In Death I Live by Lindsay Becs
ZORA
I navigatemyself back to River’s room—only getting turned around once—and for one of the first times since I’ve been here, I’m alone. Closing the door, I step into the bathroom, locking myself inside. I turn on the shower to drown out any noise as I pull out the cell that he gave me this morning.
My fingers tremble with nerves as my heart beats loudly in my chest. I type in a text to the only number I know by heart. I’m in.
Within seconds, before I’m even fully undressed, I get a reply. Good girl. I’ll be in touch. Remember what’s on the line if you fuck this up.
Pressing my hand to my chest, it feels like it’s caving in. I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I can’t do this. I chant in my head. Letting out a ragged breath, I try to tell myself that I don’t have a choice.
I step into the shower, hoping it gives me the strength to get through. Taking my time, I wash myself, trying desperately to keep it together and be stronger than I feel.
With a towel around my body, I unlock the door to go into the bedroom to change. I’m almost giddy at the thought of all the clothes I now have to choose from. But I stop short when I see River there placing folded clothes into drawers.
“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“Putting your shit away.”
I watch him for a moment as he shifts his own clothes and belongings around to empty another drawer for my new things.
“You don’t have to do that. I can just pile them in a corner in the closet or put them under the bed or something.”
He glances up at me and gives me a look that tells me he’s half annoyed and half thinks I’m crazy. “It’s fine, Zo.”
“But it’s your room,” I go on.
Stopping what he was doing, he straightens and looks at me with a huff. “The moment I brought you back here and put you in my bed, it became ours. This is your room and your wing of the house now too.”
I swallow down the bile rising in my throat, not liking the harsh tone of his voice. I already know how badly this is all going to end. I dip my head, chin to chest, and say, “Thank you.”
“Get dressed. Dom will be pissed if the food gets cold.”
I give him a nod and go in search of the underwear I got. Once I’m dressed in pair of yoga pants and a loose-fitted sweatshirt, I run a brush through my wet hair and pull it back into a braid, letting it fall over my shoulder. Without saying anything more, I walk with River back down to the kitchen.
When we get there, the boys are all seated at the round dining table with platters of food in the middle. I sit in the seat I occupied this morning next to Greyson, and River sits on my other side. As soon as we’re seated, everyone digs in, acting like they haven’t eaten in years, making me sit back and giggle at them.
“Better jump in before it’s all gone,” Cruz says with a smile across from me as he bites into an ear of corn.
Before I can, Domonic is behind me, filling my plate up with a steak, corn and baked potato. “Eat,” he says into my ear, sending goosebumps down my arms. Then, he walks back to his seat between Cruz and Greyson, diving into his steak without giving me another glance.
I look at River, who just winks as he chews a piece of meat. I take the reassurance and cut into the steak on my plate. Closing my eyes, I moan as I chew. Damn. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a steak like this before in my life. No wonder it’s rich-people food.
“Holy fuck, this is good,” I say around another bite.
I hear a snicker and look up to see Cruz looking at me. “You like Dom’s meat in your mouth, baby girl?”
I flip him off as I shove another bite into my mouth, only making the rest of them laugh. I even catch a slight upturn on the corner of Domonic’s lips, making me feel good about how I’m handling these boys.
After we finish eating, River and Cruz clear the table to clean up and do the dishes. When I try to help, Greyson pulls me away by the waist, taking me with him into the living room. Then he walks back into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Domonic.
“We’re watching a movie,” Dom tells me, not asking if I even want to. He falls back onto one of the couches and flips on the huge TV, I grin as he searches to find Birds of Prey before I’ve even sat down.
“You seen this yet?” he asks me. I shake my head, thinking about how little he’s actually talked to me since I’ve been here. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Who doesn’t like a badass, sexy chick who’s a little bit psycho?” I ask with a smirk. I sit down next to him but am careful not to get too close so there’s still space between us.
Grey chuckles as he walks back into the room, his hands full of beers. He hands one to Dom and one to me before sitting down on one of the other couches. He tosses me a blanket right as River and Cruz come in with their own drinks in their hands. Dom starts the movie, and before long, we’re all laughing and chatting about it as it plays.
The whole evening seems so normal. So easy and relaxed. And it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable with how much I enjoy it.
Not long into the movie, my head starts to bob as the day catches up to me. I feel an arm slide around my middle and tug until my body is in the crook of his. “Go to sleep, Zo,” I hear Domonic almost coo into my hair as he kisses the crown of my head softly. I hum, snuggling closer into his side, wrapping my arm around his middle and laying my head on his chest. Our legs tangle together on the couch as we’ve shifted to lie across it now.
I take a deep breath, my senses filling with pine and patchouli, and I smile, liking the comforting scent of him as I fall asleep.
* * *
I wakeup bathed in darkness. It takes me a moment, but when I hear whispers, I realize that I’m still on the couch, lying on Domonic. Not wanting to move but also wanting to hear what they’re saying, I stay still, hoping he doesn’t notice I’m awake yet.
“You’re different with her,” someone says. I think it’s Cruz.
“We’re all different with her.” He pauses a second before adding, “And I don’t know why. It’s fucking with my head though.”
“River was about to slit your throat when he saw her asleep on you and you told him to go to bed,” he chuckles. And by hearing his laugher, I can tell it’s Greyson.
“River can fuck off. He needs to grow a pair,” Dom says. His fingers are softly drawing circles on my back, and it feels so good. My body wants to drift off again, but I try to stay awake to hear more.
“Are we leaving her here tomorrow while we go on the run? Or is someone going to stay behind with her?” Cruz asks.
“I don’t want him to know about her. Not yet. We need to be smart. It’s probably best to leave her here. Hopefully, she feels safe enough here to stay and not take off or go snooping too much.”
“What if she does?” Greyson asks Domonic.
“If she leaves… then we chase her until we catch her. And if she becomes a snoop, then I think we know what we need to do,” Dom answers, making my skin prickle. I hear his chuckle, and that’s when I realize he knew I was awake this whole time. “But you won’t do any of those things, will you, Zora?”
“I don’t want to leave,” I say quietly.
“But you’ll snoop?” Cruz snorts.
Lifting my head, I rest my chin on Dom’s chest to look up at him. “I’m not a snoop or a snitch. I don’t know what you boys do, but it doesn’t take a genius to know it’s better that way.”
Pulling me up his body more, he tilts my chin to look up at him. “Good girl,” he praises before kissing me. His hand slides up to my throat, applying a small amount of pressure. “I’d hate to have to slit this pretty throat.” His lips move across mine as he threatens me.
I’m lost in Domonic, everything else around me fading away. I only break out of my fog when I hear Cruz say, “Night, baby girl.”
“Goodnight,” I say, not taking my eyes off of Domonic.
Then I feel someone next to us. Dom’s hand slides down to my chest and pushes me back, arching my back. My legs instinctively fall to the sides of each of his. A hand pulls my braid, making me look up into Greyson’s face. He grins down at me before dropping a kiss to my mouth, sucking my lip into his mouth. He kisses back to my ear, whispering, “Be a good girl, Zora.” His tongue flicks the lobe before kissing back down my neck.
My hips start to rock, chasing the high of the release I want. Domonic is hard under me, and when he grips my hips to shift me ever so slightly, he hits just the right spot, making me moan.
Greyson lets go of my hair, going to the hem of my shirt instead. Lifting my arms, he pulls it off, revealing my naked chest underneath. In unison, I hear them both groan. Lips and tongues and hands are on me, taking me to places I’ve never been before.
My hips move quicker, feeling so turned on by having two sets of hands and mouths on me. I’m so wet and horny, chasing my release faster and faster. One of them—I think Dom—grips my throat again as teeth bite onto one of my nipples, making me cry out loudly.
Someone kisses me and I keep my eyes closed, not wanting to know who is doing what to me, the mystery keeping me turned on even more than I already am. His tongue plunges into my mouth, tasting every part of me while I return the same to him.
The hand on my throat grips tighter, and I moan again. I hear a muffled fuck from whoever isn’t kissing me, and I couldn’t agree more as I tip over, my body convulsing as my orgasm hits me. All of my senses are on overdrive from dry-humping Domonic and having him and Greyson all over me like that. It’s something I’ve never done before and didn’t think I’d like—being with more than one guy at a time—but I liked that. A lot.
“You’re a good girl, Zora,” Greyson says, kissing me once more softly on the lips. “But next time, we’re going to dirty you up a little more.” He kisses me again and then says, “Sleep well, Zo.”
He walks away, leaving me still straddling Domonic. My eyes stay on Greyson until I can’t see him anymore. Then my gaze shifts back to Domonic.
He gives me a sexy little smile I’ve never seen cross his face before. “You made me cum in my pants like a twelve-year-old.”
My eyes widen for a second before I realize how wet it feels between my legs. Covering my mouth with my hand, I start to laugh.
“You think that’s funny?” he asks as he bucks his hips up and turns my laughter into a moan, hitting my still-sensitive clit. “Who’s laughing now?” he teases with that grin still on his face. Without thinking, I bend and kiss him, wanting to keep that smile as just mine.
We lie there kissing lazily for a while before he pulls away. “I need to clean up the mess you made. Do you want to come with me or go back to River’s room?” For a quick second, I see this guy—the biggest, toughest of the group—look vulnerable.
Licking my lips, I drop my eyes to his, wanting more of them. “I’ll go with you. I could use another shower.” I say, meeting his eyes then as I bite into my lip.
In one quick movement, he stands and throws me over his shoulder to carry me to his room. “Wait! My shirt!” I yell through a giggle.
“You don’t need it, beautiful,” he says before slapping me on the ass and making me yelp.
Once we reach his wing of the compound, as they call it, I realize how similar the layout is to River’s. Just decorated differently. River’s is all soft earthy tones of browns and greens and blues, where Dom’s is all shades of grey with black accents. Each one fitting them so well and making me curious what Greyson’s and Cruz’s look like.
We go straight through his bedroom to the bathroom. I stand there watching with my arms crossed over my chest as he turns on just the light above the large shower, dimming it to a soft glow. He strips down without a word, stepping into the shower. I watch in fascination as his movements are so fluid for such a big guy.
Tilting his head back to let the shower run over his head, he runs his hands through his hair and then down his face. When he looks at me, he crooks a finger, telling me to join him with my smile on his face. Not able to say no to that, I pull my yoga pants off and step in with him.
Tentatively, he washes my body. Besides a few soft caresses here and there, everything stays innocent enough. I turn to wash him next, starting with his back. When he turns to face me, I see he’s hard. Running the sponge up and down his arms, I keep my eyes on his, washing his chest down to his stomach. When I reach his cock, I make slow movements to clean his impressive length. His eyes hood with each move I make. Dropping to my knees, I wash his legs, trying to not look at the dick at eye level.
He says my name, making me look up at him. Nervously, I stick my tongue out to lick my lips but faintly hit the head of his cock, making his nostrils flare.
“Open,” he says, and I know he’s talking about my mouth. I stare up at him, my lips parted slightly as soft pants skate over him. “Now,” he grits out. I do as he says then, opening my mouth for him.
Before he can move, I flatten my tongue and lean forward to lick from base to head, closing my lips around the tip. I kiss and suck just the tip for a few seconds before sinking down and taking him fully into my mouth. I hear him groan when he hits the back of my throat, making me gag. I pull back, hollowing my cheeks as I suck my way off with a pop.
Looking up at him with a smug smile, he looks back at me with his chest heaving. I think he’s going to shove back into my mouth, but instead, he pulls me up until he can grip under my ass. Pushing me against the wall of the shower, my legs wrap around his waist as he kisses me hard. It’s messy with all teeth and tongues and hot as hell.
“Please,” I moan into his mouth when he slides his cock through my pussy lips.
“You sure you’re ready for me, Zora? I’m not the gentle one,” he warns, nipping at my chin and neck.
“Yes.” That one word comes out all breathy and needy.
In one thrust, he’s inside me, filling me to the hilt. My scream echoes off the shower walls. Before I can adjust to him, he pulls back only to shove inside again. His hand comes to my throat, gripping at my pulse points and making me see spots as he pounds in and out of me. It’s all overwhelming and nothing like I’ve ever experienced before.
He’s harsh and relentless, and it feels so fucking good. I’m making sounds I didn’t think I ever would, making me feel slightly like a porn star, but I don’t give a fuck.
“Fuck, Dom, I’m coming,” I moan hoarsely. His hand shifts, cupping my jaw. He pushes his thumb into my mouth and I suck on it, biting down when my orgasm rocks through me.
He keeps pistoning his hips a few times before he pulls out of me, putting me on my feet. “Kneel,” he growls, and I do without question. “Open,” he says next as he keeps working his cock with his hand. I do, locking eyes with him as he comes all over my face, neck and chest with a deep, guttural growl. With a smile, I swallow and then lick my lips to get all that I can, to taste more of him.
“Fucking dammit,” he sighs with that sexy little grin. “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Flushed red, bruised and covered in my cum.” Dipping my head, feeling embarrassed, I grin.
He helps me back up and washes me again, pressing soft open-mouth kisses all over me as he does. It’s a total contrast to how he just was. Wrapping me in a soft, fluffy towel, he kisses my nose. We dry off and climb into bed together. It doesn’t take long before I fall asleep in the big guy’s arms.