Fields of Thunder

by Aliyah Burke

  Altair put his hand upon the small of her back. He didn’t speak but she closed her mouth and pushed into him enough for him to know she understood his message.

  “We think it smarter if we are together. You do not need to assist us. We can do it.” Altair’s statement was calm.

  “Nonsense,” Taylor said, glaring briefly at Cale. “You get used to those two arguing all the time. We will be there to help.”

  “Thank you.” He lowered his head to Roz’s ear. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” she said, body still tense. “Just a moment.”

  He observed her as she went around and hugged everyone, even Cale—although that hug was shorter—before returning to his side. Her eyes met his and he gave a short nod to all there then walked out after her.

  “I will assume they have the address?” he asked as they reached her car.

  “Yes, they do.”

  He let it go at that. She drove back to her place in silence. After she’d parked, he got out and waited by her side. When she went to walk by him, he grabbed her arm, drawing her closer to him.

  The light from the parking lot illuminated her features. Those eyes of hers were killers.

  “Yes?” She blinked. “Are you spending the night?”

  Blood pumped to his cock and he swallowed. “Are you asking?”

  A saucy smile lifted her mouth. “That is the usual definition of a question. But, yes, me asking. You…stay?” She added a low grunt for more effect.

  “You are full of it, are you not?”

  “I’ve been called ‘a handful’ a few times, yes.”

  Putting them nose to nose, he said, “I believe that, counselor.”

  Her kiss was all too brief. “Come on then. We have work to do.”

  She led the way back into her small studio. The moment the door was locked, she bent and untied her boots before kicking them away. Facing him, she gave another of those cock-hardening grins while she backed toward the bathroom, undressing as she went.

  As if on a leash, he went with her. While he yanked off his shirt, he heard the water start in the shower. He removed his own boots and put them by a chair before undoing the snap on his jeans.

  “Let me help you with that,” she murmured, brushing his hands away.

  He held his breath as she lowered the zipper and reached in, her hand curling around his rock-hard dick.

  “I love it that you go commando,” she said, seconds before she took him into her mouth.

  Fire seared along his spine. “Shit,” he ground out, hips bucking.

  She dropped to her knees, never releasing him. Her tongue swirled around the head of his cock, making him lock his knees. She rasped her nails along his sac, and he grunted, thrusting deeper into her mouth.

  In and out of her throat he slid. Her wet mouth applied pressure as she worked him. She focused on his head, running her tongue under the crown, flicking the slit, all the while jacking his shaft with one hand.

  He stared down at her, only to find her looking up at him. What the hell was it about seeing her there, his long cock splitting her lips and sinking into her mouth, that made him want to beat his chest and claim her even more? The hunger in her eyes nearly pushed him over.

  She licked his shaft before lightly grazing him with her teeth. Back to the head. His mind whirled as she continued to torment him. Behind her, steam rolled from the bathroom but she didn’t seem keen on stopping and he wasn’t going to. Her moans of pleasure vibrated up his length, adding to his own experience.

  She lingered, teased and kept him at a heightened pitch. He sank his hands into her thick hair, gripping the strands as he drove into her mouth. She relaxed her jaw and took all that he gave her.

  Biting the inside of his cheek, he tried to stave off his release. “Roz,” he ground out. “I am about to come.”

  She gripped his ass cheeks, bringing him in closer, not allowing him to withdraw. A low roar tore from his throat as he shot his cum deep in her. Her suction never waned until she’d drained him of everything. Even then, she didn’t immediately release him. She continued to suck and kiss his cock, as if she couldn’t get enough.

  Releasing her strands, he carefully withdrew from her mouth and tipped her chin up so he could meet her eyes. The hunger hadn’t abated—if anything, it had grown. Without a word, he helped her up and carried her into the shower where he put her under the heated streams with him.

  Chapter Seven

  Roz taped the bottom of the box before flipping it back upright and setting it to the side. “One more should do it,” she said, reaching for the flat one to her right.

  “You do not have much stuff.”

  Altair’s voice made her insides go all gooey and she rolled her eyes at herself for her reaction to him. If she led a normal life, she would wonder why she wasn’t more concerned or questioning over how her relationship with him was going. She didn’t have one. She knew of things most humans would never know, so not everything would make sense. This—her relationship with Altair—she was taking on faith and belief in the prophecy she had been taught she was part of. So while for many, moving into his house and sharing a life with him this fast might seem stupid and insane, for her, it was the thing to do.

  She wasn’t in love with him. Theirs was a passionate relationship right now, fueled by their insatiable need for one another. She held to the belief that, as with Cale and Billy and their mates, love would come with time.

  “Nope, never found reason to have a lot of things. I’m not home much and all it would do anyway would be collect dust.”

  “Your bedroom is packed up.”

  She smiled at him. “Thanks.” She arched her back to work out the kinks. His gaze zoomed in on her but he didn’t move closer. “I would think it fine that I donate my furniture and most of my kitchen items. Unless there are some appliances you don’t have at your place I could bring?”

  He bestowed upon her a rare and complete smile. “I already packed some of those appliances.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “Be good and I’ll let you use some of them.” His response was delayed by a knock at the door. “Come on in,” she called.

  Tiarnán, Cale, Billy, Taylor and Dracen entered.

  “We’re here,” Taylor called out. “Put us to work.”

  “Thanks for helping,” Roz said easily. She looked at Altair, who was in a stare down with Tiarnán. Clearing her throat, she sent them both a glare. “We don’t need any of this furniture, right, Altair?”

  “Correct.” He looked at her.

  “Okay, so can you guys move it down to Tiarnán’s truck? I’ll donate it to a shelter. Don’t worry, T, I know how much you love your truck, so Dracen can drive it.”

  “Why is she driving it?” Tiarnán questioned.

  “Because I’m giving the stuff to a women’s shelter and they prefer not to see men there.”

  His expression immediately smoothed out. “I understand. Let’s go, guys. Get the furniture out of here.”

  She grabbed Altair’s arm when he went to help the other guys. “Can you do a quick look over the appliances…in the kitchen, and set any others you want on the counter by the fridge?” When he nodded she released him and looked at the women. “Would you all pack up the rest of the kitchen items he doesn’t want to keep?”

  “Got it,” Taylor said, walking away, Dracen trailing.

  Roz paused to place a call to the shelter and inform them she was bringing a bunch of furniture and other household items then returned to packing up the few books on the shelf so the guys could take it out.

  Tying up her hair with a multicolored cloth, she got back to work. Once the truck was loaded, she and Dracen left. Taylor stayed back to keep an eye on the guys and make sure no fights broke out.

  “Are you okay, Dracen?” she asked, as the woman turned down the road she’d indicated.

  “Fine, why?”

  “You seem… Oh, I don’t know. Different.”

  Her fellow Guard
ian was silent for a while. “I’m fine.”

  Roz didn’t push. Dracen wasn’t a child. In fact, out of them all, Roz was the youngest. “Any leads on your artifact?”

  “No, but I, like you and Aminta, had a few indications that turned out to be false.”

  “Do you think all of us will find the artifacts with the one who is to be our mates? I mean, the first three of us did. Do you think it will be that way for the rest of you?”

  “I haven’t any clue, Roz. The more of you who find mates and artifacts, the less sense this makes to me. And the more close-lipped not only Lian but also Edmond become.”

  She’d noticed the same thing. “Left at the next light.” Roz rotated her ankles and stared out of the window. “Lian will tell us what he thinks we need to know. I feel he is fearful of breaking any of the rules, not wanting to give us any more of a disadvantage than we already have.”

  “You always did defend his decisions.” There was no rancor in Dracen’s tone, just acceptance. A weary acceptance.

  “He’s the one who has been through this before—not any of us. I prefer to think he’s guiding us.”

  “Edmond has.”

  “True, with Lian. But have you seen the way they communicate with one another? There is sadness there. I mean, obviously Edmond and his group won, since They aren’t in charge right now, but at what cost? If he’s the only one who survived…” She shook her head, not wanting to think about how it would be to lose the rest of the Guardians.

  “I’ve thought about it as well. Painful.”

  “Wait, back there. The green house, sorry. The one on the left.”

  Dracen turned around in the street and entered the drive of the house she’d said, backing in so unloading would be easier.

  They shared a look as they climbed out, tabling that discussion until later. The head of the shelter walked out and approached.

  “Thank you so much for this, Roz. We can’t tell you how much it means to us.”

  “Not a problem. It’s the least I can do. This is my sister, Dracen.”

  “Nice to meet you, Dracen. I’m Candace Summer.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Dracen said.

  “Do you want some help unloading things?” Candace glanced between the two of them.

  “No, we have it. Do you want it in the garage?”

  The blonde nodded. “That would be perfect. Let me go open it for you.”

  She hastened off and Dracen walked to the back of the truck and lowered the tailgate. They unloaded the furniture and set it along one side of the garage. Then the boxes of kitchen tools they placed on the table and on the love seat.

  Candace saw them off and the women left with a wave.

  “How many women are there?” Dracen asked.

  “Last I knew, they had six who stay there. The numbers fluctuate all the time, though.”

  “All battered women?”

  “Some have children with them, but yes. Everyone there is running from an abusive relationship.”

  “I don’t know how you do what you do, Roz, and stay so cheerful.” Dracen checked the mirrors and turned at the light. “I would be out killing everyone who laid a hand on someone in anger.”

  “I think it’s part of my job to be insanely happy. It helps me to annoy Cale more, which is something that makes me happy, so really it’s all quite self-serving.”

  Dracen laughed, the sound lifting Roz’s spirit. They chatted about light things on the way back and were still laughing when they climbed out back at her apartment. Altair’s truck wasn’t in the parking lot.

  “I’m sure he’s fine, Roz.”

  “How did you know I was suddenly worried, Dracen?”

  “The sudden intake of breath and the fear that skated through my mind.”

  Roz looked at her in awe. This Guardian was one hell of a warrior, with abilities she was positive none of them knew just how powerful they were. Or what they all were. Looping her arm through Dracen’s, Roz walked with her to the door.

  * * * *

  Altair set the box he’d been carrying down on the couch. Behind him, Tiarnán and Billy walked in, each holding something from the back of his truck. Cale and Taylor had stayed behind to do more packing and start cleaning.

  “Where do you want this stuff?” Billy asked.

  “What is it?”

  “Clothing.”

  “Upstairs, the door on the left.”

  Billy took the stairs and Tiarnán put his box in the kitchen. “What happened to your front door?” His question preceded him returning to the living room.

  “Two members of your New Order broke in the other night. I have to put up a new door but will do that after everything is moved in.”

  “Were you harmed?”

  They walked back out to the truck. “No.” He took another two boxes while Tiarnán carried in three.

  The unloading went swiftly, and soon they were on the way back to Roz’s apartment. Billy kept up a stream of chatter that neither he nor Tiarnán took much part in.

  As they walked into her studio, Billy said, “God, don’t send me with them again. No one talks.”

  Everyone looked at them and he met Roz’s gaze. She sent him a smile that made allowing these people in his home worth it. He might not have anything to hide but he preferred to keep others out.

  “You know I’m buying tonight, right?” Roz asked.

  They all looked at her and said, “Hell yes.”

  Altair stayed with her as they finished up the last little bit. They washed all the surfaces and as she locked the door behind her, he touched the tip of her chin.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Of course. Just odd, getting rid of this place. It will take some getting used to for me to go from work to your place, instead of driving in this direction.” She pocketed the keys.

  They went to the bar immediately after the last box had been deposited in his house. Altair sat between Roz and Taylor as they huddled about the large circular table in the back of the establishment.

  Taylor lifted her beer. “I’d like to propose a toast.” They all looked at her and she continued, “To new friends and family.” She hugged him with one arm then touched the necks of their bottles. “Welcome to our family, Altair.”

  Everyone joined in, although, to be honest, all Tiarnán did was give a nod. They ate, talked and laughed. He stood off to the side as she said her goodnights to her family. He couldn’t explain his pride when she walked back to his side and handed over her car keys.

  “Why are you giving these to me?” he asked, as they waved at the two vehicles driving away.

  “I don’t wanna drive,” she said in a loud voice. “I wanna sing!” She whirled around in a circle, arms wide. He held the door for her and she added, “I drank more than you and I think—hope—you’re less intoxicated than I am.”

  That was true. He’d barely drunk any of his one beer, leaving over half in the bottle. He held the door for her then closed it behind her. Pausing with his hand on the roof of her car, he gazed around him, instincts screaming they were being watched. Inside the vehicle, Roz belted out a song a cappella with no embarrassment about not being able to carry a tune.

  Despite the lingering danger, he smiled a bit as he made his way to the driver’s side. One thing he could say about this woman was she lived life to the fullest each and every day, no matter what she was doing. A free spirit. To him, who lived his life in a much more stringent way, it was good for him to be around and he knew this.

  He slipped behind the wheel as she hit a high note, making him cringe a bit. She was singing into her invisible microphone, eyes closed as she performed to her crowds. He turned the key and double checked to make sure she’d not undone her seatbelt before putting the car into gear and driving away.

  As they drove down an empty street, that sense he’d had flared to life again. This way would be perfect for an ambush. As if his thoughts had conjured them, bright lights blinded them through the windshield and
he stopped the car.

  Roz continued singing. Out of the glare walked four men holding AK-47s. Always were such easy weapons to get. The two in the middle had the rifles upon them while the other two each took a side.

  “Get out,” the man by him demanded.

  He peered over to Roz, who had finally stopped her caterwauling. She wove in her seat as the door opened for her. “Are we there?” she asked.

  “Yes,” the man on her side said. “Get out. End of the road, sweetheart.”

  She fumbled for her seatbelt and Altair reached over and pressed the button for her. “I’m free!” she cried, gripping his face and kissing him. When she pulled back, she gave him the slightest wink.

  She is damn good. He hadn’t noticed any difference in her acting but now he was confident she was not crazy buzzed. They each climbed out. He held his hands up and didn’t argue when they encouraged them to step into a small alleyway.

  “And you thought you were so goddamn special.”

  Altair narrowed his eyes as Trent’s voice carried through the darkness to his ears. A door opened and a rifle was shoved in his back, forcing him forward and inside. Beside him, Roz tumbled to the ground, her laughter replacing the venom from Trent.

  “Oopsy,” she said. Altair reached out and grasped her arm, pulling her to her feet.

  He heard two switches thrown and the dark vanished beneath the glow of rows of large yellow lights. Altair instantly gazed about. A warehouse with blacked out windows. Two doors, the one they’d come in and one more all the way at the other end of the building. That one opened and their vehicle was driven inside, followed by three trucks and an SUV.

  Twelve men including Trent filled the room. They were spread out and he recognized the look—many, if not all, had some type of military training.

  “Does she ever shut up?” one man demanded of Roz, who continued to sing.

  Altair stepped forward when he did, with every intention of protecting her. Trent interrupted.