She looks at me like I’ve grown extra limbs. “Jesus, you really are otherworldly, aren’t you?”
“I thought we’d already established that,” I snap.
“Don’t get testy with me. I have a lot to deal with here.”
“And I don’t?”
The foot tapping starts again. But this time, she’s naked and it’s much sexier. I don’t want her angry, so I grab her and kiss her. She doesn’t resist.
“If I don’t stop, I’m going to throw you back down and take you again. And I need to get back to Edge.”
Her hand coils around my neck and she molds herself against me. “I’d like for you to take me again, but I understand.” Then she runs her finger down the scar on my face. “Will you tell me how you got this someday?”
“Yes. But not now. I’ll have Edge get your pill. He’ll be back in minutes. The longer we stay in here, the longer you go without it.”
“Right. He won’t mind?”
“He’s under my command. He will do as I ask. And Serena, have I told you how magnificent you were?” We’re still embracing each other. I tilt her chin up with a finger and smile at her. “You pleased me very much.” Then I kiss her.
“You pleased me, too, Sabin.”
I run my hands through her hair, trying to detangle it. “I think you’ll have to brush them out. If you get your brush, I’ll do it for you.”
She walks over to a small bag that sits on the floor and I ask myself what the hell’s going on with this. I’ve never been interested in brushing a woman’s hair before. Not even that bitch I was married to. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to figure this thing out when I hear her voice.
“Sabin?”
She stands in front of me, smiling, holding a brush out like a gift. I tell her to turn around and begin to brush her hair. But all I want to do is bury my face in it. It’s like a soothing treat to my rough and calloused hands. Serena Callahan is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, touched, inhaled, or dreamed of and I’m not sure I will be able to keep my hands off her. Just untangling her hair is an act of pure eroticism. When I’m finished, I swallow the thickness in my throat and say, “Serena,” but that’s all I can get out. She turns around and can’t help but see I’m fully erect.
“Oh, god, Sabin.”
Then we’re like two starving animals, crashing together, mouths colliding, tongues seeking, hands roving. I lift her up and impale her on me. As she lets her head fall back, I know am bewitched by this woman. She has completely captivated me. And I also know I am in serious trouble. Not only does my body betray me, but this woman will run the risk of compromising this mission. Those thoughts fade as I lose myself in her.
“Serena, Serena, Serena.” I repeat her name over and over. No other woman has ever had this type of power over me. Her eyes, seek out mine and they reach deep into my soul. Her thoughts are pure; of that I’m sure. Serena Callahan may be my life changer. And I believe I may be hers. She climaxes right before I do, then goes limp in my arms. I want nothing more than to crawl in the bed and spend the day with her there. I have never wanted that before. And I tell her the truth of that.
“Why me?” she asks.
“I can’t say.” And it’s the truth. I still hold her in my arms, her legs wrapped around me.
“I suppose you should put me down. I probably weigh a ton.”
I laugh. “You’re a feather to me. I don’t want to put you down, but I’m sure Edge is wondering what happened to us.”
“Edge. I forgot.” Her face turns a bit pink. “Sabin, I know you must think I do this all the time, but I really don’t.” She touches my face, my lips. “I don’t want to go back out there.”
“Why?”
“Because, they’ll know we did it.”
And they will. “Don’t worry. They won’t say anything.”
“It’s not what they’ll say. It’s how they’ll look at me and what they’ll think of me. They already hate me.”
“Look at me, Serena.” Worry clouds her normally bright and clear eyes. “I can’t control what my men think. But I will control what they say, and I promise you, they will treat you with respect. Understand?”
She nods, but I see no confidence in her. I nudge her and say, “Come, let’s get dressed.” I grab a clean shirt out of the closet and we put our clothes on. Then I reach for her hand and we walk out together, heading for the sec center. Her hand clenches mine and when we enter the room, it isn’t just Edge in there. Six sets of curious and knowing eyes turn and stare at us.
“Oh, shit,” she says. “I guess they’re the welcoming committee.”
Eight
Serena
“Did you two have a nice break?” Rafe asks.
If eyes could shoot darts, Rafe would be wounded from the look Sabin gives him. Rafe steps back. “Can it, Rafe. Edge, I need you to do something for Serena.”
“What is it?” Edge asks.
Sabin looks at me and smiles. Then he leans down and tells me to let Edge know what I need. “Take him out of here so you don’t announce it to the world.”
“Isn’t that a little stupid? They can read my mind.”
Laughter fills the room as they do just that. My face feels like I just stuck it in an oven. This is the most awkward thing ever. I’ve never lived with one man before, much less seven. Edge appears in front of me and asks me what I need. I look at Sabin.
“You’re not sure? I thought you knew.”
“I’ve never had to use it before. And can we have this conversation somewhere else?”
“Christ.” He takes my arm and we walk into the hall. “So?”
“It’s called the morning after pill, but I don’t know the exact name of it. I need to Google it.”
“Google it? You can’t get on the computer.”
“Then you’ll have to do it on your fancy thingamajiggies in there.”
“Thingamajiggies?”
“Yeah. Those glass screens floating in the air,” I say.
“Those are called complinks.”
“Whatever. Use those to look it up.”
He squints, then spins around and stomps back into the sec center. I wait on him in the hall. No way am I going back in there to face all that heat. A few minutes later, he returns with Edge on his heels.
“Does Alternative Plan sound right?” he asks.
“Yes! That’s it. It’s one pill?”
“I didn’t bother to check that,” he groans.
“No, don’t worry. I’ve seen it in magazines.”
Sabin turns to Edge and says, “Go to the pharmacy. You know what to do and what to get.” Edge nods and vanishes.
“Where did he go?”
Sabin looks at me like I’m stupid. “To the pharmacy.”
“No! He just poofed away.”
“He transcended. Remember?”
“Well, dayam! Is that what you all do all the time?”
“Yes. What else did you think?” His answer is snarky.
“Look, I’m sorry I’m a little astounded by all this. I didn’t fly in a plane until a little over a year ago and it still fascinates me. Don’t be such a jerk about it. Be a little considerate here to us mere humans.”
His stance relaxes and he chuckles. “You’re right. I forget about that. It’s easy to take all of it for granted.”
Edge pops back in and I yelp. Edge shakes his head and Sabin swears. “Calm down.”
“I’m sorry. This poofing thing is little hard to get used to.”
Edge laughs and hands me a box. Then without a word, he saunters back in the sec center. I waste no time tearing the box open and swallowing the pill.
“Happy now?”
“I’ll be happier when I get my period.”
He mumbles something and I could swear he says he will be too. I pray he’s not as nervous about this as I am. All I need is an alien baby. I instantly have a vision of that alien movie where that disgusting creature pops out of the guy’s stomach.
Sabin cocks his head and asks, “What’s wrong now? You’re as pale as a white sheet.”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
He angles his head and stares. “Oh, no. You don’t really think that, do you? Tell me you’re just being overly dramatic.”
“I’m sorry. I just happened to think of it when the word alien came to mind.”
“For the love of everything. You humans and your silly imaginations,” he huffs. “That’s another reason I hate that word. You think anything other than yourselves have scales and large teeth that drip acidic saliva.”
“Well?”
“No! No, no, no! I’ve traveled the universe and never have I encountered anything like that!”
“I call bullshit on that. What about the Shaurok?”
Sabin’s mouth opens and closes a few times. He says absolutely nothing.
“Aha! I’m right, aren’t I?”
“No, you are not. The Shaurok are under the control of their mastermind. They don’t drip acidic saliva and they don’t implant nasty embryos inside the esophagus of their victims.”
“Yes, but they are equally creepy.”
“They are not. They are easily killed.” He snaps his fingers for effect.
I shake my head. “And is this why your intestines and ribs were hanging out?”
“We were outnumbered. Are you always this argumentative?”
I reflect on this for a moment, and then answer honestly. “No. When I was young I never argued. I was pushed around and bullied to the point I didn’t know up from down. But then I moved away and discovered freedom. Freedom to think for myself. To act for myself and that’s when I grew a backbone. I won’t apologize for it, Sabin. Ever. If it offends you, then maybe I’m sorry a little bit, but it’s the way I am and I have to say I’m proud of it.”
It shocks me when a huge grin spreads across his face. “I’m glad you have a backbone, Serena Callahan. While it will drive me fucking crazy at times I’m sure, I couldn’t tolerate some simpering, whiny ass woman spending time around here. Now stiffen that backbone of yours and accompany me into the sec center so I can get some damn work done.” He extends his hand. And how can I refuse this offer?
The atmosphere is so hostile when we enter, I want to run right back out of there. But Sabin has a firm grip on my hand and he pulls me along next to him.
“Nice of you to join us,” Rafe snaps. “I’m glad you two could pull yourselves out of the bedroom.”
Sabin tenses. “Keep your snide comments to yourself, Rafe.”
“They’re not only mine. We’re out here trying to do our jobs while you’re back there fucking.”
I gasp. I know it’s obvious what we’ve been doing, but I never expected any of them to actually be so crass about it. Sabin releases my hand and storms up to Rafe.
He says in a voice edged with steel, “I said, keep your snide comments to yourself.”
“And I said they’re not only my comments. We all feel this way. What the hell are you doing? We have a job to do? A mission, for fuck’s sake! One that doesn’t include fucking her!” Rafe jerks his head toward me.
“Goddammit, you leave her out of it,” Sabin says.
This is rapidly going downhill. I need to step in, so I run up to them and wedge myself in between them. “Stop it you two!” I put my palms on both of their chests but damn, it’s like trying to move two brick walls. Neither of them gives an inch. Turning to face Rafe, I say, “This is all my fault. Sabin was only trying to help me.”
“Is that so? And I suppose helping you included a good, hearty fuck?”
Before I know what’s happening, I slap him right across the cheek. “Don’t you ever speak that way in front of me again. If you do, the next time it’ll be my knee in your balls.” I stand and stare at him, with my chest heaving from anger.
Rafe’s face is mottled and he says nothing for a few seconds. Finally he nods. “I apologize. My words were uncalled for.”
“Clearly. If you had been here when Sabin returned, you would’ve have seen his injuries. It’s been a difficult time for all of us. I think we need to put this behind us and move forward.” How is it that I’m the peacekeeper here?
“She’s right,” Sabin says. The two men look at each other, and then nod.
I take a quick glance around the room and note that all the men are looking at me suspiciously. Now what do I do? Run and hide in Sabin’s room? Hell, no. I’m not going to do that. Reaching for Sabin’s hand, I lace my fingers with his, and am happy to feel him give mine a squeeze. I decide I need to say something.
“I’m sorry I’ve interrupted your mission. I promise to help as much as I can and not get in the way.” I hear a few of them mumbling. Tugging on Sabin’s hand, he looks at me. He has to know I need his help here. Thank god he gets the idea.
“Bring me up to speed. What’s going on with Charity?”
Rafe makes a harrumphing noise and says, “She’s dead.”
His words are like a fist rammed into my sternum. I stagger backwards, and my knees give out. If it weren’t for Sabin’s hand, I’d be flat on the floor.
“Bloody hell, Rafe. Can you be any more blunt?”
“You asked,” Rafe clips.
“Serena, are you okay?” Sabin asks. I can’t respond. Dead. Charity is dead. All because of a stupid necklace I found at the bottom of the sea. My brain grows fuzzy and my ears buzz. Voices come from a distance and the next thing I know, I’m on the floor, with Sabin’s face hovering above me.
“What happened?” I ask.
“You fainted.”
Weird. I’ve never fainted in my life. My head pounds so I rub my forehead. “Do you have any ibuprofen? I have a bad headache.”
“Sorry. We don’t use that stuff.”
“I have some in my bag if you can bring it to me.” He pulls me up and the room spins.
“You’d better lie back down for a minute.”
“Tell me what happened to Charity.”
He frowns. “The men went to her apartment and found her dead. The Shaurok got to her first.”
“The necklace?”
“Wasn’t there.”
“So?”
He shakes his head. “We’re not sure. They may have it.”
Now I sit up. Woozy or not, I don’t give a crap. “What happens now?”
“We hunt the Shaurok.” His face is grim. This sounds bad. Fear seeps into my bones.
“But wait. How do you know if Charity had it?”
“We don’t. But what we do know is the Shaurok are no longer in Durham.”
“So now where are you going?”
His entire demeanor changes. He’s tense and for the first time, I sense fear in him. “For the present, nowhere. We stay and continue to track Judgment Day. Serena, we may need you.”
“Me? How?”
“As bait.”
“Bait?” I’m not sure I like where this is going.
His usually full lips stretch into one thin line. “Yes. If the Shaurok don’t have Judgment Day, they will still sense its imprint on you, and come after it.”
“I see. Led like a pig to slaughter, then.”
“What? No! Do you really think I’d do that to you?”
“I don’t know.”
Suddenly, anger replaces his fear. It rolls off of him in waves and permeates the room, invading my space. I’ve never felt anything like it. He moves like a predator, reminding me of a panther stalking its prey. His arm winds around my waist and I’m wrenched up against his chest, his scent flooding my nostrils. “If you think for one lousy second I would intentionally put your pretty neck at risk, then you don’t know me at all.”
“I don’t know you at all. I just met you.”
His eyes latch onto mine and he snaps, “You know more about me than most people. And my guess is I know the same of you.” He’s right. Very few people have penetrated my walls, but he most certainly has. He knows about my family and furthermore, I slept with the man, after o
nly knowing him how long? Hours? One day, two? I don’t even know how long I’ve been here, for that matter. I want to slap myself on the forehead. I’ve never slept with someone so soon before. But the odd thing is, I feel like I’ve known him for years.
“Exactly.” His words tell me he’s once again gone digging around into my thoughts.
By now, my hands fist his shirt near his hips, and even though we have an audience, the urge to kiss him is overpowering. I’ve never been one for public displays of affection. What is it about him that does this to me? What is wrong with me?
His words interrupt my thoughts. “Not here. Not now. Tell me you trust me.”
And I do. Don’t ask me why. I guess I’m fucking crazy.
“You’re not. You know I’ll protect you with my life.” He’s still in my head.
“You’re right.” And he is. I saw what he looked like when he came back from Tara’s. His hand moves to my cheek and I tuck my head into it. “So what’s next?”
“We come up with a plan.”
So they decide I’m to be paraded around in town, without an escort, supposedly, to draw in the Shaurok. Of course, they’ll be nearby, in case of an emergency. Translation—in case the creepy things come tearing in after me.
That night I go to bed alone, while Sabin stays in the sec center with the men. A hot shower relaxes me and afterward, I crawl into bed and fall fast asleep. I never hear Sabin join me, but sometime later, he awakens me as he dreams. He talks gruffly, but then he lets loose what I believe to be a series of expletives in a language I don’t understand. I try to wake him, but it takes awhile. When I succeed, his skin is covered in a sheen of perspiration. Though the room is dark, a lamp burns in the corner and I can see his eyes dart wildly around the room before landing on me. Then he asks me something, but it’s in that odd language again.
“I don’t understand you, Sabin. Speak English.”
It takes a second before recognition sinks in and I see the tension in his body dissipate. One arm pulls me into him and he’s trembling.
“Hey, are you all right?”
I hug him as hard as I can, hoping it will help calm him.
“Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong,” I urge him.
The Hart Brothers Series Box Set (Including the bonus book Sabin: A Seven Novel): Freeing Her, Freeing Him, Kestrel, The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, Sabin: A Seven Novel Page 124
