Authors: Rebecca Airies
Once inside the building, Gallagher led them to an interview
room. Chelsea settled into a chair. Alex probably wouldn’t let her out of his
sight for the rest of the day. The chief seemed to realize it, too.
Alex sat beside her. Chelsea glanced at Alex. The sight of
him sitting there, without any sign of pain, sent a surge of relief through
her.
“What happened, Alex?” Gallagher sat in the chair on the
other side of the table.
“I needed to change clothes before we went over to her
mother’s house.” Alex slipped his fingers over hers on the table. “I got out
and walked around the car. I looked for anything out of the ordinary or a sign
someone waited for us. Found nothing. I thought it was safe to get her out of
the car. The arrow hit as I headed for her door.”
“Did either of you see the person who shot it?” Gallagher
asked.
“No, I didn’t see anyone in the area.” Alex shook his head.
“I looked when we arrived and then watched Alex, but saw no
one. After that arrow hit him, I kept my head down and rushed to get to him,”
Chelsea bit her lip. She wished they had some clue about who did this.
“Did you vary your times arriving home and the routes you
took?” Gallagher looked to Alex.
“Yes, this is the first time this week that we’ve been home
before dark.” Alex nodded.
“Well, this stalker has a lot of time to wait for you if he
staked out there and waited. He was behind some bushes in your neighbor’s yard,
by the way.” Gallagher exhaled. The long, slow breath spoke of his frustration.
“He staked out my house?” Alex frowned.
“Or he knew you’d be there first today. It could be the
latter because he hadn’t been in that spot long. We found no sign in either of
your neighbors’ yards of any other spot of surveillance.” Gallagher drummed his
fingers on the table. “Is there any way he could know you’d stop by Alex’s
house first?”
Chelsea thought. How could anyone know? Joy had told her
when she was in her office. There hadn’t been anyone else in there with them.
Her eyes widened as she remembered the door.
She glanced at Alex. She could be partly responsible for
what happened to him. “There’s a chance someone heard Joy and I talking about
you coming to get me. She’d reminded me that Mom had wanted to discuss the
party so I mentioned we’d be there after we swung by the house.”
“How do you think someone would know what you and Joy were
talking about?” Alex’s head tilted to the side.
“We were in the office, but the door was open. I didn’t
think anything of it at the time, because no one passed by at all while we were
talking.” Chelsea bit her lip. Her eyes went to his bandaged arm. Goddess, she
felt guilty.
Alex frowned at her. His eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched,
but he didn’t yell. “For your own safety, you need to remember that someone is
after you. They will be interested in your comings and goings. On the other
hand, I don’t want you shutting yourself in a room with just anyone.”
“But if someone did listen outside your office, doesn’t your
company have cameras in the hallway?” Gallagher inserted before Chelsea could
reply.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“I made sure of that before I left her alone in that
building. She’s safer there because of all the people. On the other hand, it
is someone who knows her. I wanted to make sure she’d have a camera on her just
in case.” Alex squeezed her hand.
“Good. While we investigate whether this person laid in wait
or perhaps overheard it at Chelsea’s office, you two will stay somewhere safe.
Don’t worry about anything. We’ll get clothes and whatever you need.” Gallagher
looked from Chelsea to Alex.
“What about my work? Should I go to work?” She could take
the time off if needed, but she didn’t want to risk others around her.
Gallagher’s head tilted to the side and he appeared to be
giving it serious thought. “It should be safe for you as long as you stay in
the building. Don’t leave unless someone’s with you.”
She nodded. She suspected they were still trying to draw the
stalker out while keeping her safe. Well, at least, she could keep busy. She
couldn’t ask for more than that. She’d go out of her mind if she had to sit at
home until they figured out how the person found them and if he was caught on
camera.
They ate carry out from a nearby restaurant while they
waited to be taken somewhere safe. She needed some time alone with Alex by the
time Gallagher drove them to a home a few blocks away from the police station.
The two story house with a detached garage sat on the corner of the block.
Gallagher pulled into the garage.
“You’ll be staying in the garage apartment. It’s furnished.
There are sheets and blankets in the closet in the bathroom. A patrol officer
will be driving by periodically, but we weren’t followed here. You’ll be safe.
Someone will bring you some clothes in the morning,” Gallagher said. He looked
from one of them to another.
“Thank you.” Chelsea smiled. She knew this was his home.
“No problem. We’ll discover who’s behind this soon.”
Gallagher’s head lowered once in acknowledgement and handed over a key.
Alex led her away from Gallagher and to the stairs leading
up to the apartment above the garage. They climbed the stairs hand in hand. She
opened the door and stepped inside the house just in front of him. As soon as
they shut and locked the door, he stepped in front of her.
She hid a smile at the protective move. The fact that no one
other than Gallagher knew where they were didn’t matter at all. Alex wouldn’t
relax until he’d checked every room in the tiny apartment.
As Alex led the way, she glanced around at the apartment. It
was done in neutrals, beige and off-white, for the most part. The furniture was
nice, stylish and sturdy, but not cheap.
She kept her fingers on his back until he stopped in the
bedroom. While he stood there, she went into the bathroom to find sheets and a
blanket. She put the sheets on the bed and turned to grab the blanket.
“Chelsea, I need you.” Alex put a hand on her arm.
“You can’t put any stress on that wound.” She frowned at
him.
“I don’t have to. I want you to ride me.” Alex guided her to
the bed.
The idea stirred her interest. She wanted the contact with
him. After seeing that arrow in his arm, she desperately needed the reassurance
that he was alright. Only one thing had stopped her from pushing him against
the wall after he’d searched the apartment. He was hurt.
“You’ll tell me if I hurt you?” She looked up at him.
“If you touch it or it aches, I’ll tell you, but I won’t be
in pain. I’ll be on my back and the only part of me that will move is my hips.”
He guided her back toward the bed. “You want to.”
“Always and especially after seeing you with that arrow in
your arm. I’ve wanted to touch you and see that you were alright.” She ran her
hands over his chest. The heat of his skin seeped through the fabric of his
borrowed shirt.
“Well then, let’s get these clothes out of the way so I can
watch you make yourself wild.” Alex grinned.
“Make myself wild? You don’t plan to help even a little?”
She raised an eyebrow, but began to unbutton her shirt.
“Maybe I’ll help, but I did say I wouldn’t move anything
except my hips.” He grinned.
“You’ve still got one good arm and I know how good your
fingers are.” She dropped her shirt on the floor.
He folded his clothes and put them on a chair near one wall.
She noticed the habitual action, but focused on getting the rest of her clothes
off. Her teeth nibbled at her lower lip. She tried to control her grin.
As much as his one obsessive tendency amused her, she wanted
him too much to tease him about it now. She waited at the bedside until he
climbed onto the bed. As he settled onto his back, she eased over next to him.
He lifted his hand and trailed his fingers across her stomach.
“Don’t tease.” Alex took her hand and tugged gently.
She had no intention of making either of them wait for the
pleasure they craved. She eased one of her legs over him, straddling his hips.
He kept the hand of the injured arm on the bed. The other smoothed over her
stomach.
“What do you want me to do?” She had more than a few ideas
of her own, but she wanted to give him what he needed as well.
“Play with your breasts. I’ll tease your pussy, although I
might want to watch your fingers at work between your thighs.” His fingers
drifted down to the mound of her pussy.
She lifted her hands to her breasts wanting to give him a
show. Just the thought had the hunger tightening in her belly. She cupped her
breasts, lifting them and molding her hands over the curves.
As she drew her hands down revealing her hardened nipples,
she kept her eyes locked on his face. He watched every move she made. Her
breath locked in her throat at the intensity in those molten brown eyes.
His cock nudged against her buttocks, the hard ridge proof
he wanted her. When she drew her fingers over her nipples, she focused on
teasing them both. His fingers pressed between the lips of her pussy. She
pushed down into them eager for the stroke and press over that sensitive flesh.
He laughed, the sound sly and soft. “Play with those
nipples, baby. I feel some of your cream, but you don’t want me enough yet.”
She tugged at her nipples. The small pulls didn’t feel
anywhere as good as his mouth, but they sent tingles straight to her core. She
imagined his mouth there, his teeth applying pressure on the tight buds. The
one thing missing was the wet warmth. She swiped her thumb back and forth.
When his fingers began circling her clit, her legs tightened
trying to hold it where she needed it. The solid muscularity of his thighs kept
her open for him. She rocked her hips trying to get more friction on her aching
clit, but he pulled his hand back. She moaned in frustration.
She caught the smile on his lips. Such a bad man. He was
teasing her. She dropped one of her hands and clasped his wrist.
“Play nice or I’ll have to take over. If I do, I might not
wait for you,” she warned.
“You want my cock filling you.” He lifted his hips.
“Yes, I do, but you want to be inside me, too. Waiting until
I’m ready again would be torture for you.” Her hands braced on each side of his
shoulder. She leaned down and brushed a kiss over his lips.
His mouth opened beneath hers and his tongue thrust against
her lips. She welcomed the kiss. She relaxed into it, enjoying his taste and
the press of his lips against hers. His fingers curled upward, stroking over
her clit. She moaned. Her hips rocked into that contact.
His hand slipped downward. Two fingers thrust into her
pussy. Her inner muscles clenched around the thick digits. Her hands gripped
the covers. She savored the fullness. The sensation wasn’t as good as when his
cock pushed deep. She wanted that.
The kiss deepened. The hunger within her began to flare out
of control. She tore her mouth away and lifted her hips. The tension within
became almost unbearable. All teasing aside, she didn’t want to come until he
was inside her.
He reached between them and held his cock while she lowered
onto it. When the head nudged into her, she bit her lip. Her body tightened.
Pleasure swelled within her, moments from an explosive release. She was so
close. A shiver ripped down her spine. She took deep breaths and tried to
regain more control.
“Take me all the way.” His hand gripped her hip, but he
didn’t urge her down. “I love how your pussy is clenching around my cock, but I
want to feel you move on me.”
She sank onto him. Even though she wanted to hold onto her
control, she couldn’t stay still. Her hips rose. She began a desperate rhythm
and sought the pleasure. It seemed so close, but she couldn’t reach it. Tension
tightened her body even further. The sweet release remained just out of her
reach. She ground down into him.
The corded ropes of his muscles began to stand out. His hips
lifted against her. Her body burned. Even the movement of the air against her
hypersensitive flesh sent tingles straight to her core. When his fingertips
brushed over her nipple, she cried out. Her hips drove down. His fingers
pinched and tugged. The sensation streaked through her, along a direct path to
the ache in her pussy.
Her fingers tightened on the sheets as she moved over him.
Her inner muscles clenched. A shiver ripped up her spine, a prelude to the
orgasm building inside her. When his fingers gave a sudden pinch to her nipple,
pleasure exploded through her.
Alex gripped her hip, guiding her. He thrust upward. He let
out a harsh groan as he came. His other hand came up to wrap around her,
bringing her down on top of him. His hips continued to move as if trying to
capture every moment of bliss.
His hands stroked over her back.
Two
hands slid over
her hot skin. She lifted her head and frowned at him.
“You were supposed to keep that arm still.” She pushed up to
her elbows and stared down at him.
“You expected me to resist for the entire time, baby? I
don’t have that much control.” He smiled and turned his head and glanced at his
arm. “Look though, the wound didn’t open.”
“Luck.” She shook her head at him.
“Let’s get some sleep. Perhaps tomorrow we’ll discover who
is behind the stalking.” Alex lifted her from him and put her beside him.
She turned onto her side, curving an arm across his stomach.
She closed her eyes and savored the closeness.
Chelsea sat in her office chair and stared at the computer
screen.
Paperwork
. She hated the drudge work. When she was out in the
field, she put it off for as long as she could. Some of the measurements and
facts she entered came from her observations in the field. It made her want to
get out of the office even more.
The soft tone of an email popping into her inbox caught her
attention. With a sigh, she let herself be distracted from the entry of yet
more data. She popped up the interoffice email and glanced at the unread
messages.
There were several that she hadn’t yet opened, because a few
were memos sent out to the entire staff. She ignored those once again in favor
of the one addressed to her. She recognized her sister’s address.
Come see the new hybrids we’ve created. Joy
She knew Joy had been working with a few others to create a
new hybrid orchid as well as new marigolds. They also experimented on a rose
hybrid, but she knew they weren’t satisfied with the color on that one yet.
Chelsea looked around her office. A trip down to the
greenhouse couldn’t hurt. She’d still be in the building. Well, technically,
since the greenhouse attached to the office. She’d be with her sister and a
couple of the other people on hybrid team, even if they were in one of the
sectioned off areas of the greenhouse.
She sent a quick response to her sister.
Be there in a
few. Chels
Chelsea put her computer to sleep so that it would require a
password to activate it again. She didn’t want just anybody to be able to
access her email or the programs she’d been using. With a lighter step, she
headed down toward the greenhouse connected to the building. The thought of
being among even the plants in the experimental greenhouse made her feel
lighter.
She longed to hear the buzz of the insects out in the fields
and feel the sun warming her skin. With a groan, she pushed open the heavy door
connecting the greenhouse the office building. Anticipation at perhaps getting
her hands into some soil bubbled through her.
They needed to catch that stalker. She craved the freedom of
going where she wanted without having to worry.
The smell of the flowers and the rich soil hit her first.
She inhaled, savoring both the sweet and the underlying earthy smells hanging
in the air. Rows of tables were filled with plants. She expected to see people
working among the flowers even out here in the area reserved for those plants
ready or almost ready to be put into normal planting.
She checked her watch. Not even lunch yet. People should still
be working. A person could always find something to do here.
In some areas, moisture and temperature were monitored in
minute detail. Almost every day, workers needed to place ready plants into box
containers so that they could be taken to either another greenhouse or the
field.
The situation began to feel distinctly strange. None of the
normal sounds greeted her. No quiet murmur of conversation, no whirr of
misters. Tools lay on the long planting tables, left there as if someone
expected to be back quickly.
She moved deeper into the greenhouse, closer to the walled
sections where the fertilization and first stage hybrids were kept. As she
walked, she swept her eyes over the rows of plants. Her muscles tightened. The
silence in the big building began to stretch her nerves taut. Maybe this hadn’t
been such a good idea.
“Chelsea, I’m surprised to see you here. Especially alone. I
don’t think I’ve seen you anywhere without someone with you over the last week
or so.” The male voice behind her caused her to jump and hold back a scream.
She took a deep breath before she turned around to calm her
racing heart. He’d scared her. She didn’t want to snap at the man just because
he’d managed to startle her. She hadn’t noticed Jeremy Deek’s among the plants.
The man probably didn’t realize that.
She frowned. Where
had
he come from? The door from
the office building made a loud noise regardless of how carefully someone
opened or closed it. Since it didn’t make noise, he came from somewhere in the
green house. Where could he have been in the open building that she didn’t see
him when she came in?
“Hello, Jeremy, you know how it is. Busy with work, busy
with life.” She shrugged. Her questions about his sudden appearance and the
empty building raised her suspicions. “Have you seen my sister?”
“Not in a little while. I’m sure she’ll be back soon. I
heard you’d started dating one of the newer men in town. Are you still with
him?” Jeremy eased a little closer.
“Yes.” She edged a little farther down the table, but tried
to make it look like she wanted to check the roses near the end. He hadn’t done
anything overtly strange, other than appearing out of nowhere. Still, she
should stay out of his reach. “Alex. He’s a member of the police department.”
A little guilt made her hesitate. Jeremy had always been in
the background. He hadn’t approached her before now on a personal level.
Is
he the stalker?
The nervousness and fear beginning to churn in her gut now
put the idea more firmly in her mind. If Jeremy did have something bad planned,
maybe he’d back off if she mentioned Alex’s profession.
“What is his Aelfir ability?” Jeremy took another step
closer. His eyes locked on her.
“Alex is a Hunter, a Protector, but his family has ties to
both gem and metal abilities.” Chelsea shrugged. His abilities as an Aelfir had
never mattered to her. The connection between them held much more value than
matching talents.
“He’s not even an earth or plant Aelfir. You have nothing in
common.” Jeremy’s eyes narrowed.
“What we have in common is more than Aelfir abilities. It’s
values, interests and desires for the future.” She smiled. Plus attraction and
the love. Their ability was part of them, but if their personalities clashed, a
marriage based on similar talents would still end horribly.
His fist hit the side of the planting table. “Earth Aelfir
stay with Earth Aelfir.”
She jumped and stared at him wide-eyed. It suddenly occurred
to her that Joy hadn’t planned to meet with her. She hadn’t sent that message.
Where had everyone else gone?
Madness glowed in
Jeremy’s eyes. Her eyes darted around searching someone, anyone, to keep him at
bay. She needed a buffer between her and this man.
Her mouth dried. Fear ratcheted to a higher level. She eased
around the end of the table. A barrier. She had to get something solid
separating them to keep him at distance.
Some Aelfir believed that each particular type of Aelfir
should stay with their ability set. Alden Glen was the last place she expected
to find that type of radical belief. That type of hate hadn’t touched this city
in hundreds of years.
Chelsea didn’t understand it. People had been intermarrying
for centuries. It had no effect on the ability strength as the people with
extreme beliefs thought.
She held up her hands. “Calm down, Jeremy. Let’s talk about
this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I warned you to stay away
from him.” Jeremy’s hand swept his hand out and knocked flowers from the table.
Her eyes locked on the plants on the ground for a moment,
but her gaze cut back to the crazy man when she saw movement. A nagging tingle
within her pulled her toward the injured plants. The call to heal them almost
turned her attention from the man in front of her.
The danger kept her focused in the moment and on Jeremy. He
hadn’t ever been anything other than a coworker to her. She’d never have
guessed he was freaking insane. How the hell could she stop him from unleashing
that anger on her?
“I didn’t know who sent them though.” She slid her foot
back, not wanting to trip on any hoses or tools.
His hand closed around a pot containing a flower. He lifted
it off the table. Her eyes locked that pot.
His hand tightened. The pot cracked. Soil trickled to the
ground. He glared at her and took an aggressive step forward. Fear tightened
her throat. She swallowed hard. She jumped back so he couldn’t grab her.
He’s
going to kill me.
“You have so many men in your life that you don’t know who’s
sending you notes?” His hand drew back and threw the pot at the last word.
She didn’t have time to dodge. She was much too close to
him. The pot slammed into her head. Bright light flashed in front of her eyes.
Dizziness swamped her. She stumbled to the side, hitting the table laden with
potted plants.
The edge of the table dug into her knee. Pain lanced up her
leg. She lost her balance and tumbled to the ground. Her flailing arm struck a
few plants. They fell off, landing on the concrete beside her.
A dark shape moved above her. The disorientation and blurred
vision raised her anxiety and terror. Her hands lifted to protect her head.
Something hit her arms, knocking them to the side. She rolled, but a hand on
her shoulder shoved her to her back.
“No, Jeremy!” She lifted her hands shoving at the man
looming over her.
“You should have heeded my warning,” Jeremy rasped the
threat. He straddled her, pinning her to the floor.
Those words came a moment before his weight shifted. A blow
struck her cheek, snapping her head to the side. She struck back blindly. Her
fists swung at the blurry shape above her. Her clenched hand slammed into his side.
A grunt sounded from the man above her. Her knuckles stung, but he didn’t stop
hitting her.
No. This couldn’t be happening.
She didn’t want to
lose her chance with Alex. Not when they had settled the largest problem
between them.
“I can’t let you weaken the Earth line.” His hand closed
around her throat.