by I. T. Lucas
“BMWs.”
“Sweet. Are they here already?”
“In the parking garage.”
Anandur pushed his chair back. “Are we done? Can I go check out the new toys?”
“We are done.” Kian rose to his feet. “I’ll come with you. I need a crash course in riding one.”
Anandur wrapped his arm around Kian’s shoulder. “I’ll teach you all you need to know.”
Brundar parted ways with the gang at the elevators. The motorcycles would have to wait until after he’d had a couple of sandwiches from the vending machine in the lobby. At the rate his stomach was rumbling, even the powerful BMW engine wouldn’t drown out the noise it was making.
At the café, he bought two readymade sandwiches and a muffin, then walked over to the counter.
“What can I get you, my absentee sensei?” Carol bowed her head in mock respect.
“Coffee. Large.”
“Coming up, sir.”
“Anandur was supposed to take over your training.”
Carol shrugged. “He’s busy too. Everyone is. We managed one session this week.” She handed him a large paper cup.
“The Guardians are starting nightly rotations. You and Kri will have to take over the self-defense classes.”
“Do I have to?” Carol grimaced. “We are seriously understaffed in pretty much every department. I’m voting for employing humans. But of course, no one is asking for my vote.”
“If you can figure out how to do it without revealing who we are, I’m sure Kian would love to hear it.”
“Humans can run the café. We just need to be careful how we behave around them.”
“That doesn't solve the shortage of Guardians problem.”
She shook her head. “Kian needs to start using the reserves. Make it mandatory for all ex-Guardians to give one month a year. You know, like the National Guard. They are serving a few weeks every year, and if there is a war, they are called in to serve.”
“I like your idea. “
Carol beamed. “Thank you. A compliment from you means a lot to me.” She put a hand over her heart.
“But I think Kian had trouble convincing the retired Guardians to come in for training. Most are willing to come in case of emergency, but that’s all.”
Her face fell. “Oh.”
Brundar allowed himself a small smile. “See you later, Carol. And don’t give Anandur too hard of a time.”
She saluted. “Do I ever?”
Not really. She was mouthy and didn’t walk on eggshells around him like everyone else, but other than that Carol was a good person. Dedicated. Loyal.
Taking his coffee in one hand, Brundar tucked the two wrapped sandwiches under his other arm, grabbed the muffin, and turned to look for an empty table. There were a few, but on an impulse, he chose to join Robert at his.
“May I?”
Robert glanced at him over his newspaper, a surprised expression on his face. “Go ahead.”
Brundar put down his lunch and pulled out a chair. “Any news on the murders?” he asked to start a conversation.
“Thank Mortdh, I mean the Fates, it was quiet for the past several days.”
Brundar unwrapped his first sandwich. “We are starting nightly rotations.”
“I overheard you talking with Carol. I’m glad. I hope you catch the bastard fast.”
With a nod, Brundar bit into his sandwich and thought about what had motivated him to sit with the ex-Doomer.
The truth was that he needed to talk to someone, and none of the males he worked with was a good candidate for a sounding board. Robert was still an outsider. Besides, the guy had an inventive mind. The ideas he’d come up with for the village were all excellent. Robert appeared to be a simpleminded fellow, but surprisingly he had the ability to think outside the box.
“Did you ever have a relationship with a human female?”
Robert frowned. “Aside from sex? No. Why do you ask?” He sounded offended.
Too late, Brundar realized his question might have implied suspicion on his part, somehow connecting Robert to the murders. Which prompted him to be more direct.
“I wonder how an immortal male who grew to care about a human female could end their relationship without hurting her feelings.”
“Oh.” Robert raked his fingers through his shortly cropped hair. “My only experience is with Carol.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Ending it wasn’t my choice. Maybe you should ask her how to dump someone. Though I can’t say my feelings weren’t hurt.”
Brave guy. Admitting to having been dumped took courage.
“I appreciate your honesty.” Brundar unpacked his second sandwich.
“Sure.” Robert smiled. “When Carol and I were in Vegas, I worked on a construction site with a crew of humans. They gave me good advice on how to pursue a woman, but not how to end things with one.”
Brundar put the sandwich down on the wrapper. “Did it work? The advice?”
“Yeah, it did. But a man can only pretend for so long to be someone he is not. Carol wasn’t interested in the real me.”
CHAPTER 21: TESSA
Jackson eyed her. “You look different.”
“How so?” Tessa patted her hair. Her hairdo hadn’t changed since Eva had insisted on a total makeover. The color was still very blond, the cut very blunt, the length just a little longer.
“Your eyes sparkle. You seem upbeat, full of energy.”
Her boyfriend, or should she start thinking of him as her fiancé? never missed anything.
“I kicked ass yesterday at Karen’s class.”
“Oh, yeah? Whose?”
“Karen brought two guys for us to practice on. They were both big, tough soldiers she’d trained herself.”
Jackson frowned. “Did they frighten you?”
He knew men intimidated her, especially big ones. She shrugged. “At first, a little. But they were both so friendly. And flirty.”
The creases between his brows deepened. “Who flirted with you?”
“His name was Gadi. But he was chill when I told him I’m engaged. He asked me to point out all the single ladies. Sharon called dibs on the other one, Yoram.” Tessa smirked. “I’m pretty sure she took him home with her.”
Jackson was still glaring at her.
“Are you jealous, baby?”
“You’re damn right, I’m jealous. I don’t want any guys sniffing you up.”
“Ugh, Jackson. That’s gross. It sounds like you’re talking about dogs.”
“Men are dogs.”
She lifted a brow. “Are you a dog?”
“Except for me. I’m a prince among men.”
He was so cute. Tessa stretched up to her tiptoes and kissed his pouting lips. “Yes, you are.”
That seemed to mollify him. But she felt like teasing him some more. “You keep saying that I’m hot. Do you expect no one to notice?”
For a moment, he seemed stumped, and she was ready to declare herself the winner of the teasing contest. But this was Jackson. He always had a comeback.
“Noticing you is a given, but not flirting. You don’t go smiling at some guy who just had his hands all over you and expect him not to think of it as an invitation to flirt.”
Tessa put her hands on her hips. “So what are you saying? That I can’t even smile at anyone?”
“Not if they are male, between the age of seventeen to forty-five for humans, and no limit for immortals.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m going to smile at whomever I want.”
Jackson grinned wickedly as he dipped his head to look her straight in the eyes. “It that so? What if I smile at whomever I want too?”
Crap. Jackson’s smile could melt the panties off a librarian. Tessa didn’t want him turning that charm on any woman, young or old.
She pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare activate that pussy magnet of yours.”
He almost choked on the snort that escaped his throat. “A pussy magne
t? Where did that come from?”
She felt her cheeks get warm. Tessa made a point of never using language like that. “That’s what Gordon calls you.”
“I need to have a talk with Gordon about keeping his mouth clean around my fiancée.”
Tessa slapped his bicep. “Oh, no you don’t.” Gordon and Vlad would never talk freely around her again. She liked that they treated her as one of the gang.
Jackson leaned in again, mirth dancing in his eyes. “Or what?”
Catching his chin between her thumb and forefinger, she mock glared back. “Or I’ll kick your butt.”
Instead of laughing or coming up with another teasing comeback, he got somber. “Yeah, you should. I should’ve thought of that sooner. You can practice on me.” He patted his chest.
When she looked unsure, he flashed her his panty-melting smile. “Come on, kitten, show me your moves.”
The effect of that smile combined with that seductive tone was that Tessa couldn't deny him anything. Besides, she was quite proud of herself and wanted to show off. The problem was that Jackson was way too strong and his reflexes were lightning fast. Her only chance was taking him by surprise.
“Okay. Let's clear some floor space.” She lifted the folding tray they used as a coffee table.
Jackson took it out of her hands. “I’ll clear the area, you bring the comforter from the couch and spread it on the floor.”
She rolled her eyes. He was such a macho guy, never letting her lift anything.
Pushing the TV stand all the way under the window, Jackson cleared even more space.
Tessa took off her shoes and spread the comforter over the hardwood floor. “I’m going to stand here with my back to you as if I’m waiting for a bus. You sneak up behind me and grab me.”
Jackson took off his sneakers and went to stand out in the hallway. “I’m very stealthy. Listen to the floor crack. That’s how you’ll know I’m coming at you.”
“Thanks, Sherlock. I’m supposed to figure it out on my own.”
“I don’t make as much noise as a human because I pay attention to it. My hearing is much more acute.”
“Okay.” She turned her back to him, her whole body tensing in preparation for his attack. “I’m ready.”
He was so fast, she felt the air move like a slight breeze a split second before his arms came around her.
Not giving him the opportunity to tighten them, Tessa twisted and dropped down, slipping through his loose grip. Bracing her crouching form with a hand on the floor, she turned her hips and delivered a roundhouse kick to his groin.
Jackson cupped his injured equipment and crumpled to the floor, his face twisted in pain.
“Oh, my God! I’m so sorry! I didn’t think. Crap!” She kneeled next to him. “I should have told you to stuff a pillow in your pants.”
It took him a moment until he was able to speak. “It’s okay. You’re amazing. I didn’t expect you to get free, let alone kick me in the nuts.”
Tessa winced. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Ice would help.”
“Got it.”
She rushed downstairs, filled a Ziploc bag with ice cubes, and rushed back, taking the stairs two at the time.
She handed him the ice bag.
“Thank you, baby.” Jackson pushed his pants down and held the ice bag over his injured parts with only the thin fabric of his briefs as a barrier. After a few moments, his face relaxed.
“I’m so sorry.” Tessa caressed his arm.
“Don’t be. You can’t harm me. Knowing you can kick ass for real is worth getting my equipment temporarily out of commission. I should come with you to your next class and thank Karen in person for teaching you to fight like that.”
“I’m her best student.” Tessa felt like she was allowed a little boasting. She was so damn proud of excelling at something she never believed she would.
“I bet you are. Just don’t tell the guys that you’ve taken me down. Instead of a pussy magnet, I’ll be called pussy whipped, or just a pussy.” He groaned and kicked his pants all the way off. Lying down on the comforter, he lifted his knees so he could apply the ice pack to where he needed it most.
Ogling his powerful thighs and calves, Tessa felt like a lecher. He was in pain, because of what she’d done, and all she could think about was how sexy his body was. Then again, it wasn’t her fault that Jackson was built like an Adonis. It was impossible not to ogle.
If she could only find an excuse for him to remove his T-shirt. And his briefs.
CHAPTER 22: JACKSON
Nursing his bruised kahunas, Jackson didn’t immediately notice Tessa’s expression turn from remorseful and concerned to horny and wistful. But luckily for him, he didn’t have to rely solely on sight to figure out what his girl was in the mood for.
The faint aroma of her nascent arousal was affecting him even before he’d become aware of it. An immortal male couldn’t ignore his female’s arousal even if he wanted to. Especially while she was so close, kneeling next to him on the floor, so his nose was mere inches away from that intoxicating smell.
“How are you feeling?” Tessa asked, her voice turning husky. “Do you want me to kiss it all better?”
And just like that Jackson’s shaft surged up, forgetting all about the pain and readying for action. “Do you think it would help?” he teased.
“I’m sure it would.” Tessa licked her lips. “But for it to work, you need to take off all of your clothes.”
He liked the game she was playing. “I heard that for the healing to commence, both the healer and the injured need to get naked.”
Tessa stifled a smile, going for a serious face. “Well, if it’s in the name of healing, then all right. Should I help you with your briefs? It looks as if it would be difficult to get them past that impressive bulge.”
“By all means.” Tossing the Ziploc with the semi-melted ice cubes aside, Jackson lifted his torso off the floor, pulled his T-shirt over his head, then lay back down. “At your service, miss.”
Tessa hooked her fingers in the elastic band of his boxer briefs and tugged down just a little, then reached inside and freed his aching cock before pulling them all the way down.
Staring, she licked her lips again. Could it be that she really enjoyed taking him in her mouth? He knew plenty of girls who did, but given Tessa’s past, he would’ve never expected her to enjoy this. Especially when it was one-sided giving of pleasure.
“Nah-ah, kitten. You don’t get to lick before you take your clothes off. A deal is a deal.”
“True.”
Jackson crossed his arms under his head, lifting it so he could watch Tessa strip for him.
Holding his eyes, she pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it on the couch, then unhooked her bra and aimed at the couch but missed. “Basketball is not in my future.” She smiled sheepishly.
Jackson had a hard time focusing on anything other than her perky breasts. To keep from reaching for them, he laced the fingers behind his head and held on tight.
Her jeans and panties were next, tossed unceremoniously toward the couch, this time making the target.
“Score!” Tessa pumped her little fist in the air.
She was so fucking adorable, Jackson wanted to lick her all over. Which he planned on doing very soon. There was no way he was allowing a repeat of what had happened last time. He would make sure this was as different from any oral she’d experienced in the past as it could get.
“Okay, Mr. Patient, may I proceed with my therapy now?”
“You may.”
His cock sprang up, standing at full mast.
Kneeling by his side, Tessa inched closer. She smacked her lips as she wrapped her palm around the base, then lowered her head and flicked her tongue over the head. She looked up, smiled, and then did it again, circling all around in little teasing licks.
Already, this was nothing like the other time.
Yeah, Tessa was kneeling, but over him and not a
t his feet. This time, she was playful, enjoying tormenting him with little flicks of her wet tongue, and not trying to get him off. But even though she refrained from giving him the pleasure of taking him deep down her throat, Jackson preferred the teasing a hundred times over to that professional display of skill from before.
This was fun.
He was going to let her play for a little bit longer, then show her something new and exciting. “Are you having fun, kitten?”
“Mm-hmm.” She took the head into her mouth.
“Then let me show you something that is even more fun.” Reaching for her hips, he lifted her up and twisted her around to straddle his head.
She let his cock slid out her mouth but kept her palm wrapped around the base as if afraid it would flop the moment she let go. Silly girl. His dick knew what was good for him. He wasn’t going anywhere other than her hot, welcoming mouth.
Tessa looked at him over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
In response, Jackson pulled her sweet bottom closer and licked her slit.
She moaned. “Oh. I like this.”
He chuckled. “I thought you would. It’s called sixty-nine.”
She giggled, but her laughter died out when he flicked his tongue over her clit.
“Oh, oh, keep doing that.”
Her head thrown back, rocking her sex against his tongue, Tessa was too absorbed in her own pleasure to remember that this was supposed to be simultaneous.
Not one to be petty about things like that, Jackson gave her a few moments of his undivided attention, both of them concentrating solely on her pleasure.
But he wasn’t a saint.
With his heels digging into the comforter-covered floor, he thrust up, reminding Tessa that his dick was waiting for some tender, loving care.
She took him into her mouth again, just a small portion of his length, treating the rest of it to up and down pumping with her soft palm.
This was good, better than good. He loved driving her crazy with his mouth and his tongue and his fingers.
The girl who’d been so skittish at the beginning, the one whose expectations had been limited to being able to endure sex as opposed to truly enjoy it, had turned into a most wonderfully responsive woman who loved what he was doing to her and reached climax with ease.