by Terina Adams
He was fishing of course. “Also, you would be the only one who'd agree without kicking up a fuss or asking questions.”
“I’m still gonna want those.”
“Perhaps you deserve them.”
He glanced down at the lines in her arms and then at the machines.
“I’m going to have to take all this stuff out, or I can get the nurse to do it.”
“Get the nurse. I think I have a catheter.”
He motioned with his hand to his groin “You mean one of those things—”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sure I could take one of those out.”
“Just get the nurse.”
He raised his palms up in placation. “Back soon.” He moved the chair aside and headed to the nurses station.
True to his word, he returned with the same nurse coming along behind, a beaming smile on her face.
“It’s time we removed all this equipment, since you’ve recovered so well.”
“I’ll wait over here.”
Locke backed up behind the curtain while the nurse began the task of removing all the lines and tubes from different parts of Selene’s body. Soon the monitors silenced, leaving Selene free of the life saving equipment, which had no function against the power of Hades, even in its weakening state.
“You’re a new woman now. The doctor’s signed you out all ready. You’re free to go home.”
Wow, Locke you’re too good. After fiddling with the things she needed to fiddle with, she bustled away, saying a merry farewell to Locke as she went.
He came back around the curtain smiling, pushing the chair back in place. “You can thank me later.”
“I might just do that.” Although her voice still croaked, her words came out coy, at least she thought they did. If he recognized it in the less than flattering rasp, she wasn’t sure—perhaps better if he hadn’t.
She’d never thought of the incident as his fault, despite him believing so. She was the one who made the bad decision, following him to the wharf without alerting the rest of the coven. Again she acted out of character by not consulting the others. Yes, she was High Priestess, but the four of them acted as a team and that’s what made them great witches. Turning up at the club alone was her first mistake, which was nothing compared to how she behaved now. She was about to run away with a Fae back to her cottage where she could heal in comfort, and in record time, alone—semi alone. Actually, she didn’t want to be alone at all. Hopefully, Locke would continue his compassionate duties once they reached her cottage. Of course she was not about to voice that wish. But if he wanted to hang around…
Locke slid a hand under her shoulder blades and one under the backs of her thighs. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It’s all right, I’m still high on their drugs.” Not the entire truth, but she feared he would baulk if he thought moving her would cause her pain.
He looked at her. “Here goes.” In one smooth movement he lift her up and turned to place her in the chair. She forced the smile to remain plastered on her face, but a whimper slipped through. He frowned. Thankfully she was already off the bed and almost in the chair, which meant the obvious thing for him to do was continue. With his strength, he lowered her in increments into the chair. When seated, she let her breath out and a harsh exhalation. He again frowned at her. “You told me—”
She waved his words away. “Let’s go. I’m worried my sisters are going to show, which means all hell will break lose if they catch us sneaking out. They do know don’t they?”
“I phoned Jet once I got you here.”
She nodded, then frowned. “How did you know her number?”
“You want to get out of here, babe, I suggest we start walking and stop talking.”
He released the break and began pushing her around the curtain.
“Hey, wait. What about my clothes.”
“Gone. They cut them off, apparently. I’m thinking they expected your husband to arrive with fresh ones for your departure.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
They weaved the corridors and took the lifts without being disturbed. Except for the times Locke informed curious staff members it was none of their business. They followed his command and left the escapee alone without blinking. She had no need to call upon her own powers, Locke handled it all like the hero he seemed desirous to be. All this for a screw. Selene refused to venture into that territory just now. It didn’t matter what Locke’s motivation was for hanging around and springing her from hospital like she was a fugitive. He was the perfect accomplice. Thank god, he waited around.
The sun rose over the gray backdrop, which meant it was only hours past the shooting.
“So, where are we heading?”
“The cottage.”
“I think I’m growing rather fond of the place.”
Luckily he was behind her, so he missed her smile. “How did you get me here?”
“In this.” He stopped the wheelchair in front of a blue van.
She stared at the old heap. The blue paneling was beginning to lose its battle with the rust. “Where did you get it from?”
“A fisherman at the wharf was kind enough to donate it for the emergency.”
He maneuvered the wheelchair along side the passenger door, lowered the brake and came around to stand in front. “Before we continue. I want your promise you are not about to bleed out on me due to some internal shit that ruptures because of what I’m doing here.”
“Locke, trust me. This is going to be all right.”
16
Selene sat propped against pillows with her duvet pulled up around her middle. Locke fussed around in her small kitchen attempting to make something for them to eat out of the meager supplies in the cupboard. He managed to make a lot of mess, even with Selene barking orders from her bed.
“Something smells like it’s burning.”
“Perhaps your nose was also affected during the gunfire.”
She giggled.
He clanged a few more pots and scraped a few more dishes before he turned around, heading toward her with two bowls in his hand. He placed one on the bedside table, then climbed onto the bed with the other, nestled himself close, with his legs stretched out in front, and looped some of the pasta onto the fork. Selene looked inside the bowl. “What is it?” She laughed the words, happy to find the pain in her throat gone and her voice normal.
“Exactly what you told me to cook.”
She shook her head with a smile on her face. “Honestly, it looks nothing like my chicken carbonara.”
“That’s because it’s not yours, its mine. Now open up.”
She spat a single laugh. “You’re not thinking of feeding me?”
“Of course. You’re convalescing.”
“I am not. I don’t—”
He peered down into her eyes, the depth of his green, sucking her complaint. “Humor me.”
She opened her mouth. But before the food went in, he dipped his head and slipped his tongue inside. She responded on instinct, fueled by desire, and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. Every inch of her body fired to life, especially the places down deep inside her groin.
When he pulled away, she followed, attempting to keep them lip locked as long as possible, her arms helping her win the fight for a few seconds before she threatened to topple on top of him.
Once he succeeded in parting their mouths, he smiled down at her, focusing on her lips. “Now that’s a thank you I’m willing to accept. But you need your food if you want to recover.”
Selene sighed with frustration at having her attempts to hang on thwarted. “If you wanted me to eat the damn stuff, why did you tempt me with your kiss?”
“Maybe I was testing the waters.”
“If you're going to get all cocky—”
He placed the forkful of pasta in her mouth and shook his head with a laugh. “You’ve got a temper, little lady. To be honest, I couldn’t resist your lips. I’ve wanted to
do that again since the first time I kissed you. It’s only now I've enough limbs free to succeed. Plus you’re not in the position to flail my ass for doing it. I took a chance you would respond favorably. And I’m glad I did.” He continued to smile into the bowl while twirling another string of pasta on the fork.
“Make sure you get some chicken on this one.”
“You may command me now, but I will command you later.”
Selene was about to respond, when the sound of a car engine made them both look toward the front window.
“Your sisters, I’d say.”
Selene sighed. Not the people she wanted to see right now.
The sound of tires dragging gravel meant whoever was driving braked hard. Next, car doors slammed and multiple feet pounded across the distance to the cottage and slapped up the stone steps. The door flew open seconds later, and the three of them filed through, forming a row, each displaying their own kind of shock.
Nyx stepped forward. “What the hell’s going on?”
“Selene, what do you think you’re doing? And you.” Jet rounded on Locke. “Did you kidnap her?” She spat the words in his direction, emphasizing her disgust with a well-aimed finger point.
“Hey, guys, wait.” Selene should’ve expected this, but she’d been too lost in her erotic—oh, my god. That’s what this is to me—bubble. She forgot to phone her sisters and explain things because she'd been too busy concocting ways to canoodle with Locke. As embarrassing as the understanding was, she planned on seducing him if he didn’t make the first move. Yep, that’s what she would’ve done, asked for alone time with her secret lover, if she had remembered to phone her sisters at all.
“I don’t believe this.” Jet did a three step pace in front of the bed before swinging back to attack again. “You could’ve phoned, Selene, and let us know what you were doing. We’ve been going crazy with worry, especially when the staff told us your husband took you home.” She layered the word husband with lead, and her eyes did as good a job of weighing him down. The whole performance appeared to wash over Locke. He twirled his fork two more times and popped the food in Selene’s mouth.
The shock of his action turned all three to marble. Their jaws gaped simultaneously, unable to speak. Their eyes went saucer wide.
Jet sprung her hands to her hips and narrowed her eyes. “You absconded from hospital so you could play love birds?”
Selene sighed again. “Oh, Jet.”
“That's what you wanted her to do, remember?”
“I did not. I told her to take advantage of you whilst you were tied down. Get a quick one in then dump you somewhere while she could. Not in so many words, but that was the implication. I didn’t mean for her to play happy families with you.”
“This is unbelievable.” Nyx joined Jet. “We thought this Fae had you bound somewhere while you bled to death. We scryed for you.”
“Must have got the shock of your lives to find her here.”
“Stay out of this, Fae, you’ve clearly muddled her head.”
Selene looked at Nyx. “No, he saved my life.”
“You wouldn’t have been shot if he—”
“Nyx, it was my fault. I knew Locke was heading somewhere, and I decided to follow without consulting any of you. I thought I could handle it.”
“But, Selene, why did you leave the hospital? You were shot only hours ago, you should still be in there.”
Selene smiled at Dami. “It’s all right, hon. I’m healing rapidly thanks to Hades. I may’ve bungled my reason for summoning him, but it turns out his gift was handy after all. In a couple more hours there'll be no wound left to show.”
Jet motioned to Locke with her finger. “So, is all this necessary?”
“No, but it’s fun.” Locke twirled more pasta onto the fork transferring his sarcasm into action.
Dami placed an arm around Nyx and Jet’s waists. “Ladies, I think it’s time we were leaving.”
“What and leave Selene alone with him.” Nyx couldn’t be any more condescending.
“That’s what I meant by we.” Dami pulled the other two backward with the hands she still held around their waists.
“I’m not sure about this.”
“Honestly, Nyx. I’m fine. I would much rather some alone time right now.”
Jet snorted. “You need to check the dictionary for the definition of alone, sis, ‘cause that Fae sitting next to you is taking up space for three.”
“Do you really want to stand there and watch us?” Obviously Locke was not going to sit quiet as Selene had hoped. Jet’s mouth moved ready to throw another retort.
“Jet. You can back down now.” Dami’s gentle remark clammed Jet’s mouth shut. She turned on her heels and stormed out the door.
“Don’t think this is over, missy.” Nyx followed, clipping across the floorboards in her heels.
Dami cast a small smile and followed the other two.
“That went well.”
“I feel like I’ve been caught in the act of having sex by my parents.”
“We haven’t got that far yet. Wait another couple of hours and we’ll resolve that.”
“You don’t have to wait that long.”
He looked down at her, eyebrows raised.
She pushed the duvet down, but he was sitting on it. He got the hint and moved up, giving her the space to lower it to her thighs. She slowly lifted the hospital gown revealing her bare legs and knickers without feeling shy for exposing herself. Her focus was on the large dressing covering the bullet wound.
“You can take this off.”
He frowned. “You sure?”
“Since when have you been scared of doing something?”
“Since it meant looking at your injuries.”
Selene reached out and took one of his hands, placing it over the top of the dressing. “I thought you said you trusted me.”
He looked into her eyes. “How deep are you going to lead me, Selene?” He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips before pulling back to concentrate on what he was doing. His touch was like butterfly wings. Who would have thought someone with such big hands could use them with the delicacy of an angel. He operated like a surgeon, working the tape, holding the dressing down, freeing all the edging before attempting to lift it off.
His tension was palatable. He was being a big baby about this. Finally Selene lost patience and ripped what was left off, tossing it to the floor. Locke gasped in protest, before he saw what was underneath. Nothing. The skin was almost healed. The stitches somehow disappeared and all that remained was a red mark. Judging by the speed at which everything was healing, the mark would be gone in an hour or so.
“Well, fuck me.”
Selene placed a finger under his chin and lifted his face to meet hers. “Do you want me too?”
Surprised by her speedy healing power, it took Locke at least two seconds to catch on. The growing smile, once all the cogs in his brain turned at normal speed, was anything but saintly. He inched his face in close, but she placed her fingers over his lips. “I need a shower.”
“Great idea.”
He leapt off the bed and swept her into his arms before she could protest. “I can walk you know.”
He managed a shrug with her in his arms, “yeah, I know,” and headed for the bathroom opposite the kitchen. The space was big enough for a freestanding pedestal basin, a shower, and a long, narrow wooden cabinet with towels stacked on each shelf.
Locke set her down and busied himself with the water nozzles. “Are you a hot or warm shower lady?”
“Hot.” Okay, now he was starting to impress her.
He adjusted each before deciding the temperature was perfect. He turned back to her with a devilish smile. “Get it all off, little witch.”
The repetition of the name he’d called her on their first encounter kick-started a sinfully wicked sensation through her body. Was this the way he started his seductions? The lead up to the main event was tantalizing and a half. Perha
ps he was unaware of the effect he was having on her. Surely not, this Fae was too experienced to miss any subtle clues she was sending out. And to her surprise, she didn’t care. She also didn’t care how many women he’d had before or how many he planned to have after her. Near death experiences did that to you, made you start seeing life as fragile and precious. Hers nearly ended hours ago, taking with it a life time of duty, and frigid rules, scattered love and even more fragmented raunchy moments. With a second chance—okay, thanks to Hades her life never really tottered on the balance, but the threat was close enough to mimic the experience—she was going to take the slice of life with fun written all over it.
For a moment she hesitated—because habits hold on with tenacious hooks—before pulling the hospital gown over her head and tossing it to the floor. Without looking in his eyes, she lowered her undies over her hips, bent to drag them down her legs and stepped out of them. Gathering her courage, she stared up at him.
His lips twitched, wanting to break into a smile. “Wasn't so hard, was it?”
“For a girl who doesn’t make a habit of stripping for men, I guess not.”
“Get that hot little ass of yours into the shower before I bite it.”
Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, then slapped her across the ass. She squealed at the noise, not the sting, as there hadn’t been one, and darted into the shower before he aimed again. The water temperature was perfect.
The hard needles ran over her face and across her scalp, massaging her the way she liked it. She’d been lost in the exquisite sensation of the shower so when his hands ran down her back, she jerked. They were smooth and slipped all the way down to her behind before turning and tracing their way back up, swirling leisurely over all her surfaces from her shoulder blades, waist and around to her belly button. He removed them a few times to lather up again, but returned quick to pick up the trail of where they’d last been.
After minutes of his gentle massage, he wrapped his arms around her, cupping her breasts, pulling her flush to him in a firm embrace. She wanted to savor the intimacy of this moment but found his erection pressing into her back a huge distraction.