Star Crossed: an Adult Dystopian Paranormal Romance: Sector 11 (The Othala Witch Collection)

by J. E. Taylor

  “We both know why I’m mad. I wasn’t given a choice. And today, I made the choice to set this in motion. This.” He pointed between the two of us. “Yes, I forced you to marry me. I took your choice away, and maybe that was wrong, but I couldn’t figure out a way to balance the feelings I have for you.”

  “So this was your retribution?”

  He shrugged and I wanted to smack him again.

  “You married me out of revenge?” My voice rose to a high pitch that I immediately detested.

  “No, I married you because I’m in love with you.” He pressed his lips together, and his cheeks flared red.

  I could almost hear his internal rant for letting that slip.

  “But you hate me at the same time,” I said, matching his glare.

  He shook his head. “That’s my problem. No matter how pissed I am at the whole situation, I still want you by my side. I still need you to keep the darkness away. I still fucking love your sweet ass.” The words spit out between his clenched teeth.

  We stared at each other. His eyes were as wild as I imagined mine were, somewhere between fury and lust, and just being this close to him was clouding some of that aggravation. It was doing the same to him as well. I could feel it in the grip he had on me and the hardness pressing into my pelvic bone.

  “Why did you marry me?” he asked.

  I laughed and looked at the ceiling. “Beyond your ultimatum?”

  He waited while my brain formulated the right words. “Because no matter how mad I am, I still fucking love you, too,” I snapped.

  “Was there a loophole for you in that spell you cast?”

  As much as the question fried my insides, I knew he had to ask. “No. It applied to anyone who stood by your side at the wedding altar.” It was my turn to ask a question even though the answer was as dreaded to me as his likely was to him. “Did you know your mother did that to my father?”

  He shook his head. “No.” He bit his lip like he didn’t want to go further with this question and answer session. Like the next question pinging through his mind would undo him if he asked. He forged ahead anyway. “While I was at my trial, did those men...”

  The pain in his eyes softened the beast within me, taming it into submission. “No. I got away before they were able to do anything significant beyond whipping me with their belts. The only man I’ve ever been with, willing or not, is you.” I sighed and cupped his cheek.

  Relief melted into his muscles as his eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

  Now it was my turn. My unwanted question leapt out. “Would you have raped me in that cell if I hadn’t head-butted you?”

  The tears spilled, rolling down his cheeks as he nodded. His chin trembled when he opened his mouth and forced a “Yes.”

  “Were you aware of the things you were doing?” I asked. His pain hurt deep, but I needed to know. I hadn’t seen any recognition of who I was or what he was doing to me present in his eyes at the time. The blankness had scared the living shit out of me.

  His eyes squeezed closed and he nodded. “But no matter how much I tried to gain control, I couldn’t until you bashed my nose.” He squeezed me tighter and pressed his lips to my temple. “I’m sorry,” he whispered and took a breath before meeting my gaze. “Did you cut off my leg to save me?”

  “Yes, and I’m not at all sorry for making that choice.”

  “Have you lost faith in me?” he asked, his voice soft and scared.

  “No. I’ll never lose faith in you as long as you stay true to who you really are. And I’m not talking about the asshole you portray out there.” I pointed to the door. “I’m talking about the man who considered the cosmos with me on the roof, the one who I used to race with, laugh with, and even argue philosophy with. I will never lose faith in you as long as you keep true to that man. You may have hidden that part of yourself from the rest of the sector, but I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the kindness in you. I’ve seen your heart.”

  He pulled me into his arms, dropping the crutch to the ground. One hand threaded into my hair, and the other pressed into my lower back. His lips greedily covered my mouth while his tongue played with mine, exploring, teasing, toying with the tumult of emotions riding my body.

  “Jaden,” I whispered under the pressure of him.

  I wasn’t ready for this. Not with the thundering of my heart and the tightness in my stomach. I knew he wanted to take me to bed and ravish every inch of me, but I needed to clear my head. I needed to let go of all this pain and anger before I could truly be his.

  “I can’t. Not yet,” I said and peeled out of his arms. Before I was aware of what I was doing, I had already fled the hotel room and bounded down the stairs and out into the street. My feet took me where I usually ran. I grabbed my mother’s blanket and climbed to the roof.

  It wasn’t as easy in a wedding dress, but I needed time, space, and a moment before I could move forward.

  Chapter 26

  I stood with the dress billowing around me and my mother’s blanket wrapped around my shoulders. This should have been the happiest day of my life, but it was far from that. Tears bathed my face as I sought comfort in the afghan and the lingering scent of Jaden’s cologne.

  A scraping sound pulled my attention away from the view, and I glanced over my shoulder. Jaden pulled himself onto the asphalt roofing and rolled onto his back, huffing from exertion. Seeing him lying there covered in a thin sheen of sweat gave me a start.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked, wiping my face.

  “Chasing after my bride who took off like the building was on fire,” he said through wheezing breaths. “I didn’t realize marrying me was such an emotional fuck up.” He pushed himself into a sitting position.

  “It’s my wedding day,” I said as fresh tears spilt hot paths down my cheeks. “I should be happy.”

  He struggled to his feet, hopped over to the air vent, and used it to come closer to where I stood.

  “What are we doing?” I asked him.

  “Hell if I know.” His green eyes held the Jaden I had known for years, the Jaden I loved with all my heart. “What do you want to be doing?”

  “Making love to you in the hotel,” I said, cursing the damn truth serum. I pressed my lips together.

  “Then what are you doing up here?” His eyes implored me, begging for an answer that made sense.

  “Running away from the overwhelming feelings hitting me from every angle.” I closed my eyes and hung my head, taking a deep breath before I met his gaze again.

  He held his hand out, and I took it, moving into his arms.

  “Tell me what’s going on in your head?” his soft voice whispered in my ear.

  “My parents are dead, and I killed your mother,” I whispered as my demons finally caught up with me. Sobs shook my form. “And Gypsy was killed because she helped me.”

  He kissed my cheek and hooked his finger under my chin, making me look at him.

  “And it’s my wedding day,” I whispered.

  “It’s okay, Star. You’ve lost a lot in such a short time. You’re allowed to mourn your parents and Gypsy.” He brushed my tears away. “And as for my mother, you killed her in self-defense.”

  “What about you? Aren’t you the least bit sad your mother is dead?”

  He shook his head. “I was ready to kill her myself, remember? The only deaths I expect to be mourning are my little brother’s and your mom’s. Those haven’t quite hit yet, and I’m sure I’m going to be a fucking mess whenever it finally sinks in.” He stroked my hair softly, and his smile faded. “Are we too damaged to get through this?”

  I considered his question as he searched my eyes. We were both damaged by all that had happened, but there wasn’t anyone else I wanted by my side to help put the pieces back together. He was the only one with the power to fix the heaviness in my heart. I finally shook my head, and he pulled me close, leaning on me for support. He wrapped his arms around me.

  “How about we go
back where it’s warm and have some champagne and wedding cake,” he whispered in my ear. “And then make love for the rest of the night.”

  “You sure you’ll have the energy for that? You’re barely holding yourself up right now.”

  He smiled and there he was in full force. The Jaden I loved stood before me, flashing his infamous grin, and that sparkle in his green irises told me more than words could ever say.

  “As long as I don’t fall to my death from this rooftop, or break my back or something equally as morbid.”

  “How the hell did you get up here, anyway?” I glanced behind him at the hole and the ropes we used to scale together.

  “Raw determination and a little extra boost.” He tapped his temple.

  I gave him an eye roll and took a moment to scan the horizon.

  “In case I forget, you look stunning today,” he said.

  I turned towards him and gave him a sniffling smile. “You look damn fine in that tuxedo.”

  “Even without two legs?” He looked away from me. Apprehension drew lines around his mouth, and he licked his lips.

  I cocked my head to the side, capturing his attention before I spoke. “Yes. You will never be crippled in my eyes. Challenged, maybe, but a cripple? Never, and I’ll never treat you that way.”

  “So you’re not going to carry me down the rope on your back?” The dimple I loved so dearly played in his cheek as he tried not to smile.

  “And ruin this dress? You, my friend are out of your mind. Besides, I’m already carrying my mother’s blanket down. Unless you wanted to carry it?” I asked, trying to suppress my own smile.

  “Aren’t you just such a sweet and thoughtful girl,” he said with a teasing grin. When he glanced at the opening, his smile faded. “In all seriousness, I am going to need help. I really don’t quite know what I was thinking when I climbed up here.”

  “How do you want to do this?” I asked.

  Usually we just hopped on the ropes and slid down by wrapping our legs around the nylon and letting the fabric slide through our loose hands until we reached the stairwell and jumped off. It was all very physical and daunting because of the way we used both feet. I had never climbed down hand over hand, which is what Jaden would have to do.

  “I think I might need more help at the bottom, so you go first,” he said.

  “Why don’t we do this at the same time? That way if you get into trouble, I’ll be right there to help.”

  “Is this like the whole ‘you die, I die’ thing?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “No, it’s more along the lines of let’s do something incredibly stupid together.”

  “Like get married?”

  “Yes. Exactly,” I said, and we both broke out in smiles.

  “I’m sorry I was such a dick.”

  I squeezed his hand. “You’re allowed to have a bad day every now and then. Just don’t make it a habit.”

  “By the way, I don’t think I ever thanked you for that.” He nodded towards the boundaries of sector eleven.

  Even I had to admit the wall of white flame was beautiful. I silently thanked the elements for helping form such a gorgeous safety feature. It glowed for a moment, acknowledging my thoughts.

  “It’s almost as beautiful as you are.”

  Rolling my eyes and uttering a laugh, I led him to the ropes, making sure he had his rope in his hands before I jumped, and grabbed mine while I was airborne.

  Jaden’s face was a mask of concentration as he dangled from the rope, sliding one hand down before the other. His arms strained against the fabric of the suit, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead. When we finally made it down the four flights of rubble and reached the landing where his crutches leaned on the far wall, I thought we might just make it without incident.

  I climbed over the railing first.

  He swung, trying to catch the railing with his leg and missed.

  My internal siren started, and I reached out at the very moment he lost his grip on the rope. I caught his wrist, and his frazzled gaze met mine as I slammed into the railing, nearly toppling over with him.

  “Gods, give me strength,” I uttered and braced myself against the iron, pulling upwards with everything I had. My muscles strained. Every ounce of strength I had rippled and shook.

  Jaden’s free hand grabbed hold of the railing. I maneuvered his other hand to the bar, making sure he had a grip before I let go and reached for his belt. With Herculean strength, I hauled him over the railing to safety before we both collapsed on the stairs, huffing from exertion.

  The way my heart slammed against my ribcage, you would have thought it was trying to make a break for it. I sucked in air, trying to catch my breath as hot blood pumped though me, heating my entire form with an exhilarated tingle.

  Jaden gasped as he stared at the hole in the roof. “That really was stupid.”

  “It certainly provided that adrenaline rush we are both accustomed to,” I said.

  His rich laughter echoed on the walls and I smiled, staring up at the first signs of nightfall.

  Chapter 27

  We tumbled onto the bed at the hotel a half hour later. The adrenaline had long since disappeared. Jaden rolled his head lazily towards me.

  “I may have exaggerated back there,” he said.

  Jaden looked every bit as tired as I felt. My muscles quivered with the expense of energy. “You don’t have any energy left?”

  He shook his head. “Not a lick.” Even his voice sounded exhausted.

  “Then how about a bubble bath instead? The tub has amazing water jets.” I was in need of a shower or something, and another pampering bath sounded like heaven, especially if I shared that oversized tub with Jaden. Maybe that would spark a little energy between us.

  His tired smile faded, and worry replaced it as he glanced in the direction of the bathroom.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. His sudden panic filled the space between us, and he just shook his head.

  “Look at me,” I said, and he met my gaze. “What is wrong?”

  “I didn’t think this through,” he said, his voice quiet and full of regret.

  “Think what through?” Now I was scared. Did he have doubts about marrying me? My head filled with horrible thoughts as the panic in the air affected me.

  “Undressing.”

  I suddenly understood. His apprehension had nothing to do with me and everything to do with his own insecurity. “I’ve already seen you naked. So, what gives?”

  “I’m worried that my leg will completely turn you off.”

  I rolled towards him, propped my head up on my hand, and reached for him. I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. When I pulled away, I said, “You do realize that it’s you who turns me on and not your body parts, right?”

  That pulled a smile to his lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

  “Do you want to take a bath?” I asked, attacking it a different way.

  “Yes. I sweated like a pig coming down that rope, and it would be nice to feel clean.”

  “Okay, then you start the bath, get in, and when you’re ready, you let me know and I’ll join you,” I said. Otherwise I was just going to soak until he built up the nerves to join me.

  He considered my offer and then nodded. “I’m not saying that will take away all my angst, but it would help.”

  “Before you disappear into the bathroom, can you unzip?” I rolled, giving him access to the back of my dress. The click of the zipper slowly going down created a heat inside me. I glanced over my shoulder. “Can you also unclasp the bra?”

  He offered up a smile as he reached with his forefinger and thumb and unclasped the bra hook in one quick motion. Then he climbed out of bed and picked up his crutches.

  I stared at the ceiling while he filled up the tub. When the jets started, he let out a little chuckle.

  I rolled off the bed, letting the dress and bra fall to the
ground. “You ready?”

  “Yeah, but good luck finding me,” he said.

  I crossed to the door and laughed at the sight of bubbles reaching three feet higher than the rim of the tub.

  “It kind of exploded in bubbles when I turned on the jets.” He cleaned out a path, knocking suds over the edge. When he finally cleared enough for me to see him, his goofy smile warmed my soul.

  I slid my underwear off and crossed to the edge of the tub. His gaze lingered on my body long enough for me to become self-conscious, but I didn’t try to hide myself. If I was going to ease his unrest, he would have to see me accepting all my flaws, too.

  I stepped into the hot water, and he guided me between his legs. I settled in the sea of bubbles and turned my head enough to capture a peck before leaning against him. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck, nuzzling and creating a delicious shiver.

  We sat in silence, letting the tub create bubbles around us. When I dropped my hands to his thighs, he stiffened and not in the right places. I craned my neck and met his gaze.

  “Relax,” I whispered, but the tightness in his arms and his thighs didn’t abate. I leaned my head back on his shoulder and closed my eyes, trying to take my own advice.

  The bubbles receded enough to get glimpses of the water when his lips found the curve of my neck. His arms loosened and his hands started exploring, caressing my breasts before venturing between my legs. He lifted his good leg, snaking it around mine to spread my legs wider.

  His fingers slowly circled my clit, and I let out a soft moan of contentment. My hands gripped his thighs as his caress turned insistent. He shifted so he could slide his fingers inside me while he continued to play my clit like a guitar string. Tingling sensations filled me along with a burning need, and my breath quickened. His hardness pressed against my lower back.