And he was a very good kisser.
She could feel he was holding back. Of course, they were in the middle of the library parking lot in the 100-degree heat. And she had just been kind of bitchy. Still, she knew her guys, and by now they were usually groping her clumsily.
Everything about this was hot. His mouth, his hands, his body pressed against hers. It was all very intense and real, and she was losing herself in his scent, like a campfire in the woods. Full of earth and spice.
She pulled away. It was too much, and she was panting. She wiped at the sweat on her forehead and sucked in her bottom lip. He was breathing hard too, his chest looking mighty good beneath his tight black T. She liked the way his hair was sun kissed on top, but got darker and darker the further down you looked, until the bottom was black as coal. And his eyes, they were almost golden, they were such a light brown.
You’re not allowed to fall for him. Not unless he’s cleared. And even then it can’t last. It was okay though, purely physical. She didn’t even really know him. At most she could say she was curious. Yes. That was it.
“Why do you look like you just ate a dirty sock?” she asked finally registering his expression.
“I – I’m not looking for a relationship,” he said. What an unusual thing for a guy to say. Could he be gay? Not the way he was getting into that kiss…
“Good. Cause neither am I.” She flicked the curl lying in the center of his forehead and straightened her tank, well aware of how much cleavage was now visible. If he was an eighteen-year-old Elemental, this was the easiest way to get him to give himself away. And the most fun.
And if it was him she’d been searching for, she knew exactly which of the four Elementals he was. They were all dangerous, but even the unenlightened humans had a saying about playing with fire. And that was exactly why she’d wanted this assignment. The adrenaline rush. She was well equipped to deal with her target once she found him.
She stepped forward until she was back in his personal space. She could feel the heat coming off him in waves, but his shirt was probably soaking up the sun like a miniature black hole. He stayed very still as she ran a finger down his arm. He shivered at her touch, and she wondered what would happen if she jumped him right there in the parking lot.
“Maya, I really have to go now. The hour’s almost up anyway.”
“You owe me fifteen more minutes,” she teased.
He looked away over her head, and his eyes hardened for a minute. “I can’t do this.”
“You already did, and unless I’m missing something, it wasn’t that bad.” She flipped her hair back.
“I told you, I’m not looking-”
“For a relationship. And I told you I’m not either. Just some fun during the summer in this stinking town. I mean, you can’t even be outdoors around here in the summer. It sucks.”
“Where are you from?” Aedan asked.
“Minnesota. Now that’s a place you can really enjoy the summer.”
Aedan made a face. “Yeah, because the other eight months of the year you’re barricaded behind twelve feet of snow and ice.”
“Don’t like winter, huh? That’s so shocking coming from a desert dweller.”
“You really hate it here that much?” he asked, softening. He seemed really curious.
“I haven’t found anything worth the heat, the snakes, and the scorpions. At least not yet. But I can be open minded,” she said, pressing against him again. He took a step back and looked around like he was hoping for an extraction team to swoop in and rescue him. “How about you convince me otherwise? You have exactly three hours a week for ten weeks. What do you say?” she asked.
Aedan’s mouth opened like he was going to say something, but nothing came out.
“You don’t want it to get back to your mother that you were rude, do you? Worse yet, she might find out about your little habit.” She poked him in the chest on the last word.
“Habit?” Aedan asked stepping back again, his golden eyes filled with anxiety.
“You didn’t think anyone would notice your little late night forays into the graveyard?”
The color drained from Aedan’s face, and every muscle in his body tensed. For a minute she wasn’t even sure he was breathing. Saying she was curious was a major understatement. So many signs pointed to the fact there was something strange about him. But then there were other things that just didn’t fit. Like his personality. And his family. Toby said he’d never met such friendly, normal people. It was almost freakish. Certainly nothing like the family she was used to. And she was one of the good guys.
“So I’m the one who’s been watching you?” he asked at last. His face relaxed, and he leaned over her, eyes smoldering. A small smile turned at the corners of his mouth, and Maya’s pulse quickened. But she was not about to let him know he’d had an effect.
“Come on, Sparks, I’ll buy you a smoothie.” She slipped her hand in his and yanked him toward her Jeep. She liked the feel of his hand. It was warm, but not sweaty, and though it was large enough to completely engulf hers, it seemed somehow tender.
She wasn’t giving up on the whole making out test, but it wouldn’t hurt to try a different approach as well. She had to get an answer on Aedan Sparks so she could move forward. The window of opportunity was narrow enough as it was. She had until the equinox, September 22nd, to identify and destroy the One. That was the nineteenth birthday of all four Elementals, and the date they were destined to come together to destroy the world.
Chapter Four
Maya
Air conditioning and summer break meant a guaranteed customer base for the Tucson mall. Sure enough, it was packed with kids from school. Maya didn’t mind, she fed off energy and excitement. The more chaotic, the more enticing the situation, it all came back to that adrenaline high.
It seemed Aedan did not share her love of pandemonium, however. One look at his pale face, the way he stiffened and stuffed his hands in his pockets, told her she might have miscalculated. Probably should have seen that coming from a guy who frequented graveyards. Oh well, maybe he’d be knocked off balance and give himself away. Assuming he was the One. About which she still had her doubts.
“I’ll have a large blueberry-banana,” she told the guy behind the counter. He frowned at her and started dumping the ingredients in the blender with a little too much force. Guess he wasn’t going for employee of the month. “And my friend wants a large strawberry-mango.”
Aedan tilted his head, considering her. “How did you know I like-”
“Strawberry-mango? Just a hunch.” She shrugged a little, bouncing back on her heels with a smirk.
“You have a habit of finishing my-”
“Sentences? Yeah. I know. I have patience issues.” Maya ran a finger along Aedan’s arm again. His muscles were so taut she could play guitar on his tendons. That only made him all the more attractive. She liked her men physically fit so they could keep up with her. She really hoped she wouldn’t have to kill him.
Mr. Sunshine handed the smoothies over, and she paid with a crumpled up ten dollar bill she had shoved in her shorts. Then she led Aedan away from the food court and toward the lesser-populated side of the mall. The department store where only the old people shopped.
Sure enough, it was much easier to find an empty bench near the fountain. It was half covered with palm fronds from the trees transplanted into the center of the mall. Stupid place to put a real tree, if anyone asked Maya – though no one had. But she could see it was working. Aedan seemed to relax a tiny bit. His eyes remained guarded though, as he watched her from beneath furrowed brows while sucking on his straw.
Above them a real bird chirped near the skylight, the sound echoing all around. How those things got trapped inside she had no idea, but they were always there. Maybe they had no interest in finding a way out. It was cooler inside, and there was plenty of free food and water. Maybe freedom was overrated.
Maya folded her legs beneath her, leaned ove
r so her side brushed his arm, and proceeded to suck on the straw in a way that could have gotten her arrested in the small southern town she visited last.
“Mmm,” she said, pausing to lick her lips and run her tongue along her teeth. “I love blueberries. And bananas.”
Aedan shifted on the bench and set his smoothie cup down hard on the arm. “What are you doing?” he asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Why are we here? Why are you… doing that?” His eyes finally broke away from her and darted around as though checking to make sure no one else had seen her display.
“I didn’t think it would offend you so much. I paid five bucks for the damn thing, I ought to be able to enjoy myself.” She pouted and flipped her long hair back again.
“You’re just, um, different than you act at school,” Aedan said. “I didn’t know-”
“I was such a handful?” She set her drink down on the other side of the bench and climbed up on her knees so she was level with his face. “I am high maintenance, but I guarantee you it’s totally worth it,” she said.
“It’s way past an hour now,” Aedan said. “I really should get back. I need to… need to do some things around the house for my parents.”
Maya swung her leg over him so she was sitting across his lap. Aedan jolted upright, grabbing her by the waist, and trying to shove her off, but she hung on like she was riding a mechanical bull.
“What are you do-”
She cut him off by pressing her lips to his again. Her tongue was nearly numb from the smoothie and felt incredible against the heat of his mouth. He froze as if in shock while she moved her mouth against his. His hands stayed firmly around her waist, but he wasn’t trying to push her off anymore. He wasn’t exactly pulling her toward him either.
Maya continued until his breathing sped up, his chest rising rapidly against hers. And as she began to slowly pull away, he began to return her kiss. She smiled through it, drawing her fingers up through his hair, and mashing her body against his. Gotcha, she thought, feeling his excitement rise.
But a minute later, and he was firmly, but gently guiding her off of his lap. Taken by surprise, she let herself be set down on the bench next to him while he leaned forward burying his head in his hands.
When Maya reached out to touch his shoulder, he jerked away with such vehemence, she withdrew and bit her lip.
“I’m sorry,” she said finally. “I didn’t think you’d be so upset. I’ve never had a guy get that bent out of shape over my kissing him before.” She felt herself flush, heard the bitterness in her own words. It was true though. No one had ever turned her away. She was the one to leave them wanting more. Not the other way around. She gathered her hair back and twisted it over her shoulder.
“I don’t even know you, Maya. Not really.” He lifted his head a bit and peered between his fingers. His face was pinker than his smoothie.
Maya’s mouth gaped open. “Well, I was hoping we’d get to know each other better.” She wanted to say it in a sexy way, but it came out a little defensive. She had to get to know him better. At least well enough to figure out one little thing.
“I’m going home now,” Aedan said. He looked and sounded tired.
“You have to tutor me tomorrow,” she said as he rose from the bench.
He considered her for a moment then tossed his cup into a nearby trash bin. “I’ll be at the library tomorrow morning if you’re interested in learning some math.”
And with that he walked away, head down and hands stuffed in his pockets.
Chapter Five
Aedan
Maya was right. He wasn’t a normal guy. Which is why he should have never gone with her to the mall in the first place. She’d thrown him off with the mention of his “habit.” But so what? So he visited the graves of some old friends. There was nothing incriminating about that. Not unless she really went digging. And that would just be stupid. Why would anyone do that?
Aedan kicked at a stone on the side of the road. He’d made it almost all the way back to the library where his car was parked. It probably would have been suicide for a normal person to walk without water, dressed as warmly as he was at high noon in the middle of the desert in June. Like he needed any more reminders right now about his abnormalities.
By the time he reached his dusty Ford pickup he was seriously upset. He kept asking himself why. Why couldn’t he have a relationship? Why couldn’t he have some fun with the girl he’d been dreaming about for months who practically threw herself at him? What the fuck was wrong with him? But he already knew the answer to that last one.
He threw open the door and climbed inside. Then he started up the rumbling old motor and dropped his head against the center of the steering wheel where the dark leather seared into his skin. It felt good, which only made things worse.
The radio left on when he’d cut the engine that morning, picked up again blaring Highway to Hell. Forget the highway, he’d already arrived.
Aedan started driving home but found the idea of facing Edy and Sam’s expectant faces less than appealing. So instead he put the broken air conditioner on full blast just for the hell of it and headed for the Vs.
The V’s was the nickname he’d come up with in his head. It was the best description he had for the three very different girls he’d loved. He couldn’t really bring himself to say the actual word. But he owed it to them never to let himself off the hook. So “victims” turned to “Vs”, which seemed somehow right.
At least he knew Maya wouldn’t be following him right now. That thought didn’t exactly comfort him as he pulled into the cemetery. The rolling green hills were almost surreal they were so bright. This was one of the few places that footed the kind of water bill it took to keep the place lush, and as there were no funerals being held at the moment, the place was relatively peaceful and quiet, which was a bit of a relief.
Aedan hopped down from the truck, leaving the windows open, and a cloud of dust rose from the spot he landed on in the gravel. He wiped at his jeans, trying to make himself somewhat presentable, and took off at a good pace for the first of the Vs. Danielle.
Dani’s grave was small. But that was because she’d only been six when she died. It seemed to him to grow smaller with each passing year. He squatted down in front of the modest headstone and laid a hand on the granite, remembering. It had seemed so large and insurmountable the first time he’d visited. Of course, he hadn’t been allowed at the funeral itself. Edy forbade it. But he’d been able to convince Sam how important it was to him, and Sam had acquiesced, driving him on Sunday evenings when Edy thought they were playing ball at the park.
Aedan met Dani in preschool. The two of them had been inseparable. Edy used to joke that Aedan was already engaged. He didn’t know what she was talking about, only that he loved how Dani could make him feel like a real kid. He shared everything with her. Everything except the one thing that probably meant the most. But whenever he thought about the way her dark eyes sparkled when she saw him or her big toothless smile, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Somehow he knew, even then, that he’d lose her if he told.
But Dani was far braver than he. She shared her darkest secret with him, crying against his chest, gripping his Power Rangers shirt so tight he thought it was going to rip apart. And just as she finished confiding the kind of pain her new daddy had caused her, the man had walked right into the room. Dani gasped and hid behind Aedan’s shoulder.
And scrawny little seven-year-old Aedan had stood up, body trembling, and thrown out his arms in front of his friend, determined to protect her from the evil man who now towered over him with a big fake smile.
Aedan remembered the smell of the man’s cologne as he knelt down before him, laughing. Whenever he caught a whiff of it on someone else he still felt sick to his stomach.
“I think you need to go home now, Aedan. Dani’s mommy will take you home.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he’d said. He felt the heat rise with
in his trembling body. Sensed the now familiar tingling in his fingertips. The burn in his eyes. He knew he should do his breathing exercises. Knew he needed to get a cold drink of water. But he was so angry.
“I don’t know what stories Dani’s been telling you, but I really think it’s time you go,” the man had said. Aedan could still see his face grow cold, his icy gray eyes flicker to Dani who was sobbing behind him, head still buried in his shirt.
“You’re the one who needs to leave,” Aedan said. He tried so hard to control his breathing. But he could feel it coming. Like it felt when he held his pee too long and couldn’t make it to the bathroom.
That’s when the man had grabbed his shoulders. And Aedan exploded in flames.
Both Dani and her stepfather died in the fire. Miraculously Aedan survived. Miraculously. That was a word he’d heard far too many times to count. He sure didn’t feel like much of a miracle. More like a demon. Or a monster. Or a serial killer.
Aedan wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand and straightened up. “I only wanted to protect you, Dani,” he whispered. He’d said it a million different times. A million different ways. But it would never be enough. Never.
He drew a deep shuddering breath, and moved on to the next V. Carrie’s grave was beneath a twisted mesquite tree on the top of a hill. The stone read: Carrie Holmes, beloved daughter, sister, and friend. March 23, 1996 – February 3, 2009.
Carrie never made it to her thirteenth birthday. She was Aedan’s first kiss. And he hers. The memory of her strawberry lip-gloss made him lift two fingers to his mouth. His body was in such a state of flux back then. It hadn’t taken much to set him off. But he’d pulled back. Gotten it under control. And he left feeling like for once he’d succeeded in mastering the beast within. He was elated for more reasons than one. But when he heard the sirens on the street not fifteen minutes later…
Flame and Fury Page 2
