by L. A. Boruff
“Yeah.” Nova hugged herself.
He snarled as her fear became palpable. “Hey, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you.”
She snuggled into his arms and sighed. “Thank you.”
“How about you check your things and I'll go find your RA.”
“Thank you.” Nova pulled away from him, only for him to stop her. “What?”
“I have wanted to do this since we were stuck in that office area under the stairs.” Pestilence brushed his lips over Nova's, and it was pure magic. As corny as it sounded, the taste of her lips upon his went straight to his groin and lit his insides on fire. It didn't burn though. It'd been warm. Loving. Giving. He snatched at it as he deepened the kiss, almost as though if he consumed her, he could carry her essence within him forever.
The thought startled him, and Pestilence took a step back. Nova stared up at him with a shocked expression on her face. She pressed her fingers to her mouth as her cheeks turned a rosy shade of red. She felt it too. Whatever it was building between them. The connection started while they waited out the freak tornado and the tendrils had slowly been growing stronger since. He gave her a small smile then exited her room.
When he returned, a dead long stem red rose sat on her desk with a note attached to it. Nova sat on her bed, her knees to her chest while she vigorously swiped tears from her eyes. Damn it. Paul could kick himself right then. He hadn't checked the drawers of her desk. Hadn't really prodded the area around her bed to see if anything might have been disturbed. Behind him, the RA whistled.
“This isn't good,” the guy muttered. “I'll get security up here. Nova?”
She turned her head. “Yeah?”
“I'm so sorry. I'll bring back help.” The RA gave her a sorrowful glance before he stormed out of the room.
“What's he sorry for?” She glanced up at Pestilence. “Not like he could have prevented this. Or like he's responsible.”
He glared at the dead flower on her table. “True. Whoever got in here picked the lock. I'm sure of it.”
“Figured as much.” She pointed to the notecard. “Says, we're the same you and me. We want the same thing. I'll be seeing you soon.”
“What?” Paul blinked unsure he heard Nova correctly.
“Right? So random.” She shook her head. “I don't know very many people here. I...” She paused and turned her gaze from him. “I thought it might be my father's men.”
“Your father's what now?” Pestilence joined her on the bed. “Nova, talk to me. I can't help you if you don't open up to me.”
Fresh tears ran down her cheeks. “I can't involve you in my bull crap.”
“It's bullshit. You can say it.” He winked at her.
“Bullshit,” she murmured. “My statement stands.”
“Think of it as not involving me, think of it as unburdening yourself from your terrors.” He wrapped his arm around her. “You shouldn't have to carry it alone.”
For a moment, she didn't seem to receptive to his poking. Then she let out a breath and sagged into his embrace. “My father is a Pentecostal preacher. We live in a compound in North Carolina back in the woods. No one knows we're there.” She swallowed hard. “My father is a prepper. He thinks one day; the rapture will come, and all hell will literally break loose.”
Now some of her demeanor made sense. “Why or how did you get here?”
“We ran away.” Nova explained to him the circumstance of her travels. She told him about Drew and the horribly inhumane things her father's people had done to her best friend. She also told him about them trying to have sex and it not happening.
Fuck. What a fucked up situation. “Why do you think your father will come for you?”
She shrugged. “Because I told him we only wanted one day away from the compound.”
Pestilence chuckled.
“It's not funny,” she snapped.
“No. It's not. You survived though. So did Drew. You tricked your father and enrolled in school.” He hugged her tight. “He won’t come to find you. I'm sure if he did, it would expose what really goes on in that compound of his.”
A tiny smile played on her lips. “I thought about that too.”
“See,” he said. “Do you feel better?”
“Yeah, I do.” She flashed him that brilliant smile of hers. “Thank you.”
“Don't thank me. I didn't do anything.” He pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss as a knock came at her door. “Do you want me to go?”
She shook her head. “Stay.”
Pestilence kissed her again before striding over to entry of her room and allowed the RA to enter, this time with campus security.
“Miss Blom, I understand you had a break in,” the security guard said. “Would you like to tell me what happened?”
Pestilence waited off to the side as Nova recounted happened. The guard took notes while asking her questions. The RA stood beside her, answering anything the big burly shifter might want to know. When he was finished, he handed Nova a card and added a number to the back of it.
“Use this number if you can think of anything else.” The guard then walked over with paper bag and gather up the dead rose and card. “I'll keep this.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Once everyone was out of the room, Pestilence came to her side. “So I have a confession to make.”
“Oh?” She cocked a brow. “What?”
“I came here in the guise of asking you to study with me, but I really wanted to hang out,” he answered. “I'm kind of glad I had the idea.”
“Me too,” she replied. “So what do you want to do instead.”
“Take you back to my apartment and ravish you,” he said.
Nova gasped.
“Or we could watch a movie at my place.”
She laughed. “I'd like that.”
He stepped to her. “Good choice. I'd fucking love to ravish you too.”
“Gah!” She put her hands up. “I meant watch a movie.”
“I did too,” he said.
“What?”
“What?” he parroted.
Nova narrowed her eyes. “You're dangerous.”
“Not going to deny it either.” He held his hand out to her. “Shall we go?”
“Lead the way.”
Nova stepped into the spacious apartment and sighed. The place was bigger than her home and a lot classier. She glanced at Paul who threw himself onto the couch beside them. He grabbed the controller off the glass coffee table and turned on the flat-screen television. The sound of velcro being torn apart, zipped around her before she noticed the small green dots gleaming from black boxes attached to the wall.
Paul patted the cushion beside him. “Come on, sit. Relax a little.”
“I don't know if I can. This stuff is a bit fancy.” She eyed all of the decorations with keen interest. There were paintings and artifacts all over the place, though not in a gaudy way.
“Pfft.” He grabbed her hand, tugging her into his lap. “It's not our taste either, but it's doable.”
“What's that—”
Paul covered her mouth with his. Like before, the sensation of falling away, of forgetting all her problems left her floating on a pillow of nothing. The arousal that smacked her in the chest a second later, had her gasping her breath. She wiggled against him, feeling all at once, hot and cold. Her nipples peaked against her bra. Her panties grew damp. She was out of control and didn't care about what control meant ever again.
“Fuck, star, you've got me in knots,” Paul murmured against her lips.
“It's not my fault.” She pouted.
He took her hand in his and pressed it to his groin. “It isn't?” The hard, thick length of his erection surprised her. “You do this to me all the time.”
She rubbed the crotch of his jeans and licked her lips.
“Don't do that. I might forget myself and push you to your knees,” he snarled.
Nova gasped as heat and arousal shot through
her veins. Go to her knees? She understood the implications of his statement. She'd tried it, unsuccessfully with Drew to help him get into the mood. Or, maybe it'd been her skills that had been left lacking? She was new to it after all. “You want me to give you...” She swallowed hard. “A blow job?”
“You're so fucking innocent. I want to corrupt you and keep you so fucking sweet all at the same time.”
Heat filled her cheeks. “I... I don't know what to say.”
“You don't say anything, star. Nothing at all.” He kissed her forehead. “When the time is right, I'll show you how I like it.”
“So, it's not right, now?” She ran her tongue over her bottom lip.
Paul sighed and closed his eyes. “Being good is for the fucking birds. I should take you up on your offer.”
“What's stopping you?” she hedged.
“Hell if I know.” Paul shook his head. “Let's watch some mindless TV and forget about it.”
“What if I don't want to forget?” She didn't know where this boldness came from, but she liked it. She'd been taught to be demure. Soft. Virginal. Her father had beaten into her the tenets of her duties as a wife within the compound, including never saying no to her future husband when it came to sex.
“Damn it, star.” Paul flipped their position, laying her out on the couch. “You're killing my threadbare control.”
“Sorry?”
“No, you're not.” He kissed her again while shrugging out of his leather jacket and only broke the kiss to remove his shirt.
She'd been right. Besides the tattoo on his arm, his chest had been bare. His milky-white skin made her mouth water. She trailed her fingers down his torso mesmerized by the contrast of their bodies. She groaned, arching to him when he nipped at her neck and rubbed his groin against hers. Sparks of bliss twisted inside her forming a knot of absolute pleasure. Her skin tingled and everywhere he touched her, goosebumps formed in his wake. She’d never seen such a perfect specimen before.
Nova worked up the courage to reach between them to cup the bulge pressing into her lower belly. Paul grunted, pushing into her grasp. Her breath hitched and her heart pounded. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. She was excited and scared at the same time. He pushed her knees wide and settled between them before palming her breast.
He squeezed.
Nova moaned his name, wiggling beneath him. Instinct took over as she fumbled momentarily with his belt before undoing his pants. The hard, hot length of his dick filled her hand. It was velvety smooth. Long enough to give her a proper scare while also interesting her. She gave a tentative stroke, and Paul let out a hissed breath. She yearned to taste him as a pearl of translucent wetness dotting the crest of his cock.
She pulled him to her then sat up slightly and ran her tongue through his slit. He shouted his pleasure, fisting his hand in her hair as she took more of him into her mouth. Nova closed her eyes. She sucked and lashed the underside of his shaft before retreating. Above her, Paul trembled. The small, carnal sounds he made, left her aching for him.
“So, I told Lucifer we’d meet up—”
Nova had been so involved with Paul; she hadn’t heard the door open nor had she heard anyone step inside. If by the look on Paul’s face were any indication, neither did he. Modified she tried to slip out from underneath him, but Paul stilled her while tucking himself back into his pants.
“Fucking announce yourselves!” he growled.
“We thought you were going to be at Nova’s dorm room.” Michael gave her a curious look. “Didn’t think we’d find you here.”
The soft heat in her cheeks and chest turned into a full-on burn of humiliation. “I am so sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry for,” Ryan stated. “We’re all a little surprised.”
Yeah, she figured. “Still I should probably go.”
Matthew held up his hand. “Both of you take a moment to gather yourselves. We’ll join you when you’re ready.” He motioned for the others to follow.
Paul groaned. “I’m sorry. I should have protected you better.”
“First time for everything,” she groaned wiping her face. “How do I even look at them ever again without picturing myself sucking your dick and them watching?”
“We’ll get through this.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Stay for the evening. We can all eat dinner and watch a movie or something.”
“Are you sure?”
Paul nodded. “Yeah. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.”
Chapter Seven
“We have another body,” Death said, waking Pestilence.
Nova had spent the majority of the evening with them and Pestilence had reluctantly brought her back to her dorm well after midnight. Once she got over the initial shock of having her room broken into, she'd relaxed with all of them. Adamah and Claec hadn't returned that night and it bothered all of them. Things were happening at a rapid pace it felt like.
“Where?” He sat up and scrubbed his face. “When?” He peered up at Death who appeared a bit shaken and paler than usual.
“Last night. Claec found the body and the scene on the way home.”
“Fuck. Do you think the humans will figure it out?” He draped the sheet over his hips as he eased his feet to the floor.
“Well, thankfully there hasn't been a plague of locust.”
Pestilence flipped him off. “Not here to help progress it, remember?”
“Never forgot.” Death sat next to him. “Getting involved with Nova might not be the best alternative here.”
He snorted. “We have human bodies. This vessel wants Nova. Perhaps you should get laid while we're here.”
Death scoffed.
“Don't tell me you haven't thought about it,” Pestilence hedged.
“Doesn't matter. We're not here to bang the innocent. We're here to stop the second coming.”
“And, in the meantime, if we find a willing female—” he slid his gaze toward Death— “or man because I know you and Famine are kinky fuckers, we should indulge.”
“You’re not?” Death cocked a brow.
He shrugged. “When this is all over, we'll end up back where we began, in the pits of hell along with Lucifer.”
“And if we fail?” Death ignored Pestilence's statement.
“I guess we protect the humans,” he stated. “I haven't thought that far yet.”
“You should.” Death stood then started for the door. “Get dressed. We have shit to do.”
“We're going to have to tell Lucifer, you know,” he said pushing the sheet away from his body. “We can't keep this from him.”
“I know. If we can get more information, we should. Going in half-assed might backfire on us.”
“I agree,” Pestilence replied. “Any information on the morgues where these bodies are being taken?”
“County, according to Claec. I've only found one and it's about fifteen miles away.”
Pestilence scratched his chest. “Looks like we'll be going on a road trip.”
“Fuck,” Death breathed. “If it's the same as the last set, I won't find anything of use.”
“No, but we'll have pictures.” Pestilence grinned.
“You’re a morbid fucker.” Death shook his head as he left Pestilence to get ready.
Another body. Shit. Last night, Nova had been poised to tell him something and if the expression on her face had been any indication, it wasn’t good. However, the three jackasses interrupted them again and she clammed up. Now, he wished he would have pushed her to talk. Lucifer already told them she was important to them, so whatever she told him, or them would be significant.
“We need to talk to Nova,” Pestilence said, joining Death in the living room once he’d been ready. “I think she knows something.”
“Oh, and when did you deduce this? During or after your dry humping session?”
Pestilence flipped him off, before grabbing his leather jacket. “Before you and Famine interrupted us.”
“
We’ll find her before going to Lucifer.” Death joined him at the door.
“Where’s Famine?”
“School, he’s shadowing Nova for me. After what happened at her dorm, I thought you’d want her to have some protection,” Death replied.
“You like her,” he teased.
“Fuck off,” Death snarled. “Let’s go. If we don’t hurry the bodies will be released to their families.”
Pestilence held up his hands as he chuckled to himself. “Lead the way, asshole.”
By the time they arrived at Lucifer’s apartment, Famine with Nova in tow, Pestilence had more details of what happened to the humans. He didn’t want to discuss anything in the vehicle. It would be better if he did it once and in front of everyone. When they stepped out of Death’s car, War appeared in the shadows near the entryway of the building’s courtyard. He lifted his hand in greeted then crossed to them.
“Bout time you four got here,” War muttered.
“You want the job done right, it takes an extra bit of effort,” Famine quipped, placing his chain back into Nova’s hand.
The guy had only allowed two other people to hold that chain. Lucifer and Death. Giving Nova the honor showed he trusted her and counted her as one of them. Pestilence got some perverse pleasure out of it. Taking her free hand, he followed behind War as they headed for the biggest apartment on the property.
“You didn’t tell me you knew where Professor King lived,” Nova whispered, glancing up at him.
“Pool.” He pointed to the large, ten-foot concrete monstrosity surrounded by decorative palm trees, lava rocks, and tropical plants.
“Looks inviting.”
“Maybe we’ll skinny dip later.” Pestilence wiggled his brows and she laughed.
“You’re bad.”
“Indeed.” He held them back a bit. “I need to tell you something.” He licked his bottom lip, nervous for the first time, since meeting Nova. “It’s pretty... We’ll say, interesting.”
“O-kay.” She glanced at the others then back to him. “What?”
“There are things happening around us. When you hear what Ryan and I did today, please don’t freak out, okay?” He’d never felt worried before. He didn’t like it. It was as if his insides had been covered in a million crawling ants.
