Night Beyond The Night (40 page)

“Well, now,” he murmured into her ear. He sounded very pleased with himself and she smiled, her cheek bumping against his jaw.

“Your turn, Hawkeye,” she said, reaching for him.

“Not quite yet.” He slipped out of her range, and before she knew what he was doing, had slid all the way down, kissing her belly, until he settled between her legs. She still quivered there, her labia warm and full, and her body damp and still trembling with pleasure.

But when he bent there, his dark head rising beyond her belly, Jade lost all thought. His tongue was wicked and strong, sleek and cunning . . . and when, moments later, after her breath had gone short and rough, he lifted his face and came back up to her, she met his lips as he settled once again there . . . right
there
.

They lined up, warmth to warmth, Elliott propping himself up so as not to crush her arm. “And . . . now,” he said against her mouth, “let’s try this. One more time.” And he slid deep inside. And settled, still.

Looking down at her with dark, glittering eyes, his mouth full and lips parted, he said her name . . . so softly and unsteadily . . . in such a way that she felt the timbre of it vibrate deep inside her.

Her heart swelled in her chest, she felt it kicking up speed as they looked at each other, waiting . . . savoring what was to come. Then his lips pressed tightly together, he drew in a breath and bent to press a tender kiss onto her mouth.

And after that, he shifted smoothly and easily, and she rose and fell to meet his rhythm, wrapping her legs around his waist. Their breaths mingled with gasps and sighs and little encouraging noises that aroused her even further. She tried to grab at him, hold on with one hand, the rhythm faster and longer and more frantic.

Just about the time she felt that familiar gathering, the peak rising, he gave a long soft sigh that tipped her over . . . and then joined her. His heartfelt moan, low and deep against her ear, sent little pleasure-shivers over her as she felt his body trembling against hers.

She gathered his head close with her one arm as he sagged against her, half lifting his damp torso away from hers.

He sighed, slipping to the side and taking her with him. “Jade.”

She nestled next to him, sliding her hand through the hair on his chest, completely satisfied, wrung out, and ready to rest. At last.

When Jade began to awaken, Elliott was watching her. Miraculously, he’d slept too. He’d actually
slept
, dreamless, comforted.

She stretched like a lazy cat, purposely making her movements sinuous and slow, her bare leg brushing against his. Brushing away the cascaded hair covering part of her face, she opened her eyes.

“I love you,” she said. “Will you stay with me?”

He gathered her up. “I thought I’d already made it clear that I need you. I’m not going to leave you. Even if you try and send me away.” His lips quirked crookedly.

She pulled away, her heart suddenly pounding. “Elliott, we need to talk.”

Wariness filled his eyes, but he didn’t move. He waited, his heart bumping steadily against her hand.

“I know that you have a special gift,” she said, and felt his heartbeat quicken. “I know how important it is for you to help people. I wouldn’t want you to change, just like I hope you won’t expect me to stop going on my Running missions.”

She paused, measuring his response, but his face was blank. As if he were steeling himself against what she was about to say. “I hope now you know how important it is for us to destroy the Strangers. . . .”

“What are you trying to say?” he demanded, his eyes darkening to black. “Say it and put me out of my misery.”

And then she understood. Remorse washed over her. “Elliott, I just want . . . need . . . you to be careful. With your gift. I mean . . . you almost died yesterday. Twice.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to have to watch you go through that again. Those choices. That pain. The risk.”

At last his dark expression eased. “I see.” He settled back against the pile of pillows. “I’ve been thinking about that too. Now that I have the crystal, it appears that I can use it to heal injuries that I might take on from others.”

“But Elliott . . . what if you don’t have the crystal? Or if it doesn’t work? You’ve only tried it once.”

He looked at her, face serious, eyes understanding. “I’ve been given this gift for a reason, but I also understand its limitations. I still have pain . . . here”—he took her hand and placed it on the center of his chest—“where I took Ian’s bullet wound. And here,” he moved her fingers to his shoulder, “where Allie’s infection began. And in other places as well, like Simon’s
ganga
scratches.”

Then he curled his hand around her fingers. “It seems that each time I use the gift, even after I pass on the injury, I retain a little bit of it. That tells me that I can’t do it indefinitely. That means I have to choose when and where to use it.”

Jade was nodding, tears stinging her eyes. She brushed his chin with the tip of her fingers. “But you can still be a doctor, still help people, like you would before.”

His eyes crinkled. “I’ll just wear gloves. And, by the way, in regards to your Running missions”—she tensed, ready to argue, but he continued—“I’ll just go along with you and make house calls.” He leaned forward to kiss the tip of her nose. “That way you can be in charge of our travel arrangements.”

She moved so that their mouths met, and that led to another long, active battle with the sheets.

Some time later, they lay, once again sated and warm, comforted and rested . . . and with a rush, Jade remembered.

She sat up suddenly, grabbing Elliott’s arm. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you this.”

“What now?” he asked. He looked down at her, lazily lifting an eyebrow.

“When I was with Preston, I asked him about Fielding,” she said.

“What did he say?”

“He said until they find Remington Truth, no one has any great power over him. Even Fielding. He was afraid of Fielding, I think. But it sounds like he is—was—more afraid of this Remington Truth. Whatever . . . whoever . . . that is.”

“Remington Truth,” Elliott murmured. “Quent said he was a member of the Cult of Atlantis.”

Jade continued excitedly. “But here’s the important thing that I’ve just figured out. They’re looking for him. The
gangas
. . . that’s what they’re looking for! That’s what they’re chanting, over and over: Remington
Truuuth
,” Jade said excitedly. “Do you see?”

Elliott’s eyes sharpened thoughtfully. “And if they’re looking for Remington Truth . . . then we should do the same,” he said. “Because he’s obviously very important to them. And if we find him first. . . .”

“Exactly!” Jade smiled, feeling suddenly free. And light and happy. She was safe, Preston was dead, and she was with Elliott.

The only man she ever wanted. Forever.

A while later, she and Elliott joined the others and told them about her discovery.

They all turned to look at her, and for a moment, she was struck by these five men—Wyatt, Fence, Simon, Quent, and Elliott—the intensity, the energy emanating from them. She’d never felt so surrounded by power and capability.

She knew that these men were here to help. That somehow, whatever had happened to them in that cave had been because the world needed them. Now.