by Sarah Carter
“Hmmm.”
Mr. Blakely folds his arms. “Damien really cares for you, but you cannot interfere with his duties. It’s his place to lead our people.”
“So, I behave or I can’t see Damien?” Claire suggests quietly.
“I’m sorry, but yes.”
She looks down at the floor. “You know, I considered being with Alex because he saw past my issues with shifting. I never thought Damien would, but he did. He stood by me through all of this drama.”
“Damien is very loyal.”
“Anyway, I really care about Damien and respect him. I should have never challenged him or threatened what we had. That wasn’t fair to Damien.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Mr. Blakely says. “I know you were protecting Alex, but what you said to Damien was uncalled for. You don’t give ultimatums to the people you love.”
“I understand.”
With a nod, Mr. Blakely retorts, “Good.”
“I should go talk to him,” Claire sighs.
“He’s in his suite,” Mr. Blakely states. “I think he’s sulking.”
“How mad is he?”
“I don’t know if mad is the right word,” Mr. Blakely sighs. “I think disappointed is a better description.”
“Ouch. That’s worse,” Claire mumbles.
Mr. Blakely puts his hand on her shoulder. “Go talk to him. Make things right. You’re important to him.”
“So quickly, huh?” Claire says.
“That doesn’t always matter,” Mr. Blakely replies. “If you connect with someone, you connect with them. You know it the minute it happens. I’m happy you two have found each other.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Now go find him,” Mr. Blakely instructs.
Claire nods and leaves the room.
When she gets to Damien’s door, Claire stands there staring at. She takes a deep breath and lifts her hand up to knock, but the door swings open before she can. Damien leans against it and stares at her. “Yes?”
“How did…?”
“Cameras, dear,” Damien replies. “A notification chimes when someone is standing at my door.”
“Oh,” Claire chirps. She starts to fidget with her fingers. “Can we talk?”
“I don’t know. Are you going to threaten our relationship if I have to do my job again?”
“No,” Claire whispers. “Can we please talk inside?”
He steps to the side and waves his hand. Claire walks in, and he closes the door. “So…”
“Listen, I’m sorry,” Claire stammers. “It was kneejerk reaction. I just felt like I needed to protect him.”
Damien nods. “I understand that, but I wasn’t having him executed.”
“I know,” Claire says. “The guard is something we both trained our entire lives for. You can’t put that much time and passion into something, and then have it ripped out from underneath you. It was my fault he got angry. He was making it personal. Alex wasn’t thinking as a guard member, but as a guy who got his heart broken.”
Damien sighs. “Yes, but he’s also supposed to put his duties before anything else. The same will be expected from you. You are first a guard member. Your personal life comes after.”
“So, if we stay together,” Claire says. “I’m under your control first, and then your girlfriend second.”
He puts his finger up and then exhales. “No. Of course not. I would never have control over you.”
“Then who would?” Claire retorts. “How can I be in the guard and dating someone of the Merjyet line at the same time? Where’s does the line draw?”
Groaning, Damien flops down on the couch. “I have no idea.”
“Well, then maybe we’ve come to an impasse,” Claire murmurs sadly.
“So, what—you don’t want to be with me anymore?”
Claire looks up at him. “Of course, I do. That’s a stupid question.”
“What are you saying, then?”
She goes and sits down next to him. Turning, Claire faces him. “We just need to decide what my role will be in both areas.”
Bringing up his fingers, Damien brushes them down her jaw line. “You’re the girl I care about before anything else.”
“What if the guard only uses my gifts as needed? Like, I’m not on duty all the time.”
“That could work. You can be my girlfriend and kick ass on the side.”
Claire giggles. “Yeah, but what would I do as a side job?”
“Okay—if we have you on reserve as some secret weapon, I think we can pay you for that.” Damien chuckles. “You wouldn’t need another job.”
“I couldn’t very well sit around all day.”
“Yeah, but you could teach.”
“Like kids?” Claire chirps in confusion.
With a smirk, Damien says, “No. I meant teach what you know. Teach new guard members how to fight. You’re literally the best fighter that we have. There’s no one better to teach.”
“Yeah. I could show you a thing or two.” Claire giggles and pokes him.
“Oh, you think so?” Damien grabs her and shoves her down on the couch. “I have you pinned already.”
Claire bursts out laughing. She pinches his side and rolls them both off the couch. They hit the floor and she snickers. “Who has who pinned?”
“Ow!” Damien exclaims.
“Oh, did I hurt you?” Claire teases, as she sits up. “Wussy.”
Damien puts his hands on her legs. “You know, I think I like you on top.”
“Yeah, you wish.” Claire rolls off of him.
“Oh, come back here,” Damien grabs her and pulls her back up on him. “I was only kidding.”
Bending over, Claire puts her hands on each side of his head. She stares down at him. “So, we’re going to try to make this work, right?”
He nods. “Yeah. You just have to realize who I am.”
“Yeah—this hot guy who’s a fabulous kisser,” Claire snickers.
“Oh, is that why you’re with me? My looks?”
“Hey, you’re very pretty to look at,” Claire declares. She scoots down on him and lifts his shirt up. “Plus, dear lord, you have the best abs.”
Damien laughs and shakes his head. “If I can’t lift your shirt up and admire your body, you can’t do it either.”
“Well, if that’s the case,” Claire says, grabbing the bottom of her shirt. “We’ll rectify that.”
Damien’s eyes widen.
Claire raises her eyebrows. “Just kidding.”
“Tease!” Damien yells with a smile.
“I’ll show you tease,” Claire whispers as she bends over. She tenderly kisses him and then bites his lip playfully. Damien growls, rolling them over so he’s on top.
Bringing his face down to hers, Damien whispers, “I think we have some making up to do.” Claire smiles, and meets him halfway. They lay there for a minute, just kissing each other. Claire runs her hands up his stomach and then chest.
“Take this off,” she murmurs, against his lips.
Damien pulls it off and throws it across the room. Damien takes his fingers and brushes them up Claire’s side under her shirt. She doesn’t stop him.
As he starts to pull her shirt off, the intercom speaks. “Master Damien?”
“Are you kidding me?” He glares at the door. “What?”
“Mr. Lennox is leaving the ship and wanted to talk to Miss Livingston.”
“I don’t really care. Send him home.”
“Damien,” Claire sighs. “I should talk to him. He’s still my friend.”
“He unknowingly ruins every moment that we have,” Damien growls, as he gets off of her and stands up.
Claire gets up on her knees and wraps her arms around his neck. “Stay here, exactly how you are. I promise to come back as soon as I can. Then we can go back to what we were doing.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Maybe I’ll be naked when you get back,” Damien s
ighs happily, as he gets up.
“No, exactly how you are now. No nudity,” Claire demands.
“We’ll see.” He smacks her butt. “Go tend to his wounds.”
She smiles. “Trust me, I’ll be right back.”
“Good to know,” Damien retorts, winking at her.
When Claire makes it back to Alex’s room, she finds him all set to leave. He has his jacket on and everything. “Hey,” Alex whispers.
“Hey,” Claire murmurs back, crossing her arms.
“Listen—I’m sorry for pushing you.”
“Why did you do that in the first place?” Claire snaps.
Alex puts his face in his hands. “I don’t know. I’m so sorry, Claire. I’ll never forgive myself for it.”
“Honestly, neither will I. You put your hands on me in anger. You were taught better and should have known better than that.”
“I know,” Alex sighs. “It’s a good thing I’m leaving. We need our space.”
Feeling a lump form in her throat, Claire says, “We’re never going to be the same, are we? This will always loom over our heads. You wanted me and I didn’t reciprocate.”
“It’s not that you don’t have feelings,” Alex mumbles. “Your feelings for him are just stronger.”
“I can’t help the way I feel,” Claire states quietly. “We just…match each other.”
“More than how you and I match? We’ve been partners in almost everything our entire lives.”
“You’re one of my best friends, and that won’t change unless you want it to change.”
Exhaling loudly, Alex shakes his head. “No. I don’t want that to change. Just give me time. I’ve been thinking about this for six months. It’ll take me a little while to get past it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I have to go. Direct orders and everything.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help more.”
He looks up at her. “You saved me Claire. After what I did, you got me to keep my position. I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”
“It put Damien and me in a tough place, but I talked to him and his father. We’re okay. We know where we stand now. Next time I won’t put myself there. He gives you directions. I can’t get in the way of that.”
“I know.” Alex sighs. “I need to go. I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Call me and let me know you got home alright?” Claire asks quietly.
“I will.” Alex bends over and picks up his bag. “Be safe, okay?”
“Yeah. I will.”
He walks past her. Stopping, Alex kisses her on the cheek. “Bye.”
“Bye,” Claire murmurs. As Alex walks away she calls, “Wait!”
“What?” He turns around.
“Let me at least walk you out,” Claire says, cheerily. “You should have someone to say goodbye to.”
“Alright,” Alex replies, “Thanks.”
After she sees him off, Claire walks back to Damien’s room. She doesn’t even knock but walks in. Damien isn’t in his living room. “Damien?”
There’s no answer. Claire walks over to his bedroom. She sees him sitting in front of his computer, and there’s a young girl on the screen. She exclaims, “You need to come home. I got a new saddle for Marybeth and I want to show you.”
“I have stuff I need to do here right now,” Damien says. “It’s important. I can’t just leave.”
“Oooo, can you tell me?” The girl giggles.
“Of course not. Maybe when you’re older.”
“You’re no fun.” The girl pouts.
Damien sighs and shakes his head. “You want to grow up so fast.”
“You guys are older and get to do all the fun stuff,” the girl whines.
“I take you to do a lot of fun stuff.”
“But you’ve been gone for so long. I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” Damien says. Claire puts her hand up to her mouth and smiles. Damien quickly turns to her. He grins. “Come here, I want you to meet my sister.” Claire shakes her head. Damien frowns. “Will you please come here?”
She slowly makes her way over to him.
“Claire, this is Victoria. Victoria, this is Claire.”
Victoria grins. “Hi!”
Claire smiles. “Hello.”
“Is she your girlfriend?” Victoria giggles.
Looking up at Claire, Damien raises an eyebrow. Claire looks at the screen. “Yes. I’m his girlfriend.”
Victoria squeals and claps. “Yeah!”
Damien and Claire laugh.
“So, are you keeping her longer than Kayla?”
“Ouch.” Damien squints at her.
“Yes. He’s going to keep me longer than Kayla,” Claire assures her.
“Good.” Victoria nods.
“We should get going,” Damien states. “I’ll be home as soon as I can and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Leaning forward on her arms, Victoria says, “I have lessons tomorrow. Don’t forget my competition.”
“I won’t,” Damien replies. “I have to see that new saddle.”
“I know.” Victoria giggles. “It’s so cool!”
Damien smiles. “Okay, Victoria. I’ll talk to you later. Say hi to mom for me.”
“Okay,” she says. “Bye Claire!”
“Bye,” Claire responds. Victoria grins and then disappears from the screen. Claire looks at it. “Is she really gone?”
“Yes. Why?” Damien asks.
Claire spins around and sits on his lap. “Because, I told you we’d start where we left off.”
“Sweet,” Damien purrs. “Let me shut down the computer and then we can do that.” He presses a button and the screen goes black. He whispers, “Now, what should we do?”
Shrugging, Claire replies, “I have no idea.”
“I do.” Damien stands up with her in his arms.
She laughs. “Aren’t you strong.”
“Are you mocking me since you can bench press four people at once?”
Claire shakes her head. “Of course not.”
“Good.” He kisses her nose then carries her over and tosses her on the bed.
With a giggle, Claire sits up on her elbows. “Being awfully presumptuous, aren’t we?”
“Hopeful?” Damien quips.
“Not gonna happen, buddy.”
“What if I try really hard to seduce you,” Damien says, crawling over on top of her. “I do have pretty good skills.”
Claire bursts out laughing. She sighs happily. “Oh, really? Says who?”
“We won’t go there. Okay, no seducing.”
“No. No seducing. No sex.”
“Bummer,” Damien sighs.
“Really?” Claire quips in a playfully annoyed tone.
Damien grins. “Someday.”
“Yeah, when you put a ring on this finger or a vine of flowers around my wrist,” Claire says.
Damien laughs. “Let’s go get one right now.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, jeez.”
Bending over, Damien brushes his nose against Claire’s. “I’m only teasing.”
“I know,” she whispers. He looks into her eyes and then bends over to kiss her. Claire gently kisses him back.
Then Damien flicks his energy into her.
She pulls away. “Don’t.”
“We need to see if you can get it under control,” Damien replies.
“Not like this,” Claire says.
“How else are we going to know when you’re intimate if you can do it?”
Claire frowns. “I don’t know.”
“Damien?” a voice says over the intercom.
They both recognize the voice and grimace.
“Yes?” he calls out.
“My darling son, have you lost your mind?” Mr. Blakely asks.
“What?” Damien laughs.
“Don’t do what you were thinking about doing.”
Damien crinkles his nose. “How are we going to know if she can do it or not
? We aren’t going to do this in front of people.”
There is a pause, and then his father says, “It’s too dangerous.”
“If my levels get too low, then let me know,” Damien suggests. “Otherwise, let us do our thing.”
“Son, this isn’t a good idea,” his father groans. “She could drain you.”
“And if she gets me that low, I’ll either go to sleep or go to shima. It’s late. It’ll be like taking a sleeping pill.”
An audible sigh comes from Damien’s father. “Fine, but please, be careful.”
“And can you please turn off the damn intercom?” Damien asks. “I’ve never been so interrupted in my entire life.”
“Yes. Dr. Galliger will monitor you both. I’ll pay no attention to it unless there’s reason to be alarmed.”
Claire grimaces and Damien chuckles. “Sounds good to me. Night, dad.”
“Good night, you two.”
When there is only silence, Claire whispers, “That was so embarrassing.”
“Oh, it’s only my dad. It’s not like we were having sex. That would be embarrassing,” Damien replies.
“Let’s not think about it,” Claire whines. “I would die.”
Damien laughs. “We wouldn’t want that, so no sex where there are intercoms.”
She rolls her eyes. “There will be no sex anywhere.”
“Even if we get married? That would make me think twice about proposing to you.”
“Think about it, though—we can connect and not be intimate,” Claire declares. “That’s a nice talent to have.”
“Mmmmmm. We should practice that.”
Claire shakes her head. “That’s a little too personal right now.”
“You have no curiosity about if you can do it whenever you want?” Damien murmurs, bringing his lips down to hers. “Just a little curious?”
“Of course I’m curious,” she replies. “But that doesn’t mean we’re going to experiment all night long.”
“Just dash all my hopes away,” Damien teases.
Laughing, Claire sighs. “You’re hopeless.”
“So, what do you want to try?”
“I don’t know,” Claire whispers, biting her lip. “I’m scared.”
“You can’t hurt me,” he states in return. “You can only drain me.”
“I know.”
“So, again, what would you like to try?”
With a shrug, Claire answers, “Let’s just keep it simple, a little push and a little pull.”
