He watched her witness his truth as she immersed her gaze in his. “Friends,” she spoke after a moment. “We were supposed to be just friends.”
Gently looping a long strand of her hair around his hand, then his arm, he let it glide free, then offered, “I tried, darling.” He took another reluctant step back. “I’m glad it worked out this way.”
“Sharing,” she mocked. Her chin high, she turned her face away.
To avoid touching her, Zent leaned down, pulling out two of his pans, one for later. He placed them on the stove and turned one section on the lowest setting. “How was it going to work out?” he carefully challenged. “Zotorro’s been in love with you forever. Zion’s always kept to himself, but he’d let it slip sometimes. His feelings. Hell, he was always just as hot and horny as the rest of us whenever he watched you dance.” Zent poured out measures of avocado oil flavored with onion.
She gazed at him now, her spectacular eyes gleaming, haunted by knowing he didn’t lie to her.
“The absolute kicker,” he continued, shaking in one of his herb mixtures, “was knowing by the look in your eye that you favored Zavier. And knowing he wanted you. Blast down the doors of hell wanted you, but wouldn’t do anything because of Zotorro.”
Her eyes widened, flared with deeper understanding. An instant later, she flipped her gaze away. “I should have moved. Somewhere else. Except that I loved it here. Before—”
“Yeah, before,” he echoed. Zent opened a cupboard door above the stove, bringing out a jar of spice-preserved carrots.
“How did you get...” She clamped her lips together, and watched him pour in the delicious-smelling cinnamon carrots.
Zent’s gut wrenched for an instant. All their parents had died during the first massive riots. Being home and property owners, they had initially been targeted by troops sent to Chrontropolis with the lie they had been sent in to save and help people. Instead, the World Force troops had murdered whoever refused to leave their home and whoever got in their way.
“Yeah. From my parents’ garden. We managed to save the food mom had stocked up. Quite a bit. Before the Corrupt gangs took over the house.”
“The whole area is destroyed.”
Zent winced at how forlorn her voice sounded. “It was destroyed before the Harbinger arrived. Before we could save any of the houses. When we did start to change, it was too late.”
“I couldn’t save anything. Once,” she murmured, “I so wished I could have saved them all, my family, the friends I’ve lost, my pets. Yet how would they have survived? I’ve barely survived. And survival’s been the easy part.”
Zent longed to ask why she hadn’t confided in him, asked for his help. Crap, he knew why. By the time they’d all found each other again, the worst of the horror had ended. And her pride had gotten in the way. Besides, he and his brothers had gone through severe adjustments, their powers often sputtering on and off, unreliable and dangerous for a time, certainly dangerous for her. And then there was Zotorro. He’d never given up on being the man she couldn’t refuse to love.
“It’s better now, Wendy.” Pivoting, he opened the door of their giant-sized cooler to retrieve more of his ingredients, but also, he’d been tempted to touch her and stroke her into passion’s oblivion. To make her forget. To make them both forget.
“Here, it’s better.” Her voice was so low he barely heard her. He’d ‘turned off’ his super hearing. “This place is better,” she spoke a little louder. “Your, whatever, control center. Impressive, to say the least.”
“We worked long and hard.” He searched out the sealed bag of prime pork pieces and his wild rice, ready to simply simmer. “Scavenged a lot of parts. And pillaged devices from some high-security fortresses.”
“I believe it.”
Zent held up the pork pieces and grinned. “Real, I promise.”
“Where’d you find that? Or dare I ask.”
“Coolers of the rich and famous. No longer with us.”
“Oh. Well, someone has to use it.”
“We have a new food distribution Super Team set up, Wendy. Should start alleviating the worst shortage problems.” Carefully, Zent placed in the smoked pieces, then the pouch of wild rice, stirring.
“Ooooh, wild rice, my favorite. Did you remember?”
For a moment her legs swung with excitement, her eyes sparkled. Then just as quickly she shut down.
“Never ask a man a leading question like that. He’ll most likely lie and say, ‘Yes.’ But, yes, Wendy. It’s hard to forget, since you’d always invite yourself over whenever Mom made it.”
“I never could get my parents to like it that much. No matter how many times I made it. The Food Super Team, how does it work?”
Relieved by the genuine caring in her voice, he gave a few more stirs, and then upped the heat a bit. “We have a central storage area ready near the railroad station.”
Turning, he moved toward an island counter to clip some of his fresh herbs that were kept beneath grow lights. “Whenever anyone finds large caches of food, what they don’t need or want to give, it’s stored there. And we already have teams specifically relieving the Corrupt of their food supplies, then distributing to the local groups. The ones who are already helping people out. We’ve kept the operation quiet and dribbled in the supplies, so there’s less chance any one place will be targeted by the Corrupt’s gangs. We’re setting up networks of protection. It’s a slow go, though.”
She shook her head sadly. “Chrontropolis has been dealt several death blows. With the Harbinger super-powering us, we’ve just refused to die. I’m glad there will be more food available. What about growing places? Like your herbs?”
“Probably why CocoaAngel contacted Zavier. There are small hidden gardens inside deserted buildings, the sections that are still stable. Right now, finding more seeds is all-important. And her two sisters have been doing searches, gathering intel on where we can find more seeds.”
Snipping several of his herbs into his palm, he carried them back to the pan, sprinkling them on top of the simmering dish. Stirring again, he let his gaze wander over her sleek and voluptuous body.
She shot him a glance, and then ignored his obvious appreciation. “While CocoaAngel’s sisters aren’t crime-fighting, right?”
“Taking a super bite out of crime takes a super bite out of time spent on rebuilding.”
“Does smell good.” She wriggled in anticipation, making him a happy man. “It’s not fair, you know.”
“Because you’re not a crime fighter?” Her lost expression yanked at his well-protected heartstrings.
“I was just getting my flame powers under control, and they were growing. And now...”
“Wendy, you would have crashed if Zavier hadn’t caught you.”
She rocked forward, her head bowed, her weight pressed down on her palms. “I didn’t care.”
“We care,” he sternly spoke. His stomach roiled at the thought of what if, if Zavier hadn’t flown by her rooftop, his usual routine of checking on her as he patrolled Chrontropolis.
“Sex care about me, yes.” She might as well have aimed a pistol at him and pulled the trigger.
He turned off the heat and set the pan aside. “Fair, Wendy. But not fair.”
“Oh, come on. The way you, you did it to me.” She shook her body as if she could shake free of their carnal hold on her.
“And plan to do it again and a whole lot more.” Zent was absolutely finished with denying his lust and his heart for her. “Are you saying we can’t care about you and also possess that luscious body of yours?” He picked up her foot, deliberately massaging with soft strokes.
“No.” She prolonged the word. “But, you can’t expect me to just happily accept that I’ve now become your personal sex object. To be mastered. By all of you.” She forced the last words out and nearly choked. She clenched her eyelids shut, then opened them. “Even if I am now a super slut.”
He planted a swift kiss on her lips. “Only think one moment
at a time, Wendy. And now it’s time to eat.”
Turning, Zent efficiently brought out a plate, and then scooped on the food. “Beverage of choice?” he asked, opening the smaller section of the cooler so she could see what was available.
“Water, for now,” she mumbled. “Cold. I haven’t had it really cold in forever.”
“Ice cubes, then?”
She nodded, and he quickly filled a container with ice, then water. After handing it to her, he grabbed a spoon and picked up the plate. Waiting until she swallowed down part of her water, he stood before her.
“You’re going to feed me?” Her brows arched in surprise as she stared at the plate he held close to her mouth, her gorgeous kissable mouth.
“I want to feed you.”
“Why?” Confusion entered her eyes.
“You have the most amazing eyes, Wendy.” Zent spooned up a bite of the meal he’d created just for her and brought it to her lips.
“I’m so hungry I can’t refuse.” She took the bite and savored it, pleasing him beyond measure.
He took a bite, and then offered her another.
Enthusiastically, she ate, and then spoke as he took another bite. “I didn’t know you could cook like this. When did you learn?”
“Another.” He held the spoon full of food up to her. “And I’ll tell you.”
“Too good to refuse.” She daintily latched onto the spoon, letting him enjoy the shape of her lips. And truth to tell, he enjoyed feeding her even more than he’d thought.
“Desperation. None of us were doing too good at cooking once we took over the building and the penthouse. So I started reading the cookbooks we salvaged from the house. And reading any article I could find on cooking. Zion found a stash of gourmet preparation shows in old media formats. Thus, a pretend chef was born.” Zent triumphed with a bite of his creation.
“Good job, pretend chef. I suppose now you all will expect me to cook and clean for you.” She took the bite he offered, and he witnessed in her eyes just how hungry she truly was, and probably had been for a long time. He mentally kicked himself. Hard. Quickly, he fed her another spoonful.
“No. That’s one plus about our powers. The cleaning is fast and easy.” He fed himself, then her again. “However, if you ever want to bake those cookies and breads again...” He smiled broadly, waggled his brows as he used to do for her when she would always laugh at him.
His reward, she grinned briefly, her eyes shining as if he’d thrown stardust into them. For a moment.
“Maybe.” She rolled a shoulder as if she could care less, averting her face. “I don’t suppose I can bribe you with my baking.”
“Bribe?” His curiosity came alive.
“I want to dance.” She faced him, her expression beautifully defiant.
Lord help him, she could squeeze his balls unmercifully. He was tempted to give her anything she wanted, every man’s particle of him. Just because he’d always adored her and now because she belonged to him.
“You can bribe me anytime, after—”
“After?” Her eyes brilliantly flamed, then died, the flames smothered by her despair. “Never mind. I already know what you’re going to say, don’t I?”
“Wendy.” He tried his low persuasive voice. “I need you to eat more.” He held up the filled spoon.
“Why? So you can ravish me and not be concerned?”
God, yes. Do I ever want to ravish you and not be concerned? “Because you’re still hungry. And I want to feed you dessert.”
“Dessert?”
He flirtatiously grinned at her, a thrill seizing him when she flashed her eyes for a brief instant, like she did whenever he’d talked with her at the dance clubs. “Caramel sauce drizzled over fresh apple berries.”
“Really?” Her eyes glimmered with such desperate hope, Zent’s heart twisted painfully.
“Really.” He eased the spoon toward her mouth and felt excitement tingle his blood as she parted her lips and accepted the food.
Keeping his lust tamped down, he casually fed her and himself, alternating bites until the entire plate of food was finished. After thoroughly licking the spoon, he beamed a smile at her. “Won’t take long to make the sauce. Still hungry?”
She nodded. “Are you going to check on Zion and Zotorro, make sure they’re okay?”
Zent set the plate down next to the pan, knowing his brothers would scarf up what was left. “They are. We’re all linked. If any one of us is in trouble, all of us know it.”
“I heard the top scientists of The World Force are creating disruption weapons, to interfere with superpowers like that.”
Reaching up to a top shelf, he brought down the container of raw sugar, a prized item these days, and the can of tropical nut oil, also a rare item, if not as prized.
“We’re not being disrupted, Wendy. I would feel that interference with our connection.”
“You’re certain about that?”
Her dubious tone caused him to study her face. Her shadowed eyes met his and the pain in their depths didn’t surprise him. “Yes,” he quietly answered. “Although you’re right to be concerned. The World Force is creating whatever device or weapon they can against us.”
She nodded. “It will be a matter of constant vigilance to stay ahead of their evil. Them, and the Black Force Elite, the would-be rulers who stay hidden in the shadows.”
Zent slowly grinned. “It’s a brutal world, darling. However, we need to live a little, enjoy where we can.” Pivoting toward the cooler, he opened the door to the fruit keeper compartment and drew out the small bowl of apple berries.
Chapter Six
Zent and Wendy
“Where’d you find those?” Her entire face transformed to wonder, her gaze riveted on the reddish-yellow smooth berries.
“Just for your ears. It’s a secret,” he bantered, yet knew she also heard the seriousness in his voice. “You know the botanical domes at the military compound in Sal Renego?”
“Supposed to be an experimental project. Really a means for The World Force to feed their private troops. Let me guess your secret. You raided them?”
“Me and Zotorro have raided three times now. We zip in and out before the alarms sniff out our presence. It’s all in the strategic planning, my Wendy.”
“Figures. You two planned the raids on our all-girl slumber parties.”
Zent shrugged carelessly, and couldn’t help the smile forming on his lips. “All that practice gave us the razor’s edge for now.” He measured out the ingredients for the caramel sauce into the heating pan.
“Wow. Real sugar.”
“A recent find. We also saved some of the cane plants.”
”I hope they grow. The sad fact is, the more successful we are in Chrontropolis, the more we’ll be donkey ass targets.”
“You’re worrying too much, darling. I understand,” he forestalled her, and then reached for a bottle of sweet wine.
“Comes with the nightmare territory,” she dryly shot at him. “And just where did you find that?”
Zent drizzled in a small portion. “Zotorro took it off a back alley thief who was going to sell it to the Corrupt. Gave him some coin for it then paid the person he’d stolen it from, who had been trying to sell it himself.”
She nodded. “It’s so complicated now. Just surviving.”
Removing the pan, Zent swirled the sauce until it was cool enough. Then he slowly and evenly soaked the apple berries.
“Smells so good.” She leaned toward him.
“Yeah, it does smell good.” Zion sauntered in the kitchen, freshly showered and attired as casually as Zent was, only in khakis.
Reacting, Wendy grabbed for the blanket, wrapping herself up. Apprehensively, she looked between both of them before turning her face away.
Zent threw his brother a warning look. She was already frightened of them, too much in his opinion. “Grub in the pan if you’re hungry. How’d it go? Chase them off?”
“All gone. Zotorro
is on duty at the monitors.” Zion strode around him and picked up the empty plate, helping himself. “Yeah, hungry as all get out. Looks great as usual.”
“Any word from big brother yet?” Zent plucked a delicate dessert spoon out of a nearby drawer.
“He contacted the Control room about a minute ago, only to say he and CocoaAngel were on a field trip. Claimed it was nothing dangerous.” Zion glanced at Wendy, and then put on a show of casually grabbing out a bottle of his nutrient drink and a juice drink Zotorro favored. “Zavier said he was going to do a quick patrol with the Ranger Brothers and will be back in couple of hours.”
“Yeah, he prefers coordinating patrols. Covers the city better that way.” Zent tested the bowl’s heat level. Still a bit too hot for her, he thought. Unless... “Has your flame power altered how much heat you can stand?” he asked.
“Only if it’s ‘on.” She shifted uncomfortably. “Then it doesn’t matter how hot something is. So far.”
“I’ll go share with younger brother. Then work on a few projects.” Zion swung around so he could gaze at her sideways.
Zent watched her eyes widen, and then flare with alarm at his brother’s use of the word ‘share’. She clutched the blanket over her breasts in a death grip, watching Zent as he picked up the bowl.
Before moving before her, he locked gazes with Zion for an instant, knowing what they both thought about when she’d said, doesn’t matter how hot something is. Her, their Wendy, handling their super hot cocks, heavy and ready for her. Knowing better, both brothers held their tongues.
Besides, whenever they’d gotten too crude for her in their teenage boys-will-be-boys banter, she’d given them a look of utter disgust and would simply leave. Or there was the time she’d impetuously shoved Zavier into the pool after he’d commented about getting his hands on the blown-up floating balloons of busty Georgette, with her bobbing cork nipples.
They’d all known by her furious glare as Zotorro approached to pick her up and throw her in playfully that she wasn’t jealous. Her feminine sensibilities had been offended. Even with no superpowers then, she’d flamed them all with her withering gaze. She’d tilted her chin, tightened her jaw, clenched her fists at her sides, then strode away, her barely-covered butt so blatantly bouncing nearly every male there had stared for several long moments.
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