by Rena Marks
“Lily is his sitter today, but she wanted to attend a function. She’ll pick him up after lunch. I told her you wouldn’t mind Kaden sitting in on your session.”
“Hmmph.” Tempest stared at her purple tinged fingernails, a distraction to keep her from admitting that she did not mind Kaden being in the room. “You wouldn’t think you’d be short on sitters with the way they used to clamor to change his miniscule diapers in the beginning. People are so fickle.”
Robyn’s smile was serene as if she had known Tempest wouldn’t mind—well, actually, kind of enjoyed—the smell of fresh baby air freshener in the office.
“But back to me,” Tempest said suddenly, before Robyn picked up on too much. “This human may be thwarting my progress. I demand to have another trainer.”
“It’s not possible,” Robyn said. “Shawn is the best. We already determined you need the best.” But then Robyn surprised her. “Tell me something you would tell a friend, Tempest. Not a therapist. Not an administrator of Xenia. But a friend.”
It was apparent by the return to this conversation of “friendship” that Robyn didn’t feel Tempest was capable of having friends. And she was. She just had to prove it.
“When Shawn was stretched out over my body, he whispered into my ear that he remembered an arrangement we made right before I killed him.”
She stopped because now that it was out in the open, it made it somewhat more…real.
“What was the arrangement, Tempest?” Robyn asked.
“We were to explore a sexually fulfilling side arrangement.”
Robyn leaned back, apparently back in therapist mode. “And how did you feel over his recollection?”
She could have felt trapped. She could have felt angered. But she didn’t. She felt…
“Guilty. He’d agreed to my wishes…and it was my idea. Then I killed him.”
“It was an accident, Tempest.”
Words she’d heard many, many times. But those simple words didn’t negate the fact that Shawn was human—and therefore weak.
“The human is weak,” she snarled. “I choose another.”
Robyn leaned back, glancing at her watch as she did so. A signal that another appointment approached, or that her time was up. A signal that perhaps this wasn’t the friendship Tempest claimed but merely what Robyn had claimed. A work appointment. Were her other friendships that meaningless also?
“I’ll make a deal with you, girlfriend,” Robyn said, stressing the word. “You prove Shawn is weak. Conquer him. And I’ll give you someone else.”
Tempest jumped to her feet, furious. Robyn knew damn good and well she couldn’t conquer Shawn. She’d hurt him—just as she had hurt him over a year ago.
“I’ll take the pipsqueak to the park until Lily has had her cooking lesson,” she snarled, just to prove she knew why Lily was late for babysitting. Hell, even if they weren’t friends, it wasn’t hard to figure out. The woman was obsessed with cooking. “Heaven forbid your next appointment gets less than your full attention because pipsqueak has been cooing in this pen distracting your patients.” She snatched the baby up, who clung to her like a little monkey. She carefully tucked a little blanket around him, because he was still small, and therefore might get cold. Then she grabbed his toy elephant. And perhaps he might want the baby leopard, too.
“Don’t forget the diaper bag,” Robyn said, turning toward her cup of coffee as she hid a smile.
And that. That hidden smile was the friendship Tempest had stressed, but they all seemed to think she was crazy. So it made her snap out, “I’m already weighed down like a pack mule taking care of your child. Next time use birth control.” She grabbed the diaper bag, hoisted it over her opposite shoulder and stomped off with Kaden.
She didn’t miss the fact that Jason waited in the lobby. Apparently, Shawn’s leader was Robyn’s next appointment. Figured.
“Aww,” Kaden said, his tiny, four-fingered hand on her cheek as he snuggled against her.
“It is all right,” she told him. “Let Jason have his time. I shall merely express all my frustration onto you at the park.”
Once there, Tempest took time for safety measures. She made a mound of extra foam chips first, then placed his stuffed animals and blankets at the point under the swings where she’d measured countless times before. She looked around, satisfied with her work. Finally, she stuck the silver being into the swing, gently pulled his scrawny legs through the holes, and watched him clap gleefully. He knew what was coming.
“You must learn to hold tightly onto the ropes, Kaden,” she said, waiting until his tiny fists closed before she’d push. It was only here, when they were alone, when she’d refer to him by his name.
“I cannot believe that your mother thinks my friendships are lacking,” she said, giving him a push. “I was the one who friended Lily when she was a geeky, unpopular child. Sunny? I agreed to work so she wouldn’t be lonely and unprotected returning to the gates after her kidnapping.”
Kaden cackled as if he’d never been on a swing before, but it was just his excitement at being allowed to go so high.
When the swing returned to her, she said, “And that Shawn. Looks like he gets away with humiliating me like a petrified female in front of all the other Xeno Sapiens of the land.” She pushed again, aware her voice was a little dramatic, but who cared? It was only Kaden listening.
Once again the swing returned, the baby’s high-pitched giggles slowing as he lowered, but heaving in a breath as if he anticipated the next push.
“And to think he immediately ran crying to his boss, Jason? Who showed up at Robyn’s right after my session? Bah.” She blasted the swing out like a rocketship to Mars.
This time, his giggles roared so loud, she was afraid he might choke, because surely he couldn’t breathe. Might let go of the ropes he held onto so he could clutch his aching sides. She should have thought to check his diaper for previous saturation.
“I’m not sure anyone would approve of Kaden swinging that high,” a droll voice behind her said.
Lily.
Tempest caught the swing, let Kaden take a few gulps of air through his laughter, and pushed it out again. “He loves it.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “That’s not the point. It’s unsafe.”
“How? Robyn has designed this infant park with enough foam chips to catch a full grown man falling from a spacecraft in the sky.”
“The concentration of those chips surrounds the swings at strategic places where they could possibly fall when swinging at a normal pace,” Lily said and then her voice dropped off as she studied the blankets and toys Tempest brought. Her eyes narrowed as something dawned on her. But it took her several moments to comment. “You’ve calculated the distance—the depth of the—for a higher fall—”
“If something should snap on the swing and Kaden should happen to come loose,” Tempest said. “His fall from this speed would mean he lands at an approximate location of the spot marked by blankets. The cushion provides all he would need to keep him safe as he drops into the foam chips.”
Lily looked amazed.
“What?” Tempest snarled, uncomfortable with her scrutiny.
“You’ve been keeping him safe? All this time?”
Yes. She’d been swinging Kaden since he was much smaller but that wasn’t the point.
“Well, of course,” she snapped. “What do you think? I’m a monster?”
Lily giggled. “Of course not. I think you’re too smart in that head of yours.” She reached over and tapped Tempest on the skull. “I think he’s gotten his exercise for the day. I brought a picnic lunch. What say we head over to the outstretched blankets there and have a bite?”
Lily wanted to eat with her? This…this was the friendship that Tempest had spoke of to Robyn. Why couldn’t this proof had been a mere half hour earlier?
“Your man couldn’t wait to get to Robyn’s office to smooth things over after my altercation with Shawn this morning.” If her voice sounded
somewhat accusatory, so be it.
“What was your altercation over?” Lily asked.
“Shawn held me down and forced me to endure his body spread over mine.”
“Ahh,” Lily said, opening the basket she had brought with her and unwrapping sandwiches. She gave a small piece to Kaden. “Wanted to teach you he wouldn’t break, did he?”
Tempest felt her cheeks darken. “Does everyone assume that? Suppose it was more than that? Suppose he was copping a feel?”
“I’m sure he was doing that, too,” Lily said, bursting out laughing. “And I’m sure Robyn thought that. Live a little, Tempest. A handsome man lined up his hard, muscular body to yours. Enjoy the naughty moment.”
“Does no one in this city have morals any longer?” Tempest snarled.
“Oh, honey. If you truly didn’t want it, we’d be behind you one hundred percent. But let’s be honest. How did it feel to have his body on top of yours?”
Tempest sighed. “It was perfectly delicious. More so than this sandwich, which is pretty good, by the way.”
“Egg salad. I’m perfecting the recipe to be the best it can be.”
“I’d say it’s there, but then again, I have nothing to compare it to.”
Lily snickered and took a huge bite of hers, then reached out with a napkin to wipe Kaden’s chin.
“Messy baby,” Tempest chided. “I’m not the type to fawn over a male,” she said to Lily. “Especially not a weak human.”
“Weakness is in the eye of the beholder,” Lily said. “Most people would call him strong. He’s been through death’s doors and back.”
“I don’t need anyone with weakness,” Tempest said.
“You used to say you didn’t need anyone at all. But because you’ve changed your mind to say anyone with weakness, it proves that you have your sights aimed on Shawn.”
Tempest felt herself go rigid with shock.
“What do you mean?”
“That day in the ring. You told me you didn’t need anyone. I was a petty child and I said no one needed you. I was wrong, Tempest. Shawn needs you. What other hot tough guy would put up with the fussing you’d done over his recovery this last year and a half?”
“I would have done that for anyone,” Tempest declared. “I’m quite maternal inside. Look at how I care for pipsqueak.”
He giggled when he flung a bit of egg at her and she caught it with her open mouth.
“Besides, I did kill him. I merely nursed him out of guilt.”
“If that’s how you feel,” Lily said. “But how are you going to feel when Shawn remembers you and he were going into a relationship?”
This day was continuing with the shock effects.
“Are there no secrets in this land? Did Robyn share that with you?”
“Nah,” Lily said. “I saw it in your mind that day you let me in to save Shawn. Don’t worry. I never told anyone. Not even Jason.”
That made her feel a bit more comforted that Lily was on her side. “Shawn remembered,” she admitted. “That’s why I went to see Robyn.”
“Because you’re not quite sure how to feel about that?”
“No. We agreed to get that…”she squirmed uncomfortably. “…itch out of our systems. But that was before everything happened. And the itch went away with his memories, so it left me feeling as though perhaps it was only on my end. And I don’t like feeling that way.”
“No woman would,” Lily agreed. “But who’s to say he didn’t remember earlier and just hadn’t said anything?”
“Why wouldn’t he have said anything?”
“Because he’s human and they think differently than we do.” Lily shrugged. “Because he knew you felt guilty over killing him. Guilty enough to play his doting nurse for over a year.”
“He was a rather frustrating patient. Always fending off my attempts to bathe him.”
Lily outright laughed. “Because he was probably trying to hide an explosive erection half the time.”
“What?” Tempest blinked. “Do you think so?”
“Yeah. I really do. Next time he mentions the arrangement just raise your eyebrow in that cocky Tempest way and say, ‘Yeah, big boy? What of it?’ or something like that. Use your own words of course,” Lily said.
Tempest snorted. “I should hope so. I would never call him big boy.”
“Ung!” Kaden snapped.
“Well, unless it is you, big boy,” Tempest winked.
Lily began cleaning up the picnic mess. “I’m going to get little silver-skin out of the sun. Want to come over to my place?”
She was making great strides with this friendship.
“I will pass. I must get to my own place to shower,” she said. “However, I enjoyed our chat. Perhaps I will meet you again the next time you babysit?”
“It doesn’t have to wait,” Lily said, folding the last blanket and stuffing it into the bag. “You can call me whenever you wish, Tempest.” She picked up Kaden, who puckered for a kiss.
Tempest felt her heart melt a little as she kissed the tiny silver bow-lips.
Chapter Three
Shawn:
HE’D LOVED THAT woman since the first day he met her. It was obvious back then that she preferred Jason to him, but that was okay. Shawn was used to sitting back and being patient. It was admittedly more difficult as his love for her grew. There was nothing as torturous as watching the one you love pine after another.
It was painful…and a relief to have Jason fall head over hills for their little charge, Lily. She’d been forced to grow up nearly overnight and along with her growth spurt grew Jason’s heart. Jason had no time left to nurture the much feistier Tempest.
Oh, Tempest felt the pain, and for that, Shawn’s heart broke. It was one more rejection in her life—but Shawn could hardly tell her he’d never allow her to be rejected again. Instead, again he waited. Waited for her delicate heart to mend, trained her to focus on her control and—magically, slowly, naturally—she turned to him.
Those early days had been bliss. He was sure she’d gotten over her infatuation with Jason. Awareness charged between Shawn and Tempest instead. They were focused on each other; he teaching her control and how to not hurt others, she focusing on not hurting him. He had no idea what had happened with Lily and Tempest in the ring that fateful day—he’d just known that Lily had reverted to her teenage mind. After one knew Lily, you could tell. Her facial expressions changed, becoming sullen. Her tone changed, a bit whiny and immature.
He wasn’t sure what she’d said to Tempest to cause a bloodfest. All he knew was he had to protect Tempest at all costs. No one understood her like he did. Tempest was harsh and explosive—so she didn’t have to feel. She loved hard and it was easier to keep others at arm’s length rather than hurt them. He knew if she didn’t maintain control with Lily, she’d regret it for the rest of her life. For that reason alone, he pulled her away from the teenage girl trapped in the body of a woman. The girl that Tempest protected without anyone realizing.
He didn’t count on her control snapping just as her dead weight dropped onto him. From that point on, he remembered nothing.
Nothing save waking in the hospital and being told he’d died. That Lily and Tempest had held onto his soul while the doctors repaired his broken body with some kind of magical surge of Xeno Sapien powers. Later, Lily had told him that it was Tempest who’d sacrificed the most—allowing Lily to break her bones into the holes she’d plunged into his vital organs, plugging the blood flow until the doctors could repair. It was enormous pain to her.
And his sweet woman never once complained. Never once let on that her pain wasn’t relieved until she had word that he’d live. Only then had she allowed them to plunge her into the pain relief of a coma.
But this setback of her control did more damage than he could have imagined. She was obsessive when she woke, at his side constantly. Not that he minded a fussy nursemaid. He wanted to kiss her delectable lips when she pursed them, thinking he may overstra
in his “weak” human body. Despite the fact, he didn’t miss how her eyes trailed over his form—his obscenely bulging “human” muscles. Not once did she mention the pact she’d suggested—no, promised—the same day he died.
To relieve their sexual tension by fucking.
It was a dream come true. He finally had the means to show her how he was the only man for her. But as of now? She deliberately forgot the arrangement. He waited, patiently, for a sign. Any sign. None was forthcoming.
It took months for her to break from her obsessive mode at caring for him. And now that she had, it was time. It was time to take control again—and make her face the relationship she’d put on a back burner.
Because frankly, Shawn’s patience was at the end. There was no more waiting.
It didn’t matter that Tempest didn’t show up for training today. He knew he’d see her during patrol. It was inevitable; he was the boss. He’d call in Beast and Sunny for extra hands—and he’d use his time to paste himself to her side.
She was gonna face this. She was his and as soon as she realized it, the better off they’d be.
“Sam! Blaze.” He called out. “East wall, today. Trance. Adam. I’ll take you two on the south side. Trance, do me a favor and contact Beast. Get him to Sunny’s side. North wall.”
“Right away, boss.” Trance was a Xeno Sapien and would contact Beast telepathically. Damn convenient way to communicate.
“Hey, boss, are we training after work at the pits?” Adam asked.
“That depends on Tempest.” Shawn’s voice was grim. It quieted any further questions because everyone—every single person here—knew how volatile Tempest was since Shawn’s recovery. He cleared his throat. “If I’m not there, Jason will be.”
Adam gave a quick nod and then she was there.
She dressed no differently than the rest of patrol. A sleek, black suit—built-in protective shields at the chest and back. A helmet, designed to cool and protect the head as they walked the higher temperatures upon the walls. Knee-length, black boots designed to cushion the foot and ankles; relieve stress on the knees. But something about her—the more vulnerable way she walked, perhaps, something signified it was Tempest approaching.