Dark Child (Wild Men 5)

He’s in control, and I’m shaking, impaled on his cock, my breasts aching, my pussy full, my face hot and my thighs sleek with my arousal.

I start to move, but his hands tighten, stopping me. “What’s the magic password?”

“God, Merc.”

His lashes lower. He grins. “Say it.”

No idea what he’s talking about. Instead of answering, I trail my hand down, find the base of his cock, touch where it disappears into me, and stroke the slick skin there.

He groans deep inside his throat, his control fraying. He rocks up into me. “Oh hell, Cos…”

And then we’re moving together, rocking, flesh slapping, his cock sliding in and out of me so unbelievably satisfying, electrifying, making me bend over and moan his name over and over.

Maybe that’s the password? Because he suddenly sits up and rocks into me faster, harder, burying his face in my neck, crushing our bodies together, fucking me, making hard love to me until I cry out, coming in exquisite, powerful waves.

Until he stiffens and spills his hot release inside me, panting and groaning.

God, yes.

If this isn’t exorcising the dreams, then I don’t know what would. Sex is strong magic, right? Who needs salt and incantations when two bodies become one and go up in fireworks?

“Hey…” I finally whisper when I’ve mostly gotten my breath back, though the feel of his semi-hard cock still inside me distracts me way too much, “What is the magic password? For future reference.”

“I love you,” he says simply.

Just that.

Life is good.

I love living with Merc, his family, my classes, my goals for the future. They mostly revolve around being with him, but also about learning more about ancient civilizations and cultures and maybe, someday, excavating some lost city in the jungle.

Why no

t, right? Everything’s possible. It was possible all along, but being with Merc, having his support and enthusiasm behind me is unlike anything I’ve ever had. Being with a person who loves you can change the world, unearth dreams you thought were dead and bring them back to life.

Good dreams.

Merc is thinking now to finish a degree in history with me and then go to the police academy. Somehow that childhood experience and the untangling of his nightmares has pushed him in that direction. Solving mysteries. Giving justice to the victims.

He’s also considering becoming a social worker, and that tells me Ross’s tale has also affected him, even if he denies it.

JC, his roommate, told me over a breakfast of burnt toast and strong coffee that he’s never seen Merc so happy, and that a guy like Merc deserves a girl like me.

No idea what a girl like me is supposed to be, but I was glad for his approval. He’s fast becoming a good friend of Merc’s, and mine, too, although he won’t say much about himself and the black cloud that seems to hover over him at times. Merc says he’ll pry it out of him one day, when JC decides he trusts him enough.

There’s one thing that saddens me in all of this: Lin says she can’t move here, not right now. She seems preoccupied about something, but whenever I ask about it, she deflects and keeps mum about it—though she did say she’s going back home for a while, home for Lin being Chicago.

It sucks, because I’d love to have my bestie nearby, but mostly it sucks because I want to be there for her, and the distance between us isn’t so much physical as emotional. She’s closed herself up, and though I know she isn’t doing it on purpose, that she’s going through something, I wish she’d let me in.

Of course, I’ve been so caught up in my own life lately, I don’t blame her. Maybe I’m the one who drew away without realizing it. So many things have happened, with me and Merc dating, and going at it like bunnies all the time, and chasing the story behind his dreams.

I have a new friend: Gigi. She decided that we can be besties and took me to meet her own bestie, Sydney and her boys. Gigi calls me all the time, and where we initially only talked about Merc, and his dreams, and their family, now we chat about nothing and everything. She makes me feel like a real part of the family, and I appreciate that.

Then Mom is back in the picture, calling and getting together for a coffee with me and Sophie, and she even managed to drag Dad from his artists’ colony once, and we had a Sunday lunch all together, like a family.

Not that she and Dad are getting back together. This isn’t a fairytale. But at least they’re on speaking terms again. As for my sister… She’s quiet. If I could be sure she’s happy too…

“What’s on your mind?” Merc asks, tugging me against his side on the bed. We’re doing a marathon of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. “You’ve been quiet.”