Melina took a step forward. “Why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye to me?”
Dante caressed her cheek. “Because I am.”
“Alejandro please…” Melina said thickly, tears forming in her eyes. “Whatever you’re going through, whatever is wrong. Talk to me. We can figure it out together.”
Melina brought him in and kissed him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, desperately clinging to him. Trying through affection to show how much she loved him. How much she needed him.
“I want you,” she breathed.
“Melina…I can’t…”
“I know…I know…” she whispered, kissing his cheek softly. “Ok…will you just hold me?”
Dante took a second and nodded, letting her place her head on his chest as they both watched the baseball sized ice balls plummet and crash.
*
As their apartment rumbled, Lauren and Clive stood facing each other in the lounge room. Clive had taken her hands, gripping them harder as a quake hit.
“Lauren...I…”
“It’s ok. I know…”
“You do?”
“Yes. And I want to.”
Lauren kissed him hard. Before Clive had a chance to respond, she had gripped both sides of his head and held him as her mouth went to work.
“But…”
Lauren covered his mouth gently, whispering, “I know you haven’t done it before. It’s ok. If tonight is the end, I want you to fuck me, Lackey…”
Clive let go of her and stepped back. “What? You wanted to jump into bed with me so I could have my first experience? That's it?"
"No! I just wanted to give you something you would always remember."
"Of what? Of your body? Do you know how many times I've visualized making love to you? The things I want to do to you, and you to me? I have to walk away just to calm down."
"So that's why you take such long showers..."
"Lauren, I'm serious. But in all those situations, never did you ever say 'c’mon let’s get it over with’. That might not be what you said, but it is what you mean. Even in a nice way. I’ve told you a thousand times you mean so much more to me than that."
"Lackey..."
"Put a sock in it. I'm not done. I didn’t fall in love with you the first minute I saw you. You were mean, violent, and a downright bitch. I've fallen in love with you because I saw you'd changed. Grown from that."
"I have-"
"But..." Clive interrupted. "Do you even know my last name? Where I'm from? Why does the virginity matter? Why does tonight make a difference? The end of the world? Maybe. But I'd want to be with you with one night left in the world or a million. I’m not ready for sex. And believe it or not, the circumstances and who I’m with don’t change that. I’m in love with YOU! Not what I can get from you when the opportunity arises."
Clive shook his head, disappointed and angry, while Lauren regarded him, looking like she was thinking over his words. What he was telling her. He was in love with her and she’d treated his virginity as an obstacle to get over.
“I’m sorry,” she said, only just loud enough to be heard over the downpour of hail. “I didn’t know you felt that way. About me or sex. It’s not a big deal to me…the virginity. That’s all I was trying to show you. You didn’t need to feel embarrassed. I just didn’t consider it might be a big thing to you. That you weren’t ready. It’s not like I don’t feel something for you. I’m just…I dunno. I’m hesitant…”
“What about me is making you hesitant?”
“Nothing! That’s the problem. You are the easiest guy to be around. You’re a nerd and I don’t care. You play games with headsets and scream the way most guys do at the footy, and I still don’t care.”
“So, if you feel that way, what’s the problem?”
“Because good things don’t happen to me, ok? I’ve walked away from relationships before because it felt too right. Too easy. I never dated nice guys. I could never handle them. Arseholes are easier. I knew what I was getting. I’m a screw up. I’m the chick that fucked women. Married men. Multiple men. Brothers, even, at the same time. The chick that threw drinks in people’s faces just for bumping into me on the dance floor. That’s me. It’s who I am, or who I was. Now, I think about you, and I have this fear that one day you’ll get a good look at me and you’ll stop feeling the way you do. I’ve never been sorry for anything I’ve done until now. I always blamed my behavior on my lack of a father. He took off before I was born, but I always waited for him to come and sweep me off my feet and save me. I treated my step dad like shit and it wasn’t really his fault. I used the fact my real dad didn’t care about me to behave like a brat my whole life. But daddy issues was a cop out. No one else was responsible for my actions. Now, I have no excuses. Dante has tried to help me and I have tried to listen. It scares me that I’m so calm around you. That this, whatever it is, is so easy. It scares me that alarm bells aren’t ringing.”
“Why do you have to look for reasons to be wrong?”
“I don’t want to break your heart.”
“So don’t.”
“I didn’t even know that sex was such a big deal for you. Not exactly a great start.”
“It’s just, it doesn’t feel right. Not like this.”
“Ok.” Lauren nodded. “No sex.” She took him by the hand and walked a few paces backwards. “You go slow with the L word stuff, and I’ll go slow with the sex stuff. Come with me.”
He followed her, still joined at the hands, as she headed to the bathroom. Clive remained silent until Lauren let him go to turn the shower on with both hands.
“What’s going on?”
“We are having a shower…”
Clive looked determined. “I meant what I said. I’m not ready for sex.”
“I know,” she said, removing her top. “I didn’t say sex. I said shower…please?”
She tenderly brushed his cheek and turned around to strip completely. At first Clive meant to look away, but the fact she wanted him in there, with her, gave him the green light to look. Her toned body shone under the lights, and now that she was completely naked and stepping into the glass containment, he knew what it was like to be frozen in place. She was exquisite. Nothing was perfect so they said, but in his eyes, Lauren was close to it. Not in body, or in mind, but the complete package. Yes, she was rude. Cold at times. But she had been through hell and was trying to learn to be better. She hadn’t meant to hurt or insult him. She just didn’t realize. He wouldn’t be deterred, as he still felt sex with her would be rushed when she obviously didn’t love him, at least not yet. But when she bent to pick up her body wash, the way her hips moved to the side as she stood preparing the gel for her legs, he couldn’t hide his erection. Raw, unchained lust bristled within, and it was with a great amount of restraint that he stepped in behind her and reached out with his thumbs and hands to massage her lower back. Lauren leant her head back, moaning ever so slightly as she moved her hands through her hair to soap up. Clive moved his hands from her back to her hips, feeling her soft, saturated skin under his fingers, pressing it softly. Lauren remained mostly still, letting him run his curious, but captivated hands over her. He made his way to her ribs, running his fingertips under her arms. In the same moment, she rolled her arse across his cock and he cupped her breasts and brought her into his chest.
“Oh, Mr Connors…” Lauren smiled. Clive let go and leant back as she turned to face him with a perfectly innocent look.
“You do know my name?”
Lauren curled her fingers under his chin. “And that your birthday is next week. I know because you told me of that soldier, war game thingy that was coming out. I went to the game store to order it for you, and they asked did I want to take advantage of your birthday discount. I didn’t know which platform you liked best so I got both. They were going to be your present.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise…duh.”
; “My name. Why didn’t you tell me you knew my full name?”
Lauren gave a small shrug and continued to wash her hair. “Because I’m not good with this stuff. Lovey dovey stuff. It’s never worked for me. Anytime I’ve felt something it’s just turned into a disaster. For me and them. I don’t want to hurt you…” She stopped and placed her arms around his neck, bringing him in to her soapy body. She gave her lip a small bite as she said, “But I can’t walk away from you either.”
“I don’t want you to.”
He kissed her, holding her in his arms as he gripped her tight in his embrace. She held him by the shoulders, tracing them with her fingers as he gripped her arse with both hands. Their tongues encircled each other before Lauren broke off and kissed down his chest and stomach till she got to her knees. Clive looked down at her as, holding his dick in one hand, she pushed him into the glass wall. She looked at him, a sense of trepidation on her face. Was this ok?
Clive didn’t say a word as he continued to stare at her as she slipped the tip of her tongue out and flicked the head of his cock slowly, smiling as she leant her head to the side and repeated the move. It was when she closed her eyes and sucked in her cheeks, as his entire length disappeared into her mouth, that he closed his eyes. She moved the hand that held him against the wall to his balls. She used her fingers to roll them around as she lowered her head, and lifted it, angling her neck so she went straight down over his cock.
“Oh…fuck.”
She wasn’t stopping. Her rhythm was steady but increasing. Making her mouth tighter. Sucking harder. Clive wanted to warn her he was going to cum, but he couldn’t remember what the words were. He exploded into her mouth just as she moved her hand to press and flick the skin just under his balls. His body twitched and his legs lost a great deal of strength.
Clive was breathless as Lauren helped him straighten. When he looked at her, she gave her lips a tiny lick. “I’ll probably call you Lackey forever but nobody else will.”
Clive smiled at that as she began to rinse. She faced him with her back to the water. That was all she was going to do. She had given him something special but honored his wishes. He hugged her body again, but this time he took a nipple into his mouth and held it between his teeth, pressing down on it before opening his mouth wide and taking as much of her generous breast as possible. A rumble from outside caused the light above to flicker, and the water pipe in the wall rattled but Clive paid no attention. Lauren pressed his head closer. Her strength at the back of his head was actually painful, and the cascade of water made it difficult to breathe but he would never stop. His hand reached down to find her clitoris, running his first two fingers, up and down, to the base of her entrance and back. A click sound made him look up as Lauren bucked against his hand with eyes closed, mouth open, and fangs flared as if ready for battle. She placed her head further back, letting the water hit the top of her head and trickle down.
Clive released himself and turned her around, bringing her hips further out to bend her over. She pressed her cheek against the tiles, a look of shock on her face. The pipe rattled loudly and the light itself went out. He heard Lauren reach blindly for the nozzles, finding them eventually and turning the water off. They were bathed in darkness, dripping wet, but he didn’t worry. And neither, it seemed, did she.
Taking a turn on his knees, he kissed his way up the back of her thigh, holding both sides of her hips before tucking his face underneath and tracing her entrance with his tongue. Lauren groaned into the tiles and poked herself out more. Clive took it as a sign he was doing well. He arched his back and raised his face, taking more, pressing further.
“Not so fast…not so fast…” she hissed in the dark.
He slowed his tongue, inserting it as she went on tip toe, giving him more access. Clive felt the tips of her fingers flick his chin, rubbing her clit. “Don’t stop. Keep going. Just like that.”
Clive stretched his tongue inside her as far as it would go, and soon, Lauren swore, slapping her hand against the wall, cracking it as her groin twitched, going backwards and forwards over his face. Clive waited for a few seconds before standing and bringing her in for a hug. “Thanks for the best night of my life. Even if it is the last.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Time Has Come
Alex gasped for air as she got to her feet, still in the water. It wasn’t deep. She was only up to her knees but still enough to slow her movements somewhat. She had to dodge another rock from the ceiling, and the cave itself looked on the verge of collapse.
“What did I do wrong?” she asked, panic seeping in.
“Nothing. Few succeed at anything when they attempt it the first time.”
“Masonian, please, help me! I don’t know what I have to do!”
“Do what you’ve always done. What you did when the young girl was seconds away from death. What you did when your friend was in danger,” he replied softly, cupping her face. “Face your fears. Follow your heart, and fight.”
Alex felt a small impression of his lips on her forehead, a most tender gesture that moved her.
Masonian’s eyes glowed with energy, lightning sparks emanating from his irises, as he raised his staff to send a cracking whip of lightning directly towards the hole she had fallen through, blowing it open. She could now see straight up with ease. For the briefest of moments, it looked like a demonic face sneered down at her from above, challenging her. But then it was gone.
She had space for her wings, she just had to have courage.
Masonian backed away from her. Alex dropped to a knee and placed a hand under the water and on her helmet. She wouldn’t drop it a second time. She raised it and placed it over her head. Her vision became awash with gold as her eyes changed once more. Her vision enhanced. The darkness of the night sky was no hindrance as the helmet provided more clarity and brightness than any human eye could. She felt her wings stretch out and flare. A tension rose within her. No, not tension. Confidence and strength. The water around her bubbled and frothed, edging itself away from her body, forming a ring around her of completely dry river bed.
Alex looked to the ceiling of the cave, to the hole she had plummeted through and suddenly the cave disappeared, left behind as she shot up into the sky. The furious black cloud swirled and writhed but she paid no attention. She slowed her momentum and looked around. Nothing could be seen except the dense darkness everyone on street level could see. She looked left and something caught her eye, a twinkling of lights perhaps a few hundred kilometres away. She could never have seen such a thing without the help of her helmet.
Her vision magnified and she understood what she was seeing. It was a plane. The face of the cloud she was expecting hovered over the aircraft as tendrils of smoke gripped, walloped and bashed it. It was heading to the ground like a stone. Without thinking, Alex stretched her fists towards the lights and sped forward.
*
Nick shifted the wing flaps and pulled back the throttle, but it made little difference. The plane did not shift from its trajectory. The altitude meter spun continuously as the cabin was rocked again and again. The emergency lights came on as the autopilot warning beeped and beeped.
“Press that black switch!” Nick screamed to Nightingale, but Nightingale ignored him as he sat, eyes closed, arms wide, belting, “Shot dowwwwwwn in a BLAZE OF GLORY!”
The cabin bucked again and this time thunder drowned out Nick’s foul mouthed response.
*
Alex closed in on the plane, the distance melting away within seconds, as the black mist rushed past her. She saw the tendrils that had been wrapping around and pulling the plane had unravelled a touch. Some had headed for her. The face had seen her. Alex couldn’t worry about fighting them off. She tightened her core and streamlined her body as much as she could, gritting her teeth and tightening her fists. She was gaining on it, but the plane was almost vertical. “C’mon…c’mon!”
Alex streaked past the tail and under the plane, passing the
wing before reaching the tip and spinning around, planting her hands on the freezing casing, pushing upwards.
*
There was nothing Nick could do. Even an experienced pilot couldn’t do anything about this. The warnings were right. He was stupid to have attempted it but he would’ve done it anyway. He just wanted so desperately to see her again. Now he’d never see her again; he’d never see or hold their baby. He wouldn’t see his mother or Alex. Alex. She’d been so kind. If only he could see them all one more time. At that thought, he snapped out of it. “I’m not going down like this! Fuck your singing!”
With two hands Nick wrenched back the throttle, but then suddenly he felt the cabin level out. He snapped his eyes downward and let go. Could the plane be righting itself against the foul weather? Had the autopilot started to work after all?
Nick ran his eyes from left to right, double checking the instruments. They all confirmed it. The plane was levelling out and rising.
Nightingale had stopped in his rejoicing at the thought of death. “Oi…”
“I’m not doing it!” Nick called.
“We better not be flyin’ again!?”
Nick let out a delirious laugh and a cheer as Nightingale swore, “This is some bullshit!” and thumped his belt across the panels.
*
Alex felt the thumping of the weather reduce to a quiver and thought it was safe to let the plane go. She released her hands and the aircraft soared over her head, the tendrils unravelling themselves from the wings. She turned as her wings kept her hovering, watching the plane continue gathering momentum and height. Her shoulders heaved with the aching need for breath, but the exhilaration she felt bubbled within her like a volcano. She had just saved someone’s life, fully conscious of what she was doing.
Pack Master (Undeadly Secrets Book 4) Page 20
