Linked (The Guardian Series), page 21
“I’ll admit, we had to do some serious calling around,” he said.
“Yeah, like all around the world,” Ben supplied with a chuckle. “We started making special orders several weeks ago.”
“We can’t divulge too many secrets here, but we have someone with connections on the inside.” Ash’s eyes twinkled.
“Like who?” I demanded, because I could tell he wanted me to.
He rubbed his hands together. Bet you didn’t know Mrs. Zimmerman has relatives who own a chain of flower shops in Europe?” My jaw dropped, and he nodded. “Yep. When she was younger, she even had her own shop for awhile.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said, completely dumbfounded that he’d been working with Helen behind my back.
“I can say no more. So, let’s get to the presents already. Ally, you start.”
Ally drummed her hands on the table. Eyes wide with anticipation, she rocked side to side, her ponytail to swinging back and forth. She tore open her first present with enthusiasm and thanked me profusely when she found the pair of black boots she’d been ogling over every time she went into 12th Street Shoes. “Thank you,” she said and hugged me.
“You’re welcome,” I smiled as she tried them on. “And,” I added, “your first issue of Modern Bride should be arriving in a couple weeks as well.”
“That’s great,” she said and walked around modeling her boots for us. “We’ve got some serious planning to do.”
“You guys have set a date then?” Ash asked curiously.
“August 7th, next year,” Ben replied. “You better be there, man.”
“Are you kidding,” Ally interjected, “I was hoping we could hire your band to play at our wedding.” Holding her hands out in an open gesture, she glanced over at Ash. “What do ya think?”
“Ally, it would be an honor. But you aren’t paying us anything,” he scolded, and she ran over and gave him a big hug. She opened new kitchen gadgets from Ash and went loco over the Ninja blender. He must have noticed her drooling every time an advertisement flashed across the television screen. But that excitement was nothing compared to the crazy dance she performed after ripping open her present from Ben.
“What?” I asked. “What did you get?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she exclaimed. “Two tickets to paradise. By that I mean Mexico during Christmas break.” Suddenly, she came to a complete standstill. “Wait, how were you able to afford these?”
“Remember all the music CD’s and video games you accuse me of blowing all my money on?” Ben asked. She nodded and lowered her head. “Well, all along I’ve really been saving up for your birthday.”
She walked over and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, honey. And I’m sorry if I sound like a nag sometimes.”
“Gotta love it,” I said with a shrug and looked at Ash.
“Lexi, open your presents now,” Ally said, still smiling ear to ear. From Ben I received the All-American Rejects CD I’d been wanting, but like a true friend he made me promise to let him borrow it. I opened a slim, magenta colored, glass bottle of my favorite perfume, Escada’s Magnetism, which Ally had picked up from Macy’s. As I was thanking them for my gifts Ash grabbed the bottle from me and sprayed some into the air next to him. “Hey,” I yelled.
“It just smells sooooo good. I couldn’t resist,” he said.
“Oh man.” Ben shook his head.
Ignoring Ash, I opened the present he’d set before me. “Wow. Now I officially have my very own helmet; I love it. Thank you.” I smiled and pulled the bright red, sleek helmet over my head.
“You look like a true biker woman now,” Ally laughed.
Ash nodded and said, “I like you in red. This is a full-face helmet which will give you the best protection and it’s comfortable.” After I took off the helmet, Ash left the room and came back with a huge box wrapped in metallic, red wrapping paper.
My jaw dropped. “What’s this? I don’t need anything else. You did way too much.”
“No I didn’t,” he said in a disgusted voice. “The helmet was something you needed; this is your real present.”
I ripped off the paper and gasped; it was an electric keyboard. “Are you kidding me?”
“Coolness,” Ben cried out after he got a look at the box.
Leaning over his shoulder, Ally blurted out, “Oh heavens!” Her favorite expression. Maybe you’ll have to play at the wedding too, Lexi.” She laughed. “I can see it now. Maid of honor in an elegant dress one minute, and then rockin’ on the keyboards in ripped jeans the next.”
“Very funny,” I said, flipping the box over to read the details about the keyboards.
Ash tapped the box. “This is the Yamaha Motif 6; the piano sounds are awesome. You’ll have a great time playing around with it. I’ve ordered some sheet music from a few of your favorite songs too, so those should be arriving soon.” He smiled, looking at me eagerly.
“Thanks Ash. I love it.” Leaning over, I gave him a big hug.
“All right birthday women, let’s roll,” Ben clapped his hands together. “We’ve got some Moonlight bowling to get to.”Leaving the mess for later, we all piled into Ally’s car and took off for the bowling alley. We had a great time, but Ash kicked everybody’s butt. He said he’d never been a good bowler in the past, so he credited his high scores to the extra strength and power he’d gained from linking. We didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but he certainly kicked our butts with consecutive strikes. It was a memorable birthday, especially for my last one.
CHAPTER 13 – SPARKS WILL FLY
Late Tuesday afternoon Ben and Ally decided to make a quick trip to Tacoma General and visit with Ally’s cousin who’d just had a baby girl. They promised they’d be back sometime the next morning so they wouldn’t miss classes. That same evening Ash packed a few personal items and readied himself for his monthly trip to Canada. The following day would bring with it a full moon, so the Ray-pacs were expecting him.
Ash and I still were still working out the particulars of our plan; his current priority was to gain information about the Ray-pac’s agenda. Fortunately, he’d learned quite a lot. Kieran had been pushing Ash hard for results, so a couple days before Ash told them he thought he had a lead on me but it might take a couple weeks to be sure. The big news was that the Ray-pacs had somehow gotten intel on the Guardians New Year’s celebration out in the islands. Kieran had informed Ash that the Ray-pacs’ best chance of getting in and out of town, with me in tow, and with the Guardians the none the wiser, would have to be on the 31st or the 1st. Ash was relieved with the information they’d divulged but was unable to figure out where their source of information on Guardian business was coming from.
Instinctively, I knew my time to try and link was fast approaching. I’d been feeling more fatigued and nauseated. Headaches were lasting longer and proving more difficult to get rid of. Based on my physical signs and the information Ash had gained from the Ray-pacs, we knew we’d have to initiate our own plan on December 31st.The only glitch – I was scheduled to be out at the Retreat for the big Guardian gathering. Ash and I were still hashing out the details, but we did know that somehow I’d need to have a damn good excuse to leave the party early – on my own. I needed to get out of there without my friends knowing why, and I needed to do it before they launched their massive wide search for the Ray-pacs, which was set for January 2nd.
Ash was still trying to convince me that we should forgo our plans and let the Guardians handle it, because their chances of success was practically guaranteed. They had the numbers and the strength. Even though, logically I knew he was right, emotionally, I couldn’t take any chances that even one of my friends might not live through it. Besides that, I wanted to disappear before they all found out I was a Dentelle – I couldn’t take the pity, the grief, or the look on my friends’ faces, especially Jason’s.
Ash’s next mission was to find out more information about the final meeting place with the Ray-pacs. I already knew it would be in the snow-covered mountains because of my premonition, but I didn’t know where. Once Ash supposedly tracked me down, they were expecting him to kidnap me and deliver me to Kieran. Ash and I finally wrapped up our little pow-wow session around eleven o’clock in the evening. Knowing he’d be gone by the crack of dawn, so I gave him a quick hug, wished him a safe journey, and went to bed.
I awoke the next morning to the blaring beeps of my alarm clock. I must have accidentally turned up the volume when I’d set it for a 7:00 a.m. wake-up call. Smacking the snooze button, I cursed when it wouldn’t turn off. Ultimately, I yanked the cord out of the wall and threw it on the floor. My clock had been malfunctioning for the last few days. Looks like it had finally met its demise. Grabbing my blankets, I pulled them up and snuggled back down inside.
Gazing at the Bronco team poster on my wall, I grabbed my extra pillow and hucked it at the poster. After starting the season 6-0, they’d lost four straight games. Those losses always put me in a nasty mood. Luckily, I had Ava Rose’s orca paintings tacked all over the bedroom, and they always left me smiling. Her artistic ability was vastly improving, but more importantly, so were her counts. For me, she was a ray of sunshine streaking through the clouds on these dismal, winter days.
Suddenly, I remembered today was a full moon – all links were broken, at least for a little while. Despite my bitter mood, I hugged myself and smiled. One bright note – I’d be seeing Jason at the Nelson’s house later in the afternoon. Maybe the clouds around my world were lifting. After taking a shower, I danced around my room to the Black-Eyed Peas. No one was home, so I didn’t care about being crazy. The speakers were blazing with the group’s high energy hip-hop/rap.
While in the bathroom applying make-up, I sang along with a Pitbull song. Just as I grabbed the hairdryer I thought I heard a noise in the kitchen. Walking slowly down the hallway, I pulled my robe a little tighter and peered around the corner. I gasped when I saw Ash staring back at me. He was wearing a pair of Abercrombie jeans and a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Had I not been so worried about why he was still in Bellingham, I might have noted his provocative smile a little sooner.
“What are you still doing here? Are you okay?” I asked with concern, weaving my way through the flowers until I was standing beside him at the kitchen table.
Reaching out with both hands, he cupped my face. “Lexi, I’m fine. In fact, I’m better than fine,” he said in a low voice. A slow smile spread across his face as he ran one hand through my wet hair. My heart sped up. “I needed to see you…but what I really needed was to touch you. I mean, since I can never hold you in my arms that is. That’s the worst feeling in the world, you know? So, I decided to wait around until my link with Melanie broke.” He shifted his feet and said eagerly, “And it has.”
“Oh,” was the only word I could muster as warning bells rang in my head.
“For once, I can hold you – without feeling the burn. I’ll have to leave soon so the Ray-pacs don’t get suspicious, but I needed this time with you. For once, since this all started, I feel so free,” he said, pulling me into an embrace and holding me tight. “I want to be with you Lexi. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks.”
Stunned with all his declarations, I muttered, “Oh my. Umm…Ash, I don’t know what to say.” My heart was pounding now and my skin burning. It had been so long since someone had held me, and Ash’s arms wrapped around me felt awfully good. Warm and protective. I thought back to Jessica and her human touch theories. She was right. Physical contact was comforting, but I felt more than comfort right now. Emotionally bound to Ash for so long now, I felt alive. Really alive. My skin was sizzling; his touch was awakening a physical need I’d been suppressing for way too long.
I knew it was decision time.
As if reading my thoughts Ash said in a soft voice next to my ear, “Lexi, you must be aware of how I feel about you. I’m hoping you feel the same way.” He nuzzled his face into my neck. “You smell wonderful.”
OMG, so did he. And all kinds of heat, that had absolutely nothing to do with Essence, was sweeping through me at lightning speed. My body reacted on its own, shocking me. I pressed myself against him and draped my arms around his neck. Resting my head against his chest, I pressed my lips against his skin. Then I remembered he was still technically a Ray-pac. If we got too close, could we affect each other in a negative way – one that neither of us could predict but might mess us up enough we wouldn’t be able to carry out our plan?
He must have felt my body tense, because he pulled back and gazed into my eyes with a look of concern and confusion. I could tell he was waiting for me to say something, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to say without hurting his feelings. Logic was telling me to seize the moment, melt into him and let him kiss me. Who cares what might happen. I needed to be loved by someone, and Ash could do that. I could see the passion smoldering behind his eyes, and it was definitely coursing through my veins.
But my emotions were more complex than I’d realized, because all at once they were screaming that it wouldn’t be right, that I was still wanted Jason. Jason who was always out of reach but always close enough to tempt me – play havoc with my sanity. Jason who always left me dangling and wouldn’t reel me in. Tears welled up in my eyes and knots formed in my stomach. I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.
Pain flickered across Ash’s face. Letting go of me, he took a step back. “Oh,” he snapped. “You don’t want anything to do with me, because I’m a Ray-pac. I’m no better than the rest of them.” He clenched his fists. “I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I might disgust you. How repulsive I might really be to…to you,” he stammered in anguish and drew his arms over his head, and his sleeves pulled back revealing his leather wrist bands. Closing his eyes tightly, he bent over like he’d been punched in the stomach.
My heart wrenched; he looked so devastated. Unable to stand the sight of him all torn up, I grabbed him roughly by the shoulders and pulled him up. Harshly, I said, “No Ash! You’re wrong. That’s not it.” His eyes widened and he studied my face like he was trying to determine if I was lying to him. “You could never repulse me. I touch you every day when I share my Essence. Believe me when I say I’m not disgusted by your touch. Nervous maybe, but not disgusted. You are very important to me…I just, I was worried…”
Hope flashed in his eyes, “What is it then? What’s holding you back?” I tapped my fingers nervously against his shoulder blades. “Is there someone else?” he asked, taking me by surprise.
“Um…I,” I breathed sharply.
His face fell, and I could tell he was on the verge of losing his composure. “If ever you’re gonna be honest with me, this is the time.”
I clasped my hands together and tapped them against my lips. “Okay, maybe…yes,” I finally admitted shamefully. “But that’s only a part of it. I don’t understand all my crazy feelings anyways. What really freaked me out is that I just…I wondered if there’s a chance that something could go wrong if we…well, if we were together. You know with me being an Amethyst and you being…sort of a Ray-pac–” My voice trailed off, because I was frustrated and knew I wasn’t making a lot of sense. My hands dropped to my sides, and I played nervously with the straps on my robe. I looked at him – my expression that of a desperate plea, willing him to understand.
“Damn, this is a lot to take in.” He put his hands on my arms again. “You might be right about Amethysts and Ray-pacs. We don’t know anything about that stuff, but Lexi, I don’t care. What I do know is that we don’t have a lot of time left, and…I want you.” His voice was needy and his green eyes, free of all gold flakes, implored me.
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. My emotions were spinning out of control, and I didn’t know if I wanted him to slide off my robe and devour me here and now, or if I wanted him to turn and walk away before I was in too deep to stop myself.
He ran a hand down my cheek. “About this other guy – I’ve never heard you talk about someone else, and I know you haven’t been spending time with anyone, because you’re always with me. He can’t be a big part of your life. So…”Bewildered, he studied my face, and then his jaw dropped. “Do you have feelings for one of your Guardian friends?” He stepped back and slapped a hand against his thigh. His silver rings flashed in the light. “Is that why you’ve been so adamant about this crazy plan of yours? Why you won’t consider letting the Guardians do it?” Realization lifted his eyebrows. “There’s someone in particular you’re trying to protect, isn’t there?”
The music from my bedroom ended, and all I could hear was Ash’s deep breathing next to me along with sporadic drip drops coming from the leaky faucet in the kitchen. Finally, I said, “Yes.”
“Does he feel the same way about you?” He regarded me with a steady gaze.
“I don’t think so,” I muttered, biting my lip.
“Well, he’s a fool then Lexi.” He pulled me into his arms again and slipped his fingers through my wet hair. “You need to live for today, because at the rate we’re going, there won’t be many tomorrows. If you want to carry out this craziness against the Ray-pacs, I’m with you. But don’t you see,” he said taking my face in his hands and leaning closer, “we need each other Lexi. As friends we’re good together, but imagine how much better it could be if we were really together. We are so right for each other. And we don’t have much time left…”He blinked rapidly and parted his lips.
I knew that he was going to kiss me. And I made my decision; I was going to let him. My mouth opened slightly, and I trembled.
“Oh Lexi, don’t be scared of us,” he whispered and leaned in until his nose touched mine. I could feel the steamy warmth of his breath on my face – minty and cool. His eyes shimmered with honesty and hunger, and my heart swelled. Gently, almost tentatively he brushed his lips against mine. Surrendering to my own desires and a yearning to be accepted, I closed my eyes and clung to him. His arms were strong and sturdy, and he was warm. Pressing his soft lips against mine, he parted my lips and invaded my mouth with his tongue. Tenderly, he explored my mouth until our tongues connected, and then the kiss became hot and sensual. It was hurried and filled with a need neither one of us could deny. His hand passed down my cheek, along my neck, and slipped under my robe and onto my shoulder. Heat swirled inside my body, and I slid my own hand under his shirt, caressing his chest and exploring his lean, muscular build. He groaned and intensified our kiss – his passion was almost more than I could handle…
