Hathor Legacy: Outcast (11 page)

15
No More Rules

"You're here from the city, aren't you?" the man asked as he stepped aside to let them enter the house. "My name is Jason. I heard you outside. It sounded as though you needed assistance."

"Yes we sure could," Jon said as he led the way inside. The foyer was darkened, but bright light flooded in from the connecting room. "I'm Jon and this is Nadira."

He wondered if giving their names was a smart thing to do. But it wasn't likely anyone would be looking for them out here. "We came to visit a friend of mine, Matt Bento. We wanted to su
rprise him, but the directory out there isn't working and we're not sure where the house is." 

"The name is not familiar to me. Come in." Jason motioned for them to follow him.

The dining room had a large wooden table that could seat at least 10 people, and colorful woven hangings on the walls. Jonathan was surprised that the furnishings were as modern as he would've found in his own apartment. He'd been expecting something a lot more rustic.

A three-quarter wall divided the room, with an opening at one end providing access to the other side. He could hear people mo
ving about and the aroma of food being prepared.

"I manage this guest house. Company managers usually stay here during the season, but it's quiet now." Jason rubbed his hands against the long, blue apron he wore over his shirt and pants. "You work for the company, don't you? Are you on holiday?"

Short and compact, Jason's shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing his sinewy arms. Wisps of grey hair on the sides of his head kept him from being completely bald. Except for his height and his cheerful expression, he reminded Jonathan of the Sentry Leader, Brant.

Jonathan waited for Nadira to sit before he joined her at the t
able. "We're just visiting for a few days."

"I used to live in the North Country many years ago. Wasn't there a big house out there on the other side of the kiosk?" Nadira asked.

"Oh, that has been gone for many years." Jason stroked his chin. "It was destroyed oh…about…yes, almost 20 years ago."

"What happened?" Nadira asked.

"It was a fire." Jason's smile faded.

The crash of a metal object hitting the floor reverberated from the other side of the wall. Jason closed his eyes in exasperation, quickly forcing a smile to his lips. "There is a small problem in the kitchen." He hurried to other side of the divi
ding wall.

"What's so important about that house? Did you live there?" Jon asked.

"No."

Instead of elaborating, she stared straight ahead, her lips tight. So, she was still angry. Well, she'd have to get past it.

"Did you check him out with your powers? Is he okay?" Jason seemed friendly, but it was best to be sure.

"Yes, I used my 'powers' to read him when we walked in," she snapped.

"Look, we can't use our credits or we'll be identified. I'm not in the mood to wander around tonight. If you talk to him in that dialect, he might help us out."

He did want to keep going. But, after what Ilana had done to both of them, he had to admit that rushing to confront her again without a plan would be incredibly stupid.

Their host returned, his easygoing manner back in place. "New workers make mistakes at times. All is well now. Would you like me to try to locate your friend?"

Nadira held up her left hand. "Jason, can we stay here tonight? It is a private matter. Katu?"

Jason's smile grew wider, causing creases to cut across his forehead. "Yes, of course. You are welcome, Guardian. Please honor me by staying. Our largest room on the top floor is quite comfortable."

"Thank you. Perhaps we can have something to eat."

"Yes, of course! I will see about the meal." Jason clasped his hands together and  headed back to the kitchen.

A moment later Jon heard him shouting instructions to the workers as the sounds of activity increased. In spite of his earlier nausea, Jon's stomach growled as he caught a whiff of a pleasing smell from the kitchen.  

"All you have to do is ask and it's done? I'm impressed."

Nadira looked into his eyes, her brown ones intense and u
nwavering, a small smile on her lips. She was used to giving commands and being obeyed. But so was he.

"Here we are." Carrying a pitcher and two cups, Jason emerged, followed by a younger man and woman carrying trays of food. "These are my assistants, Jare and Lora. So far tonight you're our only guests, so you will get our best."

"Grasi," Nadira said.

"Thanks. This is a nice house." Barely waiting for the woman to set it down, Jonathan reached for one of the platters. The stea
ming mix of vegetables and meat was still sizzling, making his mouth water. He didn't recognize any of the dishes, but it didn't matter. He was hungry.

"The company owns most of the houses facing the sea. I've been managing this one for se
veral years. Many people come here on holiday from the city."

"Why?" Jon asked, ignoring the sharp look Nadira gave him. Though he'd grown up in a home overlooking the sea, he'd never understood the attraction.

"Ah, I see you prefer a faster pace," Jason observed, a hint of amusement in his bluish-green eyes. "Well, we will try to make you comfortable while you are here."

*****

A couple of hours later, Jason led them to the upstairs bedroom. Not only was the room large, it had a huge bed that sat on an ornately carved platform. A dark blue, plush couch wrapped around the opposite wall. Above it, the window spanned the wall, from one end to the other. 

From where he was standing by the bed, Jonathan could look out and see the ocean waves shimmering in the golden light of the moons.

Jason pulled back the velvety bed covers and fluffed the long pillow. "I'm sorry I could not locate Matt Bento's home for you."

"We'll see what we can find out tomorrow." Jonathan took off his jacket and tossed it on the bed.

"Fine. Be rested." Jason nodded at them and left the room.

"Which side do you want?"

Nadira didn't respond as she stood at the foot of the bed, staring out at the sea.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

Still tight-lipped. What was it going to take for her to stop b
eing angry at him?

"Nadira, I'm sorry about the things I said out there."

"Are you?"

"Look, you're right. We need to think first before we do an
ything else. From now on, I'll listen. I promise."

"Jon, we should get some rest. We'll need it." She went to the other side of the bed and began undressing.

He pulled off his shirt, kicked off his boots, then added his pants and underwear to the pile. Climbing into bed, he saw that Nadira was still undressing.

Neatly folding her jacket and pants, she laid them on a nearby chair. Her shirt came next. Then she was down to her underwear, just as she had been that mor
ning back in her apartment. Her sleeveless tank top hugged her rounded breasts and stopped above her midriff. Below that, all she had on was a triangle of sapphire-colored fabric.

Suppressing a groan he thought about the last time she'd a
llowed him to touch her there. It'd nearly driven him crazy.

Nadira slid under the covers next to him but remained on her side of the bed.

"Why don't you move over?" he asked. "I won't do anything I shouldn't."

To his surprise, she moved close enough for him to put his arm around her waist.

"That's better, isn't it?"

"Yes," she replied.

"So you haven't been in the North since you left with Zina?" He wasn't sure if this was the subject to bring up right now. But he was curious.

"No, I haven't. Being back here doesn't feel the same. I thought it would."

"There's something I don't understand. When we were back at your place, how was I able to see your memory of Zina taking you from your mother?" 

Nadira didn't say anything. All he heard was her deep breat
hing, then a sigh.

"I'm not sure, Jon. Maybe it's our connection."

All this time he'd assumed that she'd purposely stayed open to him. But she'd had no control over it.

"Why didn't your mother want you to become a Guardian? Do you know where she is now?"

She shifted her body away from him. "Too many questions, Jonathan, and I don't have the answers right now."

"I'm sorry. Don't move away. It's cold. The closer you are the warmer we'll both be."

She laughed. It was a small sound, like she had to force it. But she did move close enough to press the length of her body against his.

As much as he enjoyed it, it would be torture to continue to start something that couldn't be finished. A little foreplay wasn't so bad, but at some point they had to get to the destination.

"Your skin isn't itching anymore?" she asked.

He'd almost forgotten about the fake skin. "Guess it's healing," he replied. "Just like you said it would."

"Lights 0%," she called out. The ceiling lights went dark, leaving the room lit only by moonlight. "That's because I'm always right."

He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her presence so close to him in the warm, comfor
table bed. Always right? He'd have to wait until morning to give her an answer.

*****

Hours later Jonathan woke up with a start. He'd been dreaming that he was running. But he must've actually thought he was running, because his body had jerked and he'd woken himself up.

"Can't sleep?" Nadira asked.

"Did I wake you?"

"I've been awake for a while. It's hard to relax."

Nadira draped her leg across his, setting his nerve endings on fire. What was she doing? He sighed so deeply he startled himself.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Why do you keep asking that?"

"You sounded like something was hurting."

"Nothing's hurting." She had to know why he was reacting the way he was. Or maybe she was deliberately teasing him. If so, he had a way to turn the tables. He reached under the covers and rested his hand on her bare thigh.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Your hand. Why is your hand there?" Nadira asked. "And now what are you doing?"

His hand was now curved around her backside, and while it was there he was going to make the best of it.

"Does this bother you?" he asked, kneading her hip. He might as well keep g
oing until she told him otherwise. No matter what happened, he didn't expect to have a restful night.

"No, it doesn't."

Maybe the situation was improving. She didn't seem uncomfortable. But how far would she allow things to go? 

"Nadira, what is it? You can't be with someone who's not a Guardian? Are there rules?"

He felt silly for asking, but he did wonder. Guardian rules for sex: what not to do and who not to do it with.

"It's hard to experience my own emotions as well as someone else's. Staying in control of my energy is important. If I don't, I won't be able to focus it properly."

"But what does that have to do with sex?"

She laughed. "Everything is energy, Jon. It's all connected. Do you unde
rstand?"

"So if you lose control you could blast me?" he asked, hoping she could tell he wasn't entirely serious.

"No. It's different."

"That's good to know." He chuckled.

"What we're feeling right now…the arousal we're feeling…it's probably only because I'm shielding you."

"I doubt that. And I don't think you believe it either," he said, as he continued to caress her. "It doesn't matter to you that I'm not a Guardian?"

"It doesn't."

"Do you trust me?" he asked, his heart racing.

It took a few moments for her to answer, but finally she did. "Yes," she whispered.

Without hesitation he pressed his lips against hers. She returned his kiss, opening her mouth and giving way to his probing tongue.

Guiding her so that she was on her back, he continued kissing, playing, and biting, while he lost himself in the vibration from the moans that escaped her lips. She'd driven him to distraction since that first chase, and now it was his turn.

Anxious to remove any barriers between them, he gently lifted up her top and pulled it over her head, discarding it to join his clothing on the floor. Trailing kisses down her body, he captured her full breasts, running his hands over them, grasping and gently squeezing. He found her nipples, enjoying her reactions as he c
aressed them into hardness.

Encouraged by her soft sighs, he ran his hand across her sto
mach, then down to that triangle of fabric that had caused him so much consternation. Pushing back the fabric, he found her nub and ran his thumb over it, squeezing it between his thumb and fingers. She tensed, her breathing deep and ragged.