by Mayburn, Ann
“Eliana, we’re in public.” He said in a strained voice.
Embarrassment heated her face and she ducked her head as she said, “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t mind, but it wouldn’t be a good idea for a professor to be seen with a student in his class like that.”
She peeked up at him and was glad to see he appeared amused instead of angry. “Right, sorry, I’m just so happy to see you.”
He grinned and brushed some dirt off her upper arm with a gentle touch. His palm felt so warm on her skin. He seemed to hesitate and slow his movements down, turning a casual movement into an erotic caress. The wind must have shifted because she was drowning in the scent of his cologne. Her heart thudded, and she leaned into his touch before he pulled away with a small smile.
“I’m happy to see you as well.” He glanced around and grabbed the nearest pot of flowers and put it on the small counter of her register. “I got your call. What’s going on?”
She took a quick look around. At the moment, they were almost alone in the garden center. The only other people there were an older couple loudly arguing about planting tulips.
She fidgeted with the edge of the counter. “Well, I went for a run at Panther Hollow...and I kinda got attacked by a Barghest.”
He stared at her. “You what?”
“Um, I was in the woods, and all of a sudden, it got quiet. This guy in a yellow rain slicker—”
He held up his hand. “Start at the beginning please.”
She did, describing the man who had tried to turn her and the rescue by Mrs. Bherz.
“I should have been with you, Eliana. I'm so sorry I failed you. I didn't think things would move this fast.” He appeared distracted, running his hands through his hair as he scanned the garden center.
“Yeah, well, you forgot to mention in your little speech yesterday that I would have to watch out for demons.” She crossed her, and a thread of anger burned through her.
“You're right. I assumed the Destruction side didn't know about you yet. I'm going to need to step up your training.” He cupped her face in his hand, smoothing a thumb over her cheek. “I promise I won't let anything happen to you.”
“Okay,” she said faintly. His hand on her skin did wonderful things to her body. She turned her face slightly and rubbed her cheek against his fingers. His eyes turned dark, and his full lips softened. She wanted to purr. Gods, what was it about this man that made her so insane with lust? Right now she should be worrying about her chances at surviving another day, yet all she could think about was how good his touch felt, how much she wanted to kiss him. And she was pretty sure he wanted to kiss her as well.
He cleared his throat and moved the flowerpot between them. “What are you doing tomorrow?”
She made her racing mind focus on the question he’d asked. “Tomorrow is Saturday, right? I have to do some studying in the morning, and I promised to have coffee with Janet, but after that, I'm free. But, I can cancel all of that if you need me to.”
He nodded and glanced at the husband and wife walking toward them. They obviously decided to plant tulips after all if the wife's victorious march was any sign. “No, don’t cancel anything. I want to take you around and introduce you to some of the Chosen in the area. It'll help you get an understanding of what we do and who we are. And it will help protect you.”
He handed her a business card shaped and colored like a whoopee cushion. “Meet me here at two o'clock?”
“Sure,” Eliana said as she read the card. It said Jack's House of Wisecracks in bold black letters. “Is this by the old movie theater in Georgetown?”
“Yes,” he said as he put the flowerpot back. “I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow. Stay where there are lots of people around. Destros normally won't try to move against you in public places. Lock your doors and don't let anyone in you don't know. The dorms have some pretty good shielding on them, and there are a ton of Creation priests and priestesses on campus, but I want you to be careful.”
“Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.” Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him leave. Man, did he know how to work a pair of jeans.
****
Inside the store, Linda paced the worn linoleum floor in the break room. Hands clenched at her sides, the hot pink color of her nails standing out against her white fists. She would give up her designer clothes, she would live in Linda's little white trash suburbia house, but there was no way she was giving up her manicures. Everyone had standards.
She felt the moment the Creation Chosen out in the garden center with Eliana lowered his shields; it felt like sudden sunburn on her skin. Thank Eris she kept her shields tight, or there could have been a messy situation. While she doubted the Creation Chosen would have attacked her in the store—too many potential innocents around—it would have screwed up all her careful planning.
Dillon's attempt to recruit the girl earlier today had failed miserably. He was unable to magically influence her into accepting the Destruction side and had lost his temper. She couldn’t understand how Dillon could have failed. Even without his powerful persuasion spells, Dillon was one of the best lawyers in New York City. He could talk anyone into doing anything, but he couldn’t get that little bitch to bend to his will. Then, Dillon had the bad luck of some random Creation Priestess showing up and spoiling the fun.
Linda continued to pace as her anxiety built. She needed more time. There was another load of fertilizer coming in tonight, and she had a truck waiting to pick it up. Plus she had to finish forging the paperwork on that dippy bitch Eliana. So sweet, so innocent, she should have been ripe for the plucking.
Linda was so distracted she nearly didn't notice when the burning sensation faded and the Creation Chosen left the area. She let out a deep breath, carefully expanding her senses to make sure she was safe, or as safe as she could be. Flipping open her sparkly pink phone, she called Dillon.
“Hello, pookie,” Dillon said in a cultured purr.
“I think the little bitch has a Mentor, or some Creation Chosen is interested in her.”
“Funny you should say that. I just got off the phone with David. He thinks Aiden Klemenson, a Chosen of Odin, is her Mentor.”
Linda sucked in her breath through her teeth. “Fuck.”
“Fuck what, sweetie?”
“That would be the darling son of Rana Klemenson, Chosen of the goddess Freyja, a Nordic war deity. She's been a serious problem in the past.”
The door opened, and a cashier slouched in to take her break. One look at Linda's scowl turned her right back the way she came.
“Rana…that’s a blast from the past. Shit. All we need is Rana on our asses for killing her baby boy's student.” Dillon sighed. “How close are you to being finished?”
“A couple more days. I want this to be as airtight as possible. Eris doesn't take well to failure.”
“No, she doesn't. I'll be waiting for you when you get home, pookie. I have a nice little paperboy stashed for you in the garage. He can't wait to do his part for the cause.”
“You always get me the sweetest presents. I'll see you soon. Oh, and, Dillon, try to not kill him before I get there.”
Dillon said in a put-upon tone, “Fine. He's roughed up, but I'll put a tourniquet on him, and he should be okay. Kisses.”
Chapter
Aiden leaned on the glass display case that held a collection of rare antique gag toys and novelties, absently scanning the items within. His friend Jack, who owned the store, sold every kind of rubber chicken, whoopee cushion, sneezing powder, joy buzzer, and blow-up sheep imaginable. As usual the air was filled with laughter and everyone that walked out the door left with a smile.
Though Jack looked like a tanned, blond surfer dude from the West Coast, he was a shrewd businessman and skilled Chosen—and Aiden's best friend.
Jack stood on the other side of the counter and played with an X-rated Yo-Yo while Aiden talked to him. The pinup picture on the Yo-Yo took off her to
p as the toy spun up and down its string. Aiden found it tacky, but Jack thought it was hilarious.
Jack often found something even funnier if it offended someone, a personality trait that had gotten him into trouble more than once. Lucky for Jack, he was as charming as he was offensive. If talking his way out didn't work, Jack was a master of Lua, an ancient Hawaiian martial art.
“So, you're a big, bad Mentor now, bro,” Jack said with a grin, then did an elaborate trick with the Yo-Yo that had it spinning over his head in a tight circle before returning neatly wound into the cradle of his palm. Jack often went heavy on the surfer lingo because he knew it annoyed Aiden and annoying Aiden was one of Jack’s favorite past times. Even after being friends for twenty years, he still wanted to strangle Jack on a weekly basis.
“Yeah, to a young and new potential Chosen. She doesn't come from a Chosen family, so this is all weird to her, but she's handling it well. I checked out her school record to get more information on her. Her name is Eliana Marie Shay, and she was born and raised in a small town west of here...a dry town.”
Jack whistled. “Wow, I didn't think they usually let their kids go to public universities where magic is taught.”
“I know. I was surprised when I saw her parents were atheists. She has a full ride scholarship, very smart girl. I think her family didn't have the money to send her to a private.”
“How's she handling all of this?”
“Great. She's open-minded despite her upbringing and eager to learn. I think I overwhelmed her with information yesterday. So I'm trying to take her around today to show her some of the things we discussed.”
Jack watched his friend with shrewd eyes. “Sounds good. What is it you're not telling me?”
Aiden sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. “She's hot, I mean really hot. I don't think she knows how pretty she is though. She has this amazing long light brown hair and these stunning eyes. I can't decide if they’re silver-blue or gray. And her lips...the things I could do to those full, pouty lips.”
“And her…?” Jack asked as he made the curving gesture in the air representing a woman's figure.
“Soft everywhere a woman is supposed to be soft. You know I like my women curvy.” He glanced at the door and back to Jack. “I think she likes me too. I'll catch her staring at me, and her eyes turn to this molten silver color. Makes me want to eat her like a peach.”
Jack laughed as he arranged a display of expensive mood rings. “So what's the problem? You have a hot little bodacious bunny that you're going to spend a lot of time mentoring. Why not teach her a thing or two?”
“Because,” Aiden said with a groan as he fiddled with a box of gag garlic chewing gum, “she's my student. I can't have anything to do with her in a sexual way. If she talked or someone saw us and told the university ethics board, I'd be fired. Not only would I be fired, but I could kiss my career and all my hard work goodbye.”
Jack ran a hand through his hair, and his expression grew grim. “You know how much David, that Destro Chosen in philosophy, has been looking for a reason to get me fired. Don’t let him catch sight of you together.”
“I hate that guy. He's such an asshole. He's been trying to get me fired since the moment we laid eyes on each other. After I stopped his attempt at inciting a student riot last year, he’s been even more determined. Fucker.”
“I remember that. Didn't he try to throw a curse at you to make your heart explode?”
“Yeah. The last thing I need is for him to get any whisper of Eliana and me. He would try to ruin her before she could become a Creation Chosen, and he’d take me out for vengeance.” His hands clenched at his sides. “And I'll be damned if I'm going to let him hurt her.”
“Getting fired would also piss off your family, big time. They take their status as a Dynastic family within the Chosen seriously.” Jack patted his shoulder. “Be strong, bro. Picture my Aunt Charlene in her leopard-print, size thirty-two spandex dress anytime you feel like you're losing control. Besides, how bad can it be? She's one little bunny, and you're Aiden, Chosen of Odin, bane of the forces of Destruction.”
“Yeah, well, I'm not the only one interested in her. Some Destruction flunky tried to get her to switch sides yesterday while she was jogging at Panther Hollow.”
“Shit, is she all right?”
He nodded and glanced at Jack with a guilty expression. “She is, but that's only because Mrs. Bherz happened to be on duty. She's a demonologist at the university. I hadn’t fill Eliana in on the dangers part yet and I feel like a major fuck up for not warning her about all the bullshit coming her way. I wanted to try to see how she would accept the concept of gods and goddesses before I added the part about demonic creatures wanting to eat her soul.”
“Is she a borderline soul?”
“No, she has a good, pure spirit. Normally Destruction wouldn’t make such an effort to turn someone like her.”
“If they’re already trying to make a move on Eliana, she has to be someone important.”
“That's my thought as well. Odin was pretty straightforward about Mentoring her, so I don't think I'll be getting any help from him there.”
Jack shuffled behind his counter. “I'll give her something to help her along, Aiden. You know we can't interfere too much. The shit we try to protect her from may be the shit she needs to do to attract a god’s attention.”
“Athena is interested in her too, so that's even more of a reason to keep my hands off her.”
A hard bolt of lust went through Aiden as he remembered the feeling of her cuddling against him yesterday at her work. It had taken a monumental act of self-control to keep from throwing her up against the wall and kissing her until she couldn’t breathe. Her breasts had been so soft crushed against his chest and she smelled so damn good. He wanted to eat her alive, to bury his face between her plump thighs until she was screaming his name. He bet she tasted like candy.
Just then, the brass bells above the front door rang and he knew even before he looked at her that Eliana had arrived. Her sensual energy brushed over his aura like a physical caress and he tugged at his shirt, trying to hide the major erection he now had. Gathering his willpower, he turned to watch Eliana enter the store and looked around. Her long silken hair was held back in a high ponytail, exposing the delicate line of her jaw and curve of her neck. She wore a long-sleeved ice-blue top that dipped in the front of her ample chest and a pair of jeans that hugged her hips. His cock punched against the fly of his pants as he stared at her and he had to choke on a primal growl of need.
She spotted them at the back of the store, and her silver eyes shone as she stared at Aiden, then smiled as joy filled her face at the sight of him.
Jack whistled and whispered, “Bro, you're in so much trouble.”
“I know,” Aiden said in a low, pained voiced.
****
Taking a deep breath, Eliana approached the counter at the back of the store and tried to hide her nervousness. She passed a display of what must have been at least three dozen different types of rubber chickens. Some poultry wore clothes, and one appeared to be wearing a sparkly purple thong. Aiden and a tall, tanned guy with wavy blond hair watched her approach.
Her eyes locked on Aiden, and the embarrassing flutter in her belly and thump in her heart started again. He stared back and her nipples tightened beneath his gaze, begging for his lips to suckle them. Crap, she promised herself she wouldn’t let her hormones make her lust dumb today. She needed to put on her big girl panties, as Chrissy would say, and act like the mature woman she was. It would be a lot easier if he didn't look so damn good in a tight T-shirt and jeans. Jeans that he filled out really, really well in the front.
That couldn’t be his hard dick pressing against his pants, but if it was he tucked to the right and he was more than a handful. Way more. Way…way more. Her pussy clenched, reminding her of how long it had been since she had sex.
When she reached Aiden she stared up at him, reminded of how m
uch bigger he was than her. The ability to speak fled her and she swore she saw a glimmer of dark green around him for a moment, swirling like an odd combination of mist and incense smoke. A hint of that green reached out to her and she sucked in a tight breath at the sensation of fingers lightly tracing over her cheek.
“Hello,” Aiden said in a rich, husky voice that did wonderful things to her body.
Before she could respond the blond guy cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, “My name’s Jack.”
She blinked hard and tore her gaze away from Aiden, turning to look at the Jack and automatically extending her hand, her good manners kicking in even though her mind was totally occupied Aiden. “Hi, Jack.”
Jack gave her a roguish smile and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. “You must be the lovely Eliana.”
She grinned, regaining some of her wits now that she wasn’t looking at Aiden, and raised an eyebrow as Jack continued to place gentle kisses on her hand. “Well, I'm glad I washed my hands after cleaning the toilet this morning… or did I?” She pouted her lips in a mock-puzzled expression.
Jack dropped her hand and turned to Aiden with a grin. “Oh, she's a sassy bunny. I like it.”
She glanced at Aiden with an arched brow. “Bunny?”
“Jack was born and raised in Hawaii. His father is a High Priest to the Hawaiian god of music and fertility, Lono. Bunny is a surfing term for a girl.”
“A very beautiful girl,” Jack said with a wink. “But, yeah, I was hoping to get picked by some fertility god like my dad so I could be a babe magnet. Instead, thanks to my Swedish surfer-girl mother, I’m a Chosen of Loki.”
“Maybe because you have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old boy?” Aiden asked dryly.
Jack grabbed his chest and staggered back. “Bro, you wound me. My sense of humor is at least that of a fourteen-year-old.”
She laughed at them. It was so different watching Aiden interact with Jack. He seemed much younger and more carefree than the serious professor she thought she knew. If it was possible, it made her like Aiden even more.
