Chapter 8: Timing
Kira is civil, almost friendly, towards Alec for the rest of the evening, but she also watches his every move carefully. He must sense that he's being watched because I notice he's trying extra hard to be witty and charming. I can't tell if Kira is buying it, but I'm ashamed to find myself falling for it hook, line, and sinker.
"Alright, well, it's been fun, kids, but I've got some stuff I've got to do before I call it a night." Kira says finally, "I'll see you later."
"Later, Kira." I wave. I'm enjoying myself too much to leave and I must have more shark DNA than Kira anyway because I've never needed as much sleep, especially not after a mission. I'm still way too wired.
"See you." Alec calls after her. He turns to me with his usual grin and a raised eyebrow, "I think she digs me."
I almost choke on my soda.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. See how nice she was being to me? And notice that every time that you're around me, she gets all mad? She's jealous. Totally digs me." Alec nods.
"You're crazy." I inform him.
"No, really." he insists.
"Psychotic." I say, walking away.
"She does!" he cries, following me.
"Delusional."
"Well, if you're so smart, you explain it." he challenges, looking sulky as he crosses his arms over his chest, "Why's she being nice to me all of a sudden?"
I raise an eyebrow slightly as I look at him, wondering if I should burst his bubble. Seeing the look on his face, I can't resist.
"Alright, I will." I say, "She's being nice to you because I asked her to."
Alec cocks his head and looks at me curiously, "But what's in it for you if she's nice to me? Why not just let her harp on me? I've heard it's fun to watch. Seems to be the most popular form of entertainment around T.C. these days."
"Well, maybe I asked her to be nice to you because I dig you." I say, stepping a little closer to him.
He raises his eyebrows and I wonder to myself what I'm doing. I know I'm not drinking Mother's Milk, but I'm starting to feel sort of drunk all the same.
"I thought I wasn't your type." Alec says, a curious and also somewhat mischievous look in his eyes.
"Maybe I changed my mind."
My hand is on his chest. How did it get there? Why do I even care?
"That a fact?" he grins.
His grin is so sexy. So seductive. It makes me want to close the space between us and capture that mouth of his in a kiss.
What the hell is going on with me?
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks and I freeze. I can't believe this is happening. This can't be happening.
"Shit."
Alec's brow furrows in confusion and he looks at me questioningly.
"Uh...nothing. I just remembered, I was supposed to be somewhere. Got to go." I blurt out an excuse to leave, backing away.
I turn to bolt for the door, but Alec's hand captures my forearm before I can make my escape. I look from his hand, up his perfectly muscled arm, to his incredibly cute and sexy face. I feel like the temperature in the room has just gone up ten degrees. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, struggling to maintain control.
"What's up, Jess?" he asks.
"I told you. I have to go." I say, struggling to free my arm.
"Where?" he presses, "I'm not buying it. Is it something I said?"
I sigh. I cannot deal with this now. I know the clock is ticking on my ability to think rationally. I have to get out of here, now.
I spin in towards Alec and elbow him hard in the gut while at the same time wrapping my foot around his ankle and pulling his legs out from under him. He lands with a thud on the floor, letting go of my arm in his surprise. All activity around the bar stops to look at us curiously. I run out of the place as fast as my legs can take me, not stopping for anything.
This can't be happening now. I can't deal with this. It seems like everything is happening all at once: finding Alec, learning about Manticore, meeting Max, becoming accepted at Terminal City, escaping White, now this. It's just too much. I can't take this on top of it all. Not now. Not with him here.
I remember the first time this happened to me, back at Manticore. After the first few times it happened amongst the X5 units, they decided to tell us about it, to prepare us while they worked on a way to contain the problem, but nothing can really prepare you for the actual occurrence.
"Hey, 509. Have you been working out?" I heard one of the stupid lines from our seduction training exiting my mouth before I even knew what I was doing.
509 exchanged a look with our CO, 857. I hardly noticed. I was much too busy noticing the way you could make out 509's muscles even through his PT shirt. I wondered what those muscles would feel like under my hands. He should just take the shirt off, anyway. It was so warm in here, he hardly needed it.
"613, you're not fit for duty. Report to a tac officer and request permission to visit the hospital wing." 857 ordered.
"I'm fine." I ignored him, stalking closer to 509 as he backed away uncertainly.
"You will report now before your condition affects the rest of the unit!" 857 appeared between us and shoved me backwards into the wall of our barracks.
The shock from hitting the hard wall knocked some sense into me and I realized what was wrong with me.
"Oh." I breathed in realization.
"Report now." 857 growled at me.
"Y...yes, sir." I stammered, afraid of the dark, hungry look that was coming into his eyes.
I hurried to the door and pounded on it until the tac officer watching over us came to see what was wrong. He took me to the hospital wing, amused by the fact that I was looking him over with a hungry look even though he was twice my age.
I was put in quarantine for two days with only female contact. I was only fourteen and I was scared out of my mind by what was happening to me. I'd never even thought about having sex with anyone. We'd just barely started our training in seduction operations. Plus, I'd never been completely isolated from my unit for so long. It was horrible and seemed like the longest two days of my life.
I've been in heat again once since Kira and I left Manticore and the heat-suppressants they developed a few years ago. I wasn't sure what to do without a secure quarantine area, but Kira was there for me. She isolated me and kept me from doing anything, with force when necessary. I did the same for her in return when she went into heat, but it was difficult. It's hard to keep an X5 from doing something they really want to do, which is why this is going to be such a bitch. Because like it or not, ready to accept it or not, Alec is definitely my type. I was attracted to him even before I went into heat so now I want him so bad it's ridiculous and I'm not sure if anyone will be able to stop me from trying to get to him.
Plus, there's another problem. When a female X5 goes into heat, male X5s are affected by the pheromones given off. It makes it extremely hard for the male X5 to resist the female. I'm a female X5 in heat, surrounded by a city full of male X5s. There's no telling what might happen when my pheromones hit them and make them all crazy. I have to get out of here before I'm not the only one losing my mind.
But that's a problem, too. There's no way I'm going to be able to get out of Terminal City safely after what we pulled today saving those X6s. I'm trapped. I stop running as that thought sinks in.
"Kira!" I yell at the top of my lungs, feeling desperate and helpless to do anything about it.
I'm not sure where my friend went. She didn't mention what it was she was going to do. I have to find her quickly. It's the only plan I can think of, but I can't think of where to start because all my mind wants to consider is turning around and running right back to Alec.
"Kira!" I yell again, starting to panic.
"Hey, Jess! What's wrong? Kira's over on the west side."
It's Max. I quickly decide that she's my best shot at a solution with Kira out of range.
"Max." I hurry towards her, "I need your help."
"What's up?" she asks, immediately concerned.
"I...well, I...I'm in heat." I finally manage to spit it out.
Max's eyes widen in surprise and her mouth falls open slightly.
"Oh...oh!" she says, "That's bad."
"You think?" I snap, feeling edgy. I fidget in place, unable to keep still, "I'm in heat in the middle of a swarm of X5s. You sure that's a bad thing?"
"Wait a minute. What does the fact that some of the guys are X5 have to do with anything?" Max asks, confused.
I forgot she escaped very young. I sigh in exasperation. I don't have a lot of patience at the moment and the longer we spend standing around out here, the greater the risk of a male X5 catching wind of me.
"We give off pheromones, Max. Drives the guys crazy. They can't help themselves anymore than we can. And with this many around they'll probably start going nuts and attacking each other to get to me. I can't be here." I explain quickly, feeling like I can almost hear the clock ticking as we speak.
"Hey! What are you guys talking about? Me, I'll bet."
"Oh, god." I breathe, closing my eyes in defeat and feeling cornered by that impossibly sexy voice.
Alec hurries over and Max just stares, horrified, as she glances between me and him. I feel my lips curling upwards into a seductive smile, my eyes once again trailing over his irresistible body.
"Hey." I say smoothly as a wave of heat rolls through me, leaving me feeling flushed.
"Hey." Alec replies, sounding surprised and confused by the abrupt changes in my attitude, "Why'd you bail like that before? I know I can be a pain, but usually people don't drop me on my ass on the floor without at least a warning."
"Alec, I think you should go." Max interrupts pointedly.
"What? You're mad at me, too, now? What did I do?" Alec demands.
"Just go, you jackass." Max yells at him, planting herself between him and me.
"No, don't." I call around her. I tug at the collar of my police uniform, feeling uncomfortably warm as sweat starts to prickle on my skin, but my eyes are glued to Alec.
Alec looks torn with indecision, unsure of who to listen to or what's going on.
"Alec, leave right now or so help me I will kick your ass so bad you won't be able to sit for a week!" Max threatens.
"Don't listen to her!" I plead, "She's just jealous."
"Jealous of what?" Alec asks in confusion, his curiosity keeping him here instead of leaving like he should.
"Jealous of us and the stuff we could be doing together right now." I tell him, smirking suggestively at him and running my tongue slowly across my upper lip, all the while thinking I'd rather be running it over him.
Alec's eyes widen and slowly realization seems to dawn on him.
"Oh, shit."
"Yeah, no kidding." Max agrees sarcastically, "Now will you get out of here before you both do something you'll regret?"
"Yeah...yeah, I'm going." he says, but he isn't moving.
He's staring fixedly at me. I completely forget about Max as I return his stare. My eyes leave his only to trail down his body again, taking in his perfect form. Even the unflattering police uniform cannot detract from his incredible sexiness, but I still want to tear it off him. I'm suddenly struck by memories of the plan he had to waste time on his mission to recapture Kira and me.
494's gaze suddenly darkened as he gave me a suggestive look that made my brain screech to a halt.
"I excelled in seduction training." he offered smoothly, his eyes trailing up and down my form.
I shake my head, trying to get the memory of that look on his face out of my mind. It doesn't work. I'm dying to see that look again.
I managed to hook my foot around his ankle and pulled him off his feet, but he twisted as he fell and I suddenly found myself pinned under his weight, his hands on either side of my head.
A shiver runs down my spine at the memory of being pinned under his body.
Before I could answer he kissed me. He was shockingly good at it, too. Not that I had much to compare it to, but judging by the way my whole body seemed to be short-circuiting despite my instructions to remain unaffected, I figured he knew what he was doing. I was so shocked by it, that I froze until I found myself growing short on air. Finally, I shoved him away enough to free my mouth from his, refilling my lungs. He grinned that cocky grin at me again.
I lick my lips again as I remember how he tasted.
He lowered his head and I felt his teeth on the crook of my neck. I gasped when he bit down hard on my skin, but the pain only lasted a moment and then his lips closed over the bite and he nursed it with his tongue. I told myself I felt nothing, but my body shook under his.
"How about now?" he asked, his breath rushing hot over my skin.
As if of its own accord, my hand rises to where he bit my neck. That's it. I can't take this anymore.
"Alec..." my strained voice is practically a whimper.
The sound draws Max's attention to me and Alec takes advantage of the opportunity to strike. He lunges forward and with a swift blow to the back of her head, the unsuspecting Max soon finds herself unconscious, crumpling to the ground. A second later, I step over her prostrate form and into Alec's arms. A second after that he's kissing me and I'm pressing myself against him like my life depends on it. Everywhere we're touching feels like it's on fire, but in the most delicious way. I need more.
"Hey." a deep voice growls.
The voice is low and dangerous enough to get our attention. We break apart and I see Del. He's crouched low, ready to attack, eyes dark and hungry.
"Back off, Del." Alec warns, pulling me behind him.
I watch with interest, wondering what is going to happen, but still finding that I need to keep pressing myself against Alec's back. I need the contact. I run a hand around his side to slide it up over his chest. This close to him his smell seems to envelop me. I can't help but lean in further, tilting my head into the crook of his neck to inhale more of that heady smell that is purely him.
Del growls and edges closer.
"Back off!" Alec commands.
Even from my position behind him, looking over his shoulder, I can see the fire in his eyes. Del freezes, looking into Alec's eyes and weighing things carefully. Finally, Del looks down and begins to back away. Alec has won the struggle for dominance. I smile and lick my tongue up the side of his neck. His smell, his taste, it's all so intoxicating.
"Alec." I breathe into his ear, drawing his attention back to me.
He turns to me and I see his eyes fill with a new emotion. Hunger. He pulls me to him forcefully and smashes my mouth with another kiss. I welcome the force, kissing him back with equal strength.
Suddenly, before we can take things any further, Alec pulls away. I clamp down on the feeling of abandonment that surges through me and look at him curiously, wondering what drew his attention this time.
It's Max. She's stirring. Alec looks at me, then back at Max. Clearly deciding she's a threat we can't ignore, he grabs my hand and begins to lead me away. I follow quickly after him, hoping the faster we get wherever we're going, the sooner he'll return his attention to me.
Our fast walk soon becomes a run and eventually we find ourselves in the emptiest part of Terminal City where we made our jump over the perimeter fence by motorcycle. Alec kicks in the door to a building and we both hurry inside. Alec lets go of my hand to barricade the door. I watch him hungrily, my eyes wandering down to his ass.
Alec finishes securing the door and whirls back around, flashing me a grin. I feel like I'm going to die, I want him so bad. I reach for him and before I even register either of us moving, he has his arms around me again and is kissing me. I moan into the kiss, feeling relieved now that he's touching me again, but also feeling desperate to take the contact further. My hands wander frantically over his form, needing to feel more of him.
"Jess..." he breathes my name as he moves his mouth to my neck.
The sound of him saying my name like that is almost too much to bear. I feel like I'm about to combust.
Alec yanks my shirt collar down off my neck and onto my shoulder to reveal the spot where he once dug his teeth into my skin. His mouth covers the spot and I feel him bite down hard, breaking the skin a second time. I gasp, feeling like I'm falling even though I know I haven't moved. My skin tingles all over and I'm so hot for him all I can think about is needing to feel his skin against mine. I grab his shirt and rip it open, popping off all the buttons, revealing his perfectly sculpted chest. I run my hands over his skin. I feel feverish. It's ridiculous how much I need him, but one look at his face says he needs me just as much. He returns the gesture, ripping my shirt open as well. Buttons litter the floor and his hungry gaze roams over newly exposed skin.
"Alec!" I snap impatiently.
Foreplay is not a good idea right now. I need him to get on with it. I can't wait. He grunts an unintelligible response and quickly begins undoing his pants. I do the same, shucking off the ruined police shirt, as well. In seconds, we're both in our underwear. I can't help but stare at the evidence of his desire, pressing prominently against his boxer briefs, and I find myself licking my lips again.
I'm about to jump him, wanting nothing so much as I want to wrap my legs around his waist and feel that hardness where I need it most, when a pounding on the door makes us both freeze. The growls tell us it's some male X5 that has tracked us down.
"It's okay. He won't get in." Alec assures me, reaching for me.
I nod and return to him. His hands move to my hips, snagging my underwear and starting to drag them down as I meld my mouth back to his.
The pounding suddenly stops and we both look at the barricaded door in surprise. Suddenly, a body comes hurtling through the window, shattering the glass. The figure dives into a somersault and rises. It's Max.
"Forgot the fucking window." Alec swears.
"You're so going to pay for knocking me out, you asshole." Max snaps, eyes narrowed.
She flies at Alec who's forced to push me out of the way. I'm shaking so badly with need, that I stumble and fall to the ground. I feel like I'm about to burst into flames or implode or something. I want to kill Max for interrupting us, but my body can't seem to do anything but scream for Alec. I watch the fight helplessly, sweat beading along my skin, pressing my thighs together to try and ease the ache, and praying that Alec will be able to get rid of her and return to me before this kills me.
The fight is fast and furious. Max is furious with Alec and determined to stop us from doing what we were about to do. Alec is acting out of pure instinct, lashing out at anything that's keeping him from me. So while he might be physically stronger and better trained than Max, he's not thinking clearly. Plus, he's almost naked except for his boxers. Booted feet tend to pack more of a punch than bare ones. That makes this fight pretty even.
However, the blow that finally takes Alec down is a desperate one. It's a hard, swift kick to the groin. Alec crumples in pain, falling to the ground. Max follows the blow with a kick to the head that sends Alec into unconsciousness. I would cry out in disappointment if I could find control of my voice.
"As for you..." Max stomps towards me, still radiating anger, "you have the worst timing."
My head abruptly explodes with pain and everything goes black.