by Aliyah Burke
“Wait at the truck.”
She didn’t argue with his order and watched him as he go to a black sedan with tinted windows. As he passed the rear tires, she saw him drop something by each. Then he returned to her side and held the door for her.
“What’d you do?”
“They’ve been following us. I left them a surprise.”
“They look like jacks.”
“Jumping jacks, so to speak,” he said, starting the engine then pulling away from the diner. “Like the military use, just made smaller for us.”
“Us? Who’s us? Your brothers you talk about? The other chosen ones? I mean Guardians.”
“Yes.”
She had too many questions and hid her wince as she angled better to face him. Not that he gave a lot away with his expressions, but she needed at least to watch him.
“So how do you get things like that? I’m guessing you’re not a military group.”
“We have people who make things for us.”
Well, that is informative. “Uh huh. And will I get to meet these”—she made air quotes—“people?”
“Yes.”
His response fell so swiftly it took her by surprise. “Really?”
“Of course. You will be staying with us at the vineyard.”
“This compound where you train to fight otherworldly creatures. And everyone lives there still? And takes on children who need a better place to stay?” This was just insane.
“Lian Yang, who owns the place, has a soft spot for troubled children. His wife couldn’t have children so they adopted and fostered others. It was her passion and her calling, and they opened the home on their property. It just happens to also be the vineyard which had been in his family for centuries.”
“So he and his wife are there and what, she keeps the other children while you train?”
A somber expression crossed his face. “His wife has passed on.” He cleared his throat. “He continues on in her honor.”
I feel like a complete heel for how I said that. “I’m sorry for his loss. And yours.”
“I never had the privilege to meet her. She was gone before I came here.”
“How old is he?”
“None of us know.”
“Is it safe for the other children?”
“Safer with us than a lot of other places they would otherwise be. The important rooms we use have a special code that’s attached to us which allows us and not them entrance.”
She nodded and turned her attention out of the front of the truck. This was so far beyond her scope of believability she didn’t know what to do. Except I’ve seen it firsthand so I know it’s true and real. Regardless if my brain wants to accept it or not. Who knew that having Baldy chase her would change her life so? She certainly hadn’t predicted it.
Chapter Six
Tiarnán stared at the wrapped object in his hand. The pale peach silk that covered it beckoned him, however he’d yet to open it and peer inside. He knew what lay there. Hell, he’d been waiting a long time to see it.
His artifact. The thing he’d been destined to find, and his part to help awaken the hope for the world. Still he hesitated and looked to the closed door that led to the bathroom where Calida was taking a shower.
She’s been in there a while. Not that he blamed her—she deserved some time to recoup after what they’d gone through. Plus her injury would slow her up some.
He shifted on the seat he occupied. He got them a much nicer place this time. The decor didn’t offend either of them and there was no mirror on the ceiling.
Okay, so that’s a pity. I would have loved to watch her moving over me, under me, whatever.
He blew some hair from his eyes and opened the folds of silk. The disc lying there was almost as big as his palm. At first glance it looked like it had been made from an old piece of wood. Driftwood, to be exact. It was just how the lines and grooves were. The weight and feel told a completely different story, however.
It was metal-smooth and heavy, almost like iron or steel. Although the edges were jagged they were smooth and not sharp. Lots of characters were on the front and he turned it over, discovering more. Most he recognized and some he knew he should know because of seeing them on the other artifacts, yet couldn’t recall the meanings.
Toward the bottom right was a hole. It didn’t take a genius to know something was supposed to fit in there, but he couldn’t tell what it was. Snapping pictures of both sides, he then sent them home where they could put it up on their system and view it with more accuracy than he could.
“I sent you images of the artifact to look at closer.” He telepathically sent to Dracen.
“Okay, I’ll take care of it. Are you safe?”
“In a hotel, recuperating.”
“Good. Stay that way.” She cut off the link between them, and he frowned.
“Cale? What’s wrong with Dracen?”
“I don’t know. I’ve not talked to her since she left.”
He jerked in his seat. “She left? For where? And when?”
“Not long after you did. And we don’t have a clue to where.”
“But I’ve been talking to her and it sounds like she was there.”
“You’ve spoken with her?” His concern was palpable.
“Just did before I contacted you. She sounded way different this time. I know she’s been worried about Lian and I thought that was why she had been so off. But, if she’s been gone and you don’t know where…”
“Tell her to contact us when you talk to her next. She’s not closed you out, that’s a good thing. We’re all concerned for her, as is Lian.”
“It’s not like her to rush off like this.”
“I know that, Tiarnán. We all know that, which is why we’re so worried.”
The bathroom door opened and he glanced up to watch Calida walk through, her baggy shorts and long shirt sexier to him than any lingerie could ever be. Innocent was the word she brought to his mind.
“Keep me informed, Cale.” He gave her a nod. “Feel better?”
“Who were you talking to?”
His brow furrowed. “What?”
She gestured with her good arm. “That smoky thing was going on again. Happened last time you said you were talking with one of your family.”
“Right, I just let them know I sent photos of the disc. Hopefully they will see something helpful on it when they take a much closer look at it. Until we get it back there, we won’t be able to do a chemical analysis or anything like that, but this is a start.”
She walked to the chair across from him and lowered herself to the thick cushion. He noticed how she didn’t let her back touch.
“So what’s the bad news?”
“Meaning?”
“Them getting a jump on looking at what’s on that thing should be good. Your expression isn’t all that pleased.”
She was learning to read him. He wasn’t all that expressive, or so they always told him.
“I’m worried about Dracen.”
Calida lifted one leg and placed her foot flat on the cushion before resting her chin on her raised knee. “One of the Guardians. Is she in trouble?”
“Cale said she left after I did and none of them can talk to her. I just did and she sounded in a bad way.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“No.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I wouldn’t even know where to start. It’s not like her to leave. Especially with Lian not doing well.”
“Did you ask her where she was?”
“No, because I thought she was home.”
“You said before that not all of the Guardian live there—maybe she went to see one of them.”
He shook his head. “Everyone is there now. With Lian’s deteriorating state, we’re all on alert. Whatever this attack is that’s coming, is coming soon.”
“If she’s the last one to get her artifact, perhaps that is where she went.”
“Why not tell us then?�
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She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know. I don’t know her, I was just tossing out ideas.” Calida pointed at the disc. “Is it what you needed?”
Remembering how it reacted with Cale and Taylor, he leaned forwards and held it out to her. “Touch it.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Okay.” She did and flames exploded out and around the room. Reds, oranges, yellows, blues and even white. “Shit!” Calida jumped up and backed away.
The disc began to spin in his hand and rose from his palm. The flames still poured from the item and soon there was a fiery vortex in the middle of the room. Calida looked like a deer caught in the headlights, her body trembled and he moved to her side.
“Are you okay?”
“No. Nope. Definitely not. What the hell is this?”
“Proof.”
“Of what?” Her voice had dropped and he could hear the curiosity in it now.
“The artifact being the real deal.”
The flames spread out and moved around them, silk on the wind. Flowing and cool to the touch.
Calida walked back toward the disc, which still spun in the air, only to stop when the ribbons of fire wove around her. She turned her head and looked back at him, eyes full of wonderment.
“It’s healing me,” she whispered.
He waited for it to leave her and return to the disc, which eventually lowered to the table and the flames returned to it. Tiny pricks of fire still floated in the air around both of them—that wasn’t new so he didn’t pay it much attention as he crossed to her side.
“Let me look.” She turned and he lifted her shirt to find the healing he couldn’t complete, it had. “Damn,” he muttered. “I had no idea.” He lowered the fabric and stepped back to seek his seat.
Calida also went to hers, keeping the disc between them. This time she sat cross-legged in the chair and folded her hands. “Didn’t expect that to happen, did you?”
“No. I thought there would be sparks or flames but nothing on the scale that happened, and I sure wouldn’t have thought it would heal you.”
She rotated her left shoulder and grinned. “Can’t say I’m upset that happened. Feels much better.” She canted her head to the side. “Did it hurt you when you touched it?”
“No, it feels cool to the touch.”
“For me too, although when it healed me I could feel warmth coursing through me.”
He needed to touch her. Hold her. “Come here.”
She slid off her chair and walked to stand before him. “What?”
Without a word, he drew her down onto his lap and kissed her. The attack, her poisoning and everything else… He just needed to reassure himself she was fine. She moaned into his mouth and thrust her tongue in.
His response was immediate and electric. A rumble surged up from deep in his chest as he took control of the kiss. Their dancing tongues only heightened what else he craved from her. He rose from the chair, keeping her in his arms, and smiled as she wriggled to hook her legs about his waist.
At the bed, he placed her down on the mattress, his body following and pressing her into it. “Tell me if this isn’t what you want,” he murmured against her lips.
“I don’t want this.”
He stiffened and began to pull back. Her grip tightened around him—both arms, which were around his neck, and legs.
“Calida?”
“I don’t want talking. I want you. Nothing else but you, Tiarnán.”
Those words banished the fear that had lanced him seconds ago. She wanted him, she’d get him.
He backed off her and stripped them both naked without ceremony. Clothing landed where it did and he didn’t give a damn if it was on the light or not. All that mattered was the fact she lay on the red bedspread naked before him. Waiting for him. Wanting him.
She was beautiful. Flawless dark skin, black hair pillowing her head as she watched him stare at her. She wasn’t shy and didn’t hide her body from his view. He reached down and lifted her left foot until her leg was extended. Trailing his fingers along the inside of her leg almost to the top of her thigh then back down, he kissed each of her toes before moving on to her ankle. She whimpered and squirmed as she lay there.
Inch by torturous inch, he kissed his way up her leg and back down, only to start again with her right. Her skin had this heady scent about it and that was combined with the smell of her desire for him. Exploring her was going to kill him. What a way to die.
He was going to kill her before he even got inside her. Calida shivered as he kissed along her stomach, his tongue dipping into her belly button. Christ, this feels good. Almost too good.
When he’d stripped his clothes off she’d almost had an orgasm from looking at him. Hard muscle everywhere, including pointing out from his groin. His cock was huge. The large, bulbous head dripped with pre-cum and bobbed as he stared at her. She’d been nearly unable to pull her gaze from it. Her desire for him had kicked into high gear.
Then he’d started this tactile assault and she’d turned to putty. His lips rasping along her skin, his stubble, shot her into another zone of sensitivity. She writhed, begged and stirred beneath him. It didn’t matter, he was moving at his own pace.
There wasn’t an inch of her skin he was ignoring and she closed her eyes as he got closer to her breasts. The tips had long since beaded tight and even the air brushing across them sent ripples of pleasure through her. When his mouth closed around one nipple, she arched her back off the mattress with a cry.
“Tiarnán! Please,” she begged again.
“No talking.”
She wrapped her hand into his hair and tugged when he began to leave her breast. He ignored her silent demand and moved to the other one, paying attention to it as well. Back and forth between the two he went until she was sure there was a wet spot beneath her.
Upwards he continued, licking, kissing, and even nipping along her skin. It didn’t matter where he touched her, it was on a direct line with her clit, and it throbbed in desperation for relief.
“Are you ready for me, Calida?” His hot breath fanned along her cheek as he kissed the corner of her eye.
“Yes,” she cried.
He shifted and placed himself between her legs. She widened them and waited for him to finally enter her. Part of her expected him to slide home in a single stroke. He didn’t. More torture for her. He pushed into her slowly, spreading her wide. Slowly, taking his time, Tiarnán put his length into her. Until she writhed beneath him all over again.
When he sat balls-deep inside her, he kissed her on the mouth and finally began to move with slow and steady strokes. Her body burned and she rode out his thrusts in perfect synchronization. More, she needed more.
“Harder.”
“No. Gentle.”
“Tiarnán, harder.”
He ignored her plea. One hand cupped her breast and began teasing the nipple. He pinched until a cry of pleasure and pain slipped free then he released her as he drove his cock completely back into her. Over and over he did that. Slow withdrawal, hesitation, then a quick slam back in.
“I…oh…want…need…”
She couldn’t formulate a simple sentence. Not that he needed direction on what she craved—it was like he knew her body better than she did. Each stroke perfect, his fingers working the rest of her in a harmony she’d never experienced with another.
She flexed around his cock, and he grunted before picking up speed. He drove into her.
Harder. Deeper. Faster.
Just what she’d wanted and craved. She didn’t even try to stop the scream that exploded from her throat as she was launched over the precipice and sank headfirst into raw pleasure. Pure pleasure. Exquisite pleasure.
Moments later, after he’d taken five more strokes, his roar filled the air as he released his seed deep inside her. That act triggered another climax from her and when he collapsed on her, it was all she could do to hold him tighter.
She shook from her exhaustion yet continued
to fly because of the pleasure rocking through her. Opening her eyes, she didn’t do anything but smile at the sight of the flames dancing along his back and her arms.
“The flames are back,” she said.
He rolled them over so she lay upon him, not the other way around. “So they are.” He smoothed some of her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. Then he continued touching her face. His expression was thoughtful and pensive.
“What?” she asked, not really sure she wanted to know.
“Are you okay?”
“Tired, but yes. You, on the other hand, look like you’re searching for the nearest window.”
His gaze flicked away from hers briefly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to tell her whatever had happened just now between them was freaking him out. She climbed off him, hiding her disappointment when he didn’t try to keep her there.
“I’m really tired,” she said as she tugged her shirt over her head. Thankfully when he’d pulled it off her, it hadn’t gone that far. “Do we have time for me to nap?”
He beckoned to her and she went back to lie beside him, not pulling away when he wrapped her in his arms. Whatever his reasoning she was too exhausted to try to figure it out and didn’t want to waste the opportunity to be in his embrace. So she shut her eyes and just pretended everything was hunky dory in her life when, truth was, it was far from that.
* * * *
She woke to a sound she didn’t recognize. Stirring, she cracked open her eyes, fingers automatically curving for her Taser, which she didn’t have with her. A mistake I won’t make again.
Tiarnán stood in a way that offered her a view of his side profile as he checked his weapons. She recognized the katana—oh, and the whip, along with the throwing stars. Or at least that’s what she would have called them.
That wasn’t the only amazing thing—it was where he was putting them. Each item he looked at and handled was then put on his body. However, she couldn’t see them after that. Not just because they were attached on his other side, but because they seamlessly blended in with his jeans and T-shirt. It didn’t appear he had any weapons on his person at all.
