Companions (not sure yet)

After her less than graceful exit from Dante’s bedroom, Jayden, cheeks flaming and truly mortified and pissed at herself, stormed down the hall and flopped on the leather couch in the living area. Sounds from the huge galley/kitchen had her brows lifting and a slow chuckle leaving her lips as she heard Lucas rummaging around. Rising, she sauntered inside and took a tentative perch on a stool at the bar, chin propped on her hand, smirking at seeing the tall mercenary buried to the waist in the massive fridge. “Lucas, what are you doing?” she asked with a chuckle.


Lucas turned, both hands heaped with plates, jars and other condiments, giving her a toothy grin. “Fixing a sandwich,” he answered genially, spreading his bounty on the bar and rummaging for spoons, knives, bread and other treats. Jayden laughed and merely helped herself to one, munching heartily, realizing she was, in fact, hungry. But she almost choked on a bite at seeing Lucas’s sandwich slowly begin to resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa; she had no idea how he was going to pick up the thing, much less eat it! Somehow, he managed and even went for another. Jayden idly munched on chips and sipped a beer, Guinness, she had to admit Dante had good taste in liquor, but nearly swallowed her tongue after a moment when an unexpected blast of something hit her brain, nearly making her choke.



Her cheeks flushed, eyes crossed and glazed over as warmth tickled her skin, giving her goosebumps in reaction to the waves of…Jesus, what was that…oh God, desire that slid down her spine, arching her back. Both hands gripped the counter, dangerously straining her nails. Her knees trembled, low things roiled deep inside her body, twisted and writhed, things she’d long thought dormant or even dead. Lucas paused, a dark brow rising. “Jayden...? You okay…”


Leaning forward shakily, she rested her forehead on the cool countertop, trying to mask the fact that her lungs were heaving for breath; she knew her face had to be flushed and cheeks flaming. Taking in slow gulps of air, she managed a slow nod as the feeling receded, not trusting her voice just yet. Exhaling slowly, she pressed palms to her thighs in hope to stop their trembling. Christ…she thought, what was that?? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, really. But the spasm passed, thankfully, allowing her to resume to a semblance of normalcy. Lifting her head, she gave Lucas’s worried eyes a small smile for reassurance and finished her sandwich, again to put him at ease rather than sate her hunger, cause she’d quite lost that.


Lucas nodded but said nothing, merely resumed eating slowly. Jayden idly toyed with the beer bottle but looked up, sensing Dante’s presence about five seconds before he strolled into the kitchen, whistling idly through his teeth. Green eyes couldn’t help slide over the magnificent specimen presented, damnit, and Lord wasn’t there enough displayed…mangled jeans rode unbuttoned low on lithe hips, toned, rock-hard chest bare, although he absently shrugged on a shirt as he meandered inside. Jayden had to bite her lip, rather hard, his presence resounding quietly in her mind. Dear godlings, she thought wildly, the man had a magnificent chest and he was covering it? To her chagrin/semi-exultation, the hunter left the garment unbuttoned, merely rolled up the sleeves and snagged a beer from the fridge, delivering a friendly smack to Lucas’s shoulder as he came to lean against the opposite side of the counter.


Lucas’s teeth knocked against the beer bottle and he glared at the other man. “Damn you, do you have to do that?” Dante grinned and took a healthy swig of his own bottle. “Yup. How’re the ribs?” he asked with a snarky grin.


“Fine, thanks. I’ve been hit harder than that, you know,” Lucas shot back with a smirk of his own.


“Hmm, pity, I’ll try to break ‘em next time.”


“You do that.”


“Plan to.”


“Right.”


Jayden watched the banter with passing interest, her eyes flitting from one to the other. Lucas she loved as her brother, but the platinum haired hunter was still a bit of an enigma to her senses. God knew he was gorgeous, she admitted finally, she realized her little quirks in regards to his presence were attraction. Well, she reasoned, it was natural, she was a girl and he was a boy; things like that happened. She gnawed on her lip, chin propped on her hand and found her eyes once more straying to that broad chest, idly wondering what it would feel like under her fingertips. Green eyes blinked at that as she started a bit. Do what? Giving a silent groan, she covered her eyes with a hand, massaging temples with her fingers. Hormone overdrive, she thought dazedly. They must have spiked this month, that’s what it was.


Dimly she heard the conversation turn to business matters; apparently Lucas had gotten a call a bit ago about a job and he and Dante were discussing the perks of such an endeavor. Well, this might be an ample time to slip off and knock her forehead against a brick wall. So she did just that, quietly moving out of the kitchen. Once outside, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and try to get the mental picture out of her head. But try as she might, they came back unbidden to her mind’s eye. Shaking her head resolutely, she frowned and muttered to herself, stalking down the hall until she passed the study. Hm, the television’s in there, she realized, pushing the door open. A brow rose as she stepped inside. The TV as well as Dante’s desk, battered leather couch, and recliner. Must be where he spends his time, she figured, trailing fingers across the dust-free desktop.


Well, he could spank her if he dared for invading his space, she thought sourly, flopping in the old comfy recliner, finding the remote and flicking the tube on to some random channel. The drone of the program soothed her nerves, as did the quiet of the room. The air conditioning breathed quietly, a gentle hum to her ears and she suddenly yawned. Flopping an arm to the floor, her fingers encountered a coverlet and hauled it over her, curling up in the chair and closing her eyes. Pulling the blanket under her nose she inhaled slowly, nerves tingling as the fragrance of…mmm, God, clean hard male hit her lower stomach, making her toes curl deliciously. A nap would just about make life perfect, she reasoned sleepily, snuggling down beneath Dante’s blanket and nuzzling against the leather of his chair.


Within minutes she was sound asleep. She drifted, pleasant fog instead of nightmarish swamp gas. Turning slowly, she gradually became aware of another presence close by, strong and vital. Powerful. It beckoned and she obeyed, feet taking her unerringly to the tall shadow that stood just out of her vision, obscured by the mist. But the darkness parted and dark red leather swirled around her, enveloping her in a haven of warmth, a cocoon of safety. Her nemesis stood before her, one gloved hand outstretched and she took it without hesitation, allowing him to pull her into strong arms, even as her own twined around his neck tightly.


He said not a word, merely looked mildly surprised at her willing capitulation and lowered his head, swiftly capturing her mouth with his. Jayden all but melted to a puddle at his feet. She lurched against him, feeling his arms tighten around her, holding her close. Soft lips nuzzled and teased hers, warm breath flowing over her mouth. She sighed, fingers sinking deep into fine platinum strands to hold his head still as she returned his kiss, whimpering as his tongue flicked her upper lip. That wasn’t fair, she thought wickedly, returning his tease by easing her own over the corners of his lovely mouth, delighting in his sudden intake of breath.


But her head reeled dangerously as he suddenly deepened their kiss, thrusting his tongue between her parted lips, making her shiver and moan deep in her throat. Gloved fingers snared her hatilttilting her head back, making her stomach lurch wildly. She met his mouth eagerly, slipping her tongue against his, silky and smooth within the warm cavern of her mouth. She drew nails down the nape of his neck, eliciting a harsh groan from his throat, fueling her desire higher. Warmth flushed her skin in response to his demonic heat as the dreamscape shifted, tilting the entwined, her senses heightened even more now that she could feel his weight atop her. Rough leather whispered against her sensitive skin as he shifted, the fabric rasping against the denim of her cutoff jeans. Her seeking fingers wanted to indulge her earlier fantasy, but encountered damnable buckles and straps which hindered their search. She mewled in her throat, sliding her long body beneath his sinuously, arching as those wickedly long fingers, encased in leather, traveled over her ribs.


He continued his assault of her mouth; she willingly surrendered. Nostrils flared with soft and rough breath, she nearly drunk on the passion inherent in his kiss. He lifted his head far too soon, to her besotted mind, and gazed down at her with darkened eyes, indigo with restrained desire. “Jayden…” he whispered huskily, breathing her name across her lips as she moaned in protest and sank fingers into soft platinum to return him to her lips. Ah, what freedom we have in dreams, she thought dazedly, sighing in bliss as he kissed her once more.

ut tut the whine of machinery and intonation of a computerized voice met her ears and she frowned slightly; why was that in her dream? It didn’t fit. Not by a long shot. Dante didn’t seem fazed by the fact; he merely lifted his head once more and sighed a bit regretfully. “I have to go, Jayden…” he said softly, slowly vanishing from her arms until only the blackness was left, and it washed over her, leaving her cold as realization suddenly slammed her into full wakefulness. Green eyes flashed open in alarm and she realized she was no longer curled in the recliner in the study; she’d somehow migrated to her bed. And the reason for that translocation was, in fact, propped on his elbows resting atop her. Ice water would have warmed her.


She saw those eyes, dark behind white hair, widen slightly in puzzlement as her own narrowed evilly and he moved just before she could pummel him. But she tried anyway, screeching at the top of her lungs and throwing whatever she could reach at his head. Dante yelled back and ducked the lamp, swearing foul curses to the ceiling. “Fucking hells, woman!” he fumed as glass rained down across his neck and shoulders.


Now fully awake and standing on the other side of the bed, she shrieked and flung a boot, having little in way of ammunition. “You dare, heathen miscreant, you…DARE!!!!”


Dante growled and caught her flung footwear, throwing it to the floor in irritation. “Hey, I was just doing you a favor, hellbitchor yor your little brain’s information, you latched onto me. Stomach that, Miss Jayden, if you can.”


She snorted at that. “Of course. You, whom I loathe and despise.”


He shrugged, pulling the red leather coat across his broad shoulders. He must be heading out to do business, such as kill things, she reasoned in a spurt of normalcy, for the guns were strapped to his hips and the Alastor rode his back. “You do the math. I brought you fry sty study and was trying to be nice and let you sleep, but you pulled me down with you and…” he trailed off, eyes twinkling wickedly and grin lecherous.


She growled, gnashing her teeth. Damn her hormone driven brain! She realized he was probably right, he would find such a truth more delicious. Damnable bastard. But the remembered feel of his luscious mouth plundering hers chose that moment to manifest and her knees nearly buckled, eyes falling to his lips asy cuy curved just so. Calling to mind every swear word she knew, she muttered beneath her breath a litany of them all, even as the sensation washed over her once more, making her stomach tighten and roil.


And she just knew he’d realize it, damn his ass. Dante smirked evilly, crossing arms over his chest. “I’d try it again, but you might not find it to your liking…or would you, Jayden…?” he purred silkily, lazily arching a brow over smoky cerulean eyes.


Her chin rose a bit, eyes narrowing slightly as she seethed quietly, mostly angry at herself for harboring these damnable feelings for someone she knew she should hate and revile with every ounce of her being. “I wouldn’t advise it,” she informed him frostily.


One corner of that expressive mobile mouth curved upwards in a predatory smirk. Icy eyes slowly flashed bright blue as they suddenly warmed and left hers to travel over her body, lingering in all the right places, taking in every nuance of curve, hollow and plane, making her shiver slightly as she could veritably feel his touch, just through his gaze. “Oh, I don’t know…” he drawled amiably, “I’d say you enjoyed it well enough the first time, hmm?” Those eyes slithered back up her body to latch to her gaze, never once wavering in its intensity. “I know I did.” A dark husky laugh slithered from his lips as one eyelid shivered in a slow wink as he turned and left her bedroom.