by Lola StVil
He reaches out and kneads my breasts with his hands as I ride him rhythmically. He sits up so his mouth has full access to my breasts. We switch positions over and over again. We are sweaty, breathless, and weak with lust as we tangle in the sheets.
Finally, we face each other, our legs wrapped around one another. The slow and steady thrusting brings us closer and closer to the brink of an all-consuming orgasm. For the first time ever, both the human and angel Ark take place at the same time. A large orb encircles us as our bodies rock back and forth. The current of pleasure is so powerful I have to bite down on Aaden’s shoulder to keep from screaming.
Aaden leans and embeds himself so far inside me, my wings span full out as if getting ready for flight. He calls out my name repeatedly until finally the current of lust rippling through is too much; he can no longer speak coherently.
Exhausted and weak, I rest my head on his chest. Aaden, still shaking, kisses my forehead and thanks me for loving him…
Chapter Nineteen:
Die With Style
When he opens his eyes, he finds me draped over his bare shoulder, staring down into his face. He smiles when our eyes meet. Then he looks off into nowhere, as if he’s in deep thought.
“What are you thinking about?” I wonder.
“I’m trying to decide if waking up to you gazing at me is romantic or ‘crazy’ stalker chick,” he jokes.
“Ha! Well, I’d like to think we live in a world where I can be both,” I tease.
“Any world where we could do what we did last night is a world I want to live in. That was…unexpected.”
“Speaking of unexpected, how did Swoop convince you to get into a suit?” I ask.
“She used dirty and underhanded tactics. She said if I didn’t wear the suit, when Sparks is born she would take her to get clothes ‘off the rack.’”
“Do you know what ‘off the rack’ means?” I ask, laughing.
“No, but all the girls in the room were horrified, so I figured it was a bad thing.”
“Yes, you saved Firebug from a very bad fate,” I assure him.
“It’s the least a father can do.”
“You know, I’m surprised the house is still standing given the Ark we had.”
“I fortified the house. That’s the only reason what we did last night didn’t cause it to split apart and slide down the hill,” he says with a devilish smile.
“Aaden, can I ask you something?”
He groans and buries his head inside the pillow.
“What’s wrong?” I ask with a big smile.
“Anytime a woman asks you if she can ‘ask’ a question, it means she’s going to set some kind of trap for the poor guy.”
I laugh and promise him that there will be no traps of any kind. He takes my face in his hands and magnifies his suspicion to comic heights; he squints one eye closed and studies my face like a cartoon detective looking for clues. I laugh at his silliness and playfully push him away.
“C’mon, let me ask you a question,” I plead, trying to sound serious but failing.
He buries his head under the pillow.
“Aaden!” I laugh as I pull the pillow off of him.
“Okay, okay. I surrender. Ask me.”
“You said you had this place fortified; have you taken anyone else here?”
“No. I did that in hopes one day you’d come and be here with me,” he says sincerely.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what, Pry?”
“I should have told Bex right away that the only angel for me was you. It was unfair to you to delay telling him. And it was unfair to him. I will tell Bex.”
“Okay,” he says.
“Do you forgive me?”
“Always.”
He wraps his arm around me and takes me into his chest. We look out the window at the vast sky above. The sun introduces us to daybreak with subtle streaks of reds, pinks, and gold. We know we have to get up from the bed. We know we have to leave Roslyn, but for the next few moments neither of us moves. We just lie there in each other’s arms, safe, happy, and at peace…
Aaden and I quickly tidy up Roslyn and head back to New York City. It was kind of sad walking away from the symbol that represents our future together. I think Aaden could see it on my face. He whispered in my ear and promised that we would return to Roslyn when things settled down.
Now, as we walk up the steps to my parents’ home, Aaden takes me aside and speaks in a serious tone.
“I wanted to get your opinion on something,” Aaden says.
“Sure, what is it?”
“I know we have to go see the Brothers, but I’m wondering if we can let Diana sit this one out.”
“Diana or Sparks?”
“They are one and the same right now.”
“Honestly, without Bex, we need all hands on deck. But the truth is, even if I said yes, there’s no way Diana would sit out a mission. You know that.”
“I just want to keep Sparks safe.”
“I know. But her mom is a Kaster. Wings or no wings, she’s not helpless.”
“Yeah, I know…”
“I remember my dad telling me how your dad tried to get your mom to sit out the missions. I think Diana will have the same reaction your mom did.”
Aaden nods in agreement and opens the door to the living room. He takes a few minutes to greet his daughter as I inspect the weapons placed on the coffee table. We have poisoned-soaked blades, healing vials, and time locks (orbs the size of softballs that freeze your enemy for a few precious seconds).
While we go over the layout of the park, East makes a quip about how “well rested” I look, and I do my best to ignore him. Key and Swoop exchange a bemused look. They tell East that they bet I didn’t have any rest at all. Randy has so many questions he’s going to burst at any moment. But right now, the only thing that matters is making sure we’re prepared to face the Brothers.
“How did it go with the Face?” Aaden asks as he comes over to the table.
“It took everything we had to convince her to let us go to the meeting without an army, but she finally gave in,” East says.
“So she was able to get the Paras to help us?” I ask.
“No, she asked, but the board wants us to stay and leave things to them,” Swoop says.
“Paras are always so full of shit!” Aaden snaps.
Suddenly all the lights go out in the house.
“I meant full of ‘stuff,’” Aaden says to Sparks, who apparently is unhappy with her dad’s language. Sparks turns the lights back on.
“I really like that kid,” East says to us.
“So the board wouldn’t let the Face send Paras to help us? That means we have no one to watch the surrounding humans at the park,” I reply.
“We do, but they weren’t sent by the board,” East says.
“Who sent them?” Aaden asks.
“I did,” Bex says as he enters the living room from the kitchen.
I didn’t realize he was in the house. I smile and greet him with a quick hug. I step back and study his face. It’s filled with concern and urgency.
“How’s Hunter?” I ask.
“The healers took care of him. For once being hardheaded has helped him,” Bex says.
“I’m so glad. I’m sorry about what happened yesterday. We should have known that Malakaro was planning something. He’s just too damn evil to stay out of the way.”
“Yeah, well, I should have planned better. It was my job to keep the Paras at the ball safe, and I didn’t,” Bex says.
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know that he would be there,” I reply.
“Even if I did know, given Malakaro’s powers, there’s very little we could have done.”
“Okay, tell me how I can help. Please, we want to help,” I offer.
“There’s nothing you can do, but thanks.”
“Wait, what about these conferences and meetings I’ve been hearing about?”
&n
bsp; “What about them?”
“Are the Paras trying to think of a way to stop Malakaro?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that.”
“Okay, fill me in.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“The meetings are…classified.”
“You guys head to the park, and I will join you after I have a word with Bex,” I order.
Everyone heads towards the front door. I can feel Aaden’s reluctance from across the room. But he knows I am the leader right now and not his girlfriend. He follows my orders and leaves me alone with the Kon.
“What do you mean classified?” I ask.
“You know what it means; I can’t talk to anyone outside of the meetings.”
“You can’t talk about it, even to me?”
“No.”
“Is this because I took you off the team?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s just a lot going on, and we all need time to adjust to things.”
“Why are you being a politician right now?”
“I’m a Kon. That’s the same thing.”
“No, it’s not. Bex, tell me what’s going on.”
“What’s going on is that your brother is killing my people every other day. What’s going on is that your father hid his son from our world and we had no idea how powerful Malakaro would become. Therefore we have no idea how to defeat him. I’m spending way too much of my time cleaning up after Guardian screwups!”
“Look, I can’t defend everything my father has done on his missions, but given what the Guardians went through to save the human and Para worlds, you could show a little respect.”
He sighs heavily, rakes his hands through his hair, and folds his arms across his chest.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry. I gotta go.”
“Bex, wait! Talk to me. What’s happening?”
“I spent all of last night talking to families of the murdered Paras and the Quo. I had to look into their eyes and promise them that their loved ones didn’t die in vain. I told them that we would find Malakaro and make him pay for what he did, but the truth is I don’t know that we can.”
“Bex, I know it’s bad right now, but Malakaro has to have a weakness. We will find it.”
“We better,” he says grimly.
“Hey, thank you for sending the Paras to back us up.”
“We couldn’t let you meet Kalamity and Kontrol alone. Those brothers may act like petulant jokesters, but they can be cruel, even by demon standards.”
“I know, but we need to find East’s powers, and they are the only ones who know where they hid it. We have no choice but to go meet them,” I reply.
“I miss you,” he says abruptly.
“Yeah, we had our first meeting without you, and it was odd. I think everyone on the team misses you too,” I reply.
“Everyone?”
“Okay, Aaden’s not a fan, but he knows how valuable you were to the team.”
“It’s fine, and anyway I wasn’t talking about the team. I was talking about you. I miss you. I would have given anything to have you by my side last night. Anything.”
“I know we need to talk, but you have a lot of stuff going on in the Para world, so we can talk later—”
“No. I need to know what you decided. The wait has been…difficult.”
“Bex, you were really honest with me, and I need to return that same consideration to you.”
“Okay…”
Here we go…
“The other day in the hallway at school, when you were close to kissing me, there was a part of me that wanted that to happen,” I admit.
“So it’s not just something I made up in my head? You have feelings for me?”
“Yes.”
There’s a spark of excitement in his eyes, and I can practically see the relief washing over him. He closes the gap between us and presses the palm of his hand lightly against my cheek. There’s something so intimate about the gesture it makes me blush. I swallow hard and take a step back.
“What is it?” he asks.
“Like I said, I do have feelings for you, but I’m in love with Aaden. I have always been in love with him. I care about you so much and I don’t want to hurt you. But I also don’t want to lie to you.”
“Are you sure it’s me you’re lying to, Pry?” he says as he takes his hand away.
“Meaning?”
“You and I are the same. We know what it’s like to be torn between love and duty. We are both responsible for the lives around us. We have to lead, and no matter how heavy the burden of leadership is, we don’t dare break or bend under the weight. Only the First Noru and the Kon know that kind of agony. C’mon, Pry. Do you really think if I were your boyfriend I would undermine you like Silver did? That would never happen because I know how important it is that you be seen in a respectful light.”
“I’m not saying we don’t have anything in common. I know we do. Bex, we practically grew up together. I’m saying I love Aaden.”
“When does he plan on loving you back?”
“Hey, that’s not fair.”
“I’m sorry, okay? But I’m sick of watching him hurt you. You’re not in love with Silver. You’re addicted to him. You can’t get enough of the pain that comes from being with him. Why are you such a masochist?”
“I’m not!”
“Yes, you are. You are completely addicted to the hurt he sends your way. It’s like you don’t feel loved if you’re not in pain.”
“Aaden has never hurt me.”
“He left you! He disappeared for an entire year without so much as a text. We could have prepared for the Center, but we didn’t because Silver decided to keep you in the dark. He says he loves you, but it’s hard to find an angel, demon, or Quo he hasn’t slept with. Even before we knew about Sparks, Silver stayed by Diana’s side every chance he got. I know you think you love him; when is he going to return that love?”
“I don’t want to argue with you,” I reply, trying desperately to stay calm.
“I don’t want to argue either. I just want to love you. Can you accept my love or is pain a prerequisite?”
“Aaden and I are happy.”
“I have yet to see that.”
“Well, I don’t care what you do or don’t see. We are.”
“If you and Silver were happy, don’t you think I would have stepped off by now? But every time I turn around, he’s abandoning you.”
“He came to rescue me from the burning building when Kill was after me. Did you forget that?”
“I remember. But maybe if he was doing his job, we wouldn’t have had to come rescue you. Maybe if he was there by your side like your guy is supposed to be, you wouldn’t be burning alive in some building. The only thing you focus on is being rescued? Screw that. You are fucking amazing, and he should have prevented you from being in danger in the first place.”
“Kill is the reason I was in that burning house. You can’t blame Aaden for what a demon does.”
“No, but I can blame him for putting everything before the girl he claims to love.”
“He does not do that.”
“The hell he doesn’t. Silver put Diana in front of you even before Sparks. He put a sea of faceless girls before you. And even though you’ve gone out of your way to be open to the Diana situation, he has yet to be the kind of angel that you deserve.”
“I know that you’re upset, but you have no right to attack me and Aaden. He loves me.”
“Then why doesn’t he give you his Rah?”
The question hits me like a missile in the chest. I was just so happy to be with Aaden, I never stopped to think about it. Bex studies my face and softens his tone.
“I’m not trying to upset you, Pry, really I’m not. If there was another guy and he loved you the way you should be loved, I would walk away. I swear on my kingdom, I would. But Silver is not that guy.”
&nb
sp; “I didn’t come here so you could belittle him. You told me how you felt about me, and now I’m telling you how I feel.”
“So even though you know there’s something between us, you’re going to stay with Silver because, like millions of other girls, you think you can fix him, but you can’t.”
“He doesn’t need to be fixed, Bex.”
“He attacked me because he didn’t like the way I was looking at you. He’s torn the wings off a Para and almost set the entire Angel world on fire. He’s broken, Pry. And I get that you love him, but that doesn’t mean he can be fixed. Or that you’re the one who has to try.”
“Aaden and I aren’t perfect. We have…stuff we need to figure out. But what we have is real. You stood here and listed all the bad things he’s done. What if he were standing here judging you? No, he’s never given me his Rah. But you were ready to give your Rah to Key, knowing full well you were in love with someone else. What does that say about you?”
“It says that I have made mistakes. But unlike Silver, I really am trying to change that. That’s why I’m not just letting this go. I told you, I want to fight for you, I want to fight for us. But I can’t do that if you aren’t willing to admit you’re with the wrong guy.”
“Bex, I can’t do that.”
“Why? You know there’s something between us.”
“Yes, but I don’t know what it is! I already know what I feel with Aaden. I know that I love him and I want him in my life.”
“Give us a chance; find out what’s behind your feelings for me.”
“No.”
“DAMN IT, PRYOR, WHY THE HELL NOT?”
“BECAUSE I DON’T WANT YOU!”
The minute my words hit the air, I knew it was a mistake. There are a million ways I could have phrased that better. But it’s too late to take it back. Bex looks at me, and I don’t recall ever seeing him so wounded.
“Bex, I didn’t mean that. I—” I reply hopelessly.
“You don’t have to say anything else. I got it,” he says softly.
He nods back at me with sad acceptance. He walks away, taking long confident strides. When he gets to the edge of the roof and then takes off gracefully in the air, he does not look back down at me. Why would he? I just broke his heart…
