by Owens, C. M.
Maybe they’ll both do something to piss me off tonight.
“Araya Crush, please report. Araya Crush, please report,” the loud speaker announces with its obnoxious crackling in the background.
Report? What the fuck?
I slip into my high heels and glance in the mirror at the stunning dress Hale bought me. The blue matches my eyes perfectly even though the violet rim seems to be a little more pronounced tonight. They’re only getting worse these days. The purple has steadily started taking over my blue eyes, but no one else really seems to notice. With all this dress shows, very few people will be looking at my eyes tonight.
I pick up my phone, but I don’t know who to call. Report to Clay? Hale? Who?
“Araya Crush, please report. Araya Crush, please report,” the speaker repeats, and I roll my eyes while barging out of the apartment still only occupied by me.
“Hey,” Brazen chirps as he jogs toward me. “Have you not heard them calling for you?”
He looks so fucking good right now. His sexy pale blue, almost white shirt highlights his eyes, and that damn tie matches my hybrid blues. His pants dare me to rip them off with my teeth, and his luscious lips pop open suddenly when he takes a better look at the dress I’m wearing.
“Holy fuck,” he exhales, and I stifle my pleased grin while he adjusts his tie.
“I don’t know who I’m supposed to report to.”
He shakes his head as if he’s trying to snap out of a trance, and my long curls are suddenly in his hand as he brings me closer to him.
“You were supposed to be in the yard seven minutes ago for a brief meeting. We’ve been waiting. We were all freaking out when you were late.”
His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he pulls it out quickly to answer the panicked voice on the other end.
“Is she okay?” Hale panics.
“She’s fine. I don’t think she knew she where she was supposed to be,” Brazen murmurs softly.
I hear Hale’s breath of relief before he mutters, “Tell her to use the fucking phone I gave her. Show her how to answer it when someone calls,” he snarks, and I roll my eyes again.
Brazen stifles a grin, and he pulls out the phone I never even turned on. I hear the dinging as it pronounces its powered up state, and then he puts it back in my purse.
“It’s on now. We’re heading down,” he utters while his eyes dance over my body.
“Make sure she-”
Brazen hangs up, and I have to choke back my laughter at the fact he was done listening to Hale.
“You look so fucking good, baby,” he sizzles out.
“Thanks, but don’t get any ideas. You’re not in any better of a place than Hale.”
He wraps his arm around my waist, and then he presses the elevator button while turning me to face him.
“I don’t want you staying down here. It’s too far away, and they won’t let me get a room down here because of my damn rank. Clay says it’s inappropriate given the United coming in. The good news is they won’t let Hale move down here either,” he snarks. “I’ve got plenty of room at my place. Just come stay with me. The bed is enormous, but I can sleep on the couch if it makes you more comfortable.”
His soft eyes almost evade the betraying undertones, but I can’t forgive just yet.
“No. I’ve already told Hale no, and now I’m telling you no too. I’m not reconciling with either of you, so stop trying.”
“You’ve never spoken as if you were having to make a choice,” he murmurs with a stinging tone.
“That’s because you’ve never made me feel just as low as he did. You popped off a hurtful comment once, but you were never a liar, a fraud, or a sneak. Now you’ve proven to be all three… just like him. You destroyed that stupid pedestal I foolishly had you placed on.”
His hand cups my face as he fights off my cruel words, and then his lips stroke my forehead very gingerly.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I wish I could turn back time and just stay in bed with you that night.”
“You can’t. I had just been attacked, and you took off to go jump in cahoots with my ex that I left because he lied to me. It doesn’t seem like you really understand how grave this choice was. You knew the consequences, and you willingly risked it. I heard it all, Brazen. I love you, but I don’t trust you anymore. Trust isn’t something I take lightly. That comfort in your touch, it came from the trust I had in you. I could have stayed in your arms forever, but you snuck out and left me behind.”
His eyes sting more, and then we load the elevator.
“I know I fucked up, baby, but I can fix this if you let me. I’m tired of getting your ring back.”
“Well, you’re in luck. That’s the last time you’ll ever get it back. The two of you can fight over me all you want, but I’m not going to fall for either of you ever again. You need to just get over me,” I huff out, and I dart off the elevator the moment it opens again.
“Araya, I’ll never get over you. I’m immortal. The only reason for me to look forward to anything is because of you. Death doesn’t threaten me, and life could go on forever. I won’t live knowing you’re not mine,” he whimpers.
“Don’t,” I bark. “Don’t you dare do that to me. You’re right. You fucked up. That means you live with your mistakes. Don’t you dare tell me you’ll die without me. I don’t fucking deserve that,” I murmur with tears staining my eyes, and his eyes soften with guilt as he pulls me to his chest.
“I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. That wasn’t fair,” he soothes, and my eyes drip lightly as the tears crash to the ground between our bodies.
“I need a damn drink,” I bumble out through the emotion, and he moves back to take my hand in his.
“There’s plenty to drink in the yard,” he says while kissing the back of my hand.
“So the rest of the United is here? I still don’t have a roommate, and I didn’t know about a meeting,” I mumble to continue to veer the direction of the conversation.
“Wendy should have passed out your itinerary, but she has been pretty swamped. Hale may need to look into getting her some help during the United stay.”
“Crap,” I gasp out as I see a familiar face growing more obvious among the crowd.
“What’s wrong?” Brazen asks curiously.
The soft brown hair and hybrid blue eyes walk toward me, and the overindulged muscles which weren’t there before flex to act as a show of manhood as the old flame stalks through the starchy crowd. His devious smirk, his perfectly white teeth, and his entire over all appearance don’t make me throb, they don’t excite me, and his scent doesn’t leave me entranced in the least.
Why did I ever like this creep?
“Araya Crush,” Ty releases too seductively as he continues to strut toward me.
He jerks me out of Brazen’s arms, and then I feel the air swishing against me as he spins me around.
“Put me down,” I demand, and he laughs as he lowers me back to the ground.
“Damn, I’ve missed you. I heard you and Hale broke up. It was so fucking sweet to hear that. That smug bastard never deserved you,” he cockily snorts.
“I think I might like this guy,” Brazen chuckles out.
Yeah… think again.
Ty cracks a grin, and then he looks back down to me.
“So, I assume you need someone to take the edge off now that Hale’s out of the picture,” he smolders out.
“Okay, I like this guy a hell of a lot less now,” Brazen growls, and I stifle my grin.
“Whoa. Seriously? You two? A full blood?” Ty gasps.
“Yes. I was very much in love with Brazen, but we too broke things off.”
Ty’s grin returns, and Brazen’s arm drapes around me protectively as his eyes glare at Ty. His gun presses into my ribs, and I shift slightly as I look around at all the prominent faces.
“Are you a captain or anything?” I ask mildly.
“Me? Hell no,” he scoffs, and I look over to see Hale and Clay
walking up with the same glaring look Brazen is exhibiting. “I’m still just a regular scientist. Why? You still hot for big titles because I can put in for a promotion.”
My secretive smirk rolls free as I lean into Brazen a little more.
“No. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t get into too much trouble,” I murmur deviously.
“Trouble for what?” he asks in bemusement.
Within a blink I draw Brazen’s gun and shoot both of Ty’s kneecaps. He screams as he falls to the ground, and the United all gasp in unison. I actually blow the barrel like an old western movie, and then I flick it around my finger before slipping it back into Brazen’s holster.
“What the fuck?” Ty wails out. “My damn knees.”
Hale doubles over, hands on knees, as his laughter roars out. Brazen is too astonished to show any emotion. Poor Clay looks like I’ve just made his life hell.
“Araya Crush,” Clay exasperates. “Really?”
“I told you I’d shoot him if I ever saw him again. Did you think I was kidding?”
“No. That’s why I sent Hale to intercept you. I should have warned Brazen as well, but I assumed he knew.”
“Knew what?” Brazen finally releases in a dumbfounded tone.
“Good fucking question. Why the hell did you shoot me? The last time I checked you left me for Hale, damn it,” he cries out.
“Stop whining and drink some damn blood,” I scold while tossing him a pack from the table behind me.
He guzzles it down, and the holes in his pants legs are the only proof of his sustained injuries.
“Feel better?” Hale laughs out as he walks over.
“So, so, so much better,” I snark.
“I repeat, you left me. Why did I get shot?” Ty beckons.
I roll my eyes, and then I start walking away to join the unhinged jaws of the other officials.
“Probably because you showed everyone naked pictures of her as a form of revenge. Be glad I’ve had a few years to calm down, otherwise you’d be missing a kneecap instead of healing,” Hale threatens.
“Oh yeah,” Ty murmurs as if he has actually forgotten. “Can we call it even now?”
“Hell no,” I snarl out while walking toward the liquor.
Hale runs up beside me to follow me to the outdoor bar set up, and his hand grazes mine several times to send those unwanted chills over the surface of my skin. I very discreetly rub my arms to rid myself of the evidence left behind, and I see him smirking out of the corner of my eye.
“I saw that,” he smolders out.
“It doesn’t mean anything other than the fact I’m sexually drawn to you. You suck at everything else,” I grumble.
He winces slightly, and then his body intentionally presses against mine as his hot, sexy, delicious breath finds my ear when his lips lightly graze it.
“You love me, and you know it,” he whispers too seductively, and the chills grow as he walks away to shake hands with some of the other representatives.
“Oh good grief,” I murmur to myself while rolling my eyes.
Hale Banner pisses me off. He’s too fucking sexy for his own damn good, and he knows it. He also knows what his touch does to me without my damn consent.
I feel lips pressing against my bare shoulder, and then teeth slightly graze over my skin while the cooler breath brings back the damn unwanted chills.
“I want you to live with me… just while we’re here,” Brazen’s lips utter against my soft skin.
“I’ve already said no,” I grumble, my conviction wavering.
“Then stay with me just for tonight and let me change your mind,” he sizzles free, and I actually shiver in response when his hands grip my sides and his teeth press tighter against my flesh.
“No,” I snap, and I rip free from his clutches just as Clay bows and everyone claps.
Great. I missed whatever I was supposed to be watching.
“Araya Crush of the western region is our lead interrogator. Ty Silvers of the northern region will be our head scientist deconstructing this new virus, and I will be handling the blood procedures from here on out due to our past findings of outsiders becoming insiders. Captain Brazen Mordel and Captain Hale Banner of the western region will be our lead investigators…”
I tune Clay out as he continues listing each position’s lead candidate, and my eyes roll over to see a new face among our crowd. I scowl lightly as Nicholas walks toward the front, and Clay holds his hand out toward him.
“Most all of you know Captain Nicholas Hawkins, formerly of the Southern region; now the captain of Hershian in the western region. He has recently come out of retirement to help with the training of our newer recruits due to so many of our officers being tied up with this case. I hope you all feel at home and at ease here in Seminole. Please let me know if I can be of some of assistance in any way.”
Everyone claps again, and Clay steps down to start shaking hands in his obligatory manner.
“I didn’t realize Nicholas was going to be here,” I murmur as Brazen returns to my side with a dark, almost black liquor.
I rip the glass from his hand before drinking it in one heavy gulp, and he wraps his arm around my waist in a comforting manner.
“He just got here a while ago. Angelica wild be staying with him, but he has also requested Grayson stay with him too since he had a three room apartment,” he murmurs softly.
“How did he get three rooms and you only got one?” I snarl.
“Because he’s been a captain far longer than I have, and I only requested one room. I had hoped you and I would be reconciled by now.”
“Your hopes were far too high. I’m not sure you realize just how pissed I am.”
“I know how pissed you were, but I also know it’s wearing off. You didn’t stop loving me, baby. You just stopped fucking me… at least for now,” he smolders, and my knees wobble almost instantly.
He smirks as his cool hand grazes my back, and he joins a pack of full bloods idly chatting nearby.
Assholes. Both of them.
Sex has always been my weapon of choice, and now I realize I’ve created two monsters. Great.
“So, a full blood?” Ty muses while walking up behind me.
“Either you’re really brave, or you really enjoy being shot,” I snark.
He laughs lightly, and my hands fist at my side.
“Look,” he sighs out. “I’m sorry about all the hot, naked photos I showed a few people.”
“A few people? Really?” I scoff. “You showed every compound you visited. I had to move into the western region just to get away from the perverted eyes.”
“I’m sorry. Sheesh. You sure know how to hold a grudge. Besides, Hale followed you, and so did Clay. It’s not like you went alone.”
“Just stop speaking to me,” I growl, and then I stomp off to rejoin Brazen despite my earlier attempts to stay away.
“Miss me?” he provocatively entices in front of the very stiff business suits standing all around.
“I just don’t really know anyone here, and I’d like to stay away from the few I do,” I whisper.
He smirks, and his hand pulls mine in his.
“Gentlemen, this is Araya Crush who I’m sure you’ve heard me raving about in the past. If you’ll excuse us, I’m going to escort Ms. Crush to the ballroom area now for the festivities.”
They all nod respectfully, and Brazen pulls my arm in his as we walk back toward the compound.
“You really don’t care what everyone else thinks about your feelings for me, do you?” I muse while looking back at the men who seem unfazed by his words or my being so close to him.
“Why would I? There’s nothing at all wrong with being in love with you. You’re the most incredible woman they’ll ever meet. You’re smart, fearless, brave, kind, and beyond beautiful. When I’m standing beside you, they’re not anything but jealous. Nothing is scandalous unless you act like it is, and there’s absolutely nothing for me to be ashamed of with you
, baby,” he murmurs so genuinely before his lips catch mine.
I indulge in the sweet kiss momentarily before gently pushing him away, and then I shake my head.
“Though I think you’re amazing most of the time, you are still not in the clear. Thank you for saying that though,” I utter softly, and his hand grazes my cheek with a caress before he kisses my forehead.
“There’s nothing to thank me for. I’d never let anyone think less of me for being in love with someone as phenomenal as you. My mother would be a bitch to anyone I loved, so she doesn’t count,” he chuckles out.
I laugh lightly, and then I lean my head over on his arm as we make our way into the ballroom. The waves of formally decadent dresses and panty-dropping suits fill the room with intrigue and sex-appeal. The small children playing together catch my eye, and I notice the pale eyes staring without prejudice into the hybrid blue ones. The children are laughing, mingling, and not at all aware of the pain they’ve escaped because of someone as incredible as Hale.
“I’m sorry you didn’t have that growing up. I don’t know how you can stand the sight of me given the hell you endured,” Brazen murmurs guiltily.
“Because you’re not like the ones I knew. You were that sweet voice cheering up the girl crying in the bathroom floor when her world fell apart. You were that relentless romantic who chased me around for a year until I finally gave in. You were who guy who made me fall in love against impossible odds. Now, you’re that guy who got too close to my ex in too many ways.”
He pulls my hand up to feel that incredible chill from his breath before kissing it with his icy lips. The shiver that follows is so delicious I almost forget about everything he has done.
“I’m still that guy you fell in love with, baby. The only thing I’ll ever agree with Hale about is your safety,” he sighs, and then a new face invades our heart-to-heart.
“Captain Mordel, I need to speak to you about a field operation I need you to run. We believe we have a trail on the last used payment blood packs. If you don’t mind that is,” the husky man thunders out.
“I’ll meet you in the conference room in about five minutes,” Brazen says reluctantly.