There is no this. Please stay out of my mind. I’m tired. I’m not playing this game.
He moved towards me and sexily whispered, close enough to my ear that it tickled, sending luscious sensations down my body, “This isn’t a game, my sweet honey.” His tone held determination and a promise of things to come that still sent a warm sensation through me, even though I was sore and tired.
He pulled away from me. His innocent look slid back into place, “I know you have some questions. What do you want to know?”
I spoke in a voice that wasn’t quite a steady as I hoped as I looked into his fiery cognac eyes. They seemed to house flames, as he looked at me, “Um, how did you, um, do that tea thing?”
“I guess I should tell you a little about me. Then perhaps you’ll share a few things with me,” the innuendo was there again. He gave me that confident, sexy look that made me want to override all my good girl intentions. Well, at least for a moment, until I realized it was wild, over-experienced Alexander, as dangerous to my libido as Victor.
I was warming up and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the chilly room as I looked at his firm body in the places where the sweats snuggly hugged his form.
He smiled at me and continued as if he’d meant nothing by his remark. “I’m a sun seraph. I have golden wings and can fly, which I’m sure you knew.” He took a break, as he slid another of the Oreo cookies, he’d found in the food closet, into his mouth. He offered me one of the golden goodies, but I found I rather enjoyed watching him devour them. I think I’d discovered one of his favorite foods, Golden Oreo cookies.
“You love Oreos don’t you?”
“Only the golden ones, I’m sorry. I do love the darn things. If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll finish the rest of these and get on with my story. Are you sure you don’t want any before I eat the rest of them?”
“No, thanks.”
I watched him munch down on the remainder of the package of cookies, getting tickled at the way he ate them. Alexander seemed to relish each bite of the golden sweets. When he finished, his tongue snaked out from his mouth to devour the last crumbs from around his lips. His slow, deliberate action sent my blood pressure skyrocketing and my libido into overdrive as I watched each delicious stroke of his tongue. I decided that of all the guys, he was the most sensual. It was as if he had been made to entice a woman with his every movement and unconscious gesture. I’d probably never look at eating Oreos the same way again.
“Sorry about that, but they don’t have Golden Oreos on the sun. They’re so good.” He looked at me with the dancing flames appearing in his eyes, “those are my other weakness.” I wasn’t about to ask what his first weakness was. I wasn’t sure I was ready for the answer as he looked at me as if he was ready to devour me as he had the cookies.
I felt out of my league and inexperienced with Alexander, just as I did with Victor. Even though Alexander acted seventeen at times, he was so alluring. He seemed skilled at seduction and I knew so little about how to act about men. They were so confusing, playful boys one moment and skilled seductive men, the next. How could a woman ever understand them?
He grinned at me as if he knew what affect he had on me. “I should continue now, I guess. I was a created sun seraph, a race of powerful, warrior angels. We were to help the archangels during the Sun Wars.”
“What are the Sun Wars?”
“After the Dark Angels rebelled and tried to take over Heaven, they were banished. That’s when the Sun Wars began. They decided if they couldn’t rule Heaven than they would capture the Sun and rule it. Dark Hearts even got involved with them. It was a crazy, bloody series of battles. As I’m sure you know, the sun is vital to the survival of the other planets in your universe. We were eventually victorious. I was one of the ones chosen to remain behind on the Sun to protect it. We expect Satan to regroup his forces one day and make another attempt on the Sun, which would make it easy for him to destroy many civilizations at once.”
“We cannot let them capture it for it not only is the center of your universe, but that of many others’. I was there for over eight hundred years. I was finally replaced by another sun seraph and allowed to help protect a planet of my choosing. I chose earth, because I found humans to be most interesting and complicated creatures.” Just like you, honey, I know you want me, but you resist what your body craves. I will be triumphant as will my love for you. We shall both finally triumph, when our naked bodies entwine after I have satisfied your every desire.
I ignored the thought he projected into my mind and reestablished the hold on my barriers, as a bead of perspiration caused by his words trickled down my cheek. If he noticed it or my trembling, he didn’t comment about either.
I tried to get back to our conversation, but I knew my voice was unsteady as I huskily whispered, “So you have been on earth for one-hundred years, but you are around nine hundred years old?”
“Give or take a few years, yes. I’ve been here for around one hundred years.”
“You don’t look a day over seventeen, how is that possible?”
“I was created as an immortal being at an age when an angel’s body is the strongest, which is seventeen or eighteen. I don’t always think like an adult, like with the snowballs earlier. I’m one of the strongest warriors alive, but I don’t always feel that way. Sometimes, I just want to have some fun like the teenager that sometimes dwells in my heart.”
“I think I can relate. You’re a man, but you’re not a man.”
He grinned at me and took my hand in his. Then he began rubbing his thumb inside my palm. It felt wonderful, but was very distracting. He looked at me in a most disconcerting way as his eyes bore into mine when he spoke. “I appreciate your understanding, but I always feel like a man around you.”
“Can we continue please?”
“Of course, I make you nervous, don’t I?”
“Truthfully, you all do.” I hung my head as I spoke until he gently raised my chin to look into my eyes with his flaming cognac ones. His eyes were intense as he looked at me. I knew he was going to kiss me.
He lowered his head and our lips gently met. It was the last thing I expected from the angel that had a preoccupation with sex and could cuss like a sailor. He was far from your typical angel. When I’d said as much during one of our conversations, he replied he was not that kind of angel. He was a warrior and “aw shucks” was not in his damn vocabulary.
The kiss itself was special with its unexpected tenderness. It didn’t last long, but the taste of Alexander combined with the golden cookies lingered, creating a most pleasant flavor. We talked a while longer, which gave me a much better understanding of my man-boy angel. I answered a few of his questions about my life, too. We were both concerned about the others, but didn’t discuss it too much, since there was little we could do, but voice our concerns.
I couldn’t quite stifle a yawn, which he saw.
“Maybe we should try to get some rest. Go ahead and take the bed. I can sleep on the couch. Let me check out the cameras again. Do you need anything else, honey?”
“No, but I can take the couch. It’s going to be a little short for you.”
“No worries, I’ll be back in no time to tuck you in.”
He left. I heard the sound of crinkling paper and guessed he must have located another snack to eat. Victor would need to replenish his supply of Oreos and snacks if we remained here much longer. I wondered how Alexander stayed so buff with all the fattening snacks he ate.
I fell asleep to the sounds of the wind coming through the monitors. Apparently, the place was wired for sound, too. It still sounded bad I thought as I snuggled deeper into the blankets Alexander had brought me.
It seemed like I had just gotten to sleep when he was waking me. “You have to wake up, honey. I’m sorry. We have to leave right now. Dark Hearts has infiltrated the cave system and they’re heading this way.”
“What…”
“No time, I’ll explain later
. We have to go, now.”
He helped me put my shoes back on and two extra sweatshirts. He put another one on, too, although from what I’d seen I doubted he’d need them. He seemed to have a higher body temperature than I did and showed no signs of the chill in the room. I tied a pair of sweatpants around my head at his instruction and we were out of there. He closed the crypt that hid the stairs behind us in the hope that perhaps Dark Hearts wouldn’t find the hiding place.
The mausoleum was dotted with patches of snow from the brutal wind outside. I had no idea where we were going we had no boots or coats. It was freezing cold and still snowing. Alexander went outside first and then motioned for me to follow him. I held tight to his hand as he led me a little ways from the shelter of the mausoleum. I wondered if we’d freeze to death before we reached safety. We’d only walked a short distance and my feet were already numb from the cold.
Walking was difficult, too, with drifts everywhere. We got a short distance from the mausoleum and Alexander whispered into my mind, We won’t make it like this. I need you to trust me. I’ll get us to safety.
Before I had a chance to answer him he pushed me behind a particularly large, old tombstone and covered me with his body. It was then that I heard the whistling sound I missed before, bullets were whizzing by us. A shot hit the top of the tombstone raining crushed rock and stone over us. I was terrified. I could feel the tears starting to form in my eyes. I wondered if we’d die this night or if we were truly immortal now.
It was impossible to talk aloud with the howling winds surrounding us. Alexander spoke silently into my mind, We must crawl behind that large mausoleum over there. I’m going to get us out of here, honey. Stay with me, I’ll be right behind you and soon you’ll be warm.
It was torture crawling through the cold snow, which was packed into uneven, hard patches from the unrelenting wind. I used my elbows as Alexander had instructed trying to protect my gloveless hands. I kept my head down and prayed as the wind howled and the bullets peppered the ground around us. I could hardly see and only hoped that the Dark Hearts agents were having the same problem. A particularly rough burst of wind that blinded me, had Alexander pulling me to my feet. His wings materialized from nowhere as he pulled me up into his arms. We were airborne before I realized we’d left the ground.
Emma, snuggle into me and my body temperature will warm you. I didn’t want to scare you before, but my blood runs quite warm. I’ll explain another time.
No need, I’m glad for it. I’m freezing. We stopped the communication for fear of discovery as Alexander’s large golden wings began to flap more vigorously attempting to keep us flying.
Our visibility, as well as the agents on the ground seemed to be increasing with the diminishing wind. This caused bullets to whiz by, barely missing us. I was thankful that the wind still seemed to be hindering their aim. We flew a little while when I felt something warm running down my face and onto my sweatshirt. Hell, Alexander had been hit.
We have to stop. You’ve been hit, Alex. I reverted back to his nickname in my terror and muddled thoughts. The wind howled around us, again, as he struggled against it to keep us airborne. I couldn’t see him for he’d tucked me against his body as he flew, but his blood now flowed freely from an opened wound. It looked as if it was a shoulder wound, the way the blood was running down his arm warming both my face and midsection.
I knew we’d have to stop soon as he was struggling to maintain altitude. The treetops were getting closer and closer. The wind seemed to pelt us from all sides, now. Suddenly, we were going down. Alexander held me tight against him as he fought to keep us from hitting a tree. It looked like we were landing in a forest of some kind.
I had no idea where we were heading, but it wasn’t going to be a smooth landing. That was the last thought I had before we slapped against a large branch. He had protected me against the hit, taking it fully against his already-wounded shoulder.
When I woke up, I was atop an unconscious Alexander. I was freezing cold, but not as cold as I’d expected to be under the circumstances. I moved a little and realized that he was still warm. He’d survived the fall. He’d somehow kept me from freezing to death in the terrible storm, too, as I rested against his warm body still held by his now unmoving arms. I rose up from him to look around a bit.
We were in what appeared to be a thick forest of trees, which would likely keep us hidden from the Dark Hearts operatives. I knew I had to find help for Alexander or he’d die, if immortals could die. Thankfully, the storm was over and the sun was peeking through the trees. It was far from warm, but we’d survived far worse last night.
At least that is what I thought until I looked at him lying on the ground. He was covered in scratches and cuts. His shoulder wound had stopped bleeding, but it looked bad, judging by the amount of blood that covered him and was undoubtedly soaking my sweatshirts. I carefully pushed up and rolled off him onto the hard, frozen ground. I had to do something or he would die. My movement off him hadn’t even brought him to consciousness.
Fortunately, the thick cover of the pine and evergreen trees had kept out most of the snow so I’d at least be able to get out of the woods. I knew I had to get help or he would die. I tried to revive him. I even spoke into his mind and still there was no response. He just laid there. The tears fell from my eyes. I was terrified of losing him, but I wasn’t going to be another victim of Dark Hearts. If I could help it, neither would he.
I untied the sweatpants from around my head and covered his wound the best I could. I couldn’t remove too many clothes if I was going to be able to find help. I tried to contact the guys telepathically, but there was no response. I knew I had to be strong for both of us. He’d saved me and now I must save him.
I found some pine branches that hadn’t survived the storm. I covered Alexander the best I could, hoping the pine needles would insulate him against the still cool weather. I was thankful that he was still warm and hoped that was a good sign. I didn’t think he’d have gotten a fever that fast from his open wound. I knew his blood was warmer than mine was which was good in this instance. I kissed his beautiful, warm cheek before I left. Even though I knew he couldn’t her me, I told him I’d bring help. I asked him to hold on for me, and for us. I even told him I loved him, which I hadn’t actually told any of them. It was true. I knew that I loved the man that had saved me last night, as well as the boy that had thrown snowballs at me.
Chapter Fifteen
I hadn’t gotten very far when I heard the footfalls against the forest floor. It wasn’t exactly footfalls, but it was the sound of several creatures trying to walk without making much noise. I was already getting cold again now that I wasn’t lying against Alexander’s warm body, but I was encouraged as the hushed voices were getting closer. I thought they were probably hunters stalking some poor deer. I didn’t want to startle them and possibly get shot. I waited until I could see them and then shouted at them.
“Please help us. My friend is hurt.”
Only when they got closer did I realize my error. Thank goodness that I hadn’t told them where Alexander was lying. These were not hunters. The malevolent looks they were casting my way, told me they were members of the Dark Hearts taskforce looking for me.
They weren’t even human. The oversized creatures were like nothing I’d ever seen. My worst nightmares hadn’t prepared me for the ugly, bald, toothless beings that dripped black goop from their mouths.
I attempted to run, but didn’t get far as one of the big brutes tackled me. I fought as much as I could, but it’s hard to fight when you’re grounded. I was lying on the ground with the breath knocked out of me, partially covered, by one of the big, smelly creatures. He smelled like sulfur and it was all I could do not to hurl with him being so close to me.
If I could just keep them away from Alexander’s unconscious body, maybe someone would find him before it was too late.
I got my breath back more quickly than I expected, and began trying to kick out
to force the creature off my legs. I was so desperate to save Alexander that all fear and any common sense I had, left me. There was no way I’d get someone off my legs, which weighed probably two-hundred and fifty pounds and was over six feet tall. He finally had enough of my flailing arms, kicking, screaming and commotion. The bald ogre backhanded me, hard, across the cheek grazing my mouth.
So fierce was the slap that I saw white light and thought I might faint. The coppery taste of blood trickled into my mouth from my lip that was surely split, but I’d gotten my knee into his groin before he smacked me. I hoped he hurt as much as I did, but doubted it.
I cringed as another big creature at least seven feet tall grabbed my arm and pulled me roughly from the ground, straining my legs as the bald monster rolled off me, clutching his junk. I was lucky the second monster hadn’t dislocated my arm. I rubbed it. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much it hurt. His toothless, black grin was enough to silence anything I was feeling as terror filled me and black goop dripped on the forest floor staining the snow.
I’d only seen violence like this in the movies. The foul-smelling creatures surrounded me. As I struggled to stay standing, the second ogre pushed me against a tree, which might have been a good thing if he hadn’t slammed my back into it so hard. At least I had something to lean against, which I needed since I was hurting all over and could barely stand. I also wasn’t standing next to one of the smelly bastards anymore.
They started talking and then one of them hollered something in a language I couldn’t understand, which was mixed with some English. Unfortunately, the part I understood mortified me. “Look what the fuck I found over here.” He hollered in his eerie sounding voice that reminded me of a robot.
I peeked around the tree as the rest of them left me standing there to go investigate. I knew they’d found Alexander. My fighting had done nothing, but left me almost too weak to stand even while grasping the tree.
Dark Secrets (Dark Hearts Book 2) Page 17
