by Lisa Kessler
“Come again?” The Greek was fully alert now.
“Kevin has Mark’s wife, and Mark had to bring Tera to Kevin alive or he’d kill Mark’s wife.”
Mark moaned behind him. “You have to help her.”
“Dammit.” Mikolas sighed. “How did Mark get shot?”
“The muses must’ve hired Tera a bodyguard like I’d thought.”
“Smart on their part.” A mattress squeaked in the background. “Why is Mark at your place instead of a hospital?”
Ted glanced back at Mark. “Apparently Malone paid him a visit this morning. He thinks they’ll put him in jail and then Kevin will hurt his wife.”
“He’ll kill her.” Mark sobbed. “Please. Help me save her.”
Ted lowered his cell from his ear, focusing on the bleeding man at his kitchen table. “We warned everyone in the Order about Kevin.”
“You told us he thought he was Kronos, but Ted, he is Kronos.” Mark wiped his nose, his voice trembling. “He was supposed to bring back the Golden Age of Man.”
Ted put the phone back to his ear. “Do you have any first aid training?”
“Not enough to treat a gunshot wound,” Mikolas replied. “Just keep him still. I’ll be right there.”
A few minutes later, headlights shone through Ted’s front window. He got up and opened the door. “Thanks for coming over.”
Mikolas kept his voice low. “Malone is a Guardian, right? You need to talk to him. Let him know about Mark’s wife. You and I can’t fight Kronos alone. Maybe then Malone can get Mark into the hospital without a scene, and we can work on saving his wife.”
Ted crossed his arms. “My only priority is keeping Kevin from hurting Trinity.” He pointed toward his kitchen. “Mark and his wife are not my problem.”
Mikolas grabbed his shoulder and forced him to meet his eyes. His jaw was tight. “All of this is our problem. The Oceanus rig drilled through the crust of the Earth and freed Kronos. Everything he touches is our responsibility. We have to make this right.”
“You’re insane.” Ted jerked free and stumbled back. “We didn’t know Kronos would only care about revenge. We thought we were saving the world.”
Mikolas narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t change the outcome. This is our mess. We need to clean it up.”
“He’ll kill us.” Ted’s heart thumped in his ears. “Don’t you understand that? He doesn’t give a shit about humans. We’re nothing to him.”
“Then we die making a stand for humanity.” Mikolas turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Ted stood in the shadows of his living room, his muscles tense, hands trembling. Mikolas was reckless. The Greek bore the mark of a Guardian, but he hadn’t found his muse in time. The Order had killed her before Mikolas ever reached Crystal City. Whatever his latent “ability” might’ve been hadn’t appeared, and now Mikolas raced toward danger like a man with nothing to lose.
But Ted had plenty to live for. He wasn’t ready to die trying to save the world. Saving Trinity would be enough for him. He couldn’t do it alone, though. They had to work together, whether he liked it or not.
He went into the kitchen to find Mikolas kneeling beside Mark, reminding him to stay awake. His dark eyes flicked up to Ted. “Call Malone. If we don’t get Mark to a hospital, he’ll die. I think the bullet is still in there.”
“My wife,” Mark gasped.
Mikolas squeezed his hand. “We’ll do all we can to get her back.”
While Mikolas jotted down where Mark was supposed to meet Kevin to drop off the muse, Ted went back in the other room and scanned his contacts. He hit detective Malone’s name and waited.
“Detective Malone,” answered the man.
“It’s Ted Belkin.”
A car door closed on the other end of the line. “Why are you calling me?”
“I have a man bleeding in my kitchen. He was shot at your wife’s theater jobsite tonight.”
Malone’s voice dropped to a gruff, menacing tone. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think we both know if we don’t start working together there won’t be any hope of stopping Kronos.” Ted had warned the muses about Kevin Elys when they’d discovered his true identity, but other than that revelation, they hadn’t joined forces yet.
“What do you need from me?” Nate asked.
“You’ve got to get Mark to an ER without too many questions about the circumstances around his wound. We don’t want the police involved in this any more than you do.” He gripped his forehead with his free hand. “Kronos has Mark’s wife. That’s why he was trying to make a grab for Tera tonight. He says if he doesn’t deliver the muse to Kevin, his wife is dead.”
Tera went upstairs, pretty sure that Gavin was watching her ass the entire way. She could almost feel the heat of his stare, and instead of being self-conscious or nervous, she felt as empowered as she did up on the stage in the spotlight. But with him, she wasn’t acting.
Gods, don’t let me be dreaming.
She hurried into her walk-in closet looking for… She had no idea. It wasn’t like she owned any lingerie, and while he might find some of her dancing dresses sexy, they were work clothes to her. She fiddled with hangers and finally gave up her search for a seductive ensemble and settled for one that was real.
Stripping off her tank and yoga pants, she pulled on a soft, oversized, Joe Cool Snoopy shirt. It hung down to her mid-thigh, and she didn’t have anything on underneath. That was as sexy as she was going to get. She headed into the bathroom to brush her hair, and then she turned down the covers on her bed.
Which side of the bed did he like? The random thought made her roll her eyes. What did it matter? Before she could start overthinking where she should position herself, Gavin’s deep voice came from the doorway behind her. “I’m overdressed.”
She turned around and fidgeted with the bottom of her nightshirt. “I just discovered I’m completely unprepared to seduce you.”
He came into the room, closing the door behind him. “You’ve been seducing me since the moment we met.” He removed his shoulder holster and gun, and set them on her nightstand. “I swear to you, Snoopy has never looked sexier.”
His hands cupped her face as he bent to kiss her. She slid her fingers underneath his polo, and her legs wobbled, feeling rubbery. His abs were defined and tight under her touch. She explored his chest, her fingernails skimming his nipples.
He growled into the kiss and backed her up toward the bed. Then he froze. “Oh shit. I don’t have any protection.”
Something about his confession melted her heart. He had told her before that he’d never crossed this line with another client, and she believed him. But hearing he didn’t have any condoms reassured her. He hadn’t come to her expecting anything.
She hadn’t planned on any of this, either, but her periods had never been regular until she started taking the pill. She pressed her lips to his and met his eyes. “I’m on birth control.”
“Good.” He kissed his way down her neck, his breath teasing her skin. “I would’ve had to take a few cold showers before I could run to the store.”
She laughed, tilting her head as his lips caressed her collarbone. “You’re still overdressed.”
He stepped back, and she lifted his shirt over his head. His torso was chiseled; the only imperfection was a scar along his shoulder. Her skin warmed just looking at him. She moved her hands lower, teasing his erection, and his hips pressed forward as he reached up to cup her breasts.
Her nipples strained against the thin nightshirt, aching for his attention. She rose on her toes, kissing him over and over as she nudged him toward the door and hit the light switch, bathing them in darkness.
He chuckled as he pulled back a little. “You’re too beautiful to be worshiped in the dark.”
Her heart fluttered. “There’s a night-light.”
She pointed toward the bathroom, and he looked that way, shaking his head. “Not enough.”
�
��I have candles in the bathroom.” She kissed his chest.
His fingers tightened in the back of her hair. “I might not be able to wait that long.”
She circled his nipple with her tongue while she stroked his shaft through his shorts. Foreplay had never been like this before. She wanted to tease him to the edge of oblivion.
His lips brushed her ear as he caught her wrist. “Fuck the candles.”
Suddenly, she was weightless in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her tongue wrestling hungrily with his as she unfastened his shorts. He carried her to the bed and laid her down. Standing before her, he pulled off his shorts and got into bed, fusing his lips to hers. His hand slid underneath her nightshirt, stoking a fire inside her that she hadn’t realized was there.
She pushed him over onto his back and straddled him before striping her nightshirt off and tossing it aside. He stared up at her, his big hands massaging her thighs. “You’re so damned beautiful,” he whispered.
She ran a finger along his erection, aching to have him inside her. “I thought it was too dark to see me.”
“Next time I’m in charge of lighting.” His sexy smirk turned her on and made her heart skip all at once. And hearing him say there would be a next time meant more to her than she was ready to ponder.
She leaned forward and put her hands on either side of his head. His erection pulsed at her opening as his hands ran up her thighs to her hips and then guided her down onto him. She forced herself to go slowly, enjoying every inch of their bodies joining, and although this wasn’t her first time, she’d never experienced such an emotional connection. His body was made for hers, and his gaze pierced all her defenses and neuroses to the woman she was deep down, the dancer who yearned for freedom from her emotional prison.
He embraced her, his tongue exploring her mouth as he rolled her underneath him. He lifted his head, his gaze wandering over her face, but he didn’t speak. She wished she could hear his thoughts. Then he thrust into her, a delicious friction building between them. She raked her nails down his back, enjoying the growl she got in response.
“I want this to last all night,” he whispered against her ear. “But I’m so damned close.”
She turned her head, catching his earlobe in her teeth. “Let me be on top.”
He allowed her to take the lead. Tera sat up, riding his hips in a slow, steady rhythm. Watching the hunger in his gaze had her pulse racing, and then he slid his hand between their bodies searching for…
Tera gasped, her head falling back. “Yes, right there.”
He rubbed her faster until she couldn’t remember her own name. His other hand gripped her hip tightly, and he slammed up into her. Her muscles tensed.
His voice was a raw whisper. “Come with me, Tera.”
He erupted deep inside of her, his fingers coaxing her higher, and finally, she surrendered with him. Her orgasm swelled, drowning her in pleasure until she couldn’t move. When she finally collapsed onto his chest, his arms slid around her, one hand on her back and the other tangled in her hair. She closed her eyes, listening to his heart pounding. Lying naked in his arms, she struggled to find words to describe the unfamiliar peace settling over her.
She lifted her head and stared into his eyes. “That was…” She couldn’t find the words.
He nodded, breathless. “Yeah.”
She lowered her head, brushing a kiss to the scar on his shoulder. “How did you get this?”
His thumb stroked her back. “Shrapnel.”
She met his eyes. “You were lucky.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t my time yet.”
She wanted to ask him what had happened, but she didn’t. Instead, she settled back against his chest. She wasn’t ready to let reality intrude on this moment. For right now, the rest of the world didn’t exist.
CHAPTER 10
Gavin stared at the ceiling, his heart hammering in his chest. Tera’s breathing had slowed as she fell asleep. She fit in his arms so perfectly; he never wanted to let go. So why the hell was he so fucking scared?
The scent of her hair intoxicated him with its unique blend of spice and roses. She stole away his better judgment. He rolled onto his side, laying her on the bed beside him. She snuggled in closer, and another drip of dread crept through his veins.
After he’d blown out his knee in college, he’d sunk into a dark depression. His folks had struggled to keep clothes on him when he was growing up as it was. There was no way they could help him cover college tuition, let alone living expenses. In an instant, all his goals and dreams had been stolen from him.
Bitterness and anger had festered in him during physical therapy, but when he came out the other side, he’d discovered a newfound peace in the realization that life was nothing but a series of random acts. Shit happened. When your time was up, it wouldn’t matter who you were or where you were or who you worked for; the reaper didn’t give a flying fuck.
And that new philosophy had saved him. He’d dropped out of college and joined the Navy. His body was strong, and he got a waiver for his knee from the military docs to enter training for the Navy SEALs. He enjoyed the mental and physical work, the focus kept him from looking back, only forward. He’d faced his missions without the burden of paralyzing fear because he knew in the core of his being that if it wasn’t his time, he’d be fine, and if it was his time… Well, nothing was going to stop death from coming for him.
It had served him well right up until tonight. The moment he had looked up at Tera, seeing her naked skin against his chest, everything had changed. He wasn’t sure where his body ended and hers began. She trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms when she’d already confessed she couldn’t tolerate anyone else sleeping under her roof, let alone in her bed.
She hummed in her sleep as her breathing slowed further. He smiled, then realization struck: he loved her. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t known her long or that his birthmark somehow tied them together. The truth was simple. When he looked at Tera, he wanted a future. Yearned for it. That cheesy line about seeing your unborn children in your true love’s eyes was true. When he’d been on that ladder in the dance studio, watching her laugh and smile with the little girls while they twirled their ribbons, she’d glanced his way in the mirror, and it had happened. He could see her with their children, their family.
The last time he’d allowed himself to envision his future, he’d lost everything. A tremor ran through him. Lying with her in the darkness, every sound tormented him. They were vulnerable right now. He couldn’t protect her like this. What if he missed a threat and Tera paid the price?
He stared at her while she slept, his chest tight. Tera gave him something to live for. And for the first time in years, the threat of dying terrified him.
Malone was already waiting at the ER when Ted and Mikolas arrived with Mark. The nurses rushed toward them and took Mark straight in to be triaged.
Malone flashed his badge at the desk clerk. “He’s a suspect in a robbery. I need to stay with him.”
“All right, Detective—” she glanced at his ID and then up at him “—Malone. You can go through those doors. He’s in exam room three.”
She buzzed him through, and he looked over at Ted. “I’ll be right back.”
Exhaustion weighed on Ted’s shoulders. “You’ll take Mark to your place once they’ve got him stable?” he asked Mikolas.
“Yes.” The Greek’s gaze landed on Ted. “And you’re going to Callie O’Connor’s in the morning to talk to the muses. Nate will back you up about this situation.”
Ted was too tired to fight anymore, but he couldn’t help pointing out the obvious. “They’re not going to let us deliver Tera to Kronos, regardless.”
Mikolas scanned the practically empty waiting room. “Until he unveils his true form, he’s Kevin. And we’re not going to hand her over to him. We just need him to think that we are.”
“And how do we defend ourselves when he realizes we’ve deceived
him?” Ted shuddered, shaking his head. “We can’t win this.”
Mikolas glanced his way, his jaw tight. “What do you suggest we do? Where can we run that the Father of the Gods won’t find us?”
“Hell if I know.” Ted ran a hand down his face. “Sorry. I’m exhausted and sick of walking into rooms full of with people who want to hurt me.”
“I understand.” Mikolas rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. “Look, I need to see this through, but I won’t blame you if you run.”
Ted slumped back in his chair. “Like you said, there’s nowhere to go.” He shook his head. “I’m just having a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that we didn’t bring about the Golden Age of Man, and instead, we potentially unleashed the apocalypse.” He stared at his hands. “Innocent women died. I ordered the hits, telling myself sacrifices needed to be made for the greater good. I can’t make it right.”
Mikolas nudged him with his shoulder. “Trinity is still alive. Focus on keeping her that way.”
Tera stretched, blinking her eyes open. Gods, she hadn’t woken up this relaxed in… She couldn’t remember. She rolled over, and her smile faded. The bed was empty. She got up and grabbed her nightshirt, pulling it over her head as she went to the door.
Maybe Gavin was making breakfast again.
She wandered down the stairs and found him at her dining room table, already dressed, his shoulder holster on. A second handgun sat on the table in front of him.
He looked up. No smile. “Good morning.”
“It was.” Tera frowned, sweeping her hair in front of her shoulder. “Now I’m not sure.” Her gaze wandered over the rest of the table. There was a pocket-sized aerosol can and a Taser set out next to a box of ammunition. “Did something happen this morning?”
He shrugged, avoiding eye contact as he worked. “Not yet. And I don’t plan on letting it.” He picked up the cannister and brought it over to her. “This is pepper spray. Have it on you at all times, okay?”
She took it from him, her breathing shallow as anxiety clawed its way forward. “Okay.” She caught his hand, and his green eyes finally locked on hers. “What’s going on?”
