S.A. Price (22 page)

"No complaints from me there, I am devilishly handsome." He grinned over at her.

Myra grinned and squeezed his thigh, enjoying both the feel of his leg under her hand, and the change in his melancholy. Aiden was interested, his snake was interested, and both those truths were exactly what she wanted to hear.

~88~

Aiden could be all hers, snake and man, if he got over his issues enough to share both sides with her. Her snake coiled at the thought of having a snake of her own, and even if it would take a long time, she was determined to have him.

“Well you got one word right there, that’s for sure. So after this little mission is over, and the day is saved, what’s next for you?” Her hand traveled to the crook of his leg, and stopped, her fingers resting lightly over his groin. She could feel the acceptance in his body language, and it was refreshing, the possibility of his really accepting her unspoken claim on him. Beryl could feel it, even said to her as she was leaving that she knew it.

“One of us was going to get lucky with that one, though I can’t say I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

“No? He is sexy…”

“Yes and completely attached to you already. Since when is sex with you like finding the Holy Grail?”

She laughed, “Shit that’s never been an issue before, of course leave it to me to feel this tight of a bond with the second snake I sleep with.”

“Fate has a way about it. He’s perfect for you though, going to be a lot of trouble in the long run.”

“Since when have I ever wanted the easy way out, especially when it’s a snake of worth? If the juice is worth the squeeze…”

And he was a snake of worth, truly, just as Merrick was for Elise, regardless of what they chose for their life’s work. She wasn’t a well to do woman, regardless of her inborn wealth, and craved the alternatives in life, with her paintings, and her choices. It only made sense to want a man that had done the same. The only hang up was his Ophidaphobia, and in time, that would change if they were together. She didn’t need him to be ok with all snakes, just hers. His words broke through her thoughts and she blinked, and looked at him. “Okay, now I’m an asshole, caught up in my thoughts.

What did you say?”

He smiled shaking his head. “I said that I’m not quite sure. It all depends on Merrick, for the most part; Kira and I spend most of our time keeping him out of trouble. Course we have our own respective jobs that keep us funded but that’s more of a part time gig. Next time I have to work is in a couple of months unless a last minute contract comes up and I don’t take them on lightly.” He stopped the car for a red light. “You going to tell me what you were thinking so hard about?”

Myra chuckled and looked over at him. "You. You’re very distracting."

"Oh I am, am I?" He grinned, "And in what way would that be? Other than the obvious."

"Just reliving earlier." She winked at him.

"Ah..." He said in total understanding. "In that case you go back and relive the moment, don’t let me stop you. Though try not to mess my seat up too much, I tend to frown on that sort of thing unless I'm actively involved in the messing." He winked dropping the car into gear and driving off.

"Fresh. Though not to inflate your ego further, but I felt amazing after that. I went and laid in the sun for a while."

"Yeah I noticed."

She turned. "You noticed?"

He nodded once. "I peeked my head out and had a look."

She smiled. This was promising. "Oh? And what did you see?"

"You naked, very pretty sight might I add."

She turned. "You did get an eyeful of that not a few moments before, nothing different then to when I was outside."

"True. I guess I'm not one to look away from a naked girl. Your snake's pretty too... though I can’t think of as many interesting things to do with that."

So he did watch her change, and he apparently liked it. That was a point on her side. "You think?

Most other snakes don’t, so I usually change alone, its safer on my pride."

"I'm not most other snakes." he said quietly.

~89~

"No, no you’re not. You don’t see me like that as ugly?" She shook her head remembering the only other man she had ever slept with that was a snake that she changed with. Dorian had seen it as disrespectful, seen it as trying to hide what she was, when really it was about loving being a snake.

They didn’t see each other after that and she stopped showing herself to those not close to her like family. That Aiden had seen her, even her roll probably, and wasn’t disgusted; well maybe there was hope there yet.

"Hell no... I hate snakes, remember? I like what you've done; it's quirky and damn if you didn't smell good. She looked pretty."

She turned to him again and leaned in to him, whispering. "She likes that you think she’s pretty, And I do too. You’re the only person to ever say that to me." She kissed his cheek and breathed him in, the scent of the polymer clay strong on his person, but made better by the dark earthy scent that she was coming to know as uniquely Aiden. It all was a turn on, especially to her snake.

He groaned softly leaning into her. "Mmm now that is nice. You know, carry on like that and I'll so be following my own advice about seat messing."

She giggled and leaned in further, nibbling her way down his neck. "As if I would let you mess the seat up..." she nipped playfully at the small expanse of visible collarbone and then ran her tongue along the ridge.

"Damn girl, do you always know just the right things to say?"

"Can’t seem to put a foot wrong when it comes to you..." she nibbled her way up his neck along his jaw line, tasting soap, and his natural taste, something akin to cherries in whiskey. Sweet and tart, but smoky at the same time. Gods he was perfect for her.

"Apparently not." He purred low in his throat. "Pity we're here already."

She nipped at his lobe and then sucked it gently. "Truly? Well we’ll have to pick this up another time won’t we?"

"We will." Agreeing as he pulled the car to a halt outside of a motel. "Mer said to find her in there, you wanna go and check? Less chance of you getting slapped."

"What do I get for my trouble?" she said with a grin.

"What do you want for them?"

"Something special I think."

"Very well, then, special you shall have."

She smirked and wondered but figured Aiden was the kinda guy that would do shit on his own time. She unlocked her seatbelt, then opened her door and turned back to him. "Any code or anything I’m supposed to say? I sure as hell don’t wanna get slapped either."

He chuckled, "Cat fights to a minimum, unless you’re both naked and wrestling in a tub of KY."

He zoned out for a few seconds clearly engrossed in his own thoughts. "She should be expecting you, just tell her that Merrick sent you. You know what she looks like right?"

"Kinda hard to miss Evelyn Rose. Hell, Reece still has a pin up of her in the gym at Knossos.

Won’t be long."

"Cool I'll wait here. Avoid using my name unless you have to."

She laughed and left the car quickly, walking into the motel's reception area, trying to figure out how the hell she was going to ask for Evelyn. Surely the woman wasn’t going to use her real name as she was running from the baddies. It didn’t matter though; she was sitting in a side chair, watching people as they came in from behind a magazine. Myra bee-lined it to her and smiled. "Evelyn? I’m Myra Richards. John Merrick sent me to bring you to Orpheus."

Evelyn lowered the paper eyeing her suspiciously. "He sent you by yourself?"

"No, but I was told to not mention the other person’s name, lest I wish to be slapped." she grinned. "He’s in the car, thought it was safer.”

A frown crossed across her features for the briefest second quickly followed by a smile. "Aiden."

“Indeed. But I didn’t say it did I? So I’m still in the clear. We have a ride back, if you will come with me?”

~90~

She nodded, "If he's with you then you can't be with them. He's not got the spine to go against Merrick. I won’t go anywhere until I see him though... sorry but it's been a long few days." She stood dusting herself off.

Myra nodded. “If you walk over to the window he’s parked right outside, no doubt cringing,” she giggled. “I’ll stay right here if you wish.”

"Please." She smiled politely walking over to the window she'd pointed out. Her shoulders sagged in relief as she saw Aiden. "I've never been so happy to see him in my life."

“I bet. He’s a bit skittish though.” She grinned. “Orpheus is about an hour from here, and I am guessing time is of the essence? So we really should bounce.”

"Good idea. It's only a matter of time before I'm spotted, you know how it goes, starts with one then before you know it there's like sixty people all lining up to cop a feel, and gawk at me in makeup"

Myra laughed. “Totally. Let’s go then, we can chat it up in the car.”

~91~

TWENTY

Merrick inhaled deeply breathing in the scents around him. Elise was close, very close; of course he hadn’t given her more than a few seconds before chasing after her. His heart was threatening to break out of his chest it was beating so violently. She was giving him a chance to prove himself and this was exactly what he needed. She’ll finally be his mate, all his for the taking. All he had to do now was take her. He followed the scent breathing in a lungful of it as he moved swiftly through the maze.

Elise was a highly skilled shifter; he didn’t doubt for a second that she could have eluded him here in the old days.

This wasn’t the old days though, Merrick was stronger and faster than he’d been and he was also a much more efficient hunter. He’d had to be over the years, to protect himself and his kids; he’d had to learn all sorts of skills that he’d otherwise prefer to have left out of his knowledge. These were all skills that he was putting to use now. There was no way she could beat him now, something that he was sure she knew. That thought alone sent shivers of excitement racing though him, she was all but willingly submitting to him.

He weaved silently through the maze crouching low to the ground so as not to be spotted. All this time and she was finally going to be his, mere moments away. His Ophidian side screamed at him, urging him to run blindly towards her scent, however, his human, and more logical, side gave him pause. This may have been a race but there was no sense blundering forward. He had to take it slowly and use all his senses. He’d take his time to devour the moment as surely as he’d devour her once he caught her.

Catching her was his top priority, everything else faded in his mind; the girls, the cult, Evelyn, Aiden and even the other Archons. None of them mattered when compared to catching his mate, proving his worth to her. All he needed was her. She was all he ever needed.

Her laughter filtered down to him on the slight breeze coming from ahead of him. “Slowpoke.”

She called from further into the maze.

Her taunt drew a loud rumbling growl from him, one he was certain she’d heard. He took off down the path in the direction that she’d spoken from. It sounded like she was parallel to him only a few rows over. He bounded down the path stopping suddenly as he came face to face with a huge stone cobra marking a fork in the maze path. Slowing his breathing he strained all his senses hoping to catch a hint as to which way to move. Both paths were covered with her scent, but he couldn’t decipher which one she’d trailed down. After a heartbeat or two without a clue the jeweled eyes of the cobra sneered mockingly down at him.

“Fifteen years not long enough?” she giggled. “Or is it that you can’t get it up anymore? Catch me if you can...”

Her voice came from the right. Ignoring her words, as his male ego now joined his snake in the urging, he bounded off after her leaving the cobra long behind him. Her scent grew stronger as he followed the maze path around. It wouldn’t be long now before he could satisfy his urges, all of which were making themselves frequent residents in his body. She was so close. He kept his body low to the ground, ready to pounce, as his silent steps stalked closer to his target.

~92~

“Quickly now.... John I’m waiting...”

Her melodious voice was so close that it sent shivers coursing through him. Keeping his breathing calm was becoming difficult. If he wasn’t careful there was a chance he’d hyperventilate and that wouldn’t be the end that he’d envisioned for this event. He rounded the corner just in time to catch a flash of something disappear around the next turn.

Her laughter reached him as she stopped and winked, darting down another row.

His target now in sight he tore down the maze after her. Elise had always been fast but he'd been faster, even now he quickly gained on her.

She whooped laughter and hauled ass around the next corner, the trees at the center closer to both of them. “John...” she called in a singsong voice.

He grumbled under his breath a manic grin spread across his face. "Yes dear?"

“I’m almost there...”

He looked over into trees marking the finish line keeping his mind focused on her. "So you are love. Almost isn't quite..." He snapped off lunging across at her grabbing her waist and tackling her to the ground. "There though." He finished holding onto her.

She giggled and then feigned a pout. “Shit, you’re quick. I didn’t really have a chance did I?”

"None whatsoever." He grinned reaching up to kiss away her pout, "That’s the kind of odds I like to play against. Gods Elise you’re perfect."

“So glad you think so.” she giggled and nipped his bottom lip. “We are close to the center, at least it looks that way. Shall we?”