Missing Pieces (The Pieces Series Book 1) (3 page)

I notice that where my chest itches, an outline of a puzzle piece is forming right over my heart. What the hell? What could it mean? I have heard of tattoos appearing out of nowhere, but I have never seen it...except with our power tattoos. I need to look in the old text of our people to see if this is in there. There has to be a meaning. It must have something to do with her. Maybe the Oracle will know what it is.

Ever since Derrick came back empty-handed and said he couldn’t find her, I have been in our library looking in the old books on our history. So far, I have found nothing. I am going to need to enlist some help if I want answers. There are too many books here for me to go through alone.

I
t’s been a week since I heard her voice and it’s killing me. I sent a scout to the city to find out her name and anything else she could find on her. I have had my head in the old texts for days, but there is nothing on the puzzle piece tattoo or the magic she has over me. What could this all mean? I had to take a break so I am sitting in my room, thinking about her and the way her voice made me feel. Suddenly, Derrick comes running down the hall, calling my name. “Neeko, you need to see this! Come quick!”

I follow him to the library and he points to a very old book that’s lying open, the pages yellowed and crinkled from age. I sit and flip the book over to see the title...
Immortals and Their Mates
. I knew some immortals had mates, but there hasn’t been any since before my great-grandfather’s rule. I have only heard stories.

“What does this have to do with me and Gabby?” I ask, curious.

“Just read it!”  He nudges me.

I start reading the page. It basically states that mates of Immortal males are very rare and are always some form of an Immortal themselves. The Immortal male and their mates share a soul. They are only born with half and when they meet their other half, the souls will recognize each other. They will not know each other, but will feel familiar, like they
should
know each other. There will be this magnetism that will draw them closer together. Once the souls recognize each other, they will not be able to be apart long without missing the other half. In some instances, tattoos have appeared on one’s body. Sometimes both the Immortal male and his mate will get the tattoos. The tattoos differ with each set of Immortal male and mate, and it will be significant to the pair.

Holy hell! She is my mate? But she is human! What do I do? My scout came back and told me that she visits that bar with her girlfriends every Friday. I guess I am going to need to “accidentally” bump into her so she is drawn to me. This is the only explanation there is. She
has
to be my mate.

I
t’s been 6 weeks and she has not showed back up at the club yet. Not even her girlfriends have visited. Maybe I waited too long. What if something happened to her? I am going to drive myself insane with all the scenarios that I have playing out in my head of what could have happened to her. I am going to try next Friday and if she doesn’t show up, I will hunt her down.

I sit in my usual seat and wait. I guess I am too deep in thought to see her come in because I am suddenly surrounded by her voice. “I need something fruity and strong, please.”

Oh my...the feelings her voice stir up in me. Hidden by my magic, I sit and watch her. I don’t want to freak her out so I need to plan how I am going to approach her. Just as I get up from my table to walk over to her, a boy who looks to be in his early 20s walks up and asks her to dance. Damn it! Now I’ll have to wait. Pissed, I plop back down on my seat.

Finally, three hours later, they stop dancing and head to a table near me. He comes back with a drink and sits down way to close to her. They talk for a few minutes and I can tell by her body language that she is uncomfortable. She excuses herself to go to the restroom. I really look at this guy and see his eyes turn completely black. Shit! He is a demon! What could a demon want with her? I wait a good ten minutes before I realize she probably went out the back. Thank god. I would have hated to blow my cover to protect her. I don’t want her to know I am an Immortal until she knows me better. I can’t risk her running from me. Good thing I have two guards positioned out back. As quickly as I can, I flash outside and hear a commotion. I walk up to my men holding her. “Gentle with her,” I growl at them. 

She stops and looks at me as if she wants to run. I can’t let her disappear again. I ask her if she is ok. I do the only thing I can. I reach out my hand and grab hers, flashing her to my room. She becomes dizzy, and as I ask her again if she is ok, she passes out. Shit. We should have warned her before we flashed her here.

I catch her before she hits the floor and carry her to the bed. She looks so peaceful. I take her shoes and socks off, tucking her into bed, then I ask the guards to leave. I dress in my night shorts and slide into bed beside her. As she cuddles into my chest, I realize that she has just stolen my heart and completed my soul. I cannot lose her. Listening to her breathing and inhaling her scent, I fall fast asleep.

I
wake up to her curled around me. I have to pry her off of me so I can get up before she wakes. I hate to leave her, but I have to figure out what being mated means exactly.

Gabby

––––––––

I
wake up in a huge bed that feels like clouds. It smells of fabric softener and the mystery man. I look around. I’m in a bedroom the size of my apartment and my neighbor’s apartment combined. It’s decorated in warm browns. A flat screen hangs on one wall, and a huge window takes over the other. The furniture is masculine, looks like it is made of cherry, and probably could withstand hurricane force winds. Then everything comes back.  How did I get here? Was I drugged? Damn. I need answers!

As I get up and stomp toward the door, it opens and he walks in. My eyes land on his bare torso. In this light, it looks as if someone took a hammer and chisel to his abs. I have never seen abs so defined. His arms are ripped and covered in tattoos. There looks to be a puzzle piece tattoo near his heart. His skin is flawless and tanned. I drag my attention to his face. His hair is a honey brown color, and he has the clearest blue eyes I have ever seen. He is grinning at me and he has deep dimples. This man looks like a piece of art. One look and he has my panties soaked. I have forgotten what I was going to do. Wait...oh, yes. I need answers.

“What do you want? Who are you?”

“My name is Neeko Dressel. You won’t believe me when I tell you what I want with you and why so, for now, just know that I won’t harm you. When the time comes, I will explain everything. Are you hungry?”

“I could eat, but how do I know you won’t poison me?”

He chuckles. “If I wanted you dead, you would be. I have brought you here to protect you, Gabby, not harm you.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I heard you tell that guy in the club.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I am starting to get uncomfortable with how comfortable he makes me feel. Am I still drugged? Could they drug my food? “On second thought, I’m not hungry.”

He looks a little saddened by that. “You will have to learn to trust me.”

“Trust you? You grabbed me in an alley and brought me to...wherever the hell this is.” I motion around the room. “And you want me to trust you? Not going to happen.”

He smirks and his dimples show. They are so cute. Wait! Why am I attracted to him? “You will see that I can be trusted. I will not touch you unless you say I can. Now, would you like something to eat?”

“No.”

He stomps out and slams the door. I guess he doesn’t like the word “no”. What am I doing here? What does he want? Can he be telling the truth about it being for my own safety? I sit back on the bed and place my head in my hands. Why am I attracted to this man? What is this pull I feel toward him? Before I can dwell on it any longer, he comes back through the door with a bag full of food.

“I went to the store and got things with
wrappers
on them so you would know I didn’t mess with it. I didn’t know what you would eat so I got a few things.”

I look in the bag and it is full of junk food. Not my favorite breakfast food, but it will do. I reach in and grab a cheese danish. I check the wrapper to make sure there are no holes or anything, and I hear him laugh. It sends a jolt to my libido. I look up and frown. It just makes him laugh harder. I look back down at my food and open it. It smells good. I take a bite and am in heaven. I notice him watching me with a dark and devious look. I take a deep breath and stare into those dangerous eyes. I feel like a deer caught in the headlights. I finally gain mobility and look away, but not before I see a smirk appear on his face. I finish my food in silence, scared I might say something stupid to cause him to turn into a ragging lunatic. He has been nice so far, but I don’t want to push any buttons.

He walks toward me and I freeze. He bends down and wipes a smudge of cream cheese off my mouth. The feel of his smooth skin on mine causes me to shiver. I look up at him and see him lick the cheese off his finger, then looks at me with his dark, stormy eyes. “That is so much better with the little taste of you mixed in.”

I almost purr at him, but I catch myself and roll my eyes. “I thought you weren’t going to touch me unless I told you that you could.”

His face darkens. “Your body was begging for my touch.” 

I can’t refute that because it is true. My body is begging to be touched, but my brain knows it doesn’t make any sense. He looks at my face. He must see that I am confused because he smiles and says, “Don’t worry. I will only undress you with my eyes.”

He chuckles and walks out the door, leaving me alone. I sit there, stunned. How can a man I have only known a few hours make me feel like this? I am too broken to be fixed. Lee stole too many of my pieces to ever be whole again. I sit and stare at the wall, not knowing what to do. Time passes slowly, but I don’t want to shake things up and cause them to throw me in some sort of cell.