Chapter 43

Liberty let out a long breath as Jovan let down his shield and communicated with her.

He was alive.

Through the rain, she saw the taillights of the truck he was in a few miles ahead. Her and Noah followed in a Hummer with the lights out. It was a bit frightening traveling in this fashion, but they weren’t going very fast, and she trusted Noah’s judgment.

They rode in silence waiting to hear from Blake.

After it had been decided that she would accompany Noah and Blake on the trip, they had left the mansion with Noah and Liberty in one Hummer and Blake in the other. They had then parked a few miles away from Area 2, and it became a game of waiting and patience, which she was discovering she lacked.

“Are you certain that the program Talin designed will work?” she had asked.

Noah had looked over at her. “For the third time, Liberty, yes. I have never seen anything that Talin designs not work.”

She nodded, put her feet up on the dashboard, and picked at her nails. Noah took out his cell phone from his jeans pocket and placed it on the console between them.

“Liberty, as your brother, it is my duty to protect you, and I feel as though I’ve failed.”

“Why is that?” She looked over at him as he stared out the front window, his profile strong and handsome, and she felt a well of pride of being able to call him her brother.

“I should have warned you about males who are looking to take advantage of someone like you.”

“Like who? Who wants to take advantage of me?”

He turned to her and met her eyes. “Like Jovan.”

She didn’t believe Jovan had taken advantage of her. She believed they had experienced something wonderful together, and she hoped that it would happen again. “Jovan did not take advantage of me, Noah.”

Noah sighed and looked out the front window again. “Liberty, Jovan has been alone for a long time. He has kept himself distanced from everyone, and I don’t see that changing. He’s not one to get close to others. You can’t expect anything out of him on a relationship front.”

Thinking about what her and Jovan had been through, he had far exceeded any expectations she had of anyone. She had been lonely, afraid, and wary of everyone, looking for anyone to trust, but finding no one. He had literally come to her rescue when he didn’t have to and taken her in. He had been kind and insisted that they were equals in social stature, something that no one had ever even hinted at. He had encouraged her to grow, to be strong, and for that, she would be eternally grateful.

She had been so proud when she realized that she was the only one who could help Jovan get a “lasso on his gift,” as he liked to say. As they worked together, she became stronger in the knowledge that she was helping another person instead of serving. She was helping an equal.

The sexual attraction had taken her by surprise, but it had turned out to be a nice dividend. She wanted more of the sex from Jovan; she wanted him to teach her about her body and his. The first joining had been so pleasurable, as had the experience he gave her with his mouth. If they had more time together, she felt it could only get better.

She cared deeply about the male, and he had far exceeded her expectations.

Noah was wrong. The others might not be able to expect anything from Jovan, but she could. They were bound together by their gifts, and she expected that bond would only flourish.

“I do believe you are wrong, brother.”

Noah sighed. “Liberty, don’t get too attached or you are in for a world of heartache, okay?”

She didn’t have time to think about that as the phone began to vibrate. Noah picked it up and dialed. “It’s a go, Blake. You’re on.”

A few minutes later, an old, gray truck pulled out from the dirt road where Area 2 was housed. It rumbled down the road, and a few minutes later, Blake’s Hummer pulled out from behind them and sped down the road. The plan was once they figured out the direction of the truck, Blake would run ahead and find a good place for the ambush. It wasn’t like there were a lot of options down Highway 19 for turn-offs or highway changes. The road was a desolate stretch of pavement that led directly into Mexico.

As the last rays of the sun said goodbye over the horizon, Noah turned on the ignition and the Hummer rumbled to life.

“Here we go,” Noah had said.

Presently, Liberty closed her eyes and concentrated on reaching Jovan. She had never attempted anything like this before, and she prayed she would be able to make a difference in his rescue.

When she connected, the link between them was so strong, it was almost as if they had become one. She could feel his pain, and it brought tears to her eyes. She reminded herself that he would be able to feel her sadness for him, and clamped down on it. She needed to focus on him.

She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like having this intense emotional link with him while having the sex with him.

I can’t believe you’re thinking about sex, Liberty.

Heat warmed her cheeks. She had to be cautious with her thoughts.

I’m sorry, Jovan. I need to be more focused.

There was a long silence where she felt or heard nothing.

You’re right. We both do.

She let the connection rest, firm and in place, but she couldn’t help wonder if he was thinking of the same thing.

I am.

Those two words sent shivers through her body, and she had to fight to control the physical response.

Noah picked his phone when it vibrated and looked at the text that had just come in. “We’ve got a ways to go, Liberty. It looks like about ten minutes, so if you want to rest for a few minutes go ahead.”

“Thank you, Noah. I will.”

She closed her eyes and concentrated on Jovan.

If we were in bed right now, what would you like me to do to you?

She thought for a moment. I would not like you in bed with me, Jovan.

Really? Okay. It’s probably best for us to get off this train of thought—

I would like you in the shower bathing with me.

It was a strange sensation telling someone else what she wanted, instead of anticipating the needs of others. In servitude, she had to constantly be one step ahead of those who she served, predicting their wants and desires.

She had been in charge of making sure the daily meeting of the Royal Council was set to take place. It was never a set number either, so every day was different. Some days all twenty members would show up, other days it would be just be a few. Her duties included setting up the food and making sure that everything was in place for the opening ceremonies where each member of the Royal Council walked down a long runner colored his SR44 color. He would then pledge his allegiance to the other members of the Royal Council and to SR44 as a whole.

The runners needed to coordinated on who was showing up and where they were to be seated for the meeting. She also needed to be on hand to fetch anything else that was needed during the conference. Her time was never hers; her desires were never considered. And now she was telling another—a member of the Six Saviors—what she wanted.

She smiled, and suddenly, her mind was flooded with images Jovan projected, streaming together as if she were watching a TV show.

She stood with her back against Jovan as he soaped up her hair, working his way down, taking a few moments to knead her shoulders. His hands traveled to her breasts, where the white lather became thick as he massaged her breasts, gently touching her nipples, and then grasping them between his forefinger and thumb and softly pulling and twisting.

Heat pooled between her legs, and her breathing became jilted.

His hands moved to her stomach, where he took his time teasing her, dipping lower and lower with every pass of his hand to her “lady parts,” as Beverly had called them.

When he reached the small patch of curls, he stopped the circular motion and just let his hand rest there as he wrapped his big arm over her shoulders and drew her closer to him.

She could feel the heat of him against her back and the warmth of his hands on her body even though she was only reading his thoughts, and she wished the cooling system of the car was turned on.

His hand traveled downward, his finger slipping into her folds, rubbing her slick flesh slowly, back and forth, taking his time at her swollen nub, lazily circling it with mild pressure as he massaged her breast with his other hand, his lips suckling her neck and the side of her face.

He turned her around, his thick shaft against her stomach as he kissed her deeply. Their tongues danced, and his hand caressed her wet hair, traveling down her back to her bottom.

They rested there, gently kneading the flesh, and her hands grasped his neck. Abruptly he lifted her, and her legs wrapped around his waist. He pushed her up against the wall and entered her.

The movements were slow and easy at first, but then a sort of urgency took over. She fisted his hair as he pounded into her roughly.

“Liberty, tell Jovan it’s go time in five minutes.”

Startled, Liberty opened her eyes and looked around the car. She wasn’t wet, soapy, and in Jovan’s arms. Her breathing was slightly erratic and heat had pooled between her legs. She needed to focus.

Jovan, Noah says it’s time to go in five minutes.

You mean go time?

Yes.

There was silence for a moment. Did you like what you saw?

Oh, yes, she liked it a lot. Yes, Jovan.

I want to do that to you, Liberty. I want to make you feel good. I want to watch you come.

Liberty inhaled sharply.

“What’s wrong, Liberty?” Noah asked.

She shook her head slightly to try to clear Jovan’s words so she could focus. “Nothing, Noah. Everything is fine.”

I would like that as well, Jovan. Very much so.

I’ve got something to do here, Liberty, so if you don’t hear from me for a bit, don’t worry, okay?

Okay.

“Jovan said he had something to do, Noah. He didn’t say what.”

Noah nodded and grinned. “Wonder what he’s got planned.”