Guardian of the Earth House (16 page)

“You are.  This game is probably going to cost me a sofa and a very nice pair of pants.”  He plumped her right breast up in his hand so he could put his mouth on the sensitive tip.  “Thank you.”  He breathed.

Teeth grazed and Tessie whimpered.  “Oh, you are
so
welcome.”

Law green eyes gleamed at the sound, trapping her completely with his weight.  One of the most powerful beings in the universe had her pinned beneath him and she’s never felt safer.  Job sucked her nipple, his gaze staying on hers as if he still expected her to demand he stop the strong pulls.  The man was out of his mind.  She wasn’t calling a halt to anything that felt this good.

Tessie shifted her legs wider, trying to find relief by rubbing against him.

His lips curved against her skin and he released the aching point.  “You really are a bad girl, aren’t you?”  He moved his body so she couldn’t get any friction.  “I told you it was my turn.  You have to wait.”

Tessie’s hands clenched in his hair as Job slid down her body.  His mouth was everywhere.  Tongue exploring.  Teeth nipping.  “Oh wow.”  Job was thorough.  She’d give him that.  Very dedicated to tasting every inch of her skin.  Her breath caught as he stopped at the juncture of her thighs.  “Job?”  Her voice went high, her shocked gaze finding his, again.  The guy was a really proper king.  There was no way. He wouldn’t want to… “Oh
shit!
”  It was a wail.

He did want to, apparently.

Job’s eyes stayed on her as he licked deep.  Just one taste to see what she’d allow.  Then, he paused, his hot breath on her core, still waiting for her to refuse him.

The odds of that were pretty much the same as somebody winning every lottery in the world, all at once.

Tessie’s fingers tangled in the white blond strands of his hair, pulling it free of its neat ponytail and tugging him closer to her heat.  “Job, please take me.”  Now, she really was begging and she was fine with that.  Tessie was so wet, her body desperate for him.  She arched wantonly towards his lips. “Please, honey.  Please.  I’ll be so good.  I’ll stay topless all night for you, just… Oh
God
, yes.”

It didn’t take much encouragement to have his face buried against her, his mouth doing sinful things that he sure hadn’t learned in any of his stuffy board meetings.  His tongue was destroying her.  His hands came down to hold her thighs apart, spreading her wide so he could touch her everywhere.

Tessie was sobbing.  “
Job
.”  Her body rocked, the energy growing so big it almost crushed her.  “Oh Gaia.  You’re
so
breaking the rules.  Next time we do this, you’re getting handcuffed.”

“Promises, promises.”  He raised his head and his eyes were bright.  “You want me to
stop
breaking the rules?”

“No.  Don’t stop.”

“Thank God, because I don’t think I could.  Gaia, you taste good.”  He went back to work.  More insistently.  Working faster.

“Please, Job.  Oh, Job, please.  Please, please,
please
.”  Tessie came with a sudden cry, her whole body convulsing.  Energy lit up her system like New Year’s Eve.

Job groaned, feeling her powers explode.  “My
God
, you’re just so perfect.  I can’t… Hey!”  He didn’t get to finish that.

Tessie didn’t give either of them a chance to recover.  The orgasm just charged her for more.  Pushing on him, she knocked them both off the sofa and onto the floor.

Job’s eyes widened as she landed on top of him.  “Tess? Are you hurt…?”  He stopped short as her hands grabbed the zipper of his pants, yanking it down.

“Relax, honey.  You’re in good hands.”  Violet eyes gleamed at him, cat-like, and then she was sinking down his body.

Job tensed.  “What are you…?  You don’t have to do that just because I… Oh, Gaia.”  Tessie lowered her head, sucking him into her mouth and his whole body jerked.  “Oh
fuck
.”  Big hands grabbed her head, not to pull her away but to guide her.  “Don’t stop.  Yes.  Oh my
God
, don’t stop.”  No one had ever done this before.  She could tell by his shock.

Tessie smiled and redoubled her efforts to make him utterly insane.

“Tess.  Don’t stop.  Don’t stop.”  He chanted it like she might really pull away and leave him hanging.  His fingers twisted in her hair.  “Don’t stop. 
Yes
, just like that.  Shit, when I first saw you in that lipstick, I dreamed of taking your mouth. Just. Like.
That
.”

She looked up at him, loving the fact that she’d starred in his sexual fantasy.  For such a virtuous guy, he had a delightfully dirty mind.  Sucking him even deeper, she continued to watch his enraptured expression.  Job was trying to stop himself from exploding, trying to make it last.  She was going to come, again, just from how good he tasted and how powerful she felt.  With her own desire still zipping through her, the added tightness of his powers was going to kill her.  She could feel it building and so could he.  Her body was still on fire for him.

Job’s eyes went to her erect nipples.  “You’re so bad.”  He ground out.  “Come here.”  He yanked her up with a hard pull, his fingers going to her core.  “Finish me with your hand and I’ll take care of you.”  It was an order.

Tessie grinned.  Job giving orders was kinda sexy especially when he was milking another orgasm out of her body.  “You are fantastic.”  She stoked her hand down the length of him and leaned up to kiss him, openmouthed and not at all like a respectable Councilor’s date should ever kiss.

Job kissed her back even wilder.

Tessie just adored this guy.  She rode his fingers and gave her hair a toss.  “Harder, honey.  Make it hard and fast. Oh
yeah
…”  She dropped her head onto his shoulder and moaned as he did exactly like she’d asked.  “We’re dating exclusively.  I swear to God, you’re too talented to let loose in the world.”

“You date any other man like this and he’ll be erased from existence.”  The harsh words were accompanied by a twist of his hand that sent her into another meltdown.  Tessie screamed as she came, her body just melting into his as pleasure washed over her. She squeezed her grip on him in reaction to her orgasm.

“Tess!”  The tendons in Job’s neck tightened.  “
Yes
.”

She felt the Earth powers let go as Job found his own release.  The colors and heat of it made Tessie gasp.  Job hadn’t even dropped his barriers and she could still feel the colossal pressure of his energy gliding across her.  Tessie saw how everything between them lined up.  How, if only this was a
real
Match, they’d fit together flawlessly.  How they
should
fit.

It was so perfect.

It felt so good.

Tessie leaned against him in total surrender, letting his hands wash over her body.  She rolled over, so her back was to his front, and sighed contentedly.  For a few seconds, everything was just
so
perfect.

If only this was real.  If only they could stay together.

But, then Tessie would just be putting Job right in Kay’s path.  How could she do that to such a strong, selfless man?

Job was too important to risk.

There was only one option. Tessie had to leave him.

Tessie’s eyes closed as reality crashed back in and she realized the truth.  If she stayed much longer, she’d get too attached.  She’d be selfish and want to keep him.  She
already
wanted to keep him and Job deserved so much more.  Tomorrow, she had to find somewhere else to go, even if the fake Phazing wasn’t cured.

It was the only way to keep him safe.

Job’s lips grazed her temple and Tessie’s heart melted.

“You’re so lucky.”  She murmured, blinking hard against tears and depressing thoughts.  She didn’t want to ruin this moment.  “How many women would do a lap dance for a guy on the first date?”

Job kissed her, deeply.  “You are a
spectacular
date.”

“You just like bad girls, I think.”

“I like you.”  He played with her breasts as if endlessly fascinated that she’d let him.

Tessie watched his big, rough palms caressing her reverently and knew that she was in deep trouble.  “I like you, too.”  She whispered, even though the word didn’t come close.  “About tomorrow…”

He cut her off.  “Oh yeah, tomorrow.  You want to go with me, then?”

Tessie had no idea what that meant.  “To the Council?”

“No, to the human realm.  Mayport Beach.  Didn’t I tell you?  I’ll be gone most of the day and I know you don’t want to stay home alone.”

“You’re going to Mayport Beach?”  Tessie didn’t like the sound of that.  “No way out of it?  Like, you couldn’t call in sick or whatever?”

“No.”  Job shot her a quick glance as he explored the valley between her breasts.  “Why?  Do you need me to do something for you, instead?”

Tessie shook her head.  “No, I just…”  She raised a shoulder in a shrug.  “I wish you wouldn’t go somewhere so dangerous.  There are a lot of Elementals with attitudes running around Mayport Beach.”

“I’ll be alright.”  His thumbs grazed her nipples, strumming them, keeping them erect.  “These are so pretty.”

“They’re yours.  All night.   Deal’s a deal.”

“Will you really stay topless for me?”

“Well, if I try to renege, I think you could take me before the Council and sue or something, right, Councilor?  I’d hate to face that kind of ordeal.”  Tessie arched against him as Job’s fingers pinched the tips into harder points.

He liked that reaction.  His hands grew even more insistent, his gaze even more focused.  The guy was like a kid with a new favorite toy.  It was incredibly seductive to be the center of so much methodical, captivated attention.  “But, on the plus side, for once, I guarantee everyone would show up for a Council meeting.”

“Demanding to see the evidence, no doubt.”

“Not a chance in hell.”

Tessie whimpered as he tugged with the exact right amount of pressure.  She had to concentrate and he was making it hard.  “So, why do you have to go to human court tomorrow?”  She persisted, breathlessly.  “It’s seriously not safe in Florida, right now.  What do you have to do there that can’t wait until things settle down?”

“The Mayport Beach police arrested Ty and Tharsis, of the Water House and Uriel, of the Wood House for breaking into the hospital serology lab.”  The Phazing energy was rebuilding. He was already getting aroused, again.  They both were.  The stuff was incredible.  “It’s easier to respect the human laws than evade them, since Phases want to continue looking for Matches in the human realm.  So they’re going to court tomorrow.  If you’re interested, they were searching for
your
blood when they were detained.”

“If that’s supposed to make me feel guilty, try again, hon.  I saved your precious Elementals from extinction by showing you guys that it was possible to breed with humans.”

“Well, I have to go.  I gave them my word, I’d be there.”

Tessie thought for a moment.  “I’ll come with you, then.”  Job knew nothing about human culture.  If he got into trouble, she could help him.  It was the least she could do before she left.

“Good.  Now, I’d like to continue collecting on my end of the deal.  Come be a bad girl, again.”  Job lifted her body, turning her so he could pull her nipple into his mouth.  He had an incredible tongue and a lot of naughty ideas of what it could do to her body.

Tessie’s eyes closed in pleasure.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow, she’d figure out what to do about the Tablets of Fate, and Kay, and the rest of her very long life.

Tomorrow, she’d set Job free.

But, for now, Tessie just wanted to pretend that she still believed in happily-ever-afters and this man could be hers.

Dignity, order, and decorum [must] be the hallmarks of all court proceedings in our

country.  The flagrant disregard in the courtroom of elementary standards of proper

conduct should not and cannot be tolerated.

Justice Hugo Black- Supreme Court case “Illinois v. Allen”

“I just don’t see why this had to become a damn circus.”  Cross, of the Shadow House glanced down at his Match for a beat and then went back to scanning the mob for possible threats.  “It’s mostly your brother’s fault.  Does Tharsis have to treat a sentencing like the Academy Awards?  I think he prepared a speech, for Gaia’s sake.”

Nia would’ve stuck up for her twin, except Cross was actually right.  At the moment, Mayport Beach probably contained more Elementals than any other single spot in the universe.  Job was not going to be happy when he saw the crowd that filled the courtroom, waiting for Ty, Tharsis and Uriel to face human justice.

In order to appease Uriel’s part-human Match, Officer Melanie O’Shea, and to not draw attention from the Mayport Beach authorities Ty, Tharsis and Uriel had actually shown up for their court date.  In exchange for a guilty plea, they were each getting one hundred hours of community service and a stern warning never to break into a serology lab, again.

There’d been no point in trying to talk the court out of it mandating drug counseling, as well.  The humans suspected that they’d been out to steal drugs at the hospital and, really, it would’ve been tough to explain that they’d been searching for the blood of the Quintessence.  So, Ty, Tharsis and Uriel were getting some group therapy sessions.  It was certainly better than going to prison.  Breaking out of jail really would’ve drawn some serious attention their way.

Nia had a feeling that Melanie’s cousin and the chief of police, Sullivan Pryce, had put in a good word for them to get them such a light sentence.  Melanie had probably nagged him into it, but it was still sweet.

If they’d been human, it would’ve been a cakewalk deal.  However, they were Elemental and any punishment was going to cause problems.  Just being sentenced by a human court was insulting enough.  Adding to the trouble, word of the Trial of the Century quickly spread among the Phases and now Nia counted about two dozen other Elementals hanging around the courthouse.  Some of them had cameras and were there for kicks.  Some wanted to watch the Water House suffer, because they really weren’t the most popular House since the Fall.  Some were Tharsis’ friends and former students and were just there for the party.

Officially, Elementals weren’t sanctioned to enter the human realm without the Council’s permission.  But, the news that certain humans could be Phase-Matches had started a gold rush of sorts.  Lonely Phases weren’t waiting for clearance before they went looking for their Match and there wasn’t a damn thing the Council could do about it.  The law was obsolete now, since hardly any House would enforce it.

And what was the number one tourist destination of all Phases?

Why the only spot in the universe that had
produced
a part-human Match, so far! A small, seasonal town, whose previous claim to fame had been its annual Gecko Festival, was now the epicenter of all supernatural travel plans.

Mayport Beach, Florida: where the barrier between realms was the thinnest.

“Stay strong, Thar!”  A Weather Phase called from the back row.  “Don’t worry.  It’s only one strike, man.  You have two more chances before the human’s give ya life without parole.”

Tharsis turned to flick off his admirer, not looking at all perturbed.

“Kill someone your first day in the Big House and get some respect.”  Came another helpful suggestion.  “You’ll be fine.  Don’t drop the soap, though.”

That caused a lot of laughter and more joking around.  Someone actually tossed Tharsis a bag of microwave popcorn, which he tore open and offered to Ty.  She gave her head a firm shake.  Tharsis shrugged and ate a handful himself.

Cross had a point.  Tharsis wasn’t taking his day in court very, seriously.  Under his Armani sports coat, he wore a green t-shirt that read, “OJ Did It.”

Uriel seemed just as unconcerned.  All he did was lean over the bar separating the audience from the actual proceedings and flirt with his Match.  Melanie gave him a Hostess cupcake with a small file sticking out of it as a “Happy Sentencing Day!” gift.

If it was just Tharsis and Uriel on display, Nia would’ve rolled her eyes and not cared about the spectacle.  Unfortunately, Ty was also being sentenced.  Sitting in a human courtroom exposed Ty to too many hostile faces.  There were still a lot of Phases who blamed Ty for the Fall and wanted revenge.  Not the least of which was the Reprisal, who were already in town looking for the Quintessence.

Plus, the Air House had to have heard about Ty’s legal entanglements.  Nia never underestimated Parald’s desire to get to Ty.  He could just show up in court and make a grab for her.  Elementals weren’t supposed to draw the attention of humans, but the Air House did a lot of stuff they weren’t allowed to do.  Like, for instance, killing most of the Phases in the universe with the Fall.

Bastards.

Nia glanced over at her cousin and saw that Ty looked fine.  She had her “queen face” on as she sat in one of the defendants’ chairs.  With her neat, black suit and subdued hairstyle, Ty could’ve been one of the lawyers instead of the accused drug thief.  Inside, Nia knew Ty was a mass of nerves and agitation, though.  Ty could usually hold a façade together in public, but it was a constant struggle.  Ever since the Fall, Ty had a crippling phobia about crowds, and exposed spaces, and just about everything else.

The Queen of the Water House had panic attacks.

Ty had already taken about four of her blue anxiety pills today and Nia could still see a slight tremor in her cousin hand.  Ty was freaking out.

Brokk, of the Wood House, Ty’s bodyguard stood nearby.  His clothes and stance gave him the look of an Old West desperado as he scanned everyone who entered the room.

Obviously, he’d missed the memo on blending.

“I just want to get this over with.”  Nia leaned closer to Cross.  “Where’s Job?  He said he’d be here.  Ty will really feel safer with your uncle around.”

“If Job promised to be here, then he’ll be here.”  Cross was positioned so his back faced a wall and he could see everyone who entered the room.  “If Job ever went back on his word, I think he’d turn into a pillar of salt or something.”

“Well,
you
promised to be nicer to Job.”  Nia hissed.  “So, I want to see ‘Nice Cross’.  I’m serious.  I love Job and he loves you and I want…”

“I’ll be nice, baby.”  Cross interrupted, contriving to look hurt.  “I’m always nice.”

Nia snorted at that outrageous lie.  She would’ve responded with a list of instances where Cross’ niceness fell far short of
Webster’s
definition of the word, but the newest arrival distracted her.

The courtroom doors swung open and Gion swept in.  His icy blue eyes flicked over the entire room, finally focusing on Ty.

Nia and Cross cursed in perfect unison.

Brokk straightened away from the wall.

Ty’s head came around as if she’d somehow felt Gion’s gaze on her.  Her lips parted slightly when she saw him.  She started to stand up in her usual, panicked, fight-or-flight response.  Her human lawyer snagged her arm, yanking Ty back down.  He was whispering fiercely, probably telling Ty not to mess-up her honey of a plea deal by fleeing.

Nia couldn’t hear him and she had a feeling that Ty wasn’t listening.  They both stared at Gion.  His expression went arctic when the human touched Ty.  He actually took a step forward as if he planned to go right over the bar and stab the man with his sword.

Or maybe he planned to stab Ty.

Possibly both.

There’d definitely be some sort of sharpened steel involved.  Even with the metal detectors outside, Nia just knew Gion still had a sword on him somewhere.  He was nothing if not a resourceful, amoral, cheater.  He might’ve helped Cross when the Reprisal captured her, but Nia wasn’t forgiving Gion for forcing Ty into a blank check promise before he’d agreed to lend a hand.  He’d taken advantage of Ty’s desperation and now who the hell knew what he’d demand in return.

Gion suddenly stopped short, not pulling his sword free and not moving any closer to the front of the room.  He shot a quick glance over his shoulder at the door.  When he looked at Ty, again, his expression went blank.  He gave her a slight bow.

“Your highness.  You make a lovely felon.”  He taunted, not bothering to speak in Elemental although there were a lot of humans in the room.

Ty glared back at him defiantly even as she reached into her pocket, feeling for her anxiety pills.

Tharsis pulled the lawyers hand off of Ty’s arm and tugged her closer to him.  He was watching Gion, too.

Everyone was watching Gion.

The Air House was the most despised group in existence; way more than Ty and the Water House.  Any antipathy in the room instantly focused on Gion.  A hush fell over the assembled Elementals as two more Air Phases came in.  The telltale gold streaks in their hair might as well have been red flags waving in front of a bull.  Dressed in the Air House’s black uniforms and high polished boots, they flanked Gion.  He was the only one with a cape, but that really didn’t help with the whole “stay inconspicuous around the humans” thing that Job was always lecturing about.

Neither did the reaction of the crowd.  Dozens of Phases who had survived the Fall, but watched their family, friends, and way of life die in front them, focused on a tangible symbol of their misery.

The Air House.

Parald’s men.

Several Phases stood up, wanting to kill the Air Phases outright.

Others reached for their cell phone, undoubtedly calling anyone they knew in the Reprisal to report on Gion’s whereabouts and urge a strike against him.

A few just made for the nearest exit, anticipating a blood bath.

Hatred came off the crowd in waves.

“So many familiar faces smiling at me.”  Gion shook his head.  “Still, I’m shocked to see that some of you are still alive.”  He gave a regretful sigh.  “The Fall really did take the best of the lot, didn’t it?”

Raj, of the Color House actually went for him.

Brokk made an impressed face.

“Stop!”  A bailiff stepped forward, his hand on his nightstick.

Nia cringed.  “Oh God.  Not in front of the humans.”

Ty’s breathing got faster, her panic building as the fight escalated.

The other two Air Phases braced themselves for attack as Raj drew closer, pushing his way up the aisle.

“
You son of a bitch!
” Raj screamed at Gion.  “I’ll kill you!”

Gion smirked.  “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

“Not here, Raj.”  Another Phase grabbed Raj before he could reach Gion.  Elementals weren’t supposed to use their powers against each other and the Color House really didn’t have much in its defensive arsenal, anyway.  The Air House’s powers were plenty useful in a fight, though.  And, once again, they wouldn’t let rules stop them from blasting anyone who got in their way.  Highly pressurized air could do a massive amounts of damage that human’s wouldn’t exactly understand.

No matter how aggravating he was, a head-on confrontation with Gion was just a bad idea.

The other Phases quickly pulled Raj from the room.

“I always liked Raj, so I already forgive the boy for the name-calling.”  Gion remarked to no one in particular. “One day, we’ll be friends, again, I’m sure.”

“One day, I’m going to hang him by that fucking cape.”  Cross started for Gion, a deadly look in eye.

“No.”  Nia reached out to touch Cross’s arm.  “There are too many humans around.  He won’t do anything violent in here and we can’t, either.  He’s just trying to piss us off.”

“It’s working.”  Cross kept his attention on Gion.

Nia couldn’t argue with that.  “Gion usually shows up alone.  Why does he have those other Air Phases with him, today?”

“Maybe they’re dating.”  Cross theorized.

Nia made an “ummm” sound, studying the way Gion stood with the other Air Phases.  He positioned himself…
wrong
, somehow.  Like Cross, Gion was a warrior.  He should instinctively put his back to a wall, especially in a room where so many, many,
many
people wanted him dead.  Instead, Gion had his body arranged so he faced the other two Air Phases.

It was as if he saw his own companions as the biggest threat.

Nia quickly analyzed the angle of his stance in relation to the rest of the room, trying to figure out what Gion was up to.  For all she knew, he’d planted a bomb or something and was just staying out of range.  There
had
to be a method to his madness, because he didn’t even bother to breathe without having it fit into his master plan for world domination.

With Gion, there was no such thing as
too
paranoid.