"People will see," I protested.
He held my hands out to the side while he ran his tongue up my neck. "Let them."
My entire back tattoo was on display. Shivers raked up and down my body, paralyzing me. Finally, he released me and my bare feet touched the floor. He unzipped my pants, slowly sliding them down my thighs until I stepped out. I did the same for him.
We paused apart, our eyes running up and down the length of each other's bodies.
"It's been so long," I whispered, folding my arms over my midsection.
He stepped in. "It's still me."
"I know." I ran my hand over the stubble on his cheek, then let it drop. "It's just – I'm not sure how much of me is left."
He took my hand, entwining our fingers. "I don't have any protection. Maybe we shouldn't. I mean, what if you—"
"I can't get pregnant again." I swallowed hard. "At least, I don't think I can."
"Okay," he whispered. "Then let's find out how much of Kaitlyn is left." He took my arm at the elbow, guiding me to the pillows. "Lay down."
I obeyed, biting at my lip.
He followed me down. "Stop that. I'll do the only biting tonight." He ran his tongue the length of my lower lip, then nibbled at the corner. His knee snaked up in between my legs giving him access. I melted, relaxing my legs. It felt good to let someone else be in charge of my destiny; especially when destiny ended in an orgasm.
His hand made small, teasing circles. Around my nipples, down my stomach, and in between my legs. He pressed his fingers in until they came out wet.
"Ready?" he asked, positioning himself over my entrance.
"Stop stalling." My whole body clenched in anticipation.
He leaned in slow, pausing just as I felt his light touch. "Promise me. You have to promise me you'll stay. Don't go back to him."
I looked up, his eyes were pleading. So were mine. "Let's not do this now."
"I have to, I can't lose you ever again."
I lifted myself up on my elbows. "No."
"What?" He rocked back on his heels.
I sat up. "I left her, Micah. Can you grasp how big that is? I abandoned my child."
He shook his head. "You didn't—"
I held up my hand, cutting him off. "As long as I am close to Shawn, I know she is safe."
He reached out and pulled on my wrist until I joined him on my knees. He traced my wrist tattoo with the pad of his thumb.
I am the hero of this story.
"You can't save everyone, Kaitlyn."
"You're right." My eyes flitted over to the window, seeking the glow of the 16th Street Mall. "But I can save her." I looked back at him. "Are you done bribing me with sex?"
He smiled. "Are you done being a control freak?"
"Hardly." I pushed on his shoulders and he fell back on the pillows. I climbed, positioning over him, and lowered myself. Slowly.
He tried sitting up. I pushed him back down. "Stay still," I hissed. I lowered myself a few more centimeters. He was stretching me out unbearably wide.
"Kaitlyn…" He gritted his teeth. "I can't wait, I need you now."
I lifted myself up a little, threatening to release him completely. "I waited two years for you. You can handle this. Now, don't move."
He looked at me, narrowing his eyes, debating. Finally, he relented and laid his head back against the pillows.
He was going to pay for his hesitation. "Put your hands behind your head."
When he obeyed, I lowered myself a little more.
"Please," he groaned. "Let me touch you."
"No." I caught the hand he extended by the wrist, then leaned forward to hold them both down. The movement opened me up, and I slid the rest of the way down. We both sucked in our breath. It was almost painful…almost.
I scooted my knees forward, getting them under me. I raised myself all the way up until we were about to detach, then lowered again. Four slow counts up, four slow counts down.
Micah groaned again. Still holding him down, I turned his head with my chin until his ear was exposed.
"Shhh," I whispered. Four up, four down.
"Kaitlyn—"
"Shut up." My lips stayed at his ear. My tongue snaked in and out. I felt him shiver underneath me. "Do you know what I had to do without you?"
He didn't answer.
Good boy. I moved faster now. Three counts up, three counts down. "I had to pleasure myself."
He shivered again. I bit down on his ear lobe. "I did it with our toy rock. I worked it without you." Two counts up, two down. My knuckles were turning white around his wrists. My hips pivoted back and forth as I moved up and down his length. My whole body began to tingle with energy.
"Oh my God." My back arched, head tilting back. One up, one down. "Now, Micah. Touch me now!"
As soon as I released his hands, he was against me – turning me over. Pillows scattered; my back hit hard floor. His hips went into motion. He thrust forward, faster than I could do it. I would've been shoved back, if it weren't for his lips pinning me into place. He forced his tongue into my mouth. It was my turn to groan.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and lifted my hips, encouraging him. The energy still flowed. I took it in, swimming in it. Wine in my head, adrenaline in my veins.
One final, deep push, and we climaxed together. Our muscles vibrated with tension, until he collapsed over me. Full of renewed energy, I pushed him off, then sprung to my feet. My hands practically glowed with light; I needed to return the power before I exploded.
I spun in a circle, holding onto it for one last second, then raised my arm up and out. Akasha burst out of one of the windows. An unstoppable stream of light. The glass shattered, littering the pavement 250 feet below.
"Stop! He'll see it!" I felt Micah's hand on my ankle.
It didn't take long, Akasha expended in a matter of seconds. I looked down. Micah was still on the floor, breathing hard.
I bent down next to him. "What's the matter?"
He shook his head. "Help me to the pillows."
I put my arms under his shoulders and pulled until he was on top of blankets, one pillow under his head. He was much lighter than I remembered.
He was starting to shiver. I threw another blanket over him, then crawled under, wrapping him in my own body heat.
"Did I do this?" I asked.
He nodded, finally getting his breath back. "I think you stole my energy."
My hand went to my mouth. "Oh, man. It was the Great Rite."
"What?"
I turned on my back, staring up at the shattered window. Two years of anarchy, and the observation tower remained intact. Until I arrived. "It was what Shawn did to me on the Galapagos. It wasn't just rape – he was absorbing my energy; my magic, through the Great Rite." I sat up. "I can't believe I just…Shawned you!"
His hand went to my shoulder, pulling me back down. "You didn't 'Shawn' me. This was consensual. Totally different."
"Was it?" I wasn't sure.
Neither of us spoke for several minutes. The moon crept into view outside.
"It gave you power," Micah finally spoke.
I nodded. "Instant Akasha."
Neither of us said it in the open, but the possibility was there. The Great Rite would give us what we needed to defeat Shawn.
Chapter 46
Giving More
I watched the sun rise from the other side of the observation tower. All around us, the park was slowly waking up. Dozens of people exited the park buildings with packs on their backs and push carts in tow. They headed east, toward the rising sun.
I heard Micah cough. His heavy footsteps made their way around the circular tower to me.
"Did you sleep at all?" he asked, joining me at the window and rubbing his temples.
"Maybe an hour," I answered. "I kept seeing Natasha's face."
He put an arm around me.
I leaned into him, "How about you? Are you doing okay?"
"I feel…hung over. Probabl
y just need some food." He yawned, then looked at the stream of people leaving. "Heading to the silo; first group of many. I'm supposed to go with the last of them."
I stiffened. I wasn't ready for this conversation yet. I had thought there'd be other things to do first – like breakfast.
When I didn't respond, he continued, "But I won't. I'm staying – I'm going to camp with you during the day."
I looked up at him. "You'll be recognized."
"No." He shook his head. "Nobody from One Less knows who I am. I wasn't at the battle at the caves, remember?"
"What about Shawn?"
"Yeah – that is the one we'll have to look out for. But I think we can handle it."
"But—"
"Not up for discussion," he said, interrupting. "If you're there, I'm there."
I sighed, running through all the implications in my head. None of them ended well.
"What river is that?" I asked, nodding to my left.
"South Platte."
"Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Platte," I whispered. The list of rivers ran through my head; my mantra to keep me sane on my road to Micah. Now I was here, and I had failed miserably in the 'sane' department.
"What?" Micah asked.
"Nothing." I sighed. "I have to say, it's awesome being up this high – until you have to pee."
He laughed, then shuffled over to the wall, "Every penthouse comes with its own amenities." He held up a large, round pan.
I put my hand over my mouth. "I am not peeing in that thing. Is that an old oil pan?"
He smiled, reached in, and pulled out a funnel.
I laughed, stepping toward him. "I don't think so, guy." I nudged his shoulder as I passed. "I'm going to go down, are you—" I stopped when I turned back to look at him. "Are you okay?"
He was leaning against a railing. Had I knocked him over?
"I'm fine. You go ahead. I'll get dressed and meet you down there." He shooed me away with one hand.
Under my scrutiny, he straightened up, pulling his shoulders back.
"Okay, don't take too long." I stepped into the stairwell.
When I turned back around, he was slowly sinking to the floor. I hesitated, and then I did what I had to do. I walked away.
* * *
Micah sat there for several minutes, using his hands to hold up his head.
It'll get better, he told himself. I just need to get some food.
There was no energy left. His limbs were weighted. Walking to Kaitlyn, then holding up an oil pan had left him shaking with exhaustion.
I can't make the walk back to the mall, but I can't let her go alone.
He'd just need to stall; time might bring him some strength. He crawled back to the other side of the observation tower. It was painfully slow, bringing a dull ache to his knees. Micah swore the path of the sun was moving faster than he could. Once back at the blankets, he rooted through the few bags he owned, pulling out crackers. He laid back, breathing hard. Before he could unwrap them, he closed his eyes.
When he came to, the sun was glaring down on him.
Shit – did I pass out?
He shielded his face, and pushed himself up off the ground, crackers in hand. He ate as he limped to the stairs. He stood at the top, wondering how many there were.
Too many, and I've already taken too long.
Micah turned, approaching the elevator shaft. The doors were wedged open, though the elevator itself sat at the bottom. A long rope dangled down the dark passage, one end of it tied off in a loop. Micah swallowed the last cracker, and untied a pair of thick gloves tethered just inside the shaft. He put one foot through the loop and squeezed both sides of the rope before transferring his body weight inside.
His other foot pushed off, and for a heart-stopping moment he dangled in the darkness, praying his hands held enough strength to squeeze. He loosened his fists and began his descent.
When his feet hit solid ground, he let his breath out, flexing his hands. He'd have to reset his escape route later. He took one step outside, then another. The crackers were already taking effect. When the sun hit him again, he stretched.
"Where is she?" he asked the guard by the tower, waiting his turn to go up.
"Went to the river." The guard stood, slinging a backpack over his shoulder.
Micah nodded. "We need to start manning the tower 24-7. Plan on having someone there nights, even when I'm there. They can go up top."
"It'll get difficult as more of us leave for the silo."
"I know, let's make it a priority though – until the last group is gone. We’re way too close to One Less."
"I'll put together a schedule," the guard said, as he headed up the stairs.
Micah started for the river. When he approached, Kaitlyn was helping several women with laundry.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
Micah raised his eyebrow. She hadn't even turned around yet. "Sorry…I was rotating guards, and made a schedule. They'll be up there all day and night, now."
"Even when we're there?" She turned around with a teasing smile.
"There’s another level," Micah said. "Guess we'll find out how soundproof it is."
Kaitlyn wiped her face with the inside of her arm. Her hands were dripping wet with cold river water. "I can give it back, you know." Her voice had lowered, forehead creased. "This energy thing goes both ways."
He looked at her pile of already-washed clothes. It was three times the size of any of the other piles. Before he answered, she turned back to her work like she couldn't sit still. Kaitlyn bent over the river, shoulder and back muscles flexing as she ran a blanket up and down the grooves of the oak washboard. Micah remembered making the thing out of a door.
"Slow down, girl. You're making us look bad." The woman next to her nudged Kaitlyn.
Kaitlyn smiled. "I don't really have my own stuff to wash, anyway." She only wore a sports bra on top. The intricate tattoo compass contracting and expanding as she moved. She turned, throwing the blanket on top of her pile. The sun glinted off her shoulder, revealing the raised tissue. Shawn's mark.
The smiled died from Micah's face.
She is going to need as much help as she can get; and if this is the best way I can help her…
Kaitlyn scooped her hands under the sopping wet pile of material and lifted, carrying it over to the drying area. Micah followed, hands empty. He watched as she threw blankets and clothes, positioning them over the lines. Pieces of metal track from one of the roller coasters were lashed together and balanced from one tree limb to the next. Wind over the open river would help to dry the clothes. Their days of using Airs were over. They couldn't risk One Less detecting them now.
"Well?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Well what?"
She turned, hand on hip. "Do you want it back?"
Micah shook his head,. "No – I want to give more."
It was Kaitlyn's turn to shake her head. "I don't think you'd survive it."
"We'll figure something out," Micah said, bending to pick up a cotton shirt from the pile. He raised it slowly, his hands heavy as they moved above his shoulders.
Kaitlyn took the shirt from him before it touched the line. Micah's hands dropped to his sides. He wasn't used to be being so…useless.
He took a deep breath. "We can find a way for more to lend their energy to you. There is an entire army here. Let's tap into them."
Kaitlyn shook her head. "No, I'm—"
She cut off as someone passed. Natasha, carrying a load of new laundry to the river, the scarred side of her face bared to Kaitlyn and Micah.
Kaitlyn waited until Natasha passed, then hissed, "I'm done with armies." She hung the last of the shirts, smoothing it out on the line. "If Shawn wants to destroy hundreds of lives, let him. I won't do it again."
Micah nodded, then walked over to a park bench. They had all been torn up, and repositioned near common work and rest areas. Kaitlyn joined him, drying her wet hands on her pants. "You're not going to make t
he walk to the mall today, are you?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Are you going to tell me to stay?" she asked. They sat down on the bench together.
Micah intertwined his fingers with hers. "I know well enough I can't make you do anything."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'll stay."
He kissed her on the head and whispered, "Thank you."
"Just for today. We can use the time to plan. But seriously, I need to be in the camp every day starting tomorrow. Whether you join me or not."
"Deal," Micah said. A cold wind blew. He put his arm around her. "Winter's coming. Do you even have a coat?"
"I had a yellow rain jacket," Kaitlyn said, almost giggling underneath her breath.
Micah narrowed his eyes at her, but let it go. "Come on. The arcade serves as a storeroom for extra supplies. Let's see if there are any in there."
As they stood, the wind blew again. Some of the last leaves still hanging onto the limbs above detached. Kaitlyn caught a reddish-orange leaf midair. She pinched the stem, spinning it around. "I miss our cherry blossoms," she said.
"Me, too." Micah put his arm over her – his legs were heavy, like he was walking through mud. "But we couldn't hide out at the Chakra forever."
Micah watched as Kaitlyn's hand squeezed into a fist. The dried out leaf crumbled, bits floating to the ground.
"Nope," agreed Kaitlyn. "Not if we are out to save the world."
Micah took her hand, wiping the rest of the leaf bits off. "What happened, here?" He pried her palm the rest of the way open. "It looks like you burned yourself."
"I did…using the Chalice. Long story."
"Both of Shawn's hands were wrapped in gauze. Did you notice?" Micah glanced at Kaitlyn sideways.
"Yeah I…oh my God." She froze in her tracks. "I know what he's doing."
"What?"
"It ain't good – for us, anyway. Come on."
Chapter 47
Working Party
"Easy there, princess."
I shuddered at his voice, remembering what happened at the other end of his gun. This time, I moved out of its way. I surveyed the rest of the large circle, looking for clues. My eyes kept getting drawn back to the mist in front of Shawn. It was brighter than before, and moved faster around and into itself, shimmering with speed. It appeared to be trying to take shape, but it lacked something – more elements.
Akasha 4 - Earth Page 20