Looking over his shoulder at her, Joshua winked. Alexandria rolled her eyes thinking all men were horn dogs, but she loved all of them anyway. All of the other Warriors were present to see how she was doing as well. Their response warmed her heart, this family of hers who stood together no matter what. She wouldn’t give this life up for anything.
Stormy touched her arm getting her attention. “Alexandria, there’s something slightly different. You seem more…I’m not sure what. Did your abilities come back?”
“Yes, plus some. I’m not even sure of what all my abilities are at this point because of losing my Powers early.” Nervously she bit at her lip. “Also, the Wraith genetics are destroyed but my own Sphinx genetics have changed, been enhanced to the point the re-association regressed me back to the purer form of the Sphinx.”
“What does that mean specifically?” Michael demanded. “Is there still a danger to you?” Her older brother ready to do battle for her again.
Alexandria touched Michael’s clenched fist. “I’m fine, other than the fact when I’m threatened, I change into a Sphinx feline.”
“No fucking way. Can we see?” Caleb spoke up with way too much enthusiasm.
Joshua grabbed Alexandria and she was suddenly surrounded by his protective embrace again. He growled over her head, “No, you can’t fucking see. What’s wrong with you?”
Caleb shoved his hands in his pockets scowling at everyone. Alexandria knew he hadn’t meant anything by his curiosity but she swore every one of Joshua’s muscles were twitching against her.
“It’s okay. Let me learn to control the change and maybe someday I’ll show all of you. I have to study myself, so to speak, both physically and Power wise. With the new skills and Powers, I may be of additional help battle wise versus just healing. I’m sure a cat with claws and teeth could do a little damage to some Wraith.”
Joshua’s arms tightened around her pulling her in even closer. “There’s no way in hell you’re going anywhere near anymore Wraith. Ever.”
Stormy placed her hands on her hips and blew the hair out of her face. “And here we go again, ladies, with the macho crap.” Alexandria and Eleina laughed while the males in the room all growled. Little did anyone know how close they were to hitting on an upcoming truth. Alexandria was already mapping out her next encounter with the evil Wraith right under Joshua’s nose.
“Well, all I know is I’m glad you’re alive and feisty as ever, Alexandria.” Michael approached her and Joshua. “Now let go of my sister, Joshua, so I can give her a hug.”
Slowly, Joshua released her and she knew he was reluctant to have her beyond his reach. Out of one set of arms and engulfed in another. Her brother hugged her hard and kissed her on the forehead. The outright obviousness of his affection showed just how much he had been worried about her recovery.
“I really am glad you’re back with us. Just make sure the next time you want to go off and stubbornly try something on your own you at least discuss the subject with one of us.”
Alexandria felt close to tears and hugged her brother back resting her head on his shoulder. Mentally, she crossed her fingers.
“I will.” She had put her family through so much and hated she would have to put them through even more. “And I’m sorry I tried to kill you.”
“It wasn’t your fault. Turin is to blame for all of this and he’ll pay. One way or another, he’ll pay.”
Alexandria didn’t like it when her brother said things like that. His words made her wonder what kind of sacrifice he was considering again. She didn’t get to respond though when he pushed her away and back into Joshua’s arms.
Michael positioned himself so he could face all of them and turned his Khenti mode back on. “Now, it’s way past everyone’s bedtime. I would suggest getting some rest. I’ll need all Warriors in the planning room tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, with Turin busy with his machinations, we’ll probably be busy again tomorrow night.”
With Michael’s direction and the Warriors too tired to argue anyway, they all made their way up the majestically curved staircase. Joshua put his arm around Alexandria’s shoulders and led her up to their rooms following up behind the others. No one said anything, just turned left or right at the top of the stairs where the mahogany handrail curved along the second floor. Joshua paused at the top of the stairs, though, and touched the head of the golden Sphinx statue. Alexandria placed her hand on top of his and he smiled gently down at her.
“Now that you’re better, maybe you want to go back to your rooms?” He sounded uncertain and she wondered if he thought she would prefer separate rooms like the practices of the old days when a couple was Joined.
However, she thought those practices were archaic even for back then. If you loved someone, why on earth would you not want to be with them? Besides, now was modern day and she was a modern woman and could do whatever she wanted. She wrapped her arms around Joshua tilting her head back to look up at him.
“The only place I want to be is with you. If you wouldn’t mind, I think I would prefer your rooms. I’m not sure about going back to all the bright colors, my eyes just aren’t the same anymore even with the presence of my Sphinx. We may have to rethink the whole decorative thing. If you don’t mind?”
“Mind? Having you with me is all I need, all I want. In all this chaos of our life, the one thing I know for certain is the pleasure of waking up the rest of my life and seeing your sweet face next to me. You can decorate any way you want as long as I can have you.”
Waking up to Joshua lying next to her every day of her life was what Alexandria had craved for ages. Now that she had him, she wasn’t sure how long it would last. The Gate was a nightmare, taking the Warriors closer and closer to an exhaustion of their Powers where they wouldn’t be able to recover. They needed more than anything to recover the rest of the Pages of Seven to find out how to destroy the remaining Gate. And the only way to do that was for her to go back to the Drake Dimension.
Joshua brushed his thumb across her forehead. “Are you okay, Alexandria? You have quite the frown going.”
She started realizing the direction of her thoughts. Thank goodness, their connection had been closed at that moment; otherwise he would have known her plans. He would try to stop her or end up getting himself killed trying to protect her. She had to learn to be more careful with her inner planning.
“I’m fine.” She cuddled up to him, hugging him hard. “Just a bit tired. One heck of a day.”
Alexandria felt the rumble of his gentle laughter under her ear. “Lexi, that’s one hell of an understatement. Come on, let’s go get some rest.”
Tucking her under his shoulder, they walked slowly together back to their rooms. Joshua opened the door and held it while she entered. She stopped at the threshold and looked around the bedroom, small compared to the other compartments, but the rooms suited Joshua and it suited her now.
Before she could turn around, Joshua brushed up behind her wrapping his strong arms around her. His Power encircled her glittering in the air and settling on her skin. The energy tingled warming up her insides and driving her own energy to the juncture of her legs. She leaned back and felt the evidence of his arousal hard against her bottom.
“Joshua” she gasped his name, knowing she would be doing more than sleeping even though sleep was exactly what he had said.
“I know you’re tired, Lexi, but I need you. I’ve needed you so long and built this desire up forever that I’m going to explode if I don’t have you.”
Not waiting for her answer, not that she would have refused him anyway, Joshua pushed her quickly over to the bed until her knees bumped up against the mattress.
“Do you trust me?” Joshua whispered in her ear.
“Always.” She leaned back against him and he captured her lips.
His hands slid slowly under her scrub shirt and across her stomach. His touch felt incredible and she wanted more. She thought he must have been reading her mind because he stripped
off his shirt and then hers. Once he had her upper half bare, he slid his hands down inside of her scrub bottoms and slid them off.
The heat in Joshua’s expression left no doubt to Alexandria that he wanted her. He reached around her from behind and pulled her back against him again. Grabbing her hair with his hand, he positioned her head until he could kiss her. Alexandria gasped into his mouth when the fingers of his other hand parted her sex and slid into her wetness. The man was a master as he played her until she was moaning and barely able to stand on her own two feet.
Joshua broke the kiss and pushed her further forward. “Get on the bed for me, Lexi. On all fours. My Sphinx wants you just as bad as I do and is putting ideas into my head.”
Trusting Joshua not to hurt her, she did as he asked crawling up to the center of the bed. He removed the bottoms of his scrubs and followed behind her grabbing her hips and spreading her stance. She looked over her shoulder at him. Joshua was magnificent. His eyes glowed slightly with his Power all revved up and his cock was standing proud and erect in front of him. He closed the distance between them and she could feel him rub the head of his erection between her legs.
Closing her eyes, she leaned back wanting him to be inside her. He didn’t disappoint, entering her in one smooth thrust until he was up to the hilt inside of her. She heard him groan, his fingers digging into her hips. Not moving an inch, he appeared to be trying to master his control but she smiled. She knew she wasn’t going to last long and had every intention of taking him over the edge of ecstasy with her.
Arching her hips just slightly so his shaft was rubbing in just the right angle, Alexandria began to rock against him. The friction was exquisite and even when she heard him draw in a deep breath, she didn’t stop. His Sphinx may have had the idea, but her Sphinx fully recognized the dominance game.
Joshua gripped her hips tighter, but in the end she knew he really wasn’t going to try and stop her motion. The thrust of his hips slapping against her told the story of his loss of control. His Power exploded around her and hers answered in return. She looked over her shoulder again and the image of his expression of being lost to the passion was her own undoing.
Not being able to help herself and needing to feel Joshua, she opened her Joining Link fully between them and Joshua’s energy moved down inside her. The more they entwined in body and Life Power, the closer he got his Life Force to hers, the closer she came to exploding. She called out his name and he covered her with his body leaning on one arm and wrapping his other under her stomach. The position was intense and he brought it to the next level when he licked her shoulder and then gently held her in place with his teeth while he continued to pump harder and faster into her.
The heat built, centering in her and spreading through the inner muscles surrounding Joshua’s cock. He thrust into her and the heat and their energy spiraled together. When he reached down between her legs and rubbed against her clit, she screamed and bucked against him. His Life Force aligned over hers and all she could see was blinding white energy. Her fists desperately fisted the covers under her and she teetered on the edge. Again, Joshua rubbed at her clit and the orgasmic wave hit her with stunning intensity.
Alexandria screamed his name again as the orgasm washed over her, but he kept thrusting into her faster and deeper, kept holding her against him with his teeth and hands, kept stroking her with his fingers. When the first one began to subside, another orgasmic wave crashed over her. The orgasms came and she moaned and gasped and cried his name. When she felt an incredible surge of energy vibrate through both of them, she knew Joshua couldn’t hold out any longer. It was time for her dominating Mate to join her…so she purred.
The reaction was immediate. Joshua finally let go of her shoulder and leaned his head against her. His body tensed, held for a moment, and then he thrust deep into her, shouting her name. His shaft pulsed inside of her while her own orgasms continued to wash over her. One more time he thrust into her and his Power burst out around them, swirling and spiraling in myriads of golden energy and light. She thought the intense pleasure would never end but finally Joshua shuddered over her breathing deeply and the waves broke.
Beyond exhausted and yet alive at the same time, she rested her head on the bed. Joshua carefully pulled out of her and rolled both of them over to their sides. He flipped the blankets over them and encircled her closely with both his body and arms. It was as if he couldn’t get close enough to her and she felt the same way. She needed more of him, to be one with him on so many levels. Closing her eyes, she felt time catching up with them and scooted even tighter up against him.
“I love you, Lexi. I’ll always be here for you.” She smiled sadly when she felt his lips in her hair and the brush of his hands trying to soothe her. Trying to keep her darker thoughts from him, she knew he still sensed something was upsetting her but he didn’t pry. He just continued to try to soothe her, his love showering over her.
“I love you too, Joshua.” Alexandria pushed her own love back to him, warming him. She didn’t want him to worry. Not after the incredible love making. She sent those thoughts to him through their Link and felt his answering enjoyment. Closing her eyes, she held on to those images and drifted off to sleep.
****
One thing Alexandria knew was her brother always knew when hell was about to hit the fan. The good thing was everyone did get a good night’s rest. The bad thing was everyone awoke to the inky black oozing evil Power of the Gate. The Gate was going to open and it was going to open big if the vibrations throughout the complex were any indication.
Joshua had shot off the bed with Michael’s call through the Warrior’s Link still ringing in his ears. Alexandria thought he had set a record for showering and getting dressed. Still, he paused long enough to gather her into his arms holding her tightly and giving her a kiss which dripped with both heat and desperation. When he finally came up for air, he didn’t seem to want to let her go and she felt the same way clinging to his shoulders.
“I want you to know the only thing I want is to be with you and hold you the rest of the day, but…” Joshua looked torn and rubbed his hands up and down her arms.
“I know Josh. I feel the same way.” She shook her head in agitation. “We’ll deal with this just like we always have and then when we have our time together it will be even more precious.”
He smiled at her, and as always, she was mesmerized by the dimple which made its appearance. Hugging her one more time, he sighed, “You’re right. Our time together will be precious.”
Slowly, he released her and she could still see his reluctance. “If you need me, just reach out, otherwise I’ll be in the planning room and then all of our asses will be battling again. If you’re up to it, we’ll probably need your healing skills again.”
“The dark energy does feel like it’s going to be a bad one. I’ve been absent enough when you’ve needed me. I’ll be there.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him one more kiss. He gripped her arms tightly putting his very Life Force into the kiss and when he finally let her go she was a bit light-headed.
Joshua ran his fingers over her cheek and then turned and left without another word although she heard his parting thoughts. Yeah, it’s going to be a real bad one.
Grabbing her own shower, she was dried and dressed in Warriors’ gear in ten minutes. If Joshua saw her, he probably wouldn’t be too happy she had decided to dress in the battle clothes again but her days of being just the healer in the rear were over. Turin had made sure of that when he had taught her how to kill, and she was more than willing to utilize those skills to help in the fight and protect her family.
Not bothering with a full meal, she settled for a couple of apples and nut bars. She munched on them and made her way over to the elevators. Just as she suspected when she hit the button, the elevator responded to her. If nothing else, Ethan was efficient on resetting the security for her. Sometimes it freaked her out of how much he knew about everyone with all his security and
surveillance equipment. Naughtily, she wondered if Ethan played the voyeur from time to time. How could he not with all the watching he did and the coupling occurring in the complex.
By the time she made it to medical, she had eaten pretty much all of one of the apples and decided to save the rest. Jenny and Warren were predictably already in medical gathering extra equipment to take to the Trauma Cell. Both of them turned looking surprised to see her already up and about but appeared pleased she was there anyway.
“Please tell me you’ve come to help.” Jenny looked absolutely hopeful and completely harassed with the preparation. “I don’t know how we made this work without you.”
“Excuse me. I’ve been busting my ass around here.” Warren sounded like he was strangling for a moment.
Jenny gave him a glare. “Yeah, but you’re still not a Power Healer. Now stop acting like a holier-than-though male.
Alexandria held up her hands. “Whoa. Hold on, guys. I know everyone’s stressed, but come on. And yes, I’m here to help. There’s no way in hell you would have kept me away. I can tell by the Gate’s energy that Turin’s been meddling again and it’s going to be bad. You’re going to need me. Now, tell me what’s left to be done.”
Jenny quickly laid out what they had completed so far and Alexandria dived in to help finish with the preparation. In between all three of them and the other medical aids, they had the gear on carts and ready to go in less than thirty minutes. Looking like a train with all of the carts being pulled or pushed by the staff, they made their way to the largest of the elevators. Alexandria made sure she grabbed her medical coat and an extra stethoscope before she followed behind the group.
In a way, it felt like old times but at the same time there was something different as though she was slightly phased from what her life had been. She rubbed at her neck, the tension running through her and tried to ignore the sensation. When the group was all cramped in the elevator bank area, she turned to Warren.
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