by Lexi Ostrow
She melted into him, into the kiss. It was the only description that could describe the fluid-like way her body blended with Sean’s as their mouths tangled in passion. It felt as if they’d kissed before. Sean knew precisely how to hug her body close to his and how to swirl his tongue against hers to draw out the height of her desire. Tiny flickers of heat moved through her, warming her from her toes to the top of her head. She could feel the way the passion in the kiss was about more than just a kiss.
Her toes curled inside the tight Nine West heels that had been making her feet throb all evening. The kiss stole the pain and replaced it with tingles that raced through her body, daring her to keep kissing Sean. No, urging her to continue and to awaken everything she’d let die inside of her when she’d lost Zach.
Zach.
His name slammed through her mind, pulling her from the kiss. She didn’t feel an overwhelming sense of pain or agony, but there was the stark, cold-white reminder there had been someone before, and there wasn’t supposed to be anyone again. Accidentally biting down on her lower lip as she pulled away from the kiss, she forced herself to look at Sean, to make certain he understood that what had just happened meant nothing to her.
Nothing emotional, she added silently unable to ignore the pulsing of her body.
His eyes were dark with lust, and his lips were fuller than usual, plump and slightly redder from their kiss. She could see herself reflected in his eyes as a flashing strobe light passed over them. It was a small flicker, but just enough to see she was radiating the very same look he was. Desire.
“What’s wrong?” he shouted over the noise.
“I can’t do this.” She’d been referring to that blasted kiss, but she wasn’t certain Sean understood that.
Placing his hand on her elbow, he started to walk her closer to the front doors, away from the country music and noises that would likely have their conversation audible for any nearby with how loud they would have had to shout to hear one another.
If it had been six months ago, she would have been panicking. Emotion would have bled through her body, rushing as smoothly through her veins as blood. What she did feel was the slight prick of pain at the idea she’d so easily given into a sensation she’d never wanted to feel again. Something that should have been up to her when to allow back into her life, but it would appear the Guardian nature of their bond had taken the choice from her.
Her shoulder hit the doorframe on the way out, not dangerously hard, but hard enough to cause her to pause. “Sean—”
“Is there a problem here, miss?” A large man, taller and broader than even Sean, stepped up to them from the parking lot.
“No, there isn’t. Thanks for the concern, but feel free to leave us to our evening.” Sean’s voice held a dangerous edge, one that sounded distinctly like he was on the verge of losing control.
Without hesitation, the man put his hands on Sean’s chest and pushed him just hard enough to make Sean grunt.
“I believe I asked your friend if there was anything wrong, not you,” the stranger said again.
Marie wasn’t certain if she should be flattered or irritated that a man had inserted himself into her situation. Sean had been tugging her, but not in a rude way. Her smacking into the frame had been because she’d been lost in thought. Plus, there wasn’t actually a problem.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to tell the stranger that. Sean’s fist snapped through the air like a whip, and she heard the distinct snap of bone without even seeing where he’d landed the punch.
Looking up, she saw blood trickling down the other man’s face, along with anger dancing in his eyes. He nodded to her once before speaking.
“Miss, if you’ll excuse me, this needs to be done now whether there’s a problem or not.” Without so much as a pause between his words and his action, he slammed his fist into Sean’s stomach.
With a grunt, Sean bent over for a moment, and when he raised his face, it was as if she were staring at a different person. Gone was the handsome, friendly boy look. His face was a wash of anger — his features scrunched and his eyes narrowed so tightly she wondered if he could even see out of them. He sprang toward the man, slamming his shoulder into the sensitive solar plexus and dropping the man to the cement.
Shouts broke out in loud bursts around them, and Marie watched as Sean threw himself on top of the man, landing one more punch to the face before he was literally rolled over. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched for mere seconds as he struggled to regain the upper hand.
Someone elbowed her in the stomach, and her eyes flashed with ice. She felt the slight dance of ice sprays around her fingertips and barely stopped the ice from shooting out by shoving her hands against her dress. The situation was getting out of control, and any second now, she knew her would-be savior’s friends would enter the stupid fight.
A part of her wanted to walk away. It would be easy and the perfect way to end any brewing feelings. A larger part demanded she help Sean, her partner. Not that he needed it, but she didn’t want to stick around for the cops to come and his career to be on the line. It was a simple misunderstanding, and it was time to end it.
Here goes nothing, she thought as she took a deep breath and barely sidestepped another body part coming her way now that three people had jumped into the mix. Cold air, not quite icy but close, blew from her lips. It was just the start of what she was going to do, if she could manage it, she would create a hail storm that should break apart the madness. The air would be doing something at a particle level, something she didn’t understand or need to understand beyond that it did. Seconds went past with nothing happening, and she realized she wasn’t going to be able to create ice in a desert without helping it along. Raising her hands, she focused and watched as the ice spray danced beautifully over her fingertips. Flicking her fingers in the direction of the group, the frozen particles exploded outward.
She heard something that distinctly sounded like Sean’s grunt of annoyance, but she couldn’t see who was who any longer, just a messy tangle of arms and legs. The ice hung in the air, and with a gentle blow of breath, she created more and more balls of ice.
It only took a moment for the men to realize something was wrong, and the fight broke apart, almost comically.
“What in the fuck?” shouted one of the men who’d jumped in to help his friend.
She finally got a peek at Sean and the other man and couldn’t help the lift of her lips at seeing Sean still sitting atop the man, twisting his arm backward. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward, hoping no one noticed the way frozen particles seemed to hang around her.
“If you boys are quite done, I’d be happy to say nothing was wrong.” She turned her gaze on the man still pinned beneath Sean. “I appreciate your concern, and I am rather sorry my friend pounced at the first opportunity. He’s military and a little hot headed, but I assure you, the only problem is that it’s hailing in Las Vegas, and I’m stuck standing out in it, watching a bunch of men bleeding because they’re trying to prove chivalry isn’t dead, or they’re trying to get laid.”
Sean was up first, shaking his body out and not even so much as flinching as the ice hit him. The crowd began to disperse, but his eyes hadn’t left hers. They were dark with anger flowing out of them, and a challenge was left unspoken on his lips. In fact, she watched as he balled his fist and squeezed so tightly all color left his hand before he unclenched it and walked toward her.
“I was handling it.”
“No. You were kicking someone’s ass, involving other’s in a fight and defending someone who not only didn’t need defending but didn’t want it.” Her words were as icy as her persona. She would dare him to continue along that path if need be, in private. For the moment, it was time to leave.
“Sorry. I don’t like to see a lady tossed around,” the man said as he wiped some blood off his face with his sleeve. His eyes watched her as if trying to tell her she could silently communicate if anything w
ere wrong.
“I appreciate the thought, not the actions. I was distracted and allowed myself to hit the door. My friend had nothing to do with it. Now, seeing as you’re all bloody and your clothing is destroyed, I think it's best if everyone goes home.” She had just enough judgment in her tone to send both men home to mommy, apologizing.
“Either that or wait around for the cops.” Someone snickered from behind them.
“Let’s go then.” Sean hadn’t lost any of the anger in his face, but his words were less aggressively spoken. His hand reached out—an offering, not an apology.
Not wanting to hang around and have any trouble, she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her toward his Jeep, the sound of hail smashing into the ground following them, but never touching them. She was momentarily shocked when he opened the door for her, but she held her tongue and got in.
Seconds later, his door slammed, and he turned to face her. “What the fuck was that? Using your powers where anyone could see?” His words were harsh, but there was a little bite of anger in his tone.
Too bad the same couldn’t be said for hers. “I will do whatever I damn well please when it pleases me. I answer to no one. No rules are keeping me in line. And you’re welcome for saving your ass.” The temperature in the car dropped as her body began to emit a small wave of cold in her anger.
He reared back as if she’d slapped him, shock rippling across his features. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. There’s no point in this conversation going any farther. I did what I needed to do to get you out of there without the cops showing up and ruining the life you’ve tried to make outside your stupid story. An ass kicking you might not have been getting, or giving, had you not manhandled me to get me out of the club.”
“I was not manhandling you!”
His voice roared through the car, and she knew anyone outside that hadn’t run from her hail storm could hear him.
“What do you call what was happening then?”
“I was helping get you to the door, so you didn’t bump into anyone.” His growl was low but just loud enough.
“And what about before that?” She could feel herself leaning forward, trying to get into his face and unnerve him the way she knew men of his nature often did when arguing. The seatbelt prevented it.
“Do you mean when I kissed you? Or, better yet, when you kissed me?”
She opened her mouth to say something, but he kept right on talking.
“Because last time I checked, it was your tongue twirling hastily with mine. It was your body pressed against mine, grinding ever so seductively against my fucking dick. It was—”
“That is precisely why this has to end!” Her words practically vibrated through her being as passion and anger warred inside of her.
Sean stopped speaking, well ranting. His eyes widened, and once again shock crossed his face. Only this time, it was easy to see the hurt that didn’t quite mix in with his astonishment. For the smallest moment, she wanted to take it back, but she knew she couldn’t. What was said was truthful, and she wasn’t going to change her life for someone. Not again.
“You want the mission to end?” His eyes narrowed dangerously at her, and a strange anger seemed to flow from him.
She nodded, trying to keep her composure when so much of her brain was shouting at her to keep going, to forget what she was afraid of and make the leap.
“Not a problem.” The control in his voice was almost frighteningly calculated, and his eyes were hard with fury. He pulled back on the gearshift, and the Jeep jerked backward.
Without thinking, she put her hand over his, and he snatched it away as if the cold burned him.
“Sean, you have to understand, this isn’t what I signed up for.” The hurt she saw in him made it impossible for her to continue to be angry. She wanted out, not to destroy someone she was ultimately attracted to.
“No shit. I didn’t sign up to care about you or to admire you. But both happened. I never wanted to dishonor Stacey’s memory by moving on with anything but my career. Yet, here we are, and I do blame the project we were working on. I blame it for showing me I could have a full life again but with a woman who has no interest in doing anything of the sort. You warned me, and I warned you. The difference is I won’t run away from what I feel because it makes the past hurt again.”
“I have no intention of becoming attracted to you. You are a good man Sean. A damn good one from what I’ve witnessed, and that is why I know you will find what you’re looking for again.”
He didn’t take his eyes off the road to look at her. “No intention of becoming attracted to me? Darling, what the fuck was that back there then?”
“That was lust. Pure, unfiltered desire. And you know what? If you pulled this car over, leaned across and kissed me, I guarantee you I wouldn’t stop us. Because I’m horny, and I am tired of being alone. But that isn’t what it would be about for you, and you can’t say otherwise because you just admitted you have feelings for me.”
“I get it. Big, dumb boy actually developed feelings for someone. Someone clearly incapable of feeling anything back if you’ve been able to interact with me as you have and feel nothing more than a desire to ride me.”
His words felt like a slap in the face, and she pulled his hand from hers and looked out the window.
“Just take me home, Sean. This is over.”
It was incredibly hard to keep her voice monotone because it did hurt. She was running away from the first person she’d ever cared about, aside from Zach, because she worried Sean just might be a better match.
Sitting there in silence, she swore she heard the shattering of ice that was encasing her heart from one, final emotion, but she didn’t dare say a word to Sean. Everything was done, and if she’d let herself feel for him after all, she would pick the pieces up alone.
12
For what felt like the millionth time in his far too long of a life, his body shook with rage. It never seemed to fail that, the moment something appeared to be going as planned, something would fuck it up. Granted, it typically wasn’t the stubbornness of one of his warriors, but it seemed it was always something.
His eyes narrowed, and he sensed the slight prick of a fang into his lower lip as the anger coursed through him with every passing second. Marie and Sean were supposed to work. As far as he could tell, they had been working, even with the deployment separating them for a time. He’d watched them separately and together, all signs had pointed to a Guardian bond forming much like a Word Speaker and Guardian bond would.
“Evidently, you weren’t fucking looking closely enough,” he sneered and waved a hand to close the viewing window on his latest pair. In the blink of an eye, Marie and Sean winked out of existence.
Unfortunately, they were not gone from his mind simply because he’d stopped watching them. He’d stepped away for less than an hour to check on a pair that was struggling to connect, and when he returned, it had been to a hell storm. He’d watched, breath held, as Sean had done the exact opposite of what had been expected. Sean had shut up tighter than a clamshell and had driven Marie home without so much as a second argument.
After their pre-date conversation, he’d assumed Sean would fight for his demon. It would appear he had a rather thin skin after all and would rather turn tail and hide, like Marie.
“Why are you so fucking difficult?” His hands flailed in the air in frustration, and he dropped onto his bed.
Whether he was asking Marie or himself that question wasn’t sure. He’d known she would be a challenge, especially after she woke up from her little ice nap. But he’d put too much stock in how strong a bond could be. He knew she felt something more than lust for Sean, and he knew she knew it. That was why she was running away. If he went to her, he’d only shove her further out of his grasp.
“So give her some time to process. She might surprise you and realize what she has is worth giving up her frozen path.”
Giving his p
eople time to choose anything on their own had worked out well enough for the past years. He just had to have hope that Marie’s ice-covered heart could crack and melt without intervention.
You could still check on Sean.
Hanging his head, he opened the viewing window just as Sean slammed his refrigerator door into the wall and pulled out a beer bottle. He could hear the Guardian muttering something to himself, but couldn’t make it out. Seeing his people in such a state of discontent upset him more than they would ever or could ever know because he needed to seem untouchable. Alcott had gotten under his skin. Because of it, he’d not only brought Kellie back to life but had allowed them both into a book they did not belong in to heal old wounds.
He hadn’t paid for his trespasses yet, but he was fairly certain Huracan had been too busy with his snake of a brother to even realize anything he’d done. Anything except the tiny tear in space he’d been hiding that showed him a woman he couldn’t understand. A woman he knew he had no business seeing but couldn’t stop the thoughts of her dark hair and light eyes from entering his thoughts in the few minutes of peace he could snag for himself.
Sighing, he scrubbed his right hand over his eyes, trying to alleviate the stress headache he could feel pulsing to life. A headache that had been his only nightly companion for the better part of a year. It had been months since he’d done anything save for watch over those on his side that had been dealt devastating blows by his brother, and for the first time, he wanted something for himself.
Correction, you want to see Hayley. The forbidden thought had scrolled through his mind before he could stop it.
The human female had gotten under his skin. Not just because Hayley had appeared to him when she had no business too, but because he’d grown accustomed to seeing her — to desiring her from afar. Her eyes had only needed to meet his once for lust to rise up like a fire, and nothing he’d done had been able to sate it.
Go to her. The words whispered through his mind as gently as a spring breeze.
