Locked Out of Love (6 page)

“Have there been any sightings of the men in black around here today?” Cali asked.

“Not that I've seen,” Luke spoke up. “Why?”

“Because if there was one creeping around, we could snatch him and question him.”

Sydney sighed. “I'll get a clean cage prepped, just in case.”

“Meanwhile, you should return to the community center,” Felix said to Joel. “See if Melanie returns and if not … ” His expression turned sympathetic and Joel's stomach cramped.

If she didn't return, then they'd know she'd been taken.

He clenched his teeth and resumed his pacing, needing to burn off his nervous energy.

“If you still have that napkin, I'll keep searching for a home address,” Merrick offered.

Joel nodded in thanks. “I'll go to the Internet and see if I get any hits on her real name.”

And just like that the meeting was adjourned.

Joel headed to the door. There was no need to stick around. Sydney was upset with him, Niella was a ticking time bomb that refused help, Merrick would be busy dealing with Sydney, and Felix and Cali only reminded him of the empty feeling in his chest.

“Joel?”

He turned. Luke stood a few feet behind him.

Joel forced a smile to his face. “What's up, Skywalker?” He'd dubbed Luke with the nickname months ago. With his mousy brown hair, blue eyes, and the small cleft in his chin, everyone agreed there was a similarity between the young Rejuvenator and the Star Wars character.

Luke didn't even bat an eye at the nickname anymore. “Everyone is going home for the night, and I was wondering if you needed any help or anything.”

Joel didn't need any help when it came to computer tracking. He opened his mouth to thank Luke for the offer, but the hopeful expression on his face stopped Joel cold. He knew Luke didn't have any family. He'd been in the foster care system before Vander kidnapped him, and once he'd been rescued he had no desire to return home.

It must've been hard for the kid to return every night to an empty apartment.

And lonely.

Joel knew what that was like. “Go grab your stuff. I'll wait for you out front.”

Luke beamed and scampered off to the back room to retrieve his belongings.

Joel rubbed his chest while he waited outside the clinic. It'd be nice to have someone else in the house besides himself. Briefly he wondered what it'd be like to have Melanie in his home, in his bed. Her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, her legs open—

His cock hardened painfully and he stifled a groan.

Patience, young Padawan
.

Joel inhaled the cool, salty air in an attempt to snuff out his lust. Lust did not equal a soul mate. Love didn't even equal a soul mate. He'd been in love before and that had ended in heartache. He needed to make sure Melanie was okay, needed to explore whatever this sexual attraction was between them. And if there was any more proof of who she was to him, he'd deal with that when he got to it. First, he needed to teach her how to survive in their world. He needed to earn her trust, and he'd be an idiot if he expected her to welcome him with open arms.

And once you earned her trust?

Did he dare explore this attraction?

It didn't matter. He needed to gain her trust and he needed to go slow.

Melanie clutched the straps of her backpack as she rushed off the bus and into the community center. She was never late to yoga class, but Ma had needed help around the house, and even though she hadn't asked for it, Melanie put down her things to collect all the dirty dishes around the house and wash them.

The sun was starting to set and the wind kicked up to blow her jaw-length hair straight into her face. She hastily tucked the loose strands behind her ear and tried to ignore the slight tremble in her hand.

She was nervous. No, she was beyond nervous; she was downright anxious. The weekend had passed in a hazy blur. She'd even gotten a new job working at a frozen yogurt shop, but damned if she could recall the name of it. Her mind was focused around one thing. One person.

Joel.

She inhaled deeply but the tightness in her chest remained.

It'd been two days since she'd seen him.

I'm only anxious to see him because that's what Juliet wants me to do.

She wished that was all it was, but deep down she knew it was more, and that terrified her. She craved it. Her body tingled with it. She felt like a high school teenager again, hoping to catch sight of her crush somewhere on campus.

Was Joel at the community center? Was he even looking for her anymore?

What if he's not here?

How was she supposed to get close to him if she couldn't find him?

She snuck into her yoga class a half hour late after doing a quick scan of the lobby and side hallways. She remained in the back and easily transitioned into the appropriate positions, her eyes scanning through the open doors for any sign of dark mahogany hair and midnight eyes. But there was no sign of him.

When class was over, she hung her head and exited with everyone else. Two steps out the door she paused. The pressure in her chest eased. She looked up.

Across the hall in a dark jacket and Green Lantern tee, Joel watched her.

Melanie's stomach clenched, her heart tripping over itself.

Someone jostled her from behind and she stumbled to the side. She instantly lost track of Joel and when she looked back, he was gone.

Had she imagined him?

No. She could have sworn he was right there.

“Looking for someone?” A voice spoke up from her far right.

Melanie whirled. Usually the sight of a man so close to her made her back up cautiously, but this was different. She didn't want to back away. She wanted the exact opposite, and that in itself was a cause for alarm. Could it be possible Joel had more than one power? Was he making her feel this insatiable attraction to him?

The idea kept her focused.

She had an assignment to do. Juliet wanted her to get close to him, get tutoring for her powers. Melanie was not to get emotionally involved. She needed to keep her distance.

“I'm glad to see you're okay,” Joel said when the last members of her yoga class were out of hearing range. “I was worried last week when you ran off.”

Worried.

The word threw her for a loop and she tried to force down the emotions.

“Did anything … happen?” His eyes flashed dangerously, as if promising pain to anyone who'd dare lay a hand on her.

“Nothing happened. I was just spooked. Usually when I see a guy from work outside of work … ” She shrugged. It wasn't a complete lie.

“Do you know who suit guy is?”

Melanie forced herself to keep eye contact. “I don't.” That was a lie.

“Have you seen him since?”

She shook her head and felt a little better that she was able to be completely honest. She hadn't seen Mr. Richardson since last Friday. In fact, Juliet's whole organization had been keeping their distance, and it made her nervous. Of course, Juliet said Melanie could call her if she ever felt the need.

Joel's posture relaxed. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“So.” He broke the silence that fell over them. “How was yoga?”

Melanie blinked. Surely someone this nervous and awkward couldn't have done something awful. A smile tugged at her lips. “Do you want to sit down somewhere?” It was time to get to know Joel a little better.

• • •

Joel blinked at Melanie from across the small table they'd found in the community center. “Wait a second, I'm confused.” Joel held up his hand. “Did you just suggest we hang out?”

Melanie's shrug was all nonchalance. “Yeah.”

You've been out of the game for a while, Kegler.

Still, it couldn't be
this
easy. He'd been expecting hesitation, resistance—something! It was almost anti-climactic. Almost. The burning need inside him didn't give a damn who asked who out, as long as it meant he'd get to spend more time with her. The past two days without seeing her had been torture. He was still no closer to finding out who those new suited men were. Cali had volunteered to contact Jente, a man in Vander's employment who had helped her out once, to see if he would divulge any information. Felix had been completely against the plan, but it was all they had to go on. They couldn't leave this potential new threat alone to grow stronger.

He wheeled in his stray thoughts. He could plan heroics later. Right now he needed to figure out the puzzle in front of him.

As much as Joel would like to think that Melanie returned the sexual attraction between them and wanted to explore it, it wasn't true. Felix had been right—if she'd worn a fake nametag when she'd worked at that bar, she didn't want to be found. She admitted as much when he'd first tracked her down. So then why the hell was she seeking his company?

Did she finally come to terms with the fact that she had powers? Did she want him to teach her?

The idea of being her mentor made him sit up a little straighter. He could teach; he was a great teacher—teaching led to camaraderie, a way to get to know her without having this big cloud of expectation looming over his head.

He eyed her hand resting on the table and itched to reach out and take hold of it. He'd always been self-conscious of his hands around Sydney. She used to wince at his scars, as if she could feel the pain of how he'd acquired them. But with Melanie he got no such vibe. In fact, twice already he'd found her staring at his scars in fascination, as if she wondered what they'd feel like under her fingertips. The image of her soft skin tracing over his hands heated his blood and stiffened his cock.

He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “I still don't understand. You said before that you don't like men looking for you outside work, so why the sudden interest in spending time with me? What changed?”

Melanie's hand went for the leather bracelet around her wrist, but she seemed to catch herself. “Well, you mentioned something about teaching me … ?”

Joel's chest puffed up. He grinned. “Of course. We can start tonight if you want.” He tapped his finger on the table. “Though we'd need to find somewhere private to do it.”

“What about with the rest of your guild?”

Any and all images of potential romantic one-on-one time with Melanie were snuffed out. He'd never get a moment alone with her that way.

“I think it'd be best if we left that till later. They can be a little … much. But I promise to introduce you to them eventually.”

Something flashed across her face, but with her head bent away from him, he couldn't make out what it was.

“We can always rent out a room here,” he offered. It wasn't what he had in mind, but he'd do what he had to, to keep her comfortable.

She shook her head and glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. “I can't tonight. I have to start my shift at my new job in”—her eyes widened—“fifteen minutes!” She cursed under her breath.

Joel jumped to his feet before she could flee from him again. Keeping Melanie in one place was turning out to be harder than beating Diablo 3 on the highest level of Torment.

“Hang on there.” He reached for her and nearly groaned aloud when his fingers rested against her bare forearm.

Heat surged between them. Desire flared white-hot and Joel clamped his jaw shut against the sudden onslaught.

Melanie stared up into his face, her eyes burning with unconcealed emotion. “What is this?” she whispered. He knew she meant the connection between them. “Do you have more than one power?”

She thought
he
was making her feel this way?

Joel repressed a grin. “I have only the one power, and you've seen it.”

“Then why … ?” She stared down at where his hand touched her skin. She licked her lips.

Joel's gaze followed the movement of her tongue and he couldn't help but remember when she'd been about to kiss him. How her smell had intoxicated him, her nearness firing every nerve ending in his body.

He wanted to know what she tasted like, what her body would feel like flush against his.

You're my destined soul mate.
The answer to her question rested on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it down. He didn't dare break the intimate moment with something he didn't even know for fact. He couldn't risk it. He wanted to feel Melanie. Craved to taste her.

He found himself leaning into her, or perhaps she was leaning into him. They shared the same breath and it was invigorating. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, but he also wanted to drag it out. He enjoyed watching the way her eyes tracked his lips, the way her pupils dilated when he drew closer still.

He could feel the brush of her lips on his. Hers were oh so soft, and that was when his control snapped. He pressed his lips firmly to hers, waiting—expecting her to pull back, but she didn't. She pushed into him, a full-body tilt as if she'd lost her balance and didn't care if she fell. But Joel would never let her fall. He caught her around the waist and her hands grasped his biceps, hanging on for dear life as she molded her mouth to his. Hungry. Greedy.

Joel groaned with the heat and pleasure of it. His tongue dipped into her mouth, and she took him in as much as possible, sucking him long and hard. His cock throbbed with need.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily. Melanie's face was flushed, her eyes glazed, her focus on Joel's mouth like she wanted another sample. It slayed him. He wanted to pull her into him again and never let go, but he had to be the bigger man here. And he hated every second of it.

“We have to leave now if you want to make it to your job on time.” He voice came out lower than he intended. He cleared his throat. “I can drive you, if you want.”