body seized, suspended for an agonizing moment before his balls burst and come striped the bedding.
In the distance, he heard the door crash open, felt arms prying them apart, but he fought, come jetting through his dick, until her fingers slid away. He rolled to his back, shaking but determined to protect her.
Moses lay breathing hard on the bed as Viper struggled, forcing her to the bed to hold her down, his hands clamped around her wrists to keep her from scratching at him.
“Viper, it’s okay. I’m okay,” Moses gasped.
Inigo crept around the end of the bed, holding the necklace, but didn’t bother trying to pass it over her head. He laid the stone over her heart.
Melanie’s body shuddered then changed. She lay panting, sweating under Viper, her hands falling back against the mattress.
When her face turned toward him, tears flooded her eyes. “Did I go too far? Did I hurt you?”
“It was perfect, baby.” His words rasped. “Un-fucking-believable.”
“Idiot, she nearly had you.”
“Viper, get off her.” Moses struggled to move his heavy limbs. “I wasn’t dying. I’d know. And she wasn’t raping me.”
Viper cast him a glare. “Sure about that? You two were fucking like—”
Moses shook his head. “Viper, we were fucking. She released me. Took off the mojo. What we were doing was…just fucking.”
His brows wrinkled. “She had a cock.”
“No. Not quite,” Moses said, feeling heat creep across his skin, but holding it together because Melanie looked mortified.
Viper’s frown didn’t lessen, but he eased off Melanie. “Are you all right?”
She sat up, closing her legs, but otherwise seemingly unconcerned that she was naked. A slim hand shoved back hair from her face, and she peeked at Moses. “I took from you. I could feel the energy surging into me. But I stopped…feeding. That thing at the last? I don’t know why… It just felt so good.”
Moses gave her a slow, sweet smile and opened his arms.
Melanie pushed up and crawled eagerly toward him.
Viper cursed.
When she rested against his chest, he gave Viper a glare. “She passed the test. End of story.”
Inigo cleared his throat, drawing all their gazes. “Shall I prepare a repast?”
“If it’s food you’re talkin’ about,” Moses grumbled, “I’m starved. How ’bout you, sweetheart?
Melanie kissed his jaw. “Plates and plates of it.”
Moses laughed, the sound echoing around the room.
Viper straightened, his disapproval clear in his rigid posture. “I have to report to Navarro.”
“No, you don’t.” Moses swept an arm at the far wall. “You know damn well he watched the whole goddamn thing. Probably had Sidney perched on his lap the whole time.”
Viper’s lips pressed into a line, but then he relented, the frown easing. A dark brow rose. “No doubts about that. Sidney’s a horny thing.”
“Cut the feed now.” Moses aimed a glare around the room. “We need our privacy. I mean it.”
When the door closed behind Viper, Moses pulled back his head to stare down at Melanie. “No bad moments, baby?” he whispered.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Melanie met his gaze and sighed, relieved to still be breathing. “I know I’ll never be the master of her, but she likes you, Moses. Every bit as much as I do.”
He gave a grimace. “Likes?”
“Okay, well, she’s convinced she loves you. I’ll need a little more time.” Only she didn’t. Not really. She remembered everything, knew he’d sacrificed his pride to please her.
“We have time to get to know each other, Melanie. As much as we need to get this thing right.”
Her breath hitched. “You mean until they’re sure they can use me?”
His gaze sharpened. “I mean, until you’re sure you belong with me.”
“But we just met,” she said, shaking her head. She struggled to believe he wanted her, cared for her so deeply.
His strong shoulder lifted. “Sometimes, you just know. It happens so fast all you can do is