Black and Blue

by Gena Showalter

  Draping the weapon over her shoulder, she ran. Finally ran, screaming, "Blue! Just hang on. I'll patch you up, I swear I will."

  When she reached his side, she dropped to her knees. His skin was pale. His lips were a scary light blue, doing justice to his name.

  He offered her a weak smile--there was blood on his teeth. "Saved me . . . you, warrior princess . . . me, soldier in distress . . . storybook . . ." The rambling stopped as his head lolled to the side--and he died.

  *

  "Michael!" Evie shouted. "Help!"

  Heart thundering in her chest, she rushed down the hall, clearing the way for Solo, who held an unconscious Blue in his arms. She managed to revive him on the drive over, but he crashed three more times. If she didn't get him stabilized, she was going to lose him for good.

  Vika appeared in a doorway and gasped when she saw the bloody trio.

  "In here," Evie said to Solo, barreling into her bedroom. They'd called Michael during the drive and told him to meet them at a safe house she used for medical emergencies. "Put him on the bed, and be gentle."

  The steel pipe lodged between the slabs of muscle in his stomach had sunk so deep it now poked out the other side.

  The moment he was settled, she leapt into action, gathering the supplies she would need. She might not be prepared to deal with massive burns, but this . . . this she could handle.

  Keep. It. Together.

  Michael raced into the room.

  "You're going to assist me," she said, her voice calm despite her raging emotions. "The rod has to come out, but I can't remove it and stop the bleeding at the same time."

  "I've done triage," her father replied. "I can do this. I won't let you down."

  In the bathroom, she scrubbed up as best she could. She was trembling, and that wasn't good. She could do more damage to him . . . to Blue . . . her Blue.

  Deep breath in . . . out . . . Okay. Yes. I'm capable. Cutting into people is practically my superpower. Her nerves began to steady as her adrenaline kicked in and her confidence revved back up.

  Blue would come out of this. No other outcome was acceptable.

  *

  Blue cracked open eyelids that felt as dry and rough as sandpaper. A strange beep sounded in his ears. Wherever he was, the lights were dimmed. His side ached.

  "Hey," a soft voice said.

  Evie.

  The beeping quickened.

  It had to be monitoring his heart rate, because the muscle careened out of control at the first indication that she was nearby.

  She came into view, leaning over him, his own personal angel. Long, dark hair fell over her shoulder, curling at the end. Those big, brown eyes that dominated her face were filled with worry and relief. The heart-shaped lips he loved to kiss were . . . slightly blue? Why? Then his gaze snagged on the angry mark marring her pale skin, and he could focus on nothing else.

  "Your poor cheek, baby," he said, reaching up. The tendons in his shoulder protested painfully, and he grimaced, but that didn't stop him from running his fingers across the wide bruise. "What happened?"

  "You were in another explosion," Evie said. "A piece of metal tubing perforated your side, but we got it out. You lost a lot of blood, but don't worry, we didn't give you a transfusion. I remembered what you said." She smoothed her hands over his forehead.

  "I didn't mean me. What happened to you?"

  "Oh. Your power came back in a burst and knocked me across the room."

  "What?" A sharp pain lanced through his middle. "What?" he asked more gently. "I did this?"

  "You had no idea what was going on, so I'm not going to hold a grudge. Seriously. Don't worry. I promise I'll only remind you of the pain I suffered on holidays and anniversaries."

  She made light of it, and he wanted to hug her for it, but he wasn't sure he would ever be able to forgive himself. "I'm sorry, princess."

  "Don't be. I mean it." She traced her thumb across his jaw. "You're on the mend and that's all I care about."

  He held her gaze for a long while, wishing he could do more. He would rather be stabbed every day for the rest of his life than do anything to hurt her. "How's Solo?" he finally croaked.

  "He's already up and around."

  Good. Something to be relieved about. "Give me a few hours. I'll be up in every way that matters, too."

  He wanted her to grin. She didn't. She merely blinked at him, saying, "How about I give you a few days? You only got out of surgery yesterday." Then she dropped away from him, flopping into a chair beside the bed.

  Light from a side lamp spilled over her, allowing him to see her more clearly. Glistening tears cascaded down her face, and her teeth . . . her teeth were chattering. The air was frigid, he noticed, and he frowned.

  "Come here," he said, patting the mattress beside him.

  She shook her head, and his frown deepened. "I don't want to accidentally--"

  "Come here," he repeated more sternly.

  This time she obeyed without hesitation, stretching out beside him and curling into his side, being careful of his wound.

  Her skin was ice, and he didn't like it. He wrapped himself around her, willing his warmth into her body as she shivered. "Why are you so cold?"

  "Remember when Dallas told us he was healed by the Arcadian king? Well, I called Dallas and told him I'd cut off his man junk if the king failed to give me any pointers. He told me open wounds heal better in frigid temperatures. Apparently, your planet is a frosty one."

  Blue hadn't known that. He'd always lived here. "If you get sick because of this, I will finally give you that spanking you so richly deserve. And I won't let you give me one in return."

  She humphed. "You wouldn't be able to stop me."

  "Want to bet?"

  "Darling, did you hear the part about speaking to the Arcadian king? I also asked him where your most sensitive parts are so I could have you on the ground crying for your mommy in seconds."

  He swallowed a laugh. "All you're doing is turning me on." He loved waking up to this woman. Loved holding her. Loved comforting her as she comforted him. He just flat-out loved her.

  Totally, madly, deeply. Weren't those the words she'd used?

  Somehow, she had become his everything.

  Challenges rocked. He'd always preferred the missions and games he'd had to work hard to win. And Evie had certainly made him work for every milestone. But, oh, when she surrendered a few yards, there was nothing sweeter.

  "I believe I've noted the fact that everything turns you on," she said.

  "When you're involved, yes."

  She chuckled--but the humor soon morphed into gut-wrenching sobs.

  Reeling, he held her close. He had never seen her break down like this, and it tore him apart. "Pooh bear?" he asked the moment she calmed enough to hear him. "What's wrong?"

  "I'm sorry," she said, sniffling, wiping her tears away with a shaky hand. "I've been running on adrenaline, and now you're awake, and, well, it's crashed, and my emotions are getting the better of me."

  He kissed her temple, relieved. "Thank you for taking care of me."

  She nodded, her cheek rubbing against his chest, the friction sending a lance of pleasure straight to his groin. "I would do it again in a heartbeat," she said, "I really would, it's just . . . I'm coming to need you too much. If you had died . . . I wasn't sure what I would have done without you."

  The words . . . yeah. He wasn't going to let himself get emotional about her declaration, but . . . yeah. This woman.

  My woman.

  She loved him, too, totally, madly, deeply, whether she realized it or not.

  "What I feel for you scares me, too," he admitted. "I've never felt it before. Obsession and addiction, as if my identity is now forever tangled up in yours."

  "You don't mind?"

  "No. You are such a self-contained woman, it's difficult to get past your barriers. But I made it, and I want you to need me the way I need you. I don't want to be alone in this thing."

&nb
sp; A pause. Then: "You're really right there with me?"

  "I am." And he wouldn't change a thing.

  "Blue," she whispered, kissing his chest just above his beating heart.

  "I want you, baby. So much."

  "We can't."

  "We aren't. You are."

  "Well, well. I like the thought of that. Finally, I'll be the one to do all the hard work." She gently pulled at his pants, stripping him. Then she sat up in the bed and discarded her own garments.

  As golden moonlight spilled over her, she straddled his waist.

  The contact electrified him, wet heat pressing against his length.

  "I love seeing you like this," he said. "You are the most beautiful creature ever created, Evangeline Black."

  "No. That would be you." She cupped her breasts and leaned down to him, offering him a taste.

  He licked one, then the other, then blew on both, watching the nipples pearl. "Love these little darlings."

  "Mmm," she moaned. "Love them more."

  "With pleasure." He flicked his tongue over a beaded tip, then sucked, then licked again, always savoring. She gave another moan and ground against the long, wide length of his shaft. "So perfect, baby, so perfect." He reached back and curled his fingers around the bars of the headboard. "I will never get enough of you."

  She turned her attention to his mouth, kissing him, feeding him passion and pleasure, nipping at his lips while sliding up and down along his erection--so warm and wet--her hands all over him, learning him, driving him insane, her hunger feeding his own, already an undeniable force, and peeling away all sense of self.

  There was no Blue without Evie.

  "You ready for me, baby?"

  "So ready."

  "Then take me."

  She rose to her knees and placed him at her entrance, then, slowly, she sank down. He had to fight the urge to surge up, going deeper, all the way.

  "Feels so good," she groaned.

  "Someone needs a vocab lesson. It feels amazing."

  A smile lifted the corners of her lips, a powerful smile, feminine. "Oh, yeah?"

  He practically vibrated with a hunger only this woman could induce. "Yeah."

  "Tell me if I hurt you." She lifted before she'd worked herself all the way down, only to slam back with all of her strength; his hips arched automatically.

  Yeah. Yeah, like that.

  "Again," he rasped. "Please. I can take it."

  She did, harder and faster, and she didn't stop. She found a rhythm and rode him, lost, wild, taking all that she wanted, all that she needed, and he loved every moment, always rising up to meet her, uncaring about any momentary pain, giving her all that he was, all that he had; and when she screamed with the force of her release, his own poured forth, the pleasure too much to bear.

  She collapsed on his chest, out of breath and damp with perspiration, and, hopefully, too exhausted for dreams. She drifted off to sleep and he rolled her over, cleaned them both, then curled into her side.

  For the first time in his adult life, he felt as though he'd found a home.

  Twenty-five

  THE NEXT DAY BLUE sat at Evie's desk with Evie in his lap. "There she is," he said, tapping a red dot on the screen. "Tiffany Star."

  Evie frowned. "The dot tells me nothing."

  "She's in a remote part of Vermont."

  "Then to Vermont we go."

  If they were lucky, the Star boys would be there as well. If not, they would deal.

  During Blue's recovery, Solo had gone after the son on his own; but, like his father, Tyson had already gone into hiding.

  "How soon can you be ready to go?" he asked.

  "Thirty seconds. I just need to grab my purse." She hopped off his lap--he wanted to pout like a child--but returned in only ten seconds, her bag in hand.

  He checked the contents, smiling when he found a small bottle of ranch dressing, duct tape, dice, a pair of panties, a man's bow tie, and other things he couldn't identify.

  "No weapon?" he asked.

  "Please." She snorted. "Everything in there is a weapon."

  Love. This. Woman.

  "We'll take Michael's jet," she said, and he noticed she gave a little shudder. "It's got, like, warp speed, so we can be there in an hour."

  Why a shudder? "I'll call Solo and tell him to meet us at the airstrip."

  Thirty minutes later, the three of them boarded the jet and settled in the plush, dark leather seats. There was a dining table, a bedroom in back, and three four-by-four cages for carting criminals. Luxury and business at its finest.

  Blue sat next to Evie. She grew pale and tense, and even squealed when the engines started up.

  "You okay?" he asked her.

  "I hate flying," she grumbled. "It's stupid. Planes are stupid. And we're stupid for climbing inside this death trap!"

  Distraction time. "Look away, Solo," he said, leaning in to place a kiss at the base of Evie's neck. "Things are about to get freaky."

  She pressed her lips together, but it was too late. A giggle escaped. And when he made growling noises against her skin, as if he were the big, bad wolf, she outright laughed. Better.

  "Do you know how hilarious it is that the indomitable Evie Black is afraid of flying?" he asked.

  She slapped at his arm. "You take that back, Corbin Blue! I'm afraid of nothing."

  "Except joining the Mile High Club. Right, baby?"

  That earned him another slap. This one packed a little sting. "Maybe I'll join--with myself."

  "Mmm, don't tease me like that." She hadn't noticed that they'd hurtled down the runway and launched into the air, he thought with a smile. "Especially since this stupid plane comes with a bedroom."

  Looking at Solo, she hiked her thumb in Blue's direction. "Has he always been like this?"

  "Incorrigible? Always." And then the warrior did something that astonished Blue. He winked at Evie.

  A stamp of approval, right there.

  His grin was wide.

  "So you two are really together," Solo said.

  "Yes, but I'm considering breaking up with him," Evie replied.

  Blue shook his head with mock pity. "I'd just win you back. You know it's true, so why even waste the time? You're helpless against my immense charms."

  She rubbed her temples as if warding off a headache. "How did his other girlfriends put up with him?" she asked Solo.

  "He was never like this with his other girlfriends" was the soft reply, and Evie faced Blue, her eyes wide.

  He shrugged. It was true. He could be himself with her, no secrets in the way. No fears.

  With a contented sigh, she nestled her head against his shoulder.

  When the jet landed, he almost wished they'd had to go a greater distance. Holding her was a sweeter pleasure than having sex with another woman.

  The cabin was twenty miles away, and once they reached it, Blue realized it was smaller than the blueprint made it seem, and decrepit-looking, hidden in a thick cluster of real trees.

  A single light spilled from the only window Blue could see. A window leading into the living room. There were no guards outside patrolling the area, which meant there had to be trip wires on the ground.

  Well, okay, then.

  Evie anchored her night-vision goggles in place and attached a laser sensor over the lens. As she searched for any place the ground might have been disturbed, as well as any glowing red lines to indicate that an invisible security fence was activated, she quietly said, "The entire area is surrounded. There isn't a clear spot anywhere."

  He took the goggles and looked for himself. Every red line was computerized with a signal meant to scan body heat and weight, as well as bone structure, and decide whether or not the invader was animal or man--no matter how quickly the creature moved. Once a determination was made, weapons--probably guns--would pop out of secret locations, all stripper from a cake deadly.

  "I can get in without detection," Blue whispered. "You two stay here and shoot anything that com
es out without first shooting a flare."

  Solo nodded and took off for the other side of the house.

  "Plug your ears, baby." Blue pulled the pin on a scrambler grenade and tossed it through the wires. Then he closed his eyes and covered his own ears. He knew the exact moment the grenade detonated. A surge of electricity lifted the hair on his arms. A piercing ring made his brain want to jump out of his skull. Anyone within a mile radius would experience the same reaction.

  Couldn't be helped.

  One.

  Knowing he had only five seconds before the scramble failed and the lasers kicked back on, he sprinted forward, moving as fast as his feet would carry him.

  Two.

  He reached the front porch and dropped to his stomach, removing his mask and palming two pyre-guns. Aimed.

  Three.

  A tall, muscled--and armed--male opened the door and peered out, frowning. He rubbed at his ears.

  Four.

  Blue didn't have to squeeze the trigger, because a yellow blaze soared past him, slamming into the man's chest. Thanks, baby. The guy dropped to the ground, already dead. The beam fried his heart to a crisp.

  Five.

  "Henry?" another man said.

  The ringing stopped.

  Blue popped to his feet and launched forward, through the door, barely missing the reengagement of the lasers. He scanned the home, taking everything in at once. The living room had three other guards in it. Two were watching television. One was striding toward the fallen Henry, his expression concerned.

  Pop. Pop. Pop.

  All three died as quickly as their friend, this time courtesy of Blue.

  A search of the premises revealed no other guards. Just Tiffany in bed, her blue eyes wide as she pressed against the headboard, her hands trembling as she aimed a pyre-gun at him. She squeezed off a shot as Blue approached, but he dodged, and the blaze soared over his shoulder. He was on her the next instant, rolling her over and tying her hands behind her back.

  She bucked, far stronger than she appeared, but still Blue managed to subdue her easily enough.

  "Stop fighting," he said. "You're not going to win this."

  "No, Blue. No. Don't do this."

  Begging won't help, honey. "I'm taking you hostage."

  "You don't understand." Her struggles renewed, but they were just as ineffective as the others. "Please," she said. "Don't do this. You'll regret it."

  "I'm not going to kill you." Yet. Pressing her into the mattress with one hand, he withdrew a syringe from his pocket with the other. "Right now my plan is to use you as a bargaining chip. Your father has something I want, and you're going to get it back for me." Star claimed he would not trade, but they would soon put those words to the test.