SE lightly stroked the short curls at the nape of her neck. “Man, I miss the feeling of your nagual, Ihkweea.”
“I know. I’m sorry, my male. I just don’t think it’s a good idea. I’d just spend our whole time together worrying about it anyway. SE, there’s something I need to tell you.” It was now or never.
“Hmm?”
“I need to plan a few missions to Toltec’s lab. I need to do more surveillance on Victrixa.”
Her male sat up so fast she could barely scoot out of the way.
“I’m sorry?”
She looked into his soft brown eyes. The acrid smell of fear hit her nostrils. Damn it. “SE, I know I said I wouldn’t go near her. I wish you’d never let me swear to that. She’s one of the highest ranking leaders in Toltec and by far the most dangerous to our cause. Look, my mother works alone. She trusts no one. We both know she wouldn’t have brought Batiste on board unless she was after something very valuable.”
He ran his hand through his shoulder length hair. “Is Pax going with you?”
She shook her head. “I need to get into her ceiling again. I’m the only one who can gleam in my second form. We have to find out what she’s up to. Besides, she couldn’t sense me at that size unless she was really looking. Recon is the safest work I do, my male. No one even knows I’m there, especially now that I can gleam as Cobra.”
“I know. And a lot of this is just protective instinct. I don’t mean to make it harder for you. It’s just…holy fuck.” In seconds, her mate was on his feet. “I don’t believe it. Why didn’t we think of this before? It’s been staring at us right in the face the whole time.”
“What? Think of what?”
“It’s all related. All of it. Your ability to gleam, your gift to gleam objects, being able to gleam in Cobra form, and what happened at the circle.”
Ana watched her male bounce around the room and tried to follow his stream of thought.
“I mean, think about it. What’s a gleam? Opening and closing a ritual portal at will, right? As New Breeds, we can all use them to move across distances, and so can Evy. What if you’ve been somehow opening a portal for the naguals?”
“But if I could do that, wouldn’t I know it, my male?”
“Not necessarily. Remember you told me that the first time you gleamed an object it was a Snickers bar from a candy machine when you were hungry? You were able to do it and you didn’t even know it until it happened.”
“That’s true.”
“Ihkweea, when Maya gleamed to our room the other day, she materialized at your shoulder and you didn’t seem remotely surprised. I assumed it was because Richard had told you ahead of time what he wanted to try, but you had no idea, did you?”
“No, he hadn’t said anything about it.”
“Somehow you must have detected her as she used a nearby portal.”
Ana stood up and went to her male. “Oh, my Goddess. It happened in the library, too. She gleamed into my arms and I caught her. I just assumed it was New Breed reflexes. Jesus, no wonder Pax was staring at me like I was from another planet.”
SE pulled her into his arms and held her close. “We’re on the right track, Ihkweea. I know we are. We’ll just figure out the nagual part from here.”
Right. They would figure out why she had developed that wonky power. Ana was almost relieved. Wait ’til she told Evy this one. She turned her thoughts to a new worry. The greater the gift, the more spirit energy. That was the rule. So the big question was, how the hell did she get all that k’ul?
She exhaled. She and SE would figure it out like they always did. She hoped.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
James walked down the back stairs to the compound. He really hoped Pax was in a forgiving mood because he felt like a total douche bag. He wouldn’t forgive himself, that’s for fucking sure. His camzah had never done anything for him that wasn’t motivated either by duty or love, no matter how misguided it looked to him yesterday. What happened last night was a casualty of James’s stubborn pride and he intended to tell the male just that. God, how could he have said those things to him? He’d done more than just lash out. He’d hurt him purposely. He was just about to knock on Pax’s door when he noticed he couldn’t pick up on his k’ul. He was probably upstairs at breakfast. James cast out his senses and checked throughout the complex. Huh. That’s weird. Pax wasn’t on the property. It was only a little after nine. He tried the door and found it was unlocked. He figured he’d leave the male a note. Texting Pax to tell him he wanted to talk when he wasn’t sure where he was seemed like a dick move. It would leave way too much open for interpretation.
James reached for a pen on the desk and unintentionally bumped the wireless mouse. The screen saver disappeared and the Puerto Rican newspaper Pax read each morning came up. He was just about to close the laptop when a name in bold caught his eye. Valentino Solares. James could barely speak a word of Spanish, but he recognized the traditional format of an obituary.
Pax’s father. Holy shit. That was it. He was sure Pax had gone home. He looked through the foreign words for numbers to find the times for the wake, the funeral. Anything. Quickly, he wrote down some information on a sticky note. Then he texted Christian about watching Sasha before going into Pax’s closet to find something suitable to put on. He ended up in khakis, a white button down, and the loafers Pax had used to kick a whole in the wall a few days earlier. He looked around the room for the sticky with the info on it, but couldn’t find it anywhere. And, of course, he’d turned off the laptop. Fuck.
An urgency unlike anything he’d felt before began building inside him, and out of nowhere, James somehow knew he could find Pax without it. He hoped to hell he could trust whatever it was. After what he’d done to Pax yesterday and what was happening on the island now, James was growing more worried with every passing moment.
Pax stood at the top of a grassy hill with his hands in his trench coat pockets while he watched the military ceremony down below. It was crowded for a burial, but Pax wouldn’t have expected anything less. The Admiral’s professional life and home life were two very different things. He could see everything in perfect detail from a safe distance thanks to his New Breed sight, but his eyes weren’t on the ceremony being performed in his father’s honor. They were trained on Jesse, who was standing next to their mother. He almost didn’t recognize his younger brother at first. He was taller and more filled out, his dark brown hair just touching his shoulders. Jess seemed to be holding it together, but that didn’t keep Pax from wishing he could see him just to be sure. Except his fucking cloning power was on the fritz. He couldn’t seem to concentrate enough to fire it up, and didn’t dare get any closer without it.
Pax focused on the blown up photo displayed next to the casket of the Admiral in full uniform. His father’s voice came back to him so clearly. So, you’re just going to blow off a promising military career so you can fuck that faggot? Tell me you’re not that stupid, Pax. He’s screwing anything that moves, just like the rest of them. And when he gets enough of you, you’ll end up alone. Well, the Admiral had been right about one thing at least. He looked out on the ocean less than a mile from the cemetery. Pax closed his eyes, letting himself revel in the feel of the ocean breeze hitting his face. I let the shifter thing go because I know there’s nothing you can do about it. You can thank your mother’s side of the family for that. But this is different, Pax. This is a choice. You leave to be with that queer and we’re through. Do you hear me? Done. He could still see the look on Jesse’s face as his younger brother tried to understand what was going on. He knew Pax was gay and what that meant, but he was so confused by the Admiral’s reaction. Don’t you let me catch you with him after he’s gone either, Jesse, or I swear I’ll put you out too.
Pax was never really sure if his father meant that last part or not, but he’d never dared to test him. He exhaled and looked up at the perfect blue sky. A tear traced its way down his face, but he ignored it. James. God, he’d g
ive anything just to hear his voice so it could push his father’s out of his head. You’re not the male I thought you were. Another tear got caught on his bottom lashes. Maybe the old man was right after all. Maybe he would just end up alone.
The tears were coming faster now.
Please. He prayed.
At first, he thought picking up on James’s energy was wishful thinking, but as it grew in strength he somehow found the will to open his eyes. James was walking along the grass toward him. To Pax it seemed as though the male was moving in slow motion, like he would never really get to him. He watched James’s heavy steps as his powerful legs flexed and released under his cotton khakis. His raw, biting need for the male was so strong in that moment, he wished they were alone so he could gleam to him. And then James was in front of him, his strong arms wrapping around him and pulling him into his shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” Pax whispered.
“Shhh. I’m here. Just hold on.”
His body must have taken it literally because he tightened his hold on the male to the point where he thought he might be hurting him. But James held on right back. Pax wasn’t sure how long they’d stayed that way, but when the beginning notes of “Taps” sounded, he stepped back and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Shit. We should go.”
“Back to Boston?”
Pax shook his head. “No, not yet. I don’t think I can deal with that whole scene right now. Do you want to come back to the house? You came all this way. The least I can do is feed you.”
James smiled. “Sure.”
James stood next to Pax in front of a small two story white stucco house right on the beach. There was a pretty ground level porch on the first floor with a balcony that ran across the whole front of the house on the second. Big windows with blinds were all along both levels. “I didn’t know you had a house on the island.”
Pax walked onto the porch and punched the code to the alarm. “Yeah, I bought it about eight months ago. I figured it might be nice to come back here occasionally, but I’ve only been here a couple of times since I bought it and that was just to work on it. Diesel’s the only other brother who knows. It definitely breaks a few of the Order’s rules.”
They walked into the house and James found himself in a fully open first floor with a beautiful kitchen, dining room, and living area. It was decorated in mellow beiges and whites. Very clean lines and very modern. James could definitely tell Pax had done it himself. “This is really great.”
“Thanks. I wish I were here more. I have a local shifter come in to handle the upkeep. I let him know I was coming, so hopefully we have food and alcohol.” The male checked out the wet bar. “Jackpot. Can I make you a drink?”
James took off his trench and walked around the room, checking out the books on a built-in shelf. “Actually, that sounds good.”
“What can I make you?”
“Oh, I dunno. Something islandy.”
Pax barked a laugh. “You got it. How’s Sasha? She with Christian?”
James pulled down what looked like the world’s oldest bible. He opened the cover and was surprised to see Pax’s family tree listed out across two pages. “She’s great. Yeah, Chris has her for as long as we need.”
He rolled his eyes. Fuck, did he just say that? This was hardly an island vacation. He had no idea where they stood.
Pax came up behind him and shook a tumbler with ice and some kind of alcohol.
“What is it?”
“Amber rum. It was either that or some fruity thing with an umbrella. I took a chance. I see you’ve found Abuelita’s old bible. My mother’s mother.”
James looked at all the names and dates, noticing some had an ‘n’ in parenthesis after the name. He looked over at his camzah who was sipping his drink. “Do those letters mean what I think they mean?”
“Yep. Nagual.”
James could feel his jaw drop. “She kept track?”
Pax nodded. “She kept track.”
“Wow.”
“My mother gave it to me when I left home. She regretted not stepping in when the Admiral kicked me out. But it wasn’t her fault. Listen, I could really use a nap before we eat. I was up all night. If you want to swim, there are suits and towels in the bathroom just down that short hall.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Pax headed upstairs, while James fixed himself another drink before going out to sit on the front porch. He hoped being here was making things easier on the male rather than harder. His own insides felt like they’d been just about ripped in half, but he only had himself to blame for that. He rolled his eyes. What an asshole. It didn’t stop him from wishing he’d been invited upstairs, though. Instead of being in Pax’s bed, he was banished to the porch. Did Pax think he was still pissed? Either that or he was mad at James for what he’d said. The more rum James sipped, the more he wanted to be upstairs with his mouth on the male. He sat there, thinking of his smell, his taste, his touch. Screw this. James put down his drink and went inside. He walked quickly through the living room and dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the top, Pax was coming down the hallway toward him wearing nothing but his khakis. It wouldn’t take long to get those off.
His camzah grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall, his mouth coming down hard on his own. James opened to him, their tongues dueling with one another as they battled for dominance. When they were breathless, Pax took James by the hand and started back down the hallway. They barely made it into the bedroom before the male’s mouth was on his neck, going for that sweet spot just under his jaw.
“Ah, Pax. Fuck.”
“Goddess, you taste good,” Pax said against him, his teeth digging into his skin. “I can’t believe I’ve kept my hands off you this long.”
Christ that was hot. James could have burst right then, but there was no way he was going to let that happen. Not this time. He ran his hands up his camzah’s bare back, feeling the muscles contract under his touch. Jesus, he’d never wanted anything as badly as he wanted his mouth on Pax. But when he slipped his hand down to the button on his pants, the brother took him by the wrist and stopped him.
“You can take care of me later. Right now, I want my tongue in your ass.” Pax looked at him with those strange shimmering New Breed eyes. “Tell me you want that, James. I’m going crazy here.”
James groaned. Hell, yeah, he wanted that. Right. Now. “Yes.”
“Thank fuck,” Pax bit out. He unbuttoned James’s shirt and slipped it off before giving him a shove in the direction of the bed. James shucked off his pants and boxer briefs on his way. He lay on his side, wrapped a hand around his cock, and stroked himself lightly as he watched Pax undress.
“Shit. I hope I have lube.” James heard his camzah mumble before he took a tube out of the nightstand and tossed it on the bed.
Pax grabbed two pillows, stacked them one on top of the other, and patted the pile with his hand. “Lay down so they’re under your stomach.”
The moment James lay down, his ass pushed up into the air like it didn’t think the pillows were enough.
Pax chuckled and kneaded James’s cheeks with his hands before giving the right one a slap. “Jesus, I love your ass. Spread your legs a little more for me. Ah, yeah.”
Pax spread his cheeks wide and James froze, tensing instantly when he realized exactly what the male was looking at. He was suddenly self-conscious, his face flushing.
“No, baby, don’t. Don’t pull away. You’re fucking beautiful, James. I promise you.” His camzah kissed one of his cheeks and James ordered himself to calm the fuck down. This was Pax.
Suddenly James felt cool air on his hole. It woke up his nerves, making his ass and even his dick tingle. “Oh, my God. Do that again.”
More of the tingle, and then it was replaced by the warm wet of Pax’s tongue as he ran it lightly over his hole. “You taste so fucking good. I can’t get enough of you.”
A chill ran down James’s
spine at the brother’s words. As Pax licked, rubbed, and pushed at his hole again and again, the sheer pleasure of it disarmed James and he began to push back at Pax’s face. Even the male’s short beard growth felt amazing.
“More,” James moaned.
“Hang on.” The top of the lube popped. “This might be a little cold at first.”
James sucked in his breath as Pax rubbed the lube on his hole with his finger.
“I need you to relax your muscles. Breathe into your belly a couples of times, nice and slow.”
After a few deep breaths, James’s body let go and Pax’s finger began to message the bands of muscle at his opening. And then slowly and gently James felt that finger make its way inside him, stretching him as it went. At first the pressure was uncomfortable, but then Pax’s tongue joined his finger.
“Oh, shit.” James gasped.
And then there was only the male’s tongue, hard and wet as it pushed inside and then retreated.
“That feels so fucking good.” James moaned.
Over and over Pax fucked him with his tongue, each time going in deep before pulling out almost all the way. James’s whole body was on fire with sensation, but behind the pleasure an urgency was building. “Shit. I need to come. Pax…”
To his surprise, the finger came back, probing a little deeper than the first time. Pax rubbed something inside him and James’s release shot out of his cock. Pax just kept right on doing whatever he was doing and James came over and over. He’d never felt anything like it. His hands and knees went weak and his camzah was right there, wrapping his arms around him, then pulling him down to the mattress next to him.
Desperate Call (New Breed Novels Book 5) Page 12