Part 11 (1/2)
”You know this for a fact?” Gavin demanded.
”It's the way it is. I'm sorry.”
”Maybe she's not the only one.” Fragile hope bloomed in Gavin's voice.
William hesitated. ”I've searched. I've had others searching. I did not want to believe it, either. But we haven't been able to locate a single other Chala. What if she is the last of her kind? What if she really is the last hope for the Light Ones? With your curse, you know you can't keep her from her destiny.”
”d.a.m.n it.” Gavin kicked at the snow. ”She's mine.”
”I'm sorry, Gavin.”
”G.o.dd.a.m.n it!”
Chapter 9.
Training officially began the following morning. They borrowed Hilde's snowplow and cleared the garden area behind the pole barn, and the first thing Gavin did was get into a heated argument with Sydney because she insisted on joining them.
She hadn't expected him to be so adamant, after the night before. When he joined her in bed that night, there had been an intensity about him that had both been thrilling and slightly frightening. It was almost as if he needed to couple with her. She had the strangest feeling that in his mind, he honestly believed it.
Afterward, he had been reluctant to let her go again, as if he needed to touch her, to be inside her. As if he felt that if he pulled out, he might never have the chance to couple with her again. He clung to her, and they fell asleep that way, and he'd still been inside her when they woke up this morning. So they made love again, with that same intensity, and she was certain the only reason they even climbed out of bed at all was because William pounded on the door and informed them he was sending the entire household in after them if they did not get up in the next five minutes.
And here they were, arguing in front of everyone, because Gavin was too d.a.m.ned stubborn to see that she needed to train too. She needed to defend herself. She could not, she would not rely on everyone else to protect her. And he had to understand. Well, he didn't have to understand, she supposed, but he did have to let her.
”Keep pus.h.i.+ng me and I'm going to use my magic mojo on you,” Sydney warned, finally losing her temper.
Gavin snorted. ”You don't even know how to control whatever the h.e.l.l magic you possess.”
She focused on some point over his shoulder. When he turned to see what she was looking at, he received a s...o...b..ll in the face. When he spun back around, Sydney smirked. She heard several sn.i.g.g.e.rs from the other s.h.i.+fters standing nearby. He stabbed his finger into her chest, his silver-blue eyes glowing like white embers.
”You want to train? Get ready, Chala. I'm about to kick your a.s.s.”
He was right, of course, but Sydney would be d.a.m.ned if she'd admit it. Instead, after practice, she had Hilde stand guard while she soaked in a tubful of steaming water. Unfortunately, Hilde was no match for Gavin when he was determined, and she barely had a chance to enjoy the heat before he stood over her, watching her with that same intensity that gave her chills and heated her insides all at the same time.
Without a word, he shed his clothing and climbed into the tub, sliding down behind her, and pulling her up flush against his chest. His erection pressed against her backside, and his touch was already healing her overworked muscles. He picked up a washcloth, rolled the bar of soap for a moment, and then smoothed the washcloth slowly over her shoulder, down onto her chest, and over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
She sucked in a breath when he brushed the soapy cloth over her nipples then clenched her muscles and lifted slightly off his lap. When she slid back down, his erection was nestled between her outer folds. She rolled her hips and they both hissed as they exhaled.
”We fit each other,” he murmured, as he lifted his hips, pressing his erection closer to her opening. She squirmed impatiently and he dropped the washcloth and let his hand travel south, under the water, over her stomach, until his fingers touched tight little curls.
She let her head loll onto his shoulder. ”We do,” she agreed.
”Do you think it'll be like this with anyone else?”
Sydney gave a purely feminine smile. ”There won't ever be anyone else.”
He grabbed her hips and thrust, impaling her. She arched her back and turned her head, seeking his lips. He twisted one hand into her hair and held her there, so he could kiss her and make love to her at the same time.
”Wait,” Sydney said, tearing her lips away. ”Stop.”
”Can't.” Gavin gasped as he grasped her hips and held her as he pressed upward again and again.
”Protection!” Sydney gasped. ”No protection!” She clawed at the side of the tub, at his arm, as she felt her o.r.g.a.s.m welling. ”Oh G.o.d, Gavin!”
”Can't-stop!” He wheezed as he pumped three more times and then exploded.
Sydney let out a small shriek as she followed him over the edge and then collapsed back against his chest, slos.h.i.+ng water over the side of the tub in the process.
They lay like that for a few moments. Sydney thought she may have even dozed off for a time. But eventually, reality intruded, and she sat up and climbed out of the tub, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around herself.
”You did that on purpose, Gavin,” she accused as she grabbed a second towel and began to dry her hair.
”Did what? Have s.e.x with you? Yes, I did.” He stood, and she turned away from the sight of water sloughing off his perfect and lickable body.
”Had s.e.x without protection,” she qualified. ”I told you I'm not ready. But you just never listen, do you? d.a.m.n it, Gavin, I can't live like this. You have to learn to respect my feelings.” She flung a dry towel at him and stormed out of the bathroom.
Gavin stood in the tub, holding the towel in his hands, staring at the door through which she'd just exited. He hadn't had unprotected s.e.x with her on purpose, at least not consciously.
But he wasn't sorry he had.
It took him two days to woo Sydney back into his bed, and it was two days of pure and utter purgatory. How the h.e.l.l was he supposed to give her up to someone else-permanently-when he couldn't bear to be without her for two lousy days?
Light Ones continued to arrive, almost on a daily basis. It was mind-blowing really, that every frigging Light One in the world could find them, but not a single Rakshasa had become aware of their location. He had scouts positioned on the perimeter of the lands as well as out by the freeway, since that was the most logical way they would arrive. So far, the only sign of s.h.i.+fters were Light Ones.
”It's because of Sydney,” William informed him, during their first conversation since he made his big, devastating announcement that in order for the Light One species to continue on, Gavin would have to give up Sydney so she could mate with another. But not yet. He wasn't ready yet.
”Until she mates with a Light One, they will continue to seek her out. And eventually, they will lead the Rakshasa to us, inadvertent as it might be.”
”You're just chockfull of joy and happiness, aren't you?” Gavin replied acidly, and then he strode away.
For two weeks, Gavin trained them mercilessly. He whipped them into shape, forcing them through drill after drill of strengthening exercises, before moving on to basic fighting moves. Someone asked when they were going to get to battle with weapons and Gavin made an example of him in front of everyone else. Then he informed the young upstart that until he learned to defend himself with his hands, he didn't deserve to use a weapon.
Despite his growing feelings for Sydney, Gavin found himself studying his army, watching them, a.n.a.lyzing them . . . and trying to figure out if one of them would be good enough to be her mate. To lay with her, to pleasure her, to give her a child. To give her multiple children. A handful of boys and girls each would be nice. Chala and Light Ones. The very thing Gavin wanted to give her.
William somehow figured out his plan, and had his own opinion. ”Go with Quentin. He'll do only what's necessary to get her with child. That way, you won't lay awake at night, torturing yourself with thoughts of what they're doing together.”
Gavin growled at him. ”Why? So you'll have your boy toy close at hand?”
William gave Quentin a look of intense longing from across the yard.
”Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with it. When Sydney takes a Light One to mate, I will be forced to let her go, too.” He looked very sad at the prospect.
As far as Gavin was concerned, the only person who would win in this whole saving the world routine was whoever was lucky enough to be Sydney's mate. Well, him and the rest of the world. b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
Gavin was pretty sure by the end of the second week that he'd made his choice. He hated it, of course, but he knew d.a.m.n well he didn't have any other option. The curse would not let him be selfish, not in this respect.
He had to give Prim props. The Fate knew what the h.e.l.l she was doing. He would be utterly miserable, probably would at some point sacrifice himself for the sake of the battle, but at least Sydney would be free to mate with the correct type of s.h.i.+fter, and thus, eventually, save the world.