by Weil, J. L.
“I’m okay. You got there in time,” I reassured.
“And if I hadn’t it? If I had been another minute, would you still be okay?”
Honestly, I didn’t know, but he didn’t need to hear that. “It doesn’t matter. I hate what-ifs.”
He pushed off the bed and went to his dresser. “How are you feeling?”
I put a hand to my head. “Like I just got choke slammed.”
He snickered. “I’m pretty sure you did.”
I laid my head back and closed my eyes for a moment. “Not funny. How long was I out?”
“At least an hour.” I followed his voice and my mouth watered. He had removed his nasty shirt and stood like a dark temptation in front of me. I almost sighed out loud when he covered his golden chest. “I was starting to wonder if you would regain consciousness tonight.”
“I guess I should be glad I did, but I can’t say the same for my body. God, it’s painful.”
Looking guilt ridden, he walked to the nightstand. “Here, I got you some aspirin and water.” He handed me a glass and two tiny white pills.
“Please tell me these are happy pills.” I swallowed them with a gulp of water. It cooled my burning throat.
The corners of his lip turned up. “They will help that’s for sure.” The mattress springs squeaked under his weight.
After a brief pause I titled my head toward him. “What did he do to me?” I asked, thinking about how I had felt him inside me.
His sigh was crowded with emotions as he clenched his hand. “He stole strands of your life. It gives him strength.” His words were tight.
The strength part gave me concern. “Enough to kill you?”
“Enough to give me a fight,” he replied with a cocky grin.
Did his ego ever not get in the way?
“They steal our life?” I asked, trying to understand the impossible world I found myself living in now.
“Yes,” he confirmed, his eyes quickly turning serious. “The longer they hold you in their soulless gaze, the more it shaves off from the human’s life. Sometimes…they take it all until death,” he said in doom.
Just freaking wonderful.
I swallowed hard. “Did he–”
His metallic eyes filled with anguish meeting mine. “He didn’t take much, not even a year of your life,” he assured me.
“You killed him, didn’t you? With that dagger.” I remembered seeing him ram it into the demon’s chest. Like an avenging dark knight.
“Yeah, he is dead. I sent him back to the underworld,” he said with finality.
There was an underworld. I was relieved, but it felt like I was living in one of my video games, like God of War. “This is crazy. The knife you had kills them?”
He pulled out a small dagger with a red hilt from a leather sheathe. What I didn’t notice before was the engravings on the blade. “It’s the easiest way to kill a lesser-demon, but not the only way.” He twirled it once before putting it back on the nightstand.
Bits and pieces swirled back. “You said something before you… um struck him.”
“Is there nothing you don’t notice? The more I tell you, the more you get sucked into this nightmare. Don’t you see that? It is a nightmare. You don’t really want demons and hellhounds chasing you your whole life.” He ran a frustrated hand through his black hair before sinking back against the headboard beside me. “The mark you are so curious about is a connection to the underworld. It not only brands me a half-breed, but also links me to hell, which enables us to send the hellish beings back.” There was a hardened desperation to his tone. A dire need to make me understand this wasn’t a game.
“Am I really in danger?”
Some of the edge in his voice left. “Yes.” He stared at the wall. “When he took your life-energy, he also got your essence. It is like a signature for them, a way to track you.”
“But he is dead now,” I disputed.
“He is gone yes, but the world is filled with lower-demons. Hell has them positioned everywhere, always watching. Other demons will be able to see that you have been touched by one of their own. It will put a target on you.”
Christ. I am a freaking walking demon life-support bank.
I gulped as difficult as it was. “For how long?”
He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. You probably shouldn’t go home tonight,” he suggested.
I couldn’t agree more. “Probably not. One look at me and my mom would call the SWAT team. I’ll just leave her a message that I am staying with Lexi tonight.”
Chase stepped back into the room after a shower when I got off the phone. He tossed me a t-shirt. “I thought you might want to get out of those clothes.”
I must look like a homeless person. “Thanks,” I muttered and slowly walked to the bathroom. Every muscle screamed at me in protest.
Quickly I changed, washed my face, and ran a brush I had in my purse through my knotted hair. Nerves fluttered in my belly. For the first time I realized that I was about to spend the night with Chase. In Chase’s bed.
The t-shirt he gave me came down to my knees, but that was all that stood between me and him. I never felt so exposed in my life, or so anxious. How was I going to sleep when my stomach was doing jumping jacks just at the thought of lying beside him?
Act cool, I mentally gave myself a pep talk before opening the door.
He was stretched out on his bed in nothing but lounging pants. How I could feel anything after the night I had was beyond my comprehension. Where Chase was concerned there was no reasoning. I stood in the doorway like an idiot just trying to remember to breathe. His eyes zeroed in on me, taking in my bare appearance. I felt naked before him, and my cheeks blossomed pink.
With shaky legs I forced one foot in front of the other until I reached the bed. I wondered briefly if Devin knew I was staying here. My mom would probably have given me a high five. She never reacted like a normal mom should.
Lying on my side, I faced him. My eyes were tired and droopy. “Will I ever not have to thank you for saving my life?” I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulder.
He grinned looking dashingly dark and handsome with his hair still damp. His sinful smell followed from the bathroom, filling his room. “Doubt it.” The teasing spark in his eyes faded. “Maybe the question is will I always be there to save you?”
His words shouldn’t have sent a gazillion tingles through my system. They shouldn’t have made me want to hope. That one word, always, filled me with warmth I couldn’t deny. What would always with Chase be like?
Bliss. And hell.
“You haven’t missed yet,” I reminded him softly.
“And the next time…if I do? I can’t have your life on my conscious.”
“You won’t. You’re like some Billy bad ass Divisa,” I said, totally stroking his already larger than life ego.
He smirked. “I’m not a super hero Angel.”
Pretty damn close as far as I was concerned. “Then what do you propose we do?”
“I just can’t leave your side,” he stated matter-of-factly.
I choked on his words. “Excuse me?”
“What choice do you have?” he asked, playing the devil’s advocate.
Hardy-har.
“I don’t want a shadow.” Especially not one who drove me to distraction, and then turned around and drove me bonkers. My head was bound to explode.
“You want to live, don’t you?” he asked.
I nodded my head in defeat. Duh. I wanted to live.
He lifted his brow mockingly.
Huffing, I guessed it was settled. Chase suddenly became my personal demon body guard.
Oh, goodie gumdrops.
“Try to get some sleep,” he advised, brushing the hair from my forehead. “Goodnight, Angel Eyes.”
Right. Like that was possible.
I laid there listening to the evenness of his breathing, trying not to fidget. No way did I dare glance in his direction. With
my luck he wouldn’t be sleeping. Forcing my eyes closed, I started counting sheep. It never worked for me, but hopefully my wrecked body would be too tired to care. I finally lost count somewhere after seventy-three.
Waking up, my legs felt heavy and my body was humming. There was sunlight creeping through the thin curtain, casting light into the room. Glancing down I figured out why every part of me was alive. I was entangled with Chase. His arm was draped over my hip securing me against him. Where I was naked he was clothed, where he was naked I was clothed. It was distractingly sexy.
My hand laid on his bare chest, itching to touch him more. Listening to his steady heartbeat, I gave in to the bold impulse. Holding my breath, I flexed my fingers, waiting.
I must be insane.
His heart still beat strong. Feeling encouraged, I moved my hand a little lower. Now, I was caught in the delicious feeling of his muscles under my fingertips. Our legs looked like pretzels, knotted together. I had to wonder how we had even managed such a feat in our sleep.
I was lost.
Bravely I traced my fingers lower, following the trail of dark curls edging just at the waistband. Skimming between flesh and material I paused, holding my breath.
The hiss I heard was unmistakable.
My heart skipped.
Peeking from under my lashes, I was bedazzled by a set of silver eyes. There was nothing more mortifying than being caught red-handed feeling someone up. His eyes burned a slow steady torch in places I didn’t even know were possible.
Under my light fingertips his eyes darkened and his skin jumped. There was no doubt, I was playing with fire. He had warned me before. Right now I would risk being burned to death just to be kissed by him. This time, I didn’t want any games or warnings. Just him.
Slowly he reached up and fisted a handful of my wild, tangled hair. This wasn’t going to be sweet or innocent. It was past that point and had toppled straight into desperate need, madness, and recklessness.
“Angel,” was all he said as he lowered his head. Just my name on those edible lips, and my chest burst in a million shock waves.
His mouth covered mine, tumbling me into a surge of desire. I arched against him, offering, challenging. Greedily I took his mouth with mine, reeling on the taste of both heaven and hell. He was an intoxicating mix of both.
Inevitable.
We both knew we would end up here eventually.
The blanket barely covering us was quickly tossed on the ground. Encircling my arms around his neck, I crushed my lips to his, and threw caution to the wind. Who wouldn’t when your body was singing like angels?
“You smell like peaches,” he murmured over my tingling skin. “And taste like wild berries.” His mouth moved everywhere, hitting pleasure points all over my neck, shoulder, jaw, throat, and back to my waiting mouth.
I couldn’t have said anything if I had wanted to, I was convinced this was the best dream of my life.
Exciting.
Exotic.
Erotic.
God yes. That about covered it.
I let a little gasp of pleasure as he changed angles, deepening the kiss, our tongues dancing. His mouth was possessive, branding me with his scent, his taste, and my toes curled like in the movies.
Expertly his hand moved up my smooth leg, passing over my hip and into uncharted territories. My skin felt like satin under his fingers. I swayed. It seemed foolish, but he made me dizzy. Every touch and feeling was seared into my memory.
It was a good thing I was already lying down.
In the distance, there was an annoying buzzing that just wouldn’t quit. It wasn’t until Chase pulled reluctantly away that I realized it was his alarm. His topaz eyes stared down at my lips, swollen from his kisses. My shirt was bunched up exposing my bare mid-riff, and his fists clenched against my sides.
Heavily my chest rose and fell as I tried to still my racing heart. Clamping his eyes closed, I laid in a trance, wondering if being compelled felt like this.
When he opened his eyes again, I’d expected to see crystal clear grey, yet they were blistering gold instead, and my pulse skipped. He slammed his fist over the alarm clock, shattering it to bits. Someone hadn’t been able to get under control.
A dark part of me was thrilled that he had been so consumed by what happened between us that he had been unable to control the demon inside him.
Twisted.
Without saying a word, he stalked from the room in long angry strides. The front door crashed shut, and I closed my eyes smiling. I should have been pissed off that he left me like that, but I wasn’t.
Chapter 21
I sat on the couch with Travis playing co-op MW3 on his Xbox live.
“You totally kick ass for a girl,” Travis said, flashing his dimples.
Lexi rolled her eyes as she filed her already perfectly manicured fingernails. I think they were on babysit-the-fragile-human duty while Chase did God knows what. He was so infuriating.
Why couldn’t Travis be my shadow? At least he was pleasant and could survive a round of search and destroy, though he always had a trace of sadness underneath his free-spirited charm. It made me wonder if he missed Emma. He must have really cared for her. Lexi said he had gone berserk when she disappeared.
“Dammit,” he swore. “Your kill-death ratio is better than mine, again.”
“What can I say? You’re a newb.”
“I can’t believe a girl finally moves in next door, and she has more in common with my brother,” Lexi pouted.
She was bored out of her mind, and I was starting to feel guilty.
“I’m hungry,” she announced, putting away her nail file. “You guys want something to eat?”
Travis and I both nodded our heads in unison, eyes glued to the TV.
“Good. I’ll do a food run,” she offered.
“Why don’t we just make something?” I suggested, thinking it would give her something to do.
Travis laughed his ass off, rolling on the couch, and Lexi looked offended. She sauntered out of the house, leaving Travis in his laughing fit.
“Oh my God, I haven’t laughed that hard in forever,” Travis said with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen. It was the kind of grin ladies swoon over. I really wasn’t the swooning type.
“Um, glad I could be of service,” I replied, still unsure why that had been so funny.
“I needed that,” he stated, those adorable dimples winking.
I couldn’t help but think all his laughter had perished when Emma went missing. “You still miss her,” I commented, realizing this was probably none of my business.
His grin only fluctuated a tad. I gave him credit for the good face he put on. “Every day.”
Those two words split my heart. “Did you help search for her?” I asked, the game forgotten. Crossing my legs, I waited for him to answer.
He shook his pretty boy head. “Not with the official investigation. Her parents wouldn’t let me. They never approved of our relationship and forbid her from seeing me,” he revealed. The hurt of their rejection was evident in his tone. “They didn’t think I was good enough for their daughter. Her dad was like military strict. We spent more time devising ways to see each other. It was the only time I ever looked forward to going to school.” There was wistful quality to his voice.
“You haven’t given up hope.” I could hear it in his voice. He didn’t believe like Chase did, that she was dead.
“No. Never.” The determination in his startling turquoise eyes was so astonishing that I even believed him.
I put my hand on his. “If you ever need any help, I’m here,” I offered sincerely. He was a good guy and deserved more in his life than sadness, lost love, and isolation.
“Thanks.” The corners of his mouth turned up. “I still don’t get what the hell you see in Chase,” he said devilishly.
I don’t know why I found that so funny, but I did. Of course Chase chose that moment to walk in, as I was laughing, my head on Travis’s shoulder,
and him grinning down at me.
“Speak of the devil,” Travis said.
My laughter peeled into hysterics all over again. I clutched my stomach in pain, water stung my eyes. Looking over at Chase, my amusement froze. When he left this morning, I was sort of under the impression that he needed space to quiet his demon, but by the looks of it, it hadn’t worked. His eyes shimmered gold.
Travis tugged on a loose strand of my hair, and I swear I heard Chase growl. Before I knew it the two of them were on the family room floor in a wrestle match. The coffee table was upturned, and I lifted my feet off the floor just in the nick of time.
Boys.
I would never understand what the hell goes on in their pea size brains. Did they not do enough fighting against the hunters, the hellhounds, and all the other scary shit that was out to kill them? They had to fight amongst themselves.
I never had any siblings, so this was a whole new ball game for me. Did I just let them pulverized each other?
Lexi came back with the food just in time to see Travis slammed up against the wall, knocking down a picture. She stood next to me. “Should I assume this is about you?” she asked. I think she enjoyed watching me squirm.
“Are you going to do something before they kill each other?” I was panicking.
“And break a nail? Hell no.”
“You were supposed to keep her safe, not seduce her,” Chase yelled, sucker punching Travis in the stomach.
Lexi lifted a brow.
Travis snickered, so not helping the situation. I swear they were enjoying themselves.
Who said anything about seducing anyway? I was done worrying about their foolishness.
Lexi handed me a slice of pizza. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. Did you hear that my dad asked your mom on a date?” she casually informed me in delight.
“What?” I screeched.
This day just kept getting better.
Food forgotten, I headed for the door.
“Angel,” Chase and Travis called in unison.
Funny how they noticed my departure, but not when I had yelled at them to quit beating on the other.
“Kiss ass,” I retorted and left. As I walked out, I heard Travis chuckle and Chase grumble.
