by Marie Harte
Alex flung off the covers as he knelt between her legs and lifted them onto his arms. Leaning above her he captured her mouth in a long probing kiss. He drew in a deep breath and stopped when the smell of her desire filled his nose. His control snapped and he growled in satisfaction when he thrust deep inside her.
Oh God! This is so good. Eve turned her mouth away so she could catch her breath, but every time she tried to, Alex moved, sending a bolt of pleasure through her, causing her body to grip and clench at his…oh God!
He reached up and smoothed a thick curl back from her face. His eyes were glowing down at her again and his face was dark. Alex was looking back at her, not Alex inside Cade’s body, with Cade’s features…but Alex. “You are so fucking wet and hot…so hot. Why can’t I get enough of you?”
“I don’t know.” She cupped his face and traced her thumb along his bottom lip. “Is that so bad?”
He eased out of her and then plunged back in, stealing the air from her lungs. “Yes, it’s very bad.”
She gasped when he repeated the motion, driving harder into her.
He touched his forehead to hers. “I’ve lost control with you, I never do that,” he informed through clenched teeth, then kissed her hard. He pulled out of her and sat back.
Confused, Eve watched as he reached for the box of condoms and pulled a foil wrapper from the box. He caught her surprised look and raised his eyebrows. “I never lose control.” He covered himself quickly and pulled her up so she was facing him.
Clasping her waist, he lifted her above his, now protected shaft and slowly lowered her until he was deep inside her. He grabbed her legs, bent at his sides, and wrapped them around his waist. His hands moved over her, squeezing her behind, forcing her to rock back and forth grinding their bodies together. She held onto his shoulders while he kissed her neck. The pressure from his lips and warmth of his mouth mixed with the rough texture of his stubble caused her to shiver, even though the heat from his body surrounded her. She sucked in a breath when her body tightened in response.
“Lean back,” Alex suggested. “Don’t worry, I have you.” He did have her. In more ways than one.
She did as he asked, rocking her hips.
“Keep moving. Don’t stop,” he commanded, in a harsh whisper.
She didn’t stop, couldn’t have stopped even if she’d tried. The pulsing deep within her core was taking over, causing her body to move on its own. Alex tensed at the same moment and pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. Then the euphoric throbbing was there, shooting its way through her body causing her thighs to tingle and her head to spin. His hand tangled in her hair as he turned her face into the side of his neck muffling her cries. His heavy breathing warmed her shoulder as he groaned out loud. Their hips and bodies moved in rhythm, their orgasms rocking the bed.
Chapter Nineteen
Not that he expected any trouble from the guard at the front door to Cade’s building, but Alex clicked off the safety on his gun, out of habit. If there was trouble, he would be prepared, and looking at the young kid behind the counter, he doubted he could pull himself away from his texting long enough to do anything. As it was, he walked through the front lobby without a problem, and only received a nod from the security guard.
Once he reached the fourth floor, he pulled Cade’s keys from his pocket and found apartment four-ten. Holding the key ring he systematically began trying each key. He opened the door on the second try and entered the apartment closing and locking the door behind him. He strolled around, taking in Cade and Justine’s former life. It was your basic apartment, with a galley kitchen, large dining room and living room combined, a small guest bath and bedroom and a good size master bedroom with its own bathroom. It was nice, low key and low maintenance. It was an apartment that a newly married couple would own before having kids.
Spotting framed photos on a group of shelves, Alex went to investigate hoping to find evidence. A picture with blonde twin girls stared back, they looked to be about ten or so. He picked it up and then picked up the more recent picture sitting next to it with Justine and her twin sister Jillian. Their faces were, of course, identical, but their hair was different. Justine’s was cut above her shoulders in a straight line, where Jillian’s was longer and wavy.
He chuckled, he couldn’t help it. “That bitch,” he mumbled carefully putting the pictures back.
“Well it’s about time you figured it out.”
Alex continued to smile as he turned and asked dryly, “Why are you back? Shouldn’t you be tormenting a saint or something?”
Justine gave him a sweet smile. “I’m doing that right now, by coming to see you.”
Shaking his head, Alex demanded, “So what do you want?”
She ignored his question and walked around the room. “So how’s it going with Eve?” She gave him a wink. “She’s pretty and a little feisty.” She waved her hand. “And that little girl, oh what a cutie.”
Why had she been in Eve’s house?
She caught his raised eyebrow. “Oh don’t worry. They didn’t see me. I was just checking up on you, making sure you’ve got your eye on the ball.” She stopped and turned, pointing at him. “The ball is my sister by the way.”
Raising his eyebrow a second time, Alex followed her movement as she walked in a circle around the room. “I know you have a lot going on, what with Miles shooting you, and Eve being so stubborn about merging you, and now that you and Eve are…”—she wiggled her eyebrows—“…together. You’re now worried that Miles has shown interest in her. But the sooner you get to Jillian, the sooner this will be over. Besides, I don’t think she is doing too good.” She frowned anxiously at him. “She says she’s okay, but I’m not too sure. She needs you and Eve to get up there.”
Alex felt the muscles in his back and shoulders grow tight. “This will be over,” he repeated. “You’re referring to Miles hunting Jillian?”
“Of course! What the hell else would I be talking abo—” She stopped abruptly and glanced up rolling her eyes. “Okay, sorry.” She looked back at him and sighed, “I meant what the ‘heck’ else would I be talking about?” Then, mumbled under her breath, “Geez, it’s just a word. But, yes. What did you think I meant?”
The first thing that had come to his mind was that he and Eve would soon be over. He didn’t like that idea. It would end eventually and he would be the one to do it, but not yet, he wasn’t ready. There was just too much to learn about Eve for it to be over so soon.
Justine floated closer and grinned up at him. “You like her don’t you?”
He didn’t answer her, just stared as her face went blank. “What?”
Her voice was deep. She rested her hands on her hips still smiling. “You think we haven’t been watching you two. We see it, even if you don’t.” Alex stared into ancient eyes. “If it ends, it will be because of you and you will regret the choice you made.”
The old eyes blinked up at him and began to fade.
“Wait,” Alex said quickly. They blinked again and Justine’s head nodded in jerky movements. “Why do you care?”
The Being using Justine’s soul gave him a warm smile. “Because Evening is one of ours.” It nodded once again and Justine was suddenly back, blinking and confused.
She threw her head up and yelled, “What the hell! I thought we talked about this.” Then mumbled, “Saints my ass. They’re just a bunch of brats.”
He laughed. What else could he do? The situation was spiritual and supernatural, and so fucking weird. If he hadn’t been part of it, he would have never believed it. He changed the subject. “This body is bigger than my old one, I need clothes.”
Justine sauntered past him. “Come on, I’ll set you up real nice.”
After a thirty minute debate about what Alex had wanted to wear and what Justine had thought looked good on Cade’s body, Alex finally threw a mixture of both styles in the duffel bag Justine had pointed out to him. Lifting the bag Alex asked, “Does Jillian
have anything here that she can wear?”
“I was just thinking that.” She moved to a lower dresser with six drawers and pointed to the bottom drawer. “I have workout clothes in there, they should be loose enough to fit her and I bought her a cute top and jeans, but I didn’t get a chance to give them to her.” She smiled sadly and shrugged her shoulders. “They’re in the guest room on the bed.”
Alex nodded, quickly sorted through what he thought might fit Jillian and then grabbed the bag of new maternity clothes Justine had bought.
Turning at the front door, he stopped and asked, “When was the last time you saw Jillian?” He sat the duffel down.
Justine looked at him warily. “Today.”
“Do you talk to her?”
Justine slowly raised her eyes to look at the ceiling. He looked up when he saw her do it and wondered what she saw. He lowered his gaze and waited for her to look at him.
She froze, then sighed in defeat. “Yes. I talk to her.” She glanced up one more time then back at him. “I’m not supposed to though. They,”—she pointed up—“don’t like it. They said I’m supposed to let things happen naturally.” He could see the distress clouding her face, the beginning of tears in her eyes. “How can I do that? How can I just let my sister die?” Then, out of nowhere, Cade appeared and walked across the room. He stopped behind Justine and wrapped his arms around her, protectively. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay, just worried about Jillian.”
Cade kissed her head and whispered in her ear, she sniffed nodding her head.
Glancing up Cade asked, “How’s the new equipment?”
Alex shrugged. “Little big at first but I filled it quickly enough.”
“Good.” Cade’s face turned serious. “You are going to help Jillian, aren’t you?”
Alex immediately caught on to what Cade was doing. “Yes.”
“And you will do your best to protect her and her baby, right?” Cade asked still holding Justine.
Alex focused on Justine and answered without hesitation, “Yes.”
Cade bent his head down and said gently, “Will you please stop this now? Let Alex do what he was trained to do. He will stop Miles. You have to have faith.”
“Oh Geez!” Justine rolled her eyes. “You sound like those guys.”
Cade shrugged. “Those guys are pretty convincing when you sit down long enough to listen to them.”
“That’s the problem.” Justine turned throwing her arms in the air. “I just can’t sit and wait. I don’t have your patience I want my sister safe now.”
Cade glared down at his wife. The two stared at each other in silence, then Justine huffed and rolled her eyes again. Watching the couple, Alex got the feeling that they were having an argument he couldn’t hear. Finally, Justine sighed and said, “All right.” She turned back to Alex and just stared. Cade glared down at the back of his wife’s head, crossing his arms.
“Fine,” she snapped over her shoulder. “I’ll stop bothering you,”—she paused—“for now.” Then threatened, “But you better help her, or I’ll come back and annoy you for the rest of your life.”
Alex raised an eyebrow, the same eyebrow at the same moment Cade did. Whoa! It was like looking in the mirror. He shook his head. “Tell Jillian to hang on, we’ll be there in three days. I need to get a few things together.” He didn’t mention the things he needed were to do with Miles, and Jillian, and them being in the same area. Justine would flip out and Cade…being a cop would probably insist on helping. Help. He didn’t need help, what he needed was a cop. He locked his glare on Cade. “You trust your partner?”
“Trevor?” Cade gave him a confused look. “Of course. Why?”
Alex swung the duffel onto his shoulder. “Because I’m having trust issues right now.”
Cade didn’t ask any other questions. “Trevor’s a good guy. If you need him, he will back you up, guaranteed.”
Alex studied him. “I hope you’re right.” Because if the cop fails me, there will be hell to pay.
He checked his watch and swore, he had already been gone longer than he wanted, Miles would notice soon. “Gotta go. I have to get back to…” He stopped, when knowing smiles appeared on both Justine and Cade’s faces.
Justine wiggled her brows. “Go on, say it.” She smirked at him. “You can’t hide it from us,” she teased. “Because we already know. Ha!”
Cade smiled at him sympathetically while he clamped a hand over his wife’s mouth. She wiggled against him but he held firm. “Pay attention,” Cade joked. “You may need to do this to yours one day.”
Alex laughed out loud as he left the apartment.
* * * *
The last thing Eve remembered was that Alex had kissed her gently on the mouth and had told her that he would be back soon. She hadn’t asked where he was going or why, she had been too tired and pleasantly satisfied to even think about such things. That, of course, had changed when she’d awoken and realised he wasn’t there. Now she could honestly say—to herself only—that she was worried about him. Then, she would remember his training and she would begin to relax, only for it to start all over again. By the time she got out of bed, dressed and got downstairs she was running late. Noelle came into the kitchen, clearly unaware of the night’s events and Eve’s confused state.
“Good morn’in, Mum.”
“Good morning. How’d you sleep?”
Noelle shrugged. “Good.” She reached for the fridge door when the doorbell rang. They both looked at one another. Then back to the door. “Who’s that?” Noelle asked.
“I’m not sure.” Eve looked to her watch. “Too early for patients.”
Noelle shrugged. “Can I get it?”
“No!” Eve caught herself a little too late. “I mean, you decide what you want me to make you and I’ll go see who it is.” Noelle turned, unaffected by her sudden outburst. Moving towards the front door, Eve felt her eyes grow wide and mouth become dry. A large shadow moved on the other side of the glass pane. Was it Miles? Was he here to kill her and Noelle? Alex said he wouldn’t, not during the day, but he had described Miles as desperate and desperate people did unpredictable things.
As she reached the door the large shadow turned, she sighed as she opened the door.
“What’s wrong?” Alex entered and quickly closed the door.
She shook her head. “I thought maybe it was Miles.” Her face flushed at her admission.
“He left a while ago. He likes to take his kids to school when he’s in the area.” He held up a large shopping bag. “I thought you might have slept in, so I brought breakfast.”
“Oh.” Eve blinked. “I wasn’t expecting…”
“You’re welcome,” Alex teased.
“Thank you.” He held out the bag, her hand shook as she reached for it.
“Hey,” Alex stilled her and pulled her to him by her shaky hand, his heat easing the fear. “Take it easy. He’s gone. And we won’t be here tonight.” He lowered his voice, “Now introduce me to your daughter.”
Breakfast was delicious, and there was lots of it. Fresh bagels with cream cheese, sliced fruit with yogurt, and very tasty latte’s. Heavenly after a long night of…
“What time is your bus?” Alex asked Noelle, interrupting her daydream. Eve glanced at her watch. “Oh, you’ve got five minutes, let’s get moving. I’ll meet you out on the front porch.”
Eve excused herself and quickly ran upstairs. She had been a little embarrassed when Noelle caught her standing in Alex’s arms. The look on Noelle’s face was a mixture of recognition and confusion but, when she stepped forward and stared at Alex, or rather Cade, as he introduced himself, she blinked wide eyed and gave him a big smile. It was great that Noelle seemed to like Alex. It surprised her a little too. Noelle wasn’t the type of kid that just talked to anybody, but she had no problem with Alex.
Then again, Alex was easy to talk to. He had to be, a requirement of his job she supposed. He could probabl
y strike up a conversation with anyone, and yet it seemed personal when he spoke with Noelle. She enjoyed listening to him ask Noelle questions about school and what subjects she liked best. There were many different sides to Alex but she would never have guessed that he was good with kids. She was strangely moved by it.
Stopping behind Alex and Noelle, she watched the two standing together on the porch. Noelle needed a man like Alex in her life. Not the killer, but the man that showed an interest in her, who would talk to her, who wouldn’t pretend she didn’t exist.
“I’m glad you came back, Alex.” Eve’s mouth dropped open as Noelle smiled up at him.
Alex looked down, returning the smile. “Me too.”
“Why doesn’t mom want me to know it’s really you?”
“Because she worries about you and she knows I’m not an entirely good guy.”
Noelle wrinkled up her face and Eve knew she was confused. “But you’re going to stop that guy from hurting us, right?”
“Did you hear me and Eve talking?”
Noelle leant back, shaking her head.
At once Alex squatted down, so he was eye level with her. “It’s okay,” he soothed. “Tell me, did you see him?” he asked seriously.
Noelle nodded with wide eyes. “Not last night but the night before. He looked in my window.”
Eve gasped and went to them. Her body was shaking so badly, as she knelt down next to Alex the she almost fell into him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and held her still. “Honey, why didn’t you come and get me?”
Noelle‘s eyes shifted back and forth between her and Alex. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe I thought it was a dream. But I wasn’t scared or anything. I knew Al…I mean Cade was close.”
Eve rubbed at her forehead. Please don’t let her have it, please say it stops with me. She pleaded in her head. “Honey, you saw Alex before today didn’t you?”