Page 83 of Radiant Exception
I leaned back in my chair, continuing to listen in to the conversations at the table, while Vaughn proceeded to possessively stroke up and down my thigh, knowing he was driving me insane by doing so.
I watched Vaughn, allowing my eyes to trace the planes of his face. And I realized Cassidy was so wrong about him. Xavier would have loved Vaughn. He would have loved him because I loved Vaughn. And he would have loved how much Vaughn cherished me and always put me first.
Vaughn glanced over to me and smiled mischievously, giving my thigh another squeeze, before he leaned over and whispered, “Wanna get out of here?”
I bit my lip in anticipation and nodded in agreement.
***
Riding Vaughn had become one of my new favorite things.
Sometimes, it was nice to have slow, intimate, sensual sex with him, and other times, I just wanted his hands all over me and his moans filling my ears. This night was much more of the latter.
Even better, we were alone on theRadiant, having abandoned our hotel room for the quiet of the ship and the coziness of our little bed nook, especially since we had put the sheet back up on the journey back to Phobos from Ganymede.
Vaughn’s hips thrust in time with mine, meeting me at every moment and allowing me to chase my oncoming orgasm. He felt so much deeper in this position, and who was I kidding, I liked being in control.
“Fuck, Lark, you feel so good, baby.” Vaughn’s hands gripped my hips tighter. I secretly hoped there’d be marks left when he was done.
I doubled down, grinding against him, and sensing I was close, Vaughn’s fingers found my clit, moving them just the way I liked until I shuddered through my release, continuing to ride him until I felt him tremble beneath me as he came.
With a whimper, I dismounted and collapsed in the bed next to Vaughn, ignoring the sweat slicking my skin as I nuzzled against him.
He ran his fingers through my hair, placing a soft kiss to the tip of my nose as we caught our breath.
After a few minutes, I could sense him getting restless.
“I’m nervous about this next chapter for us,” he confessed.
“About us?”
“No.” He shook his head, his eyes finding mine. “Going freelance,” Vaughn clarified. A sly smile lifted his lips. “I love you. I’m not nervous about us.”
“I love you too,” I returned the sentiment, feeling it through every fiber of my being, especially when he looked at me like I’d hung the moon.
After another moment, he continued. “This will create a power vacuum. I’m worried about what will fill the space that’s been left by the implosion of the Phoenix’s network—what new drug will come next, despite the fact that they’re working on shutting down all thepieces of the supply chain and distribution network they could find. Like it or not, he built an industry within Meridian’s empire, and I just don’t see that going away overnight.”
I nodded against him. “Then we keep fighting.”
He sighed, perhaps not liking my answer, but agreeing with me nonetheless.
“Oh,” Vaughn started. “I forgot—I got you something.” He scooted off the bed.
“What?” I squeaked.
Lifting up the edge of the curtain, I admired the muscles contouring his naked body, as he dug through his pants draped over the desk to find his comm.
After crawling back into bed, Vaughn sorted through his communications until he found what he was looking for and handed it to me.
I felt his body go tense next to me as I read through the document, and then read through it again when I was sure that what I saw the first time had been a mistake.
I looked up at Vaughn. “Tell me this is fake.”
He shook his head, his nervousness suddenly replaced with amusement.
He told me he’d relented and paid off theRadiantwith the bounty, despite disagreeing with keeping the entirety of it. I didn’t think he’d be rash enough to list me on the deed to his fucking ship.
“Undo it.” I shoved the comm back at him. “Undo it, Vaughn,” I pleaded.
