Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave

by Mary K. Norris

She was clearly struggling with herself. “I want … ” She gave an exasperated gesture and started again. “I just … oh, fuck this.”

  She shoved up from the couch.

  Felix granted himself a small smile. She might not have admitted her need for him but a curse was just as good. He’d learned that when Cali was pitted in a tough situation her only escape was anger. He’d angered her because she didn’t want to answer his question. She wouldn’t lie to him, either. Cali was better than that. It was a small victory but he’d take it.

  “Not so fast.” He wrapped his arms around her, taking a moment to revel in the feel of her soft body against his hard one.

  “Let go of me.” She struggled against him but the movements only pushed her body harder against his erection.

  Felix stifled his groan and held back from thrusting against her. Barely.

  “Stop trying to run away from me,” he gritted in her ear. He pulled her back and dropped them both to the couch where he quickly draped his leg over both of hers to lock her in place. “I’m not going to push you anymore. Relax, Cali. I just want to hold you.”

  She tried one last time to move but he held firm. She turned to face him. “I don’t believe you.”

  He grinned down at her. “I don’t care what you believe because I got you right where I want you. Now stop being a pain in the ass and watch the movie. You scared the shit out of me today.”

  “I did?”

  She settled a little more calmly against him, his big body spooning hers.

  He pressed his lips to the back of her neck and felt her shudder. “Yes, I swear it’s almost like you go looking for trouble.”

  That riled her. “I do not go looking for trouble. I’m not some thrill junkie who needs — ”

  “Easy.” He kissed her neck again. “Easy.” He loved the way her body responded to his touch. “That’s not what I meant.”

  They got maybe ten minutes into the movie before Cali spoke again. “Felix?”

  He tightened his arms around her. “Hm?”

  Her body slowly stiffened, her heart racing so hard he could feel it.

  He frowned at the back of her head. “What is it?”

  “Are you using me just so you can get full control of your powers?”

  The question came straight out of left field. Felix blinked before his mind could catch up to the question. Was she serious? Her body was stiff as a piece of wood in his arms so he guessed she was.

  Felix ground his teeth. It was all that fucker Tyson’s fault. He swore if he ever met the bastard he’d rip his limbs from his body.

  He rose up onto his elbow and turned Cali onto her back so he could stare into those dark brown eyes of hers. “Cali, no. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”

  He could see the indecision warring inside her. “I already asked Niella — ” That surprised him. “ — and she said I could trust you guys, but I wanted to make sure.”

  “You can trust us.”

  She nodded. “Good, because for some reason I’m really starting to like you guys.”

  He gave a nonchalant shrug, a wicked smile teasing his lips. “It’s not every day you have people willing to take on a huge business to protect you,” he said with false modesty.

  She grinned right back at him, the sight like a punch to the gut. She was so beautiful.

  “Well, don’t expect anything in return. You guys offered willingly so I’m not holding myself in debt.”

  He raised both eyebrows at her. “Do I look like I expect anything in return?”

  She pushed at him playfully. “You’re always looking for something in return.”

  He pretended to think about that while he adjusted himself more comfortably atop her. “True enough. So what are you going to give me? Last I remember, you were down by two.”

  He pressed a soft kiss to her collarbone. Her breathing hitched. That small reaction had his cock throbbing.

  Slow, he reminded himself. Take this slow. She’s finally starting to trust you.

  He trailed his tongue up her neck, her hands threading into his hair. “I’m only down by two because you’re an unfair ref.”

  “Me?” he asked innocently, his hand sliding up to graze her breast.

  The air left her lungs in a rush, her breath tickling his neck.

  “Yes.” Her voice was rougher, lower. It turned his blood to fire. “Y-you don’t play … fair.”

  She turned into his kiss eagerly. His tongue slid between her lips before he pulled back. Her grip tightened in frustration. “Sometimes you have to fight dirty to get what you want.”

  Her eyes were ablaze with desire. He could all but smell her arousal, and it made him crazy.

  Slow!

  He growled low in his throat.

  Cali pulled his head back down to hers for a scorching kiss. She spoke against his lips, nearly cracking his resolve right then and there. “I’m okay with dirty.”

  He threw his head back on a groan. “God, Cali. I won’t be able to control myself if you talk like that.” He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his hands cupping her breasts. Her nipples were hard beneath his palm. He squeezed gently. Her body arched into his. “I want to learn every little part of your body. I want to know where you’re most sensitive and what makes you go wild.” He pulled the material of her bra down and sucked her nipple through the fabric of her shirt.

  She bucked beneath him, rubbing against his erection, hard.

  “Felix.” His name was a breathless plea, and her hands went straight for the waistband of his jeans.

  Slow, his mind screamed at him.

  With a self-control he didn’t think he possessed he pulled her hands back from him. “Wait, wait.” My God, he could hardly speak properly. “Slow. I want to take you slowly. Savor you. Be gentle.”

  She strained against his hands and nipped at his bottom lip. His cock tightened painfully. “I don’t want you to be gentle.”

  Well, fuck.

  He crushed his lips against hers. His hands slid possessively along her legs, hiking her skirt up until it bunched around her waist.

  An explosion came from the movie but Felix hardly heard it.

  Cali made quick work of his shirt. She took a moment to marvel at him. Every time she looked at him like that he became hers more and more. When she gazed at him like nothing else in the world existed but him, he felt invincible.

  She yanked him to her, her mouth connecting with his chest, her tongue laving his skin.

  He tore her panties from her legs and maneuvered himself between her legs. She was already wet for him. Felix swallowed thickly as his fingers slid in and around her sex.

  She moaned beneath him, her hips rising in unconscious surrender.

  Felix clenched his jaw. “I want you naked,” he growled.

  Her eyes were glazed with desire, her lips red and swollen. She lifted her arms without complaint, and he threw her shirt to the floor to join his. Her bra followed shortly. The only item of clothing that remained was her skirt. It was fitted around her waist like an oversized, purple belt. He didn’t mind. The sight of her like that was sexy as hell.

  “So fucking hot.” He glided his hands up her body to squeeze her breasts then trailed them lower to tease her between her legs.

  Her eyes never left his, the connection between them rocketing his arousal higher.

  She licked her lips, a hungry glint to her eye. “You have too much clothing on.”

  Her hands took their time traveling down his chest and abs. She started up again at his jeans and this time he let her. She pushed them and his boxers down in one sweep. He pushed himself up off her as much as possible so she could get his pants down around his knees. He took care of the rest until he was naked atop her. He dropped his body to cover hers like a blanket and they both moaned at the contact.

  He rocked his hips against her, his cock sliding against her clit. She grabbed his hips. “Stop teasing.”

  He gave her a roguish grin. “You forget, I
love teasing you.” He rocked a little harder against her. Her nails dug into his skin. He took her mouth with his. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth and kissed her until she was wanton beneath him, her hips arched recklessly against him, seeking. He held out just a little longer.

  He snuck a hand between their bodies and toyed with her, his mouth swallowing all her cries of pleasure.

  His fingers dipped into her sex. He groaned. “You’re so wet, Cali.”

  She bit his lip and sucked it hard. “I want you.”

  His control cracked.

  “Take me,” she begged.

  The crack grew.

  She undulated against him with a moan. “I need you.”

  His control snapped.

  He kissed her hard. One of his hands slid to her lower back and pulled her up. He rubbed the tip of himself against her sex, coating himself in her cream. Her arms wrapped around his back, her legs clutching his hips. With one powerful thrust he drove himself deep within her.

  Cali cried out.

  He pulled out to the crown and pushed back in, rolling his hips. Cali went wild. Her nails dug into his back, the small nip of pain adding to his pleasure as he thrust harder and faster into her.

  He could feel her muscles tensing, felt the pleasure rising within her. Sweat collected on his brow as he pushed himself to move faster. He pounded into her, her moans of pleasure nearly drowning out the movie in the background.

  “Come on, Cali,” he urged. “Come for me.”

  Her inner muscles clenched around him as she climaxed. He rode her through it, thrusting harder and harder until he couldn’t hold himself back anymore. His balls tightened, his cock jerked, and he came with a roar.

  He couldn’t move for a long moment. And he didn’t want to. Cali’s hands slid along his body at her leisure, as if she were trying to memorize every inch of him. She was positively glowing beneath him. She looked like a woman well loved. Pride filled him.

  One of her hands slid through his hair, and he tilted his head into her palm. “Am I crushing you?”

  She relaxed further into the couch and shook her head. “Feels nice.” As if to make sure he wouldn’t leave she wound her arms around his back.

  “Don’t worry, Cali.” He nuzzled her neck. “I’m not going anywhere. You really like me, remember?”

  He could feel her grinning.

  She pushed him off her. He rolled into the back of the sofa.

  “I meant I’m starting to really like the rest of the guild. Not you.” Yet, despite her words, she snuggled into his chest and spent the rest of the night in his arms.

  Chapter 18

  An alarm sounded at three A.M.

  Felix.

  Cali was going to kill him.

  The blaring ringtone came from the coffee table. Cali’s thoughts were consumed with needing to stop that horrible noise. She dragged her body from the warmth of the couch with one mission in mind. Pound the crap out of his phone.

  Felix grabbed her around the waist and spun her away from the coffee table before her fist could drop. “Whoa, Cali. Not the phone. Not the phone.”

  She relaxed back into the solid warmth of his body and noticed with some interest that he was already hardening. She rubbed against him.

  Felix swallowed a growl. “As much as I’m loving your sleepy and cuddly morning attitude, I have to get ready for work.”

  It was too early to even think about working. Cali turned in his arms and tried to rub the sleep from her face on Felix’s chest. It didn’t really work. It was too damn early. Cali hadn’t even known this hour of the morning existed.

  “Okay,” she mumbled groggily and pulled him down for a good morning kiss. It started out innocently enough but slowly gained heat. The sleepy fog that clouded her mind cleared as arousal peaked. It didn’t help that both of them were still naked. It only made it easier to crush her body against his, to rub herself against his rapidly growing erection.

  Felix broke away. “I have to get ready for work,” he repeated though it sounded as if the sentence pained him.

  Cali kissed him again. “Morning sex first,” she mumbled against his lips.

  Felix groaned low in his throat. “Work can wait.”

  They fell back onto the couch. Cali wrapped her legs tightly around his hips and thrust to meet him. Her body was already wet and ready for him. He slid in to the root.

  Cali dropped her head back. He felt so good inside her. Last night had been wonderful — raw, passionate. This morning Felix took her slower, his hips working at an agonizing rhythm as if he thought she were sore from the night before.

  She wasn’t, but the way he worked against her built such a delicious ache that she didn’t dare tell him to move faster. The more time she could steal with him the better.

  That sweet tension within her grew. Layer by layer. Each smooth thrust taking her higher.

  Despite the slower pace her breathing still increased. She was so close. She tightened her hold on him, driving her hips up so he filled her completely with each forward thrust.

  She was right on the edge of climaxing when he kissed her. His tongue tangled with hers. He rolled his hips, and she cried out with the pleasure of it. Felix came a few seconds later.

  She kissed along his collarbone, his heart thundering under his skin. She placed her hand over the harsh beating, marveling at how rapidly she was falling for someone like Felix.

  She’d never felt like this before. She’d never had morning sex with anyone because she’d never really spent the night with anyone. She always left after the sex or in the morning before her boyfriend would wake up, or before her boyfriend’s friends woke up.

  Felix kissed her long and deep. “I’m going to be late for work.”

  “Maybe you should call in sick.” She rotated her hips. He was still inside her and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head.

  “I … ” She repeated the motion. His jaw bulged. “ … can’t.”

  She tried to pout but a huge yawn ruined her. “Fine, fine, but bring me back my cherry pastries?”

  “For you, anything.”

  • • •

  Cali woke eight hours later covered with one of Felix’s fleece blankets. She didn’t remember falling asleep with it, which meant he’d covered her before he’d left. Her heart warmed just as her stomach grumbled. She needed to feed herself after all that physical exertion, but Felix wasn’t home yet. She took a shower to waste away the time before dragging herself to the kitchen table. She pulled out her sketchpad and froze when she saw her nearly completed project.

  It was the piece that was to pay for her rent, the one she’d forgotten all about in her haste to win over her fake job interview.

  The happiness she’d woken up with evaporated as she dropped her head in her hands. She was going to lose her apartment.

  The front door opened. “Cali? You awake? I brought breakfast.” Felix caught sight of her in the kitchen. His bright grin dimmed a little when he saw her. “What’s wrong?”

  Stop being such a downer.

  She swallowed her self-pity. There was no need to drag Felix into it. He and the guild were already doing enough for her. It still amazed her that they were willing to fight against Vander to help keep her safe. Granted, they were doing it to help any others like them out there as well, but the underlying concept was that they were behind her all the way.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do for a job, is all. You know, since my last option was some psycho-ass CEO who was only interested in kidnapping me.”

  He dropped the white bag of baked goods on the table and stood behind her to knead her tense shoulders. “From what I’ve seen of your art, you’re not going to have trouble selling anything you create.”

  “Your flattery isn’t going to get you anything, you know.” She took a large bite of her new favorite cherry pastry.

  When he spoke his voice was right next to her ear. “Are you sure?”

 
; She suppressed her shiver of delight and instead shoved some pastry into his mouth. “Yes. Now I’ve got work to do.” And lots of it. She wasn’t going to let Vander Donahughe screw up her life. She was going to finish this latest project and make her rent. No psycho asshole was going to ruin her success.

  Cali worked straight into the evening. Felix took a nap sometime during the afternoon and woke up to make her dinner. She could get used to this kind of treatment. She didn’t think she’d ever been made dinner before.

  Felix set a plate in front of her and took the seat opposite. “Joel called while I was in my room sleeping. They want us to come by the clinic. He sounded really excited about something. I was too afraid to ask.”

  Cali bit into her ravioli. Delicious. “He probably thought up some crazy name for our guild.”

  “That’s exactly why I didn’t ask.”

  • • •

  “Aletheia,” Joel proclaimed proudly once they set foot inside Sydney’s clinic.

  Cali and Felix shared a look. “What?”

  “The Guild of Aletheia. It’s Greek … you know, for truth? You guys don’t like it?”

  “No.” They denied his claim simultaneously.

  “It’s great, man,” said Felix. “Quite a mouthful though.”

  Cali nodded. “I like it. It sounds … strong.” She couldn’t think of a better word but the name did remind her a bit of Athena.

  “That’s what I said.” Sydney came out of one of her patient rooms. The clinic was closed and she was busy cleaning up.

  “I think it’s ridiculous,” said Niella. “But as long as we’re not giving out business cards with the name on it, I guess it’s okay.”

  “That’s the spirit,” said Felix jovially.

  Joel looked as if he didn’t know whether or not to thank Felix for his little remark or punch him for it. He chose to ignore him. “I also found a title for that Jente guy you were talking about yesterday, Cali.”

  “What’d you get?”

  “You said his power was invisibility, right?”

  “Yeah, by the way, Sydney are you using your powers?” Cali called.

  “Yes.” Her yell came from somewhere in the back. “I’ve been using them all day, and I can tell you personally that I’m getting a little crabby because of it.”