubbing herself through the damp fabric. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever seen. I didn't wait. I moved down her body, dragging my lips over her quivering stomach to the edge of the lace. Kira hissed in a breath, her fingers moving faster as she squeezed her breast with her free hand.

  I caught her wrist, pinning it to the bed as I kissed the top of her thong, torturously slow. She tried to lift her hips to meet my mouth, but I evaded her, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses to the sensitive skin of her inner thigh instead. “Elias,” she gasped, her voice tight. I bit the soft flesh of her thigh in answer, my cheek brushing against the soaked lace of her underwear. She moaned my name again, dripping with frustration.

  I grinned, shifting to torment the other thigh, blowing a cool stream of air directly over the heat of her covered center. She growled, a low, guttural sound of pure need, but the noise melted into a long, drawn-out moan as I finally pressed my mouth against her slit through the wet lace. I could taste her, sweet and intoxicating, even through the barrier. I licked the length of her, outlining her folds against the fabric, feeling her jerk and twist beneath my hold.

  “God, you’re soaking wet,” I murmured, kissing my way back up her body. When I reached her face, she looked wrecked—eyes glazed, lips swollen and parted.

  “You fucking tease,” she panted, glaring at me with a mix of annoyance and desperate desire.

  “Oh, we’re only just getting started,” I winked, crashing my lips into hers again and releasing her wrists. She didn't waste a second. She broke the kiss, scrambling to strip the soaked thong down her legs and tossing it aside before moving back into position. The wicked grin on her face promised retribution. She pulled me down, grinding her naked, wet center against the rough fabric of my jeans, the friction making us both groan.

  I pinned her wrists again, needing control as I kissed my way down the dips and curves of her hips. I settled between her legs, blowing gently on her slick folds before diving in. I found her clit immediately, sucking the hard pearl into my mouth. Her reaction was electric. I swirled my tongue around the swollen nub, alternating between firm suction and rapid flicks. Her back arched high off the bed, her fingers gripping the sheets until her knuckles turned white.

  “Fuuuuuucccckkkk!” she screamed, her body locking up as the pleasure overwhelmed her. I felt her spasm against my mouth, and only when she collapsed, panting and spent, did I let go. I kissed my way back up her trembling body, savoring the little shivers that wracked her frame. When I reached her lips, she kissed me deeply, tasting herself on my tongue before pulling back to catch her breath.

  “My turn,” she growled, her voice thick with satisfaction and renewed lust. She shoved me onto my back, straddling me immediately. Her lips found my neck, seeking out the sensitive spot that made me groan. She didn't stay gentle; her kisses became hungry, urgent, marking me as she trailed down my chest. She worshipped my abs with her mouth, kissing and biting the muscles as she worked her way down.

  When she reached the straining bulge in my pants, she didn't hesitate. Her palm curved over my cock, squeezing the hard length through the denim. I hissed at the contact. Her fingers worked quickly to undo my pants, and I lifted my hips to help her strip them away, along with my boxers. My cock sprang free, slapping against my stomach.

  Kira’s eyes locked onto it, glossy with excitement. She wrapped both hands around my shaft, her touch electric. She began to stroke me, twisting her hands as she moved from base to tip, picking up speed. I leaned back, surrendering to the sensation, letting the pleasure wash over me. I sat up with a guttural moan as I watched her lower her head. Her warm, wet mouth engulfed the tip, her tongue swirling around the head before she took me deeper, sucking hard, her hand working the shaft in rhythm with her mouth.

  The heat of her mouth was absolute, a velvet vice that threatened to unravel me completely. She took me deeper with every bob of her head, her tongue swirling expert around the sensitive ridge before gliding down the shaft. I tangled my fingers in her hair, not guiding her, just anchoring myself to the sensation as she worked me over with a desperate, wet rhythm. The sounds of her slurping and gagging slightly as she took me to the back of her throat were obscene in the quiet room, driving the blood hammering through my veins.

  “Kira,” I groaned, my hips bucking involuntarily as she hollowed her cheeks, sucking hard on the upstroke. She looked up at me then, her eyes dark and heavy-lidded, watching me fall apart as her lips stretched around my girth. It was a power play, and she was winning.

  She released me with a wet pop, a string of saliva connecting her lips to my cock, and pumped me furiously with her hand. “I want you inside me,” she rasped, her voice wrecked. “Now.”

  I didn’t need to be asked twice. I gripped her arms and hauled her up the bed, flipping her onto her back before she could blink. I settled between her thighs, the heat of her center radiating against my aching length. She hooked her legs around my waist, her heels digging into my lower back, pulling me in. The tip of my cock nudged against her slick entrance, teasing us both.

  I stared down at her, taking in the flush on her skin, the way her chest heaved, the sheer need etched into her features. “Look at me,” I commanded. Her eyes snapped to mine, wide and glazed. I drove forward, burying myself to the hilt in one smooth, powerful thrust.

  We both cried out. She was impossibly tight, slick and hot, gripping me like a glove made just for me. I stilled for a moment, savoring the feeling of being sheathed completely within her, her walls fluttering around me as she adjusted to the size. “Fuck, Elias,” she breathed, her nails raking down my biceps.

  “Relax,” I gritted out, pulling back until just the head remained inside. I held her gaze, letting the anticipation build, her hips wriggling, trying to take me back in. Then I slammed into her again, harder this time.

  The bed rocked with the force of it. I set a relentless pace, withdrawing slowly only to piston back in deep and hard. Every thrust earned a gasp or a moan from her lips, a symphony of pleasure I couldn’t get enough of. I angled my hips, searching, and when I brushed against that spot deep inside, her back bowed off the mattress.

  “Oh god, right there!” she screamed.

  I grinned, sweat beading on my forehead as I pounded into that spot, over and over. The slap of skin against skin filled the room, raw and rhythmic. I reached down, thumbing her clit in time with my thrusts, doubling the intensity. Her body seized up, her inner muscles clamping down on me like a vise. I didn’t let up, fucking her through it as she shattered beneath me, her mouth open in a silent scream as her orgasm tore through her.

  I slowed my movements as she came down, riding out the aftershocks, but I didn’t stop. I wasn’t nearly done with her yet. I flipped us over, keeping her impaled on me, so she was straddling my lap. “Ride me,” I ordered, gripping her hips.

  She didn’t hesitate. She braced her hands on my chest and began to move, lifting herself up and slamming back down, taking control. Her breasts bounced with the motion, and I caught one in each hand, kneading the soft flesh, pinching the nipples. She threw her head back, her hair cascading down her back, riding me with a primal abandon that made my toes curl. I watched my cock disappear into her body over and over, glistening with her arousal, and felt the pressure building at the base of my spine.

  She leaned forward, changing the angle, and kissed me, hard and messy, tasting of sweat and sex. I matched her rhythm, thrusting up to meet her downward strokes, the friction getting hotter, tighter. “I’m close,” she warned me against my lips.

  “Cum for me, Kira,” I growled, my voice rough. “Give me everything.”

  She let go, her muscles rippling around me as she came again, and that was it. The sensation tipped me over the edge. I gripped her hips hard enough to bruise, holding her down as I buried myself deep and erupted. The orgasm ripped through me, blinding and intense, pulsing violently as I emptied myself into her. We rode the waves together, gasping and clinging to one another until we were both spent, collapsing into a tangled, sweaty heap on the bed.

  We lay there in the tangle of sheets, our breathing gradually syncing as the aftershocks of our exertion faded into a heavy, sated quiet. I brushed a damp lock of hair away from Kira’s face, my fingers lingering on her flushed cheek. Her eyes were closed, a small, contented smile playing on her swollen lips. For a moment, the world outside the bedroom ceased to exist. There was only the heat of her skin against mine and the lingering scent of sex and sweat that hung in the air.

  The comfortable silence was shattered as my phone vibrated in my jeans on the floor, the opening riff of “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage the Elephant filling the room.

  “For fuck’s sake.” I sighed heavily as I climbed out of bed. I glanced back at Kira; she was sizing up my ass with glazed, half-closed eyes, a satisfied smile still playing on her lips.

  I fished the phone out of my pocket and checked the display. Chief Dobson. A sudden dread gripped my heart as I answered. Was someone else dead?

  “Chief?”

  “Elias, I need you to come in.” The Chief’s voice was tight, carrying a familiar seriousness I usually attributed to death.

  “Be there immediately. What can you tell me?”

  “Homicide. We think it was a player. Bring Ashwood. It’s all hands on deck.”

  “Okay.” Click. Chief hung up as I lowered the phone and looked at Kira. She had propped herself up on her elbow, staring at me quizzically.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Murder.”