His arm wrapped around her waist and his hand clutched her wrist possessively. Part of the reason he held her so tightly was to ensure that she didn't bolt away from him. The other part of the reason he gripped her so firmly was much more complicated. Justin wanted, no he needed, to feel her close to him. It had been so long since he'd been given an excuse to touch her. Justin frowned involuntarily. When had he started needing excuses to reach out to her? It used to have been so easy between the two of them. She'd know what he was thinking before he'd even finished forming the thought. The first night they had shared together had come not because of a spoken request but because of an unspoken one. She'd known what he wanted that night and she hadn't made him ask. She never did.
Justin was jolted back to the present by Iris' attempt to pull away from his grasp. He increased the tension in his grip as he smiled down upon her affectionately. When would she learn that he'd never let her go willingly? She belonged by his side and no force on earth would compel him to release her.
Although he knew it was a trap, Justin relished seeing what this boy had in store for him. Yes, he'd ride the ferris wheel and he'd make sure Iris was by his side as he did. It was the only way that he could ensure her safety. Justin expected a plan of attack worthy of his sworn enemy and there was no way he'd allow Iris to be caught in the crossfire. He had briefly toyed with the idea of having Stroud protect her but has vetoed that idea after seeing the way Stroud had been looking at her recently.
The little man before him pointed the way to the machine known as Colossus. He willed Iris along and helped her into the bucket seat. Her hand tightened around his fingers and her breathe had become shallow. A slight flush had crept into her cheeks making Iris look unbelievably fragile. The effect upon Justin was instantaneous. Iris so rarely let her calm demeanor falter that the rare occasions she did were doubly enticing. Justin inhaled deeply trying to control his growing desire for her. He felt the ferris wheel lurch into action. Justin pulled Iris closer to his side and the feel of her trembling next to him set off within him a wave of emotions. A part of Justin hated putting her through this farce. Justin knew he was being cruel to use her fears against her but the chance of her being harmed was not a risk he was willing to take. And yet, still there was something in Justin that welcomed her fear. He understood that with fear comes control. Such control was a necessity if he was ever going to gain dominance over her.
The ride picked up steam and Justin clung to Iris. The wind whipped her skirt up giving him a tantalizing view of her legs. He stared at her without shame and watched her chew on her lip with eyes closed. The ride came to stop with them sitting high above the fairgrounds and he whispered in her ear to look at the beauty that surrounded them. From atop the ride, they had a clear vision of the camp and the migrants that inhabited it. Everything Justin wanted was so close now. With the death of the boy would come his boon and with his boon he would be indestructible. Justin glanced over at Iris. Did she know? Did she suspect that his hour for greatness was at hand? He lifted his hand to brush a piece of errant hair that the wind had blown across her cheek. He would have everything tonight- including her. He felt his heart lurch at the prospect of having her again. It had been so long since he'd allowed himself to be baptized by her skin. While it was the promise of power that compelled him to act tonight, it was the promise of her that stirred his now blue blood.
From below Justin heard what seemed to be an act taking center stage. A man was calling to the crowd offering them the chance to be healed. Justin felt the tattoo on his chest start to burn and knew that the boy was within the tent. Smirking, Justin sat back in the seat and let his one hand caress Iris' thigh. If this was the best the boy could do, then tonight would be easier than he'd expected. Just as Justin was about to lean into Iris he felt a searing pain take a hold of his head. The pain was unbearable and he let out a wail. Justin could feel Iris touching him and could hear her questions but he was too racked with pain to answer. The pain was followed by a white, scolding heat to his eyes that caused his body to convulse. Iris was crying now for the ride to stop and the fear he heard in her voice caused a well of hatred to rise up within him. He would make sure the boy suffered for this tonight. As the pain subsided, Justin closed his eyes and willed himself stronger. Just as he was ready to take control of the situation, a shock of pain hit his chest like a well-placed bulls eye. He felt as though his chest was on fire and was threatening to be ripped open. The burning was so intense that Justin unthinkingly ripped the shirt from his body exposing his chest.
He heard her scream then and knew it was the sight of his body that had provoked the response. Justin threw back his head and growled in a mixture of pain and anger. The boy had done this! He had robbed Justin of the chance to unveil himself to Iris in private. To ensure that she wouldn't be horrified by the sight of him. Now Justin could feel her disgust and fear wash over him. She was slipping away from him and his body was too racked with pain from the boy to stop it.