Chapter Eighteen – R is for Rolling (in the Deep)

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch
And it's bringing me out the dark
-Rolling in the Deep (Adele)

Her nose pressed my ear, her lips against my skin. Soft delicate kisses were planted along my jugular as she unbuttoned my jeans. I kept my eyes closed as I tried to fight the feeling of climbing arousal. I hated myself for feeling this way. For wanting her so badly.

Her hand was sliding up my stomach against my bare skin taking my shirt with it.

I knew I had to stop her.

But for some reason I didn't bother to protest as she undressed me.

My shirt fell to the floor as she rolled on top of me, kissing me. I thought I'd be able to resist and I tried to keep my mouth shut but damn that tongue of hers.

Shit.

I was done.

My hands had a mind of their own, roaming all over her back, feeling the warmth of her skin. Telekinetically I unhooked her bra as I pulled up the front of her shirt.

She stopped me to glance over at Sam, who was sound asleep. She waited a few seconds longer as if she expected him to wake up at any moment. Then she turned back to me and grinned. "Let's not take any chances."

Just like that we were invisible.

She pinned me to the bed, sucking on every millimeter of my naked skin. My pants slid down below my ass, taking my boxers with them. All I could do was lay there in complete submission to her seduction.

Her hand found my cock and I knew it was all over. Anything she wanted I would give to her. My body had betrayed me. Moans escaped my throat as the friction built along my shaft. My mind was screaming at me to get up and walk away.

This was wrong.

But it felt so gooood.

So fucking good.

It was immoral.

I was cheating on my girlfriend.

"Ssss," I hissed trying to form the word Stop but my brain wouldn't work. Her hand began moving a little faster as she bit into the tendon on my neck. Pressure filled my shaft and I knew I was near climax.

That's when the bed began shaking. Not only the bed, but every piece of furniture in the room lifted from the ground.

The blue glow of my Lumen filled the room.

As did the stench of burning fabric.

Bernie Kosar started barking.

"What the hell?" Sam exclaimed as he awoke. "Is something on fire?"

My lumen was on full display. The dresser drawers were all opening and closing. Hangers were floating in the air. Six immediately let go of my cock and I was visible again. She moved to shield my nudity from Sam. But he'd already seen enough.

"What kind of crazy alien sex is that!" he shouted at us, jumping out of bed.

"We're not having sex!" I sat up, getting to my feet and hastily pulling up my pants. My Lumen were shooting everywhere which made it that much more difficult. Six tried to help me but I pushed her away, angrily.

"This is your fault!" I screamed at her. "Every time you touch me this happens!"

"You need to calm down," she replied placing a hand on my shoulder. With my legacies I pushed her away from me. Hard. She fell back onto the bed, then somersaulted landing on the floor, poised and centered.

Even drunk she was too fucking perfect.

"What's going on?" Sam asked ducking one of my shoes that went flying through the air.

"He's afraid," Six answered.

"No, I'm not." Fear was the furthest thing from my mind right now. I felt guilt. Anger. Embarrassment. But definitely not fear.

"You are," Six replied. "You just don't…"

"I'm NOT afraid," I shouted pointing my lumen directly at her. In my haste I'd forgotten that Bernie Kosar was right next to her. But before my Lumen burned him, Six's threw her both arms out to the side, creating a fire proof barrier. The only casualty of my rage was the lamp shade.

Shocked at what I'd done, or nearly done I staggered backward until I felt the wall against my spine. Then I slid down, collapsing into a ball as I covered my head with my arms. I felt Bernie Kosar at my side, his muzzle poking me in the side, as if to tell me he was okay.

I panted, deep breaths over and over.

"John?" Sam's timid voice spoke my name. "You okay, man?"

"He'll be fine," Six answered. I could feel her coming closer. But I didn't want to have anything to do with her.

"Get away from me," I warned her, looking into her eyes. I grabbed my shirt from the floor and pulled it over my head. Six took Sam's arm and pulled him back as they both cleared a path for me to walk by. Muted thuds followed as the hangers fell to the ground. I picked up one of my shoes. Then the other noticing that my Lumen was very faint.

"John, is there anything…?" Sam trailed off looking at me in a stunned concern.

"I need to be alone," I told him. I took my phone and the handful of cash lying on the nightstand. I also took two slices of cold pizza.

"Where are you going?" Sam asked as my hand closed around the door knob.

"For a walk," I replied. "I need to clear my head." I shut the door behind me and began walking down the hallway. Bernie Kosar was by my side.

"I'm okay," I told him feeling his concern for me. "I just can't be around her. She makes me…" I paused trying to find the right words. "Lose control." That was the best way to explain it.

I help.

"Next time she comes near me," I said to him. "Bite her."

He stopped and cocked his head. His floppy ears made him seem overly thoughtful. Friend.

"Yeah. Yeah." I knew that she was on our side but that didn't make it any better.

I was halfway down the stairwell when I saw Six waiting for me at the bottom. How the hell? She probably raced by me invisibly.

"We should talk," she said blocking my path.

"I don't want…"

"There are things you need to know…"

"Later, okay?"

She held her arm out straight in front of her, catching me square in the chest. I circled my arm inward and up letting it connect with her forearm, thus breaking her hold on me. "I said later."

"I can't let you out of my sight in your condition."

In my condition? So she can go out, get drunk and ride a fucking mechanical bull but I can't take a walk. "Fuck you," I spat in her face.

"Hey," she cupped my face in her hand. "I'm trying to help you."

"The only way you can help me is to leave me the fuck alone." I grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from my face then pushing her away from me. I walked past her toward the exit.

"You need me," she said as she caught up to me, walking on the opposite side as Bernie Kosar.

"No," I shook my head. "I don't need you."

She cut in front of me again, not letting me pass. "We have a connection."

I clawed my hands down my face. "I don't need you. I don't want you. I want Sarah. I love Sarah."

"What?" she gasped in disbelief. "Sarah? The human?" Her arms crossed over her chest and she met my eyes. "You can't possibly be serious."

"She's the one for me."

"She can't be…"

"She is." I shouldered past Six and went out into the night. I had no idea where I was going except away from Six. I walked inhumanly fast but there was no one around, except Bernie Kosar – and I doubted that he cared how fast I walked.

Somehow I ended up at Mack's Auto Repair. I sat down on the curb in front of the door to the office. Lacing my hands together over my bent knees I closed my eyes, planning to wait it out until morning. I'd just started to nod off when my phone rang.

It was Six.

I didn't answer.

She called back.

I still didn't answer.

The phone rang a third time with Sam's number on the display. I hesitated but if Sam needed me I wasn't going to ignore him.

"What's up?" I answered the call.

"Where are you?" Sam's voice sounded shaky.

"At Mack's. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Doing cartwheels as we speak."

"One-handed?"

"Two-handed. You know I'm not the showman that you are."

I smiled in spite of myself. "You know it."

"When are you coming back?"

"A couple hours," I told him. "I need a break from her."

"Yeah," Sam exhaled into the phone. "What the hell was all that?"

I didn't want to talk about it – with Sam or Six or anyone – so I avoided the question. "Look, I'm tired so I'm gonna crash at the repair shop. I'll see you guys in the morning –okay?"

"You sure you'll be okay by yourself?"

"Bernie Kosar is with me," I told him looking over at the beagle sitting patiently next to me. "And yes, I'll be fine. Stop worrying."

I got up and peered in the small windows of the overhead doors. It was dark in the bays so I lifted my hand to the plexi-glass, letting my Lumen shine through. It lit up the inside of the garage and I saw the truck parked inside. Maybe I could sleep in there? Anything was more comfortable than the cold cement curb.

I returned to the office door, unlocking it with my mind. Once inside I made sure to lock it again. I went out into the service bays using my Lumen to light the way. It didn't escape my notice that now I was in full control of my Legacies – reinforcing my theory that whatever was wrong with me was directly related to being around Six. As I made my way to the truck I passed by one cherry red Ducati parked against the wall.

Not that I meant to think about Six but I couldn't help hear her words in my mind: "Have you ever stolen a car?" Why not take Six's most prized possession out on a little joyride?

I smiled to myself. I'd stolen a truck, a Corvette and now a motorcycle.

Bernie Kosar whined beside me. "Relax," I told him as I pushed the bike toward the door. "I'll be fine." Bernie followed with his tail between his legs whimpering. "Hey," I took a minute to scratch him behind the ears and press his nose to mine. "I'll be back before she even knows I took it."

Bernie shape shifted into the familiar gecko I knew from Florida. He began to crawl up my leg and toward my pocket. I knew he wanted to come with me. I scooped his tiny form into my hand and set him back on the curb. "Stay with Sam," I told him. "You need to protect him from her."

I hopped on the bike and concentrated a few seconds until its engine roared to life. "See?" I said to Bernie Kosar. "I got this."

I'd never been on a motorcycle before, so I rode it through the parking lot a couple times to get the feel of it. There was no way I was taking any chances on wiping out on the highway. Once I was acclimated, I pulled out onto the main road on my way to the interstate. Bernie Kosar ran along the shoulder for the first mile or so but then I turned down the on ramp and he lagged behind, eventually stopping.

When I hit the speed limit I stopped accelerating. I'd learned my lesson with the Vette. Cruising down the highway with the wind whipping through my body was fucking awesome. I never imagined myself to be an adrenalin junkie – but this was a feeling I definitely wanted to experience again.

I rode responsibly, keeping to the posted limits and using proper driving etiquette. Before I knew it the fuel gauge was nearly on empty. Shit. There wasn't enough fuel for a return trip so I got off at the next exit and went to the gas station. I didn't feel like pre-paying so I briefly toyed with the idea of telekinetically siphoning gas. In the end I decided I was already attracting enough attention by riding a Ducati.

I left the bike and went inside the small convenience store. I paid for fuel and a soda before returning to the bike. The tank was small and filled up quickly. I'd been so used to the truck that I'd grossly overpaid so now I had to go back inside for my change.

The cashier was giving directions to a woman. Didn't she have a GPS? I waited as patiently as I could but her constant questions were really annoying.

"It's two more exits down," the cashier was saying. "If you pass it you'll be in Ohio."

Ohio.

As in Paradise.

As in Sarah Hart.

Suddenly I knew where I needed to be.