by C. M. Owens
Suddenly I hear a snap, and I turn just in time to see the human moving far too fast for a human. The sound of my gun firing rattles in my ears as the uranium bullet shatters against my forehead. His eyes widen at the unexpected reaction, and I kick him into the wall on the far side just as the door to the room swings open.
The man charges me with lightening quick speed, but a hand grips his throat and rips it from its place before the fight can pick back up. I see Hale’s eyes have darkened, and it was his hand that destroyed the man in front of me.
“Fuck,” he hisses.
“What the hell was that?” Brazen interjects with an anxious tone, and he quickly takes my side to inspect my head.
“I don’t know,” I murmur as I stare at the folded body limply tossed on the floor while the blood rushes out to stain the tile.
“I’m damn glad you pulled up your invincibility, but what made you do that?” Clay asks, and I turn to face him to let him see my dark secret has started to stir.
“I suppose it was just a survival instinct,” I murmur softly, and he takes note of my dilated pupils.
“Brazen, could you assemble a team to head out to the stoke houses? There are tons of humans there that hear more outside the walls than anyone else. They might have heard rumors of such a possibility, and we’ll need any lead we can get.”
“That sounds perfect actually. Where we were going tomorrow was going to be a dead end. It was just a desperate maneuver to grasp at something. This has promise though. We’ll leave at daybreak,” he says, and he returns to keep his body next to mine.
His lips graze my forehead where the bullet had shattered, and Hale’s lips tighten at the show of affection even though he’s not willing to show me the same.
“I was hoping tonight instead of tomorrow. The sooner we know, the better,” Clay adds, and then another full blood steps up.
“He’s right. If there’s a possibility of a new species being manufactured, we need to know. We’ve already learned the consequences of such science experiments before when it was too late to do anything about it. I’ll meet you outside in five minutes,” the man asserts, and now Brazen tightens his lips.
“I’ll call you later to find out how you’re feeling,” he coos, and his lips try to touch mine again.
I barely let him before I draw back, and then he pulls my hand up to kiss the back of it instead. He leaves, and I feel Hale’s arms holding me steady as the intoxicating fever consumes me.
“I’ll be back with the meds,” Clay whispers, and he shuts the door behind him to leave Hale and me alone.
“You back with him?” he sighs.
“No,” I strain out as the fire warms up. “He just doesn’t understand that,” I grumble, and then I feel the snap.
It’s too late for medicine now, and Hale’s eyes widen when the split of my dress scratches out its ripping hem for my legs to wrap around him.
“Damn it. Araya, stay with me, please. Clay will be back any minute now, and you’ll feel better.”
I smile at his gorgeous face that brings my blood to a rapid boil, and then I hear the shirt sounding off as I rip the buttons from their placement.
“I feel incredible,” I daringly reply, and then I jerk his face down to mine to wrap my lips against his.
“Fuck, Araya,” he murmurs against the kiss, and then he rips free to pin me down on the steel table.
“Clay will be right back,” he almost barks, and now I’m too fucking pissed to let him out of this room.
I hit the panic button, and the chains shoot out from the walls to rip him off me. He’s bound to the blocks, and I can do anything I fucking want to do without objection.
“Araya, damn it, let me go,” he orders.
“No,” I snap. “This is going to be fun, so just sit back and enjoy it,” I taunt, and then my lips stroll over the places of his chest not bound my the chains.
He groans under my touch, and then I start undoing his pants, the zipper sounding off as I slowly slide it down.
“No, please no. You don’t want to do this, and you’ll just get pissed at me when you snap out of it,” he pleads, but I have no intentions of listening.
I feel free, alive, and so damn sexy right now. I slowly unzip the dress, and it drops to the floor for me to step out of it. I reveal my red, lacy underwear with the garter belt holding up my stockings. The gun holster is still attached, and I slide it up a little higher to tighten its grip on my leg. Hale’s eyes almost show a tormented gaze when he stares at the ensemble.
“Fuck,” he grunts, and then the chains rattle as he struggles uselessly against them.
The door opens, and I turn to see Clay stepping inside.
“Whoa,” he almost startles out, and then a wry smirk comes to his face as he sits the medicine on the edge of the table.
“You can watch or you can go, but if you interfere, I’ll make you pay,” I threaten, and he has to stifle a laugh.
“Clay, no… don’t you fucking leave me here,” Hale panics, but Clay just snickers harder as he returns to the door.
“Sorry, but you heard her. I sure as hell don’t want to watch.”
“Damn it, Clay. She’s not her right now. Fucking help me already,” he blares.
“You’ll be just fine,” Clay chuckles out even louder, and then the door closes behind him.
Hale’s eyes seem panicked as he turns back to face my dark, dangerous ones, and I resume my floorshow by tugging his pants a little farther down.
“Araya, please stop,” he almost whimpers.
“You sound like you don’t want to, but there’s evidence to support the fact you do,” I provocatively tease while freeing his erection from his pants.
“Fucking shit,” he breathes as my mouth slides over it, and then I swirl my tongue around the tip to add a more daring tease to the play.
“Please don’t do this,” he whimpers again, and I withdraw to speak.
“Tell me you don’t want it, and I’ll stop. I swear,” I taunt to mock his words from a couple of weeks ago.
“Damn it, Araya. Stop. Just take your medicine, and then we’ll do this the right way if you still want to,” he promises with empty endearment.
“You don’t want me anymore,” I pout, and then my teeth threaten to break the skin on his leg.
“I do want you… so fucking bad… just stop right now though. Okay?” he says softly, and I feel as though he’s treating me like a child.
I’ll show him how very childlike I’m not.
My lips kiss the inside of his leg before trailing back over to his firm piece of heaven, and my mouth takes its place once more as I take him to the back of my throat.
He groans out with the guilty pleasure he’s feeling, and then I quicken the rhythm while squatting in my crouched position rather than kneeling in front of him. He groans again and hisses between his teeth each time I execute the seductive ploy perfectly.
“Fuck,” he breathes out louder, and I feel him swelling all the more.
My hands grip at his hips as I continue the fervent pace, and his legs tighten as the warmth fills my mouth. I swallow very deliberately while standing back up, and his burdened eyes still show the delight he just received from that enticing little number.
“You had so better remember you chained me up,” he grumbles, and I pucker my lips at his ungrateful attitude.
“I thought that would make you want me,” I murmur, and my lips move across his stomach while my blood bringers emerge.
“I do, but I need you to take your medicine first,” he shakily replies, and I know he can feel how dangerously close I am to breaking the skin and forcing him to comply.
“I don’t want medicine. I want you inside me,” I seduce, and he shakes his head as if he’s hurting. “Why don’t you want me?” I pout again.
“I do. Just take the medicine, please,” he exasperates, and then my lips find his stomach once more before I sink into the flesh to draw the blood.
He groan
s as I take it into my mouth, and the fire starts burning almost immediately as the erotic rush surges through me. I press the release button to the restraints, and he cracks his neck from side to side as the adrenaline fills his veins. He sheds off the last of the chains, and smirks as he stalks toward me.
“You wanted me,” he growls, and then he grabs me up and throws me on top of the cold steel table. “You’ve got me,” he continues, and I moan as he rips my lacy underwear to shreds.
I feel his teeth entering my skin, and then I feel a warmth mixing with the erotica bomb. I pull my head back up to see the empty medicine vial, and now I know that warmth was him inserting it into my veins.
“I love you,” I breathe against his ear, and suddenly I feel his body forcing its way into mine as my back flops against the table.
His lips consume mine to offer more electrifying currents, and then he rises back up to leave me sprawled out and exposed on the table. He pounds into me as his teeth grit together, and I shiver under his punishing force.
He jerks me forward, and my legs tighten against his waist as my breasts push against his heated skin. My back slams into the wall, and the still exposed chains rattle behind me. I grip one of the chains while holding the back of his neck. He grunts as he slams into me over and over, and his lips claim mine as my insides begin to quiver. I scream out almost loud enough to rattle the chains, and then the warmth fills me when he follows me.
He lowers me to the ground, and then he lies down on the floor to try and steady his rapid heartbeat. Now that my sanity has somewhat returned, I feel like a complete asshole. I follow him to the ground with a disgusted look of disgrace tainting my face.
“Don’t look at me that way. You bit me first,” he retorts while misreading my expression.
I almost chuckle, but I just bury my head into his chest. My body aches for the closeness of his, and I’m hoping it’s still the effects of the blood rather than the need for him being my own.
“I know I bit you first, and that was after I chained you to a wall and orally assaulted you,” I grumble in humiliation, and he snickers lightly as he pulls me to his body.
“I did try to stop you, for the record,” he chuckles out.
“I know,” I dramatically exasperate. “I’m so sorry,” I mumble into his chest, and he just laughs all the harder.
“Don’t worry about it,” he snickers out, and then he stands to his feet to pick my dress up off the floor.
He lays it on the table and then starts buttoning up his pants. There’s no repairing the damage I’ve done to his shirt, so he just leaves it hanging while picking his jacket up off the floor.
“You still need me?” he asks curiously.
I shiver slightly, and he quickly rejoins my side. He helps me to my feet before pulling my almost bare body into his arms.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he murmurs softly, and I almost go limp in his arms.
“You’re already over it?” I grouse.
“I wasn’t under the effects of my savage, and I tasted the medicine. That sort of put a damper on the full effects of the blood,” he explains. “Put your dress on, and I’ll carry you back to my place. We’ll sleep it off there,” he says so gently.
“No. You need to go back to the cadet party. It’ll look bad if you don’t,” I grumble.
“They’ll get over it. You need me worse than they do right now,” he murmurs softly, and my lips throb to feel his.
“I’ll be fine,” I grimace out, and now I know it’s the effects mixed with my own desire.
I pull on my scattered dress, and I grumble as I zip it up. He turns my face back to his to offer me pity.
“Araya, you can be honest with me. I’m taking you back, and we’ll stay together until it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
My lips find their way to his without my permission, and his grip tightens against me as he gives me the closeness I need right now. He scoops me up, and I feel the air against us as he carries me back to the room.
My back finds the bed, and I snuggle into him as he joins me. His hand strokes my hair, while his eyes still pity me.
“I went years without a glitch, and now I’ve gone crazy twice - technically three times - in a matter of weeks,” I sigh out, and he pulls me even tighter to his body.
“I know. That’s why it’s important you stay with me. You’ve had a lot thrown at you, and on a subconscious level, you’re feeling attacked. Just stay with me so that I can keep you safe.”
I sigh as I lean back, and the effects slowly start to subside.
“It’s not your place to have to care for me. I’ll be fine, and I know you’d probably like to have your life back. As of tonight, my savagery crossed a line. I’ve never let someone get to me the way that… whatever it was did,” I grumble. “Then you got attacked.”
He snickers lightly, and then he stands to his feet to find a more relaxed set of pants to wear. I try to turn away as he peels off the destroyed shirt, and then I feel the torture of my body still wanting his without the effects there to blame.
“Are you okay now?” he asks softly while pulling his pants over his boxers, and it’s all I can do not to attack him of my own free will.
No I’m not okay. I love you again, you son of a bitch.
“I’m fine now, really,” I lie.
“I’ve got some research to do right now. I’ll be in the living room if you need me,” he mutters, and then he ducks out of the room.
Why can’t I just tell him how I feel? Because he’s finally over you, and it would be cruel to force him back now.
I don’t fight the sleepiness overtaking me, and I stare at the beautiful man in the other room as he studies the facts of the craziness that has evolved all around. His eyes never look for mine at all.
He’s really over it.
Chapter 6
Reconciliation
I wake up to see the sun is still in hiding, so I know it’s either really late or really early. I’m still wearing the dreadful dress, and Hale is still not in the bed with me. The dim light of the living room allows me to see him as he grips his head and stares at a board that has descended from the ceiling.
I stand up and drop my dress to the floor before walking to his closet which is out of view from the living room. I pull out one of his shirts, and I close it with my hands rather than buttoning it up. I’ve spent too long worrying about rejection, and now I’m just ready to take my chances.
I slowly walk into the room, and he barely stirs when he hears my footsteps.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks softly while sighing in frustration.
“I think I got used to you being in bed with me. I suppose I didn’t scream for you tonight,” I say with flirting intentions.
“No screams tonight,” he mumbles, and it’s rather obvious he didn’t notice or didn’t care about my flirting.
“Oh. You want some coffee or something?” I ask softly while walking toward the kitchen.
His eyes stay glued to the screen, refusing to even offer me a glance.
“Coffee sounds great,” he exasperates.
I turn on the brewing beast, and then I slowly strut to the couch to join him. He still refuses to look at me, and the only thing holding this shirt together is my hands.
“Have you figured anything out?” I say while my nerves collect themselves.
“Nothing of any real value. These attacks look sporadic, random, and completely unorganized. Your suspect made it sound as if there was a method to the madness.” he grouses, and then he tosses his ink pen and paper to the table as if in disgust.
“Thanks for being there when I needed you,” I murmur ambitiously.
“He couldn’t have broken through your invincibility. I just didn’t want to take any chances,” he murmurs while burying his head in his hands.
“Thanks for that too, but that’s not what I was referring to,” I murmur softly, and then I very slowly stand to lower my body on top of his.
My legs stra
ddle his waist, and my hands feel his smooth, pristine upper body as my lips fold over his. His hands slide up my back, and he moans lightly before jerking me back.
Fuck! I knew he was over me. What the hell was I thinking?
His eyes search mine, and I almost laugh when I realize what’s going on. I pull my hands over his, and then I kiss one before easing his worry.
“It’s me. Just me,” I murmur softly.
His eyes show immense relief as he exhales, “Oh thank fuck.”
His lips consume mine instantly, and he pulls me tighter against his body as I let the shirt go. His hands reach inside the shirt to wrap around my bare body, and I feel his passion oozing into my mouth.
“Fuck,” he breathes. “This was premeditated,” he says while pulling back to view my ensemble. “I hope this means you’re tired of being friends.”
His lips attack mine with more of a savage need.
“I thought you liked being friends,” I mutter as I pull back with a wry smile.
“I fucking hate it. It’s torture,” he grumbles, and I smile bigger before returning to the kiss.
My bareness leaves me ready for everything, and he picks me up to carry me back to the bedroom. He hovers over me after he lays me on the bed, and his expert lips caress my neck before rolling down to my chest. His teeth lightly graze my stomach on his downward journey, and I gasp when he reaches the destination he seeks. His tongue swirls over my most sensitive spot, and then he attacks with more of a vigorous need. It feels so incredible it almost makes me sick.
I begin squirming when the sensations become almost overwhelmingly surreal. I grip the headboard behind me as moans erupt. He grabs my hips to force me to stay still until I reach my climax far too soon and scream out.
He lightly kisses the insides of my legs before trailing back up, and then I feel his bare firmness pressing against the quivering piece of my body when his mouth returns to mine.