Mandy M. Roth - Magic Under Fire (Over a Dozen Tales of Urban Fantasy)

by Unknown

  So when they got to the library, instead of going in through the main entrance, she went in through the side—the same door where she’d first encountered Ian Marck when she was coming out. It was the closest entrance to the secret room, and the furthest from the living space.

  No one was around. When she slipped inside, Marisa saw only darkness and heard nothing at all. No one was there. Surely no one was there.

  She tiptoed in to be certain, making her way down one of the narrow aisles between bookshelves, listening and holding her breath…and then she heard it.

  Snores. Deep, guttural, choking snores.

  She grinned and turned back—only to find Luke immediately behind her.

  Her shock at seeing the large figure in her wake was quickly masked, however, and she made little more than a gurgling sound of surprise before leaning in to whisper, “Now would be a good time to set up the—the thing. No one is around. It’s dark. How much time do you need?”

  His face showed astonishment and relief. “Great. I was afraid…I thought you’d…well, to answer your question, I only need about ten minutes once I get up there.”

  Marisa nodded, putting space between them. She needed space or she was going to grab him and start kissing him again right there. “This way. I have an idea.”

  She’d already figured out the perfect location for the NAP. It was easy to get to and not very noticeable, for it was a location of the roof that was hidden by a decorative brick ledge.

  “These stairs lead to a roof access,” she told Luke when they got to the back of the building. “Dad used to go up there and watch for zombies. And maybe for the snoot, for all I know,” she added wryly.

  “You are amazing,” Luke said. He might have moved toward her for an embrace, but Marisa forestalled it by stepping back and gesturing him to go up.

  “I’ll stand watch. I’ll…um…I’ll whistle if anyone comes.”

  He needed no further urging, and disappeared up the stairs on silent feet. Marisa’s heart beat rapidly as she waited and listened, praying she wouldn’t hear any shouts or thuds or anything going wrong. She paced over to the single intact window at the end of the hall and looked out. The colorful light of the movie was still flickering in the distance, and everything was silent.

  Even the sounds of zombies were absent.

  So all she had to do was stand there and wait. And hope.

  And try not to think.

  The good news was, once he got the NAP set up tonight, there’d be no reason for Luke to stay. He could head back to Envy and bring whatever information he had to the Waxnicki brothers.

  And she’d never have to see him again. Wouldn’t have to face him again.

  He could leave first thing when the sun came up. She could help him get out without the snoot seeing him, and he’d be gone before she knew it—

  Marisa’s stomach dropped when a shadow fell over her, and she spun.

  “You’re back,” she managed to say. “That was quick. Everything went…everything went well?”

  “Mission accomplished. Thanks to you.” He was looking at her with an odd light in his eyes, and she turned away abruptly.

  “Let’s go.”

  He didn’t ask where, and she felt no need to explain the rest of her plan—it was probably pretty obvious where they were going. The rough snores still reverberated through the building, giving Marisa more confidence that everything was going to be all right.

  As long as she could get through the upcoming goodbye.

  Luke was silent, following close behind as she turned into the corridor leading to the secret room. Though he watched with interest as she removed the fake switch plate and pushed the code, Luke showed no reaction until the hidden door began to open. The pile of rubble slid to the side, the “fallen” beam lifted, and the wall moved.

  “Holy shit,” he muttered, wearing a look of admiration and shock. “The Waxnickis are fucking geniuses.”

  She gave him a little shove to get him to move over the threshold, then followed and pivoted back to ensure the door closed properly.

  “All right,” she said, turning to step into the room. “No one will be able to find—”

  All at once, he was there. Right there. His hands were on her, the wall loomed behind her, his body lined up against hers, and his mouth swooped down to cover her lips.

  Marisa’s startled gasp was smothered by the kiss, and she was vaguely aware when someone—Luke—tore away her glasses. His hands were everywhere, and so—she realized—were hers.

  Oh…God…she thought, sinking into the kiss, taking him on: the firm molding of his lips against hers, his slick, strong tongue, the heat trundling through her like some great dam had been released and flooded her with desire. She shivered when he slid his broad hands down to cover her bottom, to hold her hips in place as the heat and hardness of his body seared into her.

  Holy shit…

  I’m kissing Luke Desmond. For real.

  And he was delicious. Tasted delicious: sweet and salty on his jaw, warm and supple beneath his ear. He groaned into hers, and the low rumble filled his chest and vibrated beneath her hands.

  Before she quite knew what was happening, she’d yanked his shirt up and slid her hands beneath it and over the warm, smooth skin uncovered. Rough hair, rock-hard muscles, heat, damp…and the very obvious fact that he was interested in more than a kiss.

  “Marisa,” he sighed into her ear, his hands covering her breasts and his hips holding her in place. “Are you…I…we…” There was enough question in his voice, enough hesitation, to have her stuttering to a halt.

  No, it was more like soaking in one of the hot springs pools, and having someone pour a bucket of cold water on top of her head. Sudden and sharp and very eye-opening.

  She pushed at him and turned her face away so he wouldn’t see the shame and chagrin in her eyes. “Luke.” She stepped aside, away from him, away from the desire she’d ignored for years.

  “Marisa.” He grabbed her hands. He was panting a little, and his eyes were hot and yet filled with something odd…fear? Shame? Guilt?

  Oh God.

  “As I was saying,” she began bravely, amazed at how steady and cool her voice was. When she saw her glasses on one of the computer tables, she snatched them up and replaced them like a neat glass barrier. “No one will find us in here. We—you—can hole up in here until it’s safe or the snoot leave, and then you can sneak out be on your—”

  “Stop talking.” He held up a hand. It trembled a little. His sun-tipped blond hair was a tousled mess and his blue eyes were filled with misery and determination. His untucked shirt was catty-wonker and rumpled up, showing part of a flat, golden belly dusted with hair.

  Marisa swallowed hard and averted her gaze, only to have it land on the healthy bulge filling out his jeans. She yanked her attention away as her cheeks burned. Oh my God, I’m an idiot.

  “I need to say something,” Luke continued. “I need to…explain. I need to apologize.”

  She shook her head, stepping back—away from the golden temptation—and began to realign the spines of some books he’d obviously been poking through. Her throat was dry and filed with an awful lump. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain, or to apologize. We got a little…carried away.”

  His face changed. “Speak for yourself. I didn’t get carried away—well, I guess I did, but not in the way I think you mean.” He shook his head. “Dammit, Marisa, I can hardly think right now because all I want to do is drag you over here again and tear off your clothes and make love to you.”

  She blinked, and that blaze of heat rushed up to color her cheeks again. “Well, I don’t think that’s a good idea. After all, you broke my sister’s heart, and I don’t want to be nex—” Shit! She stopped herself, clamping her teeth shut, and covered her face with a hand. Just great. Now he knew.

  “Marisa,” Luke said…and then he was there, taking her hand gently. “I need to tell you what happened with Lainey.”


  “You broke her heart,” she reminded him again. “And, dammit Luke, you broke mine too. I thought you were…I thought you were the good guy. I thought she’d found the perfect man, the best husband, someone who’d love her and take care of her, and be there for her. I thought you two were meant to be together. And you left her.” Tears stung her eyes, and she wasn’t certain whether they were for her sister or for herself.

  He drew in a long breath. “The truth is, Lainey didn’t love me, Marisa. And I didn’t love her. We loved the idea of each other, but we fought like cats and dogs. We really had nothing in common except—well—healthy hormones.” He forced a laugh, but when she remained sober, he continued. “She broke up with me every time I turned around, and then she reeled me back in—” He stopped abruptly, stepped back and turned away. “I told her we shouldn’t get married, and she agreed, but she didn’t want to look like a fool, like she was fickle or something…and so I told her I’d take the blame.”

  And you did. In front of the whole town. And she never told me otherwise.

  “But she didn’t know,” he said, his voice suddenly soft and quiet, “that the real reason I couldn’t marry her was because I was…am…in love with her sister.”

  Marisa stilled. Had he really just said…what she thought she heard?

  “No,” she said quietly, ruthlessly quelling the sharp blaze of hope. “That’s just silly. That’s just—you’re just trying to get me into bed. Why on earth would you want a boring, bookish loner like me when you had Lainey? You don’t have to woo me into bed, Luke—in case you can’t tell, I’m more than happy to go there. Just…you don’t need to lie about it, or try and make me feel better about it. I—”

  “Whoa.” His hands whipped up, palms out, to stop her. “What the feck are you talking about? You think I’m saying this—that I’m spilling my guts to you after six years—just so I can get you into bed?” His eyes were a fierce, bright blue, and he seemed so stiff she thought he might snap into pieces.

  “Well, I…it seems…well, you know how it is in books and movies when a guy and a girl are on a mission together and they become attracted to each other? They sort of seize the moment and jump into bed because of all the adrenaline and…”

  He was shaking his head. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Six years—probably closer to seven—I’ve been wanting…this. You.” Now it was his turn to put space between them. His expression turned blank. “But if…well, dammit, Marisa, if you don’t want me, if you were just playing along tonight, then tell me so I can haul my ass out of here and stop making a fool—”

  She practically leapt into his arms.

  He staggered a little, then, laughing, covered her mouth with his as he pulled her close and tight. “Thank God,” he murmured against her. “Thank God.”

  She didn’t hear much more of what he said after that—and there was more, against her skin, her mouth, into her hair—because there also was a lot of clothes being torn off, accompanied by sighs and satisfied groans as their bare bodies pressed against each other, and were touched, teased, stroked…

  She tried not to feel too exposed when he looked down at her naked self settled on the small bed. After all, he’d seen everything of Lainey and he still wanted Marisa…but there was a little twinge. Because she wasn’t as slender and curvy and lush and—

  “Stop it,” he said, pausing with one hand cupping her breast.

  “Stop what?”

  “Stop comparing yourself to Lainey. Trust me, I’ve done my share of that and, my love, you’ve always come out the winner.” And then he bent to kiss her tight, straining nipple, sliding his sleek, hot tongue around the tip and creating strong, sharp waves of pleasure that undulated through her belly and lower.

  Marisa sighed and gave herself up to the moment: to the slide of warm, hair-roughened skin against hers, the bulge of muscle beneath her hands as he shifted, and the slick, glorious sensation as he slid inside with a low sigh.

  “I’m so glad I came here and asked you for help,” he murmured, moving against her.

  “I thought if I ever saw you again, I’d…oh!…kill…you,” she replied with a delighted little gasp. “That’s…oh, Luke, that’s…mmm…”

  “You are killing me,” he whispered, his voice tight and his breath warm against her temple, “but it’s going to be the best l’ petite morte I’ve ever…had…” And as she arched and shuddered beneath him, he smiled into her hair and found the little death.

  LATER…A significant amount of time later, after they’d basked in the safety of the secret room, Marisa sat up and looked down at Luke.

  His blue eyes opened, clear and aware, and she knew he hadn’t been sleeping either.

  “So…what now?” she asked, fighting to hide the little bit of trepidation that sneaked up inside her. “You said you stole something from Ian Marck. A photograph?”

  He nodded, and to her surprise (and delight, for he was utterly beautiful in his nakedness) he got up and walked over to dig through his pack. “What do you make of this? I’m going to bring it to Envy, to the Waxnickis. I’m not sure why it’s important, but Marck carried it with him all the time. And he was not happy when he realized I’d stolen it.”

  She took the picture. There were three women in it. A fourth person, along with most of what must have been their names printed under each one, was mostly obliterated by the way the photograph had been torn in half.

  “Marley Huvane,” she read, looking at the beautiful woman standing on the left of the group. No, they were all beautiful. Stunningly beautiful. All three of them. “Sameen—I can’t read her last name at all, nor the one in the middle—Liana something. She looks…well, she looks almost like a queen, Liana does, with the way her hair is done up so intricately, and those flowers and jewels in her hair. Or is she a bride, maybe? Hmmm.” She handed it back to Luke. “What do you think?”

  “I didn’t think about the bride part, but that could be it. Maybe it’s a wedding or something. But whatever, I know this picture is important to Ian Marck. The women in it—and I can’t see anything of the fourth person, even to tell if it’s a woman—might be part of the Strangers. See, on Marley there, there’s a faint blue beneath her shirt? Right where the crystal would be if she had one, embedded in her skin. She could be a Stranger herself.”

  “So you’re going to take this to Envy and see what the Waxnickis think.”

  “Yes. I have to. It’s going to be dangerous, Marisa. Traveling there—especially with the snoot looking for me.”

  She nodded. What now? That awkwardness was back. “I’ll…well, maybe you’ll come back some time and see me.” She tried for a steady smile and thought she succeeded.

  “I thought…I—well, I know I don’t have any right to ask you, but…would you want to come with me? It’s going to be dangerous, like I said, and I know I’m being selfish to ask but, dammit, Marisa, we just finally—”

  “Yes. Stop talking. Yes, I’ll go with you. I don’t care if it’s dangerous—we’re smart enough, and you’re definitely strong enough—to take care of ourselves. Especially if we’re together.” She grinned, filled with utter and complete joy. “Besides…I’ve always wanted to meet Theo and Lou Waxnicki.”

  “They’re pretty amazing. And so is the group of men—and women—they’ve pulled together for the Resistance.”

  She looked up at him. “This is going to be the beginning of a brand new adventure.”

  “For both of us.” And he drew her into his arms.

  THE HEROES OF NEW VEGAS

  PRAISE FOR THE AWARD-WINNING SERIES…

  “Colleen Gleason's vision of the future is dark, complex, and sharply original. I can’t wait for the next book!”

  -- Nalini Singh

  “Atmospheric and dark, filled with high-stakes action, sizzling romance, and set against a shadowy, post-apocalyptic world that's as fascinating as the varied cast of characters who inhabit it.”

  -- Lara Adrian

  “Dark, sexy, and capt
ivating.”

  —Jeaniene Frost

  “Dark, sexy, violent. An edgy, page-turning series. Brilliantly conceived and executed.”

  --Library Journal

  “Like a sexy Walking Dead!”

  —Mara Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author

  Everything they knew is gone…

  Five men emerge from the remnants of destruction with extraordinary new powers.

  They are humankind’s last hope, but they cannot survive this devastated world alone.

  When Dr. Elliott Drake emerges from a cave after traveling fifty years through time, the world as he knew it in 2010 is gone. Cities are overgrown jungles, and what’s left of civilization has been repressed by crystal-wearing immortal beings. But even more unsettling: Elliott has acquired an extraordinary ability–the power to heal.

  But even that gift, in a world that lacks the technology and infrastructure of his past, is a two-edged sword for Elliott.

  Jade Kapiza, who was once imprisoned by the immortal beings, has been in hiding for years. But now she’s determined to help the human race fight back against the control of her captors. She can trust no one…but when Elliott comes into her life, he pushes at her defenses and begins to tear down the walls she’s built so carefully.

  Yet the mysterious doctor seems to have secrets of his own. Can Jade trust Elliott with her heart, even as they risk their lives to save a band of innocents?

  And can Elliott find a new place for himself–a home–in this new, ravaged world?

  Get BEYOND THE NIGHT now!

  The Heroes of New Vegas

  Complete Six-Book Series now available:

  Beyond the Night

  Embrace the Night

  Abandon the Night

  Night Beckons

  Night Forbidden

  Night Resurrected

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR