Purify: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance: Blood Persuasion Book 2

by Wendi Wilson

  “All powerful,” Beckett finished for him when he trailed off.

  “She could control every person on this planet,” Jett added.

  “No one could stop her,” Wyatt whispered.

  Panic filled me at their words. “Jett, pat your head three times,” I said, pulling the words from my gut like I’d learned to do.

  A small cry escaped my lips as Jett, frowning, reached up and patted his head. One. Two. Three.

  I could control everyone. Alts. Norms. Everyone except one person…Dr. Patton couldn’t be persuaded. And he had complete command over me with his threats and warnings.

  Which meant the leader of the Savannah branch of the Divine Church of Purity had the power to control every person, Alt and norm alike, within his reach. And that terrified me.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jett wanted to drive me straight to his uncle’s lab and demand that he tell us what he gave me. Demand that he reverse it. I begged him to take me home, instead. I’d see Dr. Patton the next day, and that was soon enough.

  We compromised with him driving the four of us to their house. We could relax and be alone, but if their uncle happened to come home, we could confront him. I hoped he didn’t show up. I was a roiling ball of emotions, and there was no telling what I’d do if Dr. Patton set me off. Trouble was pretty much a guarantee.

  We went inside and headed straight for Beckett’s room. He had the largest selection of movies on his laptop for us to choose from. I just wanted to chill and forget about everything for a while. Mindless entertainment was a good way to accomplish that.

  I stretched out on my stomach across his bed, my chin propped in my hands. Jett and Wyatt copied my position, lying on either side of me. Beckett pulled his nightstand over in front of us, setting his laptop on it and queuing up a silly comedy. He sat on the floor, leaning back against the side of the bed.

  After fifteen minutes without any of us so much as cracking a smile, I sat up with a huff. Beckett paused the movie and turned to look at me while the other two sat up as well.

  “This isn’t working,” I said.

  “I know,” Wyatt said, frowning. “Not even the thought of those two idiots literally kissing Jonas’s ass can make me laugh right now.”

  I bark of laughter exploded from me, unbidden.

  “Ah, there it is,” Wyatt said, winking at me with a huge grin spreading across his face.

  I shoved at his shoulder but couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. “That was pretty amazing, wasn’t it?” I admitted.

  “Savanna James!” he exclaimed. “I’m shocked and appalled. I thought you hated persuasion,” he joked, trying to make me laugh again.

  But my smile fell. “I do,” I murmured. “I don’t want to take away anyone’s free will.”

  “Hey,” Wyatt said, caressing my cheek, “I was just kidding. I didn’t mean it.”

  “You didn’t do it on purpose,” Beckett added.

  “You have nothing to feel guilty about,” Jett said firmly, drawing my attention. “It was an accident, but even if it wasn’t, those asshats deserved it.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but Beckett beat me to the punch, standing up and saying, “Hey, could you guys give me some time alone with Savanna?”

  Jett and Wyatt looked like they wanted to argue, but they held their tongues. Wyatt kissed my cheek and Jett the top of my head before they told me they’d see me later and left the room. I wasn’t surprised they complied. It was technically Beckett’s day with me.

  He walked to the door and turned the lock before going to his stereo and turning it on. Music with a heavy beat blared from the speakers, and he turned it to half volume before coming over to sit next to me on his bed.

  “To drown out our voices,” he said, nodding at the stereo.

  “Okay,” I said.

  “Talk to me,” he said, taking my hand and brushing his thumb across my knuckles. “Tell me what you’re feeling.”

  That’s all it took. I spilled my guts. My fears about Dr. Patton and his agenda. About the complete control I have over everyone, which, in turn gave the doctor that control. The guilt. Everything.

  Beckett listened without interruption. He leaned back against the pillows and pulled me in between his legs so my back rested against his chest. Wrapping his arms around my middle, he hugged me tight against him as I released all the words that had been swirling around in my head.

  Cult.

  Control.

  Pawn.

  World domination.

  “Okay,” he whispered, his hot breath tickling my ear, “now you’re going a little overboard. World domination?”

  I turned in his arms, propping my elbows against his chest. “Maybe,” I admitted. “But think about it, Beck. If he can use me to persuade anyone he wants…the sky’s the limit.”

  “I think you watch too many suspense movies,” he said, a soft smile playing about his lips.

  I opened my mouth to protest, but my words were cut off as he rolled us over in one quick motion. Suddenly, I was beneath him, his gorgeous face hovering centimeters above mine.

  “Hi,” he whispered.

  “Hi,” I repeated, the word barely a breath.

  “I can help you forget about it for a while,” he said, keeping his voice low. “But only if you want to. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of y—”

  I cut him off, lifting my head from the pillow and pressing my lips against his. Even after so many weeks, so many dates, it still surprised me a little when Beckett flipped the switch from quiet, shy book nerd to a completely seductive tempter. He always kept me on my toes, intellectually and physically.

  He took over the kiss when I didn’t pull back, assuming, correctly, that he had my permission. I relaxed back into the pillows, letting him take over. He paid reverence to my body, all gentle hands and demanding lips, until I felt like I might explode.

  I grabbed the back of his shirt and gave it a yank, silently demanding its removal. Beckett complied, his lips leaving mine for a scant second as he whipped the offending article over his head and tossed it away. The heat between us tripled in intensity.

  My hands roved over his back, first kneading, then scratching, then soothing. Over and over again. His skin was like fire and I wanted to feel the burn. I pressed my hands into his back, urging him closer.

  My legs parted, allowing him to drop into the space between them. Working on pure instinct, my legs wrapped around his waist, my ankles locking him in place. A small gasp was the only indication that my actions affected him. He continued to kiss me, working his way from my mouth down to my neck.

  An intense need built inside me. A need for something else. Something more. I grasped Beckett’s shoulders and pushed him back, breaking the contact between his mouth and my neck but keeping my legs locked around him. His gaze locked on mine, his body frozen, waiting to see what I’d do and why I’d pushed him away.

  Grabbing the hem of my shirt, I lifted my torso up and whipped it off in one fluid motion. Tossing it to the floor, I leaned back against the pillows. For once, I wasn’t embarrassed. I was filled with passion and need and that need overrode every other emotion I might have normally felt.

  Beckett’s gaze burned into me, scorching a path along my body before he lowered back down to claim my lips once more. The feel of his naked chest against mine was almost overwhelming in its intensity. His hands on my waist branded me. His mouth burned a fiery trail of hot lava across my cheek to my ear.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, sucking my earlobe into his mouth. “So delicious.” I moaned at his words, writhing beneath his ministrations, but he didn’t stop. “So perfect in every way.”

  He sucked gently on my neck and I felt a pull from my core as my nerve endings ignited. His teeth brushed against my skin as he moved down, alternating between the suction and gentle nibbles. The contrast made the fire burn even higher. By the time his mouth reached the base of my neck, I was rocking against him,
looking for any way to ease the tension coiled inside me.

  I will never forget what happened next. I had no idea what I was doing or what it was I needed, but Beckett did. His hand moved to where I needed it and the world exploded. Or maybe it was just me that burst into a million tiny pieces. I yelled out, but Beckett’s mouth landed on mine just in the nick of time to muffle the sound.

  It was amazing. Earth shattering. Apocalyptic. I died a little, but in a good way.

  A very good way.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It wasn’t weird.

  Beckett had whisked me out of the house and driven me home before I had to face the others. I didn’t say anything but he knew I needed some time to process what had happened before I faced them again. Despite our sex talk and their assurances that no one would be angry or jealous, I felt a little guilty. Beckett and I hadn’t actually done the deed, but he’d given me something I’d never had before and I was nervous. What if Jett and Wyatt had heard? What if they were mad? Or, at the very least, sad that it wasn’t with one of them?

  Now, here I was, at our Saturday practice session with their uncle, making the boys do parlor tricks like circus monkeys and trying not to blush every time I made eye contact with one of them. It wasn’t weird. Not at all.

  My hearing was still elevated, though I was starting to get used to it. I wasn’t sure about the persuasion. I hadn’t tried it again. I sure as hell wasn’t going to try it on my parents. I was trying to keep them from finding out. I hadn’t had any blood since the day before, and I didn’t feel like I needed. At least, not until I started using persuasion on the boys. But that was normal. It seemed like that was one Alt trait the injection didn’t give me. Thank God.

  “Savanna.”

  Without thinking, I looked over at the doctor at the sound of my name. A satisfied smile lit up his face and I groaned. He’d whispered the word from thirty feet away after having me persuade the boys to recite their ABC’s. I shouldn’t have been able to hear him but I did. It was a test, and I failed. Or passed, depending on who you asked.

  I was trying to hide my new enhancements from him. My fears about him using me to control people were very valid, and I wanted to keep it from him for as long as possible. Now he knew I had super hearing. How long before he tricked me into giving up the rest?

  “I need a break,” I said, plopping down on the grass.

  Jett brought me a bottle of water and his flask. I drank half the water before taking a few sips of blood. I thanked Jett as I handed him his flask back. Dr. Patton started toward us and I stood quickly. He was staring at his phone, a sly smile on his face that never boded well for me or the boys.

  “Care to explain this?” he said, turning his phone so I could see the screen.

  I inhaled sharply as I saw myself standing in the hallway at school, my expression morphing from anger to astonishment before the angle changed and the camera zoomed in on Alec and Paul, on their knees, kissing Jonas’s butt.

  “I-I-I don’t know why they did that,” I stuttered.

  Dr. Patton sighed. Tapping the screen of his phone a few times, he turned it back toward me. The scene played again, just from a couple of seconds earlier. Only this time, there was sound. I flinched a little at the sound of my voice.

  “Yeah, you guys just keep kissing Jonas’s ass. Just the way he likes it.”

  He tapped the screen to pause the video. “Did that jog your memory, my dear?”

  I jumped on the offensive, my temper rising with his condescending tone. “Who took this video?” I demanded. “Do you have someone spying on me at school now?”

  He tucked his phone away in his pocket. “That is none of your concern,” he said, jotting down something on his ever-present clipboard.

  “None of my concern? What do you mean, none of my concern?” My voice rose in volume with each word. “It is most certainly my concern. Tell me who it is.”

  Without really meaning to, at least on a conscious level, I imbued those last five words with persuasion. I was so angry, so determined to find out which one of my classmates or teachers was working for him. I kept my expression level, trying not to let on that those words were any different from any others.

  “Like I said,” Dr. Patton said, “it’s none of your concern. I wouldn’t have to resort to such tactics if you were honest with me. Were you planning to tell me about this new ability?”

  “Yes,” I lied. “Of course, I was. I just needed some time to wrap my head around it first.”

  He clicked his tongue, not believing me in the least. “That’s all for today,” he said turning and heading toward the house. “I will see you on Thursday,” he called out without looking back.

  “This is unbelievable,” I spat out as I stomped around the side of the house.

  I could feel the brothers keeping pace behind me, but they didn’t respond. They must’ve known I was blowing off steam, not looking for conversation.

  “I cannot believe he has someone spying on me.” I reached the truck and spun around to face them. “Actually, I take that back. I can believe it.” I faced the house and screamed at the top of my lungs, “He’s such an asshole!”

  Jett grabbed my elbow and pushed me into the backseat of the truck, climbing up behind me and slamming the door. Wyatt jumped behind the wheel while Beckett took shotgun.

  “Get us out of here, Wyatt,” Jett said, pulling my seatbelt across my body when I failed to do so.

  “Who do you think it could be?” Beckett wondered out loud.

  “I don’t know,” Wyatt said. “It could be anyone. There’s what? Two thousand kids at our school?”

  “Or it could be a teacher,” I threw out.

  “Did you see any of our teachers at that Purist meeting?” Jett asked.

  I shook my head. “No. I didn’t see anyone I knew. But your uncle would’ve made sure any of his spies stayed away, right?”

  “That’s true,” he mumbled.

  “Oh, and either my ability to persuade norms is gone, or Dr. Patton is immune to me like he is you.”

  “You tried to persuade him?” Beckett asked, turning in his seat to face me. “That was risky, Savanna.”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose,” I snapped, getting defensive. “Sorry. Sorry. I shouldn’t take my anger out on you,” I said, reaching over the seat to grab Beckett’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Pulling my hand back, I continued, “I was so mad, I did it without thinking. I used the power when I told him to tell me who his spy was. It didn’t work, obviously.”

  Wyatt drove the truck into the parking lot at Lucille’s. Pulling into a spot, he asked, “Is this all right?”

  “It’s perfect,” I said. “I’m starving.”

  We went inside and I asked the boys to order me my usual while I ducked into the ladies’ room. I washed my hands and splashed water onto my face. Grabbing a paper towel and blotting the water from my skin, I stared at my reflection. Something about it was…off.

  I leaned closer, examining each of my features. My hair, my nose, my chin, my eyes.

  “What the…”

  I mumbled the words, trailing off as I braced my hands on the sink so I could lean even closer to the mirror. My breath fogged the glass as I stared into my own wide eyes. Only, they weren’t mine. Not really.

  My blue eyes were still blue, but the irises had a thin ring of silver outlining them. It wasn’t that noticeable from a distance, but up close there was no denying it. I had the eyes of an Alt.

  I tossed the paper towels in the trash and dashed from the restroom, power walking my way to the boys. Jett had left an open spot on the bench next to him, and I slid in with a huff. I refused to lift my eyes from my lap. I didn’t want to acknowledge the change in my eyes. I wanted to turn back time and refuse Dr. Patton’s injection, consequences be damned.

  “Hey,” Jett said, pulling me from my thoughts. When I didn’t look up, he pressed his palm against my cheek. “Savanna, what’s wrong?” He increased the pressure unt
il I was forced to turn my face toward him.

  I caved and met his stare. “My eyes,” I said.

  He nodded. “I noticed earlier.”

  “You did?”

  I looked over at Wyatt, who gave me a short nod and Beckett, who just smiled.

  “And you guys didn’t tell me?”

  “Savanna,” Jett said, pulling my angry gaze back to him, “uncle Earl was there. I know you don’t want him knowing the effects of whatever he gave you, so if he didn’t notice, I wasn’t about to mention it in front of him.”

  I deflated, his words sweeping away my anger. It made sense. Plus, I would have freaked out and ran to the closest mirror if they’d told me, ending our persuasion session and pissing off the good doctor.

  Our waitress showed up at that moment, setting a plate in front of me. A huge, melty cheeseburger and a mile-high pile of steaming fries. It looked amazing. But before I dug in, I needed to make amends for losing my temper with them, yet again.

  “Sorry,” I said, reaching for Jett’s hand and squeezing it. I looked at the other two, giving them each an apologetic smile. “Sorry,” I repeated.

  Wyatt’s face lifted into his signature grin. “You don’t have to apologize to us, Savanna from Savannah. Your fly-off-the-handle temper is one of the things we love about you.”

  “Shut up,” I said, grabbing a fry off my plate and chucking it at his face.

  I must have caught him off guard because he didn’t react in time, the spear pegging him right in the forehead. He looked down to where it landed on the table in front of him before, ever so slowly, lifting his eyes to meet mine. I wish I had my camera out, because the look on his face was classic. Incredulous, with a touch of wonder, and a small splotch of grease on his forehead shining in the fluorescent lights.

  Laughter burst from me unhindered, peals echoing through the restaurant. I heard Jett chuckle beside me, which made me laugh even harder. All the tension, the fear, the anger, everything that had been threatening to drown me since Thursday poured out of me. Through that somewhat hysterical laughter, I was cleansed.