Carl (Guardians In Love Book 4)

by Brianna West

  I knew that pain, and I knew what it would do to someone. But I also knew that hearing what it would do to them might bring them to some sort of revelation.

  “There are other ways,” I argued, calmly centered on Niko’s form as the blue magic around him swirled with the heightened emotion he was feeling. “If you come back, I promise to speak on your behalf to the Council. We’ll find a way to get this demon, but we’ll do it the right way.”

  Niko’s eyes wavered as he stared towards the floor, the clear conflict he felt evident inside of them before he raised his brightly illuminated irises to where I sat on the bed beside Aidan. He was at odds with himself, that much was clear, so I could only hope it was because what I was saying was getting through to him.

  In all the time we’d known each other, Niko had been the most sensible and responsible Guardian I’d ever known. Thankfully, it appeared that the darkness hadn’t changed that about him. It might be presumptuous to think I might be able to change someone who spent over twenty years doing the Dark’s bidding in order to afford themselves a chance to avenge their loved one, but I had to try.

  For Andrea.

  Aidan fisted his hands, his entire body practically stone as I attempted to reason with Niko. I knew what it must feel like to have to stand idly by while I spoke to someone who had attacked him, had attempted to kill him, and even gone as far as to abduct a person he cared about, but I didn’t have a choice.

  Niko deserved a chance to redeem himself. Niko didn’t have anyone else willing to fight for him, so I’d do it because the day he’d lost Andrea, I’d lost her too. I’d grieved her loss just as much as Niko had. She’d been like a little sister to me, and I owed her at least this much. In her memory, I’d do whatever I could to get Niko to see the wrong he was doing.

  Obviously conflicted, the conviction in Niko’s eyes weakened as he looked from me to Aidan, then his blue magic kicked up again and swirled around his rigid body. Jaw taut, Niko’s blazing eyes fixed to where I pleaded him for a moment longer before he was gone.

  The magic binding my legs to the bed disappeared, causing Aidan to immediately take hold of my arm and drag me into the swirling portal he’d somehow maintained during the entire ordeal. The swaying, violent vortex hit my debilitated body with tremendous force. The pressure was excruciatingly painful, but I managed not to cry out.

  Finally, I was ejected back into the mortal realm, still with Aidan’s arms wrapped securely around me in a fierce embrace. His heart was beating hard against the breastbone, matching the speed of mine as I rested my head against his chest and fought the burning in my eyes.

  There was a weight in my stomach and the urge to cry was becoming increasingly more difficult to keep at bay as I stood, merely embracing the one person I’d worried I’d never see again. Aidan’s unique musk calmed my raging thoughts, but it couldn’t completely smother them.

  No matter what I reasoned inside my head, I was conflicted. I’d wanted to convince Niko, but I wasn’t sure if I had. He’d let me go, but I didn’t know if it was an act of self-preservation, or in a gesture of good faith. I wasn’t sure where to go from here, or whether or not I should try to do anything at all.

  Aidan’s arms tightened around me, his sighing breath disturbing the hair on top of my head. “I’m very close to requesting a long holiday. Do you attract the mental, or is it just plain bad luck?”

  Lifting my eyes to his, I pondered how to respond. I knew he was only trying to lighten the mood before we had to report my return, and I didn’t want to be the reason all the fun was lost.

  “What’s to say it’s not you attracting all the bad company? You’ve got the face for it.”

  Aidan laughed with the short constriction of his arms, the vibration of his amusement tickling my cheek. “Laura says it’s my resting bitch face. Whatever that bloody nonsense is. Wait a tick…”

  He pulled away to look down at me, then pinched my cheek with a heart-warming smile. “Did you just turn that on me?” Aidan clicked his tongue, but his smile widened until it nearly eclipsed his face. “Cheeky tiger.”

  Smiling to myself, I pulled away and assessed our surroundings. “Took you long enough.”

  “Oi,” Aidan called after me when I walked on ahead, my heart effectively soothed with the back and forth banter, “Is that how you thank your savior? Isn’t it customary to shag the bloke who saved your bloody life?”

  Offering Aidan a reproachful look over my shoulder, I shook my head and let out the residual adrenaline that lingered with a deep, slow exhale. “We need to contact Victor.”

  Aidan laughed when I outright ignored him, taking the phone from his pocket and handing it over to me. I looked at it, pensive as the screen flashed in greeting.

  We were somehow back in California, and the location on the phone listed we were just outside of Sacramento, near Lodi. The closest safe house was about twenty miles from here, but we could get there easily with our speed. Assuming I had any strength to use mine. With my body quaking and ready to collapse with just a few mere steps, it was safe to say I’d need to wait or hitch a ride. Neither of which sounded appealing.

  The only other option was to call Victor.

  I was sure Aidan had likely gone to the Underworld without permission, so I wasn’t eager to report to Victor right away. Still, it was essential that we did, because there would be quite a few people who would be worried about my fate.

  But a few minutes wouldn’t hurt.

  I pocketed the phone and breathed in the fresh air, listening to the loud chirps of bugs as the sky colored with the looming hour. It was close to dusk and soon the forest would come to life with its nighttime creatures. Ironically, most of the ones in this area were purely animal, none of which had any affiliation with the Dark.

  “Wasn’t it you who said we should call?” Aidan asked, his voice suddenly beside my ear.

  I turned towards the massive man who towered over me in his partial transformed state, heart palpitating unevenly. The signs of the fading beast were there, as his incisors had dulled slightly and his claws had retracted, but he was still obnoxiously large. Which was the entire reason I had to angle my neck just to peer up into his face.

  But I had promised myself if I managed to get home, I’d do it. I’d say the words. I didn’t want to regret never saying them, so I swallowed around the anxiety lodged in my throat and looked into Aidan’s eyes with every bit of courage I owned, disregarding how much it bothered me to have to look up at him.

  “I love you,” I announced passionately, “More than I ever thought possible.”

  Aidan’s shocked expression was worth the courage it took to say the words. He’d gone completely stiff. His mouth had even fallen open ridiculously, and I was having a difficult time not outright laughing at how utterly shocked the man appeared to be.

  Granted, I’d just sort of spouted it out without prompting. I’d been so desperate to get the words out that I hadn’t thought of any sort of prior speech before dropping the three most loaded words a person could say to another person. Although, I’d sort of thought Aidan had gathered how I felt because of the mutual two-level bond.

  Licking my lips, I breathed in quickly. “I’d like it, I mean…it would be nice if you considered dating me. Uh, you know, after everything is settled with—”

  Aidan swiftly took hold of my face, surprising me for a second before slamming his mouth into mine. The abrupt kiss elicited a broken sound from my throat. His answering groan teased the bare flesh of my chest as he pressed into me and devoured my mouth in a crazed, knee-weakening kiss. When he finally pulled away, I stumbled forward a bit and had to be stabilized by his hands.

  I looked up, noticing that Aidan’s face was visibly flushed. Even in the distorted light, it was clear that he was blushing. It was downright adorable as he fingered nervously through his hair, and then pulled me into his chest. His voice rumbled against my ear as he held my head there, refusing to let me see his face any more than I already had
.

  “Bloody hell, I wanted to be the first to say it. Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He groaned loudly before clearing his throat. “If I wasn’t so bloody afraid of that supervising angel of yours, I’d throw you down right here and shag you until morning.”

  I attempted to look at him, but his hold tightened while his hand kept my head from moving away from his chest. I smiled, finding the obvious embarrassment on the large man utterly charming. The tension in his body made it clear he was uncomfortable. But if that wasn’t telling, his scent certainly was.

  “I…erm,” Aidan started, cursing under his breath, “I, well, you know…”

  My smile widened, only able to look at the trees nearby because Aidan’s hold had only gotten stronger as he fought to say something in return. I gave his strained arm a couple gentle pats, attempting to console him, but his body only tensed further.

  “Fuck,” Aidan cursed with a low groan, pressing his chin onto the top of my head and resting it there, “I bloody love you, yeah? I didn’t think I’d ever be one of those love-sick twits, but you’re all I can bloody think about. It’s driving me absolutely mental.”

  I couldn’t express the elation I felt upon hearing his heartfelt confession. I’d never imagined that such a rough declaration would make my heart feel so fulfilled and my body so warm, but it did. It was everything I could’ve ever hoped a confession of love would be.

  I hadn’t realized I was crying until Aidan pulled away, concern etched into his brow the instant he looked at me. He quickly brushed away the hot tears streaming down my face, visibly distraught.

  “Shite, fuck,” he muttered, taking hold of my face and turning it this way and that. “What is it? Are you hurt somewhere? What did that bloody tosser do to you?! When I get my hands on him, I’m—”

  I took hold of the hysterical Guardian and kissed him roughly. His humming groan resounded between our open mouths before he grasped the sides of my face with both of his hands and kissed me back, quickly dominating my mouth with his tongue.

  My head swam, unfocused. The only thing that mattered was Aidan. Kissing him was all I could care about, and in my hurry to taste every part of his mouth, I refused to stop to breathe; too afraid I’d miss something. When I finally drew away, Aidan’s partially transformed body was heaving and tautened with arousal. The moment was swiftly interrupted by Nelly Furtado’s ‘Maneater’ song. Aidan groaned as I took the vibrating phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen.

  “Laura?”

  “Fuck,” Aidan cursed angrily, “Her timing is bloody perfect as always.” Taking the phone, Aidan put it to his ear and stared at me as I regained my composure. “What do you want?”

  Then, as if struck by a brilliant idea, Aidan leaned over and pressed his mouth into mine, clutching me around the neck and holding me prisoner to the hot kiss as Laura’s shrill voice came through the receiver.

  ‘Aidan, you bloody imbecile! Where are you?! Everyone’s waiting. We’re finally going to get Carl and you’re not bloody here. You’d better not be somewhere doing something stupid, you bloody git!’

  Aidan grunted, his mouth smiling against mine before he deepened the kiss. Then pulling away with a grin, he stared at the screen.

  “No need. I’ve gotten back what’s mine, yeah? Tell everyone we’ll be there tomorrow.” Laughing as Laura started to rant angrily, Aidan ended the call with his thumb. “Now, where was I? Oh, right…”

  Jerking me back forward, Aidan’s mouth covered mine again and silenced any protest I was ready to make with the forceful kiss.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Suddenly, my back was pressed into the unforgiving bark of a nearby tree with Aidan’s massive body pinning me there. His scent overwhelmed any other scent in the air, tantalizing and beckoning me to surrender to him. There wasn’t time to consider how it had all happened, because I was already grasping Aidan’s burly arms and holding fast. Our mouths collided hotly, the scent of our combined lust wafting all around us in a dense fog.

  His taste was something that, even after the many kisses we’d shared, I couldn’t get enough of. I desired it more and more each time our mouths met. I wanted to devour it and keep it inside of me for as long as I could. It was distinct and delectable. Along with everything about Aidan, it titillated the senses. It drove me mad with need, and I barely kept myself at bay as I reached for Aidan’s neck and drew him down harder, deepening our kiss until there was no air left between us.

  The beast inside was already raging to life with Aidan’s touch. His scent had effectively intoxicated and set my body aflame. Without understanding why, I was desperate to have him, no matter where we were or who was waiting for us. In the chaos, it was only clear that I needed him to claim me as many times as it took to satisfy the yearning. However many that was, I couldn’t be sure. But instead of being concerned that the beast was obviously taking over, I was actually relieved to have the chance to let my emotions run wild.

  Only a short hour ago, I was sure I’d never see Aidan again.

  I wasn’t certain how long we’d been kissing, but when I finally managed to get my thoughts together, Aidan was trailing kisses down the front of my chest to where my stomach had hardened, dramatically exposing the eight distinctive curves of my abdominals. He’d also stripped the torn shirt from my shoulders, leaving my torso completely bare and prickling with excitement.

  Silent but desperate, I waited.

  Head falling back, I groaned when his tongue plunged into my navel. His teeth grazed the flesh just above the waistline of my pants before he undid the button and zip, and then shimmied the waistline down until the fabric pooled around my ankles. I couldn’t breathe, gasping for air as he mouthed the thin material covering my already stiffened erection. My stomach clenched against the abrupt pleasure, a small gasp catching in my throat as I swallowed around the urge to moan.

  Huffing, I grappled the tree, hoping to find traction, but instead only finding the bitter bite of bark. Slipping fingers beneath the hem of my boxer-briefs, Aidan let his tongue run along the throbbing length before dragging down my underwear enough to fully expose it. His hot breath bathed the straining flesh, causing electric sensation to splay across my already overly sensitized skin.

  The air caught in my throat for a second time. The desire to seek his touch with a forward thrust of my hips nearly made me take hold of his head and force his mouth to go where I needed it the most. Thankfully, Aidan didn’t tease me for long. He took hold of the pulsating flesh with his large hand and tasted the weeping crown with the wet width of his tongue. My voice startled out of my open mouth, the deep, powerful moan accompanying the body-wide shudder that overtook me as his tongue continued to lap in long swipes at the head of my erection.

  “Oh Lord,” I breathed, panting.

  The growling need that the other Guardian let loose of only further pleasured the flesh, causing my body to tremble with excitement. Aidan swallowed the leaking head before devouring the rest into his hot mouth, groaning and swirling his tongue around the crown. My hand flew to his head, slipping into his hair and tugging with a short, surprised cry as the vibration of his voice nearly made me come.

  Aidan swallowed the entire length to the base before withdrawing all the way to the tip, letting his tongue tease the head again. His eyes darted upwards, meeting mine while I fought to keep upright. The pressure in my lower abdomen had already grown to alarming levels, ready to burst.

  Seeing such a powerful man knelt and tasting me there was more than enough to make me come, but I fought it off with the slow grind of my teeth. My body tensed against the slow, gradual warning in my lower belly and the intense, numb pressure of my imminent orgasm.

  Inhaling sharply, I tightened my hold on his hair absently, groaning low in my throat when the pleasure rippled across my skin. The other Guardian swiftly took hold of my hips, lending me his strength before devouring my entire erection in one fell swoop.

  “Fuck!” I moaned, fingers curling tighter into h
is hair as Aidan’s mouth consumed me again and again.

  I didn’t want to hurt him, but the pleasure was almost too much for me to bear. His mouth was so damn hot that I was sure I wouldn’t last very long at this rate. Frankly, I’d been hovering near the edge the minute his mouth touched my bare flesh. My control had only lasted me this long because I’d been accustomed to keeping my body at bay. But even I had limits, and I was close to the end of them.

  “Wait,” I pleaded desperately, too close to losing the battle. “I…can’t. Close. Wait a damn minute!”

  Aidan’s fierce eyes stared up from where he pleasured me, his lips lifted devilishly. Holding me prisoner to his mouth, he swirled his tongue again before taking me entirely inside the wet heat until it hit the back of his throat. He swallowed again, the hot cavern of his mouth tightening around my throbbing flesh and eliciting one of the most amazing sensations I’d ever felt.

  I shuddered violently with ecstasy as the flood of pleasure nearly took me to my knees. Legs quaking, I pressed my back harder into the wood of the tree, sure I’d collapse any minute.

  “Oh, fuck!” I groaned, unable to stop the oncoming climax as the pressure peaked and nearly threw me over the edge.

  When his finger probed my backside, I succumbed to the pleasure. I came so hard that my vision tunneled, the hot pulses of my swollen erection eagerly swallowed by the other Guardian. I’d started to collapse, but was kept from my downward plunge when Aidan stood and effortlessly took hold of me, pinning my numb body back into the tree.

  Wiping his mouth with a smirk, Aidan’s illuminated eyes flashed with victory. “Bloody hell, you taste as good as I remember,” he commented, chest heaving with great effort as he fixed the hair I’d gripped into total disarray. “Didn’t peg you for the hair-pulling type. Worried I’d go bald if it took any longer.”