She wrapped her thighs around his waist and grabbed two handfuls of his rock-hard ass and held on as he kept his thrusts deep and slow. She tried to speed him up, but he simply gave her a raised brow and did exactly what he wanted.
She’d probably never admit it out loud, but it was hot when he was that way.
Time seemed to stretch until there was nothing but the feel of him inside her, his weight against her, the scent of his skin, of clean sweat and sex. There was only Faine and Helena, and she liked that more than she wanted to really think on deeply.
“I think I’m ready,” he murmured as he began to speed up. He changed his angle and suddenly each thrust brushed the length of his cock over her clit and built her up again until she came once more, so hard her teeth tingled. He snarled and followed, capturing her mouth as he climaxed with a long groan.
Wow seemed totally redundant, but she found herself sighing it as he pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. She felt the curve of his lips against her neck as he smiled.
“Indeed.”
MOLLY tapped on her door a few minutes later and Helena was glad she’d had the time to get dressed again. Though Faine still lounged in her bed and seemed to have no intention of moving.
Not that she had any complaints about all that gorgeous and naked. Damn.
Helena opened the door, smiling when she saw Molly.
She moved into the hall, closing the door in her wake, but Molly’s facial expression told her she’d seen Faine in bed.
“Well now. How are you feeling?”
Helena couldn’t help it, she laughed. “Um, better. What’s up?”
“I’m just letting you know I’ve done a call in to a national news show. It’ll air during their breaking news spots and later this evening on the evening news cycle. They’ve asked me in for a face-to-face interview but Gage said no.”
Helena nodded. “Smart man you’ve got there. Molly, they’re trying to kill you. Let’s not give them any chances. At least not any more today.”
“I know. Would it be all right if they sent a camera crew here? I feel like we need to respond to this and if we don’t, the vacuum is filled by others like PURITY.”
“Are those assholes claiming responsibility?”
“No. They’re saying we did it to harm the human protesters.”
“What?”
“Come on. Let me get you up to date on everything that’s happened in the last two hours.”
Helena pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she followed. She did feel better, like the time with Faine had filled her reserves in a way nothing else could have. Sex as a restorative? All righty then.
“Tosh has called, everyone there is okay. They’ve got extra guards on him, Delilah and Parrish. There are Others who still haven’t come out. They may not at this point given the threats and the holes in capitol security. He appeared on television about half an hour ago and hailed you as a hero for saving all those bystanders.”
“Me?”
Molly turned, taking Helena’s hand. “You. Helena, you risked your life to save hundreds of people. All in full view. This will change a lot of people’s minds about us. You did the right thing even though they’d just been calling out insults and threatening to shoot you in the head. That changes people’s perceptions.”
“Glad my near death can help PR.”
Molly frowned. “I didn’t mean it that way. But the fact is, it did.”
“I know you didn’t. I’m sorry for snapping at you. You should know I’m going to recommend to The Gennessee and Meriel that we end this traveling road show. The security risks are too great and in the end, we endanger even more people. I know you believe in this, but I can’t stand behind it after today.”
Molly nodded. “I understand.” They went into the living room, which had been transformed into a makeshift media room. Laptops sat on multiple surfaces. Caspar stood when she came in and began to clap. People looked up, smiling when they saw her and got up, clapping as well.
Warmth rushed through her. Humility chasing it.
She put a hand up to stop them. “Thank you, all. I appreciate it. But the fact remains that a hole in security created that situation today. And we lost two good people because of that. Each of you did your job and that saved lives. If anyone deserves applause, it’s you all.”
Molly grinned and they sat, Molly continuing to fill her in.
The president had made a statement condemning the bombings. She’d also stated her belief that Others were citizens and had the same rights everyone else had, including the right to address their grievances to their government without being bombed. She called for calm and a cease in the escalation in violence.
“How about she signs an Executive Order saying so?” Helena appreciated the nice statement, but for goodness’ sake, it was time to back that up with the power of the presidency.
“I know. My sources say she’s trying to let this all work out through states and up to her before she does anything like that. She wants to help, but she’s got a big job.”
“Fuck that. If she wanted to help, she’d help. All this talk is getting us killed. We need her to be a leader now.”
Molly nodded. “I agree.”
Tosh had also done a news conference with Parrish Carroll and Delilah Sperry at his side. In it they hailed Helena as a hero who’d selflessly risked her life to save all the people on the steps, including the ones protesting her very existence. The FBI, headed by Anderson’s task force, had issued a brief statement as well, saying preliminary evidence indicated the attack was domestic terrorism a la suicide vests.
PURITY had their own press conference where they accused the Others of the bombings for publicity and to make them look bad. Humans First had been very quiet and it made Helena wonder why.
“You know it has to be one of their people.” Gage came in with Faine—who gave her a smile that made her tingle a little, and handed her a mug before sitting at her side.
“Drink that. Your mother has called twice and forbade us to disturb you, but she said when you were ready you needed to drink as many cups of this tea as you can.”
Oh, he disturbed her all right. But it was too late to run.
Helena just gulped it down, knowing it would taste horrible, but that if her mother said to drink it, she’d better just obey or face Rain’s wrath.
She grimaced and then shuddered. “Not one of her better-tasting mixes, but as she’ll totally make you tell her and she’s quite hard to fib to, you can now give her the truth.” She put the mug down. “I do believe it was Humans First and PURITY behind this. The more I think about the way Lynn Reed was acting in that hearing, the more I’m convinced she knew something was up. In any case, I’ve got to call in to speak with Gennessee. I was just telling Molly that I’m recommending we end this tour. She can do her testimony via video if necessary. And let’s be honest, everyone has said what needs saying. I’m concerned about what’s going on with our own people.”
“Cade left to go deal with the wolves. He said to let you know we had the use of their plane if we needed it.” Gage sat back. Even in the house his gaze was never still, always roving, looking for possible trouble.
“We do. All this moving around exposes us to a threat I simply can’t protect adequately from. Not anymore.”
She’d take Molly back to Seattle and then get down to Los Angeles. She’d probably have to go to a meeting of the Council of Others. She had three messages from them already, but she wanted to check on her people as well.
Chapter 11
THEY got off the plane in Seattle and she smiled at the sight of her sister on the tarmac.