Forsaken (The Found Book 2) (20 page)

“I’m looking. From the moment you walked into the room, I haven’t seen anything else, only you.” He hesitated for a moment before clasping her arms and pulling her closer.

Ah God, having him touch her again, feeling the heat of him pressed against the flimsy barrier of cloth, it took her breath away. Annie continued to stroke his cheek until she felt the indentation of his dimple underneath the whiskers. Just one more layer of memory flooding her senses.

“Say something.”

“Hold me Seth, I need you to hold me.”

“Forever. I’m never going to be stupid enough to let you out of my arms again. I love you so much.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and brought her head to rest against his chest. She’d told him over and over again hearing his heartbeat always calmed her and brought her joy. He remembered. But even the luxurious cotton felt bad and uncomfortable and Annie reached to unbutton it, fumbling. Seth stayed her fingers and gave a yank, buttons pinging across the room, and she pressed kisses against his dark chest.

“Annie,” Seth groaned her name, as she gloried in the feel of his erection against her tummy. She wiggled against it. It wasn’t the right place, or the right time, but she loved that his body was as needy as hers. He hugged her close, drifting his hand slowly down her back. She rested her ear against his chest, listening to the frantic beat of his heart begin to settle.

“I love you.” With those words, she finally heard the steady thud that gave her the comfort she longed for.

****

“She’s awake and with Seth. Nell should be fine.” Sierra’s voice was clogged, and it took everything Sarah had not to burst into tears. She was so relieved to hear Annie was awake and safe, but desolate Nell was still in the other room not moving. She stared at the computer screen looking at her friend, and Nate’s grim face above it. It was the first time she saw or heard from him since he left. Why did it have to be when things were so wrong?

“I can’t make her better. Even after your call hours ago, and with all of us working on her, we can’t reach her.”

“Sarah, it’s not your fault. You’re not a miracle worker.”

“Yes I am Nate,” and this time two tears did come. “That’s exactly what I am, but when I’m faced with the most important case of my life, I failed.”

“You said yourself, there is nothing physically wrong with her. This probably has to do with her being
found
.”

“We really thought after Annie woke up, so would she. We have to get Annie here.”

“Sarah, are you sure proximity will help?” Nate asked softly. She shook her head. She wasn’t sure. She discussed the issue with Kali and Noah. Nell had powers like her father, she could dream walk. She was lost somewhere, and needed to be guided back to her body.

“So it’s Seth who needs to help her,” Sierra said excitedly.

“That’s what we think.”

“Let me call him.” Sarah and Nate watched as Sierra pulled out her cell phone and got voicemail.

“Call me.”

“Shit. Fuck. Piss. Where the hell is he? He better not be having some romantic God damn reunion. We need his eye on the ball! Not his dick in the prize.”

Nate snorted with laughter, and Sarah shut her eyes at the imagery.

“Jesus Sierra, you’ve been working with men too long. We need to get you more women friends.”

“I’m just saying.”

Sarah took the first full breath she had in hours.

“Better now?” Beautiful hazel eyes were looking at her. She nodded. Being able to laugh and see Nate seemed to be what the doctor ordered.

“So who is this Max guy?”

“Shilah said he is Seth’s guardian. Apparently we all have one.” Sarah’s shoulders tightened. It was one more weird thing making her different, but not. “But I don’t have one, so she must have gotten it wrong, or they fouled up when it came to me.”’

“That makes no sense. How in the hell would Shilah know, when no one else did?” Sierra seemed pissed. Sarah knew her, Sierra hated feeling out of control, so she would choose something to pick on, and it was Shilah and Max.

“Sierra it’s a long story, trust me, she knows.”

“Not good enough. I know Shilah is supposed to have some kind of second sight or some such shit. Did she just reach across the stars and make some psychic connection?”

Sierra was making
her
angry now. And she needed some aspirin. “When Seth was twelve, Max was twenty. He showed up in Shiprock, New Mexico with his sister, who was younger than Seth. Max was in town to buy some horses. He stayed for three weeks. His sister, Aylen, made friends with Seth. She and Max were invited over to the Natani’s home on multiple occasions for meals.”

“So? How in the hell does it make him some sort of guardian? And if he is, what the fuck
is
a guardian?”

“He was great with the horses, they loved him. Couldn’t ride worth a damn. At least it’s what Shilah said. Plus, he and Aylen gave off the same kind of energy as Seth. Shilah confronted him.”

“He was sixteen when he came over from the other universe, and he retained all of his memories. He helped to place the children with their selected homes and people. They apparently have strong abilities, and are tasked with watching over the children they helped to place.”

“Is Max your guardian?”

“I told you, I don’t have one. Anyway if he was, how would have shown up? Not many horses to be bought in Atlanta.”

Sierra and Nate laughed.

“How did Shilah know how to contact him?”

“He said he would always know if Seth was in trouble, but he also gave her an e-mail address. I get the feeling she wasn’t totally trusting in his abilities.” Sarah could picture the older woman putting some super being on the spot, and questioning his powers. She wished she had been a fly on the wall for the conversation.

“Well it explains who he is, and how Shilah knows him, but still doesn’t explain one thing,” Sierra said.

“What?”

“Nell’s been unconscious for how long?” Sierra asked.

“It’s been almost forty-eight hours.”

“That’s on the nose to when Annie lost consciousness,” Nate said.

“Well this Max character seems to be quite the fuck-up, now doesn’t he? If he was supposed to show up when he was needed he sure is missing the mark,” Sierra said, her voice dripping with derision.

There was a pounding on her apartment door, and Riley came in.

“Is it Nell? What’s wrong?” She picked up the bag beside her chair, the people on-screen forgotten.

“The Max guy just called Shilah. He’s coming right now.” She heard a whistle, and turned back towards the screen.

“That’s kind of freaky Sierra, you just said that, and he shows up. Maybe
you
have the ability to summon people,” Nate laughed.

“Go find Seth.”

“On it.” The screen went blank.

Chapter Sixteen

Annie shut the door behind her, grateful Magda finally fell asleep. She’d been exhausted, but she couldn’t stand the thought of Annie leaving. To begin with Seth tried sitting in the chair in the room with them, but it agitated the girl so much he reluctantly left.

Annie found him propped against the opposite wall in the hallway, waiting for her. He smiled, and opened his arms. She snuggled into his lap.

“How is she?”

“Asleep.”

He looked at the closed door. “Do we need to stay here for a while, and watch over her?”

Tears pricked her eyes. She was going to fall in love all over again. “Can we for a few minutes?” She was wearing one of his T-shirts and flannel sweat pants. Her exact favorite things to wear when she was at home, and Seth had them waiting for her.

“As long as you want, as long as I get to hold you.” He stroked his hand over her hair, and she arched into his touch. Long moments went by, and then he kissed the top of her head. “Tell me about Nell.”

“Oh, she’s a marvel. She’s so beautiful, she looks just like you.”

“I saw her, she has your eyes.”

“That’s the
only
thing, everything else is all you, right down to the dimple in her right cheek.” She traced it with her fingers.

“Why do you say she’s a marvel?”

“She already understands so many languages. Of course, the little stinker only says two words. But she understands and communicates just fine.”

“How?”

Annie explained about the guessing game Nell played, and how she could do it in multiple languages. Seth was fascinated. He explained what it was like when he dream walked with her.

“Does she have the ability to dream walk?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve always gone to her. She loves you so much Annie, you’re her world.” He stroked her cheek and looked into her eyes. “You’re both of our worlds.” She saw his intent, and then he looked at the closed door.

“I think if she was going to get up, she would have by now,” Annie whispered.

He stood and lifted her in his arms.

She trembled, it made no sense, time and time again over the last two years she had been in this man’s arms. He walked the long hall cradling her closer and she took in a breath smelling a freshly showered Seth. With a start she realized he hadn’t shaved. The whiskers were normal now, she rubbed her cheek against them, they were both soft and rough, and she let out a soft moan.

“Ah sweets, you gotta wait twelve more steps.”

She couldn’t, she was addicted to the feel of his beard. She huffed a laugh when she felt a hitch in his stride.

“Vixen.”

He shoved the door shut, and followed her down onto the bed. Annie found herself surrounded by a Seth in Technicolor. So real, so big, so hers.

“Clothes, too many clothes, I need to see you.” They paused, and then laughed. She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my God, I really expected you to just become suddenly naked. Did it go through your mind too?”

“Yep.”

“So we’ve really shared dreams since you’ve been away? It really happened?”

He pulled up the shirt she was wearing. “Seems so.” He kissed the side of her throat. “Let go of my neck.” Annie threw her arms up, eager to help him. He pulled the shirt over her head and then looked at her bra. It was the wrong size. Her breasts were bigger than they had been.

“God Annie, look at you.” His obsidian eyes gleamed as he traced his hand over the tops of her breasts where the plumped over the cups of the lacy bra, and then slid to the center and undid the clasp.

“Done that a few times, huh?”

He looked up. He must have seen her insecurity, her question.

“The last bra I removed was yours.”

“I know, you told me, and I believe you.”

“You’re a miracle.”

“Why? Because I believe in the man I love?”

“You believe in me more than I believe in myself. I should never have been duped by Portia. I’m
found
. Grandmother always told me to believe in myself, and at the most crucial moment in my life, I chose not to. Instead I betrayed the person who meant everything to me. Even now, knowing we’re together I can’t begin to forgive myself.”

“Don’t. Don’t do this to yourself. To us. You have to put this behind you.”

“How can you?”

“Because I have you.” While he was talking, his hands roamed over the flesh of her breasts. Even knowing how important it was to reassure Seth when he was so vulnerable, she couldn’t help her burgeoning arousal.

“Annie, are you sure you’ve forgiven me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. With Nell and you, my world is almost complete.” She saw a quick flash of confusion, and then he grinned.

“Well, we can’t have any of this
almost
crap.” He divested her of the lacey bra. Her sweats and panties were discarded as easily and she looked at a determined man, who was now on his haunches staring at her, saying nothing, just staring.

“Seth?” Nothing.

“Seth?”

“Shhhh.” Finally he coasted his hands from her hips to the indentation of her waist up the ladder of her rib cage to her breasts. She arched into the touch, as he plucked at a sensitive tip.

“Please be naked too.”

“Sweetheart, if I’m naked the show is over.”

“Wrong, if you’re naked, the show starts. Please, I need to see you too.”

He must have seen her need because he pulled his shirt over his head. Then got up off the bed, and unbuckled his belt. The thud of it hitting the floor was one more sensation that ramped up her arousal as she stared at his bronze chest.

He hesitated when he got to the button of his slacks.

“All of it. I need my treat. I deserve it.”

“Once I’m naked, I won’t be able to stop myself. I want to savor you. I need you to enjoy this. I refuse to rush things.”

She looked at the huge bulge in his slacks. She remembered their dreams, but mostly she recalled the first time she had seen him nude in her bedroom, the morning he had taken her virginity. Oh, how she loved his tenderness and care.

“If you don’t give me your cock now, and fuck me, you will suffer my rage, Natani.”

Seth shouted out a laugh, and shucked his slacks in record time. She grinned in relief at getting what she wanted, and her stomach clenched with a little bit of trepidation. The man was huge.

She got on her knees and wrapped as much of her hand as she could around his stock and licked the bead of pre-cum off the tip.

“Annie,” he groaned. He tasted so good, he was so soft and velvety. Opening her mouth she sucked in the head, and swirled her tongue around. She closed her eyes to savor the flavor and warmth of her love. Once, twice, three times she brushed against his sweet spot, and then she was flat on her back.

“Hey, I was having fun,” her voice was slurred. The man went to her head. She giggled. Giving head went to her head.

He huffed out a laugh against the curls of her sex. “You’re killing me.”

She said it aloud?

“Yes you did. Let’s see what else you’ll say.” His big shoulders pressed her legs apart. She loved the heat of his flesh pressing into her thighs, but then his fingertips parted the lips of her sex. Wide. She held her breath. Had she changed?