Nate passed off the box to Maura, and then tugged Avalon into his arms. “Did you miss me?”
“Did you bring me dinner?” she asked.
“Are you using me for food?” he teased, bringing her mouth to his.
He slowly sank into the warmth of the kiss. It was like coming home after a long day. Avalon completed him. The stress of the day washed away.
When he broke away, she nuzzled his cheek.
He wanted to die with her in his arms. This was the best part of his life. His fiancée was growing him a baby.
That was crazy!
“Yeah, I am using you for food. It seems that if I eat, I don’t puke. If I don’t eat, I get really sick. That seems backwards, and I don’t get it.”
He grinned. “You’re growing a kid. You have to eat. Try not to overthink it—just eat.”
“Speaking of cookies, do you have any?”
Nate loved her so damn much. There was an innocence about her, but there was a depth he loved too.
“Uh, I don’t think we were talking about cookies.”
“I really need cookies. I don’t know why, but I feel like if I don’t have them, bad things will happen.”
He started laughing. “It’s a pregnancy thing.”
“So can I have cookies?”
Avalon could have whatever she wanted.
“I’ll call Jagger and get him to bring you some if you really feel like you need cookies.”
“I need them.”
He pulled out his phone.
“Wait.”
He looked at her.
“He’s not okay.”
That alarmed everyone, especially Maura. He was her Marine, and the only other person she really trusted Avalon’s safety to on a mission.
“What?” they all said together.
“He’s upset. What happened?” she asked.
“Yeah, what the hell, guys? How do you take Jagger out and break him?” Maura teased. If the man was just moody, that was something that would pass.
Male PMS always did.
“We didn’t do anything,” Luke said. “He hooked up with a woman.”
“Oh, the doctor,” Avalon stated.
They all stared over at her.
“What? I’m Oracle. You think I didn’t see this one coming?” she asked.
“See what coming?” Maura inquired.
“He’s finally met his match.”
No one knew what to say.
Finally, Luke broke the silence. “The coroner? Are we talking about the same woman? She looked like a teacher. I can’t see her being a match for Jagger. He’s a womanizer.”
They headed into the living room.
Once at the couch, Avalon tucked her legs beneath her as Nate pulled a granola bar from his messenger bag. When he placed it in her hand, she gratefully ate it.
“She’s been damaged like Jagger.”
No one knew what to say. Jagger kept to himself, and he didn’t talk about his past. Honestly, they weren’t sure what the man had experienced that would damage him.
He was pretty hardcore.
It had to be big.
“We’re going to have issues.”
“Is this Oracle or Avalon speaking,” Maura asked. “I need to be ready in case he flakes.”
“It’s Oracle, but he won’t flake, Maura. He’s going to hurt, and then he’s going to need his family. His heart is going to be broken over this.”
Jagger?
Were they talking about the same man?
The Marine?
Sarcastic Jagger?
Before Maura could say anything, Avalon clarified, “He’s going to need US. Jagger met the woman he’s supposed to be with, but she’s not going to be easy, much like him. They are a matched set, so everyone has to try to help him.”
Well, shit.
This was the last thing they needed. All three of them stared at each other.
“Hey, we owe him. Jagger has always had our backs,” Avalon stated. “He came on as part of this when he could have stayed in the Marines. He saved me, and we’re going to save him.”
That wasn’t the issue.
“Baby, he isn’t going to be easy to save. He punched our car and dented it. He’s not happy. You can’t just ask him what’s up. He’s never going to talk about it.”
“So? When you go cranky, who tries to make you laugh?” she asked.
He knew who.
Jagger would torment him just enough to stir him up and get him to refocus.
“When you and Maura went on your honeymoon, who stepped up and pulled triple duty to make sure I was safe?”
Maura knew. “Jagger.”
“He’s part of our family. He’s like all of our brother, and he’s always been my friend. I love him, and we’re going to help him. Remember when I said Oracle called the shots?”
“Yeah?”
“This is one of those non-negotiable times. We’re helping our family.”
“How?”
“Let me work on it. When I tell you I’m ready to intercede, I need you to listen. Please?”
They all agreed.
“Anything else, boss?” Nate asked.
“Yeah, I want cookies. I really would like chocolate ones to dip in a vat of frosting and then dip in tea.”
Maura shook her head. The last thing she wanted was Avalon hopped up on sugar.
“Sugar is bad for a baby.”
Avalon’s brow scrunched up. “You’re lying, but in case you’re not, no frosting, but I still want cookies.”
“I’ll go,” Luke said, more than happy to pass off the paperwork.
“I’ll go with you,” Nate offered. “That chocolate chip granola bar should be kicking in any second.”
“What?” Maura stated. “Really?”
The men grinned as they headed out of the room to go back out and pick up dinner. Avalon would have her cookies, but after she had dinner.
As they were walking out, they heard Avalon.
“Maura, tell me about anal sex. Do you like it?”
“Oh, Jesus! Stop feeding her sugar!”
The men laughed all the way out the door. Sometimes, Oracle needed a woman’s touch, and this was definitely one of those times.
* * * O R A C L E * * *
He made notes of the man’s movements.
If he was going to end his life, he needed to study where he liked to spend his time, hide out, and where rested his head at night.
It was important.
There was very little room for error.
He’d been watching the news all day, listening to see what was happening in Ravenswood.
The sheriff was busily trying to head this one off at the pass, and he wasn’t worried.
She wouldn’t stop him.
No one could.
As far as he was concerned, this was all about making sure justice was served in that town.
Justice that had been long ignored.
He would make sure the truth came to light, and he would end the reign of tyranny that the law had in town.
He would fix it.
He would kill them all.
It was the only way.
With each death, with each spilled drop of blood, he could see the end coming. Once there, he could have peace.
That’s all he wanted.
He wanted his revenge for the past, and he wanted to be able to rest.
In the silence.
For the rest of eternity.
Until then, more blood would flow.
But before that could happen, he had to handle one little thing. It was time to distract the sheriff.
And he knew exactly how to do it.
* * * O R A C L E * * *
The night had been pretty amazing.
After she’d come down from her room, leaving Lucian there to think, Bishop really believed he’d bolt. Instead, he joined her in the kitchen and made himself comfortable. He’d taken off the hoodie, and it appeared that he was trying to
meet her half way.
It was all she could ask from him.
He needed time, and she’d buy him as much as she could. It was the least she could do. After all, she’d promised to protect him.
When she suggested dinner and a movie, he looked surprised. Apparently, Wendy hadn’t liked low-key nights at home—which was a shame—because they were the best kind.
Or at least she was going to prove it to him.
So, they dished up ooey-gooey lasagna, crisp salad, and glasses of red wine before heading to her couch. They sat, ate dinner, and talked.
None of it had anything to do with the past, but instead something they could both find comfortable to discuss.
Not the law.
Books.
Lucian laughed a few times, especially when Bishop had told him that she couldn’t watch a movie unless she read the book first.
He was the same way.
When they discussed the recent books they’d devoured, they had one in common.
Bishop knew the best icebreaker would be to watch the movie. She didn’t want to add any extra pressure to Lucian’s life. Instead, she kept it easy.
She’d made popcorn, poured more wine, and ordered the movie on pay-per-view. Once it began, they had settled in to enjoy one of their favorite past times.
Two hours passed, and when she glanced over, Lucian was out cold. He’d fallen into deep sleep at some point, and Bishop couldn’t help but stare.
His lips were slightly parted and his good eye was closed, framing his face with really dark eyelashes.
She wanted to kiss him.
Yeah, despite it all, she was crazy about him. The heart wanted what it wanted, and she always went with her gut. He was the way she had to go.
To avoid it would just prolong the anguish.
She loved him.
As she turned off the movie, put away the dishes, and cleaned up, she wasn’t quiet. If he was going to wake up, then she’d give him a fighting chance.
There was no way in hell she was going to send him home. It took years to get him even to talk to her. This was going to be one hell of an uphill battle.
When she returned to the couch, she didn’t want to leave him there as she headed upstairs to her room. It felt wrong.
So, she made the decision.
It looked like they were sleeping together.
The thought made her heart skip.
She nearly wanted to dance around the room. She was going to be sleeping with Lucian Monroe.
Hell yeah!
This is what good karma was all about.
Gently, she moved his legs, placing them where she’d been sitting. He stirred a little, but didn’t wake up. Carefully, she unlaced his shoes and slipped them off his feet.
Lord, the man had big feet.
Jesus.
She tried not to think about what else was big on him. If she did, she’d combust. Instead, she turned off all the lights, but left the one in her reading room on to flood out and give him some light if he woke up.
She didn’t want him to be alarmed.
Then Bishop got to do something she’d always wanted to do. She crawled onto the couch in front of him, pulling the blanket over them. When her head touched his shoulder, he automatically made room for her.
“Bishop,” he muttered.
“I’m here, Lucian. I’ll always be here. I promise.”
Then she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
It wasn’t going to be easy….
This was her greatest dream come true.
* * * O R A C L E * * *
Friday
Something was pressed against his body.
As he rested on his side, Lucian couldn’t remember where the hell he was.
He remembered eating delicious lasagna, drinking a bottle of red wine, and then watching a movie with Bishop.
Then he remembered nothing.
As he tried to figure it out, it was barely light outside. That wasn’t the most surprising thing.
It didn’t shock him that he’d fallen asleep on her couch. He’d slept shitty the last few nights as the visions came. What really blew his mind was that she was on the couch with him.
While she could have gone to bed upstairs, she’d stayed by his side.
Again.
It seemed to be a reoccurring theme with her, and he was glad. Bishop was tucked into his body, and they fit together perfectly. Her head was on his shoulder, his chin was in her hair, and her hand….
It was on his erection.
Yes, he was hard.
This was something else that had died in him ten years ago. Yes, he’d had reoccurring needs, and he’d had to service them himself, but never did he expect a woman’s touch would bring him back to life.
Correction.
It was her touch.
There was no doubt in his mind why he was horny, and it had nothing to do with his hormones and everything to do with the woman against his body.
She felt like heaven.
She was incredibly special.
What felt even better was that she’d let him stay the night in her home. The entire time he was there, Lucian was at peace. There were no visions, no voices, and the demons had been silenced. Being around Bishop was something he could get accustomed to and rather easily.
What else he could really enjoy would be to taste her. Since her hand was braced over his erection, it was only a matter of time before she woke up and figured it out.
He wanted her.
Desperately.
In the last ten years, he’d given up wanting anything but to be left alone. One dinner, one book, one movie, and he’d found those cravings again. Until she came back into his life, they had been dormant. That need had been locked in the chill of his heart until the one woman who could set it free returned.
He needed his Bishop.
In a way, he knew she had always been his. He couldn’t imagine a day without her now that she’d stormed back into his life, forcing him to feel.
God!
He wanted to feel everything she offered him.
So, he was going to take a chance. With gentle fingers, he touched her cheek. The stray red hair was brushed away, so he could have access to her face.
With a little fear, and a whole lot of need, he kissed her on the lips. At first, it was soft.
As he continued, the simple act of warm mouths touching ignited something in him. He could feel the darkness receding from him.
She was pushing it back.
She was saving him.
She was also returning his kiss.
It caught him off guard. She was kissing him back!
“Lucian,” she whispered, afraid to move. If she did, he’d certainly run.
“I had to kiss you.”
She didn’t mind. She’d been dreaming about him. They were together, floating in the peace of being happy, and then she felt his mouth on hers.
He stared down at her.
Neither moved.
“I should go.”
Her heart wanted to break. She’d gotten so damn close this time. He was almost there.
Almost hers.
Almost…
“Please don’t.”
She probably shouldn’t have said it, but why not be honest? Why not tell him what she wanted?
Better yet…
Show him.
Pulling his mouth to hers, she kissed him with every ounce of need in her body. It flowed from her, filling all the cold recesses in his. Where words couldn’t express, actions would.
She could feel him coming to life.
She could feel Lucian returning. His body reacted to her mouth on his, his hands pulled her even closer to him, refusing to let her go.
There was never a more amazing feeling in the world.
When she pulled away, his lip was between her teeth, and he couldn’t help but moan from the overwhelming lust.
God!
He wanted this in the worst way.
“Then don’t. Stay. Let me show you how I feel.”
He craved that.
He craved her.
The sheriff had the power to heal him or break him, and it was clear which she was going to do. He handed her his trust. Along with it, she had his heart.
Bishop would keep him safe, and in return, he’d love her until the day he died.
“On the couch?” he asked. It didn’t seem right. She deserved a castle, the best things in the world, and anything he could offer her.
“Not here,” she whispered, leaving kisses across his jaw. “Let’s go to my room.”
He was good with that.
When she stood, pulling him from the couch, she was again back against him. Her mouth sought his, and he didn’t stop her. He couldn’t.
He wanted Bishop more than he wanted to breathe. This was a hunger that had time to grow, building in him for the last ten years.
The mating of mouths exploded between them, and as they stood in front of the windows, beside the couch, they kissed as if they were trying to devour each other whole.
His deep, breathy moan was the only sound in the room, and it was music to her ears.
She climbed up the front of him, until he was holding her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his hips.
Her hands were in his hair, her mouth was devouring his, and nothing felt this wonderful.
He was alive.
God!
He was alive.
He started walking toward the stairs, bumping into everything along the way. Nothing was safe from his bumbling, bulky stagger.
Still, they didn’t break apart.
His hands were beneath her shirt, and he was working on the clasp on her bra. It was like riding a bicycle.
That instinct was still there, and he was letting the autopilot kick in so he could simply feel.
He could still do this.
Only it would be with someone who wanted him the same way he wanted her. From the way she moaned, kissed, and urged him on, there was no way she was faking this.
Bishop was being Bishop.
That pure unadulterated vibrancy was ebbing from her and into him. It was bringing back that once dead need.
She was giving all she had, and that made him want to do the same. At the top or the stairs, her hands found their way into his pants, and he nearly dropped her. The feeling of warm flesh, other than his own, caressing his erection was so odd, so out of body that he couldn’t focus on anything but it.
Oracle Seeing (The Phoenix Files Book 2) Page 22