To Fall (The To Fall Trilogy Book 1) (16 page)

A deep voice boomed over the music, “May I cut in.” It wasn’t a question. Xander held a cup in one hand, his body stiff, eyes narrowed at Jake, and a muscle popped in his jaw.

Jake picked up his head, holding me against him. My hands fisted his shirt, because it was the one thing keeping me upright. Pain inched into my chest and someone was moving the ground.

“Man, do you mind? We’re kinda in the middle of something here.” Jake’s eyes were half-lidded; not caring about the scowl Xander was sporting.

With incredible speed, Xander hit Jake’s palm off my chest and wrapped his hot hand around my arm. My feet felt steady again and the ache surrounding my heart vanished. “You’re finished here, actually,” Xander growled.

When did Abby Miller become the human wishbone? And why was Xander here? Didn’t he have Danielle to tend to?

Jake stood up straight. Now his dark green eyes were wide-awake. “This is my party and she’s my guest.”

Xander leaned closer to Jake. Still holding onto me, the muscles in his right arm twitched, his fist clenched around the red cup. “Let’s ask the lady what she would like.” He didn’t take his eyes away from Jake, even when I spoke.

“Jake, I’m sorry. I don’t feel well.” I didn’t want to embarrass Jake, and maybe if he hadn’t been drinking, he wouldn’t have come on this strong.

Jake shrugged. “Whatever.” Perhaps I wasn’t worth the fight to him, which was fine by me. His body language didn’t show indifference, though, still not backing down from Xander’s scowl. After what seemed like an eternity, Jake let me go and said, “Thanks for the dance.” With a wink, he walked in the direction of the beer pong room.

21

Cresil

I was one lucky bastard. My Pink Polka Dots not only went to Jake’s school, but he was friends with her. Gotta love humans and their hormones. The kid’s thoughts went to the gutter every ten minutes, and when he was around her, they stayed there. He made it too easy.

I couldn’t help but reveal myself to the rats in the cafeteria. That dark-haired one was not too happy with me.

The kid was having another party tonight. I lingered until he started drinking, and then slipped back in. Jake’s buddy, Tyler, supplied the booze again; I merely tolerated him because the girls flocked to his side.

“Jake, you have a thing for Abby?”

The kid’s thoughts went to her. His warm, fuzzy thoughts of kisses and dates were like worms in my brain, completely unwelcome. What I had in mind for her wouldn’t involve unicorns and rainbows—that was for damn sure. “She’s cute.” This conversation already bored me.

He refilled his whiskey and Coke. “Yeah, she’s cute, but she’s not gonna get the job done, man. You need a girl like Danielle.”

I chuckled. “I think she’s gotten the job done for too many, Ty. I would prefer to swim in a clean pool. Speaking of, what’s going on with Mel?”

Rubbing his eyes, he groaned. “She’s taking her damn time. A lot longer than I thought. I figured we would’ve had some sort of sex by now, at least a blowjob. I either dump her and forfeit my efforts or stick with it until she gives it up.”

“Yeah, sounds like you have some real life choices to make.” I shot to my feet. “I gotta piss.”

Hell’s fire, I was in all nine circles here. This was getting a bit teenage-angsty for my taste, but I thought of my Pink Polka Dots. She was worth the wait. Maybe I could get Tyler to drink himself into a stupor to shut him up. The equation was simple, see what you want and take it. I could teach these kids a thing or two.

That damn rat did show up and I lingered outside of Jake, itching to get back in. He took forever playing host to my Pink Polka Dots. Oh, that tight dress. She knew what she was doing. And those heels? Mmm. Once the kid left her to get water, I said to hell with waiting and slipped in, forcing shots down his gullet—if his liver survived me, it’d be a freaking miracle. Coming back to find her couldn’t have been more perfect.

Double-D’s had the rat’s attention and I couldn’t blame him. As dirty as that girl was, maybe before I left this time, I could make an exception for her. I knew he sensed me and I didn’t care. It was playtime.

My Pink Polka Dots didn’t drink, she was too pure, but that was how I liked them. The more innocent they were, the greater the sin.

Convincing her to dance with me was surprisingly easy, but she wasn’t the type to be touched and pawed at in public. She would want privacy. She would want romance and sweet moments to write of in her diary at night. That wasn’t something I would ever give. I was made for nightmares and horrors. I only brought fear and torment.

Her heart slammed in her chest and her firm tits heaved against me. She was so perky and tight and I remembered how they fit into my mouth. Mmm, sweet like candy. She had me hard and ready to take her.

This heart, though…there was something wrong with her.

I needed to take my time with this one. She deserved my full attention. And I wanted her just like this, fighting me every step of the way.

22

Xander

Half the house was drunk when I arrived to the party. Tyler had cornered a brunette who would need a ride home later by the rate she was drinking.

Walking out to the pool, I smiled. “Greg!”

“Xander!” A few of the kids at school had been calling me by Abby’s nickname and I didn’t correct them. “You’re making yourself a real party fixture.”

“Yeah, which is odd because I don’t like parties like this.”

He nodded. “I have to say I’m beginning to share the same sentiment. Jake and Tyler were wasted before I arrived. You here because someone else will be here?” He gave me a knowing smile.

“It’s possible.”

His grin widened. He had caught me staring at Abby more than once. Gazing over my shoulder, Greg’s face dropped and his jaw clenched. “She’s gonna be here any minute.”

Angling back, a redhead I recognized as a cheerleader had wrapped around Tyler and his hands were not where they should be.

“Perhaps you’re also here because of someone, Greg.”

He growled, “It’s possible. I’m gonna check on Jake and make sure he’s not in a Jack Daniels coma somewhere.”

“Good idea.” Stepping into the house, my stomach tightened.

“Hey there! Looking sexy, Xander.” Damn, now she was using my nickname? It sounded so wrong from her.

“Danielle, you look like you’re…ready to have fun.”

She looked like she was ready to give a stranger a private dance in a seedy strip club. Danielle took it as a compliment and flashed her glossy smile. Her blue eyes were glazed over, but her movements were surprisingly fluid as she sidled up to me. “Dance with me? This is my favorite song.” She pouted and batted her caked lashes.

I accepted her invitation to dance with reluctance. “All right, one dance.”

Bouncing in high heels, she finished the rest of her drink in one swig. Oh boy.

Danielle danced too close. She had too much perfume on, wore too much makeup and too little, too tight clothes. None of this was in the least appealing. Her behavior was appalling. With no self-respect, she touched me wherever she wanted and I made it clear I would not do the same.

Glancing over, I spotted Abby in the middle of the room, by herself. Loose, dark hair framed her face, the dress highlighted little curves, and she had heels on. I loved the way her legs looked in heels. But the emotion on her face was evident. Hurt. Biting her lip, her eyes had a shine to them.

I did it again. I had upset her. Damn it.

Danielle grabbed my face and made me look at her. Leaning against me, she whispered, “I’m right here, hot stuff.”

I laughed. “Yeah, you’re a hard one to miss.”

This encouraged her more. Her hips pushed against mine followed by her bountiful chest. I was embarrassed for her. She was trying to elicit a response that would never happen with her or any other girl. Only Abby.

I was planning on how to detach Danielle from me when I sensed the tingling inch along my back. A demon soul melded with a human.

Cresil
.

I was able to make him in the Union the other day and there were too many people around to cast him to Hell. My fingers were like lightning on the keys, texting Caleb. My brother and sisters would be ready tonight.

I kept Abby in my peripheral vision, the music had switched to a slow song, and now she was dancing with who she thought was Jake.

“It isn’t nice to text and dance at the same time, Xander.” Danielle grabbed for my phone, forcing her chest into mine.

“No, Danielle, it’s not. Forgive me. I have to talk to my brother.”

Rolling her eyes, her words slurred. “Your brother’s a square, uptight and lame!”

Now I was pissed. “Danielle, you’re drunk and I have to go. Thanks for the dance.” I left her swaying in high heels, praying she understood I wasn’t interested.

“I’ll save you another dance!”

I cringed. Guess not.

By His Creation, Danielle Quincy was too much. Caleb urged me to guide her on the right path, noticing he didn’t volunteer for the job. His reasoning? She liked me and was more apt to listen to me. I also noticed he said it with a smirk. He knew this girl wouldn’t listen to anything but her own raging hormones.

Nearing Abby, the tingles increased along my wing lines and down my spine. Jake was an okay kid and I thought he did have a crush on Abby, but he was too weak to keep Cresil away. The demon was able to latch onto Jake when he was sober—that wasn’t a good sign.

Watching Cresil with Abby sickened me. He dared touch her and Abby’s face paled as she pushed against him. Marching through the sweaty, dense crowd, I grabbed a cup of water along the way. When Cresil put his foul lips on her body, I had to remember not to hurt the boy, but rage was building fast. His hands went to her breast and I was ready to beat him to death.

It terrified me he wouldn’t let up on Abby, even with four Guardians in this jurisdiction. I didn’t think he knew who Abby was, but it was a matter of time before he figured it out.

23

Abby

Xander glared after Jake and then turned on me. He handed me a red cup, ice water again. Gulping, water sloshed against my mouth from my shaky hold, and I put the cup on the counter.

“I don’t like him for you,” he said through clenched teeth.

The music switched to something loud and it drowned out our conversation. The crowd had been watching for a fight to break out between Xander and Jake. When they saw they weren’t going to get one, they lost interest.

“I don’t know why you think you have a say in who you like for me,” I snapped.

He blinked. “I don’t, but you deserve better. You deserve someone who actually likes you. You deserve someone who won’t grope you in public. You deserve someone to treat you like a lady and will listen when you ask them to stop.”

There was no way I was backing down. “Why are you listening in on my conversations and watching me? Isn’t your date going to get upset that you’re over here with me?” I fired back.

“Date?” His almond eyes went wide with the realization. “Danielle?” Genuine surprise laced his voice.

“Did you bring more than one date here tonight?”

Xander furrowed his brows. “Danielle isn’t my date. She asked me to dance and I did.”

I scoffed. “That was some dance. You seemed happy to oblige.”

He leaned over me. “Who is spying on whom now?”

My head arched all the way back with the closer distance. “Okay, since you brought it up first. I don’t like her for you. I don’t like that she’s always touching you in class and looking at you and sharing textbooks. I don’t like that you let her gyrate all over you tonight. I don’t like that you smile with her and laugh at her jokes and let her whisper in your ear. I don’t like that you like her.” Oh, I said too much! Crap.

Xander stared at me, and I would have given just about anything to know what he was thinking. His eyes warmed and his voice dropped. “I don’t like Danielle.”

“Okay.” Suddenly, I felt shorter if that was possible.

His eyes twinkled. “You seem to notice what I do a lot.” Great job, now he knew I liked him.

“I…” How could I get out of this one?

His body relaxed and a ghost of a smile appeared. “Abby, who do you like for me, then?” His mood flipped from angry to playful. How did guys do that? And he had the upper hand now.

“I don’t know. Just not her.”

I couldn’t be sure, but he seemed even closer now. “No, come on. Who?”

One second later, she popped into my head. “Sophie Finley.” Socks with sandals.

Xander’s laugh was full and hearty, reaching above the music. “Sophie Finley? From cooking class? You really must be angry with me.”

“Sophie’s nice,” I said, standing straighter.

Nodding, a sly smile crept over his mouth. “Yeah, she is a nice girl and a decent cook.” Oh, cheap shot. “What’s her number?” He pulled out his phone, waiting, brow cocked.

“I don’t have her number.” I laughed now.

The music changed to a slow song, and just as quickly, Xander’s smile faded and the cell went back into his pocket. “I like that sound.”

“What sound?”

His voice was a low, sexy rumble. “Your laugh.”

I didn’t know how words could make my heart stutter, but his could.

He held out a hand for me to take. “Why don’t you seriously think about who you like for me and I’ll show you how a gentleman dances with a lady.”

With a willpower I didn’t know I possessed, my voice stayed even. “Fine.” I took his hand, butterflies.

Xander was the complete opposite of Jake. His clean, cloudy scent enveloped me. His touch was warm; his hold firm but gentle. One of his hands nearly covered my lower back and long fingers wrapped around mine. I draped an arm around his broad shoulders and my heels brought me a little closer to his face, his eyes. We looked odd dancing this way compared to everyone else, but I didn’t care. We danced close, but with Xander, it felt natural, like I belonged here, to him.

“Xander? Who do you like for me?” Two could play this game. I smirked while he considered his answer.

His stare didn’t waver. The hand on my back held me closer, flush to his body, and my breath faltered. Taking his hand from mine, he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and fingers grazed my neck. His soft touch felt intimate and caused tingles to shoot down to my toes. My stomach dipped and I gripped his biceps. Xander leaned down, his smooth chin brushed my cheek, and lips teased my ear. My heart pounded and my chest heaved from his proximity.

He whispered, “I like me for you.”