by Aliyah Burke
“Tonight?” she asked Roz.
“Yes, on his way now.”
She clucked her tongue and put her sword away. “Guess it’s out of our hands now.”
“What’s going on?”
“You get to meet the one who trained us. For some reason, he wants you alive. Pity, really. I always like having the blood of New Order idiots on my blade.” She flashed a grin. “Don’t go anywhere.”
Stepping back, she wrung out her hair. Truly a pointless feat, but she felt the need to do something.
Roz remained near the man and a rustling in the woods had Aminta whipping around, spikes at the ready. What she wasn’t ready for was Dex appearing. He had a lantern in his hand and held it up, taking in Roz and the man chained to the tree. Then he put his eyes on her, reached out with one hand capturing her coat, and hauled her in for a blazing kiss.
Chapter Eight
He wanted to kill her. Waking up in bed alone had been one thing. Discovering she and Roz both were gone had set him into rescue mode. What if something had happened to them? He’d been out searching for her for almost an hour. Only by luck had he gone this way first.
Tearing his lips off hers, Dex growled, “You and I have a long chat coming, woman.”
“Hi, Dex,” Roz said with aplomb.
“Roz,” he said, releasing Frost. “What’s with the guy chained to a tree?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Frost replied. “What are you doing out here?”
“Looking for you.”
She smiled, actually smiled. “How sweet. Why?”
Am I going to tell her I’ve fallen for her? No way. “Because of the unease you two had this evening.”
“We’re both good, thanks. You should go back now.”
The storm increased in fury. He shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere without you two.”
“We actually don’t need protection.”
“What are those things on the ground?” He didn’t even touch the fact he wanted to protect her.
“Demons.”
Her reply fell from her lips in such a casual fashion he knew it was the truth. He’d lost count at around fifteen.
“Were you injured?” He looked in Roz’s direction. “Either of you?”
“No, we’re fine.”
Lightning jagged near and he frowned. “This is insane. We need to get out of the storm.”
“We’re waiting for someone,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Who? And why are you waiting for them out here in the forest?”
“You’re about to find out.” She stepped away from him and he lifted the lantern to see better.
A large gray cloud rolled through the trees, jags of lightning jumping from it. It stopped before the two women and from the interior walked a man dressed in a white linen suit with a cane in one hand.
I must be losing it, because I’m seeing things that make absolutely zero sense.
His expression, carved from obsidian, softened slightly when he spied the women, each of whom walked up to him and hugged him. The man took in the one tied to a tree then focused on Dex. He strode toward him, each motion effortless.
“You must be Dex.” A bow. “I am Lian.”
“Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand, wondering about the absurdity of it all. The man had just stepped from a cloud.
“I am sure you have many questions. My Aminta can answer them for you. I have to get this one back before more come searching for him. Rosamund, Aminta, I hope to see you both soon.”
In astonishment, Dex observed as Lian waved a hand, the chains around the man vanished and he floated through the air to the man. The clouds came back in, surrounding them and rose up, leaving him with the two women.
“I think I’ll head back and let the two of you talk on your return.” Roz spoke seconds before she, too, vanished into the trees.
Frost stepped up to him and placed a hand on his arm. “It’s a bit much for your brain to process?”
“You said this stuff was weird and freaky but this? The demons”—he turned in a complete circle—“that are no longer here. Where did they go? And the man who rides in the clouds? Yes, it’s a bit much. How the hell was he not wet?”
“He has an affinity to the weather.” Her causal remark set his teeth on edge.
Dex gripped her arm. “Talk, Frost.”
“You know I told you all of this before. I understand it may take a while for it all to register but for the record, Dex, I don’t like being grabbed.” She fisted his coat, unmindful of the increasing cold around her, and jerked him to her. “Unless it’s for sex.”
His rumble was one hundred percent alpha. “That I can do.”
He lifted her and backed her into a tree, their mouths a tangled mess as they mashed lips to one another. Around them the storm saturated the land but to him, nothing else mattered. Her heated skin burned him through their clothing and he wanted to press against her.
“Pants,” she mumbled into his mouth.
“Yes. And boots.”
“Don’t wanna wait,” she grumbled. “Take me from behind.”
He set her on the ground, then ripped her pants down, before he spread her legs as far as he could and bit her on the side of her neck. “Yes,” he promised. “I will.”
Dex freed himself and guided the head of his cock to the entrance of her pussy. Her heat beckoned him. He hesitated one second before sliding home in a single stroke.
“Yes,” she hissed, grinding down on him.
He worked his hips, pistoning his dick in and out of her. With one arm snaked around her waist, he reached the other to the front and sought her clit. Her snugness tore at him, her muscles flexed and clenched as he stroked.
“For the record,” he panted in her ear. “I don’t like you going off like this.”
“Guardians do things people don’t necessarily like.” She moaned, long and drawn out, encasing his cock in another layer of titanium.
“I’m not people.” He flicked the sensitive nub with his fingers. “I’m the man you’re in a relationship with.”
“Re…relationship?”
The lantern lay on the ground, casting its glow up, keeping them mostly in shadows. Frost dug her fingers into the tree before her.
“Yes. I told you, Frost. When we slept together that it wouldn’t be something I would hide. Everyone would know. I don’t play games. You’re in my bed. We’re a couple.”
She shuddered around him. “Technically, Dex, you’re fucking me against a tree. There’s no bed involved in this.”
“I think you’re still talking too easily and I should rectify that.”
She pressed back into him. “Please.”
So he did. Made it so the only sounds out of her were moans and cries. When he finally came, his roar was echoed by the surrounding thunder. He pushed a kiss to the nape of her neck.
“You’re the big rescuer man. Carry me back,” she rasped. “I don’t have anything left.”
“You’re the Guardian. You carry me.”
He withdrew and put himself away as she yanked up her pants. Dex turned her toward him, her black hair plastered to her head, water moved in streams down her face. She appeared wet and bedraggled with more than a hint of satisfaction in her expression.
“I could, you know,” she said with arrogance.
“I’m beginning to have no doubt about that. Come on. We need to get out of the wet.”
“You know this is only going to get worse before it gets better,” she said, halting his progression.
“Are you in danger? Like, serious danger?”
“Yes. They want to kill me. All of us Guardians—or our mates. And get their hands on the artifacts.”
He smoothed some wet hair back behind her ear. “So right now it’s just you they want, since you don’t have your mate or artifact?” His gut churned relentlessly at the mental image of her with another.
“Right. However, the gold dust is indicative of an artifa
ct.” She waved a hand. “I told you this already. I think it may be safer if I leave the team.”
“No!” the word exploded out of his mouth like cannon fire. “You’re not letting this group—this New Order shit—push you away.” He skimmed her lower lip with his thumb. “You’re not running away.”
“I am putting the team at risk, Dex.”
“How?” He cupped her face. “The incidents have ceased since you arrived.”
“No,” she said. “I don’t think so. The accidents were a way to get me here. The one who is responsible is still planning something.”
Unease grew in his belly. “How do you know this?”
“That man told me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why would you believe him?”
“Because he was trying to negotiate for his life and thought giving that information would be helpful to him living longer.”
“Don’t people tend to lie when they’re desperate?”
“Yes, but I believe him.”
Searching her face, he stepped back to pick up the lantern. “He told you who it was. And it’s a team member.” At her nod, he asked, “Who is it?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Why not? If this person is planning something, we need them off the team.”
“I disagree. I know who it is and I can watch this person more carefully, setting right what they have done.”
“So tell me who it is and let me help.”
“No. You, Dex, would go after them then they would send someone new—or activate someone new—and I wouldn’t know who. Right now I have an advantage for they believe I don’t know who they are.”
He sucked on his teeth and frowned. “I don’t like this at all.”
“This may change. If I find my artifact, I may need your help.”
“What about your mate?” The last word was snarled.
He spied indecision in her eyes. “What about him?”
“What happens when he is discovered?”
* * * *
“What did you tell him?”
Aminta wrapped her arms around her legs as she sat on the bed. Chin on her knees, she stared at Roz. “Nothing. What could I say? He knows what will happen. I go to be with my mate.”
“You know,” Roz said. “He could very well be your mate.”
“Don’t you think I would have seen some signs if that was the case?”
“We don’t have all the answers and I’m sure there’s not some hard, fast rule on how this is supposed to go down.” Roz reached out and touched her arm wrapped in the thick warm robe. “Have faith.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Aww, sweetie. Things will work out. I know this. Deep in my soul, I know it.”
“How come you are so positive?”
“Because given the severity of this prophecy and what we will be facing, the cosmos will only pair us with the absolute right person. If Dex is the one, you will know soon enough.”
“You know, there are times you are really smart.”
Roz gave her a blinding smile. “I’m always really smart. You just don’t want to appreciate my genius.”
With a chuckle, she shrugged. “That’s true, but you get all arrogant when I do.”
“I’m arrogant when you don’t,” she said without shame.
“Point taken.”
“Look,” she said, pushing up from the bed. “I’m kicking you out of this room. Go to him. Have sex that doesn’t involve a tree.”
“Oh my God, you watched us?”
“No, I did however stay and make sure you weren’t attacked. Once he spun you into that tree, I had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen. I didn’t watch.” She grinned wickedly. “But your screams sure said a lot. Made me almost peek.”
“You’re such a perv.”
“Get out of here. I’m tired. And I still have to call Altair, so go. I want phone sex.” She quirked an eyebrow. “Unless you’d like to listen in.”
“Eww, no. I’m going. I’m going.” She hastened to the door, where she paused with her hand on the wood and glanced back. “Thanks, Roz—for being here.”
Cell in hand, she smiled. “Love you too, Mina. Now, go get some more sex.”
Aminta left the room, shutting the door behind her. As she neared Dex’s room, she didn’t hesitate, just walked right in. No lights were on in his space. The lightning illuminated his silhouette on the bed. He lay on his back with one arm draped across his eyes.
“You going to stand there and stare at me, Frost? Or are you coming to bed?”
“I thought you were asleep.”
He moved his arm and she was pretty sure he was looking at her. “I was trying but it wasn’t happening. Come on. It’s cold out there.”
She dropped the robe and hurried across the thick rug covering his floor. He moved the blankets back and she slid gratefully in beside his warm body. She curled into him, accepting the heat.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. “Sleep. Tomorrow we have training and I’m sure it will start before five.”
“Why so God-awful early?”
“All part of Teague’s plan of ‘trouble happens at all hours’.”
“Just like his brother.” She yawned and wrapped her arms around him, burrowing as close as she could.
“Who’s the one causing all the problems?”
“Good night, Dex.” She closed her eyes.
* * * *
It was the orgasm that woke her. Rippling up through her, it woke her with wave after wave of pleasure. She gasped and reached down to grasp the head between her thighs.
He lapped at her pussy, the flat of his tongue doing amazing things to her. His fingers pumped inside her and the occasional flicks along her clit shot more tremors through her.
“Dex,” she moaned.
He didn’t stop, nor did he answer. She tugged on his hair and he continued to ignore her. She got the message—leave him alone. Playing with her nipples, she worked them as he continued to eat her.
Christ, what a way to wake. Another orgasm built, unfurling from the center and pouring out through every inch of her. Her back bowed as she keened. His fingers bit into the flesh of her ass as he held her there and took all she released.
He’d just risen over her when both of their phones went off. She stared up at him in the glow from the screen of her cell. A groan slipped free when she slid her gaze down to his thick shaft jutting from the dark nest of hair.
She fumbled for her phone as he reached for his.
“What?” they said about the same time.
“This is an alert call. You are needed at your station.” The call ended and she dropped her phone to the bed.
“This is what you meant, isn’t it?”
He nodded, instantly stepping from the bed. “Come on. We have to shower.”
She didn’t fight him when he took her hand and snuck to the bathroom to share a shower. Within ten minutes they were dressed and running across the snow-covered ground to their headquarters. Colton, Mason and Celia joined them.
“What’s going on?” Dex asked Teague. “Is this more training?”
The man’s expression was sober. “Unfortunately no. We need the chopper ready to go asap, Frost. There’s a family of four up there depending on us.”
“On it,” she said, jogging over to start her pre-flight.
Sandra hopped out of the sliding door of the S-92. “Hey,” she said.
Aminta waved. “What’s up?”
“Just restocking some of the supplies. Now I’m off to the briefing.”
Aminta jumped up in the helicopter and checked the auxiliary tanks then did a quick count of supplies. They had the room for everyone, so she slipped into the cockpit and fired up the bird.
She had her headset on when the rest of the team boarded. Moving them forward, she rolled out into the early snowy morning. Fat flakes fell at an amazing rate.
Studying the coordinates given by
Teague, she announced their take off and got them in the air.
“What’s the situation?” she asked as they gained altitude.
“Family of four, traveling along the road when their car went over. Right now they’re on a small ledge but we’re not sure how long it will last, or they will, with the cold weather,” Sandra informed her.
Utilizing her screens, she kept them level and safe all the way there. The snow fell harder at their destination, making visibility more difficult. She spied the maroon SUV as it dangled almost falling from the ledge it tottered on.
“I’ve got visual contact.”
“Gearing up,” Dex announced and she knew he was putting on the harness.
One hand popped out of a mound of snow and waved in their direction. They must be freezing. There is no way they could spend the night in the vehicle. Angling the chopper, she brought it in. She had to maintain a decent distance so her rotor wash didn’t dislodge any more snow and perhaps the ledge.
Monitoring the weather surrounding them and the inbound conditions, she held steady. “Ready when you are, Dex.”
“Don’t let me drop, Frost,” he said.
“Maybe should have brought Celia a donut, as she’s on the controls. You know you can bribe her with sweets.”
“That is true, I’m very cheap,” Celia chimed in. “I’ll be nice if you promise me one after.”
“I’ll get you a dozen,” he said.
Aminta smiled over the easy camaraderie before it fell away. One of them was the traitor. Knowledge she hated. Perhaps she would be better off telling Dex who it was. But, if her hunch was right and they’d wanted her up there, maybe they were only after her and would leave the others alone.
So long as he doesn’t blab that we’re sharing a bed. If they know I care for him, then he becomes a target as well.
She debated with herself as Dex’s deep tone came over their communications while he spoke to the family.
“We’re getting you out of here,” he said. “I just need you to not panic and to listen and do what I tell you.”
“What about our dog?” a man asked.
“The dog too,” Dex said easily. “But the people first.”
“No,” a younger boy said. “I’m not leaving without Tanner.”