Synnergy, Chaos Time Book 3 (6 page)

She placed her finger over his lips to stop him from
talking. It was ugly, hideous even, but she loved it. “It’s not my
birthday for two more days, Slayde.”

His lips were warm pressed against her finger, but
she didn’t move and neither did he when he said, “I know.”

She hugged him. He wrapped his big arms around her
and she thought, if she could, she might have melted right then.
Her body warmed and curls of heat gathered beneath the large
billows of her skirt. He sighed and stepped in closer and she loved
that he didn’t mind her fire. For the first time she thought maybe
someone might actually like her the way she came.

“I’ll treasure it forever, Slayde. Thank you.” Though
she knew he wouldn’t feel it, she pressed a soft kiss against his
vest, right above the spot of his heart.

She could have stayed that way all night, but he
dropped a peck on her forehead and then grunting, stepped back. “So
I paid for the night.”

“I know.” She fought the grin and slipped the ring on
her index finger. It was too large. She wore it on her thumb
instead. He watched her do it and she could swear his chest puffed
out. “Why’d you do it?”

He seemed more at ease now and scooted back until he
could sit on the edge of her bed. He yawned. “I heard a rumor that
these were the best beds in town. You don’t actually think I came
here to spend time with you, do you?”

She licked her lips, trying and failing miserably not
to wear a large Cheshire grin. “The thought crossed my mind.”

He snorted and started kicking his boots off. Her
heart skipped a beat. Then he undid his vest and unbuttoned his top
button and was it hot in here? She walked over to the window and
shoved it up. Hard.

The salt tinged breeze rolled in, cooling her body
instantly.

He shook his head. “I’m tired, Sable. I was traipsing
all over God’s green earth today with the boy scout and I’m ready
for bed.” He patted the mattress. “Promise I won’t bite.”

His blue eyes twinkled and she crossed her arms. “You
know I only slept with you before, Slayde, because you were dying
and needed me to stay warm.”

He brushed his fingers through his hair, forcing a
few strands to poke up in different directions. “Yeah, I also heard
that pissed Arianna off. Something about causing infection to
spread quicker.” His eyes narrowed to twin slits.

She shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re
talking about.”

He got up off the bed, there was a large dip where
he’d been sitting. He walked to her. “Turn around. I’ll help you
take this thing off.”

The warmth of his body invaded hers and her breasts
felt suddenly heavy and they tingled. She didn’t know where to look
or how to act. He turned her around and she didn’t have the
strength to resist him.

“Slayde, please.” Her voice cracked. She had no idea
what she was pleading for, all she knew was she was both elated and
terrified. Her skin was awash with goose bumps and the large muscle
of her thighs started to twitch.

“I swear,” the warmth of his breath caressed the nape
of her neck like a tender stroke of fingers, “I won’t do anything.”
His hands rubbed her arms and she hung her head, exposed, but
trusting him not to hurt her. “I just want to keep you safe, Sable.
I just don’t...I don’t like this.”

She craned her neck to look at him over her shoulder.
He was as serious as she’d ever seen him, and her heart almost
broke at the fierce protective gleam in his eyes. No one had ever
looked at her like that before.

“Why do you care? I wouldn’t have let anyone touch
me. I can protect myself.”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly. “I don’t
know why, I just do.” His stare was penetrating. He wasn’t simply
looking at her, Sable Ray, crazy girl from the insane asylum, he
saw
her
. The real her. The monster, the budding woman, and
he liked it. And she loved that he liked it. She shivered.

She tipped her head and turned back around, holding
her breath as his strong fingers undid all thirty buttons along the
seam of her back.

Cool air splashed over her sensitive skin and his
hands were pushing the dress off her arms. Once the sleeves slipped
off her wrists it dropped in a scarlet puff at her feet. He kept
hold of her hand, helping her out of the pile, and she stood there
unsure what to do next. All she had on was a cream-colored frock
thing, which she guessed was what passed as bra and underwear in
this time. It was totally unattractive.

His gaze traveled from the crown of her head to the
tips of her still booted feet. He closed his eyes a quick second
and his hands flexed, then with a deep breath, he opened them.
“You’ll have to take off your boots yourself,” his voice was
throaty.

Slayde fell back on her mattress and flung a hand
over his face with a soft groan.

She frowned, unsure if she’d done something to
displease him. Confused, and not a little stung by his obvious
dismissal, she sat down on the edge of Arianna’s bed and unlaced
her boots. She threw them down a little harder than she needed to,
and then looked back at him.

He hadn’t moved. She started to lie down on Ari’s
bed.

“Come here,” he growled, still not looking at her. “I
promised,” he said softer.

There was a feeling, in the pit of her stomach that
if she got up and went to him—if they continued to do this—they’d
get to a point where it would be impossible to undo this.

She got up and walked to her bed.

He rustled around, pushing down the quilt, and then
scooted against the far edge of the wall.

Sable’s heart stuttered as she slipped in beside him,
curling into the warmth of his big arms. He crushed her to him and
it would be a lie to say it was anything other than perfect. His
chest moved against her back as he inhaled and exhaled, the rhythm
was soft and lulling.

She wiggled deeper into him, feeling borderline
desperate to touch every inch of him. He threw one of his legs over
hers and she could swear electricity jolted from his skin into her
body when their bare feet brushed.

She was never going to fall asleep like this. She was
simply too aware of him. His fingers were curled around her ribcage
and it was crazy uncomfortable, but it didn’t matter because he was
holding her and it was nice.

So she lay there, his leg getting heavier and
heavier, making hers go numb. Her side tingled because she couldn’t
move or roll over to relieve the pressure. In her head she heard
the tick tock of the invisible wall clock counting down each
passing minute.

Sometime later, Arianna entered the room on tiptoes.
Alone. Silent. She heard her lay down in a rustle of skirts and
knew she hadn’t undone her gown.

Sable had no idea how much time had passed. Slayde
was asleep, softly snoring beside her. She nestled her face against
the crook of his elbow. His hard bicep made a rotten pillow. She
smiled.

After a few minutes Arianna started snoring, she was
surprised. Having slept in the same room with Ari before, she knew
she was usually a quiet sleeper. She wondered what, if anything,
the healer had found out. But there would be no questions
tonight.

Slayde shifted, finally pulling his leg off her,
blood rushed back in tingling relief. He moved his arm, but held
tight to her hand.

She needed to talk to Hunter. She chewed on her
bottom lip and releasing Slayde’s hand, rolled over, sighing loudly
as sensation flooded the numb side of her body. He frowned, but
didn’t move.

She studied his sleeping profile. His strong jaw and
long nose. Full lips, that if she were braver, she’d lean over and
kiss right now.

A side of her wanted to shake him awake, talk to him
and tell him what she’d learned, but another side of her, the
biggest side was afraid to tell him anything. Truth was, she wasn’t
sure she trusted him not to get himself killed trying to protect
her.

She needed a level head, a level mind. So it was with
bitter regret she got up and tip toed as quiet as possible to the
door. She was almost there when a floorboard squeaked. Clenching
her teeth, she turned, but neither occupant moved.

She turned the knob and shot out, closing the door as
quiet as possible behind her. It must have been really late,
because all around her she heard a sea of snores. The candles were
all blown out and she was actually a little shocked, she’d expected
to see people up until twilight. But it was calm and she was
grateful.

As quick as she could, she walked down the staircase
listening for signs of life. There wasn’t even a bartender behind
the bar. She walked outside and inhaled the delicious salt tinged
air as she headed toward the back alley, nearly tripping over the
still form of Bob. He was curled in on himself and it was hard to
tell if he was passed out cold, or dead.

She waited and held her breath. If he was dead, what
should she do? Would the people realize who’d killed him? Had Ari
killed him? He wasn’t moving. She stayed so still she started to
feel dizzy, all sorts of what ifs running sprints through her mind.
Worry gnawed at her intestines.

And then he farted and she fought the hysterical
laughter that threatened to fall from her lips. Sable pinched her
nose and jogged the last bit to a deep cover of shadow. Nice to
know the healer hadn’t done anything stupid.

Her heart finally started to beat a steady rhythm
again when she whispered Hunter’s name. A moment later a blue rift
appeared and he stepped out. But instinct had her taking a step
back. He was large; double his normal size and breathing heavy.
There were scratches all over his face and the fangs she’d sworn
she’d seen before were back and there was no doubt about their
length.

“What?” His voice was guttural. Sable sensed that he
was desperately trying to control whatever beast held him
thrall.

She frowned and ignoring her instinct, reached out to
touch the side of his jaw. “What happened to you?”

He jerked his head back. “Don’t touch me. I’ll be
fine.” But his eyes were glowing an eerie shade of poured metal and
his words rumbled with barely checked fury and she knew he lied.
“I’ll be fine,” he said again.

Was he trying to convince himself, or her?

“I found out about a man named The Bandit.”

Hunter’s nostrils flared, he sniffed the wind like a
dog and then he shoved her behind him.

She peered out from around his rigid frame. “What?”
she whispered, panic threaded the word.

He didn’t say anything for a while, and she thought
maybe he hadn’t heard her. After another minute or so, she finally
felt the tense muscles of his back relax and he shook his head.

“I saw something.” He turned around.

“Do you think it saw us?” she whispered, but knowing
deep down it was too late for stealth.

He looked at her. “Yes.”

One word, but the sound of it was a death knell to
her heart.

Sheets of sunlight poured through the open window,
bathing Sable in a wash of golden heat. She stretched cat like,
arms high above her head. Spine arced, toes pointed and wiggling.
She patted Slayde. Or at least the side of the bed where Slayde had
been.

She opened her eyes, blinking against the bright
lights of morning.

“He’s gone,” Arianna said. She was sitting on the
bed. Legs hanging over the side. She was wearing the same dress as
the night before. It was a wrinkled mess, Ari’s hair curled a wild
frame around a pale face. Dull looking eyes stared back at her.

“You look like crap,” Sable said before she could
check her thought. “I...I mean,” she stuttered, but snapped her
mouth shut when Arianna held up her hand.

“I know how I look. Did you learn anything
yesterday?” But it was forced interest. Her voice was flat and
monotone.

After her talk with Hunter she’d learned they
basically had no idea what they were looking for. Aside from the
Bandit, who may or may not be the Lord, they had no leads. One
night mingling with the people had led Sable to one irrevocable
conclusion, the faster they could learn what they needed, the
faster they could leave.

The Wild West was totally not all it was cracked up
to be, for one, there was no such thing as indoor plumbing. Using
the bathroom last night had been fun. Not. She’d squatted and
prayed no snakes would sink their fangs into her exposed rear. Most
of the people stunk and hygiene was a laughable notion. On top of
that, everyone seemed horribly normal and she was beginning to
doubt after her talk with Hunter that the Bandit was the Lord
because killing and stealing didn’t sound all that scary.

A concern in the back of her mind was the longer they
stayed in one place; the easier it would be for Dragden to lock
onto their position and kill them. She had to ask Hunter.

“Nothing. What time did you come to bed last
night?”

Ari shrugged a slim shoulder. “No clocks. It was
late. They made me come up.”

The last thing they needed was to have Arianna get
fired. Like who gets fired from a whorehouse? Really? But judging
by the nasty looks Milly threw her way every once in a while, she
could only imagine how much more angry she’d be at Ari who didn’t
even pretend to sleep with someone.

“What did you do to that guy yesterday?”

Arianna squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her
forehead in a slow back and forth grinding motion. “I flirted.”

Sable wasn’t stupid. It might have appeared that way
to someone else, but Arianna was doing something other than
flirting. Men didn’t pass out cold from being touched.

The healer winced and then laid back down, curling
into a ball with her arms thrown over her face.

“What is wrong with you, Ari? Do you have a
headache?”

She groaned. “Too much whiskey.”