Rylan let out a labored breath. “Sloan—”
He cut him off with another kiss, as greedy and punishing as the first. Rylan’s answering growl vibrated all the way down to Sloan’s aching balls. One of his hands landed on Rylan’s waist, curling over it, digging into the waistband of the man’s jeans. His tongue slicked over Rylan’s, again and again, until finally he broke their mouths apart, breathing hard.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Rylan’s expression shone with humor, glittered with arousal.
Sloan almost slugged him in that pretty face of his. Goddamn it. Everything was a joke to this man. Rylan had no idea how close to the edge Sloan was. One push and he’d topple right over it.
“Don’t test me, Rylan.” He scraped one hand over his beard and stumbled backward. “I’m in a foul mood right now, so unless you feel like bending over and letting me take out all my frustration on that tight ass of yours, I suggest you walk away.”
There was a sharp intake of breath. Rylan dragged his knuckles over his mouth, a mouth that was still wet from Sloan’s kisses. Then he dropped his hand, turned toward the stairs, and rapidly ascended them without a word or a backward glance.
Sloan chuckled humorlessly as he watched the other man go. “Yeah,” he called out, his smug voice echoing in the narrow stairwell. “That’s what I thought.”
10
Reese swallowed her annoyance when she opened the door to find Hudson behind it. Sloan wasn’t back yet from wherever it was he’d stomped off to, though Reese suspected he was staying away on purpose. She didn’t blame him. She’d had no right to blow up at him like that.
“Can we talk?” Hudson asked tentatively.
She had to fight from answering with a sharp no. She wasn’t in the mood to chitchat with Connor’s woman. She didn’t know Hudson, and, frankly, she wasn’t sure she liked her.
Con might be able to get past the fact that Hudson was the twin sister of an Enforcer, but Reese never forgot it, not for one second.
Still, leadership meant she sometimes had to interact with people she wouldn’t normally choose as friends. Besides that, Connor might change his mind about assisting with the outpost attacks if he found out Reese had treated Hudson with anything less than respect.
“Sure,” she said, opening the door wider so the blonde could step inside.
Hudson glanced around the apartment as they entered the living area. To anyone else, it might look like she was admiring her surroundings, but Reese didn’t miss the shrewd glint in those eyes as they swept the room. The woman wasn’t admiring, but assessing.
“You want something to drink?” Reese offered in a reluctant attempt to be a good hostess.
“No, thanks.” Hudson gestured to the couch. “May I sit?”
“Knock yourself out.”
The other woman settled on the sofa. Reese remained standing, crossing her arms over her chest.
After a beat, Hudson’s scrutinizing eyes turned to Reese, who scrutinized right back.
There was no denying that Hudson was stunning. She had big gray eyes, flawless porcelain skin, and golden hair tied up in a messy twist. Reese could see why Connor had such a hard-on for the woman. What she couldn’t fathom was how on earth Connor could trust someone who was so closely connected to the GC.
“What do you need?” Reese barked when the silence dragged on.
Hudson met her gaze head on. “I’d like your permission to let Dominik know about our plan to take out the outposts.”
Our plan? She managed to stifle a cutting retort by reminding herself that she needed Connor on her side. Which meant playing nice with his woman.
Still, Hudson’s request was so absurd it made Reese laugh. “Absolutely not,” she replied.
“I urge you to reconsider,” Hudson said in a calm, even voice.
“I won’t.”
“At least let me make my case?”
Another burst of irritation went off inside her. If this woman thought for one moment that Reese was going to include the head Enforcer in her plans to take out his troops, she was out of her mind.
Play nice, warned the soft voice in her head.
She drew a breath and sat down in the armchair opposite the couch. “Fine. Make your case.”
Hudson clasped her hands in her lap. “I’m sure Con already told you, but Dominik and I have been communicating over a satellite phone he gave me when he helped me escape the Enforcer compound.”
“I’m aware of that, yes.”
“Well, Dom’s been doing everything in his power to keep the colony sweeps away from Con’s camp, and I know for a fact he’s working behind the scenes to take Commander Ferris down.”
Reese smirked. “I’m sure he is.”
“He is,” Hudson insisted. “Ferris has been giving the Enforcers a drug cocktail for the past couple years. Some aggression drug that’s messing with their heads, making them increasingly violent and short-tempered.”