Gifted Connections 01

by S M Olivier

  “I’ve never rode it raw,” he said quietly. “And last night was…amazing.”

  “Never?” I asked him in shock as he gently pushed me down onto the seat in the shower.

  He reached up and adjusted the knobs so only the shower heads on the sides of the shower were now shooting out water.

  “Never,” he repeated as he washed my feet and between my legs.

  After having him twice last night, I didn’t expect to want him again so soon. I let him gently wash me and rinse me off, feeling special at his gentle ministrations.

  I pushed him back onto the same seat I had just vacated, when he went to stand up from his kneeling position. I took the loofah from his surprised grasp and squeezed some body wash onto it. I took my time rubbing the loofah against his skin, watching him grow harder. I made sure to spend extra time on the sensitive spot on his inner thighs. When I heard him hiss and felt him tensing I moved on to the rest of his legs and feet. I knew I was teasing him and I loved how I could make him feel this wanting as strong as my own.

  I finally made my way back to his manhood, gently grabbed it, and rubbed the soap between my hands and moved up and down him. From our previous time together, I knew what made him tense and what pleased him.

  “Blake,” he hissed between his teeth.

  I rinsed him, and before he could react I climbed onto his lap, placed him between my legs, and sunk down on him.

  He cursed softly. That was another thing that turned me on. He never cursed in front of me unless he was turned on. It made me feel sexy.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said softly, even as his hands found their way to my hips. “I’m not a small man and you were a virgin.”

  I lifted on him, grabbing on to his shoulders, before sinking back down again. I rubbed my core against him and shuddered. I liked this position. It made him feel deeper, closer. “But I want you again, would you like me to stop?” I breathed in his ear before I took his earlobe in my mouth and sucked on it.

  It was another turn-on spot for him.

  “No,” he said, nearly breathless as he grabbed my hips and started to rock me on him.

  It didn’t take long for us to come apart in each other’s arms once more.

  I was able to slip upstairs and change into my capri running pants, sports bra, tank top, and hoodie before anyone else was up. I got back downstairs and started pulling out some veggies from the night before and eggs to make some omelets for breakfast. Jace was extremely handsy and affectionate as he made some coffee.

  “Would you like hazelnut or blueberry cream flavored coffee,” he asked as he slid up behind me, caressing my sides and hips.

  I giggled, “Blueberry cream. Did you not get enough last night, shall we go back downstairs and go for another round?”

  I felt his inhale of breath, “Somehow, I don’t think you would deny me if I said yes.”

  “Why would I?” I turned around in his arms, so I could look up to him.

  His eyes darkened before his lips found mine, and he kissed me passionately. “You never cease to amaze me.”

  We heard footsteps on the stairs and I turned to finish chopping up the broccoli and green peppers. “I guess you won’t be taking me downstairs.” I challenged him.

  His husky laugh sent shivers down my spine.

  I grabbed some onions and some leftover lunch meat, cheddar cheese, provolone, and swiss to chop as well.

  “What’s for breakfast?” Troy asked as he poured a cup of coffee, kissing the back of my head.

  “Omelets. We have broccoli, onions, green peppers, ham, turkey, cheddar, provolone, and swiss. What would you like in yours?” I asked as I began to sauté the vegetables in individual pans.

  This six-burner stove was amazing. I turned to scramble some eggs in a bowl, adding a little bit of salt and pepper.

  “Onions, peppers, ham, and cheddar please.” Troy stated. “Thanks, Misty. I’m sure Drake will like the break from feeding the army.”

  “I hope you don’t think I forgot about our run,” Remy teased as he came into the kitchen in a pair of athletic shorts and a sweatshirt. It was cold outside, and he still insisted on running in shorts. I shivered just thinking about it.

  I stuck my tongue out at him. “I’m dressed, am I not? What would you like in your omelet?”

  “You shouldn’t stick that out, unless you plan to use it,” he said with a gleam in his eyes before he looked over at the ingredients. “Everything, please.”

  “What time’s your studio time?” Jace asked as he set my coffee next to me with the cream and sugar already added. “Everything for me too, please,” he whispered to me.

  I groaned. I had forgotten about the appointment. We had to record some of our music today. “Two. Pops said we should leave here by one.”

  I turned and added the ingredients to a warm pan for Troy’s omelet, before adding the eggs.

  “I thought you would be excited for this,” Troy stated as he sipped on his coffee.

  I paused to think about it for a moment. “I mean, this is fun and all, but I kind of feel like the decision for my future has been taken out of my hands.”

  “So why didn’t you say something?” Jace asked with some concern.

  “Because the band wouldn’t have gotten as far as they have, if it wasn’t for her.” Jax stated coming into the kitchen. He hugged me from behind. “I don’t sleep as well without you by my side,” he grumbled quietly.

  I looked up at him, startled at his admission and then smiled. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be sick of chasing my demons by now.”

  He tweaked my nose. “Never! Whatcha cooking?”

  “Omelets, what would you like in yours?” I slid Troy’s omelet onto a plate before adding eggs in the pans for Jace and Remy.

  “Broccoli, swiss, and ham, please,” Jax said before pouring himself a glass of orange juice. He also grabbed a bottle of hot sauce and put it on the counter.

  “If you’re not sure about all of this, it’s probably best if you speak up now,” Remy said gruffly.

  I sighed. “I can’t. I mean, I really like this. It’s a rush. And who knows how far we will get. I’m sure there are thousands and thousands of people who want to make it big. What’s the likelihood of us getting there? I’ll just sit down, shut up, and enjoy the ride for now,” I shrugged.

  “But if you’re having doubts right now, do you think it’s a good idea to continue to follow along with the band,” Jax stated.

  “You’re just saying that because you don’t like how close the band and I have gotten,” I gently teased him. I grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I have six connections and I don’t need any more complications than I already have.”

  “Are you calling us complicated?” Troy asked, his brows furrowed.

  “No,” I said without hesitation. “But you have to see it the way I see it. I’m juggling six relationships, in essence. And,” I looked at each one of them. “I have no clue what to do at times. I haven’t been able to talk to Noah for weeks now. He continues to act like he’s fine, but he’s not. He’s been drinking a lot and he’s been sleeping around. I don’t know what I can do, or what I should say.”

  “Nothing,” Stacey’s biting tone came from the bottom of the stairs. “It’s none of your concern and so what if he’s drinking a little more than normal? He is under a lot of stress lately. You’re a kid compared to him. What would you know? And why are you spreading those lies about him hooking up with other girls? He’s not.”

  I bit my lip. I had forgotten she had spent the night last night. I hoped she hadn’t heard our whole conversation. I slid Jace’s and Remy’s plates in front of them and added the egg to Jaxson’s omelet.

  I calmly turned around and looked at her. “He’s not okay. Stress or no stress. He’s adding to his stress by drinking so much that his grades are slipping. Stop enabling him and living a life of denial. He’s been hooking up with other girls and I know you know. People have heard you confront him abou
t it!”

  She got a sour look on her face. “You’re just jealous because he won’t sleep with you. You’re not happy screwing all the other guys and the band, you want him too.”

  Remy stood up from his stool. “Stacey, this is my house and I won’t have you disrespecting Blake in it. Maybe it’s best that you leave now.”

  Stacey laughed bitterly. “I will. I was just leaving anyhow.” Before she walked out the door she turned and looked at me coldly, tears in her eyes. “You must have a powerful twat, but it’s not good enough for Noah. Kick me out, he won’t ever leave me.”

  Ella’s words from weeks ago came haunting back, “He won’t leave her, he’ll never leave her.”

  I could feel the extra energy coursing through me today and I kept pace with Remy the whole time. I knew he wasn’t slowing down or taking it easy on me either. I finished cooking breakfast for everyone, but the appetite I had before cooking breakfast was gone by the time I sat to eat my own omelet.

  I tried to ignore Stacey’s words but with the combination of Ella’s premonition, they weighed heavily on my mind and heart. I couldn’t imagine coexisting with Stacey if I had to for goodness knows how long.

  This little voice within me, was telling me that I needed to finish making my connections with Troy and Noah, but I couldn’t see me wanting to create it with Noah. It just felt wrong to. Why would I push for something that he clearly didn’t want right now? Maybe that’s why he was behaving the way he was, because he didn’t want this connection.

  Remy turned, and I turned with him. My thoughts churned within and I felt myself spurning ahead. I didn’t notice I had pulled ahead of Remy and was running aimlessly in a direction I had no clue where I was going. This was the first time we had run this route and I just ran.

  “Blake,” Remy’s voice called me out of my thoughts.

  I stopped and looked around me bewildered, finally realizing he was behind me. I reached up and realized that it wasn’t just sweat running down my face, but tears were there as well.

  “What demons are chasing you today?” he asked me slightly breathless as he pulled up next to me. He stopped short when he saw the tears on my face. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “What am I supposed to do,” I cried. “If he doesn’t want to make this connection, I can’t force it!”

  He wrapped me up in a hug and I didn’t even care how sweaty we were as I took comfort in his embrace. “Noah has a funny way of working things out, but I know he wants this connection.”

  “How can you say that? He’s not even the same person I met. Since meeting me he’s become an alcoholic and he hooks up with any girl in a skirt.” I continued to cry.

  I didn’t recognize this girl I was becoming. I was more vulnerable and sensitive. I cried more in the last two days, than I had since my father was murdered.

  “He’ll come around, baby. Maybe it’s time we knocked some sense into him.” He said gruffly. “Come on, baby, I hate seeing you like this.”

  “What happens if we run out of time?” I said desperately.

  “We won’t,” Remy assured me. I knew he knew exactly what I was talking about. “Even if Ella’s premonition comes true, I would know you anywhere.”

  “How do you know that? These people conspiring against us might be stronger than us, then what?” I lamented.

  “Together we’re stronger,” he said quietly rubbing my back.

  “Yes, together,” I agreed. “But we’re not together if Noah doesn’t want to be.”

  I felt drained and tired by the time I got out of my shower. I wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror and looked at myself. All my feelings of euphoria I felt earlier were gone. I wish I had bottled it up and saved some of it. I really had no clue how I was going to get through this afternoon, when I wasn’t feeling it.

  I knew it was going to be a bad day, if music couldn’t get me out of this funk.

  I left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body and was surprised to see Ella on my bed. She looked like she had been crying and I went to her.

  “What’s wrong, sweetie,” I said as I climbed onto the bed next to her.

  “They’re coming to get you,” she stated. “There’s nothing we can do about it either. Make sure you tell Drake the baby isn’t his.”

  “What?!” I asked shocked.

  “Rose is pregnant,” she stated. “The baby isn’t his, but he’ll still marry her.”

  I groaned and put my head in my hands. “What can I do to fix it?”

  She looked at me solemnly. “Make your connections.”

  I felt like I was just going through the motions all afternoon and I knew our recordings in the studio weren’t as flawless as they could have been. The guys and Lionel seemed satisfied with it, but I wasn’t.

  Remy, Jace, Troy, and Jaxson had decided to come with Will and I, so I was somewhat comforted by their presence. I had told them what Ella had told me on the way to the studio and they seemed as concerned as I was. They were putting on a good show, but I could feel their anxiety, literally.

  I decided to use my gift that I had acquired from Jace. It almost crippled me when I opened that door. I had to ask Jace to help me and calm me, so I could focus enough on what I needed to be doing.

  I should have been laughing and living it up, instead I was left wondering who they were, and when they were coming to get me.

  After we wrapped up our recording session, the guys decided to take me out to dinner. It was beautiful, and I wish I could have enjoyed it more. I could see that Jaxson was trying really hard to make me laugh and forget about my heavy thoughts, and it worked for a little while.

  Will got a call in the middle of dessert and coffee. I could tell from his concerned expression that it wasn’t a good one.

  He closed his phone and held his hand up for the check.

  “What’s going on,” Jace asked quietly.

  Will looked around and then at me uncertainly. “They found a house not too far from here. I think it’s a house Horatio had purchased off the books. They have at least six children in it and it is believed that they are pushing them for their gifts.”

  Troy leaned in. “We know he’s been doing that for years. Why are they so worried about it right now?”

  I didn’t know who they were or how they knew the information. It only made me realize how very far Will’s reach could be.

  “We can take Blake home and come back. How far are the other teams?” Jaxson said worriedly.

  “No,” I stated emphatically. “If they are nearby, it makes no sense to take me home.”

  Will nodded reluctantly. “The other teams are too far away and by the time we get her home and then back, he might have moved them again. They plan on moving out tonight. I think Horatio was tipped off that we have some of our people in his organization.”

  “Why?” I asked, startled and confused.

  Will looked at me levelly. “Horatio’s bound and determined to make us the ‘master’ race. He has stooped to so many despicable levels to use our own to harm others, gifted and non-gifted alike. I know he has people working for him around us. That’s why I’ve been so careful with not letting anyone know your abilities. In order to stay one step ahead of him, I’ve had volunteers come to me and offer to work for us in the guise of working for him.”

  “How do you know you can trust them?” I asked logically.

  He cleared his throat. “That’s their stories to tell, but let’s just say Horatio had a direct hand in harming them or the people they love, and they wanted…revenge.”

  “If he can read people’s minds,” I stated, “how is that even possible? Couldn’t he tell they were working for you.”

  He nodded. “That’s entirely possible,” he paused as the waiter came back with his credit card and receipt. “But he’s so arrogant and believes everyone should believe the way he does, so he barely ever meets the people he has out doing his dirty work.”

  He stood up and we all moved in unison tow
ards the door.

  “How do we know this is safe for Blake?” Jaxson asked persistently.

  “We don’t, but she’s safer with us, than with anyone else,” Remy stated.

  Jace and Troy nodded in agreement, but I could tell it still didn’t sit well with Jaxson.

  I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t the run-down trailer park we pulled into. I shuddered as bad memories began to assail me. When I left Heidi, I never thought I would ever have to see another place like this.

  Jace must have felt my revulsion because he pulled me into his side. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

  “The other teams are twenty minutes out,” Troy said from the back seat.

  “It’s been confirmed that there are six gifted and two caretakers,” Remy said in a hard voice.

  “There’s a van pulling up right now,” Jaxson stated as he looked behind us.

  “We’ve got to move, now,” Will said decisively.

  “You should stay here,” Jaxson put his hand on my knee.

  “No, I’m going,” I said emphatically.

  “She should come,” Troy stated. “Nelson wouldn’t have her helping in his class if he didn’t have confidence in her abilities.”

  Will turned to me. “If you’re ready?”

  I nodded, and I could hear Jaxson let out a sound of disappointment.

  As we stepped out of the Land Rover I felt this weird buzzing throughout me. It was like I could feel the energy around me.

  Jace flinched and I grabbed his hand to squeeze it, not realizing the moment I did I was opening the door once more. “They are so afraid and desolate,” I whispered in shock.

  He nodded and said quietly. “Since our connection I feel it more acutely. It never was this way before. A faint feeling but never this strong.”

  I gasped, and I followed the guys. Will took point and he pointed Troy and Jaxson towards the van. He motioned for Remy, Jace, and I to follow him to the trailer. Once we got to the trailer he held his hands up and I watched as the door swung inward.

  We entered the trailer and I had to fight the rising panic. This trailer was bigger than Heidi’s, but it wasn’t much different than what I was used to. Dirt, trash, and clothes were strewn everywhere. The smell of pot, alcohol, and mold lingered heavy in the air. Drugs were scattered over various surfaces.