Twice as Hot

by Gena Showalter

Chapter Two

 

  My jaw was like stoneas I punched in the security code to disable the alarm and opened the door.

  Lexis stood before me, a vision of feminine beauty as always. Long dark hair, straight as a pin. Hypnotic green eyes, pretty pink lips. Golden skin that defined the word perfection. Sunlight bathed her, seeping from the sky as if compelled to caress her.

  Behind her, cars meandered through the pristine neighborhood. Birds chirped from the blue sky and locusts rattled in a surprisingly sensual beat. Intense humidity and heat wafted my way. I, of course, began to sweat like a construction worker while Lexis continued to appear unaffected, her silky emerald suit completely dry.

  "What are you doing here?" I demanded, thinking, Somehow, someway, I'm taking you down.

  Smelling like an ancient garden, all flowers and magic, she tried to stride past me. My arm and leg whipped out, blocking her path. After an indelicate humph, she glared up at me. I was taller than she was, nah nah nah. A girl had to find joy where she could.

  "Let me in, Belle," she snapped.

  Usually she was poised, nothing able to ruffle her. Score one for me. "No," I snapped back. A tiny flame flickered at the end of my index finger, and I whisked it behind my back. Wouldn't be good form to fry her up before I'd obtained answers. "What do you want?" She squared her delicate shoulders, looked away from me. "I need to talk to you. "

  "Uh, that would be a no. Tanner's here. Which means you're not welcome anymore. " Her features softened and her eyes widened, regret churning in their depths. "This is important. "

  "He's more important than anything you've got to say," I said, still not allowing her inside. "By the way, where's Sunny?"

  "My brother-in-law has her. "

  "Former brother-in-law. " Bitch. "You're divorced. " Sunny was Rome's little girl, his pride and joy, and we watched (and pampered) her every weekend. Today was a weekday, but anytime Lexis was called away to work we happily took over Sunny's care early. I loved that child like she was my own.

  Lexis's gaze met mine in a heated clash. "I'm here about Rome. Something's happened. " Magic words. I moved aside. Fear instantly cascaded through me, dousing the heat of my anger, freezing and thickening every drop of blood in my veins. Mist formed in front of my nose with every exhalation I made.

  Lexis strode inside. I had to fight past the tightness in my joints to follow her. My movements were slow, forced. Something's happened, but that doesn't mean Rome's hurt. Calm down!

  She stopped in the center of the living room, breathed deeply - to catch Rome's lingering wild scent? - and glanced at Sherridan, who was still sitting on the couch with a blank expression. "Happy Place?" she asked, turning to face me.

  I nodded. There was a hard lump in my throat, and I was having trouble swallowing. He's fine.

  Lexis returned her attention to my friend, shock flashing over her features, there one moment, gone the next. Then she was shaking her head, a little sad. "Her greatest wish is going to come true, and she's going to hate herself for it. "

  "What do you mean?" I asked, finally finding my voice. "What wish?" As I spoke, I prayed it wasn't what I'd suspected earlier. Sherridan had a thriving real estate business, a date with a new, sexy man every weekend and me as a best bud. She didn't need anything else.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of black. Oh, no. Everything else was forgotten as I focused on Tanner. He stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes anywhere but Lexis.

  Lexis noticed him, too, and gulped, sadness skating over her expression a second time only to be replaced by determination. "Tanner," she acknowledged softly.

  He gave a stiff nod and said, "S'up," as if he hadn't a care.

  "I just. . . I - " Sighing, she turned away from him, giving him her back.

  Hurt flashed over Tanner's face, and then his jaw hardened, his eyelids narrowed. So badly I wanted to shake Little Miss Know-It-All until she passed out.

  "What's wrong with Rome?" I asked. "Tell me and get out. "

  "Something's wrong with Rome?" Tanner was at my side, his arm around my waist and offering support within seconds.

  Needing every ounce of strength he could give me, I rested my head on his shoulder.

  He shivered. "Damn, you're cold," he said, and I knew he meant it literally. "Deep breaths, Viper. " Viper, his pet name for me. "Good, that's good, but you're not calming. " Lexis watched us with a hint of longing. Exactly what was she longing for? A partnership like Tanner and I had? Well, she'd destroyed her chance. More than that, Team TannaBelle wasn't accepting new members. Except for Rome. I needed him, too. Like I'd said, he was my filter. He could take my emotions and cage them inside his body, removing the edge, the danger.

  Was he okay? Had he been hurt?

  A crystallized raindrop dripped from the ceiling, my fear and sadness too much. It spilled out of me and would soon consume the entire house if I wasn't careful.

  "Tell me what's going on," I managed to croak.

  That emerald gaze slid from my face to the hands twisting at my T-shirt - to the engagement ring glittering on my finger, a flat, fire-retardant titanium band with diamonds encrusted in the center. It was exactly what I would have picked for myself. Rome knew my likes, my dislikes and had known that anything similar to the five-carat rock he'd given Lexis would have irritated me.

  Delicate mist formed in front of Lexis's face as she breathed. "Something went wrong. I - He - " Oh my God. "What! Just say it!"

  Tanner squeezed my side as another crystallized droplet fell, shattering when it hit the wooden floor.

  In, out, I breathed. In, out. I was shaking uncontrollably.

  "He and Cody made it into the warehouse and fought the guards posted there. It was more of a battle than they'd anticipated. Desert Gal, who wasn't there at the time, had taken over OASS, as we suspected, and had already fortified all their defenses, as we did not. Still, they managed to beat the guards and free the prisoners. " Her voice shook. "Then one of those prisoners. . . attacked Rome. "

  "Is he okay? Is he - " I still couldn't bring myself to say it. Tanner began shaking, too.

  "He's alive," Lexis said.

  Thank God. Relief poured through me, palpable, heady. My eyelids closed, and my knees would have buckled if Tanner hadn't been holding me up. The ice inside me started to melt and the ceiling ceased its weeping. "I should kill you for scaring me like that. "

  "You didn't let me finish," was the hard reply.

  My eyelids popped open, and the ice immediately returned. "Finish, then! Tell me everything. Right.

  Now! I'm fighting for control here, and you're only making it worse. " She nodded, grim, and that quick acquiescence made me all the more uneasy. "During the fight, his opponent disappeared. Inside him," she added grimly. "The man disappeared inside him. It did something to him, something bad. "

  I shook my head, hair slapping my cheeks but not managing to abate my confusion. "How is that possible? That's not - "

  She laughed bitterly, cutting me off. "Anything is possible. You should know that by now. " I did. Oh, God, I did. "Is the man still. . . " And if so, what did that mean? I'd only known about this supernatural side of life a few months. I'd been thrust into it unexpectedly, utterly unprepared and, at first, disbelieving. In so many ways, I was still a baby.

  "No. He only stayed inside of Rome a few minutes, and then he exited Rome's body as if nothing strange had happened. Cody tried to capture him, but the man stepped inside of him, too, before escaping. Both Cody and Rome collapsed, but Cody was the first to awaken. He gathered Rome and the remaining experiment victims and returned to PSI headquarters. They arrived this morning. Rome is still unconscious. "

  Shock was once again beating through me. I should have been there. I could have helped him, could have erected an air shield while he worked and kept him safe. But I hadn't gone; I'd been too preoccupied w
ith planning my wedding. Guilt joined the shock, followed quickly by shame.

  "John should have told me," I said softly. Why hadn't he? He'd had the opportunity. Knowing him, though, he'd probably wanted concrete answers - how, why, lasting effects - before freaking me out.

  "He didn't even call me. I only know because I saw it. . . last night in my. . . dreams. " Why the hesitation? "You see the future, not the past. " Hope filled me. "Maybe it hasn't happened yet.

  Maybe we can stop - "

  She was shaking her head, grimmer than I'd ever seen her, dashing every bit of my hope. "I know my visions. This has already happened. "

  That struck me as odd, but I was too crazed at the moment to reason it out.

  Tanner gave me a little shove toward the hallway. "He's going to be fine. Change out of your pj's and get your stuff. I'll take you up there. "

  An hour later , I found myself standing outside of Rome's recovery room in PSI headquarters. I'd been beside his bed, but my grief had gotten the better of me and ice tears had once again begun falling from the ceiling, so I'd been asked to leave. Now I was looking at the love of my life through a glass partition.

  He lay motionless, his dark hair in disarray. His features were smooth, as if he were merely sleeping, at peace and healthy and dreaming of love and heart-pounding sex. Perhaps the last was wishful thinking.

  Long black lashes feathered over his sharp cheekbones. I wanted to trace the shadows they cast, the slope of his nose. His lips were soft and parted. I'd kissed those lips. Those lips had kissed every inch of me.

  He hadn't lost any weight. His body was still tanned, primed and roped. Pure strength, total vitality. The only evidence that something was wrong was the electrodes scattered all over his torso. On the monitor, his heartbeat appeared steady and sure.

  Lexis stood beside the bed, clasping his hand. Tears were sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto his bare chest. They should have been my tears. I should have been the one holding his hand.

  Right then, I hated my powers.

  Tanner was in the waiting room with Sherridan, who had yet to exit her Happy Place. How I envied her.

  Rome was my Happy Place, but I couldn't get to him. And I couldn't leave to give them an update.

  Approaching Rome was too dangerous, but I refused to move from this spot. When he awoke, he would need me. By then, I would be calm.

  Really?Several ice crystals splattered atop my head. Hand shaky, I brushed them off. Stupid fear.

  Several more instantly took their place, but I didn't bother with them. Until I did that pesky calming thing, they wouldn't stop falling.

  "Belle. "

  I felt the heat and zap of Cody's body as he approached me, and then I caught the scent of a wild storm. Familiar, but not as comforting as it should have been. I didn't turn. My gaze was still locked on Rome. My Rome. Lying there, so helpless. Even with all my powers, there was nothing I could do to help him right now. None of the doctors knew what was wrong or why they couldn't rouse him.

  "What happened?" I asked Cody softly. He and Rome were friends. They worked together, trusted each other. He would tell me the truth - no matter how much it hurt.

  "I honestly don't know. "

  Or maybe not. "If you're saying that because you think the truth will cause me to break down - "

  "Nothing like that, believe me. " He laughed, but there was a hard edge to the sound. "If I knew, I'd tell you. But it's like a piece of my brain is missing, my memories of the event gone. All I know is that I saw Rome open one of the cages and then he was unconscious on the ground. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground myself and crawling to get to him. Had Lexis not told me about the man entering our bodies, I would have no knowledge of it whatsoever. "

  "He's going to be okay," I said, more for my benefit than his.

  "Yes. He's strong. A fighter. Remember when our old friend Pretty Boy plugged him full of poisoned bullets? He lived through that, thanks to you, and even helped end the son of a bitch, so he can live through anything. "

  My hands fisted at my sides, tongues of fire suddenly licking at my skin and melting the ice. "I'm going to capture the bastard who hurt him. "

  "It will be my pleasure to help you. "

  "Thank you. " I'd take any help I could get. "I doubt John will balk. The guy who attacked you and Rome is linked to Desert Gal, since she's the one who rounded up all of Pretty Boy's experiments, so technically his case should be mine, anyway. " God. This might not have happened if I'd taken care of her already. She wouldn't have gathered those people, that horrible body-entering man, and Rome wouldn't have gone to that warehouse. "As soon as Rome wakes up, I'm hunting them both. " No longer would I be lax in my duties.

  "I'll be ready," Cody said. "From what I hear, Desert Gall is worse than Pretty Boy. More coldhearted, hungrier for power, with no perceivable weakness. "

  Didn't matter. I would not fail. Not again. "I'm going to request Tanner and Lexis as backup. " The two might not get along, and Lexis might not be my favorite person right now, but they were amazing agents.

  If anyone could help me find and destroy my fiance's tormentors, they could.

  "The bastard is going to suffer," I said with determination.

  "Belle," Cody said gently.

  "Yes?"

  "Look at me. "

  And away from Rome? "No, I - "

  "Please. "

  When a strong, dominant man said please, it was best to give in unless you wanted six-foot-four of solid muscle breathing down your neck. Something I knew firsthand from Rome. I'd delighted in refusing him, and he'd delighted in changing my mind.

  Eyes welling, I slowly turned to face Cody. He was almost as beautiful as Pretty Boy had been. Like a fallen angel or a glamorized devil. He had silvery-blond hair and silver eyes with a hint of violet that actually sparked with the electricity he contained inside himself, allowing him to shift into nothing but energy particles.

  But he wasn't Rome, wasn't my Cat Man, and he'd never made my heart pound or my skin tighten with anticipation. I wiped at the droplets splattering my cheeks and arms.

  He stepped away from me, clearly not wanting any of that water to hit, and perhaps electrocute, him.

  "Don't do anything rash, okay," he said, gaze sharp. "Rome would have my ass if something happened to you. "

  Yes, he would. Rome was wonderfully protective, one of the many things I loved about him. "He'd have mine, too. "

  Softening, Cody covered his fingers with his shirt and skimmed his hand over my brow, mopping up the moisture. "John doesn't want the man who did this killed. He wants him brought in for testing. " I should have known, I thought, looking back at Rome. John had wanted me for the same reason.

  Testing. Like an animal. Rome was supposed to be the one to bring me in; instead, he'd been the one to shelter me, teach me how to use my powers, how to love. He'd helped me escape. In the end, though, I'd turned myself in to save him, and I've never regretted it.

  "Some scrims aren't meant to be saved," I said.

  "That's not for you to decide. " There was an edge to his tone, an edge I did not like.

  I stiffened, gave him my full attention. "Who's to decide, then? John? What gives him the right? The guy who attacked you and Rome attacked agents who were there to help him. He lost his right to live. " The flickering lights in Cody's eyes brightened, spreading and deepening, becoming an electric storm that reminded me of lightning in black velvet. "Lexis told me the man was crazed. He'd been locked in one cage after another for God knows how long. Who knows if he'd been fed. Who knows what kind of torture he'd endured. He wasn't in his right mind. "

  I popped my jaw, refusing to soften. "I still plan to find him. "

  "Just. . . promise me you won't kill him. I ask this for your own good. "

  "I can't promise that. If Rome. . . if Rome doesn't. . . " Stop! Just stop.

  "He'll wake up. He'll survive this. "

  He would. He had to. I
wouldn't allow anything else. And just like that, the rage left me and the sadness returned. I wouldn't allow? I was powerless. Another droplet hit me. "We don't even know exactly what's been done to him. "

  "We'll learn. Give it time. "

  My gaze skidded back to Rome. Still unmoving, still unconscious. "No one hurts my loved ones, Cody.

  No one. It's a message the paranormal community needs to understand. Touch them and suffer. " His hands settled atop my shoulders and he shook my attention back to him. One of his brows was arched in exasperation. "If John hears you talking like this, he'll take the Desert Gall case away from you.

  And if he takes the Desert Gall case, you can forget getting a chance at this new target. I don't care what threats you issue, he'll toss you in Chateau Villain. "

  Ugh. Chateau Villain. An underground prison where superpowers were neutralized in whatever way necessary.

  Sadly, he was right. John put the interest of science - and understanding the scrims we fought - above all else.

  I nodded as if Cody had convinced me to play by the rules. He hadn't. I'd just be more careful with my words from now on, I thought as I once again turned back to Rome. Or rather, the window that allowed me to see him.

  Desperation flooded me, more potent than ever before. I had to touch him, had to feel his skin against mine. To do so, I had to be able to keep myself under control. You can do it. I just needed a few cheerful thoughts. Like? I wondered with a bitter laugh.

  Well, your dad is safe in his assisted-living center and dating several of the female residents. Excellent.

  Rome is still alive. Even better. The storm inside me finally began to calm. My best friends are with me.

  Oh, yeah. My best friends. They were still waiting.

  "Will you give Tanner and Sherridan a progress report?" I asked. Not that there'd been any. Progress, that is.

  "Sherridan is the rockin' blonde?"

  "Yes. "

  "I tried to talk to her before I found you. She just stared at me blankly, like I was invisible or something. "

  I waved a hand in dismissal. "She wasn't doing it to be rude, I swear. She was just in her Happy Place. "

  "Uh, Happy Place? Can you be more specific? She have the power to transport her spirit or something?"

  Of course he'd think that. He'd worked for PSI a lot longer than I had, and had seen countless different abilities. I'd have to choose my descriptions more carefully. "She had lousy parents and learned to retreat into her head when things got too rough. Lately, she practically lives there. " Though I still didn't know why, exactly.

  I inhaled deeply, having lost some of my cheeriness with the direction of the conversation. Cheerful thoughts, cheerful thoughts. You can do it. Me, walking down the aisle. A grin lifted the corners of my lips. Good. Keep going. My dad, healthy enough to escort me. Rome, smiling at me from the altar and glowing with love.

  The ice inside me melted, leaving a cold shell that gradually thawed. Deep breath in, out. No mist formed. Thank God. I waited several minutes, but still the cold did not return.

  "I'm going back in the room," I said. I wrapped my arm around my middle and as I moved forward, my gaze snagged on Rome's left hand, where a ring - a symbol of our union - would one day rest.

  His fingers were twitching.

  I stilled, gasped.

  "What?" Cody asked.

  "He moved!" Eyes widening, I raced around Cody and into the hospital room. I shoved a nurse out of my way and barreled in front of Lexis. She snapped a curse as she stumbled backward.

  After righting herself, she quickly made her way to my side. "You're too dangerous to be around him.

  Get out!"

  "His hand moved," I said, the excitement in my voice ringing like a bell.

  "What?" She grabbed his hand and lifted his fingers into the light.

  "He really moved! I saw it. " I tugged his hand from her grip. He was mine, and I didn't share. But as I held him, time ticking away, the muscles remained relaxed. I tried not to weep with disappointment.

  So clearly I remembered the morning he'd left for this last mission. A morning I'd taken for granted, thinking countless more like it were on the way. We'd been in bed, naked, sweating from a wild pleasure-fest.

  "I don't want to leave you," he'd said. His fingers had traced the ridges of my spine.

  "I don't want you to leave me, either. Maybe I'll hold you prisoner. " He'd chuckled. "God, I love you. I'm even addicted to you. Get twitchy without you. "

  "Good, 'cause I tend to get homicidal without you. "

  Another chuckle. "Too bad that happens while I'm gone. You know I love to exhaust you into calmness.

  For world safety, and all that, because I'm such a giver. "

  "Well, I feel a hot rush of fury suddenly sweeping through me. . . "

  "Do you, now? Let's see what I can do about that. " He'd kissed me then, a hot, breath-stealing kiss that had rocked me to my soul.

  "Come back to me, baby," I whispered now. "I need you. "

  His fingers twitched.

  I uttered another of those shocked but happy gasps. "Rome?" His eyelids began to flicker open.

  "I think. . . I think he's waking up," Lexis said excitedly.

  My heart nearly burst from my chest when his eyelids finally remained open. Thank God. Thank God, thank God, thank God. Rome really was awake. He was going to be okay. I twined our fingers so we were holding hands like we did every night after making love. His skin was callused and hot, so amazingly hot. So wonderfully familiar.

  I breathed deeply, taking in his warmth, his deliciously feral scent. My heart kicked back into gear and fluttered wildly. I was so energized - and had been so upset - I could feel a wind swirling inside my head, a blend of the negative and positive. Maybe that wind blustered even outside my body, since my hair was dancing around my shoulders. I didn't care, though. One of my tornados could gust through the room, and I wouldn't have budged from Rome's side.

  I wanted to be the first person he noticed, truly noticed. In my mind, I could already visualize him smiling warmly, love and lust gleaming at me.

  Then, finally, blessedly, his eyes lost their glaze of sleep, gradually becoming alert. He glanced around the room and frowned in confusion.

  "Hey, Cat Man," I said softly. "You were out in the field and got hurt, but you're going to be fine.

  You're back with PSI now. " You're back with me. "You're safe. " His gaze locked on me. His frown deepened and his brow furrowed. "Who are you?"