Exile in the Water Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 3)

by Cassandra Gannon

  Ty cried out, her hands going to her temples.

  “Shit!” Gion dropped the screwdriver and raced for the bed. “Ty! Damn it. I knew you were too sick for this. Look at me.” He grabbed her up in his arms, examining her face. “Are you alright? What happened?”

  “I don’t know.” Ty looked up him with damp eyes. “Something’s wrong.”

  “What?” His hands skimmed over her, looking for injuries. “Do you need Freya?”

  “No. It’s not from the attack. It’s me. I’m just… broken, I think. Inside.”

  Gion shook his head. “You’re not broken.” He pulled her against his chest and leaned back against the headboard. Painted dolphins and seahorses frolicked on the towering, antique surface. “You’re hurt, but you’re not broken.” He hugged her and let out a shaky breath. “You scared me. All day, all you’ve done is scare me. Getting in the middle of a war. Going to Freya to erase our connection. And now this.”

  Ty cuddled closer to him, pulling the sheets up around her. “Something’s wrong with me.” She repeated. “My energy isn’t right. It’s blocked or something.”

  “You’re positive?”

  “I’m a genius. I can tell.”

  “Alright.” Gion’s voice was calm, but she felt his heart slamming against his ribcage. “What are we going to do?”

  He’d said “we.”

  Ty felt herself melt. She tilted her head back to look at him. “We’re going to fix it.” She felt the need to reassure him. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty talented myself.”

  “You won’t sever our connection, though.” Gion studied her. “Not unless…” He trailed off. “Not unless you have to in order to feel… fixed.” He sighed like a man who’d just bet everything on a long shot. “I’ll agree. I will. I’ll agree to sever it and let you go, but only if you really have to.” He looked tortured. “Please.”

  Ty kissed the side of his jaw. “If it comes between my energy not being right and giving up my connection to you… I promise, my energy will just stay broken.”

  Gion glanced at her sharply.

  Ty smiled. “I like your energy. A lot.”

  His mouth curved, relief filling his face. “My energy likes you, too.” One of his hands came over to touch her cheek. “Everything about me likes you, angel.”

  Ty leaned against his palm. “Gion?”

  “Yes?”

  “You’re a very good man.”

  He met her eyes and something moved across his expression, something infinite and tender. “I’m not. But, you make me a better man.”

  Ty was quiet for a long moment. “So, when I was in that jail cell in Mayport Beach, you had already invented different ways to touch my body, huh?” She asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Did you –like-- picture them when I was refusing to talk to you?”

  “I always picture them. I’ve imagined taking you in so many ways that there aren’t numbers high enough to count them all.”

  It was crazy, but Ty found that very arousing. “Always? When you were being a jerk to me just now, you were still envisioning me naked?”

  “Oh, yeah. I love it when you argue with me. Even when I mad, I’m hard as a rock.”

  “When I was in human court that time?”

  “I had some incredible brainstorms about ripping that neat little suit right off your body.”

  “When I was in the Air House dungeon?”

  “You were in handcuffs, Tritone. Even a good man would have had fantasies about that.”

  Ty laughed.

  Gion gave her one of his rare, beautiful smiles. “You like hearing about how much I wanted you all these years.”

  “I do. Your perversions are contagious, I guess.” Ty reached up and stroked the golden streak in his hair. Pulling it free of his ponytail, she wrapped the brilliant highlight around her finger, tugging slightly.

  Gion jolted. “I always wanted you to touch me.” His eyes drifted shut. “That was always featured front and center in my daydreams.”

  Ty leaned forward to kiss him.

  He liked that. Ty had a feeling that he would. She grinned against his lips as Gion threaded his fingers through her hair, angling her head.

  Ty pressed closer, her mouth opening under his. She loosened her grip on the sheet, letting it fall from around her.

  “Stop, angel.” He pulled back. “Your energy isn’t well enough to do this right, now.” Even as he said it, Gion’s free palm traced downward, caressing the curve of her waist. He didn’t put his hands anywhere near her thighs, as if he was concerned about triggering any memories of the attempted rape. The situations were so completely different that Ty didn’t give Parald a thought, though.

  Gion’s fingers brushed against the bruise Lansing left on her side when he kicked her. His jaw got tight, again.

  “Tell me some more about how pretty you think I am, then.” Ty suggested playfully, not wanting to talk about the Agora attack. “You said you like my hair.”

  “I love your hair. It was the first thing I noticed about you. The rest of the music hall turned gray, somehow, and all I saw was the color of your red curls. Like a vision.”

  “A vision.” Ty soaked up the compliment like a sponge. Around Gion, Ty remembered the romantic eighty-four year old she’d once been. No man had ever said something so poetic to her. Especially not a man who mattered like Gion did. Actually, Gion was the only man who’d ever mattered. “Anything else you like about me?”

  “Everything else.” His hand came up to tenderly brush the pink bandage on her forehead. “I like every single thing about you, Ty. I would sack kingdoms for you.”

  “Aw, would you really?” Ty fluttered her eyelashes, not believing his flirting, but enjoying it none-the-less.

  “Yes,” Gion solemnly intoned, “without a second thought.”

  “And?” Ty toyed with the ends of his golden streak, getting into spirit of this. “Keep going.”

  “You want more sad stories of my hopeless desire?”

  “Not so hopeless, apparently.”

  He chuckled. “Well, before I left for the human realm today, I left a letter for you in this room. I saw this fairytale bed.” Gion’s gaze went to the draping fabric above their heads. “And I pictured us like this. But, I still never thought it could happen. Not really.”

  “I’m keeping that note.”

  “No, you aren’t.”

  “Yes, I am, too. I was worried that you might not come back. Then, I saw your note and it made me smile. I think I’m going to frame it.” Ty reached over so she could open the drawer of her nightstand. She’d already read it fifty times. She held up the thick sheet of paper for him. “Ta-da.”

  Gion took the page from her and stared at it.

  Try not to die while I’m gone. – G

  “You write a lovely note.” Ty teased. “Very concise, but filled with provocative subtext.”

  He shrugged. “It seemed like a fair request. I should have known that you’d find it nearly impossible to comply, though. I can’t take my eyes off of you for a second.” That statement was accompanied by a slow sweep of her body.

  “Well, you should have asked me to come with you, then. I would have. I like the humans.”

  He set the letter back on her nightstand. “I’ve noticed. Especially that cop grandson of Parson’s.”

  “Sullivan’s my friend.” Ty could tell from his face that Gion was pulling back from her somehow. “He’s very sweet under his grouchiness.”

  “Yeah, he’s a prince of his species and ours.” Gion’s tone went flat. “All the women seem to think so.”

  Ty tilted her head. “Sullivan’s my friend. Not like you and I are friends, of course. Not more, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Gion grunted.

  Was he honestly jealous of Sullivan? Ty blinked. “Gion, if I was interested in Sullivan, do you really think that I’d be here with you?”

  Silence.

  “Maybe, your energy would be right with him.”
Gion finally suggested without expression. “We don’t know how Phazing with humans works, exactly. He might be able to offer you more.”

  “That’s not how it is between Sullivan and me.”

  Gion snorted. “The human would try Phazing with you, if you let him. He’s not blind.”

  “I won’t let him. And he doesn’t think of me that way. I guarantee it.” Ty didn’t know how to reassure him, but she knew that it was imperative that Gion understand. He was very sensitive. Ty went with the quickest method she could think of to show Gion that he was the one that she wanted. She found Gion’s wrist and tugged it against her breast. “You’re the only man I’ve ever desired. I think that would be obvious.”

  Ty would have been too embarrassed to do that with anyone else, not matter what the circumstances. But, with Gion, she was safe. His desire and teasing compliments gave her confidence. Here, alone with Gion, she could be brave.

  Ty’s fingers threaded through his, holding him in place. His hand was so much bigger than hers and wonderfully strong. The delicate skin of her fingers rubbed between his, her nipple rasping against the callous of his palm. This seemed more intimate than their encounter in the music hall. More deliberate and meaningful. There was something primal about the way Gion’s hand covered her naked flesh. Ty felt very vulnerable and still very protected.

  Gion kept his eyes locked on hers as he massaged her breast.

  Territorial.

  That was the word for how he watched her. How he kneaded her flesh.

  Territorial.

  His elegant, musician’s hand squeezed with just the right pressure. Tossing her hair was completely involuntary this time. Ty’s neck just went back as she gasped. “Do that again.”

  “I’ve waited so long.” Gion sounded out of breath as he instantly complied. “And, I swear to God, I’ll have you if it’s the last thing I ever do in my life. But, you’re not well, yet. We can’t.”

  “This counts as going slow. I promise.”

  “No, it doesn’t.” But, the hand on her waist pulled her forward. “Gaia, you’re soft. Come here.”

  Ty whimpered as his mouth found her other breast. The man could do magical things with his tongue. Her body moved against his. “Gion.”

  “You make me insane.” Gion’s voice got rougher. “I’ll kill the human if he touches you, again, Ty. I wouldn’t be able to stand it.” Catching her nipple between his teeth, Gion bit down with gentle possession.

  “Oh God.” The Water energy swirled again, tingling everywhere as it hit against the Air powers and Ty tried to think. “No, don’t hurt Sullivan. He never…” She broke off with a protesting moan as Gion stopped the attention to her breast. “Hey!”

  “I won’t hurt the human, so long as he keeps his hands off of you.” Gion held his mouth away from her skin and frowned at her. “But, I don’t ever want him touching your hair, again. Ever, Ty. I can’t believe you let him do that.”

  “Sullivan never touched my hair.”

  “Yes, he did! I was standing right there and he put his hands on you in that jail cell. If I hadn’t been afraid to scare you even worse, I would’ve chopped off both his arms.”

  Usually Matches were the only ones to say things like that. Instead of informing Gion that he had no say in who touched her, Ty found herself soothing him the same way she would have if they were Matches and Gion was throwing a fit. “Well, if he touched me, I don’t remember it. I swear. I was having a panic attack.”

  Gion grunted, unappeased.

  It was insane, but she liked that maybe Gion experienced some of the same emotions she did. Ty felt so possessive of him. Maybe he felt that way about her, too.

  Territorial.

  “So, is this just about Sullivan?” She tested. “Can other men touch me?”

  “Only if you want them to die.”

  Ty hummed with pleasure at that erotic threat. She cupped her breast, pressing it back to his lips. “I don’t want anyone touching me, but you.” She whispered. “Please, touch me, Gion.”

  He made an animalistic sound and the suction resumed on her nipple. The strong pulls sent heat racing through her whole system.

  “Don’t… be with another woman, either, though.” Ty got out. “Just… don’t do that, without telling me first.”

  “I don’t want another woman, Ty. I want you. God, how I want you.” His teeth nipped in small punishment.

  Ty sighed dreamily. She really, really liked this. “If I’d known that you could do these things to me, I would’ve seduced you long ago.”

  “You’re seducing me?” He switched to the other nipple.

  “Of course.” As far as Ty could see that was obvious. Left up to Gion, they’d still be arguing. “If you’d been just a little more pleasant to me years ago, it would have happened sooner. We would have met and wanted each other. You could’ve gotten through the Water House barriers right from the beginning, couldn’t you?”

  The suckling paused. “Yes, but I never took advantage of that.” The words were adamant. “I never came inside your home uninvited.”

  “I know.” He was such a good man. Ty pulled his head back to her breast. “But, you could have. You could’ve come into my room anytime you wanted. Did you think of that?”

  “Yes.” He breathed the word against her nipple. “Constantly. Every night, even when you were too young.”

  That was scandalously wrong. Ty loved it. “There were so many times I felt like I needed something. Like I was tight and waiting. Even when I was younger, I think that I felt you out there wanting me. The connection. You could have come to me.” Her imagination took over. “One summer night, you show up and just climbed into my bed. I’m sleeping, naked and wanting. Not knowing that it was you who I was missing. So restless. My body aching and hot…” She hesitated as the Air powers twirled faster with every word.

  Ty lived most of her life in her own head and, as a result, she had an incredibly vivid imagination. That was why she liked hearing about how much Gion had desired her in the past. She could picture it all. Revisit those moments and fix them. See how they could have gone differently and how she might have found him sooner.

  Basically, Ty had been spinning one of her fantasies out loud, not even thinking about it.

  Only now she realized that Gion liked fantasies, too. He liked listening to Ty talk about them.

  Of course, he would. For all his biting sarcasm, Gion was as introverted as she was. He lived in his head, too, not sharing his thoughts with anyone. Of course, he’d respond to stories. He liked books and libraries and ideas as much as Ty. They had so much in common.

  A very bold, scary idea came into her head.

  Ty opened her mouth. Closed it again. Then, forced herself to ask, “Gion, would you let me touch you… more?”

  He froze for a beat. Then, he lifted his head. “What?”

  “It’s your turn.” Ty pointed out. “I can’t do what you did with your powers, but I could,” she dropped her eyes, “I could use my hand. Would you let me do that?”

  “Oh God.” The words were a prayer.

  Taking that as a “yes,” she began unbuttoning his shirt, pretending she knew what the heck she was doing. “Think of it as another test. Let’s see what my energy does when I’m making you come.”

  Gion’s whole body jerked like it had been hit with an electrical current. “I don’t think it’s safe for you.”

  “Nonsense.” Ty stripped off his shirt. “Experimentation is a key component of any research plan.” She ran a hand over his skin and smiled smugly when the Air energy got heavier. This was actually working. “You have a very impressive chest.”

  “Thanks.” He cleared his throat. Gion looked a little nervous. “You don’t have to…”

  “But, I want to. I’m new at it, is all. Just help me and I’ll get it right.” She unzipped his pants and tugged them off, gathering her courage. “You’re giving consent, aren’t you?” She asked, mainly just to stall for time.


  Gion’s answer was to grip her hand and slowly draw it down. Ty’s eyes went wide as she found the solid length of him. He wrapped her fingers around his erection, holding them in place for a beat, and then Gion let go.

  “I’m all yours.” He got out.

  Ty liked that. Like being in control.

  Gion could overpower her so easily, but he let her take charge. His fists clenched against the mattress, but he allowed her do whatever she wanted to his body. Ty was nothing if not thorough. Her fingers traced over every inch of him, exploring his shape. Learning him.

  “Jesus…” His head fell back in surrender.

  Ty felt stupendously proud. “It’s for science, Gion.” She teased.

  “So you’ve said. Marie Curie would do the same thing, I’m sure. But, are you feeling…? Oh shit.” The last of his resistance fell away like rain as she tightened her grip on his manhood. “Don’t stop. Ty, don’t stop.”

  “You said that you fantasized about me touching you.” Ty went on instinct, stroking him up and down. “Tell me how.”

  Icy blue eyes met hers. “I just want you to see me. Touch me and just… see me. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  Ty looked right at him. “I see you.” Her gaze stayed locked on him. “Am I doing this right?”

  “God, yes.” His hand reverently smoothed over her hair. “You’re sure that you don’t want the human?” Gion sounded like he still wasn’t convinced.

  “I’m very sure. I only want you.” Ty was interested in watching her hand move on him, but she didn’t take her eyes off of Gion’s face. She knew she could make this next part work. She knew she could make Gion want her more than he’d ever wanted anyone. Ty didn’t have a lot, but she’d always been creative. “Do know when I first knew that wanted you? Honestly?”

  His mouth curved. “Ten minutes ago, when I showed you that Air trick I invented?”

  “No, it was when the Reprisal attacked me in the police station… And you were just there. You stood over me, so handsome and strong, and I wanted you. It scared me, but I wanted you.”