by Kim Cormack
Kayn tried to resist the urge to grin as she followed his muscular torso into his room.
Frost was grinning as he glanced back at her and teased, “Yes, I caught what I accidentally said.” He turned to face her and flirtatiously added, “Hold out your finger if you want some.”
Kayn smiled. She wouldn’t have been able to contain that one even if she’d wanted too. She shook her head and held out a finger. He squeezed toothpaste onto it and did the same with his own. They both stood in front of the bathroom mirror, rubbing their teeth and tongues with toothpaste. He passed her a plastic glass of water first and she rinsed and spit into the sink. Then he did the same. It was kind of adorable.
He handed her the bar of soap and offered, “You can shower first.”
It felt like a dare. They’d both showered the night before but neither of them had been able to use soap. He didn’t leave as she slipped out of her tank top and underwear without breaking eye contact. She stepped into the shower and turned on the water, certain he was going to leave. The curtains opened. Was he getting in with her? She exhaled.
He stopped her from turning around, by pressing up against her and whispering in her ear, “Don’t worry, I don’t want our first time to be in a shower either.”
Frost began soaping down her back and as he began to rub the suds down her front she bit her lip, breathlessly anticipating his touch. He soaped her down everywhere but the places she wanted him to touch her. He was doing this on purpose. She leaned back against him, attempting to give him a dose of his own medicine.
He groaned in her ear, “I’ve been thinking about doing this to you all night.” He abruptly got out of the shower and left her standing there, covered in suds, wanting him more than she ever had. She heard him chuckle as he left the bathroom. She rinsed herself off and got out of the shower but he was already gone. There she was standing in his room just as she’d left him the night before, turned on and confused. She started to giggle. He was good. She hadn’t even seen that one coming. Kayn put on her dust covered underwear and slipped on her tank top. Fine then, two can play at this game. She grabbed the toothpaste off the counter, wrapped the soap back up and went to catch up with the others.
Zach was waiting for her in the hallway. He grinned at her and teased, “What was that all about? Frost left with the biggest grin on his face.”
Kayn passed him the toothpaste and said, “I’m assuming it was payback for leaving him last night.”
Zach shook his head and laughed, “Please tell me he got you going and left you standing there.”
She could admit it when she’d been had, or in this case, not had. Kayn replied, “He left me standing naked in the shower covered in soap.”
Zach started to howl, he did a fake pout as he ribbed, “I guess you know how it feels now.”
They started to stroll down the hall. Kayn sighed, “He made his point but paybacks a bitch.”
Zach chuckled, “It’s possible he was thinking more about making his point than who he was making it too.”
They heard Markus’s voice before they saw him. The others were here. Kayn felt self-conscious for a second, quite aware that she was only wearing the underwear and a tank top, she’d been kidnapped in.
Zach nudged her and assured, “It looks like your wearing white spandex shorts. Don’t worry about it.”
Right, don’t worry about it. The duo wandered down the stairs and into the foyer that had been covered in dark things only the day before.
Jenna’s voice loudly announced, “Kayn, I hear you’ve been a busy girl.”
Her eyes widened. For a second she thought Frost had told her everything, then realized she was probably talking about the ball of energy she’d used to destroy the demons. Kayn replied, “I definitely learned a few new things about myself.” She made eye contact with Frost and he smiled at her. Jenna looked directly into her eyes and grinned. She knew way more than she let on. Kayn took the bait and asked the question teetering on the tip of her tongue, “If you know everything, why don’t you just tell me what I can do and save me some time?”
The Oracle sparred, “What fun would that be?” Jenna placed her arm around her and added, “I’m just waiting for the shit to hit the fan over what you did and when it does, I’ll know for sure.”
Why did she always have to speak in code? Kayn questioned, “Know what for sure?” Jenna smiled as she walked away and disappeared through the swinging kitchen doors. Kayn called after her, “Know what for sure?”
Markus responded, “Who your father is.”
A shiver ran through her. It was an odd response to talk of who sired her. She felt uneasy. She’d had a father. He’d been a wonderful father. He was dead and she didn’t need another one.
Zach was standing beside her. He whispered in her ear, “Who do you think it is?”
Kayn made herself comfortable as she sat on the bottom step and replied, “I have no idea and I don’t care.” She glanced at Melody and saw her chatting with Orin. Their relationship had been growing slowly but steadily since they’d returned from the Testing. Would it really be that bad to have family? Her Uncle Frey had been a disappointment and her mother was just gone. She had her clan, the promise of something more with Frost and the knowledge that she would see Matty again. That was all she needed to keep a glimmer of hope alive for her future happiness. Everyone had begun to gather at the main doors of the hotel. The group was having an animated chat about the events of the last three days. Kayn remained seated, assuming they were waiting for a speech about what was going to happen next.
Grey walked over to her and piped up, “I think it’d be cool to know where my father is. He just disappeared and never came back. I barely remember what he looks like and I’ve never run into him.”
Lexy elbowed him and teased, “Would you, take ownership of you?”
Grey glared at her and sarcastically sparred, “That was uncharacteristically harsh Lex.”
Kayn pressed her lips together to stop herself from giggling aloud. That was totally characteristically harsh. Grey winked at Lexy and she socked him in the arm. Kayn was enjoying watching the group’s interactions with each other. When Frost strolled through the swinging doors of the kitchen. He grabbed her hand, tugged her to her feet and led her away from the group. Where was he taking her? She’d thought about snatching her hand away but heaven help her, she still wanted to go with him. Wait a minute. What was she doing?
She wrenched her hand away and said, “Why would I go anywhere with you?”
He chuckled, “Oh sweetheart. I’m sure you’re aware it’s more fun for me if you don’t go willingly.” He flung her over his shoulder.
She was laughing as he shoved the kitchen door open. It swung shut behind them the second he’d carried her over the threshold. He was laughing as he put her down on the island in the center of the kitchen. He gave her quick peck on the lips and disappeared again. Had he seriously left her there again? Oh, she was going to have to kill him.
Frost reappeared moments later and announced, “So, here we go. No more games, starting right now. If you want a relationship, you’ve got one. Do you want steak for breakfast?” He fired up the stove, turned and winked at her. Then walked over to the fridge and opened it. A nasty scent wafted across the room. He feigned choking and announced, “I guess it’s just steak.”
Kayn slid off the counter and wandered over to him. She tried to peak at what he was doing but he chuckled and obscured her view. She laughed, “Maybe if you broil that steak, it’ll be edible.”
Frost grinned at her and declared, “I’m a thousand years old. I think know how to cook a steak.”
It felt like they were a couple cooking together in their kitchen. She walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, kissed his bare shoulder and teased, “Don’t remind me.”
He leaned back, kissed her cheek and sparred, “You’re a hitman. I think it all evens itself out, doesn’t it? I’m willing to date someone who’d kill me
first and ask questions later.”
He had a point. Kayn kissed his shoulder once more before releasing him from her embrace. She began to roam around, opening cupboards on a search for steak sauce. She quickly found some and it was still sealed. She hollered, “Heads up,” as she chucked it at Frost. He caught it a split second before it smoked him in the head.
Grey burst through the swinging doors and announced, “I hope your making some for everyone. It smells a bit gamey and freezer burnt but if I have to eat one more bag of potato chips this week, I might lose my frigging mind.”
The three of them were standing there staring at the meat sizzling in the frying when Lexy appeared through the swinging doors. She wandered into the kitchen and announced, “You know that’s human meat.”
Frost casually turned off the stove, took the frying pan, dumped the steaks into the garbage can and admitted, “No, I did not but if you say it’s human. It’s probably human. Well, that cute idea is done. Let’s go see if Markus and the others want to try to pile us all into their vehicle and drive to the nearest town for something to eat.”
Grey hopped up on the counter and sighed, “They’ve already left.”
Frost swung around and questioned, “They left?”
Grey slid off the counter and began to explain, “Melody and Lily went with them. They need three Healers and some extra muscle for their next job.”
Kayn smiled as she leaned over, grabbed the steak sauce and placed it back where she’d found it.
Frost was huffing around the kitchen, obviously searching for something. He turned around and said, “Wait a minute. That means they left us with one Healer for two jobs. That doesn’t make sense?”
Listen, I’m only the messenger. Don’t get your panties in a twist. We have Lexy and Kayn is rechargeable. I’ve got us a couple of vehicles. We can take the highway back to the motorhome and the truck. The new kid’s eighteen.”
Frost chucked the frying pan into the sink and questioned, “They left the new kid with us?”
The boy that had earlier been referred to as Dean, wandered into the kitchen and proclaimed, “I have a name.”
Frost shook his hand politely as he greeted him, “Nice to meet you kid.”
The teenage boy looked at Frost and disputed, “It’s Dean. My name’s Dean.”
Grey took off and Lexy followed him out of the kitchen, pausing in the doorway, he said, “Go with it kid.”
Kayn smiled at the new guy but didn’t bother to shake his hand. She wanted Molly to be standing there, not this kid. This kid meant nothing to her. She saw him appreciatively following Frost with his eyes. Maybe, he isn’t into girls?
Grey hollered from the stairs, “Drag the bodies out of the freezer. I’m lighting this place on fire.”
The group of them casually strolled to the freezer to drag the corpsicles out of cold storage and into the main area of the kitchen while discussing their favorite kind of eggs benny. Dean had done what he was told and helped move the stiff icy bodies, with a strange expression on his face. Kayn smirked as she realized the reason for Dean’s expression. Drag the bodies out of the freezer. I’m lighting this place on fire. The sentence hadn’t even registered as abnormal.
Frost clapped his hands and announced, “Well, now that we’ve moved the bodies. Let’s burn this shit hole to the ground and go find us some eggs benny! Does that sound good everyone?”
She glanced at Dean. He was standing there with one eyebrow raised, slowly shaking his head. A thought popped into her head, which clan had they taken this guy from? If it was Trinity, he sure wasn’t going to be very optimistic when it came to his own Testing. The rest of them strolled out of the kitchen towards the front doors. Kayn touched his shoulder and enquired, “Which clan did you come from?”
Dean shoved open the front door with his dark chocolate muscular arms and they both squinted as sunlight came streaming in. He held the door open for her as he replied, “I came from Trinity.”
“How long were you with them?” Kayn questioned.
Dean stopped walking. He looked directly at her as he answered, “Eight months. I wasn’t eighteen yet. I had to wait for the next group to go into the Testing.”
It was worse than she thought. He was friends with the kids that hadn’t come back out. She remembered that Leanne girl. She’d liked her. Kayn replied, “I knew a few of your friends. They were good people.”
“Yes, they were,” he replied as moisture began building in his eyes. “I turned eighteen yesterday. I missed going in with the last group by four months. They would have made it back out if I’d been in there.”
“You’ll get the next group out. I know you will,” she assured. Dean smiled at her and they had to step up their pace to catch up with the others. She was trying to be optimistic but she knew it would go one of two ways. Either he’d fight extra hard for the new group because the other group hadn’t made it out, or he’d have difficulty attaching to the new group and trap them all in the Testing. They all piled into the vehicles and Kayn found herself hoping Greydon had checked to make sure they actually ran. She poked his shoulder and enquired, “Exactly how far do we have to drive these beaters?”
Grey laughed quietly as he replied, “I know they’re pretty sketchy. They paid for our rooms for another night. They only need to run until we get back to the last hotel we stayed at. The RV is still parked out back with our truck. They can’t take Dean for some reason. He’s eighteen though and he’s been sealed to Ankh. Markus’s group kept the other kid. We have a couple of jobs this week. We’re driving up north to fix a little mistake and there’s also a girl up for Correction. If she survives, we’re going to try to grab her before the others get there.”
Kayn grinned. Just going to grab her before the others get there. It sounded like it wasn’t a big deal at all. She knew better. Were they ever going to get a couple of days off?
Frost stuck his head into the vehicle she’d gotten into and asked, “Want to keep me company? I’m driving the other car.”
Kayn smiled and got out of the car Grey was driving. Before walking away, she stuck her head back into the backseat and said, “See you later Dean.” Kayn made her way over to the vehicle Frost was driving and noticed that he’d saved the passenger seat up front for her. In between the two of them was a bag full of munchies from the vending machines. She opened the plastic bag. It was mostly Twinkies. Hilarious. As they drove away, Kayn noticed the entire third floor of the motel was already engulfed in flames. It occurred to her that demons were like a plague of locusts destroying everything in their path and she had the ability to devour them before they devoured everyone else. She felt strength as they drove away from the smoldering demonic stronghold but knew she’d only touched the surface of what she was capable of.
All of This Time
During the drive back to the hotel they’d been kidnapped from, they talked about normal things that couples would chat about while on a long road trip. They inappropriately ate some Twinkies and she found herself wanting to hold Frost’s hand on several occasions. When they arrived at the motel and it was time to leave the car, Kayn was disappointed. She got out and grabbed the plastic bag off the seat. They’d have to stop at the office and get new keys for the rooms because their room keys were gone. She turned around to talk to Zach and when she glanced back at Frost, he’d taken off.
Zach placed one arm around her, squeezed and declared, “I have it on good authority that we have a couple of hours to shower, change our clothes and order some food that doesn’t come from a vending machine.”
They scaled the steps and when she entered the extremely strange room with the white boards and marker graffiti, she glanced at the adjoining door that led to Frost’s room. Was he in there yet?
Her partner in crime suggested, “Why don’t you go first? Go have your shower and change into some clean clothes. They’re probably ordering the food to Lexy and Grey’s room. Do you know what you want?”
She smiled at h
im and replied, “I’m starving. Order me some kind of enormous chicken burger and a salad. I need something green after a whole day of just junk food. Maybe an order of onion rings? Just in case the orders are small. I’d hate to be starving an hour from now.” Kayn grabbed her backpack and brought it into the bathroom with her. After a shower with shampoo and conditioner, along with a few minutes in front of the mirror with her toiletries and some clean clothes. She felt like herself again. Zach showered next as she sprawled out on the bed and closed her eyes for a few minutes. Someone knocked on the door. She got up and darted across the room to answer it before realizing it was from the door to the adjoining room. It was Frost. She grinned as she rushed over and yarded the door open. He grabbed her arm, towed her into his room and kicked the door shut behind them. Kayn giggled as he tossed her onto the bed.
He climbed up after her and scolded, “You were such a naughty girl, eating those Twinkies like that while I was trying to drive the car.” He tenderly kissed her lips and started to tickle her.
They laughed and wrestled around until she ended up poised on top of him. Kayn pinned both of his arms to the pillow above him and altered the playful moment as she whispered, “I say we just lock the door.”
He allowed her to keep him restrained as he answered, “We’re going to have a thousand occasions where we can just lock the door. Not for your first time. You deserve more. Next time we come to this hotel, I promise I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
“Right up against that door,” she quietly teased as she nuzzled his neck and nipped the tender flesh of his earlobe with her teeth.
He groaned as he stated, “Alright Brighton. You’d better get off me. Our food will be here in about five seconds and if we keep this up, I’m not going to be able to go over there without having a cold shower first.”
She grinned as she got off the bed and strolled towards the door, glancing back at him she flippantly teased, “Enjoy your shower.”