Hailey woke with a massive headache, painful enough to cause a grimace when she tried to move.
A warm hand cupped her face. Lay still.
She wanted to snap at the command but had little energy she could tap into to give an acerbic response. When she opened her eyes, she blinked a couple of times before her eyes could focus.
"We're home," her voice hoarse.
Yes. I took you back after you passed out. You need to rest.
Hailey frowned and met her Arrow's azure eyes. "Did it work?"
"Yes."
When she tried to sit up, James moved to help her. "You didn't conduct Morgan's ability through me." He stroked his knuckles over her cheek. "Why?"
Hailey winced when her head throbbed and sagged back against her pillow. "I tried, but it felt like I was slipping. I couldn't keep holding on with the rush of Morgan's powers slamming into my head."
Alarmed, she shot forward and gritted her teeth when she saw stars.
James' expression darkened, his voice steel. "You need to rest," he said again.
Hailey pulled a face and leaned back again. "I need to tell Shane what happened," she argued while rubbing her eyes. "Morgan, he takes away pain. Not only physical, but emotional pain as well. He does both." A frown. "Does that make sense?"
"I've come to a similar conclusion. It seems he has a variation to M and E-abilities. The combination made it difficult to detect, which is why the medical staff was unable to help him."
Hailey released a breath. "I need to contact Shane." The moment Morgan's abilities were unleashed inside of Hailey, she'd felt an overloading explosion of emotions pull her under. "I don't think Morgan's consciously aware of what he's constantly doing." She thrust her hand through her hair. "He keeps on taking in everybody's negative emotions and physical pain, and he doesn't stop when it's hurting him."
James' tone was factual. "I know. That's why I told Shane to request a telepath to shield his brother."
Hailey looked at James' expressionless face and felt her heart expand. If it hadn't been for him, she'd never thought of using her abilities to pull away Morgan's power, giving him some time to recover from the constant overload to his system, which had made his body and mind crumble to the point that he was dying from sheer exhaustion.
"Thank you, love." She reached out to stroke his cheek. "I can't express how much it means to me that we were able to save him."
James cupped her chin, his eyes hard as stone. "You can't do this every time someone's in pain because of their abilities." Hailey felt his worry through their bond.
She shook her head. "It's not solely your choice to make; we have to decide together."
His jaw tightened in rejection, his shoulders stiff. "You already know my decision." His azure eyes studied her face, the jet black of his pupils contrasting with the deep color of his irises. "It's too much for you to bear."
Making a snorting sound, Hailey ignored the sting in her head and leaned forward to stoke a finger past James' jawline. "I'll live." She brushed her lips over his as warmth shuddered through her body. "Imagine how many of the Forgotten I'll be able to help if I can moderately drain their abilities and, together, we'll be able to figure out what they need to control their powers."
You are not a machine. I won't let you deplete yourself by turning into an assembly line for Santos to use.
Hailey bit his lip for the very negative way of approaching her idea. "It won't be like that."
James leaned back and moved his hand to cup her jaw, his features stark. "I've been there. I've been used over and over for the purpose of others while I thought I was doing something good. I won't let you make the same mistakes I made." His eyes frosted over. "I saw the way the doctors were looking at you after you helped the boy. It's the same way people have looked at me, Zaira, Vasic, Judd and the others before utilizing us for their benefits."
Hailey grabbed his wrist. "Then you'll be there to watch over me, to see to it that doesn't happen. I'm not going to ignore what I can do when there's even the slightest possibility I can prevent others from undergoing Morgan's fate."
She nudged his hand away and placed it over her heart. "We were barely in time." She bit her lip at the memory of Morgan's flickering presence, his life almost vanquished by the avalanche of hurt. "Think about how it could be, the good we could do."
When she swayed, James caught her in his arms and gently placed her down. "Rest. We'll discuss this later."
Hailey closed her eyes and decided to persuade James a different way when she was feeling more energetic. She smiled at the idea of coaxing him with sinful suggestions and fell in a deep sleep, oak moss and sandalwood in her dreams.
The next day, Hailey called Shane to ask for an update on Morgan's state. He told her James' advice had worked; the telepath Devraj had sent to watch Morgan shielded him, so he was able to recover without his abilities immediately setting back the progress he'd made.
Morgan was still weakened from the hospitalization but had eaten a little and looked better. Hailey promised to visit soon.
Her heart felt lighter and she only now comprehended the stress Morgan's state had brought her, though the worry she'd felt hardly compared to the devastating agony Shane and his father had gone through this past month.
Feeling better after sleeping an entire day, Hailey had woken up immensely hungry. She'd munched down three burgers and two portions of fries she'd asked James to order.
James had eaten a nutrition bar–while being completely content with her inhaling the food–and she'd persuaded him to try some of her food. He'd actually liked the burger and Hailey decided she'd take him to a good burger restaurant for their next date.
Hailey thought about that for a while and concluded they probably wouldn't go on a date any time soon–especially after the security team had taken in a suspect–even if the entire point of the dates was to expose her to trap whomever was after her.
Scowling, she walked over to the bathroom to take a shower. Even though James had told her the Arrows had investigated the man who'd been watching her, he still wasn't convinced the threat on her life was averted since they had no leads to trace down the client. James had told her it had been a knowing, and even though Hailey trusted James to speak truthfully about these things, she wasn't sure if he wasn't just being overprotective.
Hailey shivered at the thought of being watched by someone for quite some time now. How could the guy have pulled it off without her noticing a single thing? Shaking off that thought, Hailey recalled the background information her security team had been able to dig up.
They'd questioned the man, who turned out to be a human veteran who'd fallen into addiction. The person giving him orders had been aware of his substance abuse and had used that knowledge as leverage.
Aside from having the order to follow her every move, the man had known nothing. He'd gotten paid generously per drop off and never had face-to-face contact with his client. He was instructed to send the intel via the dark web, where the data had bounced off nearly forty servers before vanishing.
To James, it was still a possibility that this was the Consortium's bidding, especially since now not only Psy, but humans were involved as well. Hailey had argued it could just as well be a former Psy Council member–hell, any powerful person really–in search of more power, similar to the former kidnappings of Forgotten.
Since James was one of the Arrows' technicians, he'd gone through the devices the security team had confiscated but had found no lead for them to investigate. After going through the devices several times, he'd been so frustrated, he felt his emotions were clouding his judgment. He'd decided to hand them over to another member of the team to assess and promised to be back in a couple of minutes.
Hailey stepped under the scalding hot water after she'd stripped and started washing her hair, running her hands through the dark mass, using her favorite shampoo. After rinsing off her hair, she washed her body. She closed her eyes and tipped her face up to feel the water, the hot liquid relaxing her muscles and easing the tension from her body.
Big hands slid around her waist.
Already aware of his presence, Hailey leaned into James' hard body while one hand moved from her waist to her abdomen, the other caressing the sensitive skin on the side of her breast.
She arched her head sideways and he kissed her, possessive and demanding, locking his arm around her waist when she tried to turn. Hailey felt James' erection pressing against her lower back, her stomach clenching at the feel of having him close.
He stroked the hair away from her shoulder and kissed her neck. Hailey braced her hands on his thighs, the muscles rock hard underneath her fingertips. She dug her nails into his skin when he bit her neck and rolled her nipple between his fingers. Warmth uncurled between her legs as he gently pulled the furled bud.
You're beautiful, Hailey.
Hailey shivered at the rough edge of his voice in her mind. He needed a release from all the stress that was a constant weight on him, and oh, how she wanted to give this to him. He'd needed her and he'd come to her. And she needed him, too.
When she tried to turn again he held her even tighter, her butt pressing against the hardness of him. She wiggled against him, the water from the shower making them both slippery, and she could feel his harsh breaths caressing her nape in response to the friction. She looked over her shoulder when he pulled her nipple again, while his other hand dipped between her legs.
Hailey reached back and grabbed hold of his hair, leaning heavily against her strong Arrow. Whimpering at the sensation of his fingers caressing her delicate folds, she saw James' eyes darken with lust, black seeping throughout his eyes. Hailey bit her lip when she felt his fingers spreading her, circling her entrance.
"I want to touch you as well." It was a smoky whisper filled with need.
James fisted her hair and sucked the pulse of her neck while sliding his fingers deep inside her. Hailey arched her back and gasped as she tightened her hold on his hair, her legs shaking at the delicious intrusion of his fingers, her body her lovers instrument.
"No." The dark tone of his voice added to the heat on her skin as the water ran over her back. Your punishment for your indiscretions is due. He moved his hand from between her legs to her butt, molding the plump flesh.
Hailey let out a small cry when he pushed her against the glass wall, her breasts pressed against the cold surface and her palms flat on the glass as he held her in place with his Tk.
The confinement made her even wetter, the feeling of James' psychic touch hot and strong, like he was trapping her with his body firmly wrapped around hers. A shudder ran through her spine at the sensation, at the intimacy of surrendering herself to him.
James placed his hands on her waist and stroked down. She felt his telekinetic touch nudge her legs apart.
The contact made her skin shimmer, anticipation tightening her gut at being completely at his mercy. Her breathing turned choppy when his hand slid over her hip and he cupped her. Hailey tried to press herself against him, but his telekinetic hold wouldn't allow her body to move.
I like having you like this, James said as he crouched behind her.
Frustrated and hot, Hailey managed to answer. Probably because I'm doing what you want without resisting for once.
When James bit the outside of her thigh, Hailey gasped and looked down. At least he had the courtesy of giving her some freedom of movement.
He turned her around, her back against the glass now, and slowly brushed his fingertips over the curves of her stomach, thigh and calf, taking all the time in the world to indulge in the tactile pleasure.
"This isn't punishment, this is torture," she said through gritted teeth while locking eyes with him. Hailey's heart violently slammed in her chest at the lust she saw in the dark onyx of his gaze, electric blue pulsing through the black. The corners of James' mouth curled, and he kissed her between the apex of her thighs.
She cried out when he thrust his fingers inside while kissing her most intimate place with deep, slow licks. When Hailey thought she was on the verge of an orgasm, James stopped.
Panting, Hailey tried to move, but was still pinned in place. "Yes, most definitely torture," she hissed.
James rose from the ground and licked the tip of her nipple.
On the contrary, his voice rough-edged in her mind as he gave her a smoldering look, jet-black eyes and heated cheekbones. This is quite pleasurable.
Hailey tried to reach out to him again but was held back, her palms flat on the glass next to her body. She released a shaky breath when James moved his hand between her legs again, gently pushing in one finger while running his teeth over the slope of her breast. Her internal muscles clenched at the delicious torment, but he pulled away his hand when Hailey felt she was close to climaxing again.
My apologies, Miss Logan, he whispered in her mind, I can't have you enjoying your punishment too much.
She let out a frustrated growl, her body on edge and her mind dizzy with pleasure. I'm going to kill you for this, slowly. A sob when he circled her clit before drawing his fingers away again. Very, very slowly!
James shot her a half smile, one corner of his mouth turned upwards, and she sucked in a breath at the lethal beauty of him. He bent forward and kissed her deeply.
Always so beautiful when you're angry.
And you're always so insufferable when you're arrogant, she snapped, knowing he was experiencing satisfaction from her responses.
The rich, deep, beautiful sound of his laughter in her mind made her heart skip three beats. Eyes huge, she looked up.
James was mesmerizing, his black eyes blazing with blue jolts and his lips curved in a full smile now. Hailey couldn't help but smile back, her love for him profound. The fact that they were intimate and he was playing with her once again reminded her of how far he'd come since they'd first met.
"Arrogant, but mine," she murmured. She gently sucked on his lower lip when he kissed her. "Please, love."
James held her chin and angled her head the way he liked it. Please, what? His kiss was a little rough, making Hailey moan when he shaped her breast with his big hand.
Yes, Hailey thought, he might look in control and cold to others, but there is a wildness inside him akin to yours. A wildness she loved, a roughness she desired. It made her feel owned, complete. And, it was his tell, letting her know he was losing his oh-so precious control.
"No," she said breathlessly. "We're not playing that game again."
James bit her neck and sucked on her pulse. Her body shuddered from the pleasure of his rugged caresses. At this point, Hailey was glad James held her up with his Tk or she would have slumped to the bathroom floor, his lovemaking turning her boneless.
It's called punishment for a reason.
Hailey sobbed when he sucked the tip of her breast and bit the sensitized nub. A thought popped up in her head and she used her telekinesis to 'stroke' his chest while he kept torturing her.
James' head snapped up, depths of onyx expressing his lust for her. His gold skin gleamed from the water, his muscles moving fluidly as he ran his hands up her body and closed them around her ribs. The sight of him made her whimper.
Dear God, he looks like pure sin.
"Tell me, Hailey. I want to hear you say it," crushed ice and whiskey cream, his desire-filled voice rubbing against her skin as much as his body. She gasped when he slid his fingers inside her again and tried to arch her back–but couldn't. Her telekinetic motion stopped; her mind too fogged with pleasure to concentrate.
"You," she panted. "I want you."
That wicked, beautiful, dangerous smile again as his eyes locked with hers. Not until you say it.
Hailey cried out when James stroked his finger over the slippery bundle of nerves between her legs, her muscles painful from the tension. He kissed the line of her collarbone.
"No." The word came out weak, her body shuddering under his delicious torment. "Let me go first."
Always fighting for control, it was a hum in her mind as he kissed her deeply. Very well.
James lifted her with one arm and use of his Tk, his other hand clenching in the wet mass of her hair. Water splashed on her shoulders and warmed her cold back. He finally released her from the telekinetic hold, and she wrapped her legs around his hips as she laced her fingers through his wet hair, hauling him in for another kiss.
She laved her tongue against his, the taste and feel of James shooting jolts of pleasure through her body. He pressed her against the glass wall again, his kisses hungry and possessive. Hailey moaned when the blunt tip of his erection pressed against her slick entrance.
His eyes met hers, heat in the pure blackness of his gaze. I want you, Hailey. He pushed himself inside her a little. Do you want me as well?
Hailey felt a blush creep up her cheeks, and she decided to be bold, give him what he wanted. "Yes, James," her voice soft and husky. "Please, fuck me."
With one fluid movement he was inside, filling her to the hilt, the feeling of his hardness exquisite against her sensitive flesh. He didn't stop to pause but kept on going, burying himself inside her with deep strokes. Hailey dug her nails into his shoulders as James telepathically sent her an image. And she remembered it had been her own fantasies, which he was bringing to life at this second.
Him locking eyes with her while she moaned his name. Him driving into her faster, harder, deeper.
The images of him filling her with extreme possession, combined with his actions made every nerve ending explode as the orgasm tore through her body. Pleasure rippled through her while James kept moving, extending the feeling of ecstasy. When her internal muscles stopped convulsing, the aftershocks fading, he slowed down.
Her body hanging limp against his, Hailey panted, inhaling deep gulps of air. By the time she was finally able to breathe properly, she lifted her head and saw a gleam in his eyes. Her own eyes widened.
Oh… He isn't finished yet.
She bit her lip. "What are you– Ah!"
Naked and wet, he broke their connection and carried her out of the bathroom, lifted her to the bed and flipped her onto her front. Hailey was helpless to do anything than follow his lead. You're going to kill me. I'm going to die from lack of oxygen by apocalyptic sex.
She laughed when he bit her shoulder and found a new vein of energy. Tipping her head to the side, Hailey saw James had moved over her while kissing her neck, shoulders and spine. His hands on either side of her body, he pushed up his athletic torso, showcasing his muscles. Shuddering–not from the cold but from the heat he incited–Hailey lifted her hips a little in an attempt to feel his hardness against her lower curves.
James kissed her cheekbone, the shell of her ear and bit her earlobe before responding. "If you die, I'll have you teleported to the hospital in your current state."
"No you wouldn't!" she exclaimed as she arched up her butt to press against him, her lower body hot and wet all over for him. Satisfaction ran through her at the sound of his harsh breaths, evidence that he wasn't as much in control as he seemed to be. "You're far too possessive to let anyone see me like this," she whispered.
James nipped at her neck. "You know me too well."
Her heart jerked at the murmured words, her love for him expanding with every moment in his company. Please, James. She met his eyes as she glanced over her shoulder. Please make me come again.
Hailey felt his erection press against her core, pleasure sweeping through her body in anticipation of him inside her. His hand fisted in her hair and Hailey moaned when the thick invasion of his erection stretched her pleasure-swollen tissues. In this position he filled her even more, and she enjoyed every stroke. His weight felt deliciously intimate on top of her, his ragged breaths augmenting her arousal.
You're far too good at this, she telepathically sent when he eased his movements in order to extend his orgasm, her legs shaking from exertion.
"Maybe we should read a manual together." His voice was a rough breath against her nape as he receded and entered slowly.
Hailey's skin flushed at that excellent suggestion. "I love reading," she breathed as she moved against him, clutching her internal muscles. "And I'm a quick study."
James groaned, his lips touching her shoulder. On second thought, I don't think you need more ammunition. You're dangerously seductive as it is. I don't think I'd survive the pleasure. Another groan when she rolled her hips. He stopped moving for an instance, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of her neck. Though, dying of a heart attack while coming deep inside you and having you naked on top doesn't sound like a bad way to go.
Hailey couldn't hold back her laugh. "That's not a sexy picture at all!" She moved her lower body, urging him to move with her. "Stop trying to distract me from giving you an orgasm."
He pulled back and thrust inside her with ruthless deliberation. Indulging in you is the ultimate form of pleasure.
His telekinetic touch reached between the apex of her thighs, and she spread her legs a little more while pushing up and holding onto the cast-iron frame of her headboard. James wrapped one arm around her waist, the other tightened in her hair as he started moving in a punishing rhythm, pounding into her, making her internal muscles clamp around him.
Hailey! James sounded raw and hot and like pure sex in the walls of her mind, the orgasm rocking through her body. She screamed out in uninhibited pleasure.
Yes, yes, yes!
He thrust deep inside her one final time before his muscles locked, his head against her shoulder and his breathing heavy.
When Hailey felt his body relax, she moved and pulled him along to lay next to her in the bed. Snuggling close to him, she inhaled the scent of oak moss and sandalwood.
Her Arrow. Her mate.
"You forgot to turn off the shower," she said with a lazy smile.
A small rumbling noise was the only proof of life she got as she heard the water stop. Frowning, Hailey stared at the barely visible window. She blinked a couple of times and tried to focus her eyes on the currently blurry frame of the pressed peony she'd hung next to the window.
She sat up.
Arching an eyebrow, she looked through the door connecting the bedroom to the living area. "Why is my entire apartment filled with mist?"
James opened one eye and closed it again when he pulled her close. "It's a solution to our intimacy problem."
Hailey snorted. "I guess it's better than thunderstorms, but don't you think people will notice?" she asked as she cuddled close to him, warmth radiating from his damp body. She pointed to the layer of condensation on the windows. "That's kind of hard to miss."
James kept his eyes closed while he wrapped his arm around her. "You're overthinking again."
She smiled as she rubbed her lips against his pectoral, happiness over-flooding her at the notion of discussing something nonsensical like this. Pushing away all her dark thoughts and troubles, she enjoyed holding on to her Arrow and secretly dreamed of the future they might not have together.
Hailey had cleared the table after their lunch and sat down on the sofa with her legs folded under herself, a large mug of tea in her hands. James took in the picture she made–comfortable, content,–and knew what he was about to tell her would cause a shift in her relaxed mood. He stood with his arms crossed in front of the window and looked outside, searching for the right words.
"I'd like to use other abilities, like teleporting. Maybe Vasic can teach me with your help," she said, breaking through his musing.
He stiffened: his shoulders tight. It was as if she'd read his mind. Hailey shifted, her mug of tea abandoned on the coffee table as she leaned with her elbows on the side of the sofa. "Spill it."
He turned towards her and took several moments to respond. "I've asked Vasic and Abbot to help me gain control of my teleportation skills."
Hailey shook her head. "No."
He arched his eyebrow at the finality in that word. "You almost got caught the night you went running by yourself." He thrust a hand through his hair. "I can't put a teleport-capable Tk with the ability to lock onto faces on your security team–not when I'm capable of the same skills."
"You shouldn't do it because of me," she said, her face grim.
James shot her a look that left no room for arguments. "My training has already started and will continue tomorrow. You can accompany me if you wish. Otherwise I'll make sure the protective detail is aware of my absence."
Hailey let out a frustrated sigh as she stood up, her hands on her hips, battle-ready as always. "You shouldn't do it if it hurts you. It's not worth it."
He was on her in a heartbeat, his hands cupping her face. "It doesn't hurt, and it's worth everything. Never in my life have I felt useless." His heart kicked painfully at the memory of her frantic eyes when he'd pulled her towards the alley. "I did feel useless, I was useless when I was too late to protect you."
Hailey's hands clenched in his shirt. "I don't mean physical hurt," she said with a scowl. "You chose Silence because of your past experiences with teleportation."
"And I haven't forgotten those reasons," he retorted, "but I'm not a child anymore. My control has vastly improved. It's time I learn." He'd already been training his ability to memorize teleportation locks, and tomorrow he'd attempt the actual teleports.
Her features softened, sadness in her eyes. "It's your choice and I'll support you however I can," she said while brushing her fingertips past his jaw, "but when this is over, I don't want you to look back and feel like your choice was forced upon you."
Leaning his forehead against hers, he released a deep breath. "If I don't and something happens to you, I won't be able to live with the knowledge I didn't do everything in my power to save you."
Her response was quiet. "It still might not change the outcome." She pulled back and cupped his jaw, demanding him to look into her solid brown eyes. "You need to promise me that you won't go back to being Silent if that's the case."
The crash of emotions hit him so hard, it felt like all the air was punched out of him. They'd never discussed what would happen if his visions would become reality.
Now he understood why.
The severe weight of their spoken words was heavier, more intense than the unspoken truth. There was no hiding, no escaping from them once they were said. Moments passed as he pulled himself together in order to respond. "I won't."
The color drenched from Hailey's face. Of course she'd heard the hidden depth of his words. Of course she understood he wasn't agreeing to honor her request.
"No,"her voice trembled. "You can't." She shook her head and pushed at his chest. "The Squad needs you. Aden needs you."
He brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, his tone gentle. "Parting with you for weeks was the worst possible torture but I suffered through it because I believed it could have saved you." A tear fell across her cheek, disbelief in her eyes. "You've changed me, Hailey. I don't think I can live in this world without you lighting the darkness."
If they'd take Hailey from him, he'd track down and kill every last one of the people involved before ending his own life. Her assailants would rip away the best part of him, destroy one half of his heart. How could she think there was even the slightest possibility of him surviving after that?
No, he'd never live, never be whole. It was a knowledge ingrained so deep inside of him, James didn't bother disputing it. Without her, the violent rage would take over. He'd become the rogue assassin the Squad's mental penal had feared he could become when he'd been that angry boy. And the world didn't need another monster.
A quiet sob escaped Hailey's throat as she wrapped her arms around him, crushing herself against him. He tightly held on to her quivering body, his chest aching.
When Hailey stopped crying, she pulled back and wiped away her tears. She tipped up her head, her eyes blazing gold sparks. "Thank you for telling me." The determined look in her eyes confused him, until she spoke again. "There's no way in hell I'm going to let them take you from me, from the Squad." She nodded at him. "I'll come with you tomorrow."
A jolt struck his heart at her steely words, erasing the tightness in his chest. He smiled at her, which made jade sparks come to life in her eyes. "Very well, Miss Logan."
Bright like fire, with ruthless determination. His mate. His Siren.