"It's time you learn to keep your hands off Nicole. She has made it quite clear that she doesn't want you!"
Slade stood up slowly dusting the dirt from his clothes, "Why? Because you think she will choose you," he laughed darkly. "She can see what a violent man you are," he looked past Luke to Nicole with a nod. "All warriors are like this Nicole," he pleaded with coldness in his eyes.
"I'm doing what needs to be done to protect her from people like you," Luke darted forward in a blur to where Slade was standing near the shaking tree but before he could touch him a wall of raging wind swept in between the two men. Luke skidded to a halt as Slade was blocked from his view.
"Stop this right now," shouted Nicole as she held her hands out in front of her. "I won't be fought over." Her heart was pounding in her chest as she struggled to keep her composure. She was worried about Slade, though he was trying hard to hold his own in the fight he was without his powers so he was much weaker than Luke. She felt the presence of eyes on her so she was sure the thundering booms of Luke's power had drawn a crowd behind her. "Luke," she demanded, "I want you here beside me right now."
Luke didn't hesitate. He turned on his heels and darted to Nicole in a flash. His chest was heaving from the fight and he had dried blood on his cheek from where a wound had been only moments ago. He nodded to Nicole as he took his place beside her, "As you wish."
With a deep sigh she let her wall down revealing a smug Slade with his arms crossed over his chest, "So this is your choice?" he nodded toward Luke standing at her side.
Nicole took a step forward with her head held high, "Don't you see, Slade? There doesn't have to be a choice. I can save both," she pleaded for him to understand. "It's not a choice between fae and warriors that I'm here to make nor does it boil down to a choice between having you or Luke fighting beside me. I need you both with me to make this work."
Slade's hard face softened slightly as he listened to her words then abruptly, his attention was drawn to the crowd. He nodded as if someone had spoken to him then turned away from Nicole giving one last cold glance to Luke before he disappeared into the garden.
Nicole watched him leave. She wanted to run to him and stop him from going but a familiar voice froze her. "Dad," she whispered desperately. She turned her eyes on the group of people murmuring behind her for the first time. Queen Teya and General Moyer stood in the front looking down at her but they quickly faded into the background when James' familiar, lined face and salt and pepper colored hair stepped out from the crowd. He looked thin and pail compared to the man she remembered leaving behind in Alabama. His polo shirt hung loose from his frame as he moved but his body language was still that of a strong man half his age as he smiled at her shocked face.
"Hey baby," he took his daughter into his arms hugging her tightly. "I've been so worried about you," he whispered into her hair as he kissed the top of her head.
Nicole looked up into his face with tears in her eyes, "How did you get here?"
James nodded toward Luke, "Luke came for us. He said you were having a hard time being separated from your family and thought us being here with you would help you figure out what you needed to do." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I think he's worried about you."
Nicole smiled at her dad, "You have always been on his side." She rolled her eyes when her dad gave her a sly wink, just as he always did when he brought up Luke. James was never shy about telling Nicole she should give Luke a chance, even before anyone knew that Luke was a warrior. He had said that Luke was the catch that she shouldn't let get away.
Nicole glanced to the side taking in Luke's poorly concealed smile as he stared at the ground around his feet. She knew he was hearing everything her dad whispered and loved the way it was making her squirm. This had been a fun game that he and James liked to play as they tried to wear Nicole's emotional walls down.
"Wait," Nicole looked back into her dad's face, "You said 'we' didn't you?" Does that mean−" Before she could finish she was wrapped in another pair of long, thin arms as a squeal pierced her eardrums.
"Nicole! I've been so damn worried about you."
Nicole let loose of her dad to hug her best friend as tears streamed down her face, "I've missed you too, Kat." She embraced her friend then stepped back. Kat's long black hair was just as lustrous as she remembered and her model thin frame was covered in a white Chanel dress with knee length, black leather boots. The height of fashion as always but when Nicole took in her friend's large brown eyes something was different. A bit of the fire that had always kept Kat listed as Nicole's wild and fun loving friend was gone. "How have you been?"
"I'm good now, thanks to you. You saved me that day and never gave me the chance to tell you how grateful I am." She hugged Nicole again.
Nicole remembered that day like no other in her life. Kat had been kidnapped by a sadistic detective and held as bait to draw Nicole to Loch. Kat had been drugged, beaten for days, along with other forms of torture that broke Nicole's heart to even imagine. Then in a stand-off at the airfield she was shot by the detective. Nicole was able to use her powers to heal the physical wounds and save her friend's life but she could tell the scars ran deep into her Kat's soul, changing her forever and robbing her of the spark for life she once had. She hugged Kat tight then stepped back wiping the tears away with her fingers, "I'm so happy to see you both."
"Hey, what aboot me?" came a thick Irish accent from behind Nicole.
Rhys picked Nicole up in a hug, squeezing her tightly against his bare chest with a laugh. Nicole giggled as he placed her back on her feet. Though he was without a shirt and bare footed he was wearing black designer slacks instead of his usual kilt. Nicole studied his smiling face as she regained her balance, "I'm glad to see you too Rhys."
"Ah, I knew the princess would be missing me," he beamed with a sexy wink then, to Nicole's surprise, he wrapped his arms around Kat's waist and she melted back against him.
Nicole's eyebrows shot up into her hair line, "Seems we have a lot of catching up to do, Kat."
Kat nodded as she tenderly patted Rhys' arms, "Yes we do," she laughed.
Chapter 16
The clock on her nightstand glowed three twenty in the morning when Nicole finally gave up on sleep. She flung the covers back and walked out to the balcony. The night air was warm but it still gave her bare arms goosebumps as it danced across her skin and seeped its way through her white, silk gown.
The town below was quiet and the streets were empty. The whole world seemed to be asleep except for her. The excitement of the night wouldn't allow her to rest. She had spent the rest of the evening dancing with her Dad and even Luke during the remainder of the ball along with laughing as Kat told stories about how she and Rhys had become the most unusual but blissfully in love couple that they were now.
The evening had made her so happy but at the same time she felt like a piece of her was still missing. Sage nor Slade made an appearance that night and she was worried about both. She knew that Slade was mad at her so she guessed that was his reason for staying away but what about Sage? What could be so important that she would leave without a word?
A pull in her mind tugged her way from her worries. She could feel Luke moving around the castle thanks to their bond. She could also sense faint pin points in her mind that were other warriors inside the castle but Luke's had his own signature: like it was made just for him and she could tell he was making his way in her direction.
You can't sleep either? she whispered telepathically to him as she grabbed her robe then unlocked the door to her room.
No and I could feel that you were up so I thought we would talk, if that's okay with you, Luke responded back through their mental connection.
Sure, the door is open. She slid her arms into her robe and tied it around her waist just before the door opened.
His dark blond hair was tousled from his restless attempt at sleep but it only added to the mysteriousness that Nicole liked about him. He wore black
drawstring pants and a plain white t-shirt that fit snug around the defined muscles of his arms and chest. Nicole felt her eyes lingering too long on him so she cleared her throat and turned back to the balcony, "I was enjoying the night air. You want to join me out there?"
Nodding he followed her out the doors. He leaned against the railing as Nicole gazed out at the night but he never took his eyes off of her, "Why can't you sleep?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, maybe the threat of war has me a bit on edge." She said sarcastically trying to hide her unease with being alone with him.
"I was hoping that having your dad and Kat here would help you rest a little easier."
She smiled at him, meeting his eyes for the first time, "I never said thank you for that. It is a wonderful feeling to have them with me again."
"But you're still worried?"
She nodded, "Yes, I…don't know what the hell I'm doing, Luke." Nicole found herself surprised by her own confession but not knowing what to do or how to end the war was really the root of her problems. She was worried about failing everyone. "What if I can't put an end to this war? What if people die because I'm not strong enough?"
Luke pulled her into his arms laying his cheek against the top of her head, "Calm down. You're stronger than anyone I've ever known and that's saying a lot since I've been around for hundreds of years."
Nicole relaxed into his arms, "I don't feel very strong."
Luke leaned back to look into her face, "Well, tomorrow we start training again. General Moyer is calling in his best troops from the field and has asked me to oversee your preparation. Even he was amazed by the power you displayed tonight."
The mention of tonight's fireworks between Luke and Slade made Nicole's heart ache. She gently pulled out of Luke's embrace and leaned her back against the railing, "Thanks, I really do need to get refocused on the job at hand. Training is just what I need."
Luke tilted his head studying her face, "Is it what you need to get ready or is it what you need to distract your mind from something else?"
Nicole refused to meet his eyes. She turned her back to him and looked out across the moonlit town. She could feel him move closer to her though he didn't say a word. He stood behind her, his body heat caressing her back, and then slowly he slid her long curls away from her neck with one finger letting the night air touch the once hidden skin.
Without thinking she tilted her head, enjoying the simplest kind of touch. Her heart thumped hard in her chest as the warmth of his breath slid across her earlobe. Luke tenderly kissed the place where her shoulder met her neck causing a breathless moan to escape Nicole's lips, "Tell me you want only me," he whispered as he kissed her neck again. "Tell me that there has never been another man you wanted more than me."
Nicole took a shaky breath but before she could speak Luke slid her robe off one shoulder, tracing each new inch of skin with his lips. Her body was becoming weak as she fought to remain in control. She needed to stop this before it went too far, "Luke." She turned around to face him but before she could say another word his lips covered her own. Heated and needy he held her face in his hands as he kissed her again. Nicole tried to pull away but the fire was too much. The desire had been held a bay for far too long. Wrapping her arms around him she returned his kiss with the passion of a woman who had been without water for weeks and Luke eagerly presented what she had been missing.
Luke pulled away to look at Nicole, "Tell me you want me." He demanded with a faint glow of red circling his hazel eyes. He was having trouble containing himself but needed to hear her speak the words he had waited to hear for so long.
Nicole could see her own glow of red reflecting off Luke's tan skin but she didn't care. She was tired of having to pretend like she was someone else. With Luke she could be who she was, never having to second guess. He was the one. "I want you," she breathed then wrapped her fingers into his hair deepening their kiss with a slide of her tongue.
Luke pulled her up into his arms and carried her back into the room to lay her across the bed. He trailed his lips down the center of her neck as he worked to untie her robe. Nicole eagerly pulled his shirt over his head then traced the muscles of his chest with her fingers greedily.
Her back arched as her desire built. She quickly slid out of the robe and let Luke pull the gown from her body. He stared down at her bare skin as he slowly traced a line from her collar bone down the center of her breast with a single finger ending the path by sliding just inside the waist band of her white lace panties.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered in a husky voice.
In a flash of warrior speed Nicole was standing in front of Luke removing his pants then pushing him back onto the bed. She straddled his hips pressing her body against his hardness causing Luke to let out a deep moan. He grabbed at her hips pulling her harder against him as she leaned down to kiss his smooth chest, "Tell me you want me," she purred, reversing their roles with a sly smirk.
His hands glided up her sides and around to cup her breast but she grabbed him by the wrist and pined his hands above his head, "Tell me," she breathed as her long hair created a curtain round their faces. She ran her tongue along his lips and watched as Luke's eyes changed from a faint red to a fiery crimson.
The edge of his lips turned up into a lopsided grin showing a sexy dimple in his cheek just before he flipped Nicole over on her back pinning her arms above her head. He pressed his body against hers so she could feel the effect she was having on him, "I want you right now," he pressed his lips to hers until they were both breathless then released the hold on her arms so he could cup her face, "I want you forever."
**~***~**
The rising sun cast an orange glow across the room causing Nicole to blink as she opened her eyes. The birds sang their song outside the open doors leading to the balcony in a joyful way that Nicole had never heard before or maybe she had never cared to listen. Everything was so vibrant and new like the whole world was hers for the taking. She listened to the rhythm of Luke's heartbeat as her head lay on his bare chest. "Awake already?" Luke asked as he kissed her head.
She smiled up at him, "Yes, why?"
"I've waited so long to watch you sleep in my arms that I didn't want it to end," he rubbed her back gently as she placed her head on his shoulder.
Nicole smiled to herself while she thought about the night they had spent together. They shared a passion that ran deep into her soul and ignited every sense in her body. There were moments as they made love the air around them cracked with red and blue energy as their bodies became one. It was like no other experience Nicole had ever felt before.
"I wish we could stay like this forever," She looked up into his eyes and for the first time since they had been reunited she could see genuine happiness in Luke's smile.
"We have forever, Nicole."
She stretched up to kiss his lips softly but a singed smell reached her nose as the covers moved, "Do you smell something burning?"
Luke laughed a full, husky laugh pulling her lips back to his kissing her passionately, "That would be the smell of our bed thanks to you, my dear."
Nicole jumped up and flipped the covers back to see two large charcoal holes burnt in the sheets. She blushed brightly as she recalled knotting her hands in the red sheet while Luke sent her over the edge. "Wow, so…are we training today?" Nicole giggled at her lame attempt to change the subject.
"Well, I'm thinking that if we want to keep you from literally setting the bed on fire next time then yes, we must get you trained," he winked at her then stood to pull on his boxers.
Nicole put on her robe reluctantly as she admired Luke's lean, muscular body while he dressed. She longed to have his strong arms around her and his lips on her skin again but with a groan she walked to her vanity to brush out her hair. He was right; it was time to prepare for the task that lay ahead of them. She wouldn't be any good to anyone if all she could do is set some sheets on fire.
When she grabbed the brush fr
om the tray a gold tube of lipstick rolled to the floor. Nicole picked it up and opened it, admiring the deep crimson color that only Sage could dare ware. As she studied the color her mind began to spin, "Luke?"
"Hmm," he mumbled as he searched for his t-shirt under the bed.
"What kind of mission do you think Sage was sent off on?"
Luke stood up with his retrieved treasure in his hand, "What do you mean?"
"The Queen said Sage had some unexpected business to attend to," Nicole mimicked Teya's proper voice as close as she could as she rolled her eyes.
Luke's brow creased as he thought, "It isn't unusual for us to be given assignments without notice but usually the Queen has no part in them."
"So why did she know that Sage was gone?"
Luke shrugged his shoulder then slid his shirt over his head cutting off the view that Nicole was still secretly enjoying, "Maybe General Moyer told her. He's who usually oversees matters like that."
Nicole dropped her eyes back to the lipstick for a moment then recapped it, "Maybe." She agreed but something was telling her that this was wrong on a much deeper level.
Luke stepped up behind where she sat and took the brush from the table. He glided the bristles through her hair slowly. Nicole melted back into her chair as the soothing rhythm of Luke stoking her long hair relaxed away a bit of her anxiety. "I need to see Moyer this morning about your training. If it will make you feel better I will ask him about Sage. Keep in mind he won't tell me any details but at least you will know the truth."
Beaming a bright smile up at him Nicole stood and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You're the best."
He laughed and kissed her on the nose, "You just remember that when Slade starts snooping around your room again."
A bit of Nicole's energy seeped away when she thought about Slade. She wondered if he was still mad at her. Having him on her side would be wonderful and she was sure there were things he could teach her during her training but his and Luke's constant bickering was going to have to be fixed.
Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) Page 14