Killian felt his face morph to sheepish.
Well, hell. Didn’t he feel like the dumbass now?
He’d just about lost his mind when he saw Rivin. He’d been working in the lab around the virus cultures for weeks. He would be immune to infection, but theoretically could carry it. If Mica or the baby got infected...but Rivin couldn’t have known she was pregnant.
Holding out a hand, he manned up and said, “Sorry, man. I forgot you didn’t know. It’s just...well, I’m worried about them.”
Rivin’s eyes narrowed and he broke into a grin. “Well, I’ll be damned. The great Killian Leahy actually gives a shit about someone? Who the fuck knew this was possible?” He shook his hand and said sincerely, “Congratulations, mate. It’s about damn time.”
“You have no idea,” he muttered in response. Only thousands of years...give or take one or two. “Let’s get out of here so you can fill me in.”
They teleported to John’s pub so they could talk in private. John’s booming baritone greeted them as soon as they pushed open the front door.
“Lads! Come in, come in! Grab a table by the fire. It’s cold as a witch’s tit out there!”
The man had a way with words. Killian was glad to see his old friend and wished he had time to just hang out and relax. Not tonight though; too much to do.
After a quick catching up with them, John headed for the tap and set about getting two tall foamy beverages.
“So what’s the news?” Killian was all business now. Things were coming to a head and he’d been getting that crawling feeling across the back of his neck that usually came just before all hell broke loose. They really needed a break here. So far the intel hadn’t been strong and he was feeling more and more like they were on the losing side of this game. If something didn’t give, a lot of people were gonna die.
Rivin leaned forward on his elbows and lowered his voice. “The analysts are done running scenarios. They think Jordan will try a test run first. He’ll want to see how the dispersal works before launching a full attack. Likely starting points? Who the fuck knows? We have no idea. Could be anywhere.”
That’s not what he wanted to hear. “Are you telling me our analysts can’t narrow down possible locations? I can’t believe that.”
The big Primani twisted the hoop in his ear and frowned into his glass. “Apparently there are too many to narrow down. Killian, this is worse than we thought. There is no chatter about this. None. Zero. Bloody fucking zip.” He paused to take a long pull of his beer before adding, “It’s like the only plans are in Jordan’s head. I gotta give him props. Who knew he was this cagey?”
Good question.
The butler wasn’t.
It wasn’t Jordan calling the shots anymore. Killian had met the real demon in charge...the gravelly voice still sent a chill down his back when he remembered the confrontation in the cathedral. How the hell were they supposed to defeat Satan? The Primani couldn’t do that alone. They weren’t anywhere near strong enough. He’d chew them up and spit them out--dead. The archangels would have to help. It would come down to Michael, really. But even then...it would be an impossible task. After all, the final confrontation was already planned--surely this little attempt at world domination wasn’t going to replace the plans of God.
This wasn’t about the real Armageddon though. This was really about that idiot Jordan’s ego. Stupid shit was going to kill a whole lot of innocent humans for absolutely no reason. There was no way he was going to replace God. It was complete bullshit. Even if he killed off a million people and lit the world on fire, God wasn’t going to step down and turn things over to a crazy ass fallen angel. Satan would know that--he was just helping Jordan along for the joy of screwing with God. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about a few million people dying off. That just made this whole thing even more frustrating. Jordan was a pawn in the oldest game on earth and he didn’t seem to know it. It made Killian shake his head and want to just bitch slap that fallen angel. And then maybe kick him in the teeth.
Rivin knocked his knuckles against the polished table top to get his attention. “Hey! Have you heard a word I’ve said? I’ve got things to do if you’re not interested.”
“Shut up, Rivin. I heard you. All right. Here’s the plan.”
He felt her before he saw her.
She called to him even while he traveled in darkness. His mind, his body, his soul...all three knew exactly where she was at any given second of the day. Like an invisible bungee cord, he swung back to her whenever they were apart. Her essence reached out to him and held him to her plane; he simply closed his eyes now and she pulled him home with the warmth of her saol. Trying to be considerate, he rematerialized in the hallway so he wouldn’t startle her. But he needn’t have bothered. She was sitting up in the bed waiting for him when he slipped inside the room. The small bedside lamp was turned down low sending a soft glow over her face. Her eyes gleamed with humor as her lips curled into a smile.
“Well, it’s about time. I could give birth waiting for you.” The sarcasm was softened by her tone and the gleam in her eyes. Just looking at her sent a curl of heat into his belly. She pulled back the blankets and patted the bed.
In no hurry now, he watched her and appreciated all over again how lucky he was. She’d pulled her heavy hair up into a loose knot that left waves of it flowing down her shoulders. The light caught bits of red and gold glimmering in the rich chocolate strands. He knew exactly how soft it would feel wrapped around his fingers. He couldn’t wait to grab a fistful and tug her head back for a kiss.
“My God, you get more beautiful every time I see you,” he groaned as he crawled in naked beside her. She laughed and kissed his jaw before hugging him closer and covering them up.
“How did it go with Rivin?” She shivered and he felt just a little bad for bringing in the cold air.
“Fine, fine.” He didn’t want to talk about Rivin. He had to leave again and right now he just wanted to curl up with his sexy woman.
He put her off so he could focus on more important things. Like getting her nightshirt off and seeing her naked in his bed. To this end, he leaned her into the pillow and nibbled his way down her neck to the edge of the shirt. It was loose and he pulled it away so he could peak inside. Either she was still cold, or she was happy to see him. He slid the material over her head and dipped his head to warm her skin with his mouth.
Mica sighed and arched her back to give him better access. With a little groan, she slid her hands over his chest like he was some kind of Greek god, worshiping him with her hands, her body. Her thoughts drifted through his mind as he focused his attention on her pleasure. It humbled him to know she loved him so much, found him beautiful and sexy. She was so into him that he felt like a god every time he got naked with her. She made him feel like he could move planets. Her passion for him was like a drug...he wanted her constantly. Since they were reunited, he couldn’t get enough of her. It must be karma making up for lost time.
She dragged her nails slowly over the muscles bunching up on his shoulder and grinned wickedly when he drew in his breath with a hiss.
“I missed you, baby,” she purred against his throat sending little jolts of fire racing down his body.
“I see that. Come closer and let me feel you.” He captured her hands and held them over her head as ran his palm across her breasts and across the sculpted muscles of her belly. The silky texture of her skin was a sharp contrast to the rough calluses of his hands. Goose bumps followed the path of his touch making his own skin prickle with a rush of need.
Lifting his head, he cupped the swell of her belly. “You’ve been eating!”
“Hey!” She smacked him playfully and brought his palm down against her again. She guided his hand around the obvious baby bump. “I think it’s beautiful!”
“Yeah, yeah. Hold still.”
He kissed the taut skin and pressed his ear against her. There it was! A faint little sound, just barely there, it rang like church bel
ls inside his head.
A heartbeat.
“Hey little guy...” he breathed in awe. It was a miracle. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the sound. There was a life in there, just under his cheek. Her child.
Mica twitched underneath him and he lifted his face to find her grinning down at him. “If you’re done communing with the grain of rice, I would like another kiss. On my lips. Up here.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a demanding wench?”
He carefully spread himself across her keeping his weight on his elbows. Leaning down, he tugged her lower lip with his teeth and gently bit down before capturing her mouth with his. She squirmed against him, deepening the kiss with her tongue and he closed his eyes at the pleasure of lying against her. God, he missed this feeling. All those weeks on the road, sleeping rough in the woods or a cave. He’d been ready to come home to her forever, and still they weren’t together. Jordan had a lot to answer for. Bastard.
Sleepy blue eyes locked onto his and he caught his breath at the intensity of her gaze.
Stop daydreaming and make love to me!
Startled, he blinked at her thoughts. Oh, so it’s like that, is it? Well, hmmm.
His mouth curled into a slow smile and he let his eyes travel over her shimmering body. The lamp light lent her skin the most seductive glow...he traced the shadows across her jaw and down her throat with one gentle finger. She reached for him with an impatient sound and he captured her hand in his and kissed the glowing rune. It flashed brilliantly in the dim light until his tingled and burst to life.
“Say that out loud and maybe I will,” he whispered against her neck. “But you have to ask nicely.”
The abrupt intake of breath made him crack a smile, but he smothered it by burying his face against her skin. She wouldn’t do it. She was charmingly shy about what she wanted from him. She was a passionate woman but she couldn’t say the words without blushing to the roots of her hair.
He wrapped her hair around his fingers and captured her mouth with his. It was as much torture for him but anticipation made it all the sweeter.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and he threw the game out the window and plunged into her just as she whispered, “The baby loves you already.”
Screeeeeechh...
Instant cold shower.
He froze and stared down at her face in horror. Then he looked straight down at the point where their bodies were joined and the tiny mound of baby just showing.
Well, now, didn’t he feel just like a pervert? He couldn’t look at that beautiful sight and then...Jesus! Now who’s blushing?
The sound of giggling brought his attention back to the devious wench who was the mother of that baby bump.
Feeling like a jerk, he growled, “Oh, you think you’re funny, do you?” He shifted his hips to the side and flopped down on his back. He snagged the blanket to smash down what was left of his erection and glared balefully at her.
She burst out laughing.
He turned away and pretended interest in the wall. She laughed harder and finally hiccupped and settled down into random snorts and giggles.
“Killian?” Her voice was deceptively sweet now. She was definitely up to something. He felt her poke him in the ribs, and twitched.
He leaned on his elbow and looked down at her smiling face. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glittered. Unable to resist, he traced her bottom lip with his thumb and watched her eyes widen with emotion.
“I love you so much!” Her voice cracked and she clung to him with an iron grip.
His wife had to be the wettest woman on the planet, he thought. Knowing she wouldn’t appreciate his commenting on that, he rubbed her back and made little comforting noises until she relaxed. Usually these tactics worked to slow the tide but not tonight. She seemed more emotional than usual.
Wonder if pregnancy hormones would make her this much worse?
Flashback to their first pregnancy...
Ah, hell.
“I’m sorry...” she sniffed. “I can’t help it! My emotions are a wreck!”
A wave of love and desire hit him in the chest. He glanced down at his skin and was surprised he wasn’t smoking.
“Oh, ow! Make it stop! I can’t control it!” She held out her hands for him to see.
The tips of her fingers glowed white-hot as the strength of her emotions ignited the power of the saol resting inside of her. It caught fire so fast that her skin hummed as the current barreled through her.
Not good.
Using his softest tone, he let his voice wash over her while he smoothed her hair away from her face. “Steady, babe. Breathe slowly...that’s better. Control the power inside of you.”
Her breathing slowed and she stopped trembling.
“That’s it. Control it.”
“Damn it. I hate when that happens! The poor kid’s going to come out Kentucky fried,” she joked dryly, but her strain came through loud and clear.
He captured her hands in his and kissed her fingertips until they faded to healthy pink skin. “Much better,” he complimented. “You’ve been doing great so far; don’t beat yourself up. You can’t help loving me more than life itself--I mean, really, look who I am.”
She nodded at him without laughing at his teasing. The forlorn expression caught at his heartstrings. It was going to be a long nine months.
Taking pity on him, she cupped his cheek and said, “Don’t panic. I’m fine. I swear. It’s the pregnancy; I’m sure of it. Now that I don’t want to puke all the time, I want to eat, cry, and smother everyone around me with love...lots and lots of love! It’s nauseating.” She shook her head and grinned like herself again. “Dec is about to dump me at the local orphanage. He’s forbidden the rental of any, and I mean any, chick flicks. Apparently he’s squeamish about the tears.”
Killian didn’t bother to hide his grin. Instead, he ran his finger over her belly and laughed at the idea of Dec suffering through endless Rom Coms with Mica sobbing happily at the end.
“Don’t let him fool you. He loves a happy ending.”
She raised an eyebrow and glanced meaningfully at his baby-making parts and asked, “And how about you, husband? Do you like a happy ending?”
Suddenly there were way too many blankets on the bed.
Astral Plane #124:
“Ow, shit!” The sound of his voice ricocheted hollowly through a forest that glittered with a million suns. The light blinded him and he held up a hand to shield his face. Peering through his fingers, he groaned with frustration.
Another dead end.
This plane couldn’t possibly support human life. Everything was glass. Crystal-like formations reared up from the earth at his feet like some mad artist shoved them into a corkboard. Leaning crookedly against one another, they dotted the landscape for as far as his eyes could see. The colors were breathtakingly brilliant as the sun beat down from above and turned them into giant prisms.
“Ow, damn it!” His boots were melting. Again. Great. Now he understood how ants felt...
Time to go. Tucking Sgaine Eiron to his chest once more, he closed his eyes and reached out to Aisling.
Lower Manhattan, New York:
“Another beer?” The waiter rolled up and down on the balls of his feet like he was about to take off running. His eyes darted impatiently behind him at the crowded bar. Young and arrogant, he clearly didn’t care if Killian wanted another beer or not. Looked like he was more worried about his metro hair than his job.
Just for kicks, Killian said, “Sure. And bring me another order of wings. Diablo.” He scowled at the put-out expression on the waiter’s--Mike’s--face. Leaning slightly closer, he said, “Unless you have a problem with that?”
As if noticing his customer for the first time, Mike started at his tone and swallowed a rude comeback. Killian wore his favorite faded-to-grey Candlelight Red t-shirt over faded jeans and combat boots. The comfortable clothes did nothing to hide the bulky muscles he carried
around. His forearms were corded with tension as he leaned towards the snotty punk waiter.
Mike flashed a sickly smile and nodded. “Sam Adams and Diablos. Got it. Anything else...sir?”
Much better.
Killian let his mouth curl into a smile knowing it looked more like a snarl. “That’s it for now.”
He watched Metroboy rush over to the bar and stifled a grin when he peered over his shoulder with worried eyes.
“Tsk, tsk. Still so cold? I’d heard you’d mellowed. Guess those rumors were wrong.” The throaty voice was accompanied by the touch of long nails along the side of his neck. “Why don’t I melt some of that ice?”
Reaching up, he grabbed the roaming hand and dragged her around the table. His skin actually crawled and he shoved aside the disgust so it wouldn’t show on his face. The woman slid gracefully into the opposite chair and carefully, artfully, crossed long legs in a short red skirt. Her fuck-me shoes glittered with black stones that weren’t glass. She only wore the best. Black diamonds and imported silk. She was an expensive little whore.
“What do you want, Lara?” he managed without choking on the polite tone.
She tipped her face towards him, showing off her cheekbones and wide eyes. Her red mouth was pulling out all the stops with a serious pout. She licked her lips...to moisten them, of course. The gallon of lip gloss was obviously not doing its job. God, she was so fake.
“I saw you from the street and I just knew you’d like some company. You looked so lonely and I’ve missed you, Killian.” She leaned across the table so he could look down her blouse if he wanted to.
He didn’t. She shifted her arms so her breasts practically fell out of the opening.
He couldn’t help himself. He rolled his eyes until he saw his brain. This bitch had been a pain in his ass for 200 years. She was a stalker long before the word was invented. He’d never been interested in anything she offered, but she wouldn’t let it go. She considered him a challenge.
He would rather stick his dick into a tank of piranhas than inside her overused sewer. And that was before Mica! Now? After finding his wife again? Oh, hell no! He’d cut it off before sticking it anywhere else. She claimed him completely.
The Lost Soul Trilogy (Primani Book 5) Page 102