Soar (The Empire Chronicles #1) (22 page)

He was waiting for me on his front porch. Either he’d been listening or he knew I’d come over to face his wrath. In all my years of knowing Levi, I’d never crossed him that way. I’d also never gotten myself into such a ridiculously dumb situation.

“I assume you have an explanation.” He sat in an Adirondack chair, giving me a look that was half annoyance and half pity. I could handle the annoyance but not the pity.

“I couldn’t let it go.”

“Obviously. Why I didn’t plan on you being such an idiot, I’ll never know.”

“It’s not my fault he broke out.”

“I never said it was.”

“Then what are you angry about?” I leaned back against one of the columns, just waiting for him to stand up and confront me face to face.

“You deliberately disobeyed me, and you put an innocent human at risk.”

“Disobeyed? What am I your puppy now?” I took a seat on the railing.

“I’ve put up with your crap for years, but I am your superior. It would be nice if you showed an ounce of respect once in a while.”

“You’re my superior because you were born into it.” I’d never voiced those words before, and I instantly regretted them.

“Are you implying I don’t deserve to be king?” He finally stood up and moved toward me.

“No. But I am saying you don’t know everything.”

“And you do? You know the best way to handle things, huh?”

“Maybe I was too late, but waiting longer wouldn’t have helped either. The bottom line is Bryant escaped. Now what?”

“Now I decide what the hell to do with you.” He looked toward the front door then back at me. Maybe he was afraid Allie was listening in. She probably was.

“Are you threatening to fire me?”

“I should fire you. That would be the responsible thing to do.”

“You’ve never been responsible, Levi.”

He cracked a smile. “Not often. That’s why I’m giving you another chance to prove yourself.”

“How?”

“Find Bryant. Find out who’s behind these attacks. I’ll give you whatever tools you need.”

“I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t, but I’ll be watching.”

“I need to go back to New York. That’s where it started so that’s where I need to be.”

“And this has nothing to do with that girl?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No.” That was mostly true.

“Don’t screw this up. I’m not giving you another chance.”

“I get that.”

“All right, can you guys just hug and make up. It’s getting late.” Allie graced us with her presence, walking out on the porch in a Tulane hoodie and shorts.

Levi turned to her. “You really need to do a better job eavesdropping.”

“Why? You didn’t make me leave.” She grinned.

“All right, I’ll leave you guys to whatever it is you’d be doing if I wasn’t here.” I gave a wave and nodded to Levi as I left the porch.

“Don’t let me down, Jared. I don’t want to lose you.”

“I won’t.” I meant it.

Two days later, I was packed and ready to go. Owen gave me a ride to the airport. As convenient as flying myself can be, it’s more difficult when you’re trying to bring a couple pieces of luggage with you.

“Do you think you’ll be back for graduation?” He pulled over to the curb outside departures.

“Maybe. I don’t really care whether I walk.” Luckily, I didn’t need to finish any of my classes to graduate. I had enough credits by the end of my junior year. There just never seemed to be any rush to finish.

“If you get bored again, just give me a call.”

“I won’t get bored.”

He grinned. “Tell her I said hi.”

“Who says I’m talking about Casey?”

“You just did.” He lightly punched my arm.

“I don’t know if I’ll even call her.”

“You know she dumped Toby.”

“What?” Was he serious?

“Yeah. Hailey and Allie were talking about it.”

Had Casey dumped Toby for me? Maybe what happened in the cell meant more to her than I thought.

I checked-in for my flight and called Allie. My curiosity had gotten the best of me.

“Missing me already?” Allie didn’t bother with a normal greeting.

I let out a deep breath. Allie was never going to let me hear the end of this. “I heard Casey broke it off with Toby.”

“You heard right. But the question is who told you?”

“Owen.”

“Oh, I guess he heard me telling Hailey.”

“When did it happen?”

“Right after she got back to New York. She’s feeling pretty awful about it, but she didn’t want to lead him on I guess.”

“Wait. You talked to her?”

“How else would I know?”

“Why were you talking to Casey?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about Allie and Casey having some sort of friendship.

“I was worried about her. I happen to know how frustrating the Pteron world can be to humans.”

“Sure, sure. Did she mention me?”

“Oh my god. I wish I could record this conversation. Yes, she mentioned you. Call her.”

“I might.”

“She really likes you.”

“You think?”

“I know. And now you’re scaring me. You never get weird about girls.”

“I’m not being weird.”

“Don’t use her, Jared. I like her.”

“Good to know.” I reached my gate. “I’ve got to go. Talk to you soon.” I hung up, ready to get to New York.

***

“Hello?” That sweet yet sultry voice answered the phone, and I knew I’d made the right decision. I’d debated whether to call her or not for weeks, but I could still picture how good that body of hers felt against mine, and my willpower lost out. Girls didn’t usually do that to me. I liked them, but I didn’t need them. At least not anyone in particular. Casey was different. She’d gotten under my skin, and our few stolen moments in that prison cell weren’t going to cut it. I needed to finish what I’d started. Maybe then I’d get her out of my head. Besides, she’d dumped Toby for me. I’d be an ass if I didn’t at least go see her.

“Hello there. I’m looking for a girl I used to share a cell with. Any idea where I can find her?”

“Jared?” She sounded both surprised and excited. “I wondered if I’d ever hear from you.”

“Did you? Glad to know you’ve been thinking about me.” I leaned back against a brick wall.

“You left an impression. Believe it or not, you’re the only guy I’ve ever made out with while trapped in a prison.”

“Yeah? Glad I can be your first in one way.” I was glad I’d given her one memorable night. If things went my way, I’d be giving her an even more memorable one.

“How are things in New Orleans?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Why not?”

“Look outside your balcony window.” I watched as that pretty face of hers peeked out.

“I don’t see anything.”

I stepped out of the shadows, and she jumped back from the glass door.

“Jared?” she asked with disbelief when she opened the door.

“I thought I’d come by for a visit.”

“I’m glad.” She was wearing a little set of PJs. They showed off her legs and just enough cleavage to make my pants tight.

“Do you want to come in?” She sounded coy, but the look in her eyes could only be read one way. She wanted me as much as I wanted her.

“I thought I’d take you for a flight.”

“A flight, huh?”

“Sound good?” I watched her, assuming she knew I was talking about two different kinds of flights.

“Yeah. I should change though.”

“Don’t.” I reached out for her arm and pulled her against me. “I’m the only one who’s going to be looking at you, and you’ll be wearing less than that very soon.”

“Will I?” She smiled at me in a teasing way.

“Yes, you will. I hope you know what you’re getting into though.” I closed the balcony door. She wasn’t going back inside that night.

“And what’s that?”

“A night you’ll never forget.”

I tightened my hold on her and jumped off the balcony. Her chest was pressed against mine, and she was staring up while we flew. By the look of euphoria on her face, she liked it.

I landed on my balcony without releasing her. We were on the highest floor, so I wasn’t worried about too many people seeing us.

I laid her on the padded double chaise and pressed my weight down on her. I wasn’t messing around. “I’ve missed you, Casey, and it’s time to find out just how much you’ve missed me.”

“Oh yeah?” Her eyes were wide with anticipation and adrenaline from the flight.

“Yeah.” I pulled her shirt over her head, refusing to have any fabric separating our chests. I needed her skin against mine, and I needed my mouth on her. I tasted the first breast while fondling the other, all the while keeping my eyes trained on hers. I wasn’t going to miss a second of her reaction. She reached out to fumble with my belt buckle and finally released me from the jeans I’d been straining against.

Her hands were tentative, but mine weren’t as I pushed down her shorts and panties in one motion. Without moving my mouth from her breast, I spread open her legs with my free hand.

She moaned, her hand tightening around me.

I shifted out of my jeans, kicking them, along with my boxers, off the chair.

I had her completely naked and waiting for me, looking up at me with an expression of anticipation and nerves that was so completely hot it actually tested my resistance.

She felt so good, so wet, hot and ready. I took her lips, wanting her moans against my mouth. She squirmed under me and that only made me want to make her do it more.

She stroked me, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I unwrapped one of the condoms I’d stuffed into my jeans.

I spread her legs wider, slipping between her thighs the way I’d wanted to for weeks.

“Jared, please.”

Those two words nearly undid me, and I thrust into her. She was tight and wet. Perfect. I grabbed her ass as she wrapped her legs around me. I pushed into her over and over, loving that each time she reacted more, her breathing becoming heavier and her nails digging into my back. I could have taken it easy on her, but I didn’t want to. I wasn’t going to be satisfied until I’d used up every ounce of her strength. Her gasps and screams of passion eventually pushed me over the edge. I released, feeling a level of satisfaction sex had stopped giving me years ago.

Sweaty and out of breath, she lay there watching me. “Oh my god.”

I kissed her, something I never did after sex. Her lips were still sweet, but also salty now.

“I’m not sure I ever want to let you go.”

“You don’t have to yet.”

“No. I don’t.” I picked her up, leaving our clothes behind as I opened the French door, never putting her down even as I walked us to the bathroom and turned on the water. I needed her wet, surrounded in steam. I needed her like we hadn’t just fucked so hard I could still feel her tightness around me.

I pushed her up against the wall, glad to see the eagerness in her eyes. “Do you want more, Casey?”

“Yes.”

“How much more?” I needed to push her, to see if she was as affected by our physical connection as I was.

“Lots.”

“When do you want more?”

“Now.”

She got what she asked for. She screamed louder this time. Maybe it’s because we weren’t outside or maybe it was the echo in the bathroom, but it’s like her cries surrounded me. I could feel them. We moved together so damn well, like our bodies were designed to be locked together in a constant stream of motion. Her legs wrapped around me so tight I could barely stand up. I just pushed her back harder against the wall and thrust deeper. I wanted her to feel every inch of me.

“Jared.” She called my name before biting into my shoulder. I did the same to her as I released. I’d never bitten a girl, but I was out of control.

That should have been enough. That should have led to us sprawled out together in my bed, fast asleep, but it was only the beginning. I couldn’t stop and neither could she. We were like animals, needy and desperate, and unable or unwilling to come up for air. The sun was already half up by the time her eyes closed. We were back in my bed, the sheets tousled and tangled at our feet.

Moments later, her breathing evened out, and I realized she’d fallen asleep. I still felt like I was inside of her. I’d lost track of how many times we’d gone, and I just hoped that wasn’t it. It couldn’t be. I’d finally met my match in a girl, and there wasn’t a chance in hell I was letting her go.

Chapter Twenty-Six
Casey

My entire body ached. Every inch of me pulsed and buzzed with Jared. I could feel him, smell him, taste him everywhere. His arms and legs covered me like a blanket as we lay there completely exposed in the middle of his bed. What the hell had happened to us the night before? I’d dreamed about having sex with him, but it was nothing like that. Not that mind blowing experience that I couldn’t possibly explain in words. We’d spent hours tangled up in each other. We’d moved together in so many different ways, but each had been fantastic, exciting, and new in its own right. I ran a hand down his muscular back. My fingers moved slowly over a bite mark on his shoulder. Had I actually bitten him?

“Morning, babe,” he mumbled against my neck.

“I think it’s afternoon.” The sun was high in the sky, and it was the heat and light pouring through the window that woke me up.

“Same difference.” He nipped at my neck and squeezed one of my breasts.

“That was some night.”

“Absolutely fucking amazing.”

“I don’t know what got into me.” My sexual experience was limited, and I’d always been a fairly timid partner. My performance the night before had been anything but timid.

“Sure you do, Casey. I got into you.” His hand slid down my body, stopping on my inner thigh.

“Yes. Yes, you did.”

“How are you feeling?” He made tiny circles on the sensitive skin of my thigh.

“Not ready for more.”

He laughed. “Did I really tire you out that much?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?” His fingers moved slightly. “I can be very, very gentle.”

“Can you?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

“Just for that, you’ll have to let me show you.”

“How about you show me another time? That is if there’s another time.” I wanted there to be another time. I wanted whatever earth shaking experience we’d shared to be more than a little fling. I wanted to think there was a possibility of something real. I wasn’t going to accept that it was a night of meaningless sex. I was meant to be with a Pteron—I was meant to be with Jared.