“Take care of yourself,” he said with a half smile, and turned away.
“You too, Levi,” Brooke murmured.
He gave her a little wave but didn’t turn around.
In the vacuum his presence had left, she could feel her nightmares waiting for her.
Levi crossed the street to his car, thinking about Brooke.
He hated seeing the vibrant woman he’d first met on the street changed into a somber and anxious version of herself. He hated that he couldn’t see her again, couldn’t stick around to see that brighter version of herself return.
Hated too, that he had to lie to her, but it was in his favor that what she was saying sounded so crazy.
A guy that could control fire? That only happened in the movies.
He took the cigarette from behind his ear and put it between his lips with a sardonic smile, the end already cherry red.
He was just opening his car door when he felt unsettled. Pausing a minute, he looked up and down the street, but saw nothing to explain his disquiet. He got in the driver’s seat and shut the door, sitting quietly.
Five minutes later, he was sure.
The enemy was near. Somewhere. Still impossible to pinpoint.
Fuuuuuuck.
He didn’t smell plastic, didn’t feel the annoying buzz, so that meant they had some time.
There was only one reason a Chaolt would be here, and that was for an Erratic. That meant Brooke was in danger until they could find the enemy, the Erratic, or both.
Guess this wasn’t the last he’d see of her after all. The little thrill he felt at the thought gave him pause. That was a dangerous thing, human emotions getting in the way of his mission. Which was to protect humans, fight the Chaolt, and right the balance. And then fuck off back to his world.
Levi dialed the compound and started his car while it rang. When he heard a ‘Yo’ on the other end of the line, he said, “We’ve got another situation. Get the guys together, I’m one hour out.” Then he hung up, slammed the car in gear, and peeled away from the curb.
Chapter Four
Four days later, Levi was outside Brooke’s door again.
It was his rotation, and instead of spending it in his car down the street or prowling through backyards looking for the enemy, he stood against the tree like a creep, watching her shadow move across the blinds.
This war and the reality of his nature often demanded that he stay in the shadows. Stealth was necessary. None of them could risk humans finding out about them. But this… He had no tactical reason for this.
For days now, there’d been no tangible sign of the enemy other than a slight buzzing in the back of his mind. With nothing to do and nothing to find, the monotony was getting to him. And so was the urge to see Brooke again.
It was that urge that put him here just after sunset, when the sky was still bleeding red and orange in the west, but the stars were beginning to blink to life in the east.
He should just knock, right?
No, he shouldn’t. She would get past the fire faster if she forgot about him. She’d forget about what she saw, accept that it was a hallucination, and he and his regiment would continue fighting their war in secrecy.
All of that was at risk if he didn’t stay away.
But he just wanted to talk to her. That told him more about the danger of interacting with her again than anything else. Walking away would be smarter, safer for everyone. This, whatever this was, was not safe.
Time for him to go.
He pulled away from the tree where he was leaning and turned toward his car when the porch light flicked on and her door opened.
“Levi?”
He could hear the surprise in the trill of her voice. Almost against his will, his body turned toward her.
“Hey, Brooke… ” What the hell was he doing? And how long had she known he was out here? He put one hand up in a wave, as he looked down at the pavement and sighed, mentally kicking himself.
“What are you doing here, Levi?”
He couldn’t blame her for the suspicion in her voice. They barely knew each other. “I was just stopping by… I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Again.
“Um, okay. But weren’t you just leaving?” Brooke asked, motioning down the street. She had her arms crossed in a big ivory sweater, her hair was loose over her shoulders.
“I was gonna knock, but I changed my mind.” He put his hands in his back pockets, and crooked a grin around the cigarette that bobbed with every word. “I thought it might be a little creepy, me knocking on your door after dark when we barely know each other. I didn’t want to scare you.” That at least, was partially true.
“Soooo… ” One sable eyebrow went up. “You were just going to hang out here, in the dark, in front of my house instead?”
He sighed, putting his cigarette behind his ear and rubbing his neck while studying the pavement. “Well, when you put it that way.” A band tightened across his chest.
“Stalking me again, Levi?”
He glanced up at her, tense. Hopefully she wouldn’t call the police on him, that would complicate everything. He wouldn't be here when they showed up, but his car had been parked at the end of the road for most of the last week. “I just wanted to see that you were okay.” Back-lit by the porch light, he could barely see her face. But it looked she was trying not to smile.
“It’s okay Levi. I won’t call the police.”
The knot inside him loosened in a rush, and he exhaled with a sheepish grin. “I appreciate that Brooke.”
She looked at him a moment. “I was going to go for a walk. You can join me if you want.”
“You okay with that, after… ?” He motioned to the tree and her house.
“You saved my life, so that earns you some trust. Plus, I’ve got pepper spray,” she said, her tone serious.
He gave a little laugh. Sassy, he liked it. “I won’t give you a reason to use it.” Not that pepper spray would be much of a defense against him. But he didn’t need to say that.
“Good,” she said with a half smile as she turned around and locked her door.
She came down the steps, and they walked slowly side by side in silence. He found himself wanting to say something but didn't even know what or where to begin.
He peered at her sideways. With a self-conscious smile, she looked back down at the pavement.
There was a tiny flip in his chest, and with a mental shake, he reminded himself why he was here.
“So,” he gave her arm a tiny nudge with his elbow, careful not to knock her off balance. “You doing okay?”
Brooke took another deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, I’m doing better. I don’t need the pain pills for my foot anymore. It's healing pretty good.” She uncrossed her arms, pulled her sleeves down and gripped them in her hands like she was cold. “Still don’t sleep worth a damn though, so that’s why I’m out here. Trying to tire myself out.” She looked away, forehead wrinkled.
He could understand. He had plenty in his mental library to keep him up at night too. There were many times when they hadn’t got to the Erratic or the enemy in time, and had only seen the aftermath. That seemed to be happening even more lately, which is why he insisted on around-the-clock surveillance of her street—and the reason Walker had agreed.
But Walker didn't know Brooke lived here.
“Maybe once you get another place of your own, it’ll be easier.”
She sighed. “Yeah maybe. But this house is being paid for until the insurance stuff is all figured out, so I figure I might as well stay here until that happens. I don’t go back to work for another week and a half, and then,” she shrugged, “I guess we’ll see.”
Levi scanned the dark corners between the houses, hoping that a week and a half wasn’t too long. He didn’t want this to be one of those times where they walked into the aftermath wondering if they could have done more. Especially because of her.
“What do you do?” he asked, curious,“At the newspaper?”<
br />
“I’m a graphic artist."
Well at least she wasn’t a reporter. That could have complicated things a lot more. “Do you enjoy it?”
“Yes.” Brooke looked at him with a big smile, a real smile, but it was tragically fleeting. “I had just got promoted before… ” she gestured around her, “all of this. How about you?”
“I’m a Warrior.”
“Oh? You mean a soldier? Like the Army? Navy?”
“Something like that.” He wished he’d had a better answer ready.
She just nodded, and he was glad when she didn’t push.
“Do you have family around here? Is that why you were in Topaz Ridge?”
“No, I was here for work.” But was it work if that’s all his life consisted of? He then thought of the other soldiers. They were the closest thing he could claim as a connection. “I have some family about an hour outside of town. How about you? Family nearby?” Maybe he could convince her to stay with them for now. And distract her from asking anymore questions about him.
“Nope, my mom lives in Ohio,” she responded, and when she didn’t add anything further, he knew that his first idea was a lost cause. Damn.
They walked in silence for a few blocks, but it wasn’t a silence he felt like he had to fill. She didn’t either apparently, because she just strolled beside him, taking in the night.
It seemed he never had time for moments like these. He was always on high alert, always looking for the enemy, or preparing. Training, eating, sleeping—it all revolved around the war. He couldn’t remember very many quiet times like this one, and he wasn’t ready for it to end.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gone for a walk just for the sake of it, either. Had he ever? But he couldn’t deny that the spring evening was beautiful: the silhouettes of the houses and trees against the sky, the hushed singing of the birds in the trees, the smell of a spring evening, with scents of grass and moisture and blooming things. And her, he could smell her. She smelled like tangy pomegranates and cotton candy, with a hint of something woodsy. It was a combination that made his blood pressure spike, and he found himself taking more deep breaths to catch a whiff of it.
God, he really was being creepy wasn’t he? First hiding out in the shadows, and now sniffing her. It didn't stop him from inhaling again though, just slower. Quieter.
The evening air, the glowing streetlights, and Brooke’s presence were all working on him, and he felt himself taking a big breath. The tension he always held in his neck and shoulders seemed to drain away with his exhalation. For once he felt like he was simmering, not boiling, not on the razor edge of control.
When they came to the end of the street, he felt a pressure inside him to prolong the moment as much as possible. Instead of turning around, he crossed the street with her a step behind and began walking up the other side towards her house. He slowed his steps a little to allow her to catch up, and when he did he noticed she was walking on the ball of her foot, trying not to limp. He stopped immediately and turned towards her, hand on her shoulder and a frown on his face.
“Dammit, why didn’t you tell me your foot was hurting you, Brooke?”
Brooke looked at the scowl on Levi’s face in surprise. His change of mood was so abrupt that she felt her own temper pique. What the hell? They’d been having such a nice time.
“It’s not hurting, it’s fine,” she said, irked. “My shoe is just rubbing against the bandages a little. It’s fine,” she repeated, as she resumed limping.
“Brooke, stop.”
“No, I’m fine.” She heard an exasperated sigh, and instantly his big broad chest was blocking her path. She tried to step around him, but he prevented her, and again when she tried the other side. She crossed her arms and looked up at him. It was obvious he wasn’t going to let her march home. Plus, if she was honest, her foot was hurting, but she’d been having such a nice time that she hadn’t wanted to complain and end it prematurely.
So much for that.
It took her a second but she noticed his mouth was twitching, his smile skating from one side of his lips to the other. Some of her irritation drained away, and a little amusement took its place. “What, Levi.”
“How about another dance?”
“What?” she asked, head cocked in confusion.
Her world tilted wildly in the same second she realized he was referring to the first time they met, their awkward dance on the sidewalk. In one swift motion, he'd bent down and picked her up in his arms. She squealed, reflexively grabbing his neck. He chuckled, and began walking.
“Levi! Put me down!” Brooke insisted.
“Why?” he asked, like it was obvious, “Your foot hurts.”
“I can make it home just fine, you don’t need to carry me.”
“I know you can, I just don’t want you to hurt your foot more.” He gave her a little bounce, settling her in closer to his chest.
The momentary weightlessness made her instinctively tighten her arms more, and she forced herself to relax them.
He turned to look at her, and his warm amber eyes were only inches away. “We were having a good time, and I don’t want it to end yet. Am I making you uncomfortable?" He slowed like he would put her down. But that wasn't what she wanted… exactly.
“No,” she replied, meeting his eyes. And then she did feel uncomfortable, not because of him, but because she didn't know what to say next. They were too close together ans dhe couldn't just keep staring at him.
When he faced forward again, Brooke was silent, breathless. She’d felt a little flutter at his admission, so much like her own thoughts, and it took a second for her brain to kick into gear again. “Still, you don’t need to carry me. I’ll make it home just fine, I promise, without you lugging me around.”
“Pffft, lugging? Does it feel like I’m having trouble carrying you?” he asked, laughing. “I bench press twice your weight several times a week.”
And with that he lifted her in his arms above his head exactly like a barbell, quickly returning her against his chest. She couldn’t help the laughing squeal that escaped her as he did.
Wow.
“And besides, we were going to dance,” he reminded her, tightening the arm around her back and releasing her legs at the same time. His free hand grabbed hers, and her feet dangled as he yanked her around in wide circles on the sidewalk in a parody of a waltz.
She was breathless with laughter when, grinning, he put his arm under her legs again.
No, he certainly wasn’t a weakling. He wasn’t even breathing heavily after throwing her around in a way that made her feel light and petite; two things she was not. The muscles that bunched under her hands as he moved were not just for show.
Brooke swallowed, a strange tingle inside her. Nervousness, happiness, and something else. Something that made her wonder what it would be like to explore his muscular body with her hands, what it would be like to have his hands on her in a more intimate way than they were now. It was a heady thought, and her breath refused to slow.
Just a few days ago, she was so sure he was some kind of freak, and even if her doubts had been pushed aside for now, he was still pretty much a stranger.
An enormous, muscular, charming stranger, but still a stranger.
However, analyzing it didn't slow the thump-thump of her heart down one bit.
She couldn’t help but be attracted to Levi, which was natural given his looks. But hell, even a blind woman wouldn’t be immune to his charms because his voice was deep and resonant, and he smelled like the woods in the rain—clean, fresh, mysterious. It was sweet, him checking on her, and the glimpse of the playful side of his personality had pretty much sealed the deal.
But she still couldn’t reconcile her experience in the fire with the man in front of her. Hallucination? Very probably. But the fact remained that any ordinary person would have likely succumbed to the smoke and fire as well trying to save her. Any ordinary person…
But Levi was anythin
g but ordinary.
“What are you thinking about, Brooke?” he asked.
She glanced away, face hot, and saw that he’d carried her the rest of the way to her rental house. Damn.
He tipped slowly, letting her feet touch the wooden planks of her porch before removing his arm from around her legs. When he stood, they were almost chest to chest with his arm still around her back, but he didn’t step away.
“You good?” he asked softly, searching her face.
“I’m good,” she replied, smiling at him. She was thankful it was fully dark now, so he couldn’t see the inexplicable blush still burning her cheeks. “Thank you, Levi. For carrying me, and for the walk.”
She had no idea why she suddenly felt shy, considering she’d been pressed up against him for several blocks.
Hands in his back pockets, he said, “You’re very welcome. I enjoyed it.” His voice was low and rumbly, and the sound of it sent a shiver across her neck.
“Me too,” and she really had. For a few minutes there she’d felt a lightness that had been missing since the fire, a tiny little spark of being carefree. At least until her brain had gone all gaga over his muscles, and left her questioning her sanity once again.
Now she felt an odd disappointment that he was leaving, and she couldn’t help a sigh as she wished their walk had lasted a little longer.
He noticed. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m okay, Levi. Really. You don’t have to keep checking on me.” She caught the flash of something on his face as he slowly pulled away, putting more space between them. Maybe her words had given him the wrong impression. Before she lost her nerve, she added, “But you can still come visit me sometime if you want.”
She swallowed hard, a ringing in her ears. Risky. She didn’t know him well, but the glimpse she’d seen on the walk home made her want to, despite all the reasons she could think of to the contrary. “Just knock on my door next time, instead of creeping in the bushes, okay?”
He looked up at her from under his brows, a slow smile starting across his face. “Okay, I will.”
Burn (Elemental Hearts Book 1) Page 4