Paradisus (Awakened Book 6)

by Harley Austin

  Like I said—complicated. But this isn’t where my story actually begins with getting complicated. It actually began a few months earlier. With me, leaning against the railing next to a lake the locals call Eola. I’d just finished my run, my shirt in my hand, just watching the sun reflect off the water, wondering what I’m going to be doing for the rest of eternity—that is, if I can manage to live that long.

  1

  And we placed before Eden

  an eternal guardian with bright flashing swords all around to guard the way

  to paradise

  — The Books of God

  W e are now at war.” The president’s voice became solemn and determined. “After the devastating attack on the fleets jointly operating in the pacific and Puget Sound last week, I have asked for and have received from Congress a near unanimous approval of a Declaration of War against a new terrorist threat calling itself ‘the Wraith’. Many of us have seen the images of our ships at sea and planes in the air being attacked by the advanced vessels and aircraft of these Wraith. Although advanced, these Wraith are not, invincible. We have all seen the attack on our brave men and women in uniform. We were able to retaliate and devastate several of their ships at sea and aircraft despite their formidable surprise attack. We now know what we are up against.

  “Through the combined military might of every U.N. nation on Earth, we have taken an oath to wipe out and destroy this new international corporate threat and restore peace and safety to the nations of the Earth and …”

  Carson tapped the holo screen’s volume to mute and slid it out of the way. He stood up from his desk shaking his head, a deep frown crossing his face. He sighed deeply, worry all over the inside of his feelings.

  “We told you what would happen.” Each word was spoken by a different mouth as if by one person.

  His office empty of everyone but himself, he suddenly looked up to see them, five of them this time, standing together. Casually dressed in white boots, white denim and sleeved blouses that didn’t at all hide their curvaceous figures, their eyes softly lit with subtle fires that belied the power buried deeply within each of them. There was a new one with them this time, standing in the middle of all of them, a beautifully handsome young man.

  He subtly nodded. His face still bore a frown.

  “Come, come, now, Gregie,” Amethyst spoke first. “It’s not the end of the world. Well, not yet.”

  “You’re not funny, Amy.”

  “You were the one who wanted the Endymion waypoint altered, it’s been altered. Time to pay the bill.”

  “You never said it would thrust the entire world into war!” he groused.

  “Amy,” Lisa glared at her. “Enough.” She turned her attention back to Carson. “It was going to happen anyway, Carson. We simply accelerated the waypoint.”

  “You’re no fun.” Amethyst taunted in a faux frown.

  “The Humans will at least have a chance now,” Brenda took a step forward into the conversation.

  “The Ganymede will now serve as a replacement for the Leviathan we destroyed,” the young man said.

  Carson nodded. “The Wraith are still armed and dangerous. What about the installation at Lake Powell—?”

  “The hunky Admiral will have it your very capable hands,” Amethyst grinned, “in a matter of hours.”

  “We suggest you share what we have given you,” the one with the long silver-blonde hair advised. “The Humans must now enter the conflict if any of you are to survive.”

  “Believe me, I intend to recruit as many as possible. With the Seven controlling a weaponized U.N., and other clans in-control of the vessels of the gods, Dominion needs to get a lot bigger, and fast.”

  “The fate of Humanity is in your hands, Carson,” Lisa’s tone held warning.

  “I know what we’re up against, believe me.”

  “Ooh,” Amethyst’s eyes took on a new glow as she bristled with a subtle glee. “I just love watching a rematch.”

  * * * * *

  “Hey.” His voice was smooth, pleasant, masculine. Ty looked up from the water to see a shirtless guy wearing snug running shorts and a pair of expensive crosstrainers. “Great place for running.”

  Ty nodded.

  “I’ve seen you out here a few times. You have great speed. I wish I had your endurance.”

  Ty nodded again, not wanting to appear rude. “Thanks.”

  “I’m Ethan, by the way.” The young man extended his hand. Ty shook his hand politely. Ethan felt harmless enough.

  “Ty,” he returned simply.

  “Are you new in town?”

  Ty nodded. “Just moved here a few of weeks ago.” He watched Ethan take hold of the railing they were leaning against and gently stretch his hamstrings. Ethan was still breathing deeply from his run. Ethan wasn’t hugely built, but he was well cut and the way his skin glistened in the humid Florida afternoon sun caught Ty’s eye.

  “How often do you run?” Ethan leisurely finished his stretch.

  “I guess about every day.” Ty turned toward Ethan while leaning against the railing.

  Ethan had watched Ty running around the lake for over a week now. He couldn’t help but notice Ty’s amazing six-packed build, broad shoulders, thick pecs and thin waist as they passed each other on runs a few times during the past week. Ty looked way too filled-out and muscular to be a runner, but he ran well. The guy was intriguing enough that Ethan had adjusted his running schedule to make sure the two of them were out at the same time.

  “So that’s where that endurance comes from,” Ethan dimpled with an engaging grin. He sported a bleach-blond straight hair cut that had grown out dark brown on the short-cut sides. The cut merged into a several days well-trimmed growth around his face. With piercing steel-grey eyes, his dimpled smile and a light tan to his skin, Ethan was flat out hot.

  “Well, I can’t cool off. I guess I need to keep up with guys like you. See you around, Ty.”

  Ty watched Ethan run off down the wide path, his eyes following every detail of Ethan’s body until he could see the good-looking runner no more along the path through the trees.

  2

  E arth to Ethan?”

  “Huh?”

  “What is up with you today? You have been seriously distracted all day.” Paige flipped through the Olive Garden menu. It was a formality. She already knew what she wanted. She got the same thing every time they came here for lunch.

  “Sorry. Just daydreaming.”

  “About?”

  “Have you ever met someone and they just really knocked your socks off?”

  “Sure. Twice. Both guys were already married.” She frowned.

  “I don’t think this guy’s married.”

  “Guy?” Paige raised her eyebrow.

  “I—did not just say guy.” Ethan backtracked.

  “Yes, you did, I heard you. Ethan,” Paige continued with her raised eyebrow, “are you gay?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  Paige was suddenly now very interested in the conversation. “Who did you meet?”

  “I just talked to him for a minute. He’s been taking endurance runs around the lake in the afternoons. He’s got really good speed and he just keeps it up for laps and laps.”

  “So what’s he look like?” She took a sip from her peach iced tea.

  “He’s really built, about my height; black hair, great smile. And check this out, he’s got deep purple eyes.”

  “Those are contacts, doofus.”

  “Oh.”

  “So how long have you been interested in guys?”

  “Never.”

  “Really?”

  “No.” Ethan emphasized. “At least not until last week.”

  “So how do you know you’re interested?”

  Ethan thought for a moment. “It’s—just a feeling. When I was around Ty yesterday. Like—like I felt when Karen and I were dating.”

  “Bad example,” Paige scowled.

  “Okay, so maybe
that wasn’t my best relationship, but that’s how I felt when we first started dating.”

  “You’re twitterpated.”

  “Kind of.”

  “Kind of? Ethan, you just admitted to me that you interested in another guy. That’s a little more than ‘kind of’.”

  “My family is going to disown me.”

  “So? Keep it in the closet.”

  “Listen to me. I don’t even know if Ty is—you know.”

  “Gay?”

  “Or interested in me if he is.”

  “So ask him out.”

  “How do you ‘ask out’ another guy?”

  “You’re not seriously asking me that?”

  “I am. That’s why I wanted to have lunch. I don’t know anything about dating a guy. Your brother just got married to another guy. I was hoping you’d know something.”

  “Ethan, Carman’s no different than you are. He’s a guy. It’s like any other relationship. Be friends, go out, have fun. See what develops? All that can happen is he says ‘no thanks, not interested’.”

  “But what if he says ‘yes’?”

  “Is that what you’re afraid of?”

  “I think so.”

  “It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “Sure. You say that. You’ve never asked out another girl.”

  Paige looked at him over the top of her glass. “What makes you think I haven’t?”

  2

  T he afternoon sun had pushed the typical hot Florida temperatures even higher than the day before. Ty slowed his run, pulling off his shirt and wiping what little perspiration he had from his face. He had felt Ethan following him on the other side of the lake. Ty dropped his run to a walk, allowing Ethan to catch up to him.

  “Ty.”

  “Hey, Ethan.”

  “Man, you are killing it today.” Ethan took a deep breath, a little surprised that Ty was barely breathing hard. Ethan hadn’t bothered to even wear a shirt in the humid afternoon heat; just his snug black workout shorts and running shoes. “Your speed is amazing. How do you do that in this heat?”

  “I’m just blowing off some steam.”

  “Oh? Everything okay?” Ethan was still trying to catch his breath.

  “It’s fine. My boss was being kind of jerk today. It’s nothing. I’ll get over it.”

  “Where do you work?”

  “Just doing maintenance for a little motel not far from here. Howard’s a little manic. He’s super nice one day and a total pain the next. How’s your day going?”

  “I’m not sure yet.”

  “Oh?”

  “I know you just moved here, so I was wondering, are you dating anyone?”

  Ty breathed a smile. “No.”

  “Want to go out?” Ethan asked, a little nervous. “With me, I mean.”

  Ty had his rules about going out—with anyone. He didn’t. Not anymore.

  “I knew you were going to ask me that,” Ty grinned at Ethan.

  “You did?”

  Ty nodded.

  “So?” Ethan suddenly sported a hopeful look, a smile moving over his face.

  “I’m—kind of off dating at the moment, Ethan.”

  “Oh,” Ethan’s face fell. “Why?”

  “Let’s just say the last few times I’ve dated someone, it didn’t end well. I guess I’m a little gun shy.” Literally, Ty thought, kicking himself. But Ethan apparently wasn’t getting the message.

  “Well, if you were dating—would you? Go out with me, I mean.”

  Ty stopped on the edge of the pathway with both he and Ethan moving off onto the grass and into some tree shade. Ty well knew what genetic ‘attraction’ felt like; he’d been attracted to quite a few women before, but this was one of those few times he felt the attraction with another guy.

  “I don’t usually go out with other guys. I guess—” Ty watched Ethan’s hopeful expression return; he felt Ethan’s warm feelings. Ty’s eyes danced over the wet skin of Ethan’s slender but cut build. Damn, if the guy’s scent wasn’t really nice. Dammit. “I—guess I’d have to think about it.” Ty felt himself suddenly saying.

  Ethan grinned. “Well, at least that’s not a ‘no, get lost’.”

  Ty grinned back at him, still mentally kicking himself for not just shutting Ethan down. ‘No dating’ was not exactly a new rule Ty had given himself. He had his reasons. Hadn’t he learned his lessons from all of the other ones? None of them had ended well. So what the hell was he doing now?

  * * * * *

  Ty tossed and turned in the hot and humid dark motel room. His boss had made him switch rooms with a customer after their AC unit had conked out. Now he was stuck in a room with only a ceiling fan blowing warm humid air over his glistening skin.

  Unable to sleep, he lay on top of the cheap comforter wearing nothing but his thoughts. He couldn’t stop thinking—about Ethan. The guy had totally come out of nowhere. Ty needed to bolt. His boss still owed him for a couple of week’s work and the minute the money was in his hands he’d have to leave. Otherwise, Ethan would trap him.

  Ty sighed. Jesus, who was he kidding?

  Ethan had already trapped him.

  Gods. Not again.

  The two had talked for hours under the shade of the tree by the shore. Ethan had pointed out the building he was living in across the lake and given him his apartment number.

  Although Ty had kept the details of his own life out of the conversation, Ethan had a rather colorful family. He talked about his parents, both of them recently separated, both of them well-known accident attorneys, and both of them in the middle of an ugly and now very public divorce—to the point where each were taking passive-aggressive pot-shots at the other in their billboard and radio ads.

  Ty stretched his muscular frame while still thinking about how great Ethan had looked standing under the shade of the tree by the water as the sun was beginning to drop behind the buildings. Ty arched his back. Huh? He suddenly noticed he’d grown fully long and very hard between his legs just thinking about the guy. “Ohhh, no,” he groaned not so quietly. His cock was practically throbbing.

  Ty sighed, trying to rein in his emotions. This wasn’t going to work. Ethan seemed like a nice guy. He couldn’t bring him into any of the nonsense that fate had dumped into his life. He needed to cut it off before it began or things were going to get really ugly, for the both of them—and probably sooner than later. He’d cash out his paycheck tomorrow and then hop a ride with the first trucker headed for Atlanta.

  3

  E than opened the door of his apartment to find Ty standing out in the hallway. Ty was dressed for running on the warm, sunny afternoon wearing only his typical light black running shorts and shoes. He had a sport duffle slung over his shoulder as well.

  “Hey, Ty, come in. I’m almost ready.”

  Ty set his duffle down in the foyer of the compact yet elegant apartment, following Ethan into the main room. The place was clean with an open kitchen, an obvious bedroom off the main room with an unmade bed and scattered clothes both on the floor and the bed. The room looked well lived in.

  Ethan sat on a decorative tufted vinyl bench just inside the main room and slipped on some black no-show running socks.

  “You and I always wear the same thing to run in.” Ethan smirked, slipping on his shoes.

  “Yea.” Ty grinned. He wasn’t going to tell Ethan that it was the only pair of running shorts he owned. He needed to travel light. Multiples of things just added extra weight.

  Ethan finished lacing up his shoes and stood.

  “Did you think any more about the two of us going out?” Ethan asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

  “Actually, I did.”

  “And?”

  “I think we could, maybe go out. It’ll be fun.” Ty smiled.

  Ethan’s eyes lit up as did the rest of the handsome features of his face. “Aw, sweet. Ty, I could kiss you.”

  Ty smiled. The way Ethan’s feelings and his scent seemed to always lift his mo
od, he wouldn’t exactly stop the guy if he made a pass. “I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen at some point.”

  Ethan’s smile seemed to fade as the look on his face drew a little more serious. “Really?”

  Ty nodded with look that made Ethan’s pulse suddenly skip a beat. “Don’t you think?”

  Ethan had been thinking about what it would be like, moving his lips along Ty’s sculpted ones. He wasn’t going to waste time being timid about it. Ethan moved up close to Ty as both met warmly in a soft embrace while Ethan sank a soft but passionate kiss into Ty’s lips.

  Ethan’s heart was suddenly racing, his pulse pounding in his ears as his lips smoothed softly over Ty’s. Ethan quickly realized Ty was no amateur at this. The way he held Ethan, it was just perfect how Ty’s lips and body moved with his, like the guy knew exactly the way Ethan liked to be held and touched. A surprising hunger rose between the two of them as they slipped from just kiss into full makeout.

  Ty wasn’t actually wanting to rev Ethan’s motor like this, but, god, the guy was like—unbelievable to his senses. It was just supposed to be a kiss! Ty knew he needed to pull away from Ethan’s lips but he just didn’t want the electric moment to end. Ty’s empathy had already moved over Ethan, touching him lightly to feel what he was feeling. Ty touched Ethan’s feelings, brushed his lips, held him just the way he needed to be held. And Ethan just pulled him deeper into the emotion.

  Both drew each other closer, fully embracing as each moved with the other in their now fully heated makeout.

  All but breathless, Ethan sank himself sweetly into Ty’s lips while wrapped in their embrace as their bare skin and limbs slipped and moved against each other. For long minutes both kissed warmly, then ravenously, consumed by the emotion of each other’s touch and wandering hands. Ethan felt Ty’s hand move gently across his chest while their lips danced, revving more than just his emotions.