Touched by Light

by Spangler, Catherine

  Both trepidation and anticipation swept through her. And wasn’t that a good thing—not. “I can hardly wait.”

  His lips quirked. “Liar. However, I know you’ll do what needs to be done.” He leaned down, dipping his fingers beneath the water and trailing them up her calf. Fiery sparks followed in their wake, and wet heat pooled between her legs. “Whatever it takes.”

  Her breath escaped her lungs and her mind fogged, but her body went on full steam ahead. Fortunately, Adam broke contact and stood. “I have to go, but I won’t be long.” He strode gracefully to the door, turned, and gave her a heated look. “Stay safe while I’m gone.”

  After he left, it took several moments for coherent thought to return. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of another conduction—most likely sexual, since they’d broken that barrier. Wasn’t she the sharp one today?

  As for staying safe, safety was a relative thing. She wasn’t worried about personal threat from the Belian. Adam Masters posed far more danger, to her mental well-being and to her heart.

  “Well, damn!” she muttered, rising and reaching for a towel. “I wonder where the hell he put the rest of that wine.”

  EIGHTEEN

  JULIA stared at the clock in her room: five ten in the afternoon. It seemed much later than that, but then a lot had happened today. She’d been discharged from the hospital, received a threatening phone call from William Bennett, and made love with a god—that after twelve years of abstinence. Plus she’d had a staple removal and healing session. She’d taken a two-hour nap—she’d fallen asleep as soon as she’d settled on the sofa to wait for Adam’s return—but she still felt drained.

  Now she was about to engage in a sexual conduction with said god. Adam hadn’t pressured her to do it. He’d simply said, “It’s your decision, Julia.”

  Damn him. He knew she wouldn’t refuse to help, not at the cost of more lives. She wasn’t a coward; nor was she one to back down from challenges. Since they’d already done the horizontal mamba, what was the use in doing a chaste conduction, especially when a sexual one apparently got much stronger results? Adam seemed to think pregnancy wouldn’t become an issue, and she’d just have to trust him on that.

  Just what did one wear to a sexual conduction with a Sanctioned? Not that it mattered—she didn’t have any sexy lingerie or sleepwear. She settled for her navy blue robe—a kind of comfort clothing. No sense wearing anything under it. Part B couldn’t very well go into Slot A if clothes were in the way.

  Enough procrastinating. She wiped her damp hands on her robe, got her cane, and went into the living room. It was empty, but Adam’s bedroom door was open. She walked over, hesitating just out of sight.

  “Come in, Julia.”

  She stepped into his room. The afternoon light filtered through the window sheers. And wasn’t that great—full disclosure two times in one day. She looked at the large bed where she’d lain with Adam a few hours before. The sheets had been smoothed and turned down to the foot.

  He was beside the bed, wearing only a pair of black silk boxers. He was a world-class work of art—tall, broad-shouldered, lean and muscled, a perfect male package. Definitely in the god category. She didn’t even want to think how she—a plain, plump professor with glasses and short brown hair—would be classified. And yet, here she was.

  “How did you know I was outside your room?” she asked. “You couldn’t possibly hear me walking on the carpet in this place. It’s at least two or three inches thick.”

  He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “I could sense you—your energy, your special scent.”

  Her heart took on an irregular beat; heat began coiling in her belly. Even with a separation of ten feet, the attraction between them was lethal. He turned to the nightstand and lit a large, deep purple pillar candle. Enticing, aromatic scents drifted through the air.

  “Is that to set the mood?” she asked.

  “In a way.” He faced her, and she savored the sight of his magnificent chest and abs. “The scents are frankincense and ginger, and the indigo color represents the sixth chakra and the third eye. The candle will help create a stronger sexual surge and enhance the conduction. Although I don’t think we’ll need it.” He stepped closer as he palmed his medallion.

  Oh, man, she didn’t think they needed any help, either, as long as they were in close range of each other. She felt the energy swirling around her, warming the air, increasing in intensity, as he chanted in that beautiful language. The light radiated from him, like he was the sun. It seemed to reach for her, surrounding her in power and enchantment.

  He finished chanting and released the pendant. “Hold your arms out to the side and down a little,” he said in a black-magic voice.

  Although it seemed like a strange request, she did it. He gestured with his hand, and her robe tie slithered out of its knot, allowing the robe to fall open. Talk about black magic. He gestured again, and the robe slipped off her shoulders, dropping halfway down her arms. The breath froze in her chest; her heart’s frantic beat continued. Another gesture and the sleeves slid off, the robe falling down her body, pooling on the floor.

  Leaving her bare to the world—or in this case, to Adam. His heated gaze moved over her like a caress, a tingling following in its wake. “Show-off,” she said, her voice low and shaky. She gestured as he had. “Your turn.”

  He had to switch to manual mode to get his boxers off, as they were hung up on a very large object. Then he was nude, and she stopped breathing again. He walked to her and held out his hand. She felt like she was standing on a fault line, with an earthquake of seismic proportions about to occur. That fate was a speeding train that couldn’t be stopped. Or maybe—as she placed her hand in his—she was going off a thousand-foot cliff in free fall.

  He tugged her against him. Then he framed her face with those elegant hands, kissed her deep and hard. Her legs gave out; good thing she was leaning against him. He swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down and settled beside her.

  “The sexual surge will come fast, and things might get a little wild, maybe a little rough,” he told her. “There’s not much foreplay in a conduction. But I won’t hurt you, Julia.”

  She wet her lips. “I know.”

  “Tell me if it’s too much.”

  She didn’t feel any fear. Trust had been one of her issues since the attack, but she trusted Adam implicitly. “I will.”

  “Expect a powerful surge as soon as our hands link. And don’t break the contact, unless it’s more than you can handle.”

  “I won’t let you down.”

  The starbursts glowed in his eyes. “I know you won’t. Give me your hands.”

  Tension throbbing through her, she raised her palms to his. Their fingers linked and her world exploded. Molten heat flooded her vagina and abdomen. Red and orange colors burst behind her eyelids. Intense sexual need overwhelmed all her senses. “Adam,” she gasped, twisting against him. “Now!”

  “Hold on, love. Get on your side and—”

  “No!” she practically screamed as the heat scalded upward to her midriff, and yellow flashed in her mind. She scrambled up and straddled him. He tightened his grip on her hands, but gave her free reign. “Now, now, now!” she gasped. She slid over him, took him deep. She was wet, more than ready, but he filled her almost to the point of pain.

  Mindless need spurring her, she moved on him as green and blue colors filled her mind. The burn moved into her chest and throat. Adam groaned and arched his body to meet her movements. “We’re in the upper chakras now,” he managed. “Hold on.”

  There was a flare of indigo, a sharp pain in her head, and then the images started flashing. She was only vaguely cognizant of them. Her body had seized control, moving in perfect sync with his, both of them reaching for the physical flash point. It came just as the final chakra opened and violet blanketed everything.

  She cried out as waves of sensation ricocheted through her, the climax so intense, she coul
dn’t do anything but ride it. She felt Adam tense, heard his long groan of release. Gradually, the incredible pleasure receded, along with the images, leaving her utterly drained. She collapsed on him, feeling like a melted, burned-out candle.

  As her breath returned, so did sanity, and the realization she’d been like a wild woman, totally out of control. She’d never, ever, done anything like this, not even in the carefree days before Bennett. Mortified, she buried her head against Adam’s shoulder.

  “I’m so sorry I lost control like that.” That was an understatement. More accurate would be “Staid math professor loses her mind and plays ride-’em-cowboy with a god formerly from Atlantis.” She cringed. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

  He wrapped one arm around her and stroked her hair. “You didn’t hurt me in the least. It was fast and it was rather wild, but there was absolutely no pain. Quite the opposite.”

  “I still can’t believe I just did that.” She shuddered.

  “Sweetheart, look at me.”

  She burrowed closer. “I might be able to face you in, oh, a year or so.”

  He slid his hand beneath her chin, forced her to look at him. His eyes glowed like molten pools. “First off, you were under the influence of the linked chakra energies. Second, that was the best sex I’ve ever had. Bar none.”

  “You’re just saying that because it’s been over two hundred years since you got any.”

  He shook his head. “I’m saying it because it’s true.” He flashed a sexy grin. “You’re even better than Cleopatra was.”

  “Cleopatra? Oh, come on, Adam—”

  He kissed her, and her thoughts scattered. Come to think of it, once they formed the handhold, they hadn’t kissed or done any sort of foreplay. Hadn’t needed it. They’d just screwed their brains out. At least she had. Adam had more or less gone along for the ride—and what a ride it had been.

  “Right now, we need to talk about the images,” he said.

  She sobered instantly at the reminder of why she was naked and tangled with him. “You’re right, of course.” She shifted off him, gritting her teeth as pain shot through her bad leg. It didn’t bend easily, and had taken a beating during her insanity.

  He sat up. “Leg hurting?” She nodded, and he pulled the leg toward him and started massaging it. It was painful, and she kept her teeth clenched. Then, as the cramps receded and the muscles unknotted, pleasure replaced pain. The man definitely knew how to give a massage. She could also feel the tingling that indicated he was doing some healing mojo as well.

  “Thank you. It feels much better,” she said.

  Now that she was pain free and thinking straight, she felt uncomfortable, sitting naked on the bed. She slid off and limped over to pick up her robe. She put it on and tied it before turning back to face Adam. She saw he’d put on his boxers, probably in deference to her need to cover herself—although she wouldn’t have minded if he’d remained gloriously naked.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, and she joined him, turning her focus to the images that had flashed through her fevered mind. “I think I had another vision during the conduction.”

  “I’m certain you did. It was too clear and precise to be anything else.”

  “If you saw the same things I did, then you have a good idea where the Belian will go next.”

  “I think we might have picked up on Matt,” Adam said, “although it’s unheard of to track a Sentinel through a conduction. But it would be Matt, and not the Belian, who would be driven to this place.”

  Julia thought about the sadness she’d sensed from the images and nodded. “That’s the most logical explanation. But I didn’t see any signs specifically naming the place, or any landmarks that would indicate its location.”

  “I’ve been there, so I know it. It’s very possible Miriam was able to pinpoint this location as well.” Adam nodded toward the phone vibrating on the nightstand. “Let’s see if I’m right.”

  He reached over and picked up the phone. “Yes, Sean. Did you get anything? . . . Julia and I saw a cemetery. I’m assuming it’s the one where Susan is buried.” He listened a minute. “That’s the same area Miriam’s pendulum indicated? Then I’d say we know where to go. I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.”

  He clicked off and stood. “Sean and I will handle this. I want you and Miriam to stay here.”

  “Why? We’ve gone with you the last two times.”

  “That was because we needed you to identify the landmarks you’d seen in your visions, and also because we were covering such large areas. We have an exact location this time. We don’t need you.”

  “I think I should have a say in this.” She gave him her most intimidating professor stare. “I’ve already put my life on the line for the cause.” Not to mention her body. “I’ve been involved in three Belian confrontations, and each time I played a pivotal role. One of those times, I saved your very nice rear from possible serious injury. I also spared some children from being attacked by a lion.”

  “Both times, you disobeyed orders.”

  “News flash—I don’t take orders from you, Adam.”

  Anger heated his eyes. “I could make you,” he said softly, dangerously.

  That pissed her off even more. “Then you’d have to keep me under control for the rest of my natural life—while your own life would be hell.”

  He shook his head. “You are so damned obstinate. Has it occurred to you that I can do my job more efficiently if I don’t have to worry about your, or Miriam’s, safety? That if we don’t need you there, you’re better off staying away? Can you not understand that I don’t want anything to happen to you?”

  Some of her anger dissipated at the frustrated sincerity in his voice. She could relate. “Has it occurred to you that I might be upset if something happened to you?”

  “Are you saying, once again, that you care about me, Professor?”

  Crap. Why had she said that? He didn’t need to know how she felt. “Of course not. I just meant I would have to find a new verbal sparring partner. They’re so hard to come by.”

  “You are such a liar, Julia.”

  “Besides,” she said, ignoring him. “If you want me to accept your nonscientific theory that I’m fated to be here and helping you, then you have to let me see this out.”

  “You would throw that back at me.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose, considered. “All right. But only if you agree to follow orders—for once in your life—and do exactly what I say while we’re at the cemetery.”

  “I’ll try. But if there are any rampaging lions, all bets are off.”

  He gave her a stern look, but his lips twitched. “Go get dressed. And bring your gun.”

  SAN Fernando Cemetery was located in southwest San Antonio, near Kelly Air Force Base. High, black wrought iron gates marked the entrance, along with a massive granite sign engraved with a simple cross and the cemetery name. Two high flagpoles flanked the split roadway. It was still light outside, although the sun had faded, giving the sky a stark, pale appearance, when Adam drove the Mercedes through the entrance.

  “Is there a back way to Susan’s grave?” he asked Sean. “We need to get there without being seen. We’ll park a reasonable distance away and walk in behind it.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Sean said. “This place is huge, well over a hundred acres. There are numerous driving paths. Take this road to the left.”

  Adam followed Sean’s directions. He felt Sean’s tension and hoped bringing him here wasn’t a mistake. But he wasn’t willing to risk the Belian getting away again. He cast a glance in the rearview mirror at Julia and Miriam. He wasn’t at all happy they were along, but hadn’t wanted to take the time to battle Julia, or be forced to subdue her in some way. Besides, her arguments had merit. He would have to be matched with a woman who equaled him in intellect and logic. Sure made it difficult—if not impossible—to control her.

  She did care for him, he was certain of it. Getting her to admit it was another matte
r. But they would settle that once this Belian was sent to Saturn. For now, he turned his attention to the hunt. He parked the car where Sean indicated, and the four of them got out.

  “Where is the grave from here?” Adam asked.

  Sean pointed to his right, to a large expanse of grounds, dotted with graves. “On the other side of that small chapel.”

  Adam placed his hand on Sean’s shoulder, held his gaze. “My goal is keep Matt alive, but I don’t know if that will be possible. I have to know you’re going into this as a Sentinel. That you’ll do your sworn duty, whatever that requires.”

  Determination glowed in Sean’s eyes. “If I let this abomination continue to exist on Earth, and to use Matt’s body for evil, then I dishonor everything Matt has fought for, everything he taught me. I won’t let him, or you, down.”

  Seeing Sean’s resolve, Adam nodded, dropped his hand. “The chapel will provide cover for us. We’ll move to it together. Then Sean and I will go around and check the grave. Ladies, arm yourselves, Julia with your gun and Miriam with your pepper foam. Have them ready and don’t hesitate to use them if you’re threatened in any way. Stay by the chapel. I don’t want a possible hostage situation, or either of you being injured.” He gave Julia a look. “Again.”

  “Sure,” Miriam said, slipping out her pepper foam canister. “Believe me, I don’t want to get too near that guy. But what if he’s not here? We don’t know when he’s coming—assuming he does.”

  “No, we don’t,” Adam agreed. “What Julia and I saw wasn’t nighttime, but it wasn’t bright daylight, either. The light is fading now, so this could be the time. I’m feeling Matt off and on, which tells me he’s in partial control. He comes here often, so we have to hope our indicators are accurate. If we don’t see him, you two will take the car and go back to the hotel. Sean and I will stake out the grave-site.” He gestured to Sean. “Let’s go. Move quietly and no talking.”

  They left the road and walked across the expanse of burial plots, being careful to skirt the graves. The head-stones jutted from the ground in a profusion of shapes and sizes, and many had brightly colored flowers placed near them. Huge old live oaks and tall topiary shrubs were spaced among the sites.