Flicker (28 page)

              Elise's brows were drawn sharply as she processed what he was saying. In a strange way, it made sense; she had always preferred balance and moderation as a philosophy. Growing up, she had always felt that a balanced lifestyle was best-- but really, she had no basis for comparison. Nothing in her life had prepared her for this conversation. She shook her head abruptly. “What's your solution, then?” She asked, her voice a little harsh as she tried to shrug off the idea that just maybe, he might have a point.

              Rashid smiled at her, once again somewhere between enticing and threatening. “I should think that would be obvious.”

              Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “I despise guessing games,” she snapped. “Frankly, I have half a mind to call Alex and tell him all of this. What do you think he would make of your theories?”

              He leaned back in his seat, entirely unimpressed by her threat. “You won't tell him-- because then you'll have to admit to him that you think I'm right.”

              Elise's heart jumped into her throat, and she gulped, not saying a word. Had she forgotten to shield? Or was he just guessing? If the latter, then her reaction could only have confirmed his theory. “So you think I'll lie to him for you?” She desperately clung to her anger to cover her pounding heart.

              Rashid grinned broadly. “No, I think you'll lie to him for you.” Then he sat up suddenly, the grin disappearing as if it had never been and his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that stripped away all her bravado. “But remember this, girl: if you ever lie to me, I can't answer for the consequences.”

              Elise began to tremble once more.

              Alexander caught sight of Elise through the trees, her chestnut hair shining in the late afternoon sun. Her long, black cloak stood out strikingly against the beech bark, her gray skirts swirled around her legs, and as he often did when he saw her alone, he felt a moment of disorientation, her archaic clothing making him question which century he was living now. Shaking off his thoughts, he broke into a jog, calling out to her to wait.

              Elise spun, looking as if he'd startled her out of a daydream, and unconsciously Alexander slowed, his breath catching in his chest. The bitter autumn wind had whipped roses into her cheeks and turned her lips pale. It wasn't just the pull of her power he felt-- in that moment, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

              But she was beautiful today  in an icy, distant way. As he drew closer to her, he felt a frown cross his features: something was wrong with her. She was closed away from him, and though she stood paused, waiting for him, it was clear that inside they were very far apart.

              “Elise?” He asked without preamble as he came up beside her. “Has something happened?”

              She forced the smile he had grown accustomed to in the first weeks of their acquaintance, the one that pricked at him, reminding him of the agonizing secrets that had nearly broken her. Her cold-whitened lips parted to flash teeth, but her eyes shone with more than just a glaze brought by the wind. “Of course not,” she said with a short laugh, looking up at him. Her gloved hand rested against the tree, her body arched toward him-- everything about her pose was calculated to convey sincerity. She was shielding too hard for him to believe a word she said. “I was just lost in thought, I suppose.” The wind gusted and she shivered abruptly. “It's getting chilly out-- would you like to join me in getting inside?”

              Alexander stepped closer to her, wishing-- though he kept the thought carefully to himself-- that he could bring himself to pry inside her mind and find out what she was hiding. Instead, he reached out and gently raised the hood of her long, velvet cloak to cover her hair. “Yes, let's.” Abiding by her deception felt like swallowing shards of glass, but he reminded himself as he fell into step beside her that she needed time.

              “Why don't you come to my house for the afternoon?” Alex asked after they'd walked in silence for a few minutes.

              Elise hesitated, considering refusing the invitation. It wasn't that she didn't crave the sense of safety she found with him-- when she'd heard him call her across the park, it had been all she could do not to run to him and throw herself into his arms. But she didn't want to tell him about meeting with Rashid-- between having gone somewhat voluntarily and the little voice in her mind that called Rashid's words reasonable, she felt guilty right now.

              As much as she hated proving Rashid right, she just couldn't tell Alex about what had gone on in the past hour. She knew she should, but right now, with her nerves still raw from the last deadly conversational dance she'd managed to get through, she simply couldn't handle another confrontation. And if spending the afternoon at Alex's house would mean lying to him, even just for now, then she just wanted to go home. Would he be upset, maybe feel rejected? She glanced up at him; he was carefully looking ahead, giving her space to decide. If she said she didn't want to go with him, he wouldn't question her.

              Suddenly, that bothered her. When they'd first met, he'd been so dominant that he'd scared her, pushing her almost to the breaking point on several occasions. But ever since she'd broken down at his house-- it had been just over a month now-- he'd been so delicate, so gentle with her. At first, she had appreciated his care and distance, but it was beginning to feel as if he thought she was weak, too broken to play his games. Abruptly, she was angry.

              “Sure,” she said sweetly, lifting her chin to meet his gaze challengingly. “Let's go.”

              Alex raised his eyebrows at her. “Are you all right?” He asked, clearly having noticed the change in her demeanor.

              Elise gave him the predator's grin he used to frighten her with. “Oh, of course. I would just rather go get warm together.”

              Alex was frowning, but he continued to walk with her, letting her lead the way through the park and down the few blocks to his house. Elise could sense him beside her and half a step behind, could feel as his power brushed hers and he sifted through the emotions she allowed him to see, struggling to comprehend what she was thinking. “Are you angry at me?” He asked finally, as his street came into view.

              Elise cast a smirk over her shoulder. “Not at you, per se,” she said flippantly, purposely trying to get under his skin by emulating his dominant tactics. After a few more steps, she heard it click in his mind, and then he was shielding and she couldn't feel more than his presence. She bit her lip, worried for a moment that she had provoked him in the wrong way, and had actually upset him. But she was just playing, she decided. If he was hurt, she'd apologize, but she wasn't sure she could take him acting like she was so breakable anymore.

              Alex was a perfect gentleman as he ushered her up his front steps. For a moment, she was reminded forcefully of Rashid, but she cast any thought of him from her mind. Regardless of what Alex would say once they got inside, she didn't want to have to shield from him-- but now wasn't the time to tell him about her dinner meeting.

              And then they were through the door, and standing in the front hallway, at the base of the stairs. Elise turned to Alex, her hands going to her throat to undo the clasp on her cloak. She wasn't sure, exactly, what she was planning to say, but she never even got a chance.

              He was there, right beside her, though she hadn't heard him move. Her school bag thudded to the ground, and she gasped as he gripped her wrists tightly, her heart stopping for a moment. He used her arms to push her back against the wall behind the door, trapping her hands on either side of her shoulders, boxing her in. “Is this what you wanted?” He whispered, leaning so close that his lips brushed her ear.

              Elise's knees had gone weak, until the wall behind her and Alex's iron grasp on her wrists were the only things keeping her upright. She nodded rapidly, trying desperately to keep breathing. Her heart was racing and her mouth had gone dry, but the sensations rushing through her were of pleasure, not fear.

              She had to swallow once, and then again, but Elise managed to speak as Alex, still trapping her against the wall, began to trail gentle kisses down her neck. “I--” she gasped, and tried again. “I've missed you being like this. It felt like you were holding back, because I was broken.”

              Alex drew back just far enough that he could look her in the eyes. With him bending over to reach her neck, they were on the same level, and Elise didn't have to look up at all to meet his gaze. “I was holding back because you deserve someone who will treat you gently, and with respect,” he whispered sincerely.

              “Do you respect me?” Elise murmured back. He nodded. “Then I want this--” she struggled just a moment, trying to force her arms away from the wall, and let him feel the desire that his strength brought out of her. “I want you.”

              He let out a low groan at her words, and pressed his forehead against hers, the contact innocent and incredibly sweet. For just a second, Elise thought he was going to kiss her, and her lips parted in breathless anticipation. She had never been kissed before.

              But then he was moving, forcing her wrists together over her head so he could hold them both with one hand. She writhed, and he pressed his lower body against hers, trapping her even more thoroughly; she gave a tiny moan. And then she froze as his newly free hand found its way to her throat.

              In a heartbeat, whatever he wanted to do was done, and then he was pulling her away from the wall and she realized he'd unfastened her cloak as it fell from her shoulders. Before Elise could process what was happening, Alex swept her into his arms, and was carrying her up the stairs.

              A million thoughts ran through her head as Alex laid her gently onto his bed, but chief in her mind was the complete surety that he wouldn't hurt her, wouldn't do anything she didn't ask of him. It was why she wasn't afraid when he laid down beside her, when he gently took her wrists again and pressed them above her head, trapped once more in one of his large hands. Her trust in him was, however, not the only reason that when he lowered his head, she opened herself to him, exposing her throat so he could nuzzle at her neck. His breath was warm on her skin, and when he growled against her throat, low and animalistic, she gasped and writhed against him, desire burning through her. She felt his teeth graze lightly against her throat and she whimpered; when he bit her skin, his teeth setting firmly into the meat of her neck, her back arched and she cried out, pressing her body against his, fighting his restraining hand.

              Her energy awoke immediately, washing over her in a wave of need that was answered in kind by his power. The redoubled sensations made her gasp, her eyes closing so she could focus on her other senses. She could feel her pulse pounding under his teeth, and the strength of his heartbeat in return; she felt and knew that he felt every inch of the line where their bodies pressed together. He squeezed his hand tightly, and the pressure sent a thrill through her body. She also felt the muscles tense in his hand as he closed it around her delicate wrists, felt the immensity of his strength as he still held back so much, knowing that she was helpless, that he could truly break her. Even in dominating her, holding her down, he was so tender-- she saw herself through his eyes, felt the responsibility of holding her precious life in his hands. She let out a tiny sound, between a cry and a moan, her eyes flying open, her brow drawn with sharp longing as she pressed the length of her body against him, wordlessly begging for-- she wasn't quite sure what.

              She felt him drawing back from her mind a moment before he physically released her body, and tears of bitter disappointed pricked her eyes. “Please,” she gasped, grabbing for his shirt, desperate to keep him close. He shushed her, comforting, letting her know that he didn't intend to leave her.

              Instead, he merely softened, bringing his hand to curve around her face, cupping her cheek and tracing his thumb over her lips. His touch was feather-light, the barest whisper of contact; Elise closed her eyes once more with a soft sigh, melting into his hands. Their energy was soft, too, a gentle, golden light that surrounded them both. Elise had never felt anything like it, and never wanted it to end-- but still, the need to be held, to be possessed, to feel alive blazed within her. She took advantage of her newly regained freedom to wrap her arms around Alex's neck, tangling her fingers in the silken strands of the hair at the nape of his neck, and felt the golden light of their energy start to burn again.

              Suddenly he was pulling her close, his hands tracing down her sides to grip her hips, the heat he'd shied away from surging between them once more. She gasped, writhing in his arms, pulling him closer so she could brush her lips over the soft skin behind his ear, powerless to stop the desire raging through them both.

              Powerless...

              Powerless to fight the hands holding her down, forcing her open, touching everywhere.

              Powerless to escape, unable to scream, no help, no hope.

              Powerless...

              With a sob, Elise wrenched herself free, shoving Alex's hands away and rolling onto her side, curling tightly into a ball against the wall.