by Amy Sparling
“Your hair is cute when it’s wavy.”
I roll my eyes. “I prefer to straighten it.”
“It’s cute like that, too.” Theo winks at me before going back to eating.
“So what’s the plan?” I ask.
“I say we go back to the mansion. Lady Em kept herself a secret from everyone but Alexo. I don’t know why she did, but it seems unusual for her to reveal herself now. Let’s go back, pack up our stuff, and then get the hell out of there while we think of a way to destroy this bitch.”
“Why can’t we just run away?” I ask. “Grab Riley and just get the hell out?”
“Riley can’t leave,” Theo says. “We don’t know who her lifeblood is, and she’s bound by contract to stay at the mansion. Technically, you are too, but since Alexo is gone, the guys may not care. But whoever Riley is paired with will definitely want her around. He’d search for her if she left.”
“Did you really not know whose necklace matched up with my bracelet?” I ask.
“I didn’t know,” Theo says. “I get my lifebloods from outside sources, so I wasn’t privy to that information.”
I nod and then think of a million other questions I’d like to have answered, though some of them might not have answers. “Theo…Why did she keep us there? What was the point? She didn’t even talk to us.”
“I have no idea, love. Immortals aren’t in a hurry all the time like normal humans are. We live forever—we have time.”
I take a sip of my drink. “It seems kind of odd that we broke out so easily…I keep thinking it was a trick or something. Or maybe I’m still asleep and dreaming this whole thing. I mean, when a crazy immortal chick kidnaps you, you probably can’t break free the moment the power goes out.”
Theo is quiet for a few moments. “I think it was fate giving us a bit of good luck. If my instincts are right, we have a hell of a lot more righting to do before we’re free.”
His words sting. I know he’s right, but I’ve been refusing to believe it. Not only am I slowly dying from this bracelet, but now an immortal woman with powers is after us.
We eat a while in silence before I think of another question. “So how do we get home?”
“We don’t have any money. So we’ll have to hitchhike.”
“All the way to Texas?” I groan. “This will suck.”
“I’ll keep you safe,” he says, winking at me through his cocky smirk.
“I miss flying on a private jet,” I say.
He laughs. Someone walks up to our table. I think he’s going pass right on by, so I don’t bother looking up at him. But then he stops.
“Theo?” he says curiously. “Is that you?”
Chapter 5
The man in front of us looks out of place in a gas station. He’s wearing black pants and a white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up neatly with a crease. His entire outfit is creased, crisp and seemingly impervious to wrinkles. He has a black tie but no sport coat. His watch is the size of my head and probably costs more than anything in this building. He has golden hair that’s longer on top and shorter in the back. It’s gelled, slicked over to the side. His beard is trimmed neatly, his smile crooked. A shiny gold ring sits on his left pinky and I wonder if he drinks tea with it sticking out. I’m not sure what it is about him, but he doesn’t seem very trustworthy.
Theo clears his throat. “Michael.”
He stands and the two men embrace in a quick but manly hug. Theo moves over to my side of the booth and gestures to his old seat. “Please, sit with us.”
While Theo slides in next to me, the strange man sits opposite of us.
“Who’s this lovely woman?” he asks, his dark eyes landing on mine. I stiffen. I’d bet my short, cursed life that this man is an immortal.
Theo’s arm goes around my shoulders. “This is Cara. Cara, this is Michael. He’s from Embrook.”
The casual way he mentions another clan makes Michael’s eyebrows rise up. I watch his gaze fall down to my wrist, to my bracelet.
“Tricky game you’re playing, friend.” Michael winks at me and then shifts his gaze to Theo. “I fell for a lifeblood once.”
“I didn’t know that,” Theo says.
Michael’s eyes meet mine again. “It didn’t end well.”
I look away.
“You’re the last person I expected to see in a place like this,” Theo says. His hand gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “I didn’t think you ever left the colonies.”
Colonies?
Michael grins, the action warming his severe facial features and making him seem a little bit normal. “I never expected it either, brother. But business calls.”
I guess that’s all he’s going to say on the matter because the silence that follows is more than a little awkward. Finally, Michael changes the subject.
“You look like shit.”
“We hit a string of bad luck,” Theo says, his brows pulling together. I’ve seen that look before. He’s conjuring up lies to keep us safe. “Carjacker took everything, left us stranded on some country road.” He runs a hand down his face like he’s super embarrassed about it. “I didn’t want to fight back, you know? If she gets hurt, I get hurt.”
Michael nods. “Such is the fragile nature of lifebloods.” He leans forward. “I’d love to know why you told her the truth.”
“That’s a long story, my friend.” Theo sighs. “If you help us get back home, I’ll make sure the elders credit you when I tell them of my discovery.”
Michael’s eyes narrow. “You completed the mission?”
“And then some,” Theo says, his voice low.
Michael’s face splits into a grin. He glances around to make sure we’re alone, which we are because we’re sitting in an odd shaped corner of the room. Michael reaches into his back pocket and pulls out several hundred dollar bills, sliding them over to Theo. “Here,” he says, pulling something from his wallet. It’s a shiny Visa card. “Prepaid. Five thousand dollars on it.”
Theo pops the card and the cash into the zippered pocket of his swim shorts. “Thanks, man.”
A blue beach ball rolls down the aisle, followed by a toddler who’s chasing after it. We watch him until he’s safely back with his mother. Theo’s shoulders straighten. “I heard we lost someone.”
Michael nods, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Clint Warwick.”
Theo draws in a slow breath, then lets it out even slower. “He was a good guy.”
Michael nods. “Yeah.”
“And his stone is gone?”
“No fucking pawn shop in the country has seen it,” Michael says, his lip curling. “When the murdering bastard does try to sell it, we’ll be there. He’ll realize he fucked with the wrong person.”
“And the lifeblood?” Theo asks.
Michael shrugs. “Clint didn’t leave any paperwork or records for us. We’re still looking into it, but it should pop up soon. We always keep our lifebloods close, you know.” He glances back at me. “Well, not that close.”
“Speaking of falling in love with my lifeblood,” Theo says, not falling for Michael’s snide remark. He glances at me and smiles. “Cara was tricked into wearing the bracelet for another immortal from Rosewater. It wasn’t until he—didn’t need it anymore, that I ended up with his stone. Trust me, it was unintentional.”
“Shit, man,” Michael says. “That’s harsh.”
Theo nods once. “Is there a way to remove her bracelet and spare her life?”
“You could kill yourself, chap.”
“Besides that,” I say, my voice sounding foreign since it’s the first time in a long time that I’ve spoken.
Michael doesn’t even look at me. His forehead crinkles in the middle and he brings his fingers up to his lips while he thinks. “I don’t know, Theo. Maybe.”
“Who would know?”
Michael scratches behind his ear. “You really love this girl?”
Theo doesn’t answer, and that seems like enough of an answer
for him. “I’ll ask around,” he says.
“Thank you,” Theo says. “And if you could get a note back to Embrook, tell them I’m close.”
“Will do.”
They shake hands before we part ways, and Theo waits until Michael has gotten into his Mercedes and driven away before he speaks again.
“There’s a hotel two miles north of here. Do you feel up to walking?”
“Sure,” I say, even though my feet already ache from that long run in the rain. But a hotel sounds glorious because hotels have showers and hot water and real beds.
We buy a couple bottles of water and Theo insists on paying back the woman for the free clothes now that we have some cash. We hit the road and walk hand in hand, the occasional car breezing by us as we walk in the grass off to the side.
“So Michael was a friend?” I say, peering up at him and wishing I’d gotten some sunglasses because now that the rain is gone, it’s incredibly sunny.
“He’s a member of Embrook,” Theo says.
“But not a friend?”
“He’s a brother. Not a friend.”
“I noticed you lied a little bit to him.”
“You can’t trust everyone, unfortunately.” Theo sighs and kicks a rock as he walks. “Michael was there when this country was founded. He was a mason. Friends with John freaking Hancock. He’s a good guy, and he’ll have my back when I need him to.” Theo pats the pocket with the cash in it. “But I’d prefer to keep the details of some things to myself.”
“He was here when America was founded?” I say, eyes wide. “That’s insane. The things he’s seen…”
Theo chuckles. “He helped a lot of slaves escape to the north back in the day. He even kept a few slave owners as lifebloods. He encouraged all of us to do it back then. Bad people make the best lifebloods.”
“Did you do it?” I ask.
“Hell yeah. Rich slave owners who think it’s okay to keep someone as property? Hell yes they were my lifebloods.” He kicks that same rock again. “I only wish I could have gone through them quicker.”
“I love you,” I say, smiling up at him.
He watches me while we walk, and then he drops my hand and throws his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to him. “I love you more,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
Chapter 6
“Um, Theo?” I say about half an hour later.
“Yes, love?”
We’ve stopped holding hands because now it’s pretty hot outside and I’m already drenched in sweat and smell like someone who was formerly covered in rain and mud, then got all sweaty. I know Theo’s in the same predicament, but I walk five feet away from him anyhow so he doesn’t smell me.
I stop and peer at the building that’s about two blocks away. “I thought you said there was a hotel here. The word hotel has certain connotations…you know, like being somewhat nice.”
He chuckles. “Looks like a shit hole. The cashier should have told me it was a motel.”
“It’s better than nothing,” I say, putting on a smile over my initial disgust.
The building is long and narrow, the word MOTEL flashing in a neon blue sign next to the highway. It looks vintage, like it’s probably from the seventies, complete with shag carpet. Funny, how I spent my life in rundown foster homes and an outdated group home, and then Uncle Will’s old house, and yet a couple of months of living in the mansion has spoiled me. My lip curls as we near the motel, and I find it a little funny how now I’m suddenly too good for a place like this.
I know I’m not. Deep down, I’m just a white trash girl from the bad part of Sterling. I am not above staying in a motel, no matter how much I might miss my oversized bathtub with jets and big fluffy bed at the mansion.
“Let’s do this,” I say, heading toward the motel’s lobby door. “I am dying for a shower.”
***
Theo slides the key card into the lock—I’m surprised this place is updated enough for that—and we hold our breath while we open the door.
It’s actually not bad at all. There’s new beige carpet and black furniture that looks brand new as well. The walls have tacky artwork, but the bed looks comfortable.
“Oh God, I can’t wait to sink into that bed,” I say, staring longingly at it as I walk into the room. I stretch out my hands toward it, but I know I can’t touch the crisp white sheets until I’m not as filthy as I am now.
“Let’s wash the stink off us first,” Theo says, locking the deadbolt on the door behind us. He heads to the window unit and turns on the air conditioning, then peers out the window. He looks both ways. I realize he’s probably checking to see if we’ve been followed and that makes me a little frightened.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of Lady Em showing up on the other side of that door. Something tells me a simple deadbolt won’t keep that woman out.
“Do you think we’re okay?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “She wasn’t home when we left.” He closes the curtains tightly and then turns to me. “We’re good.”
His grin makes my toes tingle. He is so handsome, with his chiseled jaw and stubble on his chin. I’m in love with his messy hair, the way it always swoops over to the side. Even though it’s probably sticky with sweat, I still want to run my fingers through it.
“I call the shower first,” I say, making a run for the door.
“Oh, so not fair!” Theo calls out. “My showers are shorter than yours so I should go first!”
“I called it first, so I go first,” I say, sticking out my tongue.
Theo makes a pouting face and I roll my eyes as I yank open the bathroom door. “I win, you lose.”
I make this big show of walking inside the bathroom first, and then I stop short as soon as I see the shower. “Whoa.”
“Whoa is right,” Theo says, suddenly behind me. Though the outside of this place is shabby and run down, this bathroom has been remodeled. There’s granite countertops, two sinks, and large framed mirrors above them, but that’s not the fun part.
The shower is huge. It has clear glass doors and decorative tile work, with two shower heads hanging from the ceiling.
“You could fit, like ten people in here,” I say, awed by the gorgeous tilework.
“Or two.” Theo opens the door, leans in and turns on the shower. The one handle makes both showerheads pour out water, and soon, steam rises from them.
I forget all about our argument over who gets to go first. Theo steps forward, his neck bending down a little while he kisses me. His hands slide under the hem of my bright pink shirt, and I lift my arms so he can pull it off. He tosses it to the floor, then reaches for my shorts.
“Nope,” I say, pressing my hand on his chest. “Your turn.” I take off his shirt and try not to grin like an idiot when I see his chiseled abs. Even now, after seeing him shirtless several times, he still makes my heart race. Above it, his new immortality stone rests on his chest, in the center of his sternum. We both like to pretend these pieces of us don’t exist, so I look away from it and focus on anything else.
I slide my thumbs in my waistband and push off my shorts, keeping my panties on. Theo grins and unsnaps his swim shorts. They fall to the floor and he steps out of them, wearing only a tight pair of blue boxer briefs.
My heart pounds in my chest as the steam rises all around us, fogging the mirrors. “I’ll meet you in there,” I say, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. I’m afraid he’ll object, but instead, he strips totally naked as if he has no reservations on earth—although with a body like that, I can’t blame him—and he steps into the shower.
“This feels amazing,” he says, his back to the water as he tips his head backward and the water washes over his face.
I take a deep breath and pull off my underwear, kicking it, along with my clothes, in a pile to the side. I don’t even want to touch those clothes later because they’re so filthy. I take one look behind me in the mirror, see my blonde hair all matted and
messy, framing the dark circles under my eyes. The last few days have been total hell.
I glance back at the glass shower and see Theo’s shoulders ripple as he stretches out his arms under the water. My life may be totally screwed up at the moment, but I deserve a little fun.
The hot water envelopes me the moment I step into the shower. I close my eyes and forget all my reservations from before. Right now all I care about is feeling the water in my hair, and the soap cleansing my skin.
“Feels amazing, huh?” Theo says, grinning at me while he stands under one showerhead and I move under the other.
“This is what heaven feels like,” I say, holding out my arms so I can get completely covered in the warm, clean water. This is so much better than cold rainwater.
Theo reaches for a bar of soap off the shelf in the shower. “Turn around,” he says, walking closer. He takes my hair and pulls it over my shoulder, then runs the soap along my back, massaging it in with his hands. I close my eyes and let him soap up my arms and shoulders. He steps closer and his erection presses against my back. I can’t help but giggle.
“Sorry about that,” he says, his hands running down to my hips. “He can’t help himself.”
His arms slide around my waist, bringing the bar of soap up and around my breasts. I turn back around and he soaps up my legs, his hands moving dangerously slow up my thighs. My cheeks burn red hot, but I don’t ask him to stop. There’s something so romantic about him caressing my body with the soap, and then the shampoo in my hair. When he’s finished, I take the bar and wash him, too.
My hands run over his chest, up his arms and down his back. I take time to enjoy every inch of him, take in how unbelievably hot Theo is. When we’re both clean, the smell of shampoo in the air, I lean my head into the water and close my eyes.
“It feels so good to be clean,” I murmur as the hot water splashes down my body.
Theo’s lips find mine as he steps right up against me, pressing my back to the wall. “It feels good to be dirty, too,” he says against my lips. I grin and lean forward, running my tongue along his neck.
