by Lexi Ostrow
Stryder was laughing as he climbed out of bed and wrapped his arms around her. “How about this. We practice. I felt what you did to me last night and with that attack yesterday morning, we need to be focusing on your protection...almost as much as sex.” He grinned and kissed the top of her head and went to get dressed. “Be downstairs in fifteen minutes for breakfast and then we train. You can worry about work tomorrow, surviving comes first.”
***
She nodded back at Stryder and took a deep breath. His land was large and the nearest tree was a ways off. If she was seriously able to fire off, well fire, then they needed to know how she did it so she could control it. She wasn't certain how Alcott had managed to never let her see an attack after that first night, she'd bet money he used his magic to cloak it, but she would never know now. The point was, with the frequency of the attacks, she needed to step up her game.
She thought back to the attack, back to seeing someone sneak up on Stryder. She pretended there was a ball of fire in her hand. Her face was clenched and she thought she was going to wind up with one hell of a headache if she didn't figure it out soon.
"Fuck!"
She jerked her head up to see Stryder standing across the way from her, a small torched section of grass next to him.
"What the fuck was that? That was a damned lightening strike! I saw fire earlier, that was not fire." His voice was rising exponentially with each word and his expression more confused as he bent down to the ground and looked at the burned section. "What did you just do, sweetheart?"
Looking down at her hand she looked back at him and shrugged. "I have no idea. I didn't feel a thing."
"And did you feel a thing before you blasted that flame ball?"
She nodded.
"Well then, I think it's safe to say don't get pissed off. Actually scratch that. By all means get pissed. I'll help." He flashed the distance between them and as carefully as he could slammed her by her shoulders into the stone house. He put his face right next to hers. "No pathetic human is going to touch you now. You know that don't you? You slept with me. Willingly and over and over. Screamed my name and now you're mine."
His words infuriated her. His bark of pain had her looking between them. Sure enough there was a hole in his shirt exposing his beautiful abs, marred red with burn. She ducked out of his grip and glared at him. "Don't you fucking dare. Don't you dare use that against me."
His smile threw her off. "Look at your hands, sweetheart, your hands!"
She looked down and saw the faintest sparkle of energy coming off of them, almost like electricity.
"Flick your wrist."
She nodded and flicked her wrist toward the ocean. The sparks jumped and sizzled on the water’s surface. "Oh. My. Goodness." She squealed in delight and jumped into his outstretched arms. His lips found hers in a scorching kiss. "I can shoot electricity. I did that."
He looked pleased at her. "Yes you sure can, when you're angry. I'd bet everything is tied to an emotion and probably only useable when you're on my side, well not all, but I bet you access for here. Makes sense, you said you were able to perform some basic spells when you visited with Alcott."
She pulled out of his arms and slapped him hard across the face. "That was clearly a manipulation, but do not do it again. I have no idea what I'm doing. And it terrifies me. I don't need you reminding me the sins I've committed or the fact that I'm pretty fucking sure I'm falling in love with you." She gasped as the words came out. Had she said that out loud? Sure she had told Fasheem that the night before in her decision to find Stryder, but now she'd said them, she couldn't take them back, couldn't make them go away.
Stryder had crossed the gap between them so fast she didn't even notice. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her into him, crushing her against his chest. His hand tipped her chin toward his and his mouth covered her, devouring her. She felt her terror and anxiety slip away as their tongues danced together. Her arms ran up and down his sides and she was rubbing herself against him when he pulled back.
"Sweetheart, stop. I can't be distracted from this training right now. "He kissed the top of her head and smoothed her hair down. "You have no idea what those words mean to me. I won't push you. I've tried not to this entire time. But in the end I will make you choose to be with me or to let go."
She looked into his serious eyes and nodded.
"Now you need to focus. We've figured that out. And we know there's fire. So let’s get on that. Safety first, emotions second."
She didn't move as he let her go and swatted her ass. Her brain was a swirling mess, a trash dump of thoughts and emotions that were piled up and mashed together with everything else on her mind. She took a deep breath and knew she needed to focus.
Closing her eyes, she focused on the fire she could feel in her body's center. She imagined it growing and expanding through her. In quicker time than expected, she felt the heat break out over her arms and she smirked. Slowly opening one eye she glanced down- a ball of fire flickered hovering just above her palm and flames danced over her arms.
"That's it, sweetheart. Don't celebrate. Not yet. Not until we know you can use it."
She snorted at him. "Are you implying that I can't control this?" Reaching out with her hand she tested it to make sure it was as big as the ball would get. She pictured the tree a few hundred yards away burning. In an instant the tree sparked and the smell of burning wood filled her nose. She felt awful, even as Stryder race over, yanked his shirt off and began to wave it at the flames to stop them from growing further. "I'm sorry, little tree. All's fair in love and war." What shocked her was when she looked down and saw the flame still flickering in her hand.
Smirking from her success she pictured a bucket of water being poured over her head and the fire immediately flickered out, leaving her arms warm from its heat, but nothing else in its wake. She tried to immediately call it back and growled when the fire did not spark back to life within a few seconds. What good was it if she couldn't call it quickly? She couldn't possibly have to think that hard and not get herself killed in the process.
Stryder wasn't saying anything to her. It was almost as if he could sense her frustration. He was still near the tree, watching now that it was out. She tried at least five more times to summon it and learned that it was much harder to call it up than it was to snuff it out. She supposed she should be glad of that. At least that way if it got out of hand she could stop the damage being caused before it got too bad. She quit after torching a mark onto the stone house by mistake when she got annoyed at her failure and threw her hands up in the air.
"No more, Stryder."
He nodded and walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly. "I am so proud of you. But you are not taking anyone on in battle."
She opened her mouth to contradict him and he actually put his finger on her lips.
"Shh, the point is to make sure you can help yourself if needed. I am a big, dumb male from the stone age and I will not let you jump into battle. Don't argue this with me."
"There is no arguing with you. I always lose." She went on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. "I don't want to be the party popper. But I've been here almost twenty-four hours and sooner or later someone is going to call or text me and I have work in the morning. I need to go. Come with me?" Her voice was meek when she asked the question. She realized she didn't want to leave him. "Because nothing could feel better than this," she mumbled and he kissed her quickly.
"I will not pretend to know what's going on in your head. But no, I want to stay here. To research a little more. Something happened at the bar that doesn't sit right and it's what I was doing before you pounced me." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she smacked his shoulder playfully. "I want to find out exactly who this Jonathan is and we have a few fallen angels who haven't lost their wings that will help." He motioned to the doorway she created. "I won't be far, you know that and I'll be with you as soon as I can."
Without looking
back at him, she stepped through the doorway and into her living room. "I will never get used to that." She was used to waking up in her own body in a place she'd laid down in, not being able to actually leave the real world. She supposed in a way it was more useful because no one would think she was in a coma. "No they'll just think I've run away or been abducted."
She smelled herself accidentally when she raised her arms above her head to stretch. "Ugh very sexy, Ci." She tore her shirt off and went to grab deodorant when she heard the knock on the door. Confused she hastily rubbed the deodorant on. "One second." She left the bathroom and looked around for a shirt. Tugging a shirt off a hanger in the closet after not finding one she walked out and yelped.
"Derrick." She stood, confused by his presence. His arms wrapped around her and his lips pressed against hers. It didn't feel like it did with Stryder and she felt sickened at the thought of betraying Stryder. With more force than was needed she pushed Derrick backwards. “Derrick, stop it. We're not together anymore. You don't get to show up here randomly or kiss me. You don't get to do either actually. Why are you here?” She knew irritation laced her voiced, but he should be lucky she hadn't tried her powers out on him for his little stunt.
"I hope I didn't startle you. I wanted to surprise you." He waved his key in the air. "You really should have changed the locks. Living alone, well, I'd like it if you did. In fact, I can get it done tomorrow."
Her smile was genuine. She was still pissed at his entry choice, but after the intensity that sparked between her and Stryder she could use a little calmness. Her cheeks flushed thinking about just what she would most likely be doing if Stryder had come back here with her and she wondered briefly if she should just head back, screw work and hope they didn't fire her.
"You want to say something? Anything at all, Ci?"
"Sorry. I'm just so surprised you're here. How long are you here for? Do we have time to run to Amecci's?"
"Two days. It's the only time I could get off only being there a few weeks. But I needed to see you. I missed you. Girlfriend or not you're one of my rocks and I couldn't resist stopping in. I've already been to my parents, can't say they approve of me coming here, but I need some quality friend time." He let go of her and walked to the couch in the living room. "Come over here and watch some American TV with me. I didn't realize how much I'd miss it."
Laughing she joined him and relaxed into an old routine. Familiar, home, everything that she always loved about him, but she suddenly didn't want to be doing anything with him. She found herself silently wishing for Stryder's research to finish a whole lot quicker. She couldn't forget him, even with Derrick in the room. While it frightened her, she couldn't deny the happiness the idea of being his brought her.
***
She sighed as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “You do know that you can't keep doing this, right, Derrick?” While she really had enjoyed a little break from vicious attacks and lust inducing demons, she hadn't been able to shake the annoyance that Derrick had just shown up.
He wiggled his eyebrows at her and kissed her forehead. “I know. It was selfish and I'm sorry. But we seem to do good as friends. Come on, two whole days and no sexual activity? I'm impressed with us. I kinda thought I'd get lucky anyway.” He winked.
She laughed and slid out of the car and walked to sit in the driver's side. He'd pestered her to drive so she'd let him. “Yes I suppose we do. And Derrick, I am glad you came. But honestly. We need to give each other space you know?”
He nodded. “I know, Ci. I do. I was missing home and I think I may have used you a little bit. I hope you can forgive me.”
She winked at him and laughed. She'd always loved how he could go from playful to serious so quickly. “Absolutely, Derrick. And you still owe me one Italy trip. I refuse to let you back out of that deal, mister.” He returned her wink and vanished into the terminal.
She put her foot on the gas and pulled away from the curb. She wanted to get back to her apartment and see if Stryder had shown up. Being apart from him, this time when she didn't want to be, showed her what was in her heart, how hard she had fallen for Stryder. The two days were horribly uneventful. Pizza stops and movie watching. They were perfect. Only they weren't because she missed her infuriating demon Guardian.
She hadn't been able to get Stryder out of her mind. And boy had she tried. She was going to have to talk to Stryder. He really believed she was his mate, the good to his evil. He deserved to really find that female and she'd always wanted some fantastical romance. So what if it meant possibly being madly and crazy in love with a demon. She was picking Stryder, that was all there was too it.
Just what happens if you really aren't that person for Stryder? “Well that would be impossible according to Fasheem.” What about the whole his world is fake thing? Where would you live? The conversation with herself continued on for the drive from LAX to her apartment, and then up the stairs to her apartment and to bed with her later that night. Back and forth it went with no end in sight.
"I just have to get a new Guardian so it doesn't get in the way of us learning each other. I'll do it tomorrow." With a heavy heart she hoped her choice was right and that she wasn't just picking Stryder because of lust.
Chapter 20
She opened her eyes to see Stryder's looking into hers. His eyes were intense, filled with the same heat as always and glowing. He wasn't smiling. In fact she looked closely and saw that his upper lip was distorted, pulled back into a snarl. Reaching her hand out she gently placed her fingers on his lip and rubbed. His fangs were out. He was letting the demon control him, not the angel blood.
"We need to talk. Actually I need to talk and you need to listen."
She screwed her face in confusion. What on Earth was going on? He couldn't possibly know she was going to ask for a new Guardian? Could he and was he taking it the wrong way? Shit she didn't even know if she could explain it all, she was just going to close her eyes, cross her fingers and do it.
"What about?"
"What about she asks? Of course she asks." He pushed back from the side of her bed and stood up from the desk chair he was in and ran his hands through his hair. “We have to talk about what you said to me the day before you left, and then what I saw when I tried to come and tell you something. I tried to tell you that Jonathan isn't the underling we thought he was. He's one of the commanders all right, second in command for the entire fucking Initiative. And instead I smell you and some other male all over this bed."
His voice held a dark tone and fear gripped her, he sounded irrational, would he listen to her? There was only one bed in the apartment and she and Derrick had shared with her under the covers and him over.
His voice was barely above a hiss and she wished like hell they were on his side so she could have some of that power they had discovered the other days. But she could still send him back. She tried to push his weight off of her and take her wrist back from his painful grip and failed.
"Stryder, my wrist, you're crushing it."
For a split second his eyes were blue again, while he released her wrist. Then he had her pinned against the bathroom door, her head spun at the speed he had moved them across the room and yet, he hadn't hurt her at all when he pushed her into the wall. His weight was pushed against her so fully she could feel how erect he was. She was losing her sense of logic as wetness pooled between her legs.
"Stryder, I'm sorry. Derrick and I, he showed up and nothing happened. There's just only one bed, Stryder. Nothing happened. I didn't lie to you. I want you, this mate thing and all."
His body ground against hers and she groaned and even screamed a little trying to get him to ease up.
"No shit, sweetheart."
Hearing the nickname spit with such venom again hurt, she hadn't noticed how much she liked when he called her it kindly.
"Thing is, you said you were falling in love with me last time you were with me. Now I get it's probably confusing, thinking you were meant to be with a
human and finding out what you're really meant for. Me. So just this once I'll trust you that nothing happened." He buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply. “Because while I can smell a man on your bed, I can't smell him on you.”
He finished his sentence by covering his mouth over hers. His tongue pushed its way inside her mouth and she opened for him, completely. Her body rubbed against his as his tongue fought to control hers. His hands dug into her ass, grinding her against his erection and drenching her in her own wetness.
When he pulled back it was with a low growl. His hands dropped from her butt and she cried out at the loss of contact. Her voice was waving as she spoke to him. “You're right though, something happened. I wanted to get a new Guardian, so we could learn each other without the stupid notion that we were only doing it because of the bond the guy in the trench coat told you about." She squeezed her eyes shut and the tears fell. She forced her eyes open and grabbed onto his face. "Look at me, Stryder." His eyes opened, still filled with black and soulless. "I love you, Stryder. It scares the shit out of me and confuses me beyond all belief because I feel like it’s so very wrong- because we can't possibly be meant to be together. It's insane that we ever met. But this feels complete."
His eyes changed then. The black swirled out and the glowing blue was there, looking directly at her. His fangs didn't retract, but she felt like his nails did as they were no longer biting into her arm. He spoke so quietly she wasn't certain she heard him right. "Do. You. Mean. It?"
She nodded, dismayed that he had every right to ask. "I do. I don't know what I'm going to do with that knowledge, Stryder, not yet, since I only realized it about three minutes ago. But I do. I love you."