Sundered- Chapter three
Damian struck his fist against his steering wheel rhythmically as he waited in the slow traffic and wished he was an anger link. He’d have a plethora of food from the trapped humans surrounding him then. Lust energy was much scarcer in this situation.
He rubbed his chest and tried to ignore both grinding hungers. With Erik tracking him in Shadow last night, he’d had to lay low today.
I’m sure they have all of my normal hunting grounds watched. Question is how and by whom? Erik’s not going to want to bring Karry into it.
He’d had to settle for trying to bring in the trickles he could manage to elicit from the docks.
It hadn’t seemed to make much difference in the relentless hunger.
But now he was almost to Alexis’s work. Giddiness quickly replaced the frustration. And the strength of his reaction sobered him as he realized she was much more than just food. He wanted to be with her. It wasn’t just that her energy was the best he’d found in more time than he could remember, she fed more than just his storeground. He hadn’t felt this whole in…
Damn it. Why couldn’t I have found her a century ago? I could have hidden her away and kept her safe. I would have had her whole lifetime with her. Now I’ll have a few days before I have to wipe her memory—to keep her safe once I'm gone.
The traffic opened up and he was able to turn onto the downtown street her directions gave him. He eased to the side of the road to wait and glanced at his watch. She should be out any minute.
It was her energy that let him know she was near before he saw her. Muscles that he hadn’t realized were tensed from pain relaxed as her energy started to pour into his ground.
He pulled forward to where she stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look. He reached across and popped the passenger door. “Come on, get in.”
She hesitated out on the sidewalk, then her hand steadied herself as she slid onto the leather of the seat. He put the car in gear and eased out into traffic. He felt her gaze settle on his face.
“Nice car. Did you restore it?”
“Thanks. No. I’m not that great with mechanics.” And there’s no way you’d believe that I’ve had this beast since it rolled off the line. He chuckled to himself.
She petted the buttery soft leather, a smile peeking out. The traffic continued to flow slowly but steadily. He shifted lanes and wove through the cars, making better time. The energy in the cabin grew and he glanced out of the corner of his eye at his companion. Her chest rose and fell, drawing his gaze, and she turned to look out her window, but not quickly enough to hide the flush on her face.
He smiled and plucked at the strand, remembering the time he'd spent in Shadow with her last night. How her body felt against his. The taste of her lips and skin. The sound of her breathless voice. Damian squirmed in his seat and let the energy flow into his ground, but it ramped up too fast. She was so responsive to his mental touch. He cleared his throat. “So, how was your day?”
Not only did the emotional energy come across loud and clear, but images flowed along as well. So his memories of their Shadow walk had a strange Doppler effect, his own overlaid by her unconscious remembrance of the experience.
Her voice husky, she answered his question, and Dae was able to moderate the energy build by keeping her occupied with conversation.
Curiosity wound through the lust energy, and he smiled at her but kept his lips shut on their destination. He wanted it to be a surprise. He knew from her choices of anchor places in Shadow that she’d love the picnic he had planned.
Her voice filled the cabin of the car, and he let it flow through him like her energy did. Then his phone rang with Erik’s ringtone. He didn’t need to look at it on the dash. Her voice paused but then continued when he ignored the summoning. It still damped down the energy in the car. All of his siblings continued to try contacting him in rotation. Sadness snaked through him. He missed them. And he knew how uncomfortable they must be, needing a full feeding from Erik. He needed one too, but not at the cost. I can’t…they’ll die. I don’t want to die, but I can’t live with them…
He shook off the dark thoughts and threw himself into Lexi’s company. He turned the car down the twisting road that led to the parking areas for Golden Gardens Park. Luck was with him. He found a space near the beaches and pulled the car into it, turning off the engine.
“Hope you like picnics?”
Her laughter lightened his heart as they got out. He handed her a blanket from the trunk and pulled out the heavy picnic basket he’d put together that afternoon.
The blazing summer sun shone down on them as they wove across the thronging sand until they found an empty patch. She spread the blanket out, then settled to the ground, her gaze roaming out over the sparkling waves before coming back to him.
Her attention roved over him while he unpacked the basket, and he couldn’t help reveling in it as well as playing with the flow of energy that she continually emitted. He hadn’t felt this good since he realized he was in the fade. Even with how hungry he was, both physically and psychically.
He handed her a plate and joined her on the blanket with his own. She cocked an eyebrow at the quantity and he coughed and pursed his lips, trying to suppress the smile that wanted to come out at her teasing.
She seemed to like the choices he made. Though the nervousness he could taste in her energy also showed in her movements, in the way she nibbled and fidgeted. It was twined with the sexual tension that he continued to heighten.
So responsive. He shifted on the blanket, his own body responding as well. Almost as if she played on his energy to match. He still couldn’t get the time he spent with her in Shadow out of his mind. All day he’d replayed what had happened until it had blended with their dinner at Charlie's, the only time he’d spent with her in the waking world until now.
Close to obsession. He pushed that thought away. She’s human. I just need the energy. So what if I get a bonus of wonderful company. Beautiful company.
He couldn’t look away when she met his eyes. The energy flared. The rest of the beach forgotten, they talked and laughed, ate all the food, and watched the sun sink behind the Olympic Mountains across the water. Memories of their dream never drifted far from his thoughts.
He got lost in her energy again and it wasn’t until his phone rang that he snapped out of it.
Erik.
A sudden surge of uncertainty flooded the energy she released. Alexis stared at the phone.
He clenched his fist around the vibrating object and decided to silence it. He hadn’t had the heart to cut that tie. That let him know they still cared and he was important.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“You can answer it. It sounds important, if it keeps ringing.”
He snorted. “Depends on your point of view. It’s just my family.”
“Now that’s one you can’t run from for very long.”
“You don’t know the half of it. But I’m not really interested in talking to them just now.” He turned away, cutting off the topic, and pulled out some strawberries and grapes and a container of Nutella for dessert. “Besides, this is much better than talking about my family. Almost as good as making out on the sand, even if it’s not as warm as tropical sand.” He swirled a strawberry in the chocolate.
He lifted the berry and saw that her face had gone pale as snow. Or the sand that they had lain on in Shadow.
She can’t remember! He stared into her eyes, memories flickering in their sable depths. She’s human. She can’t remember Shadow like we do. It would have faded like mist in the sun.
Images too detailed not to be memories flooded the trace, and Dae had to stifle a moan at the overwhelming surge of lust that hit him. He mentally grabbed back the control, trying to ignore it. His hand continued on its path and he pressed the berry to her soft lips.
With her gaze still locked onto his, she took a bite, her tongue flicking out to catch a drip of chocolate as it dropped from the fruit.
He managed a smile. “It’s Friday. Tell me you don’t have to work tomorrow? Will you come to the zoo with me? For the day?”
Her lips glistened. He focused on them, wanting to taste the last of the chocolate still clinging there.
“No. I mean, yes,” she fumbled with a breathless answer. “What I mean is, no I don’t have to work tomorrow. And yes, I would love to spend the day at the zoo.”
He hadn’t realized he’d held his breath, so he let it out in a whoosh and she snorted.
Laughing, they packed up the last of their picnic. Hand in hand they strolled along the sand as the waves lapped at the beach. Lights twinkled off the water. In a roundabout manner, they worked their way back to his car.
Quiet conversation punctuated the drive as he slowly crossed the city to her apartment. He pulled into the drop-off zone and put the car in park. His fingers tangled with hers, stopping her from getting out.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow,” he said.
“Me too,” she said softly.
Dim light from the street pole down the block illuminated her face as he leaned in closer. Still holding onto her with one hand, he raised his other and brushed her cheek before sliding his fingers into her hair. His lips settled over hers lightly. The reality of her taste proved how tangible the Shadow world was.
He licked across the seam of her lips and she opened, inviting him in. Their tongues brushed and twined. When her hand burrowed under his shirt, he couldn’t stop the groan. The kiss grew hotter.
He let go of her fingers so his other hand could help hold her head steady. She pressed closer, a moan deep in her throat, and his hand clenched in her hair. Lust flooded his ground. But the shock of his own emotion getting amplified by hers slammed him with cold water. He pulled away, leaving her dazed.
She blinked at him. His hand trembled as he ran his fingers through the short strands of her hair. The air in the car felt charged around them, like when lightning was building up in a thunderstorm.
“The morning can’t come soon enough,” he said roughly.
She touched her lips, then fumbled the car door open. It took all his willpower to let her walk up the steps to her apartment building’s front door alone. His body hadn’t needed like this in centuries. It would be so easy to throw all caution to the wind and just join her. The night would be glorious.
But reality intruded. I wouldn’t be able to control the hunger. I’d drain too much and she’d die. I just need to harvest the energy that I have been and be content with that.
Once inside the locked door, she turned and met his gaze through the panes of glass. After a moment he touched his fingertips to his window, wishing it were her warm skin, before putting his car in gear to drive into the night.
*****
Alexis watched the taillights to Dae’s car disappear before she turned away from the lobby window. Her fingers rose to touch her lips again as she absently pushed the elevator button. Floating in a haze, she walked to her apartment—his touch still imprinted on her body. His hands in her hair. His lips hot against hers.
She unlocked her door. Inside, the smell of paint mixed with his scent still fresh on her skin. For a first kiss, it had been incredible. But it wasn’t the first kiss, whispered through her thoughts.
She stopped.
That was just a dream.
She stared at the painting she’d done last night. Another dream. Sort of. The vineyard she’d envisioned stretched before her, a stone mansion in the background, with rows of grapes turning for the season. And Damian.
Arms resting on top of one of the posts, his smile seemed to reach out to her, taunting, teasing, turning her on.
She’d captured him perfectly for only having met him that night. The pressure of his lips slid across her neck and she shivered as she stared at his image in the painting. Wishing she’d had the courage to drag him back to her apartment for the night, she dropped her bag by the door and drew closer to her painting.
Memories of his weight pressing her to the sand in her dream blocked out her apartment and she shook her head to clear her vision. His voice echoed in her ears. Almost as good as making out on the sand, even if it’s not as warm as tropical sand.
A flash of fear, like lightning, twined with the lust, enhancing it, and she gasped at the clench it caused between her legs. But her rational mind immediately supplied the answer.
Who wouldn’t think thoughts of tropical beaches when out on a date on a beach? Sheesh, Lex, get a grip.
She went into her bedroom and stripped out of her nice clothes, grabbing something that could get covered in paint. The picnic had been wonderful. The best date she could remember being on. The food, the location, the conversation…
Doubt wormed its way through the contentment when she remembered the ignored phone calls. A nebulous thought formed. Was he hiding something? Or running from something? But the dream images of Dae, exploring each other’s bodies on that tropical beach, continued to overwhelm her thoughts, placing their mark on her body and scattering any other concerns. She left her room.
She took the canvas from last night off her easel and got set up to start a new one.
The feel of his hands across her body.
She wiped her forehead with her arm and gathered paint tubes.
His breath across the back of her neck.
She groaned and dropped into her chair, blinking to bring the blank canvas into focus. The comment he’d made during the picnic still tickled the back of her thoughts. Good thing it really was just a dream. Or I’d never be able to face him at the zoo tomorrow. She worked to push the erotic dream aside and picked up a brush.
He rubbed his chest and tried to ignore both grinding hungers. With Erik tracking him in Shadow last night, he’d had to lay low today.
I’m sure they have all of my normal hunting grounds watched. Question is how and by whom? Erik’s not going to want to bring Karry into it.
He’d had to settle for trying to bring in the trickles he could manage to elicit from the docks.
It hadn’t seemed to make much difference in the relentless hunger.
But now he was almost to Alexis’s work. Giddiness quickly replaced the frustration. And the strength of his reaction sobered him as he realized she was much more than just food. He wanted to be with her. It wasn’t just that her energy was the best he’d found in more time than he could remember, she fed more than just his storeground. He hadn’t felt this whole in…
Damn it. Why couldn’t I have found her a century ago? I could have hidden her away and kept her safe. I would have had her whole lifetime with her. Now I’ll have a few days before I have to wipe her memory—to keep her safe once I'm gone.
The traffic opened up and he was able to turn onto the downtown street her directions gave him. He eased to the side of the road to wait and glanced at his watch. She should be out any minute.
It was her energy that let him know she was near before he saw her. Muscles that he hadn’t realized were tensed from pain relaxed as her energy started to pour into his ground.
He pulled forward to where she stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look. He reached across and popped the passenger door. “Come on, get in.”
She hesitated out on the sidewalk, then her hand steadied herself as she slid onto the leather of the seat. He put the car in gear and eased out into traffic. He felt her gaze settle on his face.
“Nice car. Did you restore it?”
“Thanks. No. I’m not that great with mechanics.” And there’s no way you’d believe that I’ve had this beast since it rolled off the line. He chuckled to himself.
She petted the buttery soft leather, a smile peeking out. The traffic continued to flow slowly but steadily. He shifted lanes and wove through the cars, making better time. The energy in the cabin grew and he glanced out of the corner of his eye at his companion. Her chest rose and fell, drawing his gaze, and she turned to look out her window, but not quickly enough to hide the flush on her face.
He smiled and plucked at the strand, remembering the time he'd spent in Shadow with her last night. How her body felt against his. The taste of her lips and skin. The sound of her breathless voice. Damian squirmed in his seat and let the energy flow into his ground, but it ramped up too fast. She was so responsive to his mental touch. He cleared his throat. “So, how was your day?”
Not only did the emotional energy come across loud and clear, but images flowed along as well. So his memories of their Shadow walk had a strange Doppler effect, his own overlaid by her unconscious remembrance of the experience.
Her voice husky, she answered his question, and Dae was able to moderate the energy build by keeping her occupied with conversation.
Curiosity wound through the lust energy, and he smiled at her but kept his lips shut on their destination. He wanted it to be a surprise. He knew from her choices of anchor places in Shadow that she’d love the picnic he had planned.
Her voice filled the cabin of the car, and he let it flow through him like her energy did. Then his phone rang with Erik’s ringtone. He didn’t need to look at it on the dash. Her voice paused but then continued when he ignored the summoning. It still damped down the energy in the car. All of his siblings continued to try contacting him in rotation. Sadness snaked through him. He missed them. And he knew how uncomfortable they must be, needing a full feeding from Erik. He needed one too, but not at the cost. I can’t…they’ll die. I don’t want to die, but I can’t live with them…
He shook off the dark thoughts and threw himself into Lexi’s company. He turned the car down the twisting road that led to the parking areas for Golden Gardens Park. Luck was with him. He found a space near the beaches and pulled the car into it, turning off the engine.
“Hope you like picnics?”
Her laughter lightened his heart as they got out. He handed her a blanket from the trunk and pulled out the heavy picnic basket he’d put together that afternoon.
The blazing summer sun shone down on them as they wove across the thronging sand until they found an empty patch. She spread the blanket out, then settled to the ground, her gaze roaming out over the sparkling waves before coming back to him.
Her attention roved over him while he unpacked the basket, and he couldn’t help reveling in it as well as playing with the flow of energy that she continually emitted. He hadn’t felt this good since he realized he was in the fade. Even with how hungry he was, both physically and psychically.
He handed her a plate and joined her on the blanket with his own. She cocked an eyebrow at the quantity and he coughed and pursed his lips, trying to suppress the smile that wanted to come out at her teasing.
She seemed to like the choices he made. Though the nervousness he could taste in her energy also showed in her movements, in the way she nibbled and fidgeted. It was twined with the sexual tension that he continued to heighten.
So responsive. He shifted on the blanket, his own body responding as well. Almost as if she played on his energy to match. He still couldn’t get the time he spent with her in Shadow out of his mind. All day he’d replayed what had happened until it had blended with their dinner at Charlie's, the only time he’d spent with her in the waking world until now.
Close to obsession. He pushed that thought away. She’s human. I just need the energy. So what if I get a bonus of wonderful company. Beautiful company.
He couldn’t look away when she met his eyes. The energy flared. The rest of the beach forgotten, they talked and laughed, ate all the food, and watched the sun sink behind the Olympic Mountains across the water. Memories of their dream never drifted far from his thoughts.
He got lost in her energy again and it wasn’t until his phone rang that he snapped out of it.
Erik.
A sudden surge of uncertainty flooded the energy she released. Alexis stared at the phone.
He clenched his fist around the vibrating object and decided to silence it. He hadn’t had the heart to cut that tie. That let him know they still cared and he was important.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“You can answer it. It sounds important, if it keeps ringing.”
He snorted. “Depends on your point of view. It’s just my family.”
“Now that’s one you can’t run from for very long.”
“You don’t know the half of it. But I’m not really interested in talking to them just now.” He turned away, cutting off the topic, and pulled out some strawberries and grapes and a container of Nutella for dessert. “Besides, this is much better than talking about my family. Almost as good as making out on the sand, even if it’s not as warm as tropical sand.” He swirled a strawberry in the chocolate.
He lifted the berry and saw that her face had gone pale as snow. Or the sand that they had lain on in Shadow.
She can’t remember! He stared into her eyes, memories flickering in their sable depths. She’s human. She can’t remember Shadow like we do. It would have faded like mist in the sun.
Images too detailed not to be memories flooded the trace, and Dae had to stifle a moan at the overwhelming surge of lust that hit him. He mentally grabbed back the control, trying to ignore it. His hand continued on its path and he pressed the berry to her soft lips.
With her gaze still locked onto his, she took a bite, her tongue flicking out to catch a drip of chocolate as it dropped from the fruit.
He managed a smile. “It’s Friday. Tell me you don’t have to work tomorrow? Will you come to the zoo with me? For the day?”
Her lips glistened. He focused on them, wanting to taste the last of the chocolate still clinging there.
“No. I mean, yes,” she fumbled with a breathless answer. “What I mean is, no I don’t have to work tomorrow. And yes, I would love to spend the day at the zoo.”
He hadn’t realized he’d held his breath, so he let it out in a whoosh and she snorted.
Laughing, they packed up the last of their picnic. Hand in hand they strolled along the sand as the waves lapped at the beach. Lights twinkled off the water. In a roundabout manner, they worked their way back to his car.
Quiet conversation punctuated the drive as he slowly crossed the city to her apartment. He pulled into the drop-off zone and put the car in park. His fingers tangled with hers, stopping her from getting out.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow,” he said.
“Me too,” she said softly.
Dim light from the street pole down the block illuminated her face as he leaned in closer. Still holding onto her with one hand, he raised his other and brushed her cheek before sliding his fingers into her hair. His lips settled over hers lightly. The reality of her taste proved how tangible the Shadow world was.
He licked across the seam of her lips and she opened, inviting him in. Their tongues brushed and twined. When her hand burrowed under his shirt, he couldn’t stop the groan. The kiss grew hotter.
He let go of her fingers so his other hand could help hold her head steady. She pressed closer, a moan deep in her throat, and his hand clenched in her hair. Lust flooded his ground. But the shock of his own emotion getting amplified by hers slammed him with cold water. He pulled away, leaving her dazed.
She blinked at him. His hand trembled as he ran his fingers through the short strands of her hair. The air in the car felt charged around them, like when lightning was building up in a thunderstorm.
“The morning can’t come soon enough,” he said roughly.
She touched her lips, then fumbled the car door open. It took all his willpower to let her walk up the steps to her apartment building’s front door alone. His body hadn’t needed like this in centuries. It would be so easy to throw all caution to the wind and just join her. The night would be glorious.
But reality intruded. I wouldn’t be able to control the hunger. I’d drain too much and she’d die. I just need to harvest the energy that I have been and be content with that.
Once inside the locked door, she turned and met his gaze through the panes of glass. After a moment he touched his fingertips to his window, wishing it were her warm skin, before putting his car in gear to drive into the night.
*****
Alexis watched the taillights to Dae’s car disappear before she turned away from the lobby window. Her fingers rose to touch her lips again as she absently pushed the elevator button. Floating in a haze, she walked to her apartment—his touch still imprinted on her body. His hands in her hair. His lips hot against hers.
She unlocked her door. Inside, the smell of paint mixed with his scent still fresh on her skin. For a first kiss, it had been incredible. But it wasn’t the first kiss, whispered through her thoughts.
She stopped.
That was just a dream.
She stared at the painting she’d done last night. Another dream. Sort of. The vineyard she’d envisioned stretched before her, a stone mansion in the background, with rows of grapes turning for the season. And Damian.
Arms resting on top of one of the posts, his smile seemed to reach out to her, taunting, teasing, turning her on.
She’d captured him perfectly for only having met him that night. The pressure of his lips slid across her neck and she shivered as she stared at his image in the painting. Wishing she’d had the courage to drag him back to her apartment for the night, she dropped her bag by the door and drew closer to her painting.
Memories of his weight pressing her to the sand in her dream blocked out her apartment and she shook her head to clear her vision. His voice echoed in her ears. Almost as good as making out on the sand, even if it’s not as warm as tropical sand.
A flash of fear, like lightning, twined with the lust, enhancing it, and she gasped at the clench it caused between her legs. But her rational mind immediately supplied the answer.
Who wouldn’t think thoughts of tropical beaches when out on a date on a beach? Sheesh, Lex, get a grip.
She went into her bedroom and stripped out of her nice clothes, grabbing something that could get covered in paint. The picnic had been wonderful. The best date she could remember being on. The food, the location, the conversation…
Doubt wormed its way through the contentment when she remembered the ignored phone calls. A nebulous thought formed. Was he hiding something? Or running from something? But the dream images of Dae, exploring each other’s bodies on that tropical beach, continued to overwhelm her thoughts, placing their mark on her body and scattering any other concerns. She left her room.
She took the canvas from last night off her easel and got set up to start a new one.
The feel of his hands across her body.
She wiped her forehead with her arm and gathered paint tubes.
His breath across the back of her neck.
She groaned and dropped into her chair, blinking to bring the blank canvas into focus. The comment he’d made during the picnic still tickled the back of her thoughts. Good thing it really was just a dream. Or I’d never be able to face him at the zoo tomorrow. She worked to push the erotic dream aside and picked up a brush.