Wylde (Xi Force Book 3)

by S. C. Mitchell

  Paul’s gaze swept the group. “Okay, lady and gentlemen, I call this little game reverse tag. You guys are it. And you have to tag Quantum.”

  Then he smiled at her. “Quantum, don’t let them lay a hand on you. Oh, and no flying allowed.”

  Paul had given her some rudimentary self-defense training, but she was in no way ready for anything rougher than a game of tag. No fighting, no tackling, at least not yet. They just had to touch her to win.

  Well, at least they weren’t shooting at her . . .yet.

  Kayla had warned her that training could get intense. She’d been training with Pike’s rangers for a few months now and could probably hold her own against the Green Bay Packers. The woman had learned some awesome moves.

  “And go!”

  The four men began to close on her. Paul wanted to test these men against an unknown super-powered adversary. They had no concept of what powers she possessed. Hell, she barely did herself. To make the cut, these guys would have to be able to think on their feet, and handle situations as they arose.

  She wasn’t allowed to fly, so what were her other options?

  Snow crunched beneath her feet as she backed away from the advancing force. One of them sported a cowboy hat and was pulling a rope from his belt. This had to be the guy Mary called Tex. She’d seen him with his shirt off and swore he had an eight-pack, and the widest pair of shoulders she’d ever seen.

  Yeah, he was big. Time to cut him down to size. She pulled snow off the ground around him and from the branches of trees overhead, swirling it in a cylinder around him, encasing him. That would keep him busy for a bit. “Your very own igloo.”

  Another one pulled up short, standing still as the other two continued to advance on her. Caution? Or was he waiting, analyzing? In any case, he was standing still, at least for the moment.

  She warmed the snow around his feet, melting it to water before instantly freezing it to ice. Now he’d be standing still a bit longer. She smiled as he began to struggle with his boots, but there wasn’t time to enjoy the show. The other two were almost dancing to keep their feet moving, and avoided going too close to the snow-laden trees. They were learning her tricks, which was a good for them, but forced her to come up with new tactics.

  The one on the right scooped up some snow, balling it and throwing it toward her. “Does this count?”

  Dove stopped it midair, five inches from her face, then sent it back toward him. “It might have, if it hit.”

  Paul, leaning against a tree, shook his head. “You have to touch her.”

  Using her powers, she crafted another snowball and sent it hurling toward the man’s face as she iced the pathway in front of him.

  He barely got his hand up in time to block it, but then slipped on the ice and went down. “Crap.”

  Guy number four was almost upon her. This one had simply charged and kept coming, while she’d been dealing with the other three. Straightforward, no tricks, she liked that. Hand out, inches from her, he picked up his pace. There was no way she’d be able to backpedal fast enough. Triumph sparkled in his eyes.

  She swerved closer to the pines on her left and he followed. His hand swiped inches away from her shoulder.

  “Sorry.” She used her powers to bend a nearby tree branch into his path, then she tumbled to the side. Regaining her feet, she warped the wood a bit more to trap him against the tree trunk.

  “Didn’t know trees can hug back, did you?”

  Still, as much as she’d seen the minutia, she’d missed something in the bigger picture. A rope lasso dropped around her. She’d lost sight of Tex. The cowboy must have bashed his way out of his snow prison and stealthed to her blind side.

  The lasso tightened around her, holding her arms tight to her sides. Surprised, her mind whirled, trying to figure out how to handle this new situation.

  Tex pulled the rope tight and she was yanked from her feet and dragged toward the straightforward guy as he pulled himself from the tree branch she hadn’t finished snugging around him. His outstretched hand landed on her shoulder. “Sorry, ma’am. Tag.”

  Paul clapped his gloved hands. “Nice teamwork, men.”

  After the fact, Dove thought of dozens of ways she could have avoided the outcome. But in the moment, she’d frozen.

  Crap.

  Paul sent his men back into the base to warm up, then drew her aside. “Not bad for your first drill. You had some interesting tactics, and it gives me lots to build on. But we both know you’re not ready for field work yet, right?”

  She sighed. She had so much power, but she did need to learn how to best use it, and practice using it under pressure. “I agree.”

  “I sent a training schedule to your email.”

  As Dove pulled her phone to check the email, pheromones flew from her. What? Sure Paul was handsome, but he didn’t do anything for her that way.

  Oh, wait. The pheromones were flowing behind her.

  Paul drew her gaze. “Some hand to hand combat, even though I see you as more of a distance kind of combatant, you never know when someone will sneak up on you. Like . . . say . . .”

  “You mean Wylde, trying to surprise me from behind?”

  Paul raised an eyebrow. “Busted. How did you . . .?”

  John’s strong arms circled her waist, pulling her against his bulky frame. “I told you it wouldn’t work.”

  Paul rolled his eyes. “I thought you were stealthy?”

  “I am. She’s just that good.”

  Her cheeks heated.

  Paul cocked his head at her. “We obviously have our work cut out for us, documenting your new powers. Just remember, you don’t go into the field until I say you can go into the field.”

  ~ ~ ~

  The pretty blush on Dove’s cheeks only heightened Wylde’s desire for her. His arm around her, hand at her hip, felt so natural. She fit so nicely beside him.

  “We should have told him.” Her tone was laced with humor.

  Wylde chuckled. “What? That you knew I was behind you because of our sexual connection and the pheromones that tend to fly between us? That your body knew I was there before your brain did because of our attraction?”

  She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Do you think Paul is even embarrassable at this point?”

  Was embarrassable even a word? And yeah, the man had seen Xi Force at its best and worst.

  Her gaze met John’s, sending an erotic jolt straight to his balls. “I was thinking more of you. I seem to be always thinking about you lately. Not that I’m complaining.”

  She sighed, going up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I need a shower.”

  The image that conjured was enough to set his heart pumping faster. “So you’re thinking about getting naked, hot, and wet?”

  She batted at his chest. “Men. Is that all you think about?”

  “Well, it’s all kind of new and exciting for me right now. I’m sure I’ll tire of it.” After about a thousand years.

  She pursed her lips and cocked her head. “Still, the shower stall in my new quarters here is big enough for two. Considering the number of couples in Xi Force, I wonder if that was on purpose.”

  Her index finger traced a line down his chest toward his groin.

  Wylde’s cock hardened. “So you’re suggesting we get naked, hot, and wet together?”

  She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “If you’re up for it.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Slick and soapy, John’s hands glided over Dove’s body, palming her breasts, slipping between her legs, hitting all those luscious spots that sent sensual tingles bouncing through her core. Yeah, he was definitely up for it. His cock pulsed with need in her hand.

  Teasing, taunting, she took and gave as steamy water cas
caded over them from above. A different kind of play, but play none the less. And they’d always played very well together.

  She never would have imagined, even a couple of weeks ago when they reconnected, that they’d forge a bond this close once again. The years away from each other meant nothing, now that they were reunited.

  Her best friend, and so much more.

  Her love.

  Their bodies glistening with moisture, John spun her to face him, then crushed her against the wall of the shower, his slick, hard body against her. “I need you so badly.”

  She laced her fingers into his damp, tangled hair. “Same here.”

  Then he kissed her crazy.

  Need. Something so base, she didn’t even want to quantify it. And what she needed now was his cock, deep inside her, as fast as possible.

  As he kissed her, she reached over and shut off the faucet, then forced the water molecules away from their bodies. Droplets flew to smack against the walls of the shower, sounding like raindrops on a window.

  Instantly dry, she broke the kiss. “Take me to bed.”

  His eyes glistened with mischief. “Yes, ma’am.”

  He hoisted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

  A freshly made, clean bed was one of the perks of being part of Xi Force. No dusting or vacuuming or laundering for superheroes. Xi Force had them covered. You could opt into housekeeping services, so of course she had.

  Boxes lined the side of the room. She hadn’t really moved in yet, but she already appreciated the apartment and all its conveniences.

  They tumbled onto the soft bed comforter, limbs tangling, fingers caressing, taking their play in the shower to a higher level of intensity. She stroked his length, making him groan. His fingers plunged into her slick channel as he played her clitoris like a gamer’s joystick with his thumb.

  God, so intense. Her core clenched hard around his digits. An orgasmic wave crashed over her. Her head whirling, she gasped for breath.

  Yeah, the boy was a fast learner.

  Erotic tension knotted her core, as he slid into her. His cock, so big, so hard. She needed this so badly.

  His eyes blazing with passion, he pistoned, quickening his pace.

  Wonderful tremors rippled through her. Heat, so intense, built within, then exploded in a second orgasmic release. “Oh, God, John. Oh, God.”

  He pushed in deep one last time and joined her, pumping his seed into her.

  She gasped, holding on to the intensity of that moment as long as she could. So good. So amazingly good.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he rolled them onto their sides. He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose. “I love you.”

  He followed that up with a kiss that rocked her to her core.

  Warmth, passion, love. John was just everything. She did love him.

  “I do, I do, I do love you . . . so much.” She kissed the side of his neck and cuddled closer.

  His cock remained inside her, pulsing. Were it not for her birth control, this could very well be a moment of creation, and made her consider what it would be like to make a baby with him.

  She’d always wanted kids, though now she’d never have her old dream. The house, white picket fence, and dog went out the door when she acquired her powers. But she had John, Xi Force, and a pack of wolves. Wasn’t that even better?

  Z-Bot and Heather were married. Phaze and Shade were engaged. Was either couple thinking family? She’d have to ask.

  Still, it was too soon, too big a step to even be considering. Best to put it aside and concentrate on the here and now.

  Chapter 22

  Xi force was in a holding pattern. Aaron and Joel worked to send help to a city in the midst of a crime wave while being hampered by Commissioner Warren’s ban on any activity in the Megopolis city limits. Pressure from the state was having no effect on the stubborn commissioner, and Port remained at large.

  Dove was in training for the next few hours but promised to take Wylde out driving after. He’d spent a couple days on a simulator, and felt he was getting a good grasp of the technique. He was thrilled to finally be getting behind the wheel of an actual vehicle.

  He’d returned to the cabin to check on his pack only to find Natasha missing. Piotr, Wanda, and the pups were once again watching television, a habit he’d have to break them of at some point, he was sure. At the very least he’d need to set some limits. They’d gone far past domesticated into some weird, new area he was having trouble naming.

  Dysfunctional seemed to fit.

  Shit, this was all his fault. Piotr needed his guidance, and he’d been AWOL. It was no wonder Natasha had kept herself aloof from him. Of all his remaining pack, she was the most alpha. The most wolf.

  Following her scent, he went after her. Perhaps he could reason with her. She did have a remarkable sense of duty to the pack. Especially her pups.

  But the pups had grown past needing their mother’s care. Was Natasha feeling insignificant?

  The morning sun glistened on the snow. A hint of warmth rode the breeze. Spring was in the offing. Wylde scampered across the slushy field, down on all fours, toward the solitary figure on the hillock.

  She had her nose in the air as he approached. Do you smell it?

  Yes, he’d picked up the intruder’s scent a mile back. A lone wolf had entered his pack’s territory.

  A week ago this would have been everything he’d prayed for. A possible new mate for Natasha and Wanda when they came into season. An alpha he could turn over the pack to so they could get back to being wolves.

  His heart sank. He couldn’t do that to Piotr now.

  Natasha’s whine fisted his heart. I miss him.

  She was talking about Tony, her mate.

  Wolves didn’t use names. They knew each other by scent, and in the pack there was no need for individuality, each member knew its place. Well, in a normal pack at least.

  Wylde had changed so much in his pack. Tony had allowed it. The names were for him. For the human part of him he wasn’t able to give up. For better or worse, he’d changed these wolves.

  Admit it. For worse.

  They’d bled for him. Died fighting for him. And Natasha had lost her mate because of him.

  “I miss Tony too. I miss all of them.”

  That one isn’t wolf enough. Isn’t alpha.

  No, Piotr wasn’t an alpha wolf and would probably never be one. Wanda seemed compatible, but Natasha was too alpha herself to accept Piotr as her mate.

  The lone wolf’s howl echoed from the forests below. A challenge.

  Shit. He’d have to accept and send this wolf packing. A true alpha in the pack would upset the delicate balance right now. He owed Piotr too much to do that to him.

  Wylde drew in a breath to howl back his acceptance of the challenge.

  Don’t.

  He stopped. “Why?”

  Maybe I will be enough. We could move on and start our own pack.

  Wylde knelt down, running his fingers through the thick fur on Natasha’s back. “You don’t have to.”

  But he knew.

  Yes. I do.

  This was goodbye, but this was also what she needed. “Will you be happy?”

  No. But I will be useful. I will be wolf.

  She howled her acceptance to the lone wolf as she sprinted off into the woods.

  ~ ~ ~

  Dove soared above the group of men, concentrating on the air around her. The pop, pop, pop of paintball gun fire from below, echoed off the mountainside. Eight of the Pike’s Rangers trainees were taking aim, trying to tag her with their color. Any specks of the soldier’s unique hue on Dove’s uniform would give the man a rank up, and another step toward joining the elite group, so they w
ere in try-hard mode.

  “Sorry, boys, not today.” She caught each paintball in a cushion of dense air, stopping its momentum before it could hit her, then letting it drop to the ground. It was a technique she’d been working on with Heather in the lab. The next step would be trying to stop an actual bullet.

  That thought sent a shiver up her spine. Could she think and act fast enough?

  One step at a time. Little by little, she was honing her talents, and discovering the limits on her powers.

  And there were limits. She could only detect and affect molecules within a ten-yard radius. Thus, with the exception of throwing things at them, she couldn’t stop someone at a distance shooting at her, like the men below. So Paul had her working on defensive use of her powers. It was becoming clear that if she had to get in close to an assailant to use her powers on them, she’d need more than a bulletproof suit.

  Although she had to admit, that was a comfort.

  She’d been able to increase the density of the particles in the air around her, somewhat like a force shield. It wasn’t impregnable, but it did stop some attacks. On the ground, she could bring up and rearrange the molecules from whatever was around her to form a more substantial shield, but often times that left her without the ability to see through it. Dirt and rock were not transparent, and she hadn’t figured out a way to make it so.

  In any case, if an enemy attacked her with a paintball gun, she was golden. After fifteen minutes without a splotch of paint, Paul called it quits on the exercise. “I think that’s enough for today. Thank you gentlemen.”

  She landed next to Paul in the snow-covered field. Splotch. Thank goodness her boots were waterproof. With the warm up, the practice field was rapidly turning to slush. But an early spring wouldn’t be a bad thing. She couldn’t wait to see the trees around their new mountain headquarters budding.