by Amy Patrick
“We can’t make love,” my mouth said as my body ached to do exactly that. I could already tell how incredible it would feel to be under his big body, his weight and hard muscles over me.
The lust-soaked haze cleared a little from Nox’s face. “Why not?”
“Because… we can’t. We’re not thinking straight. We can’t get distracted. There are consequences. There are other people involved here.”
I was referring to Emmy and our mission to rescue her from the other fan pod, but based on Nox’s reaction, his mind had gone to an entirely different place.
He stopped trying to touch me and raised up onto his knees, the muscles in his chest and arms contracting tightly as his hands fisted. “It’s Lad, isn’t it? It’s always him. You’re still hung up on him.” He rolled off the bed and stalked away a few feet.
“No, that’s not it,” I said to his back. “I realize… it’s over between Lad and me. We won’t ever be together.”
Nox spun back around to face me. “But you wish you could be with him.” His face was a canvas of barely controlled pain. “Even when you’re kissing me and responding to my touch, you’re still thinking of him.” He balled his fists, blinking rapidly.
My heart lurched toward him. It killed me to see him hurting like this. I slid off the edge of the mattress and went to him, reaching out. He took a step back in a halfhearted attempt to evade me, but I kept going and placed my hands against the hot skin of his abdomen.
Looking up into his face, I told him honestly. “That’s not true. I wasn’t thinking of him when we kissed. Or when we were in the bed. But I can’t not think of Emmy. We have to think of her. We’re not here on vacation. And even though what I said was true—Lad and I are over—I’m also not sure I’m ready to move on yet.”
“Because you’re still in love with him?”
“Well… no… I don’t know. You can’t really be ‘in love’ alone, I guess. And feeling that way only hurts me when he doesn’t feel the same. I don’t want to love him anymore. I mean—he doesn’t even know where I am or what’s happening to me—maybe he doesn’t even care. So I shouldn’t care. But he was my first love, and I’ll probably always feel something for him—you know how it is.”
He stared at me. I stared back.
“Haven’t you ever been in love?”
He held my gaze, flags of color rising in his face. “Hmmm.” He laughed uncomfortably and then looked away, rubbing his forehead.
Suddenly, I was way more interested in the answer than I had been before. I could tell by his body language there had indeed been someone, and now my curiosity burned. Who was she? This girl who’d captured the heart of the guy everyone wanted?
“You have, haven’t you?” I took a step toward him. “Nox, come on. I’m spilling my guts out here. Tell me you know what I’m talking about. Or am I the only idiot in the room?”
His eyes came back to me. “No. I’m definitely an idiot.”
I leaned toward him and bumped him gently with my shoulder. “So… give it up. Who was she?”
Nox looked down into my face. Instead of answering, he slid an arm around my waist and pulled me tighter against him. “I don’t want to talk about that,” he whispered, and then his mouth was on mine.
The kiss was deep, probing, more emotional than any other kiss we’d shared. As our tongues moved together, it was if he was pulling at my soul, trying to convince me of some truth yet unspoken.
After a minute I started to break the contact, but his grip on me tightened and the sensuous assault kicked into a higher gear. And Nox began humming deep in his throat, calling on the maddening musical glamour I was powerless to resist.
I felt myself teetering at the edge of a cliff. Scrambling for a desperate toehold, I slapped hard at his bare arm.
He lifted his head, looking mesmerized himself. “What was that for?”
“I’ve told you not to do that to me—no singing.”
“I’m sorry—it just starts happening when I’m happy. And I wanted you to enjoy—”
“I know what you wanted. But Nox, even if I believed it was a good idea for us, we can’t. Use your head. You have to think about what that…” I pointed to his rumpled bed. “…would mean for you and your future. You weren’t handing me a line with the virginity thing, were you?”
“No.” He sighed and ran a hand through the top of his hair in a frustrated gesture. “It’s unfortunately very, very true.”
“So then you have to be really careful. You can’t just go bonding yourself to some random human girl because you’re… horny.”
Now he let out a shocked laugh. “I can’t believe you said the word ‘horny.’ And you’re not some random human. Besides, you’re part Elven, remember.”
“Yes, but only a quarter, and there’s no guarantee I’ll have a lifespan any longer than a regular human. You’re immortal. If you were to get carried away and bond yourself to me, and then we went our separate ways or I died, you’d carry the mark forever.”
“Ryann, you’re acting like I haven’t considered any of this. I’m not a fourteen year old following his junk around wherever it leads. I’m fully aware of the potential consequences every time we’re alone together.”
“Oh. So… why do you even start making out with me then?”
Nox dropped his chin and leveled me with the universal expression for Really?
Well, of course I understood that motivation. But was he so sure of his ability to stop? Then it occurred to me—maybe he never intended to go all the way.
“Is it what you were talking about earlier? What the other Dark Elves do? You want to do the other things you referred to that don’t bond you to someone for life?”
My face heated at the visions rushing through my imagination—acts that would bring pleasure but not result in a permanent bond. My mental repertoire was small, no doubt, compared to the vast array of things a man and woman could do together, but it was still blush-inducing.
Nox grinned now, apparently amused by my naiveté. “Of course, I wouldn’t mind doing those other things… with you. But I’m not afraid of bonding with you. You should know that by now.”
“I don’t understand you.” I shook my head at him in wonder.
“No. You don’t. But since you’ve already informed me we won’t be making love, then there’s no need for me to get into all my reasons for wanting to.”
“Oh.” And now I was feeling strangely let down. “So… I guess this is where we play Xbox?” I gave a nervous giggle.
“If you want.” Nox took my hand and led me to the white sectional sofa in front of the fireplace. He pulled me down to sit beside him. “Or… we could talk about what I called you here to tell you in the first place. I’ve got a lead on Emmy.”
“What?” I bounced up off the sofa again. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”
“Well there was a beautiful girl in my room in a semi-transparent nightgown, and my memory was temporarily impaired.”
Glancing down at my chest, I crossed my arms in front of it and sat back down. “So what’s the lead?”
“Vallon Foster was at the Viper Room last night—did you see him?”
“No. I guess I should’ve been studying Emmy’s magazines. Some of the girls were saying there were several actors and musicians there, but it was dark, and I didn’t really recognize anyone famous.”
“Well, he was there, sitting in Booth Four with the booking manager. I had my people invite him to the show. We spoke afterward.” He raised one eyebrow. “We’ve been invited to a party.”
I sat even straighter. “We?”
“Me and my fan pod. It’s this weekend at his compound on Carbon Beach.”
“Oh my God! This is amazing, Nox. This is our chance to find Emmy. She’ll be there, right? If he told you to bring your fan pod, he’ll bring his, right?”
“I’m pretty sure. That seems to be how it works. It’s… how should I put this… part of the entertainment?”
I stilled. “What do you mean?” We wouldn’t be expected to put on some sort of sordid floor show for our “masters” would we?
“Don’t worry—I’ll make sure you’re not a part of it. It’s sort of a game, like… like trading cards… only with girls.” He glanced up at me from under his brows as if expecting a slap.
My stomach bottomed out and went cold. “You mean the Dark Elves trade girls from fan pod to fan pod?”
“Apparently. At least that’s what Alfred hinted at. I’m sure I’ll get a great education by spending some time with Vallon. He’s got the largest fan pod and has been at it the longest.”
“Well, I can’t wait to meet him,” I said, sarcasm coloring the words.
“I don’t want you to meet him. But it is our best chance of finding Emmy.”
“Great. What should I wear?” Of course it didn’t matter. I’d be happy to show up in my yoga pants and a ratty t-shirt. All I cared about was getting Emmy back. And it was finally going to happen.
Chapter Sixteen
The Movie Star
If the TV station visit and Viper Room show had caused a frenzy among my fellow fan podders, then the announcement of a star-studded Hollywood party had incited absolute pandemonium. Some of the girls were actually throwing up in our dorm before we boarded the bus for Vallon’s beach house.
All of us wore swanky evening wear provided by Amalia. I had no idea where she’d gotten it or how she’d nailed all our dress and shoe sizes, but apparently it was important for us to look occasion-appropriate because all of it bore designer labels.
Between the Laboutins and the Chanel, we were wearing a collective fortune. Oh my gosh. Were those designers Elven, too?
I’d never worn anything that hadn’t been purchased at a discount store or run-of-the-mill department store, but the sparkly dress wasn’t what excited me about the evening. After all these weeks, all the worry, I was about to see Emmy again.
As we boarded the bus, I tried to prepare myself that she might have changed. She might look different, act different. She might not even recognize me if she’d been glamoured thoroughly enough. It didn’t matter. I’d finally know where she was and how she was and could begin the work of getting her back home safely.
The bus came to a stop on the Pacific Coast Highway outside the mansion, and Amalia stood to give us instructions. “You are here to represent Nox and serve his interests, to be seen and not heard. If someone speaks to you, you may converse with them, but you are not to approach any celebrities. They may choose to approach you, even invite you to an event. Only then are you allowed to interact with them.
We entered the ultra-modern beach home in a parade of tanned skin and stilettoes. And fit right in. It was bizarre to be surrounded by so much beauty—like I’d stepped into a magazine or a CW primetime show.
The girls with me dispersed, moving through the crowd, each no doubt hoping some celebrity would spot her and strike up a conversation. I shuddered at the knowledge of what was really going on here—the real reason the Dark Elves had brought along their fan pods—and began a search of the room.
Every few minutes, a servant would stop with a tray, offering me an appetizer, a sparkling drink. I refused it all. I wasn’t here to have a good time. I was here for one reason only—to find Emmy.
She didn’t seem to be on the first floor, so I climbed the beautiful open staircase to the next floor and walked through the rooms, scanning in every direction. I hadn’t seen Nox yet, though I knew he was here somewhere because I’d overheard some girls from another pod chattering and giggling over spotting him.
She’s not here. Moving on.
I climbed the staircase to the third floor where a DJ was playing retro Disco music inside at the bar, much to the delight of the party-goers who filled the dance floor. Squeezing past them, I made my way to the open-air roof deck. There was music out here, too, but not as loud, allowing for conversation among the groups of people enjoying the night air, sea breeze, and moonlit ocean view.
Walking the perimeter of the large deck, I spotted someone who made my heart pound like the drumbeat from the alternative band playing in the corner. Not Emmy—but the next best thing. The one person who knew for sure where she’d been the past two weeks.
He was leaning against the deck railing, his tall, perfectly sculpted form framed by a backdrop of stars over the Malibu beach, and naturally, surrounded by a crowd of adoring teenage girls and twenty-something women.
Adrenaline surged through my veins like the surf I could hear in the background. Finally, after everything I’d gone through to get here, I was so close to finding her.
Preparing to charge Vallon Foster—huge Elven bodyguards be damned—I planned to demand Emmy’s whereabouts and immediate release. A strong hand gripped my shoulder and slid down to my waist. I was pulled back against the solid warmth of a large male body.
“Calm down, Ryann,” the smooth familiar voice murmured at my ear. “And let me handle this.”
With considerable effort, I reeled in my emotions and pasted on a smile. We approached the movie star together, hand in hand.
“Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Vallon Foster.” The voice of the beautiful guy beside me was comforting, full of loving assurance.
I forced myself to appear something less-than-hostile as Nox introduced me.
“Vallon, this is Ryann… the newest member of my fan pod.”
The movie star looked different in person, younger and more handsome, if that were possible. He wore a silvery gray suit with a black shirt underneath, unbuttoned nearly to the center of his chest. His dark hair was slicked back from his tanned face, revealing the ice blue eyes so many moviegoers (and co-stars) had fallen in love with. There was no denying it. He was a beautiful man.
Vallon seemed to appreciate my appearance as well. Either that, or he stared lewdly at every young girl who crossed his path—I hadn’t been around him long enough to know yet.
His eyes browsed my body, stopping at the parts he found most interesting, then continuing their perusal. Up and down. Down and then back up. When his gaze finally landed on my face, his lips spread into the most predatory smile I’d ever seen… like a crocodile oh-so-politely introducing himself to a small animal shivering on the shoreline.
“Well, well, Nox. Looks like you’re off to a good start with your first crop of girls. I’ll have to talk to Alfred, though—he must be sending me the second class choices if this is what he’s sending you—and on your maiden voyage, too. Lucky boy.”
Nox cleared his throat and looked at his feet, twisting his lips before answering tightly. “Thank you.”
Vallon lifted a hand to the side in a lazy gesture. “Feel free to look around and take whatever you’d like from my stable. You’ll find I’m very generous with my friends.” Giving me another interested glance he turned back to Nox. “I hope you feel the same?”
“Oh, of course. But since I got my girls only a few days ago—I’ll probably just hang on to what I’ve got for now. I don’t even know all their names yet.”
Apparently that amused Vallon. He burst into laughter and slapped his leg. “Oh—that is priceless. I love the newbies. God, I haven’t known the names of one of mine for ages now. It hardly matters.”
Nox’s face reddened. “Well, I’m still learning the rules, I guess.”
“Stick with me my boy—I’ll be happy to show you how it’s done. So where did this sweet plum come from?”
He was talking about me as if I wasn’t there. My blood started boiling—I’d been in his presence exactly three minutes, and I hated him. I wasn’t a piece of meat, and I did have a name. So did Emmy—not that he would know it.
“I’m from Mississippi,” I snapped, looking directly at him.
He laughed out loud again. “Oh my. A feisty personality to go with the lovely body and face. You are precisely my favorite flavor, my little Southern Belle.” His eyes turned to Nox again. “Actually, I had one f
rom Mississippi myself. Cute thing—outrageous accent. She was quite delicious except for the glasses.”
My heart seized—he was talking about Emmy. And he’d said he had her. What did that mean? Was she not with him anymore? Had he sent her home? Was she okay?
I couldn’t ask about Emmy myself—it would tip Vallon off to my un-glamoured condition. But I turned and looked at Nox, willing him to ask. In fact, I was fairly screaming it inside my head.
He must have gotten the message because he repeated my silent question out loud. “Where’s she tonight? I’d like to check her out. I have a thing for the Southern ones, too.”
Vallon flipped his manicured fingers in a bored gesture. “Well, she was fun for a while, but they all get old rather quickly, you know? No, I guess you don’t—but you will. I traded her to Reggie.”
“Reggie Dillon, the Tremors’ quarterback?” Nox asked.
“Yes, have you met him yet?”
“Not yet—I haven’t been in town very long.”
“Oh, you’ll like him. He’s lots of fun. And he has excellent taste in fine young things. Make sure you get an introduction and check out his stable.” Vallon browsed my body again, cataloguing my individual attributes from head to toe. “So… how would you feel about making a trade tonight? One of my girls for this one? Any one you want—take two in fact.” He did everything short of licking his lips in anticipation.
Nox’s grip on my hand tightened painfully. I tried not to wince—it wouldn’t do to alert Vallon to my companion’s spontaneous reaction.
His voice betrayed nothing as he emulated Vallon’s blasé tone. “Well… that’s a nice offer. But I haven’t had a chance to sample this one yet. Listen, I see someone over there Alfred wanted me to meet—I’m going to say hi. Great party. Come on, Ryann.”
“Keep it in mind—whenever you’re done with her,” Vallon yelled to our backs as Nox nearly dragged me across the rooftop toward the far end of the bar.
“Who are we going to see?” I asked, running to keep up with his hard-digging stride.