by Fall, Carly
Turning, he went to the window just as Holly started her ascent upward. She moved quickly, and he wondered if he could actually keep up with her. The assailant came at him again, and he kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying across the room. As the male gasped for breath and held his midsection, it gave Justice time to climb out the window and shut it. Then, he looked upward and followed Holly, hoping the rickety ladder would hold him.
When he reached the roof, she glanced at him and motioned for him to follow her.
“Wait a minute!” Justice yelled. “Why are we up here? Why didn’t you go down?”
“Because he won’t be able to follow us!” she said, her voice laced with panic.
She took off across the roof at a dead run, and his stomach clenched as she headed for the side of the building. With ease and the grace of a ballerina, she sailed into the air, landing on the next building. Her feet hit the ground and she tucked into a roll, then stood back on her feet again, motioning for him to come.
“God of Light and Life, please protect me.”
Taking a deep breath, he ran as hard as he could, hoping the momentum would keep his weight airborne. While Holly was small and compact, those would not be the words to describe his bulky, large frame.
He reached the edge and flew off the roof, concentrating on landing on the next building, not six stories down. As he sailed through the air, his heart raced. Would he make it?
A surge of adrenaline and gratitude ran through him as his feet hit the gravel of the rooftop. He dropped into a roll just as Holly had. When he came to a standing position, he found her gaze. It seemed she looked at him in terror.
She began to run again, and he glanced over his shoulder. The assailant stood on the edge of the building staring at them, as if gauging if he could make the jump.
Justice didn’t bother to stick around to find out. He took off after Holly, who had soared to the next roof, and as he approached the lip of the building, he noticed her scrambling down the fire escape to the street.
He followed her path and found her waiting in a doorway in the alley between the buildings.
“Let’s go,” she whispered, her breath heavy.
She ran down a maze of alleys and side streets at an unrelenting pace until they had reached the car. As he trailed her, he realized the danger of both the assailant, and jumping from building to building had his blood racing, but in a good way. In a nutshell, he enjoyed the danger.
Pulling the key fob from his jeans, he pushed the button to unlock the car before they reached it. They both slid in, and he jammed the key into the ignition and tore away from the curb. His instincts told him to go faster, to maneuver around the cars in his way, but his logic took over as his heart slowed, and he knew he had to keep it cool. He didn’t need the police after him.
“Oh my God,” Holly murmured with a slight laugh. “I’m not sure what to say about all of that.”
He chuckled, chalking it up to the adrenaline, because frankly, there wasn’t anything funny about the situation.
They’d blown it.
If that guy had seen Holly, which was questionable since she’d been outside the whole time and he’d only seen her at a distance while on the roof, he’d have no trouble recognizing her. If that were the case, they guy would destroy all trinkets he kept from his murders, such as Billy’s dog tags.
If he hadn’t gotten a good look at Holly, then hopefully, he would think they were just two burglars.
Whatever the case, the thrill of their little adventure pulsated through him. But was it the physical aspect of it, or the woman he was with?
Chapter 38
Holly stood in the darkened Solarium staring at the twinkling lights of the city below. As she sipped her whiskey, she recalled the day’s events.
Her apartment had been completely trashed, and she felt violated, as if someone had ripped open the drawers of her soul and emptied them all over the floor. Not that she had anything to hide, but the blatant invasion of her privacy had hurt and angered her. She reminded herself that the cops had thought her the murderer, so they were looking for clues to her whereabouts. It seemed bad enough to be accused of something she didn’t do, but to also suffer such an intrusion … it made her feel as though she had nothing left on this earth that was hers and hers alone.
How she wanted her brother’s dog tags. It had taken everything in her power to hang them back on the dresser. It seemed that she’d left behind the only thing she had of Billy except her memories and an old picture, but Justice had been right. They needed something to nail the guy, and the bloody dog tags would certainly do it.
However, if the man had seen her, he would most likely destroy them. Although he may have wanted to keep them for a souvenir, he most probably put himself in danger by keeping the tags. Unless he didn’t think there would be a prayer of getting caught, or maybe he simply didn’t care.
She hoped he would keep them so that when they went to the police, the cops would find the proof of her innocence. How they would explain being in the apartment and finding the damning evidence, she had no idea. However, she did know the sentence for breaking and entering would be far less than murder.
What would become of her life after all this? Would she still have a job? Could she explain to her superiors that she hadn’t gone A.W.O.L. but had literally been fighting for her freedom? Maybe Justice could help her with that. He seemed to know a lot of people up the food chain. For all she knew, he could have already talked to someone about her situation.
And what about her and Justice? What would become of them? She had feelings for him, but was the attraction because of the situation and her need for comfort, or could it be real? He’d pretty much come in and swooped her under his protective cape, so could it be possible that she was going through some type of savior complex attraction?
“Who knows,” she murmured to her refection, then took another long sip of whiskey.
The amber liquid burned the whole way down and went straight to her head.
When they’d returned back to the mansion, Justice had said he needed to make a phone call and had disappeared in his room. She’d rummaged through the refrigerator and made them roast beef sandwiches, leaving his out on the counter. That had been two hours ago. Could he be avoiding her?
As she stared down at the flickering lights of the city, she wondered what went on at their locations. Were their owners happy? Did they fight with each other? Did they laugh? Were they making love? It seemed so odd to her that they all lived on this planet, but they all resided in their own worlds, and no one’s was the same.
“That’s called the journey of life,” she said. "It can be beautiful and ugly, but a journey, nevertheless."
Sitting down on the couch, she decided she’d give Justice another half hour, then she’d go find him because she had to slake the loneliness that had cocooned her tonight.
“Are you using him to do that?” she whispered into the night, but she didn’t bother to contemplate an answer as restlessness had her on her feet again, staring out the window.
Chapter 39
Justice paced his bedroom waiting for Blake to call him back. He’d left a detailed message a couple of hours ago, but the male hadn’t returned his phone call yet. He tried to remain patient, but he had very little of the virtue left.
His mind had been on Holly, of course. These days, it seemed he rarely considered anything else.
Watching her fly across those buildings as if she’d grown wings had surprised him, scared him, and thrilled him. The woman was tough, strong, and capable of amazing things. Not to mention smart and hot as hell.
However, their time together would be coming to an end soon, and that made his heart ache.
They had what they needed to catch Holly’s killer. He had passed the information on the Saviors, and he guessed now they’d wait for an arrest—if the killer hadn’t ditched the tags. How they would convince the police that evidence resided in his apartment, he didn�
�t know. But if it involved a Colonist offspring, he’d bet Noah would figure out a way to make the guy disappear, whether it be by legal means or not.
The remaining adrenaline from the day’s events rode through his system like a never-ending, fast-paced roller coaster. He couldn’t get rid of it.
Deciding a hot shower may do the trick, he undressed and turned on the water. Seconds later, he stepped under the warm stream. Closing his eyes, he pressed his hands against the wall and concentrated on the water trickling down his body. In a moment of time, his thoughts became sexual, and he opened his eyes to find his cock jutting from his hips as visions of Holly danced before his eyes.
Trying to ignore it, he soaped up his entire body, but his hand took extra time on the hard rod. Squeezing his sack, he groaned, his need for release building. No, it was actually his need for Holly. He wanted to hold her close, feel her skin, taste her lips, to have the exquisite pleasure he’d experienced last night.
His hand moved quickly over the shaft as he imagined her hardened nipples, the feeling of her small, compact body against his. Within seconds, his seed spilled onto the shower floor. The orgasm didn’t bring him even a quarter of the satisfaction he got with Holly.
He needed her.
Stepping from the shower, he quickly dried off and pulled on a pair of sweat pants. He hated that his desire for her felt so strong, that he couldn’t stay away. He wished again he could reveal his secrets, tell her everything, but he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be just his existence he’d put in jeopardy, but the Saviors’ as well, especially if the government tortured him and he spilled everything. He couldn’t do that to what was left of his people.
He walked by her bedroom, noticing the open door, and headed for the stairway. Once on the main floor, his body hummed as he walked from room to room looking for her. He stopped in the formal dining room, her reflection catching his eye in the window of the Solarium. She stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows staring out at the night. Her gaze caught his.
Neither spoke as he came up behind her. She didn’t turn, but continued to study him in the reflection.
“I made you a sandwich,” she whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
“I’m not interested in eating,” he murmured, tilting her head and placing slow kisses down the column of her neck.
She sighed, and he ran his hands down her ribcage, over the slight curve of her hips, then back up again. He found the hem of her t-shirt and gently cupped her bare breasts as she leaned back against him, their eye contact never breaking in the window.
Her nipples instantly hardened, and he teased the tips between his thumb and forefinger. She gasped and grabbed his hips, pulling him flush with her.
He continued his slow exploration of her breasts and stomach as he peppered her neck with kisses, her skin so soft, his body blazing with desire. After a moment, she placed her hand on top of his and guided it down her yoga pants. He caressed the soft curls as she slightly spread her legs.
She kept her hand on top of his, directing him to where she wanted him to go. Slipping his finger into her soft flesh, he found her slick. He moved his hand, and she moaned when he ran the pad of his finger over her swollen nub. While he continued his ministrations, she moved her hips against his hand as his digit became coated in her essence.
He ground his erection into her lower back, and she reached around and cupped him, stroking his shaft through his sweatpants. His knees weakened at her touch, and the sensations became too much. He wanted to see her face-to-face, not stare at a damn reflection.
Removing his hands from her pants, he spun her around, grabbed her thighs, and easily lifted her up so her legs wrapped around his waist while her arms circled his neck.
He placed his hand at the base of her head and pulled her close, claiming her mouth as he walked over to the couch.
Standing her on the white sofa, he whipped off her t-shirt, his heartbeat frenzied. He couldn’t hold back his desire for this woman even if he wanted to, and he didn’t bother to try. He wanted to brand her, to make her his.
Just as an SR44 male feels when he finds his mate.
Pushing the thought aside, he yanked down her pants, and she held on to his shoulders as she quickly stepped out of them. Standing, he pulled her close, and she bent her head down to kiss him.
Their tongues dueled wildly as he tried to untie his sweats. Finally, he tore the string in two and the pants fell to the floor. Blissfully naked, he picked her up again and sat down as she straddled him.
She pressed her chest into his and grabbed his erection. He closed his eyes as she stroked him, that wonderful feeling of complete contentment getting closer.
“Fuck me, Holly,” he whispered through clenched teeth.
As she enveloped his cock in wet heat, all the guilt he felt disappeared. Being with Holly right now was all that mattered. She completed him, made him feel whole, as if he belonged inside of her, as if she should be his, and his alone.
She rocked in his lap as she dug her fingers into his shoulders. He yanked her to him —he couldn’t get close enough. They didn’t kiss, but their mouths were only separated by a few millimeters. He could smell the whiskey on her breath as she stared at him, her blue eyes penetrating his very soul.
It made him uncomfortable because he felt afraid she would be able to see all his lies and deceit, but he relished it because he sensed the pure honesty of the moment.
As she rocked in his lap, he wanted to remember this moment for the rest of his existence. He touched her back, the silkiness of her skin burned into his mind. When he kissed her, he memorized the feeling of her lips against his, the way they moved together in perfect harmony. When she came, her core pulsated around his cock, a feeling he could never get enough of. He branded the image in his mind—her head thrown back, her breasts swaying, her mouth parted as she gasped and panted.
When his own release bucked his hips, he cried out, hating the fact that the moment would soon be over.
He pulled her close as she fell against him. He stared at their reflection in the window over her shoulder. His dark arms engulfed her tiny body, and he could see where they were still joined. His eyes burned from the contacts he hadn’t taken out in days, and he closed his lids.
He felt like such a fraud.
“Take me to bed, Justice,” she whispered. “Make love to me again.”
Make love? What did that mean to her? Was it just sex, or did she reciprocate the feelings he had?
As he stood, he tore his gaze away from the window, determined to show his love to Holly, even if he couldn’t speak the words.
Unable to sleep, Justice rose from the bed a few hours later. Holly lay next to him, tangled up in a sheet with her swollen lips slightly parted, her breathing even. He grinned, wishing he could wake up to her like this every day.
After pulling on another pair of sweats, he went up to the Solarium and stood where they had been earlier, his mind a jumbled mess of thoughts of Holly and wondering about the murderer, and why Blake hadn’t called back.
He should check his phone again, and he went into the kitchen. Picking it up, he saw that Blake had called about an hour ago. He’d been a little busy at the time, the phone the last thing on his mind.
Listening to the message, he frowned.
“Hey, Justice. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Thanks for all the information, man. Jovan and Kade are on their way over there to get you. That Kade’s a smart fucker. He and Sophia figured out a way to confirm the suspects’ identity, and he was a Colonist offspring. We were able to trace his lineage back to Jack the Ripper.”
Justice barely heard the last sentence as he still mulled over the fact that Jovan and Kade were on their way over. That would be an issue as he wasn’t ready to leave.
“Anyway, give me a call.”
Justice dialed, his heart pounding.
“Hey, Justice,” Blake said, sounding sleepy.
“What do you mean
Jovan and Kade are on their way here?” he asked, not bothering with formalities.
“It’s over, man. We got the guy—Hudson and Roman took him out to the desert for a little chat, and he admitted killing Holly’s brother. He doesn’t know where Daniel is because Daniel only talks to his followers through the Internet now, but we’ve got the guy’s computer, so that should lead to something.
“Noah talked to the Chief of Police and made up some story about being in the guy’s apartment and finding the tags. It was definitely shaky, but the chief finally believed him. Holly’s in the clear.”
“Don’t the police want the man? I can’t leave Holly until he’s behind bars.”
He heard the desperation in his voice as he grasped at reasons to stay with her.
“He’s not coming back, Justice. The police will spin their wheels for a few months trying to find him, but they won’t. Holly’s safe.”
Panic gripped him as he looked around the kitchen. There had to be another reason for him to stay with Holly.
“Anyway, Jovan and Kade should be there by now. When you get the chance, just get in the car and come home.”
As he rushed to the front door, his mind spun, thinking of a way to stay with Holly. “Her car’s still at the bunker, Blake. I’ll need to go there and get it with her.”
As Justice opened the door, Kade waved as he emerged from the SUV, and Jovan gave him a thumbs up.
“We’ll take care of it. You have to go, man.”
“I can’t,” Justice whispered.
A beat of silence ensued, then Blake spoke. “You have to—Noah’s orders. I told you not to start banging that chick, Justice. You are an SR44ian. She’s a fucking human who knows nothing about you. Unless … oh, shit. You didn’t tell her anything, did you?”
“No.”
“Is she sleeping? Can you get out of there now?”
Defeat rolled through him. His time with Holly had come to an end, and he knew it. There wasn’t a reason in sight for him to stay with her, except the fact that he loved her, and there simply wasn’t a way for that to work out. She’d want to kill him if she ever found out about what he truly was and his deceit.