“Oh, shit!” Becca ripped out of Nick’s grasp and lunged for Yasmine. “Satan, down!”
Satan dropped instantly as Yasmine pulled the trigger and a blast of gunfire exploded out of the barrel of the gun. Then Becca’s body slammed into Yasmine and the two women went down. The bullets ricocheted all over the condo, exploding the chandelier and shattering the plaster ceiling. The light fixture sizzled as Nick grabbed the gun out of his ma’s hands and dust fell on him…dust and…he looked up. Water?
Then he heard a female groan, and he looked down to see Becca sprawled in the ground, clutching her stomach. “Becca?” He threw the gun aside and was on his knees next to her as Yasmine moaned and held her head, lying in a heap next to the wall. “God, woman, didn’t I tell you not to scare me like this again?” He rolled Becca over, his hands frantically flying over as he tried to find where she’d been hit, his heart racing. “Where does it hurt?”
“Satan,” Becca whispered. “Is Satan hit?”
“Bullets can’t hurt him.” He tugged up her shirt and pushed her hands out of the way, but her belly was intact. “Where are you hit?”
“Satan…” she moaned. “Check him.”
“Fine. I’ll check.” He jumped up and ran into the hall. “Satan?” He stopped in shock. Satan was down on the ground, motionless. “Satan?” He knelt next to him and his knees squished. “What the…?” He looked down at the puddle of water, colored water. His gut froze, and he pulled up Satan’s shirt. The water was leaking out through Satan’s skin, taking parts of Satan with it. “Oh, shit.”
He scrambled back to Becca, who was curled in a ball, a single tear glistening on her left cheek. “He’s down. What’s going on?”
“Dying,” she rasped. “We’re both dying.”
“How?” He grabbed her shoulders, his fingers digging in. “How can he die from a bullet? How do I stop it? Tell me!”
Yasmine sat up, wobbling slightly. “I shot him with bullets loaded with purified water. The bullets explode once they are inside him, poisoning him.”
Nick’s heart sank as he pulled Becca onto his lap, feeding her his life force with everything he had, but he could feel her fading. Fast, so fast. “Why would you do that?”
“To save you and Dani.”
“But we still had until tomorrow night to figure out how else to save her.” He kissed Becca, hugged her limp body tight. “It hadn’t come to that yet.”
Yasmine struggled to her feet. “Jerome?” she shouted. “How’s Dani?”
“The bubble’s almost gone,” Jerome yelled back, disbelief in his voice. “She’s starting to wake up. Dani? Oh, God, Dani.”
Yasmine slipped in the water and nearly went down before she caught the edge of table. “You’ll thank me when this is over, Nicky.” Then she turned and wove her way back toward Jerome, calling for her daughter.
Becca moved in his arms. “Theresa…”
“The Goblet won’t help.” He hugged her against him, felt her spirit not even try to reach for his energy. “Take my life force, Becca. Just take it.”
“…to link me to you…call…her….” Her fingers fumbled for her pocket, but she couldn’t make them work.
“Dammit!” Nick roared with anger and grief, then yanked the phone out of her pocket and called Theresa. He didn’t give her time to speak. “How do I link Becca’s life force to mine? She’s dying. Dammit! She’s dying!”
Theresa wasted no time on trivialities. “Where are you?”
Nick recited his sister’s address.
“It’s not far from me. I’ll be there in five minutes with what you need. While I’m on my way, get as much dirt as you can and spread it over the floor. You need natural things. Pure. Elemental.”
“Hurry.”
“I’m a dragon. I fly like the wind.”
Nick hung up and kissed Becca, then laid her down and bolted for the kitchen to see what he could find.
Twenty-three
Ten minutes later, there was still no dragon.
They were running out of time.
Nick had Becca on a bed of dirt and organic rice and spinach, and had dragged Satan out into the living room next to Becca. He had a hand on each of their chests, driving his life force into both of them, summoning up the dark life force that had lain dormant inside him his whole life. “Feed off me,” he ordered them. “Just stay alive.” His voice broke. “Becca, stay alive for me.”
There was a flicker from Becca, and he knew she couldn’t do it on her own. “Satan, you son-of-a-bitch. If you die, I will kick your ass for letting my woman die.”
No response from the leader of hell, though Nick was sending him everything he had. He tried again. “If you die, Iris will never have the chance to apologize and tell you how much she loves you.”
There was a rumble from deep inside Satan, and Nick felt something latch on to his life force, the grip so fragile Nick dared not move. “That’s right, big guy. Hang on for Iris.”
Where the hell was that dragon?
“The bubble’s down,” Yasmine shouted. “Nick, get in here and help us.”
Oh, God. The bubble was down. He thrust his life force harder into Satan and felt his soul twitch in response. “You’re still with me,” he whispered. “Iris won’t want you to die. She needs you, man. Stay alive for her.”
There was a thrust inside Satan, but it was so weak, and Nick knew they were running out of time.
“Did you hear that? She made a sound. She’s coming around,” Jerome said, his voice throaty with emotion. “Dani, I love you. Come on, baby, wake up.”
Not yet, Dani. Not yet, please.
There was suddenly a loud crash and the living room window shattered as a huge blue-green dragon burst through it, landing with a crash on top of the coffee table. Wood exploded in all directions and three pictures crashed to the floor. She tumbled over her head and crashed into the opposite wall in a tangle of claws and tails. “Sorry I’m late. I had to stop by Becca’s to get the stuff.”
She shifted back into human form as she shrugged off the dragon-sized backpack she’d been wearing. She was stark naked as a human, and Nick hoped she wasn’t going to take precious time to get dressed. She didn’t bother, and his respect for her shot up. “We’re losing them,” he said.
“Not on my watch.” Theresa pulled out a bunch of shot glasses and gold balls. “You keep them going. It’ll just take a second.”
Nick’s body began trembling with the effort of keeping Satan and Becca alive as Theresa ran around him, setting up the shot glasses in a circle around them and filling them with water. She yanked Satan’s jacket off him and set it in the middle. Then she kneeled at the foot of the circle, glancing down at the floor. “Spinach?”
“You said natural. It’s organic. It was all I could find. There were only two plants in the place.”
“Hope it works.”
“Don’t say that,” he growled. “It will work.”
She ignored him. “Okay, so I guess I’m going to say the words, since she can’t. That would work, right?” She wiped her palms on her thighs, and there was a sheen of perspiration on her forehead. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Nick bent down, putting his head next to Becca. “Come on, babe. You can do this.”
Theresa closed her eyes and crossed her wrists, chanting words he didn’t understand. Then she shouted and flame exploded out of her nose and ignited Satan’s jacket.
Then Nick was hit so hard with an unseen force that he flew back and smashed into the wall. He rolled to his feet, then stopped, his lungs aching, his body so heavy he couldn’t move. He dropped back to his knees, his hands on the floor as he tried to recover. Heat scorched his soul, and he felt like he was on fire, like he was burning up from the inside. “What happened?”
“Nick?”
He jerked his head up in disbelief, hope flaring deep inside him. “Becca?”
She was sitting up, supported by Theresa, looking wan and weary, but alive.
“Becca!” He dragged himself over the floor and fell into her, wrapping her body up in his. Energy pulsed between them, and he groaned with the intensity of it. He could feel every beat of her heart, every pulse of her thoughts, every hint of emotion. They were one, and it was so intense and overwhelming and right. “God, I thought…” He cupped her face between his and kissed her, nearly melting into the kiss as the swirl of her emotions flooded him…then he paused at the blast of icy fear he took from her. He kissed her again, reaching inside her and realized what was scaring her…Paige. Paige was dying with Satan because she was still connected to his life force. He pulled back and looked at Theresa. “Hook Satan up to me, too.”
“No.” Becca’s voice was stronger now, and a pulse of anxiety hit him. “You can’t support both of us. I can feel the drain on you already.”
“Do it,” he ordered Theresa. “I won’t let Paige die.”
Theresa looked back and forth between them, confusion and indecision on her features. “Um…”
“Becca, tell her to link Satan’s life force to mine. Now. Before Satan dies,” he ordered, nearly overwhelmed by Becca’s grief and her worry over Paige. He felt her concern about him, as well, but he shoved it aside.
Becca stared at him, a look of horror on her face. She didn’t take her gaze off his face when she said, in a wooden voice, “Theresa, do what he says.”
“Right.” Theresa went back to work, refilling the shot glasses.
He frowned at Becca. “What’s wrong?”
“You ordered me, and I had to do it.”
He felt the blood drain from his face. “No.”
She nodded. “You control me now.”
Theresa started her chant, and Nick flinched as the pressure began to build on him again. “I’m sorry, Becca. I didn’t mean to—”
She held up her hand. “It’s how it has to be. I just…” She closed her mouth, but he knew what she’d been about to say.
I just want to be free to be me.
She’d traded one life of servitude for another, and he was the master. Dammit! “I’ll find a way out of this, I promise.”
“Jerome?” Dani’s voice echoed through the apartment, and he and Becca stared at each other in horror. Dani was awake, which meant Satan was dead. And Paige. They were too late.
Then the fire exploded from Theresa’s nose, and Nick was flung across the room again, crashing through the guest room door and smashing into a dresser. He landed on the carpet, unable to move as a mirror thudded on his head and crashed on the floor. His muscles were frozen. So heavy. Couldn’t breathe.
Then Becca was by his side, touching his face. “Nick? Are you all right?”
He shook his head to clear it. “I just need a sec. I’ll be okay.”
“Naked-breasted dragon again?” Satan’s weary voice drifted into the room. “You like to flaunt your body before me, do you not?” Then he groaned softly and there was a thunk as if he’d let his head drop back down to the floor. “Ow.”
Becca nearly dropped to the floor with relief at the sound of her boss’s voice. “He made it.” She looked at Nick. “Do you think Paige did? Or was it too late?” She couldn’t keep the fear out of her voice, didn’t bother. He knew how she felt about Paige, and he wouldn’t tell anyone.
He touched her face. “I’m sure she’s okay.”
Becca closed her eyes, then opened them again, searching his face. “You shouldn’t have done it.”
“Done what?”
She clocked in him the chest, not buying the innocent expression on his face “Risked your life for me. All you did was prolong my own death and add yours into the mix. And now you support Satan, which means you indirectly support all his Rivkas, including Paige.”
“And I support you directly.”
She felt him reach out for Paige, and felt him fail to reach her but get a hint of Satan’s lust and power. He instantly threw up a shield between himself and Satan, keeping their souls separate, but she felt the strain on him already. Felt his life force laboring under the effort. “It’s too much for you.” But her fingers tightened in his shirt, not quite able to let go. “It was stupid,” she whispered. He’d risked his own life for hers, and she felt totally overwhelmed by the act. “I don’t understand. How could you do that?”
He shrugged. “Instinct. I just did it.”
But with her hand on his chest, she could feel all the emotions running through him, and there was something warmer, soft, curling around her, making her feel safe…and loved…
She pulled her hand back. She wasn’t safe, and now he wasn’t, either. “How bad do you feel, supporting us?”
He raised his brow. “And how do you feel, not being a part of hell anymore?”
She stared at him, suddenly becoming aware of a dancing lightness inside her body. Of the feeling of happiness, of light, of sunshine. She couldn’t stop her smile. “Is this what you feel like all the time?”
“It’s my healer blood. Very positive and rah-rah.” He looked happy, so pleased. “I’m glad you feel it.”
“It’s…” She pressed her hand to her chest and felt the energy pulsing out of her. “…amazing. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like…like I see the world in a different way.” She looked at Nick and suddenly felt overwhelmed by her feelings for him. “Even if I die, thank you for this gift, Nick. I…” She spread her hands, wanting to drink the light into her soul. “I’m alive. For the first time ever, I’m alive.”
“And that, my dear, makes it all worth it.” He cupped the back of her head and drew her against him, and kissed her, and it was like millions of lights exploded in her mind, in her heart, in her soul, igniting every inch of her being. “I just need one kiss…” And his mouth was on her throat, his hands on her breasts, and she moaned softly, tipping her head to give him access as his lips trailed across the edge of her neckline, nipping and searching.
I need it, too, Nick. Despite the fact she reported to him now, they now were equals in the essence of their souls. She was light with darkness, and so was he. They were both, and they were one.
She climbed onto his lap, drinking in all that he was, wanting more, needing more, and for the first time, giving back. I have light to give him. Her fingers crept into his hair, and her mouth responded to his kiss as his hands wrapped around her and pulled her against him, diving in deeper and deeper with his kiss and his energy and everything he was.
And she was right there with him. Sharing, not just taking. “This is so incredible,” she whispered. “I’ve never felt this before.”
“Me either.”
And then she forgot what she was going to say, too overwhelmed by his touch, by his kiss, by the feel of his body shifting against hers, by the pulses of his soft energies that felt so at peace. So content. So right.
His hands slipped around her waist, pulling her against him, and she went willingly. More than willing. She needed him like this. Wanted him. Wanted to share the light that was both of them.
She straddled his lap and settled herself on top of him, nestling herself against his growing hardness as his hands slipped around and cupped her ribs as his teeth nipped at her collarbone. “Cleanse the Terrors,” he whispered against her skin, his breath so warm and alive.
“How?”
“Chase them out with the light.” He slipped her shirt off over her head and she tugged his off, then they pressed together, skin to skin, and she gasped at the electricity charging between them, wrapping around her spirit and snuggling in deep. She took him in, but realized it was different now.
It wasn’t just him. It was her. They were both there, inside her, feeding her light. It should be unequal now that he was her life force, but it was the opposite. He gave her her own strength, her own light, and she didn’t have to take it from him anymore.
Oh, but she wanted to. She wanted it all.
His teeth grazed her nipple and she let herself moan as she’d never wanted to before. She felt his smile against her breast as
he scooped her up and raised her to her feet, so she was standing over him.
Then he slid his hands up her legs, staring up at her with a gleam in his eyes.
“The door,” she whispered.
He glanced past her, then smiled. “You closed it when you came in.” His hands went to her waist and unzipped her jeans with a slow deliberateness that had her curling in anticipation.
“Did I?” She sounded breathless and didn’t care. “What foresight I have.” She set her hands on his shoulders as he tugged her jeans over her hips, sliding her underwear down with it, until she was exposed in front of him.
“That’s a Rivka for you. Always on the ball.” He wrapped his fingers around her thighs and tugged her closer, until her knees were pressed against his chest, as he was still sitting up, leaning against the dresser, while she stood over him. “Close your eyes and let the light consume you.”
Yeah, that sounded like a plan. Screw holding back to save her sanity when she returned to Satan’s life force. This was too amazing…She gasped as she felt his mouth between her legs, and a brilliant shaft of light shot through her being, through her soul, chasing away all that she hated about herself, all that she’d been forced to be.
She trembled under his touch, letting him support her as she clutched his shoulders, drinking in all that he was, and that she was. I am who I want to be. For once, for this moment, she was light, she was life, she was good, and she was happy.
Nick shifted under her and she heard the sound of his zipper being undone. She closed her eyes, finding the Terrors in her body and plucking them out, one by one, exploding each one with her lightness. She felt their screeching protests as they left her, and knew that she’d won.
Then Nick’s hands were on her hips and he guided her down, his mouth trailing up her belly and over her breasts and sucking on her nipples as she sank onto him, throwing her arms around his neck, holding him as close as she could as he filled her, her body and soul opening to him and drawing him into her, welcoming every part of who he was to the light she had waiting for him.
He groaned softly and whispered her name as his arms went around her, holding her as tight against him as she was holding him. Her breasts were crushed against his chest as they moved. As she took Nick deeper inside her with each stroke, with each thrust, she wanted more.
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot Page 24