“We don’t have time for this.” Clearly exasperated, Rose releases a short breath.
Roman’s face hardens. “Come on, Rose. We’ve all sacrificed a lot, some more than others, and I’m not asking for anything in return except for a few minutes alone with her. If we want her help, we need to start being honest and stop giving her partial truths. There hasn’t been a war recorded that was won with only part of the information made available, or with a halfhearted commitment. You’re right, time is running out—because we chose to do it your way—and look where that got us. Now I’m going to do it my way, so leave, all of you, please.” Roman marches to the door and opens it.
I close my eyes to push back the rage surging through me. Six months and not a fucking word. Now he wants to talk, to explain, and expects me to entertain him?
There’s nothing he has to say, I want to hear. He didn’t answer my calls, texts, or emails. Even though we were broken up, I thought we were friends. Instead, he cut me off, shut me out of his life completely. I wasn’t some random girl. I was supposed to be the one. Those were his words exactly and my desire.
A slap for every day I cried over him is what he deserves. He’d be covered from head to toe in bruises. I squeeze my eyes together tightly, wanting to keep out the image of him looking so good while I must look a mess after the attack. I’m trying to hold it together but doing so isn’t easy. The harder I try, the angrier I become. He was right to let the others go. What I have to say is best shared in private.
“Babe…I know you’re upset, and I don’t blame you. If you give me a chance, I can explain everything.”
The sound of his voice triggers something inside me, or perhaps it was his words. There’s a weird energy soaring through me and it seems to be fueled by anger. I open my eyes to see everything which isn’t nailed down swooshing around above my head, floating in the air. Every now and then a book, shoe, or something equally less life-threatening would leave the mass and shoot across the room at Roman.
I don’t know how I’m doing any of it. The madder I get, the more dangerous it becomes for him. Actually, I’m kind of getting off on it. He used to joke about me being worse than a hailstorm when my temper flared, and I guess he was kind of right. He dips and ducks the flying debris and makes his way over to the bed where he picks up a pillow.
“Please, calm down. You’re tapping into powers that you don’t know how to use yet. Not to mention, they’re ten times stronger here. I’m sorry. If you give me a chance, I can make you understand. I didn’t want to leave you. I’m mated to you. You’re my life,” he says, easing toward me, hesitantly using his hands as a shield.
His words calm me, and when I look into his eyes, I sense he’s telling the truth. Still, I wish I had the powers to read his thoughts. Hmm…maybe I can. After all, I’m a witch.
“Is it safe?” he asks, holding out his arm.
I just look at him. My heart and my mind are at odds, and my heart is winning. He reaches for me and gathers me in his arms where I fall victim to his embrace. “Please, babe, let me explain.”
I cling to him, all malice within me starts to evaporate with the warmth of his body close to mine. Damn, I’ve missed this, I’ve missed him. Desire overshadows my senses, leaving me boneless as I melt into him. One whiff of his masculinity ignites a craving I’d only learned to suppress a few months ago. I hated him, yet loved him all the same. All the old familiar feelings race to the surface. I’m lost, trapped by the power of my love, of our love. It’s as if he’d never left, and I’d never suffered those six months of agony, not knowing what happened to him, to us. I hate myself for being so weak. He doesn’t deserve my love.
But it doesn’t matter what my head thinks. At this moment in time, my heart’s the one in control.
Chapter Five
Sure, she could have killed me just now or at least, hurt me a bit. But still, my body aches for her. Being so close has me longing to be wrapped in her warmth, basking in her tenderness, buried deep inside her. The thought makes my pants uncomfortable as the rod inside them hardens.
I’m absorbed in lustful thoughts and aching need when the lamp falls, and I’m reminded of what just happened. We both look at it and then at each other. She buries her head in my chest, and her words come out muffled.
“Sorry. I guess I had some built-up anger.”
I kiss her forehead and hug her tighter.
I’ve seen a lot, but having my girlfriend toss furniture around without moving a pinky finger is kind of chilling, and a lot bad ass. I mean, I’d heard about what she was capable of, but still, I may need five minutes to get used to it…and some protective gear.
“Umm…do you think you can put it all back?” I ask guardedly, hoping she doesn’t take it the wrong way. It’s more because I’m curious, and I know the others will be as well.
She moved these things out of anger; emotions are her trigger but control is very important, for her own sake and ours.
Winter nods with hesitation. “I think so.”
She backs away from me and already I miss her closeness as the heat from her body still filters inside me. I’ve been away from her too long.
I’m not sure if waiting to bring her in was the right thing to do. But I get why Rose and Bellamy felt it was necessary to suppress her gifts. From what I’d witnessed, she’s a smoking gun—potentially—untapped and deadly. She could pose a threat even to us if she doesn’t get it under control. I only hope we have enough time to train her on how to harness what she can do, or measure it. Can she access magic at will? Or, is there a button to push? Hopefully it’s the former.
I wait for her to reposition everything. Tilting her head to the side, she rubs her chin. I can’t tell if she’s actually trying to or thinking about it. I follow her gaze to the object of focus. Seemingly, she’s struggling a little, but she’s determined. Willpower is a good start. It’s one of the key factors in helping us win this uphill struggle to protect life.
The gossamer fabric of our world has a rip threatening to tear. If that happens, the two worlds—the realm, and earth—will collide, making every nightmare a reality as creatures cross over. No one will be safe. And I’m the one who’s going to lay it on her. Umm…Winter, babe, you’re the deliverer of mankind. But don’t worry, I have your back. No pressure, right?
Whether I like it or not, I’ll need to tell her everything. On the bright side, she’ll have her explanation for why I had to leave. I left my heart in the realm of reality and have been running for my life ever since, in the realm of paranormal. Here, the supernatural are the natural and the creatures from the other worlds are where fantasies exist. But there’s a fine line and it’s getting thinner every day. Some are good, others not so good, and those are the ones we need to keep out of the world humans have grown accustomed to. Most are oblivious to the existence of paranormal life and those who suspect haven’t fully come to terms with it.
Finished, she exhales and falls against me, deflated. It's taken a lot out of her, but she did it. I glance around the room and everything is as it was. I pull her to my heart because that’s where she belongs. Breath heats through the material of my shirt, stroking my chest, caressing my abs, and tickling my navel. My cock surges back to life and throbs in my pants.