by Alexa Silver
“I shouldn’t,” she said uncertainly, glancing back at the diner again, as if her uncle could see them, even though they were too far down the street already. “I really shouldn’t,” she said, but he wasn’t convinced she believed it. Or maybe she did, but she didn’t want to.
“Fly with me. Dance with me on the wing,” he said, less an order than a request. His graceful Christina would be beautiful in the air. Perhaps that’s where they should make love. On the wing.
“Dance?” Her voice caught, then she grinned and threw her arms around his neck, reaching up to kiss him soundly. Will responded as best he could to the sudden, if welcome onslaught.
“Yes!” Christina said with a laugh. “Yes! Let’s go! Now!” Will’s stomach flip-flopped. He hadn’t expected her to accept, much less kiss him, but oh, God, this was incredible! No way were they going to walk to the water and then fly. They weren’t supposed to shift in the city for frivolous reasons. The chance of some ordinary human with a bit of paranormal ability seeing them was too great. The only nod to that rule tonight would be they wouldn’t do it on the street. Instead, Will glanced around, looking for buildings that might be open so they could get to the roof. One far enough away from the Pike to avoid being seen by drivers. If they were caught, it would be worth being dragged in front of the Conclave to explain himself.
“Got an idea!” Christina’s grin was infectious. She grabbed him by the hand and started to run up the street. He followed, wondering what she had in mind. Not that he really cared one way or another. Just being with her was enough.
Almost enough.
She ducked into an alley between two apartment buildings. Clotheslines ran between the two buildings, lights shone from a few windows, but most were dark at this time of night. Christina gestured to the fire escape on one of the buildings. It was a good five stories up, but the fire escape looked fairly new and in decent condition. She put her hand on the first rung, looked back over her shoulder and grinned.
Will laughed, and then laughed harder when she shushed him. He joined her at the fire escape and pulled her to him. There were no windows at ground level and the shadows were deep enough to hide them from the streets at either end of the alley.
Christina felt so right in his arms. She was giggling, her hands clutching his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. He put his hand in her hair and tried to stifle his own giggles. Will closed his eyes and breathed in her scent as his laughter subsided.
“Christina,” he whispered, “my Christina.” Their festive, carefree moods fell away as she melted against him. He felt rather than heard her speak. “What was that?”
“I said,” Christina answered as she tipped her head back so he could see her face in the dim light, “I don’t want this night to end.”
“It doesn’t have to,” Will said, running his hand through her hair. It was so soft, so thick. He could write a symphony about her hair. “I—I” he stammered, “I…” He knew he’d never get the words out, so he did the next best thing.
Will kissed her.
Not a mere press of lips like they’d shared at the cash register. This was passion and promise and, yes, lust. He didn’t remember picking her up, but the next thing he knew, she had her back to a wall and her legs locked around his waist, hanging onto him as if he was the only thing keeping her from drowning. Will tipped her head to the side so he could feast on her neck and she cried out.
“God, baby, we gotta be quiet,” he whispered, his cock throbbing in his jeans.
“Want you, Will,” Christina said and rubbed her cunt against him as she moaned. Her scent surrounded him, making his balls ache with need.
“Want you, too, baby,” Will told her as he tugged on her sodden panties. He wished he’d thought about this before he’d picked her up, but he hadn’t apparently been thinking much then. Fuck it! With a twist of his wrist, he ripped the material and suddenly she was there, under his fingers. He needed to be inside her.
“Will!” She ground against him, her heels digging into his ass. “Want you in me, now.”
He wanted in her, too, but first he had to deal with the damn zipper on his jeans. After what seemed like an eternity, he freed his hot, aching cock. Will didn’t know how he hadn’t come yet. He was so close, this might be over faster than he’d like. He bit down on his lip and grabbed his cock, using every ounce of self-control he had to not go off like a rocket before he got into her.
Then he nudged her entrance and with a moan he started to slide in. Christina cried out again, and slammed herself down on his cock, taking him to the root with a single motion. Will growled and bit down on her shoulder. Christina’s muscles worked him inside even as he was holding as still as possible to keep from shooting off too soon.
“Baby, baby,” he said, unable to say anything else at the moment. Then he started to move. Slowly at first, then building, keeping himself so close but not yet going over the edge. Christina rode him as best she could and Will couldn’t wait to have her in a bed.
He held her easily with one arm while he braced her against the wall with his body. With his other hand, he reached between them. His thumb found what he was looking for. She was slick with her juices, and when he touched her, she moaned into his neck and frantically rubbed against him. His careful pace shattered. Will began to slam into her as hard as he could, his balls high and tight and full, all thought of anything but getting them both over the edge was gone.
Christina suddenly stilled in his arms, keening deep in her throat as she came, her cunt rippling around his cock as she chanted his name. Will felt his growl rising before he heard it, then Christina’s joined his. When she growled his name as she came again, Will couldn’t hold back any longer and he came with a roar. Christina grabbed him by the hair and dragged his mouth to hers for a kiss.
This was a kiss for the ages. Will poured everything he was into it, all his longing, his fear, his joy, his desire. Everything he remembered about her in their past lives could be found in the play of his tongue over hers, in his touch, the pounding of his heart. Every good thing he’d ever done was gifted to her, every bad thing revealed for her judgment.
He stripped his soul bare for her. He would not demand, it was up to her to choose.
Christina opened to him, tentatively at first, but with growing confidence and Will thought he might fly without the aid of wings. As she returned his kiss, he felt her own soul opening to him. Everything she was rushed into him, every moment, every thought, every desire. A few things stood out from the flood. When she was ten she’d stolen her cousin’s watch and buried it in the park because he’d said something mean to her. When she was twelve, she’d rescued a little girl from a demon all by herself. At five she’d felt her parents die.
Her pride, her rage, her love, all washed over him and through him. Will took everything she offered and held it close. It might be years before he truly understood it all, but for now he carefully wrapped it up in his love and stored it in a special place in his mind and his heart.
Will stood there, holding them both up, gasping for breath and trying to ignore the tears running down his face. Christina’s breathing slowed and she unlocked her ankles. Will helped ease her to her feet, but refused to let go of her. She readjusted her clothes as best she could, then with a wry grin she reached under her skirt and pulled her shredded panties off. He felt his face flush but refused to look down. He had no intention of feeling guilty for anything that led to what they’d just shared.
“You owe me for these.” She swung the ruined garment on the tip of her finger.
“I’ll buy you a dozen,” Will said, as he brushed her hair out of her face. The gesture felt natural, as if he’d done it a million times before. He had a feeling he’d be doing it a million more times in the future. Christina grinned and leaned back against the wall. Will joined her, loving how she felt at his side
“So,” she began, “does this mean flying over the water is out?”
He turned his he
ad and met her eyes. She smiled at him, the same one she’d worn when she’d had her hand on the fire escape, as if daring him to follow through with their plan.
“Can’t wait,” Will said, and leaned over to kiss the top of her head. He’d wanted to do that all night. The brush of her hair against his lips had his cock stirring again already. Maybe sex on the wing might work after all.
“Then what are we hanging around here for?” Christina asked, already in motion as she headed for the fire escape. She put her hand on the bottom rung, and for a split second it was as if they’d just gotten here and nothing had changed between them.
Except Will knew better. Everything had changed.
With another glance over her shoulder, Christina started up the ladder. Will held onto the ladder, watching her go up. Once she’d moved on to the next section, he followed. Will kept catching up to her, so he’d stop and let her get ahead again. He had to admit he enjoyed the view.
They climbed steadily until they got to the fourth-floor landing. The light was on in that window and music spilled out onto the landing. Will caught up with Christina who put her finger to her lips and pointed at the window as she giggled. Will peered into the window to see what was so funny, nearly laughing out loud when he did. Five girls, maybe eight or nine years old in pigtails and frilly nightgowns were jammed together dancing for all they were worth in the small living room. A portable record player perched precariously on a stack of orange crates blasted out one of last year’s hits, Born To Be Wild.
They watched the girls for a moment and Will had a fleeting mental image of other slumber parties where these same girls danced to his music in a few years. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or a precog flash, either way, he had more important things to think about tonight.
“C’mon, let’s keep going before the parents show up,” Will said, urging Christina upward. She grinned at him, then started up the stairs again, still giggling from time to time. With a last glance at his future fans, he followed.
Christina stood waiting a couple of steps away from the fire escape when Will got to the top. He took her hand and led her to the other side of the roof. The weather gave them concealment, but for a moment he wished it had been clear so they could see the water. The moon was hidden by clouds. It had been full the week before. He’d wanted to fly that night but he’d landed a gig. Work came first.
The roof of the apartment building wasn’t the tallest in the area, but it was near the Pike and well above the late-night traffic. Surrounding roofs were shrouded in mist and fog, providing more privacy than they would have had on another night. Best of all, the few buildings between it and the freeway were shorter, so there was no risk of collision if they wanted to drop to catch air rather than a running start.
Will hesitated. Which would be better? He’d never taken a girl flying before. Would it be better to show off his power with a running start? Or would dropping together be more romantic? The fact that they’d already had sex had little to do with this. A flight like this, this was different. In some ways it was much more intimate than sex, especially with a girl he had already claimed as his. Why had he never talked to Mom about this? Or his grandfather?
“The city’s beautiful, Will.” Christina leaned her head against his shoulder. Will put his arm around her. He couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t sound silly, so he just held her close. The scents of the diner were strong on her clothes and in her hair but didn’t obscure her own unique scent or how well it mingled with his.
Lights shining through the mist and fog took on an otherworldly cast. They couldn’t see the water, but they could see the lights lining the curve of the harbor.
“I—” she began, “I’ve never shown a boy my wings before,” she said, ducking her head. Winging up with someone else was an intimate act. Sure, he’d been flying with his buddies, and his grandfather had taken him flying before. For some Luminis accessing their wings was difficult. Will’s mom was like that. She could bring them out in an emergency, but it took a lot out of her.
Will put his finger under Christina’s chin and gently tipped her face up to his. He tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned down to brush his lips softly against her. “I’ve never shown a girl mine,” he hesitated, wondering if it was too soon but forged ahead, “Sweetheart.”
“At least we each have one first time to share with each other,” she said with a grin. He blushed, but grinned back at her. Maybe that was part of it. They’d both had sex before they’d met, but this was new.
“Does that bother you?” Her playfulness fled and Will realized this was important to her. He’d be lying if he told her he didn’t wish he could have been her first, but Will was pragmatic. He knew the odds were against any Luminis girl Christina’s age being a virgin. For all he knew, she could have borne several children by now.
“Did you love any of them?” He was dodging her question, but he didn’t want to put her off or lie to her.
“I liked them,” she answered then she took a breath as if steadying herself, “but none of them were you.”
“You felt it, too, didn’t you, Christina?” Will asked her even though he knew the answer.
“What happened after…That we are meant to be?” Christina asked. “Yeah, I felt it—feel it, too,” she added, with a smile.
Will took her face in his hands and kissed her. He kissed her with all the passion in his soul and she responded, opening her heart, mind and soul to him, again, but without the flood of emotions and memories. Will felt echoes of past lives in their kiss and knew they’d been together countless times before.
I have always known you
I have always loved you
He didn’t dare voice his feelings yet. It was too soon, this was too new, even though they were ancient beyond belief. In this life they were young; strangers just now coming together.
“Change with me, my Christina,” Will said, “Dance on the wing with me.” He took her hands gently in his and stepped slightly back from her; the connection they’d forged with their bodies humming through his soul. Their Luminis forms were taller, larger and he didn’t want to shift too close together.
She looked up at him, the rooftop security lights softened by the fog and Will thought his heart might stop in the presence of such beauty. He felt her concentration turn inward in preparation and then he followed, knowing his own shift was faster than most. Will couldn’t tell which of them finished first and it didn’t matter. Suddenly she was there, beautiful in the soft light. Her wings looked as if they were made of sunlight and Will would swear they glowed. Her leathers were pearlescent. He couldn’t wait to see her in daylight.
Christina’s Luminis form was taller, as was usual, than her ordinary human form. Where in her human form she seemed soft and cuddly, she now exuded strength and power. Her eyes were more bronze than brown, the fiery highlights in her auburn hair gleamed even in the fog-muted rooftop lights. She stroked his black leathers and her eyes were wide as she took in his impressive wingspan, turning her head to see from tip to tip.
“William,” she said, her voice now with the deeper more resonant tones characteristic of their winged forms. “Your wings,” she said, still seeming to struggle for the words. Will knew what she’d seen. The gold and silver in his wings appeared in very few Luminis lines. This was the moment.
One of the reasons he had such trepidation about showing his wings to anyone was how people sometimes responded. He didn’t want sycophants. He didn’t need anyone currying favor. What he needed most of all was to be accepted in his own right. It didn’t matter what fate had decreed for them, if she couldn’t accept him for himself, if she couldn’t accept his position in addition, he’d have to walk way. He held his breath, waiting to hear her response.
“They’re beautiful, Will,” she finally said, awe in her voice, but awe of the beauty she saw, not of the power he represented.
“You shine like the sun, Christina,” he told her. His own voic
e hit deep tones he could only dream of in his human form. Even though he knew better, he sometimes wished it was possible to record their voices in these forms. He and the guys sometimes sang together when they had enough privacy, though instruments could be difficult to play in their much larger forms. It was too bad so few people could ever hear it. A Luminis choir would be incredible. He heard one in his mind from time to time. Maybe one day he’d feel up to trying to write something bigger than the rock and roll songs he wrote now. Something that might come close to the beauty he heard in his head.
“Tell me, love,” she blushed as she said the word, but didn’t let it stop her. “Do these,” she said as she traced one of the bright metallic veins through the deep-blue of his wings, “mean what I think they do?”
“What do you think they mean, Christina?” He asked his question carefully, making sure none of his insecurity bled through.
“Uncle Sal said you would bring me nothing but grief.” Will’s heart sank at her words. Her uncle was probably partially right. His life had been rough, and it was all due to his position in their society. Had he been anyone else he likely wouldn’t have been targeted.
“What do you think?”
“I think you are beautiful and powerful and destined for greatness,” she answered. “I think you’ve lived with pain and fear but you haven’t let it conquer you or dampen your soul.” Christina paused, which Will was grateful for because her words had him struggling to retain his composure. No one had ever seen him so clearly, except the destined for greatness part. He didn’t see that. He saw only that he’d do his best.
“I think you need someone who loves you for yourself and doesn’t let your position intrude any more than necessary.” She finished speaking and Will felt a shudder rush through him. He thought it might have come from her, or perhaps it was something bigger than both of them. Her words had rung in his memory, as if she’d said them before in another time, another life.