As he felt himself soften inside of her, he rested his head on her shoulder, not wanting to sacrifice the heat their bodies accumulated through the duration of their physical activity. He loved her with every inch of his being, and he loved showing her. He loved that she found him irresistible, and would show him. Never had he been so addicted to making love to one person before.
“I know you have to leave soon,” Andie said, breaking the comfortable silence. She was rather fond of listening to Jack breathe, actually; it told her that he was alive, that he was safe, at least for now. And for whatever reason, his heartbeat made her feel safer than ever before. “But,” she continued, “you had better get back soon so I can make love to you again.” She kissed his sharp cheek. “And again…” She tilted her head and kissed his pulse, which was trying to get control of its self. “And again.”
Jack chuckled against her, the vibrations going through the both of them. “I promise,” he told her, looking up to her and kissing her jaw. “God, I needed that more than you could possibly know.”
Andie grinned, wrapping her arms around him and holding him close. “Trust me,” she murmured in his hair. “I know.”
Before either of them could say anything more, the doorbell rang.
Andie frowned. “Who’s that?” she asked.
Jack shrugged. “Hell if I know.”
2
Reese watched the arrow fly from her bow to the bullseye, a good few yards in front of her. She had been in the basement of Bacchus’s Brewery for a couple of hours at least, shooting her arrows and hitting her targets. Then she’d collect the arrows and repeat the cycle. Her grey eyes were still crisp and narrowed, her stance still firm and unwavering. Her focus had improved in the past few months, her determination to carry out her role as Seer–whatever that meant–just as pressing. She was an unrecognizable Reese, to be quite honest, but she was stronger.
Ever since her family died–were killed, more specifically, by some bitch named Daphne who thought Ollo was in love with Reese–her priorities had shifted. No longer did she need to be on the varsity soccer team. No longer was she a social butterfly. She went to school, did her homework, and maintained her good grades. But once the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, she hopped in her Mercedes Benz and drove back to the dingy one bedroom apartment she shared with Ollo, headed down to the basement, and practiced her archery.
It was a joke, really. The old Reese would have snorted in disbelief. She had buckets and buckets of money–she inherited everything, after all–and she continued to stay in an apartment in downtown Onyx with Apollo. The god. The man she was in love with.
He was safe andwas all she had, now. He was her everything and she couldn’t even do anything about it.
She had told him her feelings, of course. She had said she was in love with him, but that didn’t mean it was the right time to pursue it. She was his Seer, she was the Savior, and with Noir sacrificing himself for Keirah and being sent to Purgatory, a war had started. Crime was more prevalent than ever before: kids were going missing, girls and women were being harassed and raped, and boys and men were being assaulted and murdered; and Reese had no idea how to stop it. Not even Black Wing, Onyx’s own vigilante slash guardian angel, could keep everything in check the way he normally was able to. People were losing faith in him, they were losing faith in themselves and their city, and, to some degree, their God. Which meant Satan was getting exactly what he wanted.
He was winning the war.
And here she was, shooting arrows at stagnant paper targets, waiting to do something, but not quite sure what that was.
Some Savior she was.
“Don’t you think it’s time to call it a night, darl?”
That voice.
She hadn’t even heard him descend the staircase, she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts. He caught her off-guard, as he usually did, and just looking at him caused her heart to falter.
It was clear why she stopped and stared at him. Standing at six feet two and a half inches with broad shoulders and muscles as big as her face, Ollo was every inch a god and more. He had shoulder-length, dark blond hair left loose today, and his eyes were a weird combination of mud-brown and crystal-blue that had this boyish twinkle that permanently resided in the multi-colored irises. When he smiled, his dimple popped, just adding to his charm, and he had scruff that littered the lower half of his face. He was wearing a simple blue long-sleeved shirt–the jerk probably knew what it did for his eyes–and faded jeans that fit him just right.
“I don’t have any plans,” she forced herself to say with a hint of attitude. He already knew how she felt about him; there was no point feeding his astronomically large ego any further by being obvious with her stare. “Might as well perfect my shot.”
“I’m not sure how you mean to improve perfection.”
She hated when he flattered her with that accent – a mixture of Scottish and Australian brogues that was smooth like chocolate caramel. Especially when his lips curled into a smirk as he spoke.
“So you’re saying you’re going to take me out?” Reese asked, raising her brow. His smirk deepened and she realized what her innocent words implied. “To investigate, obviously. How am I supposed to be a Savior if I don’t even know what or who to save?”
“I don’t think you’re ready yet,” he told her once he reached the last stair. He even had the audacity to shrug those incredibly broad shoulders of his.
“That’s what you’ve said every single night since this war has started,” she told him with start. “And yet you never do anything to get me ready except show up and make your smartass comments.”
“Maybe if you actually listened to what I’m saying, you’ll realize my words actually have merit, darl.” He smiled that stupid smile and she physically scoffed at the sight of it.
“I’m serious, darl,” he said, and for once, he actually did sound it. No more sparkle. No more smile. “You can’t just go out and expect to hit your targets. These are moving things, and most are adept to dodging attacks by manmade weapons. And all want to either see you dead or to convince you–and by convince, I mean have sex with you–to go to their side. You really think I’m just going to let you out there by yourself?”
It took everything in Reese not to stomp her foot. What was it about Ollo that made her feel like such a woman and a child at the same time?
“How am I supposed to actually learn if you keep me in here like I’m some kind of caged animal, Ollo?” She took a step forward, and then another. “You’re the one who woke me. You’re the one who awakened my powers. You’re the one who trained me, who took me camping so I could experience the elements, who made me train with Daphne.” He flinched at the sound of her name and she couldn’t help but feel vindicated in her frustration, no matter how temporarily. “And now, when the moment of truth is here, the war has begun, my sole purpose for being in Onyx in the first place, you’re going to prevent me from doing what I’m supposed to be doing. You’re going to try and shield me from my fate?”
“Might I make a suggestion?”
Reese crossed her arms over her chest when she heard the familiar Scottish accent. She should have known Henry–as he was known on Earth; Charon to spiritual entities–was lingering about. Ever since the war started, he had been around more, whether it was at the apartment or watching her train. Technically, he was supposed to remain neutral; his only task in the spirit world consisted of ferrying souls to their proper resting place. Somehow, Henry had taken the simple job and made it work to his advantage, to the point where he was one of the most powerful and feared players on the game board. It didn’t matter that he was no more than five feet seven, wore skinny ties to high school, and had a slight build. Everyone knew better than to even look at him the wrong way. Nobody messed with Henry, not the angels, and not the demons.
“I don’t think we could stop you even if we wanted to,” Reese replied with more attitude than she anticipated.
/> “You won’t want to, dearie,” he said as he emerged from the shadows and joined Ollo at the bottom of the staircase. “My suggestion will actually benefit you.”
This caused Reese to pause. “Oh?” she asked, clearly interested.
“No, oh.” Ollo turned his murky eyes over to the ferry. “No, oh. Henry.” His tone held a warning.
No one warned Henry.
But for some reason, Henry let Ollo get away with it. Being a god certainly had its perks.
“Despite your intentions, Reese is right.” The way he said her name still sent shivers down her spine. “She needs to be out there. She needs to start doing what she was awakened to do. However,” he turned his brown eyes on Reese, serious “I do agree that you should not go at it alone. You don’t have the experience, and if you were to die, you would be a waste.” Now, he looked between the two, a small smirk starting to form on his thin lips due to the effect the anticipation was having on him. “My suggestion is she go out and do what needs to be done with a partner.”
Ollo raised his brow, skeptical. “And who might that be?” he asked.
Henry’s smirk only deepened. “Black Wing.”
3
Keirah knew exactly where Jack Phillip lived, and was able to maneuver around his state-of-the-art security system thanks to her time with Noir. She walked up to the dimly lit walkway and once she reached the front doors, knocked proudly on the surface. She paused for a moment, wondering if they would even hear her, before deciding to ring the doorbell, twice for good measure.
If she hadn’t come here with a purpose, she might have taken a step back to admire the two-story modern mansion. Every other window on the second story had its own balcony, and she could make out at least three chimneys on the roof in the black night, which meant multiple fireplaces. However, her eyes remained fixed on the dark brown doors in front of her, neither fascinated or impressed that she was standing on what had once been referred to by the Onyx media as Phillip’s infamous bachelor pad, waiting for them to open.
Surprisingly enough, it didn’t take long for her knocks to be answered, but even more shocking was the fact that Andie herself answered the door. Not a butler. And she was wearing a silk forest green robe trimmed with cream-colored lace that reached mid-thigh, tied together loosely with a matching belt. Her strawberry blonde hair was in complete disarray and her feet were bare. When she registered just who was on the other side of the door, her eyes narrowed and her mouth dropped open.
Keirah smirked. “Did I come at a bad time, dear sister?” she asked.
It was obvious what Andie had been doing before Keirah made her unexpected appearance, and considering all that Keirah had been up to for the past eight months, it shouldn’t have come as any surprise. However, it still caught Keirah off-guard that it wasn’t only she who had changed. Though the sisters were only separated by sixteen months, Keirah always viewed Andie as her baby sister. It was somewhat disconcerting to see Andie appear so… adult.
“Who is it, And?” a voice asked, and Keirah shifted her eyes away from her sister and into the actual house until they rested on a very shirtless Jack Phillip walking down his grand staircase. Even Keirah had to admit that the man before her was a specimen, with short, chestnut brown hair that usually fell in his face but currently sporting a military style cut, and jade green eyes. hHe was the epitome of attractive and alluring all rolled into one. It definitely didn’t help that he had broad shoulders and muscles the size of boulders. He was generally hairless on his chest up until his bellybutton, where a slender patch of hair trailed from his bellybutton down to his blue and white striped pajama bottoms.
Well, now.
She didn’t think it was appropriate for her to stare so openly at her sister’s boyfriend. She knew she wouldn’t want Andie ogling Noir.
As such, she cleared her throat and turned her attention back to her sister. Andie’s pale green eyes now resembled emeralds, and Keirah knew that if looks could kill, she would probably be dead. What Keirah didn’t understand was where this animosity was coming from. Surely Andie didn’t know what she had really been up to in the past months… did she?
“How dare you show up here?” Andie all but spat. “How dare you show your face here when I want absolutely nothing to do with you? Do you really think I’m stupid? You’re my sister, Key. I don’t care how slutty you dress yourself, I can recognize you.”
Well, that answered Keirah’s question.
So Andie knew she was Bombshell. Huh. She would just have to change tactics, then.
Before Andie could say anymore–and Keirah was positive Andie wanted to say more, judging by the way her mouth was open and her nose was scrunched–Jack put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. From there, Keirah witnessed what she considered nothing short of a miracle: Andie tensed, pressed her lips together, then relaxed.
Jack Phillip had calmed her sister down.
“I’m sure Keirah has a reasonable explanation for why she’s here,” Jack said in his usual, soft-spoken voice. He turned those jade green eyes towards Keirah, and for a moment, she was struck. Not because they were captivating, even though they were, but because there was this niggling feeling in the back of her mind that she had seen them before. Not in the magazines or newspapers, but in real life. She physically shook her head to rid herself of the thought. That was impossible; she had never met Jack Phillip before. “Why don’t you come inside? We can make you some coffee or tea, though I’m sure Andie’s going to make herself some hot chocolate, if you’d prefer that.”
“Tea is fine,” Keirah said, not bothering to hide the wariness in her tone. She hadn’t expected Jack Phillip to be so… warm and welcoming.
She followed the couple into the brightly lit mansion–the utility bill must be astronomical, though it wasn’t like it mattered–and down a spacious tiled hallway. There were no pictures on the plain, white walls, and Keirah idly wondered if that might change with Andie now in Jack’s life. They emerged into a dining room and kitchen, separated by a marble bar with high wooden stools, much like Keirah’s own home. Judging by the newspapers and magazines that littered the surface and the thin layers of dust that covered the ivory dining table, the couple ate primarily at the bar,when they weren’t eating out, of course.
“Before we get into what you want, I want to know what’s been going on with you these past months, Key,” Andie said. She used Keirah’s nickname again; that had to be a good sign. “And I want the truth. You disappeared, Keirah.” She took a seat on the stool placed on the opposite side of the bar so she could look directly at her sister. “And I have a feeling a lot of it was your choosing.”
Keirah opened her mouth to refute the claim, but stopped short. Andie would know she was lying, and to be honest, she didn’t want to hold her story in any longer.
Jack stood next to Andie’s side rather than sit down, looking at Keirah with an unwavering gaze,not judgmental, but unflinching. His hands rested loosely in his pockets.
Keirah told them everything. She didn’t leave anything out. By the time she was finished, she was out of breath but much lighter than when she had first walked in the manor.
Neither Andie nor Jack said anything for the longest time. Keirah wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The longer she waited, the more her nervousness started to take hold of her. Her fingers twitched. If Noir had been here, he would have snapped at her with his golden eyes rather than using words for revealing her weakness.
An unreadable look passed between the couple before they simultaneously turned back to look at Keirah. The room was too bright, too quiet.
“So why are you here?” Andie asked. Keirah could tell she was having a difficult time maintaining her patience.
“I need to get him back, And,” Keirah said in a soft voice. “I need him back.”
“What?” Andie’s tone was flat. Jack put another hand on her shoulder but she ignored him this time. “You come to see me for the first ti
me in months, track me down in the middle of the night, don’t even introduce yourself properly to my boyfriend, and you somehow think I’d be able to or even want to help you find a criminal who terrorized the citizens of Onyx for fun because you think you’re in love with him?”
“I am in love with him,” Keirah said through gritted teeth. She was getting tired of everyone questioning her feelings for the man. “And I know you could help me if you wanted to, Andie. Look where you live now. The resources he has” – she gestured at Phillip, but the pause caused Andie to react faster than Keirah could continue.
“Get out, Keirah.” Andie was on her feet now, thrusting her index finger back down the hallway. “I said it to Mom, I’ll say it to you. Get out of my life, Keirah. And don’t come back.”
Keirah looked between both Andie and Jack, but neither spoke. She wasn’t going to apologize and she wasn’t going to beg. If Andie wouldn’t help her get Noir, she would have to try something different.
“I’ll see myself out,” Keirah said in a low voice, and she did.
4
Andie felt her deep slumber decrease until her mind consciously pulled her into a light doze. She was now aware of her surroundings; the feel of Jack’s strong arm coiled tightly around her waist caused a very faint smile to touch her full lips. Last night was… eventful, to say the least. She still couldn’t believe Keirah had the audacity to come here, asking for help finding her criminal lover. The only reason she would even consider finding Noir was so he could be locked up and Keirah would be forced to confront the fact that she didn’t love this guy; she only thought she did. Deep down, Andie knew there was no point. Her sister couldn’t–wouldn’t–see the truth.
Not only that, when Jack had to leave, slipping on his disguise and heading off into the night, Andie knew she would toss and turn. Whenever he left, she never did sleep that well. But when he returned, he woke her and they made love once again. It would seem that neither could get enough of the other, and they expressed their feelings on a physical level. Logic had not entered into their mind yet; they both knew they had work in a manner of a few hours, but it didn’t matter. They hadn’t been this way with each other for a while, and they didn’t want to let valuable time slip through their fingers.
The Dark Paradise Trilogy Box Set Page 63
