And that gentle, sure kiss deepened. He’d teased her mouth open but now he took. Demanded more as his tongue slid into her mouth, sliding against hers. She held on, her nails digging into the skin of his back, urging him closer.

He growled. Like, really growled. His beast making itself known, and she hadn’t had any idea how much she’d like it.

But she really, really liked it. There was something dangerous about what lurked just beneath the smooth, debonair surface of this male. That she had no fear at all he’d ever use it to harm her was . . . interesting to say the least.

He’d made the comment that she knew they’d have awesome sexytimes and he’d been right. She’d had the feeling it would be combustible. But this was something else. The way not only her body reacted, but her magick rose to meld with his, wasn’t something she’d experienced before.

His mouth left hers, cruising down her jaw, pausing at the hollow of her throat, licking over the skin there until she made a sound she had no idea she could make.

More kisses. Down over each breast, down her belly, those big hands pressed her thighs wide open and he took a long lick. And then another. Over and over and he did, indeed, show her just how talented he was with his mouth.

Twice.

She was still shaking with her second climax when he slid the head of his cock through her and then barely inside.

Her lethargy was replaced by renewed need.

“More.” She rolled her hips, taking a bit more of him.

“I’m trying to take it slow, but you’re making it hard.”

She laughed, opening her eyes so she could look up at him.

“What are you laughing at?”

“I’m supposed to make it hard. That’s the point.”

He got it, laughing, bending to kiss her quickly. “Funny.”

“You can tell if I’m, um, fertile and stuff, right? Lark said you guys have some sort of Spidey-sense about that.”

“Spidey-sense? Like the comic book?” He shook his head. “You’re very fertile. So fertile it’s a struggle not to sniff you all the time. But you’re not in a time of your cycle when you can get pregnant.”

“This is a weird conversation. Fuck me instead.”

He grinned and pressed all the way inside until she gave him a low moan. “Your wish is mine to make a reality.”

He really was good with words.

But even better with his body.

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.