Incendiary

by Elisabeth

  “You don’t like that Paris is so interested in theatre or something? Are you one of those parents?” I asked.

  “I support whatever the kid decides to do except for being lazy; I just can’t.”

  “So, then what’s the annoying part?”

  “Paris’ undying declaration of love to Helen,” he confessed. “It doesn’t make any sense. It didn’t even happen that way.”

  “What way?” I asked, curious.

  “Why would he confess his love to her when she was the one to truly come after him? It may not have seemed like it, but Paris wasn’t alone in it. He wouldn’t have single-handedly pursued her like that had she not wanted him to do so.” He sounded so passionate about it.

  “What do you even know about it?” I didn’t mean to sound offended, but I was. I helped write the damn script. What was he even talking about? What did he even know?

  Alexander watched me for a moment. Then, he smiled again.

  “I know it so well that you wouldn’t know what to do. Yes, Paris loved Helen, but did he truly love her or was it lust? Think about it, when did he really get a chance to ever process what happened to him? He was too young to even comprehend how crazy his life turned out to be. Finding out in your later years about being a prince and then, when you meet your family, you are presented with what you assume is the most beautiful treasure that has ever walked the earth. What would you do? You’d go after it thinking it belonged to you. Pursue it until you’ve gone mad thinking it is the right thing to do. You’d even kill for it. Sacrifice your men just to get that treasure, but then, in the end, when you are killed for it… You understand one thing, you never loved the treasure, you just wanted it for yourself because you had never gotten the pleasure to obtain something of that caliber.”

  He stopped talking for a moment, but I don’t know if he noticed I was holding my breath waiting to hear what else he had to say.

  “So, what do you do when you notice that?” I asked breathlessly.

  “You find the treasure that tops lust. You find the one treasure you refuse to live without. When you find it, you hold on to it so damn tight that someone would have to cut off your wrist in order to take it from you. Even then, they won’t be able to take it. They’d have to take it from my cold, dead body,” he said, his expression turning so dark that I shuddered.

  At my reaction, Alexander licked his lips and turned to watch the final scene as Paris was killed at war. The curtains closed as Paris recited the last words claiming never to love another as he loved Helen of Sparta.

  “I never said those words,” I heard Alexander grumble, but I shrugged, chucking it up to him never being in love that way.

  Everyone stood up after the curtains closed. The play got a standing ovation. I eyed Alexander from the corner of my eye as he whistled and clapped so damn loud as his son and the other cast members bowed. I smiled as he yelled out Paris’ name. His son looked at his dad, smiling so proudly. It made me ache for a love like that. I wanted that with my father, but it never happened. I wished I had that kind of support in my life, but it was too late. My father had rejected me early on. After mom passed away, he didn’t even bother to show up in my life even though I was still a minor. He let them put me in the system. He couldn’t be bothered to take responsibility of me.

  My father loved my mother so much so that he couldn’t spare anymore for me. I didn’t understand it when I was younger, but now, looking back over my life, I realized it was all I knew. I came to accept it. I almost became lost in my memories, but a hand on my lower back jolted me out of it. My body was hyper-aware of whose hand it was on my back as he leaned in to speak in my ear,

  “I don’t like that look on your face. Tell me who put it there, and I’ll make sure they can never do it again.”

  I shivered then slightly turned to face him. “It’s nothing,” I answered.

  “It’s something; I could see the sadness in your eyes even before this. When I first met you and looked into your eyes, you were sad. Have you ever known true happiness, love?”

  His question rattled me and made me defensive. “You need to mind your damn business,” I snarled at him.

  Alexander pulled his bottom lip into his mouth and groaned into my ear.

  “Spitfire, I like it.” The moment he said that I wanted to bite his head off. “You look like you want to bite my head off,” he growled. “I like biters.”

  I whipped my head away from him so quick, I thought I had snapped my own neck for a moment. The play was done, and people were beginning to scramble out of their seats to the hall, taking their leave. I turned back to Alexander giving him a cordial smile,

  “Well, Mr. Troy, it was nice to see you once more. You have a great one, and please do tell Paris he was wonderful.”

  He scoffed, “Tell him yourself. You’ve got a pretty little mouth. Put it to good use.”

  I cocked my eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me, sweetheart.”

  I was sick of this bastard. I wanted to knock him a few feet off his high horse. The balls of this dude to just tell me to put my mouth to good use.

  “That right there is about the most sexist thing I’ve ever heard.”

  Alexander smirked. “Is that right?”

  “Yes,” I answered, standing my ground.

  He smiled this time, a mischievous smile I had never seen displayed on his face before, until now. It made my insides feel all giddy when I should’ve been terrified out of my mind.

  “Baby, I need you to take it down a notch before I give you something to scream at me about.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him.

  Is this man on some sort of drugs or just plain idiotic?

  “You must have a screw loose up there.” I pointed at his head indicating there was something wrong.

  He pulled his bottom lip in his mouth again. That time, the action was slower than it was before. So slow, I had no other choice but to watch as he displayed such simple gestures. It was the most erotic thing I’d ever witnessed in my entire twenty-seven years of being on God’s green earth.

  “I want to screw you loose, but you won’t let me.”

  At that statement, I laughed so hard. He didn’t know how close I was to letting him do it.

  He patiently waited as my laughter died down. When I was able to reply, a couple wanted to get by, reminding me we were still in the theatre and not alone.

  “Excuse me, can we get through?” the lady asked Alexander from behind him.

  He didn’t make any gestures indicating he was moving or making way for them.

  “I’m talking. Go the other way,” Alexander replied without taking his eyes off me.

  My eyebrows furrowed. Why wasn’t he letting them through? It wasn’t even that big of a deal. All we had to do was get out of the row. I turned to walk away, but Alexander gripped my elbow and pulled me into his body, my back to his front.

  All of his front.

  His arousal aroused me. He leaned down, his body driving me into overdrive. He didn’t even care there were people behind us as his nose stopped at the crook in my neck. He inhaled deeply and then exhaled.

  My body began trembling, but I needed him to think I was unfazed by any of this.

  “You’re sniffing me in public like a dog.”

  “Woof,” he growled into my ear.

  My eyes widened at the audacity. I opened my mouth to speak, but the lady from behind us spoke again.

  “Can you just let us pass before continuing to grope your girlfriend in the theatre at a children’s school?”

  Alexander chuckled into my neck. I felt his lips…so damn soft, it didn’t make any sense, as they landed on my shoulder. He retreated from me as if he was never there. He spun around so quick I had to wonder about his footwork.

  “The hell is your problem, lady? I told you to go around. Why don’t you get that through your thick as hell head and Balle eis Korakas!”

  I didn’t understand the language, bu
t I was pretty sure it wasn’t anything pretty. The lady huffed, but she ended up leaving down the other way instead of daring to rechallenge Alexander.

  I rolled my eyes at him as he faced me once again.

  “That was extra.”

  “You have no idea how much more extra I have just for you.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Where are my manners?” He began like a lightbulb switched off in his head or something. “I gotta go meet my kid and praise him for his performance. I’m giving you one more day because you look like you need it.”

  I chuckled. “You’re nuts.” I turned to walk away from him, but he spoke again.

  “In due time, love. You’ll see just how nuts I am. I am Alexander of Troy. There’s nothing I can’t have if I truly want it, and baby, I want you.”

  Alexander

  If McKenna thought she would run away from me, she had another thing coming. I smiled as she walked out of the theatre.

  I followed, determined to prove that if she ran, I would chase her from now until I grew tired, which would probably be never. When I made my way into the hall, kids and their parents milled around. I spotted Paris’ and couldn’t help but be so proud of him. He was doing something he enjoyed. It was times like this I wished his mother stuck around to see the amazing kid he was, but I was glad nonetheless. I was there for him.

  Paris spotted me, and his entire face lit up. I smiled back at him just as brightly as he did to me. He didn’t know it, but he looked like my mother, not the women that raised me when I reincarnated each and every time. But, my mother, the woman who birthed me. Our eyes were my father’s eyes, the only thing I got from him. Even though I didn’t know my mother growing up, when I met her again, I loved her even more as if she had never been out of my life.

  Paris made his way to me after he was done talking to one of his teachers. He stopped again when McKenna came up to him. His smile was still just as bright as it was when he saw me.

  “Ms. Eros! You came!” He was so excited as he pulled her into a hug.

  She’s going to be a great mother.

  “I did, Paris. I told you I wouldn’t miss a thing. I’m so proud of you. I really am. You did it, buddy!”

  He hugged her tight and looked up at me as he rested his head on her shoulder.

  “You sure you were paying attention, Ms. Eros? I could’ve sworn my dad was all up in your face the entire time.” He smirked as she cleared her throat, but she didn’t know me well enough, because I didn’t care.

  I shrugged my shoulders as I put my hands in my pocket.

  “I can multi-task. There are things I can do that no one else can. Now, get your meaty little hands off my wife.”

  I warned him once, and he chuckled as he removed himself from the embrace.

  I saw the mischievous look in his eyes when he looked at me before he kissed her on the cheek. I curled my upper lip, narrowing my eyes at him as he chuckled, making an excuse to go meet up with his other friends.

  “Kid?” I called out before he walked away.

  He faced me. When he saw the look in my eyes, the mischief diminished, but he still looked like he was up to something.

  I rolled my eyes as I gestured my head, making him follow me outside. He didn’t say anything as he trailed behind me.

  When we stepped outside, going around the corner, I stared off into the sky, watching the sunset. He stood next to me, but I wasn’t going to speak first. He knew me better than that. I was selfish, territorial, confrontational, possessive, overbearing, and protective when it came to something that was mine. He knew this. He knew I didn’t play. His little move in there was the only one he’d get to pull. I didn’t want to have to smack him up a little bit.

  I heard him sigh.

  “You’re welcome,” he said all in that annoyingly cocky voice.

  “Little boy,” was the only warning I gave him.

  “It won’t happen again. Can I go with Travis and Marisol now?” he grumbled as if I had actually punished him.

  “Sure, but you know the rules.” I turned, looking down at him.

  “Yes, check in every hour. If something happens, call you first before anything. I can’t spend more than a thousand dollars, or else, I get in the ring with you this time.”

  “What else, boy?”

  “Absolutely no drugs until I can knock you out.”

  “Alright, go ahead. Here.” I handed him his black card. “Try something, and I take it away this time for a year.”

  “I won’t mess up again.”

  “That’s what you said last time, and you almost bought some girl a place to stay. You and these strays; I don’t know where you get it from.”

  “Speaking of strays,” Paris began, and I looked in the direction he was looking as McKenna came out of the building. “See you later, old man.”

  “You’re such an annoying kid.”

  “Love you; thanks for coming,” he said as he walked away, putting the card in his pocket.

  “Love you too, kid. You know I will never miss anything of yours. Go and have fun. No strippers either.”

  He chuckled. “Says the man who owns strip clubs.”

  “One more word and you’re going home,” I warned.

  He snickered as he ran away this time. “Later, Dad!” he yelled. “Bye, Ms. Eros! Thanks for today and make sure my old man goes home; he has a bad knee due to old age!”

  I sneered and glared at him once more.

  Seriously, whose kid was this and when did he get like this?

  McKenna put her hand over her mouth to hide her chuckle, but as she got closer, I reached out removing her hand from her mouth. I wanted to see her face light up as it did when she hugged my son. I wanted to see that joy over her face more than the sadness she displayed back in the theatre.

  “You’re beautiful,” I said, causing her laughter to stop. She looked at me with confusion plastered all over her face.

  “Is Paris going somewhere?” she asked, changing the subject.

  I nodded, looking off into the distance to see him getting in the van with Travis’ mom. His mother was a beautiful woman, but honestly, I could smell the desperation all the way over here. I didn’t want a clingy woman. Well, until this little lady in front of me entered my heart in a matter of seconds. I looked back at McKenna as she studied Travis’ mom. Then, the craziest thing happened; she scowled at her as if she didn’t like what she saw.

  My grin widened, knowing damn well my mouth was going to hurt after this. I didn’t care as I leaned in closer to her face. I studied her as she stared at Travis’ mom until her van was out of the parking lot. She seemed to realize what she was doing. She turned quickly to face me and gasped from the surprise of me being that close to her face.

  “You’re even more beautiful up close and personal.”

  She snorted.

  “Dude, I don’t even have makeup on. You must be delusional.”

  “You, yourself, have no idea how gorgeous you are. I think it’s my job to show you just how gorgeous I know you are.” I pulled my bottom lip in my mouth as I eyed her body one more time.

  I could tell she was turned on by what I was saying. Dammit, if I didn’t want to rip her tiny little dress off and turn her over, taking her from behind, while I watched her ample bottom smack into my pelvis from how rough I took her.

  Jesus!

  I inhaled her scent again wondering what perfume she used. She smelled like a goddamn treat all wrapped in a big old ribbon for me, naked on my bed waiting for me to unravel it with my teeth. I wanted to run my tongue on every part of her body. I wanted to taste her and turn her life inside out. I growled trying to control myself from doing something. When I looked back up at her, she was just staring at me. I saw the look in her eyes and how she was affected just as much as I was. All I would need was just a closed area where no one and nothing could bother us as I devoured her very soul. But of course, I could bank on Tank interrupting us since I never went anywhere without him. He had watched alo
ng three rows behind me during the play and trailed me afterward like the smooth right-hand man that he was. I scowled as he spoke, “Boss, shipment is in from Moore.”

  “Okay, I’m coming.”

  I didn’t even wait until Tank was out of sight as I continued looking into her eyes.

  “When I get you, McKenna, and I will, I will devour you. I will rip your soul out of your nectar and make sure you taste it on my tongue. But, only a taste, because you will never get that back. As soon as I have you, you will be destroyed. I can’t wait to break you, break you so damn good to the point of destruction and you won’t ever want to be whole again. I can’t wait for you to scream my name from the top of your lungs, hitting that damn falsetto note; and, McKenna, baby, Daddy is going to break your voice box. So, use it wisely from now on.”

  As she stood there, tongue-tied and confused, I smirked forgetting where we were. I reached out grabbing the back of her neck roughly and pulled her into a kiss. McKenna was in such shock. When she came to, she tried fighting me off, but I kissed her even rougher, pushing her to the cement wall on the side of the school. One of my hands reached out gripping her exposed thigh and just as fast as I kissed her, I pulled away. She blinked a moment, before smacking me so damn hard that I swear people around the corner noticed. It was the most erotic thing she had done so far. I winked at her as I ran my tongue along the inside of my cheek.

  “I want you even more now, baby,” I said to her as my hand wrapped around her throat pushing her back into the wall.

  I watched as her pupils dilated, and she wasn’t sure what to do. Before she could do a damn thing, I leaned in and kissed her again. This time, I let my tongue do some exploring as I straightened my body pulling her up against the wall with my hand still around her throat. Her arms shot out gripping my biceps, and I was even more turned on as I felt her sharp fingernails digging into my skin. I had to stop before I took her right then and there. I growled and pulled completely away from her setting her feet on the ground. I looked at her as she reached out for her neck, soothing it.

  “One more day, and then, you’re mine,” were the only words I said to her as I turned walking away from her.