by Aliyah Burke
Dex wanted to go but this man wasn’t one to be rushed, so he settled in for a story or two.
“She has bloomed while here. Come into her own.” A soft smile lifted his lips. “My Lana was not outside much when she was a child and loved being out. I see that in Aminta as well. A need to not be tied to machines. She used to ask me if her sign could give her wings and let her fly. She is the happiest in the air—I’m sure you have discovered this from flying with her as well.”
“I have. She loves being up there.”
“You know her sign is the ram.”
“She told me.” He wondered where this was going.
“All that stubbornness and hard-headedness is part of her. I will not stop you from leaving, Mr. Collins, but I think you should go talk this out with her. Your life is still in danger.”
“Seems to me it’s always going to be, if I’m mated to a Guardian.”
“Running away from her isn’t going to change that fact. She won’t chase you down. She will let you go if you want to go that badly.”
“Doesn’t seem like she needs me, sir. She has the other Guardians to share secrets with and whatever else they do when they train, communicate and go off on missions.”
Lian stood. “If I may beg your indulgence a moment longer, I would like to show you something. Then if you still wish to leave, I’ll have my car take you wherever you wish to go—or my plane.”
“Okay.”
Lian pointed out some of the artwork as they walked down the stairs. Mentioning ones that had been Lana’s favorites. They made their way to the room he had only been in once before, the one with the artifacts.
As the door slid shut behind them, soft lighting filled the room. Lian went to the case and paused before it.
“What do you see?”
Dex crossed his arms and looked in. The gold necklace gleamed with brilliance, rainbow sparks dancing along the chain and pendant. Pulsing waves of green and purple ribbon flowed off the belt and the star sapphire. The lightning in pale blues, yellows, pinks and white came off the statue he’d been told was lace burl redwood. All three of those things met and sparked when they did. His gaze drifted to the item from him and Frost.
The beautiful snowflake obsidian look was fading, becoming more of the crystal globe it had been and the mist barely left it.
“What happened?”
“This is connected to both of you but even more to Aminta. It happened not long ago. I suspect when you told her you were leaving.”
Lian opened the door and Dex reached in for the globe. The moment his hand touched it, the crystal faded, and the obsidian shone as—in his mind—it should. His skin was showered with the diamond mist.
“What does this mean?” He didn’t want to set it down.
“It means her heart is breaking.”
“But she won’t come talk to me,” he said in a hard tone.
“I did mention hard-headedness and stubbornness, right?” Lian closed the case, allowing him to retain hold of the artifact.
Dex switched hands and could tell by the tingle the dust had some effect on him. “So I should go crawling back to her and say she never has to open up to me?”
“I said no such thing. I often wonder why so many relationships in this day and age end with such swiftness at the first time of difficulty. I’ve come to the conclusion it is because people of your generation do not talk to one another. Your technology has desensitized you to the basic skill of communication. Talking is not a sign of weakness but one of strength. You are willing to open yourself to the opportunity of being hurt. Going to her and encouraging a conversation doesn’t make you less of a man. In fact, it makes you more of one, because you are willing to go against the misguided conception of what a true man is.”
Dex sniffed and stared at the globe in his hand. He’d not thought about it that way.
“I suppose you have a point. I can talk to her again. If you’d like to—” He gazed about. Lian was gone. He’d never even heard the door. Attention back at the globe he said, “Okay, let’s go find Frost.”
The article in his hand throbbed with a beat all its own. He shook the unique experience off and carried the item with him to the door.
* * * *
His packed bag still sat on the bed. The enormity of what faced her couldn’t be ignored.
“Am I foolish enough to let him go without at least trying to talk to him?” she asked herself as she tugged on a clean sweatshirt.
“He hopes not.”
She spun and found Dex standing in their room. When did it become our room? Does it really matter right now?
“I see you’ve packed.” She frowned. “What are you doing with the artifact?”
“Lian wanted me to see it so he took me there and when I was holding it, he vanished. I can’t get back into the case to put it away.”
“Actually, you can,” she said. “I coded you in once you got here.”
His eyebrows rose. “You did?”
“Of course. You’re my mate.”
“Did the others do it for theirs?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s another danger and they may not have wanted to expose them to it. If They learn they could get you to open it, there is the chance They would try.”
“But you did.” He moved closer.
“You are more than capable of taking care of yourself, Dex. Why wouldn’t I? It’s not my artifact. It’s ours. I shouldn’t be the only one who has access to it.” She approached him. “Did you mean what you said out there?”
“About leaving?”
“No,” she said, not wanting to think about that. “That other thing.”
“What other thing?”
She touched the globe in his hand and watched the dust increase and settle around them. “About loving me.”
He drew her closer to his chest. His warmth engulfed her and she squeezed her eyes shut over the thought of not experiencing what she was right now, ever again.
“Look at me, Frost.”
She responded to his order slowly. Those eyes—those amazing eyes—waited for her.
“Yes?” She wouldn’t ever tire of staring at his eyes. Or him, for that matter.
“I meant every word.”
Her sign relaxed at his admission, as did every inch of her tense body. “Then why are you leaving?” Did I sound desperate there? I think I did. And I don’t give a damn.
“I didn’t think it mattered to you whether or not I was here.”
She clenched his shirt in her hands. “It matters, Dex. I did some thinking after you left the hangar. I’m not good—like Roz or Taylor—about showing my feelings. I know I have to get better at it, but I want you with me.” Time to admit it all to him. Don’t keep more secrets. She swallowed her nervousness and continued, “I love you—and always will, whether you are here or not.”
Her words rattled around in his head as they sunk in to his brain. She loved him. Dex dipped his head and captured her mouth with his. She pressed into him and he walked them back to the bed where he laid her down, covering her with his larger body. The globe, he placed off to the side, so he could use two hands on her.
“We still need to talk,” he said against her lips.
“I agree. But…later?”
That was a statement he concurred with. Under the fall of colored dust, he made love to the woman in his arms, the woman who would frustrate him in one moment, impress the hell out of him in the next and love him all the time.
Yes, they had things to work out but it would come with time. Dex could say with complete honesty, in all the outcomes he could have envisioned, this had been the best, for he’d been branded by Frost.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Astral Guardians: Fields of Thunder
Aliyah Burke
Excerpt
Chapter One
Rosamund ‘Roz’ Hill forced a smile on her lips while she turned to face the man behind her. The briefcase she he
ld glanced off her left leg as she spun.
“Trent,” she commented. “What a surprise to find you in here… This courtroom where you weren’t in. The hospital finally kick you out for poaching their clients?”
His grin—more of a leer—turned her stomach. “Ha ha.” He flicked a piece of lint from the right shoulder of his suit. “I wanted to take you out for a celebratory dinner.”
His smugness had her itching to smack him. Repeatedly.
She blinked a few times, flummoxed. “A celebratory dinner? What the frack could we possibly have to celebrate?”
“My dear. This is the day you agreed to date me.”
That was it. Her blood pressure had surely skyrocketed through the roof. She lifted her chin to glare down her nose at the much taller, arrogant prick watching her. She longed to lash out at him, despite the fact she remained in a rapidly emptying courtroom. Soon, it would just be the two of them.
“I’ve tried being nice to you, but you are apparently unable to get a fuck-blasted clue. I will again make this as clear as I can for you. We aren’t dating. We will never date and I—”
He peered over his shoulder to wave at someone and she caught a glimpse of a small tattoo positioned behind his left ear. It froze her blood.
The New Order’s symbol.
How did I not know about him being part of that faction?
He returned his baby blues to her face. “What were you saying?”
Like you don’t know, bastard. “Stay away from me, Trent.” With squared shoulders, she was ready for any sudden movement he might make. She flexed her fingers around the handle of her briefcase. “Keep away. Far away.”
She whirled around and tramped off before she did something stupid and attacked Trent.
Sure, jail time. That’s just what I need. Wonder how Lian would like me to call him with that bit of news.
“Bitch,” he snarled behind her. “What are you, a fucking lesbo? You act all holier than thou but you’re just a piece of pussy.”
Let it go, Roz. Be bigger than that tiny little excuse for a man who must assume that because you don’t want him, you must be a lesbian. I mean, what woman wouldn’t want him? Right? Oh, that’s right. Me. I don’t like slime.
She forced herself to continue toward the large double doors—all that remained between her and freedom.
“Probably can’t even please a man. I was trying to do you a favor, you whore.”
Nope, she couldn’t. Roz pivoted back toward him and marched up. “Pick one or the other, you pathetic waste of sperm. I couldn’t be a whore if I didn’t know how to please men or women. No need to be so jealous. No one will touch you with a ten-foot pole. You just don’t have it.”
His face, normally composed and collected, morphed into something ugly and cruel. Instantly her sign awoke, sensing her increased concern and irritation. Power danced along her skin as she instinctively readied for battle.
“You little cu—”
“Do not finish that sentence if you care to see tomorrow.”
He narrowed his gaze. “I know who you are. You should take care not to piss me off. Had you been nice to me, I may have put in a good word for you. You didn’t. Do you know who I am?”
Roz stepped forward until the open toes of her stilettos brushed against his dress shoes. “You’re a scum of The New Order.”
“Then perhaps you should be nicer.”
“Why? I deal with the big players. Gravett, Hara, Haley, Uma.” She sneered at him. “Not Trent.”
“You bitch.”
“Yawn. Got anything important to say?”
“You think you’re so smart. You don’t stand a chance against us.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Us? What us? You are an expendable body to them. Nothing more.” Contempt dripped like acid from her words.
“I’m important.”
“In your own mind, I’m sure. Stay away from me, Trent. Don’t make me regret my decision.”
“What decision is that?”
“Walking away.”
Roz had pulled a one-eighty and taken a step when his hand curled around her. She closed her eyes and counted. One, two. How do I do this without looking to the cameras as if I’m killing him? And enjoying it? Or am the instigator. Thirteen. Better question, should I care? Fifty-five… Oh fuck it. I’ll take my punishment.
She growled low in her throat and began facing Trent when a deep voice cut in, “You need to let the woman go.”
The timbre brought to mind long, drugging nights of sex, toe-curling orgasms and a whole other set of thoughts she didn’t need to be thinking currently. Forgetting Trent, she turned in the other direction.
Oh hell. Where he’d come from, she hadn’t any clue. She knew damn sure the man hadn’t been in during the court session. She wouldn’t have forgotten him. Thick black hair was in a shorter clip, one that exaggerated his steely onyx eyes. His dark complexion boasted of his Middle Eastern blood. He moved with purpose across the floor, the fit of his jeans dragging her gaze to his crotch.
Focus!
She yanked her eyes up and found his full attention on Trent, so she had no clue if he had noticed her staring. He’d partially tucked a deep green tee into his jeans and it stretched over his broad shoulders. Large black boots covered his feet.
“Stay out of this.” Trent’s tone was harsh.
“Let her go.”
A knight in shining armor. Damn, this man is something else if I’ve forgotten the jerk-off’s touch on my arm. She yanked her arm, only for Trent to dig his hold in tighter.
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“I’m in agreement, Trent. You need to let go of my arm. Now would be preferable.”
Trent practically slammed her arm down.
“Leave.”
She refocused on her savior. All those lustful feelings swamped her once more. If Trent’s demand bothered him in any way, he never showed it.
“I am leaving after the lady, not before.”
With a voice like that, she was ready to leave now.
“Listen up, you Taliban motherfucker.”
The newcomer lifted his eyebrow. Roz shook her head at Trent’s stupid comment. She walked up to the man and smiled. He didn’t return it. Still it didn’t stop moisture from soaking her panties. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
His gaze remained distant. “After you, ma’am.”
Ahh, the strong, silent type. I bet he’s awesome in the bedroom.
“You and I aren’t finished talking, Roz.” Trent’s tone was ugly.
“We never started.”
Her forward momentum took her right past her new meaning of tall, dark and handsome. He smelled like fresh sawdust and the crack of dawn, right when it’s all clean and new—a scent she knew well, for it was her favorite time of day. A time of purity and reflection.
And now I will always be thinking of this man and I’ll be horny as well.
Roz exited the room with brisk steps. She heard him behind her, soft footfalls but confident. She wanted to turn around and look at him once more. I want a lot of things—however, doesn’t mean I get them all.
She checked her watch and hardly contained her curse. Thanks to Trent and his New Order crappy attitude, she had barely ten minutes to get to her next court case.
I hate days like this.
In her office waiting for her sat a lovely fresh fruit salad, full of kiwi, mandarin oranges, mango, blueberries, grapes—fresh from the vineyard—and more. She’d been looking forward to a few minutes of bliss, quiet and sustenance.
Now what? I have to haul ass so I can look over case notes. No time to head back to my office, no time to eat. Hell, I doubt I have time to pee.
She rubbed the corner of her eye, wondering if she could stave off this migraine until after court. Roz paused and peered behind her.
The man had returned to the scaffolding and was ascending with agility and grace. Such a nice view from down here.
“Roz!”
“What’s wrong? You look horrible.”
“I’m having a problem and need your advice.”
Looks like you’re about to have an aneurism. “I’m due in court, Jefferson. Can we walk and talk?”
“Yes.” His breaths were fast and shallow.
Although she despised elevators, Roz knew he couldn’t make it to the third floor at her speed and talk, much less carry on an intelligible conversation. “Let’s take the elevator.”
“Yeah, good idea.”
I’m sure. She reversed direction to make her way to the small metal box. Oh damn. Her new erotic dream inspiration was right there on the scaffolding, all tight clothes and flexed muscles. His tool belt accentuated lean hips and a firm ass. She longed to root her feet into the floor and ogle the man. Damn job, getting in the way of my viewing pleasure.
He looked at her in that second. She smiled at him, unashamed to have been caught staring. He merely gave a nod.
Something about him wouldn’t let her just move on. She stepped into the elevator and took a deep breath. I can do this.
“What’s wrong, Roz?”
The comforting sound of Dracen’s voice lessened her tension like a rainbow vanishing into the air. “I am in an elevator. I’m okay—or will be once I am out.”
“If you are sure.” Dracen’s presence vanished as fast as it had arrived in her mind.
“What’s up, Jefferson?”
He loosened his already loose tie even more. “This is the situation.”
Despite her need to look over her notes for this next court case, she gave him her undivided attention as they shot up to the third floor.
