Souls ReAligned (19 page)

“You’re not bothering me, I was just paying some bills,” his voice fades in and out, muffled at times by strange background noises. “What happened?”

“I just burnt my finger. I should let you go so you can finish your work.” She’s not very good at hiding her emotions from him. As she suspected, he can hear the fear in her voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” A loud roar of thunder follows a flash of lightening, making her gasp as it echoes through the house. The flickering lights make her stand frozen where she is.

“Are you still there?” Ethan asks, concerned about the silence.

She tries to pull herself together and fails. “Yes… I,” heavily, she sighs. “The power just went out.” She suddenly feels the need to explain her irrational behavior. “Ethan, I know it’s just a thunderstorm... but,”

“Olivia,” he interrupts, his phone signal cutting in and out.

She can barely hear him over the background noise. She stops herself and closes her eyes, shaking her head, “I shouldn’t’ have sent you that text.”

He calls her name again, hoping she can hear him more clearly now, “Olivia?”

“Yes”

“I’m at the back door… undo the chain lock and let me in.”

A crushing weight is lifted from her at that moment, although she would never admit it. Rushing down the stairs, she slides the chain lock and pulls the door open. Stubbornly it sticks and she jiggles it, cursing. When it finally springs open she finds Ethan, soaking wet, standing outside. Lightening flashes, illuminating his face. He gives her that gentle reassuring smile.

When he steps in and strips off his wet jacket and shoes, she has a sudden onset of guilt. “I feel really silly,” she confesses. Thunder booms, making her launch herself like a rocket into his arms.

“Hey, it’s okay.” As he wraps his arms around her, Eva’s voice echoes in his mind.
You’ll protect her, as you always have.

Embarrassed she pulls away, “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Taking her by the hand, he leads her to couch. Pulling her down to sit beside him, he continues to console her, wrapping her in his powerful arms. Eyes locked together, he leans his lips against the top of her head. He’s not sure how long they’ve been sitting there quietly in the flickering candlelight. Time seems nonexistent when he’s with her.

The driving rain slows to a drizzle as the storm passes. When the power is restored, the doorbell rings, followed by an impatient knock on the door. Ethan looks at her curiously, “Are you expecting someone?”

Olivia shrugs, “I don’t think so.”

Flipping the hall light on, she opens the door to find Noah, soaked to the bone and shivering.

“I tried to get here as soon as the storm started,” he says, slightly out of breath.

Olivia swallows hard. She had completely forgotten about Noah. He’s usually the one to help her get through her thunderstorm anxiety. Standing in the doorway, she holds the edge of the door, saying nothing.

“Are you going to let me in?” he asks awkwardly.

Dear God, how is she going to handle this one?

“Umm, errr… No… Sorry, Noah.”

Looking past her into the hallway, he can see Ethan standing in the background. Grinding his teeth, his jaw tenses into a hard straight line, “I see. I thought he went back to Ireland.”

“Noah.” She reaches for him, the disappointment on his face breaking her heart.

He holds his hands up to stop her, “Hey, don’t worry. It looks like you’re in good hands.”

Olivia senses Ethan behind her and turns to frown at him.

“Here,” Noah hands her a pill bottle. “You mentioned you were out.”

Taking the bottle from him, she smiles, “Thank you, you’re an awesome friend.”

Noah nods, but it doesn’t make him feel any better. Looking past her, he establishes eye contact with Ethan, “O’Connell… can I see you outside for a moment?”

Olivia looks at him with panic on her face. “It’s okay. I just want to talk to him for a minute.” He runs his hand down her arm in a reassuring manner.

Ethan brushes against her as he makes his way past. Distraught, she watches them take a few steps off the porch and out of earshot.

Ethan puts up his hood and stands with his hands in the pockets. Noah swallows his pride with a hard gulp, “Listen, man, you don’t know Olivia very well, yet. I’m telling you this for her sake. Make sure she takes the meds and whatever you do... don’t, leave her alone. They’re predicting several more storm systems to roll through tonight.”

Ethan stares at him, trying to figure out where this is going, “What did you give her?”

“A pretty powerful anti-anxiety medication. To help her sleep.”

The thought of Noah previously staying with her, while she’s drugged and defenseless, makes him sick. His jaw clenches, “Yeah, I don’t think she’ll be taking those tonight.” Uncontrollable rage inflames his face.

“Don’t be a dick, O’Connell. Storms are a trigger for her. If you don’t give them to her, she’ll have horrifying night terrors. Trust me when I tell you, it’s not something you want to witness, and you sure as fuck don’t want her to go through it.”

Ethan stands tall, preparing for conflict. His hands close into tight fists. “Thanks for the advice. Remind me again, what kind of doctor you are?” his words are rudely spoken with no attempt to hide the contempt. “Oh, that’s right. You’re a veterinarian.”

Noah shakes his head. “I’m not going to let you provoke me into another fight, O’Connell. Just look after her. My phone number is in her cell if she needs me. I can be here in a minute.”

Ethan has never wanted to hit someone so badly in all his life. His temper threatens to unhinge with the fury of a hurricane. Noah gives him a smug smile and turns to walk away. Unable to stop himself, Ethan reaches for him, firmly grabbing his shoulder. Noah stops and turns slightly to glance at him over his shoulder.

“I’m not going anywhere, any time soon, Thompson. Best you get used to that idea.” His chest expands with an anger that so desperately needs an outlet. As much as he’d like it to be Noah Thompson’s face, he has made a promise to Olivia.

“What’s your point, O’Connell?”

“Don’t be coming around anymore. Especially, when you think I’m out of town,” he warns, squeezing his shoulder tighter.

Noah laughs once and pulls out of his grasp. “Isn’t that a decision Olivia should make?”

With anger still pulsing through his body, Ethan watches Noah wander up the street and around the corner. Soon, he’s going to be 3,500 miles away, and he’s just been hit with the realization that Noah Thompson lives practically next-door. The thought eats away at him as he makes his way back into the house.

Olivia is sitting on the couch, her hands fidgeting nervously, twisting the corners of the throw pillow in her lap. “Is everything okay?” she asks anxiously.

“Yes. Everything is fine. Give me the pills,” he demands, holding out his hand.

Reluctantly, she pulls them out of her pocket and puts the bottle in the palm of his hand. Turning the bottle, he looks at the label and angst washes over his face. “Jesus Christ! Do you have any idea how powerful these are? We’re going to get through the night without these.” He’s not going to give her a say in the matter.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Olivia offers, hesitantly.

“You’re going to try,” he insists. “I’ll hold onto them and if you really need one, I’ll give it to you.”

She doesn’t argue, knowing that it would be a pointless exercise. His eyes and stern expression warn of his obstinate position on the matter. “Fine,” she concedes.

Reclaiming his spot on the couch, he pulls her into his body, putting his arm around her shoulder. “Just how close does he live exactly?” The thought is bothering him and he has to know.

Olivia looks up at him, “Noah? He’s on the next street over. The house on the corner.” She feels Ethan swallow hard and take a deep breath.

“I’m not sure I like that very much.”

Grabbing the pillow beside her, she swings it over onto his legs and lies down. “Lucky for me that you don’t get a vote on where I live,” sighing, she finally relaxes as he sweeps her hair off her shoulders.

He’s glad he came back tonight. This is exactly where he should be. Leaning forward he presses his lips against her shoulder.

Exhaustion sets in, and her eyes surrender to the heavy demands of sleep. When he’s sure that she’s out cold, he gently wiggles out from underneath her, to get a glass of water.

The rain picks up again and thunder rattles the house. In a split second, Olivia is awake. “Ethan!” Panic sets in as the lights flicker again.

“I’m right here. You’re okay… I’m right here.” Running to her side, he puts his arms around her and pulls her into his lap. “You’re shivering.” Reaching for the blanket, he wraps it around her. One last straggling lightening flash is visible through the slats of the blinds.

He addresses the concern in her eyes. “I’m not leaving,” he says it sternly, so that she knows that he means it. Concerned about her comfort, he lifts and carries her to her bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he climbs in beside her.

His curiosity always seems to get the better of him when he’s laying beside her in the darkness. Wrapped in his protective embrace she always seems to be more willing to talk. “Have you always been frightened of storms?”

Olivia wiggles in his arms, trying to get comfortable, “No. It seems to be connected some how to the nightmares that I started having where I feel like I’m drowning.”

“It’s not connected to Sam?”

“No. It has nothing to do with him or what happened. It started, quite suddenly, at the end of May. The same time as the elevator thing… it’s almost like some kind of claustrophobia.”

“In May?” he clarifies. “That’s the same time I came to Canada.”

Lying there for a few moments, Olivia tries to figure out what type of connection he’s trying to make, “Ethan?”

“Yes.”

“When you came to Canada, did you start using your Jedi mind tricks to make me have nightmares?”

Ethan laughs once, “No, of course not.”

“Just checking.”

Lightening in the distance faintly illuminates the window. The wind picks up in fierce gusts, making the tree branches screech across the glass window.

Olivia begins to feel anxious…
edgy
. Sensing it, Ethan tightens his grip around her. Knowing that he’s not going to give up the meds, she quickly tries to think of a distraction. Something that will soothe her, calm her nerves.
Got it!

Turning in his arms, she wiggles down his body underneath the blankets. Grabbing hold of the waistband of his pants, she slides them down, hearing his sharp intake of breath,
“Olivia? What are you doing?”

Trying not to laugh, she raises her head, peaking out from under the blanket, “Why do you always ask me that, Ireland? It’s pretty clear what I’m doing. I’m going to suck your dick.”

It springs to life as she says the words. “Jesus. There you go talking about my cock again.”

Kissing her way down his happy trail, she moves her body lower so she’s nestled between his legs. Running her tongue across the wide crown of his cock, she makes him moan. Taking him in her mouth, she closes her lips around it. She teases him with fluent suction, before relaxing her mouth and sliding him in further.

Lying back, with his hands behind his head, he closes his eyes, making guttural sounds of pleasure that encourage her. Continuing a steady rhythm, she takes him from root to tip. Needing a moment to rest her jaw, she releases him. She licks her way down the hard veins of his shaft. Slightly moving back, his knees widen to give her room as she lowers her mouth to his balls. He groans as she teases him with her tongue, massaging them. Her fingers gently press against his skin, caressing him, as she takes his balls, one at a time, in her mouth. Exploring, she rubs her index finger across the sensitive skin below his scrotum, making him tighten the powerful muscles in his thighs.

With gentle pressure, she pushes against his back door, sliding her index finger in and drawing from him a quiet curse as he tenses around her. Slowly and tenderly, she draws it out, sliding it back in further on the next attempt. Relaxing around her, he submits to the pleasure, letting her continue. Alternating her attack, she licks his balls and sucks them gently into her mouth, making them tighten and draw up. Sliding her tongue back up his pulsing shaft, his legs to start to tremble. Growling and lifting his hips, his breathing becomes shallow, panting breaths, as the steady rhythm of her index finger continues to massage him. She lifts her head, about to take his beautiful cock back into her mouth when his body keens beneath her. He reaches down to take his cock in hand. Surging harder than she’s ever seen it before, he closes his fist around it. Giving it two hard strokes, he comes. Leaning back, she watches in awe, as thick spurts of cum spray all over his chest. It’s the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. As the last pulse drizzles from the slit, she gently uses the edge of the blanket to wipe him clean. Tossing it to the floor, she lays on top of his body, enjoying the heat of him, as the muscles beneath her begin to soften and relax.

“What the fuck did you just do to me?” he finally asks, feeling astounded.

Olivia lifts her head, surprised, “I thought you were all about the anal play?”

“I’ve never been the recipient before.”

“Oh? That’s interesting. Did you like it?” she asks curiously.

“Mercy sakes, woman! Did you see how hard you made me come?”

Smiling she kisses him, “Consider it a goodbye present.”

“A goodbye present? That wasn’t exactly a good way to convince me to leave you behind.”

Resting in each other’s arms, they finally get some sleep. Barely an hour passes when thunder booms, making the windowpanes rattle. Ethan opens his eyes and lies there for a moment trying to get his bearings. Something roused him from sleep, but he has no idea what it was? Olivia lay sound asleep beside him, remarkably calm, not even fazed by the storm.
Where are these horrifying night terrors?
“Fucking Thompson,” he mutters.

Sitting straight up, he hears it again, a faint clattering downstairs. Getting to his feet he cautiously makes his way down the hallway, looking in every nook and cranny for what might have made the noise. When he gets to the top of the basement stairs, he stands frozen, looking at a wide-open back door.