Torn Between Two Worlds (Guardians Series Book 1)

by Lexi Ostrow

  "Oh come now, you couldn't really think we didn't feel her as she read. Pathetic demon, really, you should've known."

  Stryder kicked out and dropped the human nearest to him. Just because he was pissed. Laughter rang in his ears again. This guy was seriously fucking asking for it, consequences with Ciara be damned. "Go."

  One word and the remaining five minions pulled their weapons. " Ciara, duck." He heard her feet move behind the nearest car in the lot just as a blade whizzed by his head. The poison painted tip reeked and his lip curled in disgust. "You've got to be fucking kidding me. Again with this, human?" He let loose a low growl and surrendered to the power War shared with him as his second.

  The overweight male closest to Ciara went down first. A quick flick of his wrist sent his dagger flying into the male’s stomach. A stride behind him and his hand wrapped around the hilt, twisted and pulled the blade out as the man hit the concrete. But not before a slice of the knife swiped over his left thigh. The poison hit his blood stream and he hissed in pain. A small nick was not enough to slow him. His hands wrapped around the man's head and twisted. The sound of snapping bones filled his ears and he smiled, fangs bared.

  "Ah the sound of death in the afternoon. Music to my ears." His voice was rough from the emergence of War's demonic DNA. "Three down and four to go. Child's play." He had the gun out of his waist band and fired three shots, direct head shots and took down the remaining men that surrounded him. He actually purred at the satisfaction of winning a war, an erection straining against his pants, part of the high that came with satisfaction of a job well done.

  "So you've taken down the pawns. Do not think the Master cares for their well being."

  "Do not think he cares for yours," Stryder sneered and turned as he heard Ciara's breathing next to him. "Damn it, female, I told you to duck." His jaw fell open as he looked at her. She was glowing and with a raised hand she fired a bolt of something at the Initiative officer.

  The look on Jonathan's face was priceless and War's DNA retreated at the sign of a fight won. Grabbing the bloody dagger off the ground he used the distraction to pull Jonathan's head back by his hair, slamming the blade into the guy's throat sending a trickle of blood out as it pressed into the Adam's apple. "Time to pass your boss a message, Johnny Boy. You tell him to back the fuck off. There is no way in hell you're getting out of that book and since you seem to know all about it, you know how it ends. How it will always end, even if I can't do it completely on my own."

  The panic in the air was an aphrodisiac. The scent of a terrified solider, of a war won, always made him high. Problem was Ciara had squeaked, distracted him and the bastard in his arm jerked his neck across the blade slicing himself. Her cry tormented him. This was war, people died how the fuck had her last Guardian handled the shit? "Pussy."

  He dropped the now almost dead weight and was thankful no one could see the carnage and blame Ciara since it was broad daylight. He walked over to her and gently took her face in his hands. When she pulled back he cursed silently. His killing had affected her. Trying to soothe her he gently kissed her forehand and ran his fingers through her hair. "Shh it's ok. It's alright, sweetheart."

  The trembling seemed to go on forever. He would not let her go not now. He needed to remind her that he was not controlled by being a Horseman's second. That is was who he was…not…not some overlying possession of his soul. He rocked her gently in his arms, cursing being outside on the street. She wasn't crying though, just shaking and staring at the blood around them. How exactly were they supposed to get rid of it?

  "I think… I think I need to go upstairs to the apartment." Her voice was quiet, but unwavering. The trembling was slower now, but still present.

  He growled low as she tugged out of his arms.

  "I need to walk." The thought trailed off as she slowly made her to her apartment.

  She locked the door behind him and leaned against it, sliding down the structure as a sob wracked her body. And then it hit him. She had never killed before.

  And there went his post success erection.

  * * *

  Ciara hadn't moved so much as an inch since walking herself up to her apartment. She couldn't shake the sound the man made as her fire sizzled his skin, ate him alive. This was so much different than with Alcott. An unidentifiable voice floated through her mind, 'The greater the hero, the greater the villains'. It was fitting. Stryder was a strong opponent and evil could only get out while she was reading, and she was reading Demarcus's book. Not to mention she didn't understand how she'd known to do that. It had certainly never happened with Alcott when he fought on her behalf. He could do it sure, but never her.

  A shudder traced a path through her body. A tear slipped down her cheek. She could hear Stryder breathing. Could sense him and it sickened her that he saw that. She was the protected, what must he think of her after her outright display of violence? What did she think of her?

  "Stryder, you need-"

  His hands wrapped around her, and his lips crushed into her before she could finish. Heat ignited between them as he pushed his way inside her mouth, tangled her tongue with his before pulling back and cursing.

  "Fuck, I wasn't going to do that. Shit I'm sorry. But I know what you were about to do. You're not sending me away. Not right now, sweetheart."

  She couldn't breathe, her brain was racing and her heart pounding from the tension from their kiss. Again, just like before it was right after an attack. And she didn't give a damn. Again. Her voice was barely above a whisper and she had her eyes squeezed tightly shut so she wouldn't see the judgment in her Guardian's eyes. "Now, Stryder. I want it this time. I want you this time."

  His low growl sent shivers through her body, soaking her panties with desire, with need for him. She'd never felt this with Alcott. How had the sexual bond not formed? She felt his hand gently stroke down her cheek and she couldn't wait. The desire felt like it would burn her from the inside if she didn't give into it. She leaned forward, tried to press her lips to his and he stopped her.

  "Ciara. Not like this. Not unless you can open your eyes and look at me when you say it. I can smell you, I know you physically want it, and Gods be damned I'd be lying in saying I didn't want you. But you're a mess and I'm not taking you like this. Not unless you emotionally want it." His voice was rough, strained and she brushed her hand over his crotch, he wasn't erect, but he was getting there. Strange because he'd been a tent out on the sidewalk.

  Did she really want this? A few weeks, that was all it had been. She had yet to really accept his replacement of Alcott. And Derrick in a way. She squeezed her eyes tighter and shook her head, but she wasn't sure if she shook it yes or no as she battled the private demons in her head. This could just be sex. She could just give in, strengthen that bond the Stryder claimed needed to be there and then never do it again. She couldn't ignore this, but she refused to think about why right now.

  Her hand rubbed a gentle circle, and she felt his cock respond. "So big, so responsive." She almost didn't recognize the lust in her voice. Her hand slid the zipper down and his cock moved through the opening. She wrapped her hand around his length, stroked him from base to head and rubbed her finger into his precum. And then she opened her eyes and stared into his, which were burning with hunger for her and she bet her eyes matched his own. "Yes. I want this. Now."

  His mouth covered hers so quickly she was breathless. His hands moved up and down her back as he fucked her mouth with his. She couldn't remember ever being kissed like this. Pleasure coiled in her stomach and she released his cock and tugged her dress up before leaning against him and rubbing her swollen clit and soaked underwear against his large cock. Her hips bucked as he pushed her off his cock and continued to kiss her hard.

  "Not yet, love, I'm still exploring you here." His mouth came back down on hers and she cried out into his mouth as an orgasm rocked through her body. From just his kiss. When he pulled back, his look was pure animal, pure sex. "And that was just th
e start. Just you wait until I touch you. Until I plunge my cock into you and take you fully, claim you."

  She barely heard him through the pleasure induced fuzz in her head. She was panting and wanted more. Wanted exactly what his harsh words said. "Yes."

  She shuddered as his finger traced a path from her chest to her navel as his hand wound in her hair and his body crowded her backwards. Heat pooled between her legs and she moaned as she rubbed against the erection that was full and hard. His returning growl sent shivers through her and when his mouth came down upon hers, claiming it with his tongue she cried out. Her tongue stroked against his as his hand pushed her dress over her head and his finger pinched her pebbled nipples. Her moan was load and her pleasure building again. She wanted more than his kiss.

  Her exposed back pressed into the wall and a chill from the coolness shot through her, mixing with the rising heat Stryder was evoking in her. His hands tugged on her hair just enough to shoot waves of need through her body. Her hands clenched and she reached out, tugging his shirt. He broke the connection with her long enough to let her tug the front of his shirt over his head and then tugged on his lower lip with her teeth. His answer was to tweak her nipples harder. His erection pressed into her stomach. Her legs came up to wrap around his waist, trapping his cock between their bodies as she moaned and ground against it, daring it to slip inside her. Her inner walls were slick, ready for him and clenching with need.

  His answer in response was to release her. Picking her up, he set walked the few steps to the kitchen and set her down upon the counter and spread her legs. His swift fingers immediately playing across her wet folds. Brushing back and forth over her core her eyes went black from pleasure and she cried his name when a finger slipped inside her, thrusting in and out in a gentle rhythm. Her hips gyrated against his finger even as her body began to vibrate with her need for release.

  A second finger joined the first and her hand wrapped around his shaft, pumping the thick erection in time with his strokes. She cried out when his fingers slipped free of her body, seconds before she was about to shatter. She opened her eyes to look at him and went to grab his head when she felt the scruff of his unshaved face brush against her inner thigh. His tongue rasped across the sensitive flesh of her clit and her thighs squeezed together. His erection slipped from her hands as she was lost in sensation.

  Mewls of need and desire escaped from her throat as he alternated between long licks across her pussy and deep thrusts of his tongue inside her. Her hands were fisting in his hair, tugging him closer, pushing his tongue farther inside.

  "Stryder!" His name a desperate cry on her lips and she felt him laugh, the vibration causing her hips to buck and impale deeper on his wicked tongue.

  She was almost to the point of thrashing about as he licked her, putting more and more pressure behind each stroke of his tongue. She bit down on her lower lip as her orgasm shot through her. Blood trickled down with the assault to stop her shout from being heard by all awake. He continued to lap at her until she was shaking. When he retreated from between her thighs he grinned wickedly at her.

  "Oh no, you don't get to do that to me, to torture me and make me come like that without some of your own, Guardian." Sliding off the counter to sink to her knees on the floor, she heard a chair scrape across the floor as he pushed it back and sat down, the smirk still on his face.

  Her hand cupped his cock at the base and her other hand pumped up the length of it. Once. Twice. Three times. She slowly and gently licked across the bead of cum at his tip. Swirling her tongue under his head and playing with the tender skin she sucked him deep into her mouth. One hand pumping his length near the base and the other massaging his balls. Stroke after stroke, she took him inside her until she could tell by his noises he was coming close. Grinning wickedly, she pulled him out of her mouth with a popping sound.

  "Now, now have some patience. You got to play with me and I'm going to return the favor until it's you screaming my name." Rising up a little, she pressed her arms together, squeezing her breasts together and letting his cock run up the crease and slip between them. She used her own body to move her breasts up and down his cock, letting her tongue flick out and lick the tip each time it came near. She locked her eyes with his and saw the battle he fought, presumably not to flip her over and drive into her, which was almost what she wanted.

  She cried out when Strider's finger pushed its way inside her again in her distraction. She was so wet and ready it took all she had to not come undone when he slipped another in. Placing her arm on his wrist she slid his fingers out of her.

  "Not that I don't approve. But this is my turn and I want you in my mouth, I want you to suck you till you lose control and come." She didn't understand where this person came from. Sex had never been like this with Derrick- she enjoyed it, but she'd never felt the throbbing between her legs or the need to prove how hot she could be.

  Bending over, she ran her tongue down the length of him. His groan had his hands coming to her shoulders and pushing her to her knees. Over and over she slid her tongue up and down him, tracing patterns over him before she sucked one of his balls between her lips and licked him and massaged the other. Going back and forth as her hand pumped over his cock. When she felt moisture seeping from his tip she sucked him deep and released his balls and shaft. She was going to make sure he remembered this, after making her come from his kiss. Rising she grabbed him by the arm and tugged him to the refrigerator. Opening the freezer door she stuck her hand in the ice maker and pulled out a piece. Bringing it to her lips she ran the cool cube over the seam of her lips and let her tongue dart out to lick away the moisture.

  Shoving his chest until he stumbled she reached between them and took his pulsing shaft between her hands. Without a word she claimed his lips with her own and ran the cool cube down the length of him. His hiss into her mouth made her body pulse. She didn't think she would hold up much longer, didn't think he would either. Releasing his mouth she kissed her way down his chest until her mouth was kissing a trail behind the ice cube. His grunts had her picturing his shaft already buried deep inside of her. He must have had the same idea because he had yanked her up to his mouth and was walking them backwards to the table before she could react. Her body was placed across the top of the table and he climbed over, holding his twitching length in his hand. Her body arched off the table as he drew his tip across her entrance.

  She felt the head of him slip inside and cried out, "Oh, Stryder!" Her hips bucked up, wanting to take him deep, needing it. He bent forward and captured her lips with his again before he slammed balls deep into her body.

  She felt the stretch of taking him in and purred. Ciara's legs wrapped around his waist. In and out he stroked, her body clenching and throbbing. Scouring her nails on one hand down his back, she bit his lower lip. He pounded into her and held nothing back. Her body jolted up and off the table as she met every wild thrust of his hips with her own. She could feel herself slipping closer and closer to the edge and she wanted it. Waves of pleasure built within her and rolled close to the breaking point as his cock was all she could feel, all she could concentrate on was the heat of him pounding into her, over and over again.

  Her channel began to squeeze his shaft and his mouth came down upon hers, cutting off the scream that tore through her throat so loudly she thought she would be hoarse. White light slammed across her vision as an orgasm almost as strong as the first he ever gave her slammed through her body, vibrating through her and making her pussy milk his cock as he continued to thrust inside of her. His tongue fought for control inside her mouth as his thrusts sped up. The roughness sending her over the edge again. His own release tore through him as she felt him pulsing inside her. His arms bent a little and his chest, sweaty, and breathing deep pressed against her own.

  "Gods." His eyes glowed as he looked down at her. His hips began to pump again and she thought she might die. "Not enough. My mate, mine to claim."

  She registered the word
s as he lifted her up and carefully walked them into the bedroom and took her again. But she didn't question him. Not now.

  Chapter 12

  His face was a scowl as he fired all ten rounds into the target. “Gods be damned, fucking demon!”

  His face contorted with the rage and he tossed the gun to the chair, grabbing the next one that was loaded and waiting. Emptying it as well he tossed it to the ground. Fighting the demon was enough. But what the fuck was Ciara Miller? Word Speaker supposedly, but then who left out the part about the bitch having magic? His neck had been stitched, but he felt like a stretched rubberband and he cursed again.

  There had been a lot of shit in his life that sent him spiraling to the shooting range. A ton of stupid ass fuck events that set his temper flaring. But nothing did it better than being the reason he got his men killed. Killing an enemy or a useless ally? No big deal. That was the name of the game. But to have strong, loyal soldiers taken down because he'd been mind fucked -he grabbed the assault rifle and unleashed the rain of bullets into the target’s head this time- well that wasn't fucking ok.

  He'd been smug. Why would a demon succeed? They were pathetic creatures predominantly only interested in fornicating and killing. So taking his two best snipers had seemed like a pretty straight forward plan. In fact so straight forward he'd only ordered them to shoot her in the leg, twice. If she was so powerful, he was going to talk to her first. Fuck what Leather Jacket wanted.

  But it hadn't gone that way.

  Reloading the gun he closed his eyes and just squeezed. He didn't really care if he hit the target. It was a piece of paper for crying out loud. No being in here was just about the power. Nothing took an edge off like blowing something to bits and since he couldn't do it to all the demons they captured, he came in here.

  Leather Jacket had set him and his men up to fail. First the fuck had lied that it wasn't just a demon they were up against, but a Horseman's Second. Then he left out the little detail that apparently Ciara wasn't human. He still wouldn't kill her for it, but he sure as hell needed to know what she was. That burst that shot from her was pure flames. Just ask the pile of ash that was his man because the bitch hadn't extinguished it, just let it burn.