by Tara Brown
The woman smiled, "You my dear are turning out to be a very worthwhile find."
Daniel pointed, "This is Lorri. She is in charge of the Roses, like Aimee and Aleksander and Dorian and Lucas here."
She was attractive but her power was what you noticed before her looks. Her long lean body was shockingly fit, she wore dark brown leather pants and burnt burgundy knee high boots. She wore a tight fit cream-colored sweater that showed every curve and muscle. Her arms were clearly toned. She wasn’t thick but she was strong. She had short auburn hair cut funky and styled in every direction. She really just looked like a cartoon character she was so perfectly made. She didn’t look old enough to be in charge of anything, she might be thirty-five if she was a day older. Dorian and Aleksander were crazy old but didn’t look a day over twenty-five so she could realistically be a thousand and still look that good.
Lorri knelt down to her offering her a hand, "Lets get these big boys in their rooms. Ari I assume Lucas can just stay with you until he is feeling a bit better?"
Ari nodded wondering how very angry he would be with her when he woke.
Some large men came and lifted the wolves. Ari followed behind Lucas watching as he was tucked into her bed.
"He looks like little Red Ridinghood's wolf."
Lorri laughed, "Yes exactly where the story came from."
Ari laughed, "He's going to kill me."
"No he'll be happy you stopped him, they can't control their emotions over some things. Mates are a touchy one with wolves. Their mates are for life Ari. Once a wolf falls in love they fall into it so hard they cant ever imagine another person, I've had wolf friends who've mated with humans and when they died the wolf lived out the remainder of their years alone."
"How long do wolves live?" Mates, the word mates hit a cord inside her.
"Centuries, they age so slowly after they hit puberty. Just like the rest of us. It’s a survival trait. A small demon child would be dangerous with all their gifts at such a young age and would be easy prey if everyone knew what they were when they were so tiny and helpless. The puberty awakening protects us. Our gifts come at a time when we're old enough to be wise about what we do." She looked at the huge wolf taking up the entire bed wrapped in covers, "Well wiser."
"How long will I live?"
"Well since you obviously take something from the people you send back, am I correct in thinking you enjoy the feeling of sending someone back?"
Ari blushed and nodded.
"Well then whatever you are taking will sustain you, maybe forever. We don’t know how far injuries can go with you but from what we've seen thus far you heal as fast as a full demon. Your father must have been incredibly strong."
"I might have to live forever?"
Lorri laughed, "Ari it isn’t punishment, the years go faster, the time gets more fun. Once you start having a purpose and you know who and what you are you'll enjoy life so much more. Ask Aimee. She wanted to die at first. Take care of your mate, he'll need it." She smiled and walked from the room.
Ari sat in the chair across the small room. She watched him sleep confused by everything. She yawned and climbed up onto the bed. She curled up beside him and wrapped her fingers in his shaggy fur.
Chapter Sixteen- My Dad is a Cop and My Mom is a Death Dealer…
Aimee
"Aims can you pass me my gun belt?"
She looked behind at the belt draped on the chair behind her and smiled, "That seems careless. Anyone could get your gun Shane."
"Yeah well its not like there are kids running around the house Aimee."
She flinched passing it to him, "Is that something you want?"
He shrugged, "Yeah I guess. I mean don’t you?" He spoke nonchalantly taking the belt.
Aimee bit her lip and shook her head slowly, "Not really my thing."
He frowned looking at her doubtfully, "Aims you always wanted kids."
"Yeah well I'm dead inside so I guess that decision was made for me."
He stepped to her taking her hands, "Aimee we could adopt or get a surrogate or foster kids."
"Shane I cant have kids in the house while I never age and my hands could accidentally send them to heaven while tucking them in."
He kissed her cheek, "It's not a big deal Aims. If you don’t want kids fine and if you do fine. I want you so whatever comes with that I'm just happy to be here. Finally."
He kissed her lips passionately making her forget for half a second that she was a soul-sucking demon. The smell of humans was tantalizing, the smell of Shane was unbearable sometimes. She buried her face in his neck smelling him.
"Super creepy babe." He laughed and pulled away.
She shook her head, "I'm such a freak."
"Speaking of which where did you go this morning?"
"I took Lucas to New York, Ari sent him some text about breaking up which Ben and I told him was going to happen if he didn’t get over his stubborn ass bullshit."
Shane looked at himself in the mirror but laughing at Aimee, "Wow potty mouth. So how much longer is she there?"
"As long as it takes but I saw Aleksander and he said Dorian told him that she is ripping it up there. She's doing great I guess and they think she'll make the Roses with me. She has something like what I do but they don’t die, so that would be a neat option. Let the not quite that bad people live. She hasn’t used it yet though so they aren’t a hundred percent on it. So where you working today?"
"East side. Don’t even think about it."
Her eyes flickered, "What?"
"Aims please you think I don’t notice the girl on my heels blinking around the blocks following me."
"It scares me, you could get hurt."
He sat on the bed adjusting his belt, "Look lets pretend you're sweet Aimee from our little home town and you are nerdy and going to university and I'm a cop and going to work and I have to protect and serve. It's embarrassing having my girlfriend trailing me for my safety."
"Do you wish it was that way?"
His face looked hurt for a split second, "Do you?"
She nodded, "I wish with everything inside of me that was our story."
He leaned in and kissed her forehead, "I am grateful to have you anyway I can get you."
She knew it wasn’t enough but she had to let it be.
Her cell phone buzzed.
"Hello."
"She did it. She's exactly what we're looking for."
"No way."
"Yup, be here in an hour."
"k."
She hung up and looked at Shane and smiled, "Ari did it. She used her power that they needed to let her be a Rose."
Shane smiled at her, "Who was that?"
"Daniel, god Dorian is going to be there."
"Well try not to fight with him and focus on why you're there. As much as you hate the fact he saved you Aims try to remember you asked to live." He bent down and kissed her again.
She sighed, "I know." He walked from the room as she recalled the horrifying weeks she'd spent dying of liver failure. She hated that her life had been ruined. She hated that she owed Dorian for saving her life when he was such a dick.
She looked around Shane's' apartment and smiled, she had been staying with him for months. She needed to be grateful for being alive to be with him, even if they could never move from the point they were at. She couldn’t qualify for a mortgage as her job was non-existent in the human world, she couldn’t have children, she couldn’t marry him without stopping him from having a life and moving on. She closed her eyes letting the doom in the relationship push back down where she needed it to be. She couldn’t end it yet, she needed him and she couldn’t stay with him forever. He would grow old and she would always stay as she was, frozen at eighteen years old. Eventually he would look like a pervert, she would look like his daughter, his granddaughter and then he would die leaving her alone in the world.
"I gotta go Aims, come give me a kiss."
She winked behind him and grabbed
him around the waist before he got the words out.
"Lucky you can't get fat Aimee cause seriously you never walk anymore." He turned and kissed her making her happy again. She shoved her fears deep inside and let the moment be about kissing him.
Chapter Seventeen- This Isn't a Frat House
Ari
She felt warmth, heat emanating from something. It was like running on the desert highway again. She moved toward the heat letting it wash over her.
It caressed her neck and arm.
She felt the heat lick at her neck. She rubbed against it letting it consume her.
She realized it was Lucas as his lips began stroking hers, sucking them in and caressing them with his tongue. She nearly froze but afraid to offend him she gave herself permission to let him touch her. She opened her eyes smiling, letting her self be calm seeing his handsome face smiling back.
"My sweet Ari."
She leaned up kissing his nose, "You came."
He nodded, "Your text message broke my heart."
"You’ve broken mine for three months."
"I'm an asshole."
She nodded kissing him again. She felt herself giving over, she pushed New Ari away blocking her and letting Lucas pull her into him. His strong hands lifted her on top of him as he kissed her neck. She could feel how gentle he was being no doubt afraid to hurt her and force her to shut down.
His warm hands pulled at her shirt softly lifting it over her head. She sat up on him feeling shy about the scars and tattoos. Instead of judging her the way she did he worshipped at the altar. His fingers traced hot lines up the snake curling around a sword on her right side. She pulled her bra off letting herself be completely naked in front of him for the first time. She blushed as his hands skated along her ribs touching the places she'd never shown anyone. She'd grown accustomed to the marks but still somehow they scared her. His finger tips fit the burn marks along her left side where stars were tattooed to frame each burn mark as if it were something to be proud of.
His eyes still burned with desire as he touched her stomach where a broken heart surrounded her belly button and pieces of the heart lay crumbled on the line above her jeans.
"I see I missed some piercings." He smirked.
She laughed seeing the nipple piercing and belly button, "I didn’t know how to get rid of them and I was embarrassed to ask."
His lips grew into a wicked grin, "Maybe we can let them stay for a while?"
She nodded as he sat up pulling her face to his and pressing his bare chest against hers. She had been unaware of his being naked in her bed until he sat up. His sun kissed skin contrasted harshly against her stark white skin. She remembered how it had looked before in the desert. She had always tanned before.
He rolled her off of him and lay her beside him. His hands lifting her up into him as his face buried in her neck kissing her shoulders where the sun and moon tattoos sat. She felt his hands roaming the scars along her back, the ridges of skin that resembled lash marks but that she had no memories of felt different from the unmarred skin. He never seemed to mind nor pay much heed to the defects in her body as he made his way around.
She blushed as he pulled back the covers pulling her into them and began undoing her pants but she forced herself to lie back and find enjoyment in every sweet second.
"I love you Ari."
"I love you too."
His mouth made contact with her neck sending shivers up her spine. His hands slowly trailed her ribs building anxiety inside of her. Finally resting on her breast he cupped and massaged it. He bent his face to her nipples making her moan in pleasure as he played with the ring through it.
She felt her hands sliding down his torso as if they knew what they were doing. His body was hard but soft at the same time. His firm skin was several degrees warmer than her own. He climbed atop her looking her in the eyes ensuring she wasn’t panicking.
She nodded feeling her breath getting lost in her throat in excitement.
He bent kissing her lips sliding against her, sending chills every which way.
She felt him enter her as warmth filled her. The temperature difference was noticeable everywhere his skin met hers.
He moved slowly, methodically, ensuring she wasn’t afraid. She tilted her head back moaning in delight. He began moving faster making her moan louder. His lips met hers hushing her. She felt her arms legs wrap around his thick body holding him to her. Her nails dragged up his back quickening his pace again.
Ari felt the low pressure building in her stomach, as he rocked with her sending spasms throughout her.
Her body felt again, like it would go in every direction all at once but instead of fear she was filled with pleasure.
It was a new experience for her, both of her.
She listened to the sounds outside her room realizing she had a naked guy in her bed, which was strictly prohibited. She raised an eyebrow thinking about how the Lorri woman had been the one to put him in her bed, granted he had been a large wolf at the time.
"How are you so deep in thought?"
She glanced up at his smiling face, "Oh I was thinking about how much trouble I could get in right now."
He smiled making his green eyes sparkle, "Ari thinking about consequences, hmm am I being bold by saying I believe you’ve gotten the other Ari under control?"
She laughed, "I'm trying. The good part is she wants to go. She is so full of bad things, bad memories, bad thoughts she just wants to be free."
His gaze turned tender, "Ari you don’t remember the marks on your body being made do you?"
She shook her head, "She doesn’t let me see, thank god. I know what they are, Annabelle said the ones on my back look like lash marks the slaves had back in the day and the ones on my stomach are cigarette burns we figured. There are a few I'm guessing are cuts and scrapes but honestly I'm guessing."
He laid on the pillow beside her, watching her intently, "Do you think she did any of them herself?"
She nodded fighting to keep the bitter anger inside herself as the other Ari fought to defend herself but also remove them both from the vulnerability Lucas represented.
"I would kill anyone I knew put a mark on you."
The words were a whisper in the air between them but like a rain cloud they hovered, she knew he was not the kind guy to make empty promises. He meant everything he said.
A knock at the door startled her from her small amount of fear of him, "Ari is Lucas awake yet?" It was Daniel.
She bit her lip and answered clearing her throat, "Uhh yeah."
"Okay can you two come out please, we need to meet with you."
She looked at Lucas and smiled, "Yeah be right there."
He smiled, "Shower?"
"Yeah. Can I go first?"
He shook his head, "We can go together. You cant be out of my sight for a while Ari."
Uncertain about how that felt and New Ari raging inside her she stepped off the bed suddenly shy about being naked in a room with him. She walked to the bathroom quickly and turned on the shower trying desperately to not acknowledge him.
It was hard when his warm naked body pressed against her and his lips traced the tattoos and marks on her back. She stepped into the shower feeling every inch of her face and body glowing with the fire he seemed to create.
The shower stall wasn't massive and Lucas was making the shower difficult to have. He kissed her neck and held her against him.
"I think we should go home Ari." He whispered into her neck.
She shook her head speaking breathlessly, "I can't do this. You're taking up all the water and I'm never going to get clean at this rate."
"It's a tiny shower, the shower in my room has tons of room. Pretty sure we could do the things I'm thinking about right now if we were back home."
"Lucas I'm going to get in trouble."
"You're mine Ari and no one can tell me that I can't be with you."
She liked that, she liked being his. His huge body wrapped arou
nd hers, it pulled her in and made her safe. Nothing could hurt her as long as he was there.
She stayed turned away from him embarrassed by her naked body in the light of the bright bathroom trying desperately to get even an ounce of water on herself.
He kissed her once more on the neck and sighed, "Okay since we aren’t going to do what I want to do I'll get out and dry off. You're still dry Ari jeeze hurry up."
She looked at the smile on his face and frowned, "You had all the water."
Once he was gone from the shower she let the hot water pour down on her. The heat of the water made her think of the heat from his body and how it had felt covering her the way the water did. Her body had responded to him like it knew the way no doubt thanks to the other Ari's life style. She knew how to move and what to touch. Instead of hurting the way her friends had said it would it had felt amazing.
"Babe we gotta go, Daniel just sent Aimee here to knock."
She turned the shower off to find him standing outside of the shower with a huge bath sheet for her. He wrapped her in it holding her.
"What changed?" She asked looking at him in the mirror.
He shook his head, "Everything. I waited so long I didn’t know what to say, I'd acted like such a dick and I knew I needed to say sorry but I was still so mad. It was stupid. You sent the last text saying you were done and I knew, I knew it was now or never."
He pulled her back looking into her eyes, "You scared me, when you said you were done and we could be friends I panicked. I went to Aimee and told her and she smacked me around a little and Ben was like if you don't go I will."
Ari laughed knowingly.
"No matter what I cant let go of you Ari." His green eyes were intense.
"You don’t have to Lucas, this is all I ever wanted. I just didn’t know how to get here."
He kissed the tip of her nose and walked into her room and changed back into his clothes. She dressed fast hoping they wouldn’t be too obvious. She looked at his thick brown hair laying damp around his head and knew they were so obvious.