Free The Meeting Point by Tabitha Rayne Page A

and onto the bed. It sent a thrill through her body to know he could easily do that, and she smiled at him taking a seat carefully beside her. Aware that her face was flushed, excitement bubbled in Deborah’s chest as she opened her hands to reveal the clockwork butterfly to Marcus. It was bashed and worn, and its wings had stopped flapping, but it had made it.
    â€œWhat the hell is it?” he asked, taking it from her.
    â€œIt’s a homing butterfly. Lena’s male made it.”
    â€œLena’s male?”
    Deborah now took the time to fill in the blanks of her escape and how she’d managed to find him. She told him the stories she’d gleaned from Lena while she’d been rehabilitating her, and the stories she’d been told from her assistant, Cheryl. Marcus looked confused and doubtful, especially about the strange, battered, metal creature that lay limp in his hands, but Deborah reasoned, even he couldn’t deny that something fantastical had brought them to each other.
    â€œAnd you say, if we send this out, it will go back to those people and lead them to us?”
    Deborah was high with excitement and knelt on the bed, squealing and bouncing on her knees. Her passion ebbed as she took in the look on his face. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œWhat would be the benefit in leading people here? Especially a male. He’ll get caught and be used like me.”
    â€œThey’ll be careful.” Deborah was confused by his sudden hostility. “They already managed to escape from a manor and then free me from a prison. They’re not stupid, Marcus.”
    He looked away and Deborah caught him by the chin, drawing him back to her.
    â€œIt’s no use, Deborah. I’m stuck here.” He lifted his arm to remind her of the electrodes. “I’m just worried that if they arrive, you’ll go after them and leave me here alone again.”
    Deborah was incredulous. “You think I’d do that?” She grabbed his hair as his head sank away from her again and pulled him hard to face her. “You think after spending eight years fucking and dominating women so I could get to ultimate unity to search for you—eight years of plunging my fingers into cunts and tits and mouths, all in the search for you—that I’d leave you?” She was crying now, hot tears searing her cheeks. She was humiliated and furious that he would think so little of her. “I’m so fucking angry right now, Marcus.” And she was. White fearsome emotion flooded through her and she felt herself dangling off the abyss. She could hear Marcus in the distance, trying to haul her back, but she was so angry, so, so angry. She wanted to just let go and fall into the oblivion.
    â€œ No !” A fist clutched at her shoulders and shook her hard.
    Her legs dangled into the blackness and she thought how silly they looked. All around her was space. Space and ultimate unity, but this time, she felt the creeping mewl of fear surround her. Panic set in and she closed her eyes, focusing on those fingers, wrapped into her flesh and pulling her out. She counted backward...three, two, one.
    â€œMarcus!” She flopped onto the bed and into his trembling arms. He was crying and sobbing all around her and she dissolved into him.
    â€œI’m sorry, I’m sorry. Come back to me. Come back to me.” He whispered the mantra desperately into her ears over and over again.
    When she’d finally stilled and the gushing sound of blood pumping through her own head subsided, Deborah spoke. “Marcus, I will never, ever leave you.” Her voice wavered, the remnants of fury still draining.
    â€œI know. I believe you.” He clutched her even more tightly and sobbed into her hair. “I’m sorry. I never meant to doubt you.”
    Deborah was finally calm again, exhausted and peaceful. She pulled gently free from Marcus and picked up the butterfly which had fallen