Captive's Kiss (11 page)

She lay still for several seconds more, then impatience took over. Slowly, she turned in his arms, needing to visually devour him without anyone else watching her.

But he was awake. Sexy green eyes opened lazily and his lips pulled up into a grin. “Hey.” His sleep-roughened voice rumbled through her bones, awakening every cell with delicious promise.

“Hey,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you stayed.” She lay on her side, facing him while he traced a slow pattern on her hip.

“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” His hand dropped to capture hers. He simply held it, eyes roaming her as if memorizing her.

She’d wanted to drown in those eyes before-now, she gave in to their endless depths. She let all thought slip away and just breathed him in. His warmth, his scent with a hint of spice, and the tactile pleasure of his hand encompassing hers.

Minutes passed, and a sensation unlike any she’d known washed over her. Security, devotion,
forever
. What was this? Her parents would have loved her forever, had they been here. Logan-she loved him with all her heart.

But this was profoundly different. Her mind struggled to understand, while her soul was telling her to stop thinking so hard and to lose herself in this male. Her face must have given her away.

“What are you thinking?” His deep voice broke the room’s quiet.

“Um.” How could she put words to this odd new vibe that she couldn’t explain? She needed to say something believable, because there was no way she could lie to him. “Um, I’ve never slept with a guy before.”

He arched a brow and his lips twitched as if he was trying to hold in a laugh.

“I mean-” She scrunched her nose. “That came out wrong. Obviously.”

“Obviously,” he repeated with a chuckle.

“I mean, I’ve never stayed all night in bed with someone.” Shit, that didn’t sound right either. It sounded like she had casual sex and took off right after. “I haven’t had many relationships, or whatever, you know? I lived with my parents, and then they were gone, and then Logan and I were on our own.”

He reached over to toy with a lock of her hair. “So I’m your first sleepover?”

She giggled. “Yeah.”

“Did I snore?”

Her giggle morphed into a laugh. She couldn’t imagine him snoring. “No! I mean, I don’t know. I slept like a baby. Actually...” She stretched one arm over her head. “That’s the best I’ve slept in months.”

“Anytime you have a bad dream, just call me,” he murmured.

What if I just want you here? Even if I have good dreams?
She gazed across the few inches between them and dared to stroke a hand down his thick biceps. Would she sound clingy if she said that?

He would probably be too polite to tell her. Then where would that leave her? Clingy and alone in a new home? Shaking off the thought, a new one popped into her head. Half joking, she said, “Or I could compel you to come here.”

“Oh, really?” He propped up on one elbow and flashed her a devilish grin. “Compel me to your bed? Then what would you do with me?”

“Ah, well…” She was hit with images of
exactly
what they could do. Their time at Hades reigned as her best sexual experience ever. But the recent reasons why she’d used her power on males had her regretting that she’d brought it up. “That was a dumb thing to say. Never mind.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m curious. Try it.”

“To get you in my bed?” She took a shot at lighthearted. Anything to push away the negative aspects of her power and recapture the security-plus-butterflies feeling that his presence brought. “You’re already here.”

“I’m very aware of that.” His voice was a husked breath that had her biting her lip. “I want you to try your power on me. See what happens.”

She blinked up at him. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Why not? Just for two minutes. Ask me to do something small. Get you a glass of water, recite the alphabet, something like that.”

“Um…” If it were just for a minute or two, she’d probably be okay. And if she blacked out, she was already in bed. “If I…”

“If you pass out, I’ll call Logan and a healer right away.”

“Okay.” Her power was part of her, and she may as well learn to control it. Plus, she trusted him implicitly. She scooted up to a cross-legged position.

He sat up as well, looking relaxed and ready for anything.

She took a deep breath and focused on Tanner’s mind, pushing her energy toward him just as she had done with everyone else.

He quirked a brow. “I feel your power. It makes this static buzz in the air, like some types of magic.”

She frowned. “Why are you talking?”

“I’m not allowed to talk while I’m waiting?”

“Waiting?” She shook her head. “It’s done. I did it. You should be just sitting there, waiting for me to command you.”

His full lips twitched again and his eyes sparkled. Her cheeks heated as she realized her double-entendre. “Saige.” His low voice saturated her senses. “You don’t have to compel me for that.”

Oh my gods.
Her stomach clenched. Why could she not string words together this morning? She shook her head to clear it. “You should be, like, zoned out. Not acting on your own. Or speaking unless spoken to.”

“You did it the same way as you’ve always done?”

“Yeah.” She tried again, this time thinking harder about his mind, willing it to submit to her. She’d never had to do that before, even with the other Lash males.

Tanner sat there, close enough to touch, looking as sexy and alert as ever. “You did it again?”

“Yes.” She could only stare at him in wonder. “Oh my gosh. It doesn’t work on you.”

Green eyes widened. “How is that possible?”

“I don’t know. That’s never happened before.”

He took her hand, turning it over to skim circles on her palm. “Interesting. Definitely mention it to Melixa and Whysper.”

“I will.” His touch took the edge off her confusion and soothed her. None of this made sense, but did it need to? So what if there was one person who was immune to her power?

And that person just happened to be a male who affected her like no other? Were her own emotions getting in the way of her ability?

And if so, would that be a bad thing?

“I have to go.” He set her hand gently on the bed. “I don’t want to. But I have a training session with my team.”

“Oh. Okay.” Of course, he had demands on his time. She took a last lingering look at his mesmerizing eyes and the stubble dusting his jaw.

“I’ll come and find you at lunchtime.” He leaned forward to place a quick kiss on her cheek, then he was off the bed and pulling on his shoes.

She nodded, already missing him. But he had a job to do, and she needed to find her place now that she was free.

With him.
A quiet voice pulsed with absolute certainty, deep in her heart.

Watching him leave with a wave, she wished she could compel that thought into reality.

C
HAPTER
10

Two weeks later

“T
HAT’S GOOD, SAIGE. RELEASE HER
now.” The melodic voice of the oldest creature Saige had ever met filled the dark quiet room in the depths of Watcher HQ’s spell department. Whysper’s gray hair swished around her tiny shoulders as she nodded at Saige.

Saige blew out a breath and focused on removing the mental hold she had on Melixa’s mind. She was finally getting used to this, as opposed to leaving someone under her spell and walking away, letting it wear off on its own.

Melixa’s bright blue eyes blinked and she focused with a new clarity on Saige. “I’m back.” She gave Saige a huge smile.

“Good. How do you feel?” Saige asked.

“Great! You?” The young witch studied her with innate perception.

Saige paused. “Fine. I think I’m fine.” The witches had insisted on keeping her practice sessions brief, at least in the beginning.

“Whew.” Melixa grinned. “That’s a relief. We don’t want you to pass out, and I’m pretty sure Tanner would blow a gasket if you did.” The witch tilted her head. “I still don’t know why your ability didn’t work on him, though.” She flicked a glance to Whysper, who shrugged.

“We will know in time. Tanner is still young. As is Saige.”

Tanner.
Saige’s skin warmed at his name. He’d made time to see her every day, showing her around, taking meals with her, and just hanging out. But no more affection than his hand at the small of her back.

Well, other than holding her after her nightmare. Gods, she’d slept like a baby in his arms. And the next morning had been as wonderful as it had been mystifying.

He consumed her thoughts and dreams, and she couldn’t deny the amazing sensation that settled over her when he was near. It was like a blanket, warm and secure. A feeling of being protected and cherished. But was it all in her head?

He hadn’t made a move for more with her. Was that night at Hades just about sex, for the sake of scratching a mutual itch? She was confused-too shy to pull him into a dark corner and kiss him senseless, but unable to resist sneaking glances at him whenever he was around.

Sighing, she focused on the room full of soft couches and throw blankets. “Why did I black out in the first place, and not anyone I used my skill on?” Saige muttered.

“A check and balance,” Whysper said. “With power this great, the potential for abuse is enormous. As you are well aware.”

Saige nodded. The weeks there had only started to wash away the horror of the Viper’s club. All the Lash males, save one, had returned home to their families. None of them harbored any ill feelings toward Saige, thanks to Arawn’s officially released summary of the events. He hadn’t revealed her identity or her power, just that the Vipers had kidnapped and forcibly coerced a creature to use mind control on their sons.

The one family whose son had died in the ring bitterly mourned their child, wanting retribution. According to Tanner, Arawn and his diplomatic mate, Ria, had spent time with the family, explaining as best they could that justice had been done and the situation was not going to change. Saige only hoped they would one day find peace.

And she hoped she would as well. Melixa and Whysper had helped her with relaxation and meditation techniques, for when the grief over the loss of her parents or her actions with the Vipers got to be too much. Saige treasured the fledgling friendship she shared with Melixa.

But it was one sexy tall green-eyed warrior who owned her attention.

“Well, child, if you’re feeling fine, then I’m going to work on a new project that one of the boys thought up. Spelled bullets.” Whysper sighed and pushed up from her spot on the comfy couch. “Interesting concept…tricky in reality. Boys.”

Saige bit back a smile.
Boys
was how the ancient witch referred to the Watchers, though many of them were centuries old.

Melixa twirled her thick black ponytail as she and Saige followed Whysper out of the quiet room and into the main spell area workspace. Desks and tables were scattered around, and rough wood planks lined the walls. It was earthy and efficient. “You’re getting better. Each day we go for a minute longer, and so far no side effects.”

Saige nodded. “Yeah. That’s great, but I don’t even know how I ended up with this gift.”

“It happens. A lot of people here have unusual gifts.”

“I’ve heard. I just don’t feel special. What am I going to do with this?” Saige shook her head, glancing around the room. Her eyes settled on Melixa’s desk, where Saige’s collar sat.

Whysper had taken the thing off shortly after Saige arrived, and Melixa had been eager to
dig into it
, as she put it. Now Melixa followed her gaze. “You can do a lot. Gain information that will help the Watchers track and catch bad guys. And they will never, ever throw you into a situation alone, or one that you’re not ready for.”

“I know, and I’m grateful. But for right now I’m happy to stay here, practicing mind control for two or three minutes at a time.”

Melixa grinned. “Sure. There’s no rush that I know of.” She walked to her desk and jiggled the mouse next to her computer. “I’m still tracking who might have created this. What about you?” Her blue eyes took on a sly gleam. “Going to see Tanner today?”

“Um, I hope so.” Saige couldn’t suppress a smile. “He manages to stop by every day.”

“I have never seen him make time to see a girl every day. Just so you know.” The witch winked. “He’s a good guy.”

“Yeah.”

“And he likes to swim. You know we have a pool downstairs right?”

“I remember hearing that,” Saige said. “I don’t have a swimsuit though.”

“I can fix that. Come on.” Melixa got up and tugged Saige to the door.

“Wait, you’re not going to conjure me a suit are you?” After what she’d seen of the witch’s skills, she’d believe it.

“No, silly.” Melixa laughed. “I’m taking you to my room. I have extra, and they’re cuter than the suits that we stock in the pool area.”

Tanner wrapped up his second run on the outdoor obstacle course with Raul. They’d each won once, and this new configuration was a bitch. Caine, who designed the layouts, was getting more devious.