The cushions on the couch enveloped Satrina. Everything in his apartment was so nice. It felt like the pulse had never happened.
"Where'd you get all your money?"
Logan glanced at her. "My family use to have a lot of money." He handed her a glass of water. Concentration creased her brow as she forced her fingers to grasp the glass. The paralyzing agent hadn't completely worn off yet.
"Use to?" she inquired after taking a sip of water.
Her question caused him to pause. "It's a long story." He started to walk away but Satrina stopped him.
"Wait." He spun back to her. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure." Sitting next to her, he draped a blanket over her.
"Thank you. How long have you known Max?"
"Over a year," he spoke softly.
"Did you always know what she was?" Satrina's whole reason for this conversation was to talk to someone else who was involved with an X-5.
Seeing where this was going, he smiled. "Yes. Satrina, just ask me what you really want to."
The water in her glass suddenly fascinated her. She took long moments considering how to phrase her question best. "How did you get past the fact that Max has killed?"
"Oh." On some level, he knew she would ask something like that. How could you not? Their sole purpose was to kill. So now he had to tell her how to get over that. Hmm... Logan could start a support group: Getting to know your X-5 and how to deal with them. But he had to get back to the person next to him.
"It's what they've been trained to do," he began slowly. "But it's not who they are. Alec is cocky and self-centered, well he use to be, but he's not a murderer."
"He's still cocky," she said wryly. "I like him that way." Satrina looked to the kitchen quickly to see Alec and Max talking. "It's just that," she looked to Logan, "White said that Alec had made a deal with him to wipe out trans-genics."
Logan nodded. "He did but it was only because Alec wanted to live. If Alec hadn't killed, that explosive they planted in his neck would've gone off."
"But it did anyway. Max had to give that lab tech all your money for him to live," she said pointedly.
Out of his mouth blew a heavy sigh. "I know. But I know that none of that would have happened had the situation been different, he wouldn't have killed and he wouldn't have needed the money."
Blue eyes gazed at Alec as he continued talking with Max about whatever X-5's talked about. From his light brown hair to his sculpted body, he was the picture of perfection. Bright, the flash of his smile reminded her of the true Alec, the Alec she knew. The one who snuck into her apartment to surprise her, who spent all night answering her questions. Most importantly, the one who could have killed his enemy, but didn't. White could be dead by now, but instead, he most likely had a headache.
"After him using your money and keeping you and Max from each other, how can you defend him?"
"Because I know," Logan looked over to Max, "I know what it's like to care for someone and lose the opportunity to see where it goes."
They each stared at the genetically engineered soldiers they cared for more than anything. Small bits of laughter left both of them.
"Look at us," Satrina snorted.
"Two lowly norms in love with enhanced fighting machines."
"Maybe we should double date!" That caused them both to lose it.
Loud laughter drew Max and Alec's attention to the living room were Logan and Satrina were practically rolling around on the floor.
"What the hell are you two laughing at?" Max asked.
"Oh," Satrina calmed herself down enough. "Nothing, nothing at all." The two humans' eyes met and the laughter started all over again.
Alec looked to Max and shrugged. "Whatever." Slender fingers were extended to Satrina. "You ready to go home now?"
Gazing up at Alec, she smiled. "Yeah, I am."
She wrapped her fingers around his and he pulled her up. Tentative steps moved Satrina cautiously, her hand remaining in Alec's for balance. After a moment or two, her steps quickened. She glanced over at him.
He smiled, "Come on, slowpoke. You can go faster than that."
"I'll give you faster, you ass. Besides, are you going to catch me with those Manticore reflexes if I fall?" she said light and playfully.
His face twisted into a grimace. "Hopefully I'll be paying enough attention. If not-"
An elbow to his ribs cut him off.
Repeated flexing and extending of her hand told Satrina that the agent had finally worn off. She smiled in the dim light of her apartment.
Alec sat on the floor back against her couch deep in thought. One foot planted firmly on the floor, his arm rested on his knee. His eyes cast to the floor not seeing it so much as seeing through it.
Satrina's gaze roamed over his sad figure and sadness passed through her. He was troubled and she wanted to comfort him. "Have I said thank you yet for saving me?"
He made no move to show he had even registered her voice.
She sighed and crouched before him. "Alec, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
He refused to even look at her.
Reaching out to him, she lifted his chin so his beautiful eyes had no choice but to look at her. "Please," she whispered.
He couldn't ignore her feelings, her need for him to be okay. "I ... you could have died and it would have been because of me."
"But I didn't die, you saved me."
Their eye contact broke as Alec looked away. "I'm a killer and you almost died because of me." It was almost inaudible to Satrina's unenhanced ears.
She pulled his face back to her. "But I didn't. Because of you, I'm still alive. I'm still breathing and I'm still here with you. And you are not a killer. You've killed but that's not who you are. You only did that because you had to."
The forlorn look didn't leave his face. So she did the only thing she thought would make him happy. Lips touched lips in a short, love-filled kiss.
"I would do anything for you to believe me," she pleaded.
He cocked an eyebrow. "Anything?"
She nodded, a grin gracing her lips. "Anything."
Gently, he kissed her. She pulled back the barest millimeter forcing him to lean foreword in order to not break the kiss. She kept pulling until they were standing and she disengaged the kiss.
Breath heavy she spoke with throaty lust. "I've wanted nothing more than to throw you down and rip your clothes off for the longest time."
He grinned wantonly. "That can certainly be arranged."
A finger to his lips stopped his incoming kiss. "Wait. We're going to take this painstakingly slow. I want to fully enjoy every aspect and every inch of you." With that she preceded to slip his coat off letting her hands feel every muscle of his arms on the way down. The leather coat fell quietly to the ground. She rested her hands on his chest then slowly trailed her fingers down.
Grabbing the hem of his shirt, she gathered it and pulled it over his head. Broad shoulders and well-toned muscles greeted her. She disregarded the shirt with a toss of her hand.
Alec snatched her wrist before she could do anything else. He brought her wrist to his face and inhaled. The primal act caused Satrina a sharp intake of air. It was if he was an animal taking in her scent. She bet that wasn't far from the truth.
He then assaulted her wrist with a series of kisses and nips and licks using the right amount of pressure to send pleasurable sensations through her. In absolute bliss, her head fell back as she let out a low moan.
Slow, deliberate circles were made by his thumb on the palm of her hand. Her head snapped up and in an instant, her mouth latched onto his. Hasty hands snaked around her waist. They stumbled carelessly to her bedroom and fell to the bed with Satrina on top. She pulled back enough to stop the kiss.
"What?" Alec asked at the insecurity in her eyes.
She bit her bottom lip in hesitation. "It's just..." she trailed off breaking their gaze.
Tenderly cupping her chin, he turned her face to look at him. "Tell me."
Fear crept into her voice. "Am I going to be enough for you? I mean, you're this perfect, beautiful soldier and you've had a lot of women whereas I'm far from perfect and haven't had a lot of experience."
He smiled and traced her lips with his thumb. "You're more than enough for me. I think you're absolutely perfect and as far as experience goes, I know I've had a lot of women but I've never had love. You can teach me that."
"We can teach each other." And the rest of the night was spent learning a lot of things.
Everything about his body was amazing. Defined muscles, tan skin, crystal blue eyes; she'd lost herself for hours in him.
Images from hours ago played through her mind as she stared at his sleeping form. She never knew someone could be so attentive and passionate at once. And she had definitely returned the favor.
Impulsively, she brought her hand to his face tracing his jaw, his cheekbones. She played with hair, running her fingers through the smooth strands. It was as is she wanted to assure that he was real and not part of her fantasy. Suddenly, his hand clasped around hers.
A smile curved his lips and his eyes opened to meet hers. "Keep doing that and I might start wagging my tail."
"Did they add smart ass to your DNA on purpose or was it something you were taught?"
He grimaced. "Ow, that hurts. You're breaking my genetically engineered heart."
She leaned in and kissed him. "There, all better?"
"Much."
Wrapping her arms around him, she smiled up at him. "I can honestly tell you that I've never had as much fun as I did last night."
His fingers found the ends of her hair and he twirled them around his finger. "I agree, no wait, there this one time-"
She hit his chest lightly and he chuckled. "This one time where I played in the mud with an unbelievably fun, beautiful woman."
A sigh emitted from her mouth. "Do you have any idea how charming you are? How totally handsome, fun and sexy you are?"
He thought about it and then answered with a, "Yes."
"You know, I should really stop stroking your ego but you're just so damn cute."
"I know." He placed a light kiss on her lips and she melted against him.
"Do you have any idea how badly you make me want you?" she murmured.
"Do you have any idea how badly you make me want you?" he countered.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?"
Alec's mouth hung open in surprise.
Satrina's face paled. She couldn't believe she had let that slip. What the hell is wrong with me? He's gonna run now. Any normal guy would freak out if a woman told him that but Alec's not normal. He hasn't dealt with emotions. I'm such an idiot!
They lost eye contact when her eyes fell. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She tried to get up but Alec held her down with his arm around her waist.
"Wait, Satrina. Don't be sorry." He saw the fear in her eyes, fear that he was going to leave. "I promise I won't run. But this is new for me and I don't know what I'm feeling. I know it's something but-"
Two of her fingers pressed against his lips. "It's okay. You'll tell me only when you want to and only when you're ready." She kissed him sweetly. "I'm going to go make breakfast. Pancakes or eggs?"
He let her go. "Pancakes." He sat up and watched her walk away. Something in him, maybe his human side, couldn't let her walk away.
"Satrina?" He called to her.
She halted and faced him, a questioning look on her face.
He smiled his award winning smile. "I love you," he stated simply.
Her face lit up with a smile and she ran to the bed and tackled him. They fell in a tangle of limbs and laughter and love.
