by Lexi C. Foss
Easy.
18
Trust and Conviction
Benefactor did not approve blood tampering. Subject shall remain pure and be tracked through other reasonable means.
—Entry Log 101.02.4-7
“Try not to scream,” he whispered as he stepped away to position himself on the other side of the entrance. Her rounded eyes touched his heart, but he needed to focus.
The Sentinels thought they were armed, giving Jayson the advantage.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
As the first soldier stepped through the threshold, Jayson slammed his hand into the muscular man’s throat, temporarily disabling him.
Unfortunately, that gave the Sentinel’s partner enough warning to react. The blond tried to fire his useless weapon and threw it at Jayson when he realized it no longer worked. He followed it up with a punch that Jayson dodged and a kick to the ribs.
Evenly matched in size and strength, it became a dance of brute force.
Jayson went for the hit, but his opponent kept blocking and returning the favor.
Then the Sentinel made a fatal error by noticing Lizzie against the wall. Familiarity touched his features, and Jayson used the distraction to his advantage.
His fist collided with the blond’s jaw, knocking him off balance and right into Jayson’s knee. The Sentinel tumbled to the ground, where Jayson leapt on top of him and wrapped his hands around the man’s throat. He sputtered and tried to grapple with him from the floor but failed.
“I’d say this isn’t personal,” Jayson said. “But that would be a lie.” Because he recognized this jackass as the one lurking in Lizzie’s building a few weeks ago. He’d been the one sent to check up on her after Jayson fucked with the surveillance equipment in her condo.
The blond’s eyes dimmed as his oxygen supply depleted.
It would only be a few more—
“Jayson!” Lizzie squealed as the other Sentinel attempted to fire his weapon from the ground. The mechanism didn’t trigger or move, causing him to pull out a knife instead as he climbed to his feet. He’d recovered faster than anticipated.
“Oh, that looks fun,” Jayson said. He bent the blade with his mind while the blond beneath him lost consciousness.
“Code H, bathhouse,” the Sentinel mouthed, but no sound came out as his windpipe had not yet recovered. So much for requesting reinforcements. And it seemed they didn’t realize he was a Hydraian until now. Fascinating. What, did they think the sniper missed?
Jayson stood and took a defensive stance, when a familiar presence arrived, followed by a bullet firing into his opponent’s skull.
Well, that was one way to handle the situation quickly, but a hell of a lot less fun.
“Next time, you need to be more specific,” Balthazar chastised from behind him. “There were several baths I frequented in Pompeii, not just this one.”
“There’s only one apodyterium, B.” Jayson turned as he brushed his hands against his jeans.
“In the historical records, sure,” his friend replied. “But my memory is much vaster than a mere text.”
“Can we go?” Jacque asked, holding out his hand. He and Balthazar both stood in the center of the roped-off area, while Lizzie remained plastered against the wall, eyes wide.
Right.
Not a good time to debate history with Balthazar.
He jumped over the rope and went to check on his startled companion. She flinched as he caressed her face. “Easy, Red. It’s okay.”
“You… you killed Charlie,” she stammered.
That must have been the blond’s name, and the way she said it sounded like she knew him well.
“He’s just taking a nap, Liz. He’ll wake up in a few minutes.”
She met his gaze and blinked. “They tried to kill you,” she whispered urgently.
“They usually do.” He pulled her away from the wall and into his arms. “We’ll have to finish our tour later.”
“But this… I …”
“Shh,” he murmured as he hugged her. “We’ll talk more once we get somewhere safe. Close your eyes, Red.” He gestured for Jacque to join the group hug with Balthazar and grimaced as the sensation of whirling hit his abdomen.
Jayson’s living room materialized around them, followed by a startled yelp from the naked woman on the couch.
Amelia.
One of the most alluring females in existence with her dark hair, striking blue eyes, and porcelain features. She resembled an angel, though she didn’t look so angelic right now with the blond, male head between her legs.
Not what Jayson wanted to walk in on considering he loved the woman like a sister. Good thing her real brother wasn’t with the welcoming party, or hell would ensue.
Tom’s reflexes didn’t disappoint as he yanked a blanket from a nearby cushion and tossed it over Amelia while also jumping to his feet in nothing but a pair of tented boxer shorts. His unashamed expression morphed into shock at seeing who stood before him.
These two lovebirds really needed to finish building their own home.
Lizzie trembled, her face tucked safely into Jayson’s chest and away from the romantic scene.
“Not bad,” Balthazar said, eyes grinning with mischief. “I’d deduct points for execution, as you get a better angle from, say, the counter, but overall a flat seven. Jay?”
“Don’t you fucking knock?” Tom demanded.
“Not in my own fucking house, I don’t,” Jayson returned. “And I’m not rating that scene, B.”
Bright pink splotches colored Amelia’s cheeks as Lizzie froze. She’d obviously recognized Tom’s voice.
“Sorry, we weren’t expecting you,” Amelia murmured as she found Tom’s hand and gave him a healthy tug. He landed beside her but remained fixated on Jayson, or rather, the redhead in Jayson’s arms.
“Yeah, the CRF found us in Pompeii. Which reminds me: I need to scan Lizzie for tracking devices.” Not that it mattered here. The Sentinels would never attempt to enter Hydria, but there were other types of technology that could be running through her system.
“Mine was at the base of my neck,” Amelia said softly, her complexion paling. “Tom removed it.”
“I’ll check there,” Jayson replied as he drew soothing circles on Lizzie’s back. She hadn’t said a word or tried to move during their exchange. He pressed his lips to her ear. “You still with me, Red?” His words were whisper soft and for her alone.
Her fingers curled into his thin sweater so hard that he felt her nails through the fabric. “I-I can’t.”
The broken reply prickled his protective instincts.
“Let’s go talk,” he murmured, low enough for only her to hear. To the others he said, “We’ll be in my room.”
“Whoa, hold on a minute.” Tom was on his feet again. “I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.”
Jayson lifted Lizzie into his arms and cocked a brow at the young immortal. “That wasn’t a request.”
He didn’t wait for or acknowledge a reply before starting down the hall to the master bedroom and kicking the door closed behind him.
Jayson stood in the center of the room, holding Lizzie, and admired the view out the balcony windows.
He missed his home, Hydria, the water, and the sunshine. But never had it felt quite like this. It was as if a missing piece of him had returned, except it had nothing to do with the scenery or his room and everything to do with the woman cradled against him.
The weight of the moment slammed into his chest, warming him inside and out. Everything about it seemed right, as if he was destined to be here, right now, with her.
Jayson never believed in fate or soul mates. He’d lived far too long for any of it to be real, but this connection forming between them surpassed logic.
He wanted to blame the serum or claim it was some sort of unique pheromone in her blood meant to seduce him. But no one else felt it except him.
; It’s all Lizzie.
Her intelligence floored him almost as much as her heart did. Sincerity flowed from her in waves, caressing everyone she met, and he adored that about her. She was charming, witty, and so beautiful it hurt.
And he was so done for, but fuck if he cared anymore.
All that mattered was her.
He slowly lowered her feet to the floor and held her close while she steadied herself. Her nails bit into his biceps—a physical indication that she didn’t want him to let her go, which was fine by him.
“Talk to me, Red,” he murmured as he palmed her nape. He gently prodded the area by her spine for a potential tracker beneath the skin. No bumps or obvious marks. He checked her hairline, but everything felt natural there as well.
He slid his hand to her face and eased her head back. Big brown eyes locked on his as her lips trembled.
“I-I can’t,” she stammered. The same words from before.
He studied her pale expression. The fear from Pompeii had been replaced by a deeper emotion, one that darkened all her features and creased the edges of her mouth.
Pain.
Ah, he understood now.
“You’re not ready to be here.” He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Okay, Liz. We can leave, but I need to check you for tracking devices first.” Because he didn’t want the CRF following them.
She blinked. “W-where?”
“Where will we go, or where do I need to check?” he asked.
“The former,” she whispered.
He traced her lip with his thumb. “Somewhere remote, just the two of us, while we sort all this out. But I need to know the CRF can’t follow us there first.”
Relief shone bright in her gaze as all her tension melted into warmth. She crumpled into him with a sigh. “Thank you.”
His lips touched her forehead, then her temple, as he held her close and luxuriated in the rightness of it all.
Her arms wound around his neck as she hugged him with far more strength than he expected. He returned the embrace and rested his chin on her head. “How do you feel about Santorini or Turkey?”
“Aren’t they close by?” she asked, voice small.
“They are, but both locations are beautiful.” He paused, waiting to see if she would respond to that, but she stayed silent.
Hmm, we need something farther away.
Most European countries were out due to surveillance cameras, same with the United States and several countries in South America. The CRF had access to several systems worldwide, all with facial recognition software.
An island somewhere would be better.
The Caribbean was too close to New York City for his liking.
“How about the South Pacific?” he wondered out loud. “Tahiti, Fiji, or something similar?” All remote areas with little camera footage outside the airports. Since they would be using a teleporter instead of a plane, that wouldn’t be an issue.
“Like Bora Bora?” she asked softly.
He grinned. “Sure, if you like that idea.” They could go wherever she wanted. One of the perks of living forever was amassing unfathomable wealth. Most of his funds went into keeping Hydria healthy and thriving, but he maintained a private account as well.
She tilted her head back to see him, and the difference in her expression floored him. No more pain, only mild curiosity. He had accomplished that with a few words of understanding. Jayson rather liked the way that felt.
“That sounds warm,” she said.
“There’s a lot of water for cooling off.”
“Bora Bora,” she mused with a laugh. “Really? We can go there?”
“Well, we can’t return to New York, and you’re not ready to stay here, so why not go somewhere exotic. French Polynesia is private, beautiful, and far away from everyone. It sounds perfect to me.” And you’ll pretty much be living in a swimsuit the entire time. Nothing to complain about there.
She started to laugh, then paused, her eyes going wide. “I… Wow. I can’t believe this is real life. I was in New York, Rome, Pompeii, now Greece, and now you’re talking about the other side of the world.” Her brow wrinkled as she laughed again with a touch of deprecation in her tone.
“The CRF sent people to kill me, and you’re, like, three thousand years old, and Stas is a fledgling. Her boyfriend is a vampire, Tom is alive, and you totally kicked Charlie’s ass. While I’m over here, just me, with a few added hormones. But why? I don’t…”
He did not like where this rant was headed, nor did he like her paling cheeks or the look of despair shining from her beautiful brown eyes.
“This is all a mess, isn’t it?” she continued, voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m a mess, I mean. And you’re… Oh, you can’t leave your home for me, Jayson. That’s not fair to you, and I’m—”
He threaded his fingers through her hair and kissed her, hard. Her mouth opened, perhaps in protest, but he didn’t care. That little rant set his blood on fire. Every word chipped at her confidence right before his eyes until she stared at him with an expression he never wanted to see on her face again.
Uncertainty.
Aimed at him.
And his feelings, his pride, and his place in her life.
Hell. No.
His tongue parted her lips and wasted no time in staking his claim. She moaned against him, spurring him on in his pursuit until every inch of her mouth belonged to him.
Mine.
No questions.
No arguments.
Fact.
“All bets are off now, Red.” He licked a path down her neck. She knew the truth now, which meant no holding back. Luc’s “no fucking” rule no longer applied, at least in Jayson’s mind.
“I-I don’t understand.”
Oh, he doubted that. Her body understood every inch as it arched into him, begging for more.
But he could put it into words, if that’s what she needed.
“Mmm, I intend to devour every inch of you, Lizzie.” He brushed a kiss against her pulse and another over her jaw. “Inflict more pleasure than you can even imagine.” His nose skimmed her cheek as he drew his mouth closer to hers. “And see how much of you I can make blush just by using my tongue.”
Her gasp tasted sweet against his lips.
“Yes, I think you understand just fine,” he whispered before taking her mouth the way he wanted—exploring, licking, and memorizing.
Lizzie melted against him, and he suspected the arm around her lower back was all that kept her upright. He would have grinned in amusement if the kiss hadn’t devastated him just as intensely as it did her.
All Jayson wanted was more.
And so he took it.
The restraints of last week no longer applied.
He could take this woman how he wanted, for as long as he needed, in any way he desired. Over, and over, and over again.
Except he craved this woman on a level he didn’t know existed. It went beyond lust and physical desires and hit him so much deeper. Her touch burned his soul, implanting her memory there for decades, maybe centuries, to come.
It overwhelmed and consumed him, but fuck if he could stop.
And as her arms tightened around his neck, holding him even closer, he knew she yearned for this connection as much as he did.
Her little mewls of satisfaction only deepened as he palmed her ass to pull her flush against his aching cock. Over two months without a woman’s touch, yet only she could satisfy him now. No one else would do.
She slid her palms down his arms to his hips and under his sweater to explore his heated skin. Eager little minx.
He adored how she came undone in his arms.
Beneath all the innocence was a passionate woman waiting to be unleashed.
He’d meant this to be a demonstration, not a claiming, but damn if he didn’t want to dominate her right here and now. The alluring woman held more control over him and his actions than he cared to admit.
But this was neither
the time nor the place. Especially with their unwelcome audience.
He’d felt the metal move as someone opened the door, and recognized the newcomer by the gun in his hand.
Only one person would be naïve enough to enter Jayson’s bedroom armed. The man probably carried it out of habit, but the lack of a knock suggested a threat. As did the wave of angry energy rolling off him from the doorway.
Jayson slowly ended the kiss and brushed his lips over her cheek while maintaining his possessive hold.
“I wouldn’t,” he warned, his voice low with unveiled fury.
Lizzie’s hands stilled against his abdomen. “What?”
“He’s talking to me,” Tom replied, his tone equally livid. “I’m just here to check on her.”
“And as you can see, she’s fine.”
“Is she?” Tom countered, sounding every bit like the older brother. Jayson would have laughed if it didn’t piss him off.
Lizzie had tensed up again during the unwelcome conversation, infuriating him more. To the point where he wanted to put the young immortal’s head through a wall for interrupting what was otherwise an enjoyable experience. He understood the protective reaction but also loathed the display of distrust.
“I suggest you remove yourself and your firearm from my room before something happens that upsets Lizzie more.” A suggestion underlined with threat.
“Worried I might kill you?” he asked, cocky as ever. Jayson usually liked that trait in Tom, but not today.
“As entertaining as it would be to test the strength of your powers against mine, it would upset Lizzie greatly to watch you die,” Jayson replied, confident. Tom was a strong Hydraian with impressive gifts, but age and experience would win this battle of wits.
Jayson finally met Tom’s gaze over Lizzie’s shoulder and let him see the severity of this transgression. “Amelia is like a sister to me, Tom. As such, I understand your concerns, and I’m willing to let this one instance slide. But try this again, and there will be consequences.”
There was a reason Jayson had survived as long as he did, and it would be best for Tom to remember that. He let that conviction show in his eyes for a moment longer before returning his attention to the rigid woman in his arms.
