Page 181 of Red Marked

“Another two shifters started talking today.”

She locks eyes with me. “Did they say anything about⁠—?”

“No. So far, Quake is the only male who’s said a word about females living in the mountains. The other two are still working out how to string a sentence together. It’s mostly about food, the doctor says. Food, and how much they hate the fence.”

“But it’s only a matter of time.” She closes her eyes. “One of them is going to say it to the wrong person, and someone is going to listen. We need to move on this, Flint. I had hoped we’d have more time, but I don’t think we do.”

“I don’t think so either.”

I check my phone. Magma hasn’t read the message yet.

“I’ll send you the list as soon as I have it. We fly back to the city in two days. We need to work those names and then follow up where needed.” I slide the phone into my pocket. “I’m going to head back to my⁠—”

I stop, spotting the massive-as-fuck dildo on Star’s dining room table.

What the actual fuck?!

I’m not sure how I missed that thing when I walked in. It has a smaller head coming off the side and a cable running out of the base into the wall socket. A little green light blinks on the side.

“Why are you charging that vibrator?”

Star folds her arms. “Why do you think, Flint?”

“You’re going to use it to give yourself a back massage.” It had better be for that reason. “Or the soles of your feet, maybe. It’s been a long week. It’s big enough to massage your whole damned back.”

She starts laughing, and I swear it makes her more beautiful, which is the last thing I need right now.

“You tell yourself that, Flint.”

“Nope. Not happening, Star. No damned way!”

“What do you mean, nope?”

“You still don’t get to come.”

I can’t believe I’m saying it. I can’t believe I’m standing in her apartment, seriously jealous of a purple dildo. I want to walk over there, pull it out of the wall, and snap it in half. I don’t want that thing giving her orgasms. I don’t even want her giving herself orgasms.

There’s something seriously wrong with me.

“You know what?” She takes a step toward me. “You’re my boss when we’re out there. During my shift is a different story. I’ll listen to you and follow orders to the letter. That’s absolutely fine.” Another step. “But I’m off duty right now. This is my apartment. I’m done with your controlling bullshit.”

“Oh, really?” I cross my arms tightly across my chest.

“Yes, really. I apologized. I told you what I needed to tell you about Veridian. We’re done, so you can leave now.”

“You’re not getting yourself off.”

I’m such a jerk. I know full well that I’m being unreasonable, but I can’t seem to stop.

“You can’t stop me, Flint.” The fire is back in her eyes. There it is. “If I want to take that dildo and use both of the dual-action heads and put it on setting three, which happens to be the setting that gets both heads vibrating the fastest, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. It’s been two full days since you left me hanging on your desk. You have no say over my body. I’m getting myself off the second you walk out that door, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

My cock is rock hard and throbbing against my zipper. My balls are somewhere up around my throat.

“Really?”

My voice comes out so deep I hardly recognize it.

“Yes.”