by Tina Folsom
Satisfied with his plan, Zoltan opened a tall wooden cabinet and inspected its contents. Wigs, beards, and mustaches were on display, as well as molds to slip over his teeth to change his smile. He chose his disguise wisely like he always did when he ventured into the human world, and while he didn’t always use all tools of disguise at his disposal, one was essential:
Colored contact lenses to hide his demon eyes. Demons had tried in the past to conceal their eyes with colored lenses, but they’d met with little success. The green in their irises emitted a chemical that burned through any lens within less than an hour, making a permanent disguise impossible.
However, recently Zoltan had come across a talented optometrist who’d been experimenting with different materials for patients who had allergic reactions to regular contact lenses. He’d watched him closely and tested out the various lenses the man was developing, until he found one that lasted several hours before it dissolved and revealed his demonic eyes.
He chuckled to himself. He hadn’t shared his discovery with his underlings yet. It was good to always stay one step ahead of everybody, even his own subjects.
12
Tessa opened the door to her outer office and entered, but if she’d hoped for a sanctuary after the events of the previous night, this wasn’t it. She’d already dodged several reporters when Hamish had dropped her off at a side entrance to City Hall, after she’d spotted a news van parked out front. But apparently a few journalists had made it past security.
Two reporters she recognized jumped up from the visitor chairs and practically pounced on her.
Collette, who’d risen from behind her desk, lifted her arms in defeat. “I’m sorry, Tessa, but…”
Tessa sighed. “Not your fault, Collette.”
And not the security people’s fault either. After all, as long as prospective visitors didn’t carry weapons and could state some legitimate reason—even if it was pretense—security had to admit them to City Hall. And once inside, they could pretty much access any floor and any office. So much for her sanctuary, of which she’d been in dire need. Not only because of the attempt on her life the previous night, but also because of what had happened later in her apartment.
She’d thrown herself at Hamish like a hormonal teenage groupie! Even now, embarrassment ran through her veins and colored her cheeks. How had it even happened? One minute she’d been crying, fear and horror occupying her every thought, the next she’d been in his arms and had let herself sink into the comforting warmth they had provided. Everything had melted into the background and suddenly she’d felt only him: his masculine scent, his strong hands, his gentle words. And when she’d met his gaze, she’d been hypnotized by his eyes, and without thinking she’d moved her head closer and had kissed him.
Of course, he’d responded to her kiss. After all, he was a man, and she didn’t know many men who’d turn down a reasonably attractive woman who was coming onto them. But he’d come to his senses quickly. Who knew what else would have happened if he hadn’t stopped.
Having to see him this morning had been awkward. And the silence between them when he’d driven her to work had been so thick, she could have cut it with a knife. Was it therefore surprising that all she wanted was to hide in her office and bury herself in her work?
Clearly, it wasn’t meant to be. The two reporters bombarding her with questions were making sure of that.
“Miss Wallace, how are you feeling this morning?” Meredith from the Daily Republic asked.
“Are you planning to sue the Center for Drug Rehabilitation for reckless endangerment?” Thom, the journalist working for Online News Blast, interrupted.
“I’m feeling fine.” She smiled at Meredith, then looked at Thom. “And no, I’m not planning on suing anybody.” She took a few steps toward her office, but the two reporters weren’t done yet.
“Who was the hero who saved you from the falling duct?” Thom continued. “Were you at the event together?”
“Do you have a name for us?” Meredith added. “Nobody was able to tell us who he is.”
“I’m sorry, I really have lots of work to do,” Tessa evaded the question and tried to squeeze past the two insistent reporters.
“Just give us something,” Meredith begged. “Speculations are already running wild.”
Thom nodded in agreement, pen poised over his notepad. “It’s the only way you’ll get rid of us.”
Collette suddenly shoved herself between Tessa and the two journalists. “The way to get rid of you is to call security. So off you go.”
The path to her office clear now, Tessa headed for it and turned the knob.
“If you don’t give us his name, we’ll just put our bloodhounds on him to find out who he is,” Thom announced.
Tessa sighed and turned. She couldn’t risk anybody finding out that Hamish was her bodyguard. It was better to give them something. “His name is Hamish MacGregor. And he’s my boyfriend.”
“How long have you been dating?” Thom shot back, while Meredith asked, “Is this serious? Are you planning on getting married after the mayor’s race?”
“No comment,” she ground out, already regretting having given the two reporters the information. “Collette, can you please make sure I’m left alone this morning? Thanks.”
“Oh, Tessa, I almost forgot, your father—”
“Miss Wallace!” Meredith interrupted, but Tessa was already entering her office and shutting the door behind her. She pressed her forehead against the closed door.
Through it she heard Collette’s insistent demands that the two reporters leave or she would indeed call security and have them removed. A few moments later, she heard the opening and closing of the door, then silence.
Finally, she exhaled.
“Tessa!”
She shrieked and spun around. She clasped her chest and gasped for air when she saw her father rising from the wooden bench in the window niche. “Dad!” she choked out, trying to get her breath back.
“I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, approaching her.
Dressed in a business suit and dress shirt, he looked the part of the distinguished businessman he still was, even in his late sixties, though he could have retired years ago. His hair was gray at the temples, but still dark blond everywhere else. His blue eyes were vibrant and his skin tanned as a result of the many hours he spent on the golf course on the weekends. He’d been a strikingly handsome man when he was younger, but even now he was still attractive, could still turn many a head.
Tessa walked into his arms, accepting the hug he offered. And today she really needed it. “It’s good to see you, Dad. What are you doing here so early? Shouldn’t you be at the office?”
He released her from his embrace, and only now did she notice the deep crease in his forehead. “I would be, if it weren’t for this.” He reached for the newspaper that lay on Tessa’s desk and pointed to the headline.
“Mystery man saves councilwoman from certain death,” he read and shook his head, exhaling sharply. “Jesus, Tessa! This is how I have to find out about it? Via the newspaper?”
“Dad, please, as you can see, I’m fine.”
“You should have called me last night.” He pinned her with his eyes. As a child, that same gaze had always intimidated her and made her confess all her sins. “Your mother and I nearly had heart attacks this morning.”
“Mother doesn’t have a heart condition,” Tessa deflected.
“That doesn’t mean that she wasn’t worried about you.”
Tessa shrugged.
“Well, if you don’t care how your mother feels, how about me then? Do you care so little about me that you won’t grant me the courtesy of telling me that you’re okay?”
“Of course not, Dad. I didn’t mean that,” she said quickly, realizing that she’d hurt him. And that hadn’t been her intention. “It’s just… I was in a state of shock last night. Everything happened so fast, and had Hamish not been there,
I don’t know what would have happened. It never occurred to me—”
“It’s alright, honey,” he said softly. Then he pointed to the headline again. “So this mystery man’s name is Hamish? Who is he? I’d like to thank him for saving my daughter from this terrible accident.”
Damn it! This was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid. She hated lying to her father, but if he found out that Hamish was her bodyguard, one question would lead to another, and he wouldn’t stop grilling her until he found out that she’d received a death threat. Maybe the lesser evil was to tell him what Hamish and she had discussed.
“We’re dating,” she said as casually as possible. “Nothing serious.”
“You have a boyfriend, and you didn’t tell me?” He stared at her as if this was some monumental news. “Why did you keep him a secret?”
“We’ve really only just started dating. And it’s not serious, honestly.”
“I want to meet him.”
Tessa’s shoulders stiffened. “I really don’t think that’s appropriate at this stage. You know how guys get when you want to introduce them to your parents. I don’t really wanna spook him.”
“I thought you just said it wasn’t serious.”
“Yes, so even less of a reason to do the meet-the-parents thing.”
“But he saved your life. The guy deserves a medal.”
Her father was like a dog with a bone. He wouldn’t let go of it.
“I’ll tell him you’re grateful next time I see him, okay?”
“Don’t brush me off like that, Tessa. I’m serious about this. I want to thank the man who saved my daughter.”
“But he’s a really busy guy.”
“What does he do that keeps him so busy?” her father shot back.
“Uh, he writes manuals.”
“Manuals?”
“Yeah, you know, instruction manuals for heavy machinery.”
Her father lifted one bushy eyebrow. “Sounds, uh, interesting. Well, in any case, even he needs to eat occasionally. Bring him to our house tonight. I’ll throw some steaks on the BBQ.”
“Dad…”
“No discussion. Tonight, seven o’clock.” He turned toward the door. “Your mother will be happy to see you both.”
She doubted that, but didn’t bother voicing her opinion. Once her father made up his mind about something, there was no swaying him.
“Fine, but I’m not helping with the vegetables!” she called after him as he stalked outside and closed the door behind him, leaving her to stew over the prospect of having to spend an evening playing nice with her mother.
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, on top of it she had to pretend to be dating Hamish. Well, wasn’t her day starting out just great?
13
Hamish stepped into the shower. He’d slept a few hours upon returning to the compound, after dropping Tessa off at City Hall and making sure Enya was there to take over. He should be sufficiently rested after sleeping, but unfortunately, his well-deserved rest had eluded him. Instead, visions of Tessa had plagued his dreams. At first, they’d replayed the incident at the center, but then they’d morphed into something entirely different: a repeat and extension of what had happened at her apartment afterward.
And speaking of extensions… He looked down at his groin where his cock was still standing to attention. He’d woken up like that, which wasn’t unusual, but the fact that it hadn’t deflated yet was. It appeared that his raging hard-on wasn’t going to go away by itself today. Not when he couldn’t get Tessa out of his mind. Or her tempting body. Ah, hell, he’d known from the start that this assignment was doomed. He should have refused immediately when Cinead asked him to protect Tessa openly, and insisted on guarding her invisibly from the shadows. At least then, he would never have been tempted to kiss her. Well, maybe still tempted, but at least he would have never had an occasion to act upon it.
Now the damage was done.
And to avoid further harm, he’d have to take care of himself here and now. But the moment he took his hard cock into his right hand and began to tug, he knew that this wouldn’t be a routine jerk-off-session where he fantasized about some random non-existent woman with a hot body. No, that fantasy wasn’t what popped into his head. Instead, he was met with lavender eyes that looked at him, watched him.
Her hand took over for his, gripping his erection firmly. Up and down she slid on him, her palm moist and warm. He reached for her then and pushed her robe off her shoulders, letting it fall onto the wet shower floor. Her negligee was getting soaked by the water raining down from the showerhead, turning it transparent. Her nipples turned hard and pressed through the fabric in invitation. He reached for one, rolled it between thumb and forefinger and felt her squeeze his cock harder in response.
“Just like that,” he murmured and massaged her breast, before he slid his hand down her torso to the juncture of her thighs.
He gathered the fabric with his hand and lifted it up so he could slide his hand between her legs and touch her there. She was wet there, too, not from the shower, but from her own juices. Ready for his touch, his caresses, ready for him. He played with her, diddled her clit to make her even hotter for him, stroked and pinched and caressed her warm folds. Probed at the entrance to her core.
He heard her moans echo against the tile walls and responded to them by sliding his finger into her. Deep and hard. Just the way he wanted to take her. Right here against the wall of his shower, lifted up and supported by his strong arms alone. She lost her hold on his cock, but he didn’t mind, because he was ready. Ready to plunge into her. Warmth and wetness welcomed him. Her interior muscles squeezed him to perfection. He began to pound into her, harder and faster, needing more with every second.
“Harder!” he yelled. “Fuck, Tessa!”
She didn’t stop him, didn’t complain about the rough treatment. Only took what he had to give her. Panting, he felt the pressure in his balls increase, until he could hold back no more. Semen exploded from the tip of his cock and shot not into Tessa, but into nothing. His vision cleared and he found himself with one hand on his cock, the other braced against the tile wall, his semen running down the smooth surface in long, thick streaks.
He dropped his forehead against the wall. Fuck, he’d never had a fantasy that felt so real. And so hot. So hot in fact, that his cock hadn’t had enough of it yet. So he kept pumping until finally, after a long while, it deflated and returned to its resting state.
Fuck, if this was what he’d have to do every day just so he wouldn’t make another pass at Tessa, then he was grateful that the walls in the compound were made of stone so his fellow Stealth Guardians wouldn’t have to bear witness to him slaking his most primal need.
He finished his shower and got dressed quickly, then left his suite of rooms and walked down the corridor leading away from the residential part of the compound. There were no keys or locked doors anywhere in the compound, except to the prison cell on the lowest level—since every Stealth Guardian had the ability to walk through walls and doors—nevertheless they strongly respected each other’s privacy. Nobody walked into the rooms of a fellow guardian without being expressively invited to enter.
The building consisted of five levels, three above ground and two below. Its walls were as thick as those of an old castle. Ancient runes, representing the history of the Stealth Guardians, decorated the walls and floors, and charms to ward off evil hung over each door and window.
Many compounds like this existed all over the world. Each of them was protected by virta, the collective power of the Stealth Guardians. It, together with an ancient hypnotizing spell, rendered the building invisible to humans and demons alike.
Inside, no humans were allowed. Well, that rule had been broken before, most notably by Aiden’s then-charge Leila. He’d brought her to the compound against everybody’s better judgment. And she was still at the compound—now as Aiden’s wife and mate. And with the blessing of the Council of Nine.
W
ithin the walls of the compound, Stealth Guardians could recharge their energy after each mission. Below, in the vast underground vaults, weapons were stored, weapons that could kill even an immortal Stealth Guardian. Those weapons were guarded diligently, because while no human weapon such as a gun or a knife could permanently injure a Stealth Guardian, the old weapons that had been forged during the Dark Days had the power to kill them. Just like they had the power to kill a demon.
Also in the bowels of the compound, on the lowest level, was the portal that allowed them to travel from one compound to another. Until a few months ago, it had been believed that all portals were located in compounds, however, Hamish had found other portals, which the Council of Nine had named the lost portals. More were being discovered every day, and a special team had started to map them so those portals could be protected from discovery.
The compound also possessed a lead cell from which not even a Stealth Guardian could escape, because lead temporarily stripped them of their powers. However, a prolonged stay in a lead cell could extinguish a Stealth Guardian’s powers altogether and thus render him human.
Hamish reached the door to the command center and entered. As expected, Pearce sat at one of the consoles equipped with three screens. Aiden stood behind him, looking over Pearce’s shoulder.
Both turned when they heard him.
“Morning, Hamish,” Pearce said cheerfully. He was their resident tech guy, the go-to guy for anything to do with computers, though he was just as talented with a dagger as with a keyboard.
“Hey, you’re finally up,” Aiden greeted him. His oldest friend didn’t look too dissimilar from himself: dark brown hair and brown eyes with a small scar over one eyebrow.
“Yeah, can’t sleep all day. Got work to do, right?” Hamish pointed to the screens. “Have you reviewed the footage from last night yet?”
“Most of what’s been uploaded so far, but every hour I find something new,” Pearce confessed. “These days everybody with a smartphone thinks he’s an investigative journalist.”