Touched by Light

by Spangler, Catherine

  She drew a deep breath, forcing back the fear. Although she wanted to scream and cry and hold on to Adam, let him protect her, she knew that would accomplish nothing. The real world didn’t guarantee happy endings.

  “It’s not your battle.” She tried to stop shaking. “We’ve already had this discussion.” She dug deep for the resolve that had gotten her through the past twelve years. “I’m not giving up my life because of Bennett. And I know you damn well can’t give up yours.”

  He moved back to look at her. Determination burned in his eyes. “I’m not letting you turn away from this—from us.”

  At least this was a battle she could fight. She pushed away. “There is no ‘us.’ You don’t own me, Adam. Just because we have this connection between us doesn’t mean you can control me or my life.”

  “We can discuss our relationship and what it means ad infinitum, but I’m telling you this, Julia: I will not allow anything else to happen to you.” His possessive gaze roamed her face. “You don’t know what went through me when I saw the lion on you. I thought I’d lost you. I went as crazy as that lion. I wasn’t even aware of using my power to hurl it off you. I barely remember working over you. All I could think was that I couldn’t lose you. And just now, knowing Bennett was on that phone, taunting you, terrifying you, I felt that way again. You will not shut me out.”

  The force of his feelings was like a shock wave shattering through her. No one had ever made such a declaration to her, or stood for her like this. But this wasn’t a fairy tale, and she had to rescue herself. “Adam—”

  His mouth came down on hers, hot and hard. He kissed her with a desperation that was as shocking as Bennett’s phone call. Light and electricity sizzled through her. God help her, she didn’t want to face the rest of her life—or Bennett—without a taste of this kind of passion. Without a taste of Adam.

  She found herself kissing him back, matching his desperation. Desire erupted like a geyser, a scalding force of nature. She curled her fingers through his hair as her tongue tangled with his. He slid his hand inside her robe, splayed his fingers over her bandaged breast. She could feel the warmth of his touch, even through the bandages, could feel her breast swell against his hand. She heard herself moan, and moved her own hand down for a reciprocal caress of his chest.

  He lifted his head, and she almost cried out from the loss of his mouth. He stared down at her, his gaze burning, his chest heaving. “If you want me to stop, then you’d better say so now,” he gasped, his voice guttural. “If we go any further, I can’t guarantee my control.”

  She had almost died two days ago. Would have, if Ad am’s sheer will hadn’t kept her Earthbound. Now, Bennett was after her. There were no guarantees in life. She needed some good memories to get her through what was to come.

  “To hell with control,” she said, and pulled his head back down.

  HE knew she wasn’t surrendering; Julia would never surrender to anything. She was coming to him as his equal, giving as much as she took. She kissed him with an abandon that sizzled his blood. The result was that he was rock hard, painfully so. He hoped he could last longer than thirty seconds after he got inside her.

  A part of him was terrified. He hadn’t done this in at least two hundred years. He sure as hell hoped it was like riding a bicycle, that it would come back to him. He would focus on giving her pleasure, and pray the rest would come, so to speak.

  He wouldn’t give her a chance to reconsider. There were times Julia thought too damned much. He scooped her into his arms, keeping his mouth on hers as he made his way to his bedroom. It was primitive male instinct that had him choosing his bed over hers. His. She was his, although she might argue that point.

  But the Universe had created a perfect conductor match for him, and her name was Julia Elaine Reynolds.

  He used his mind to yank back the bedspread and top sheet. Laying her on the bed, he settled beside her. He slid off her glasses and put them on the nightstand, then continued the sensual assault on her mouth. He pressed her back enough to open her robe, and ran his hand down her body. Beneath those damned bandages, she was curvy and all woman. He wanted to feast on her, but the bandages were covering some of the best parts. He mentally peeled back the right corner, revealing one perfect breast. The pink nipple was puckered and begging for his attention.

  He gave it, leaning down to tease and suck. She moaned, and he started to pull back, concerned he’d been too rough. Her hand clamped against his head, pushed him back. Well, then, she must like it. He kissed the nipple, drew it back into his mouth. Her heat and scent rose up around him—hotel soap and her unique smell, mixed with the feminine musk of arousal. His body was throbbing and screaming for release, but he exerted an iron self-control. Not yet.

  He skimmed one hand down along the bandages until he found smooth flesh and another best part. She was hot and wet, more than ready. He slipped a finger inside her. She arched against his hand, spreading her legs farther apart. He took that as an invitation and slipped in a second finger. Wanting her mindless and embroiled in pleasure, he stroked in and out.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned. “Adam! It’s . . . too fast.”

  He had a feeling neither one of them was going to last very long this first time. And that was just the way of things. “Look at me, Julia.”

  She turned her head, her eyes glazed with passion, her lips swollen from his kisses. He pushed his fingers deep inside her, withdrew and stroked again. “Come for me, love. I want to watch you come.”

  He started up a rhythm, knowing she was beyond modesty or resistance. He watched her face, savoring the beauty of her passion, the tension of her body, her hands knotting the sheets. As she cried out, he felt the orgasm rolling through her, felt the clamp of her inner muscles around his fingers. It was a heady feeling, knowing he could give her this, and that no other man had touched her in over twelve years.

  He held her through the last shudder. She curled into him, hid her face against his shoulder, her breathing ragged. “I can’t even think straight,” she managed.

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way.” He moved her back and kissed her, tender this time, while he mentally unbuttoned his shirt and unzipped his slacks. He kicked off his shoes, then rose and quickly dispensed with the rest of his clothing.

  Julia lay there, her lush, curvy body flushed and her hair wild. She looked like a warrior goddess from ancient times. Her eyes were wide as she watched his ultrafast disrobing. They widened even more when her gaze went lower. “Oh, my.”

  He was pretty sure that wasn’t disappointment in her tone. She looked back at his face, her brown eyes dark and mysterious. “You are so beautiful,” she murmured. “I must be dreaming.”

  “I hope not. That would be such a disappointment.” He returned to the bed and took her in his arms. “Now, where were we?”

  Her hand slid down between them and her fingers wrapped around his throbbing penis. “I think we were here.” Her voice was husky, her touch maddening.

  And his control was tenuous, at best. “I promise you can play more later. But, before I embarrass myself—” He stroked down her body, between her legs. Savored her small gasp, the fact that she was more than ready for him. “Let’s get to the main event.”

  Even with his body’s raging need, he thought of what Julia had gone through twelve years ago. Her body might be ready for sex, but she was bound to harbor emotional scars. He tilted her chin up, looked into her eyes. “Are you all right with this?”

  “I think so.”

  “You let me know if anything bothers you.”

  “I’m not fragile, Adam. I won’t break.”

  No, Julia would never break, but past demons could torment her. “Turn on your side,” he urged. He helped her to face him, with her damaged leg straight beneath her. He raised her good leg over his hip, pulled her close. For now, he didn’t want to be on top of her, didn’t want her to feel pinned down.

  Pressing against her core, he felt some resistance, despi
te her aroused state. Not surprising, given her lengthy abstinence. He mentally slipped into her mind, clouding her thoughts, instructing her muscles to relax. He felt the give, as her body accepted his.

  He slid into her like a hot knife into soft butter. There was some friction—she had been celibate a long time, and he was so huge and hard, he thought he might burst. But it was an exquisite sensation, like a sword fitting perfectly into a sheath.

  He released her mind, and she blinked, looked at him suspiciously. “What did you just—”

  “Not now.” He pressed all the way in. She moaned, and he pulled back. “Am I hurting you?”

  “No,” she whispered. “It feels amazing.”

  He slid in again, watched her eyes go opaque. “Oh, God,” she gasped.

  “Just Adam will do.”

  She punched his shoulder. But then he started thrusting, and she gripped his shoulder instead, her fingers digging in. He tried to focus on her, but his body took over, his mind becoming mush in the onslaught of physical sensation. His skin felt like it would burst. He felt his balls tighten, felt anticipation in every cell. Instinct was dominating now—the urge to mate and find release. And he did, very quickly, in an explosion that sent a shower of colors through his mind.

  The hot spurting of his seed triggered wave after wave of sensation, of pure pleasure, through him. All he could do was ride the waves. There was no logic, no control, just feeling. It seemed to go on and on. Finally his climax ran out of steam. He sagged against Julia. “I’m sorry,” he managed. “Usually Sentinels have a lot of stamina in . . . this area.”

  “Really? Maybe Sanctioned fall short there. You can’t be perfect in everything.” Her voice hitched.

  “Smart-ass. Give me a few moments to recover and we’ll see about that.” He raised his head. “Are you all right?”

  The tears overflowing her eyes upended him. “I hurt you!” he said, concerned.

  She shook her head, swiped at her eyes. Remorse swept through him. How could he have given in to his baser urges without consideration for the traumas she had endured? “Julia, you should have said something. You should have stopped me.”

  She shook her head again, managed to speak. “You didn’t hurt me. I’m—damn it! Just having a meltdown here.” She pressed her face to his chest and sobbed.

  Now he felt panic. He could stand before the High Sanctioned, battle powerful Belians, and command dozens of Sentinels. But a woman’s tears were out of his realm. Still, he steeled himself and slipped his arms around her. “What can I do?”

  “N-nothing. It’s just everything. The Belian, all the deaths . . .” She drew a shuddering breath. “The lion, being in the hospital again.” Another sob. “Then hearing Bennett’s voice. Sex with you. It’s overwhelming.”

  He was starting to understand. “Emotional overload?”

  She nodded against his chest. “Yes.”

  Julia was an incredibly strong woman. But she had endured a lot, and even she had a breaking point. Everyone did. But he hated being the trigger. “We shouldn’t have done this.”

  That got another vigorous head shake. “No. You’re wrong.” She looked at him then, her face red and puffy—and beautiful in its strength. “This was clean and good and . . . amazing. It was nothing—nothing—like it was with . . . then. There’s no comparison.” She managed a weak smile. “Even if it didn’t last very long.”

  He knew she was teasing, and he was glad to see her smile. It pleased him that she thought their joining was amazing, because it had certainly blown him away. “I guess I’ll never live that down—or up.”

  She sniffled, and he reached over her for the tissues by the bed. He handed her a few. She wiped her face and blew her nose. “One thing, though,” she said. “We should have used some form of protection. I’m not on anything.”

  “It wouldn’t prevent pregnancy. If a Sentinel soul is meant to come into the Earth plane and is fated for a particular couple, pregnancy will occur, even it they use multiple methods of protection each time.”

  Her eyes flared. “What? Are you telling me there’s absolutely no way to ensure birth control when a Sentinel and a conductor have sex?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m telling you. But there is a methodology. Pregnancies don’t occur unless the couple is meant to stay together, and the incoming soul is ready. You have to have faith that the Universe knows best.”

  “Screw that.”

  He raised his eyebrows suggestively and she scowled. “I’m serious, Adam. I don’t want a baby, at least not now.”

  “Then it won’t happen until you’re ready.”

  “Damn straight it won’t.” She struggled to sit up. “There aren’t any immaculate conceptions, are there?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.” He pressed her back and kissed her thoroughly, feeling her resistance ebb. As far as he was concerned, there was no going back for either of them.

  “How did you get so good at that?” she asked, when they came up for air. “You should be out of practice after two hundred years.”

  “You inspire me.” He skimmed his hand over her hair, then down her body. “You look like a mummy, with all those bandages.”

  “Tell me about it. Do they make me look thinner?”

  She was being flippant, as she wasn’t at all vain. “You are perfect, just the way you are.” He meant it. He wouldn’t change a thing about her, except maybe her stubbornness and a propensity for violence where he was involved. Actually, those things were challenges he rather enjoyed navigating. “Let’s get these bandages off, and I’ll make sure everything is healed.”

  He didn’t bother to add that Sean and Miriam should be back soon from checking hotels and new rentals.

  Then the hunt for the Belian would be on again.

  IN her own bathroom, Julia soaked in the generous tub. The hot water felt heavenly. Those two days in the hospital, and the stitches and staples and bandages, had left her stiff and sore. She looked down at her bare chest and abdomen, marveling at the faint lines that shouldn’t even be close to healed, and should have been vivid scars.

  Adam had removed the staples and channeled more energy to the area. He told her the internal stitches should be dissolved and the healing virtually complete. It was nothing short of miraculous—if not completely unscientific.

  She leaned back and closed her eyes. Unfortunately, there was no magic cure for emotional trauma. Oh, she’d get over the lion mauling—she’d done the only thing she could with those children in its path. Adam being with her in the hospital had helped ease her though that trauma.

  But she still had the original attack and Bennett to deal with, and the current spree of bloodshed. Not to mention sex with Adam, which had created a whole new set of emotional issues. Not a particularly smart move on her part.

  Stupid or not, the memory of going to bed with him sent a heated rush through her body. Seeing him nude had reinforced the Adam-is-actually-a-god-in-disguise theory. He was magnificent, and he’d looked at her—her!—like he could eat her up.

  When he’d touched her, spoken to her in that harsh, sexy voice, then joined his body with hers, it had been stunning . . . amazing . . . profound . . . and totally upending.

  Sex with him had healed her on one level, and ripped her open on another. At least she’d proven to herself that Bennett hadn’t been able to ruin her as a woman. Adam, however, had the power to leave her bleeding when all was said and done. She had no one but herself to blame. She’d known any involvement with him was a very bad idea, that nothing good could come of it.

  Besides, he might not want to have sex with her again, and she wasn’t inclined to risk her emotional well-being, much less a pregnancy, any further. But it was one memory she wanted to keep. Good to know she wasn’t dead in the sex department.

  A frisson of energy skittered over her skin, jolting her out of her reverie. The hairs on her arms came to attention.

  “You look like you’re thinking too much, Professor.”
>
  She came upright with a gasp. Adam sat on the edge of the tub, cool and gorgeous in black slacks and a charcoal sweater, and holding a glass of wine. He had showered and shaved and looked ready for a GQ photo shoot.

  She quashed the urge to cover herself. It was pointless, given what had passed between them. She settled for a glare. “I don’t remember lifting the bathroom ban for you.”

  “I think that’s been negated by . . .” His gaze drifted over her. “Certain activities.” He took a sip of the wine, handed her the glass. He radiated a satiated possessiveness, like a cat that had just consumed a mouse. Not good.

  “I would still appreciate the common courtesy of a knock.” And to not be naked every time he sneaked up on her. She took a healthy gulp of wine. What did one say to a god who had just ended her twelve-year celibacy? “Thanks for my sexual revival. We’ll have to do it again some time.” That just didn’t have the right ring to it.

  “I hope you got several bottles of this stuff.” She took another sip.

  “Why, Julia, I believe you’re becoming a lush.”

  She finished the wine, handed the glass back to him. “I only drink like this when I’m under duress. That should tell you something, Masters.”

  He ignored that, instead running a finger down one of the faint jagged lines on her chest. “These look good.”

  His touch ignited an ember of sexual energy that quickly turned into a major brush fire. Her breasts swelled and the nipples hardened. She shoved his hand away. “Yes, everything is almost healed. And yes, I’m very grateful for your curative abilities. Is there a purpose for you breaking the bathroom ban?”

  “Actually, there is.” His gaze returned to her face. “I just spoke with Sean. They found a hotel where Matt stayed. He’s apparently moved elsewhere, but there’s strong Belian energy in the room. Miriam tried to get a reading off the furniture and used towels, but all she picked up was rage and confusion—no images or concrete information. Sean and I will have to work the energy, then link with you and Miriam and see what we get.”