by Dylan Quinn
Lennox didn’t resist her advances.
Couldn’t.
The Cupid was irresistible.
Geneva ran her hands down his biceps and stared at her fingertips as they traced across his strong arms.
Her fingertips tiptoed to his erection, begging to touch it. Stroke it. Her gaze returned to his.
Lennox inhaled a sharp breath just as her hand began to skim over his cock.
“Fuck me, Lex. Let me fuck you.” She pressed down, her fingers outlining his hard cock growing beneath his uniform. “Fuck me hard. Gentle. However you wish. My body is yours to explore. Take it. Take me.” She implored. “Fuck me.”
Geneva leaned in, her lips barely brushed against his.
Lennox didn’t pull away, falling into her hypnotic trance.
Falling into her kiss.
“I’m ready to... oh gods.” Reanna’s tone went squeamish.
Geneva released her grip and stepped back, grinning.
“You want me, Lex,” she whispered before stepping away. “Come and get me.”
Chapter 5
“This is a bad idea,” Lennox said, staring out the window of the Zipper craft as it quickly moved across the Complex to the Arid Zone where the boy lived.
“Lighten up, Lexie. Seriously.” She pursed her lips, arms crossed over her spectacular tits.
“You know how much I hate it when you call me that.” Lennox glared at Geneva sitting beside him.
“No worse than you calling me Miss Jayne.” She rolled her eyes.
“Perhaps we can compromise.” He uncrossed his arms. “Call me Lennox. You’re Geneva.”
“You can call me whatever you like, darling.”
“I just want this over with,” Lennox said. “Reanna needs to stop disappearing, it’s reckless.”
“Well giving her ultimatums won’t help. This is the best way to get her to surrender. Give her something,” Geneva nudged Lennox’s shoulder. “She’s in love.”
“Love.” Lennox grumbled beneath his breath, shaking his head.
Geneva pursed her lips. “What’s your problem with love?”
“It’s useless.” He scoffed.
“Why do you say that?”
Her thoughts raced through her head, and Lennox couldn’t resist listening. She was curious if he felt that way because of his wife or for some other reason.
After all this time, even Lennox wasn’t sure of the answer to that question.
“You of all people shouldn’t have to ask me that.”
“Yeah, I know. Your wife died. What happened to her?”
Lennox ignored her questioning and said nothing. He had no interest in reliving memories of those days.
He’d let them go for a reason.
Perhaps that was why he still scoffed at love.
“Okay, fine.” Geneva looked away, staring at the Humans and Metas taking the zipper across the Complex.
Lennox watched Geneva’s eyes skipping around the zipper at the few people riding alongside them.
He knew the Cupid was once of earth, though he didn’t know much more.
Something about Geneva spoke to Lennox. When she wasn’t doing everything in her power to get him to touch her, she was an interesting creature.
Outside of how she woke his body, she woke his senses. She intrigued him. Always had, from the moment they met. And the draw that a man cannot truly love her was more interesting to Lennox than anything.
As one of the oldest known Metas, wisdom was a key component to his being. He made it his business to know as much about everything as he could.
Knowledge was power—the one thing nobody could take from him.
Wisdom was his strength. His protection. Kept him safe from vulnerability.
Lennox believed that was why Geneva kept powers from the Metas whose heartache she took.
He was deeply curious about her curse, wondering how a curse could control a Human or a Meta like himself who wasn’t cursed?
Lennox wasn’t completely sure he even bought into the whole curse thing. He often thought it was just Geneva’s excuse for keeping men at arm’s length, so as not to feel her own heartache since she clearly experienced enough heartache from others.
Though he could completely empathize if that were the case.
After losing Jenexa, heartache from loss wasn’t something he cared to ever experience again.
Geneva was relentless when it came to things she wanted. Despite his reluctance, Lennox wanted her as badly as she pretended to want him.
And she did have a point.
Perhaps he couldn’t get attached? Perhaps it could be just one night of raw, passionate sex to carry him on for some time.
Lennox was as sexual a being as the next, and of course, he’d had his share of random encounters over the years since Jenexa’s death. But he never slept with a woman more than once. That ensured he never became emotionally attached to anyone.
It was safer that way. Safer for everyone.
Mostly for Lennox.
The zipper pulled up to their stop and Lennox stood, reaching down for Geneva’s hand.
She stared up at him with her caramel eyes, her porcelain skin, illuminating. Inviting.
She took his offer, setting her hand in his, her soft touch radiating through him like a firestorm.
The draw to Geneva was undeniable.
Hundreds of years, he’d yearned to touch her luminous skin. To kiss her plump lips. To dominate her curvaceous body and bring her to her knees like she easily brought him to his.
Ever since she rescued him from his torture, he’d felt the need to repay the favor in any way he could. He often wondered if that was an after effect of her curse?
Or if he was simply drawn to her, no strings?
There was certainly something about Geneva Jayne that made Lennox want to be near her. In her presence. To hold her, to run his hands through her scorching red curls.
Even to comfort her when he clearly felt her heartache as she had felt his.
When Geneva took away his heartache, just for a moment, he felt hers, too. It was nearly as crippling as his own.
This curse Cupid was inflicted with had little novelty.
No wonder she wanted her mortality back.
As they made their way off the zipper, they walked through the platform toward the park where they agreed to meet Denvar.
Lennox stepped behind Reanna and Geneva, the girls walking side by side down the street. Laughing. Giggling like schoolgirls.
It was refreshing to see Geneva in this light.
So innocent. So—Human.
They reached the park. On a bench overlooking a pond, sat a Human boy about twenty. He certainly appeared older than Reanna, though not inappropriately older.
Reanna turned and glanced to Lennox, her gaze begging to be set free.
“Stay in the open. Where we can see you,” Lennox said. “You have fifteen minutes alone, while Geneva and I stand back. Then you are to introduce him to us both, and we will go from there.” Lennox gestured his head toward the boy. “Go.”
Reanna beamed. Turning on her toes, she took off running toward the boy. She reached him and wrapped her arms around his neck. A moment later, they began to kiss, a full on make-out session.
It became a little uncomfortable for Lennox to watch, but not Geneva. She continued to stare at the teenagers in love, a wide smile on her beautiful pink lips. A small dimple tucked into her left cheek as she grinned.
“Young love, for sure,” she said. “They’re a pair.”
“What do you mean, a pair?”
“Look at them. They’re soul mates, I’m certain.”
“No such thing.” He scoffed, narrowing his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Gods, you’re such a guy.” Her tone dripped with annoyance.
Lennox eyed her for a moment. “Fine. How can you tell?” he tried lightening up just a bit.
Maybe he was being too rigid.
Geneva laug
hed. “I’m Cupid, duh. It’s what I do.”
“Yes, but—how?” he asked. “How can you tell? I’m omniscient, and I can’t see that.”
Geneva stared and grinned. “Wow. The all-knowing Watcher needs answers from the Cupid. This day will go down in Ama Seldova history.”
Lennox shook his head, laughing. “Stop goading.”
“Their bodies,” she began. “They emit a light only I can see. I sense their emotions, their racing hearts. Hear their thoughts. Read their body language.”
“So, you can’t actually make anybody love each other,” he said. “Can you?”
She shook her head and let out a laugh. “No. My gifts play on free will. They may encourage people who belong together. Inspire them to be brave, but free will always prevails. I can’t actually force anybody to love another. And contrary to what you may think, I can’t force anybody to do things to or for me either.” She winked. “That’s all up to them.”
“So—” Lennox paused. “When you entice men. How do you do it?”
She glanced at Lennox, smirking. “I don’t do anything.”
Lennox scoffed. “Right.” He crossed his arms back over his chest, refocusing his gaze toward the hybrid and her boy.
“You don’t believe me.” Geneva giggled.
“No,” he said. “The way my body responds to you.” He returned his gaze to Geneva’s, eyes narrowed. “You’re doing something.”
“Nothing intentional.” She shook her head. “Not that it matters anyway. Men are drawn to me, sure, but they can’t love me. So really, what’s the point?” She scoffed. “Even if I’m drawn to them, it’ll never go beyond sex or physical attraction. I guess over the years, I just learned not to fall in love.”
“Love is overrated anyway,” Lennox said softly. Though over the past few days, reading Reanna’s and Geneva’s thoughts, he began to wonder if that were truly the case.
“That’s easy to say for a man who can be loved.” She shuffled her feet on the grass beneath them.
“I’m not sure I believe in your curse anyway,” he said plainly.
“Oh no?” She raised her eyebrows. “Well, for a guy so convinced, you sure are afraid to find out.” She nudged his shoulder and smiled.
“That’s not why I resist you.”
“Oh really?” She smirked. “What is it, then?”
Lennox thought for a moment.
He wasn’t actually sure why he resisted her. Or any woman, for that matter, except for fear of getting hurt.
Perhaps Geneva was right.
Maybe Lennox couldn’t fall for the Cupid.
Maybe he could be with her, like he so desperately wanted to.
Maybe one night with the Cupid couldn’t hurt.
Much.
“Man up,” Geneva winked then returned her attention to the teenagers now sitting in the grass overlooking a pond.
Lennox’s stare burned into her as she began moving toward the young lovers. He followed behind, watching her ass sway before his shameful gaze.
Geneva strutted effortlessly, giving a little extra sway in her step for Lennox as she advanced through the meadow with the Watcher following close behind.
They reached the young lovers, and Lennox stood feet away while Geneva, no shame, invaded their personal space, initiating her grand inquisition.
“Reanna.” Geneva approached the two, grabbing her hand, pulling Reanna to stand. “Denvar.” She nodded. “Come, sit beside her on the bench.”
The two sat, and Geneva stood before them, chewing on her lip.
“Tell me what draws you to each other. Denvar, why do you want to be with Reanna?”
“We grew up together.” He began, grabbing Reanna’s hand and squeezing. “We were great friends as kids, and I don’t know. Guess I’ve always liked her. We reunited here and clicked. No parents interfering. Nobody telling us we weren’t compatible.” He shrugged.
“Why would someone say that?” Geneva asked.
“Because I’m preparing to be an ambassador for Ama Seldova. My family, they want me to be president of the planet Wreston someday.” He looked over at Reanna. “She’s not Human anymore. And well, her uncle and her family—their ties to Raxu, I guess it’s a conflict of interest now. Damn Human politics.”
“So at first, it was because they’re training you for politics. Now, it’s because she’s not Human?” Geneva asked.
There were seven planets in the Seldova system. Three belonged to Humans, three to Metas, and one was a lone planet, Lorn, the planet in which the Complex was built.
Lennox didn’t know much about the recent history of Human politics, but he briefly remembered earth and how things were back before he and Jenexa left, especially in America.
Jenexa chose to flee earth around 2140 after America was wrecked from its third civil war in a few hundred years.
That world was a disaster.
Humans were more interested in power. Money. Greed. Control.
P-Extinction, the war between Humans and Metas had been brutal for everyone, showing the Human’s true colors, and this Complex experiment was simply a way to get the two factions to learn to coexist without flat out killing each other.
Lennox steered clear of politics, if he could. Mostly because leaders were quick to use him for his omniscience and he wasn’t much for being anyone’s puppet.
Denvar scowled. “My parents have been telling me all my life who to like, be friends with. Who to love. Rea and I have been dating secretly on and off, but after the war, when the Complex was created, my family changed all the rules. Said I’m not allowed to be with her. Or anyone. But I love her, so.”
Geneva cocked her head, then knelt down in front of them.
“Hold hands. Now give them to me.”
She took their hands in hers and closed her eyes.
She remained kneeling there, silent, still for at least five minutes.
Reanna and Denvar stared at her, then looked to Lennox, who shrugged his shoulders.
A moment later, Geneva opened her eyes and rose to her feet, releasing a breath. She turned to Lennox, who saw glimpses of the visions, but nothing solid.
“Bring them to my place.” She sighed. “We need to read them.”
Lennox didn’t bother asking what she saw.
He already knew.
“What’s wrong?” Denvar asked.
“I don’t want to talk about it here,” she said, glancing toward Lennox. “Just—bring them by.”
The two stared toward each other, concerned expressions crossing their faces.
“What is it?” Reanna implored.
“I’m not sure,” Geneva said. “Something’s definitely not right, though.”
“Let’s go.” Lennox gestured toward them.
They all turned and moved back toward the zipper station and boarded the first one to the Forest Dome.
The trip to Geneva’s dragged on far too long for Lennox’s taste.
Geneva was quiet the entire trip, likely contemplating the vision she just had.
“I didn’t get a very clear read on your vision,” Lennox said. What happened?”
“I saw something.” She sighed loudly, exhaling an exhausted breath.
“I know, but it was muddied for me.”
“It’s because I read them without my sword. I’m not sure what I read was right or not, though. So, yeah. I need the sword. It has all the powers stored there.”
“Why didn’t we just wait?” he asked. “Perhaps you’re mistaken.”
“When I use the sword, I reabsorb the pain from whomever I took the gift,” she continued staring out the window. “And if the Meta is near, he or she could get some of it back.”
Lennox remained silent, letting her words sink in. “So—you tried to avoid hurting me.”
Geneva didn’t respond or move her gaze from the window.
Lennox considered Geneva’s attempt at kindness.
She tried to avoid using the sword as not to inflict pain upo
n him.
Why would Geneva care?
Did she care?
The thought threw Lennox for a loop, for sure. It was completely unexpected.
He watched Geneva, trying to read her thoughts, but unable to do so. Perhaps she was preparing to ingest his pain once more.
A knot formed in Lennox’s chest at the idea of inflicting more pain on Geneva. She’d already absorbed it once, and to do this, she must release some of it, then reabsorb it again, experiencing the heartache once more.
Lennox considered his options.
Unfortunately, there were none. No viable options to avoid subjecting either of them to his heartache and still get what they needed from reading the young lovers.
For a brief moment, Lennox considered taking back his pain. Though the memory of the heartache still hung heavy in his chest, it no longer hurt.
He had no regret. No true remorse, just memories of the thought of what happened to Jenexa because he failed to protect her.
Lennox couldn’t deal with it back then, but the thought of subjecting another, an innocent such as Geneva to it now—for the briefest of moments, an ebb of emotion for the Cupid sunk deep into his chest.
Was it empathy? Romantic feelings?
Lennox wasn’t sure what this misunderstood wave of feeling was for the woman who tried endlessly to pretend she didn’t care about anything.
But it was something.
Now after hundreds of years looking on, Lennox saw through the Cupid.
It was Geneva’s way of keeping herself from falling in love with anyone to avoid more heartache—the same way Lennox pushed women away, refusing to sleep with them more than once.
In that moment, Lennox understood he and Geneva weren’t so different after all.
Chapter 6
After a quiet ride to Geneva’s apartment, they arrived in the Forest Dome.
Geneva had been deep in thought at the idea of pulling out her sword.
Sure, she kept the powers she’d taken from Metas over the millennia, but she certainly didn’t enjoy them.
The sword stored their pain and their powers. Kept them safe in case she ever needed them, but she hadn’t absorbed any since P-Extinction was resolved.
She absorbed plenty after all the deaths, but she seldom used them.
After so many years, she wondered why she even still forced deals. Likely, to keep an upper hand in case she ever did need anything in return.
