should be entitled to the same courtesy.”
Lilibeth and Ólafur stare each other down. His breathing has picked up, and frustration is clear in both of their body language. I step forward, situating myself between them and sliding my arm around Lilibeth, pulling her snug to my side. “How about we promise not to phase or behead as long as they’re not about to harm anyone else. Certainly, you can’t expect us to stand by and watch them scratch or bite—consequently infecting someone else—without stepping in?”
Ólafur’s hard stare swings to me. “Aren’t there other ways you can deal with this? What’re your squad members doing in North America?”
I think about the logs and how they’re dealing with them. “There was one time Desin had to phase with a human. Things don’t always go perfectly.”
Nodding tightly, Ólafur’s voice lowers gruffly. “Just try. Go get cleaned up …” He looks at Lilibeth pointedly. “… and I’ll take you over there with me. Obviously, I have some organization to do here, but let’s plan on two hours and meeting back here?”
That makes sense. “Agreed,” I respond, encircling Lilibeth completely in my arms as I phase.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
- Lilibeth
“I don’t understand,” I raise my voice over the sound of the water. Taking Ólafur’s advice, we’ve come back to our dimension. Once again, I’m in the shower.
This time, Nikon refused to come with me, saying he didn’t need it and he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off me. “Why didn’t you just phase into your dimension and kill the Taxin that way?”
That’s been the most confusing thing to me. If I could figure it out so easily, why don’t they all protect themselves that way? It’s messy, but effective.
“Well, there are a couple reasons. Honestly …” Nikon’s voice drops outside the shower and I have to really listen to hear him. “… I’ve never tried to phase anyone before. We’re told in The Mandate not to attempt it. Beside the obvious—killing someone—our dimension is considered personal space. Something sacred we only share with family. It’s just …”
I hear him take a deep breath from where I know he’s standing right outside. When he doesn’t say anything else, I lean forward, prompting him. “What?” It’s just what?”
“Well, we don’t have any family except our family line representative that was cloned before us. There’s a structured system in place for us to approve new additions after us. We try to keep our numbers in check. But that’s all besides the point.” Nikon sticks his head around the corner, and I don’t even realize he’s there until I turn around. His smirk says he’s been watching me a while.
“I’m almost done,” I announce automatically, thinking maybe he’d like a turn, but he ignores my excuse.
“I had no idea I could even phase a large sentient being. From what I’ve been told … the key is the element of surprise. It can be resisted, but the Wen-infected are so mindless, so I guess that makes sense. But you …” Stepping inside the shower, I’m not really surprised to see he’s naked. I only get a brief glimpse of him before he’s pulled me into his arms. “… you’re magnificent.”
Swaying back and forth, he leans down whispers directly in my ear. “The way you were taking the infected out, all controlled and efficient. It was sexy as hell. And you know what it makes me want to do?”
My body’s already responding to him, and I let out a little moan as I feel his tongue tracing the shell of my ear at his words. Shaking my head slightly, his wet arms pick me up effortlessly, and I squeak as he leaves the bathroom. Before I realize what’s hit me, I’m flat on my back and his mouth has ducked down as he spreads and lifts my thighs, latching onto my clit with his mouth.
Nikon’s lips are cool, shocking me, but he only hesitates briefly before his tongue begins stroking. Jerking against him, I close my eyes tightly, turning my head and trying to relax as he laps at my clit. It feels so good—pleasurable in a raw, intense way.
I arch my back, lifting it from the bed but I don’t get away from his mouth. Instead, I’m pressed tighter against his face. Nikon growls at my attempt to wiggle away from his over-stimulation, sending vibrations through my sensitive cleft. Whimpering, my choppy breathing turns into gasping for air when I realize I’ve been holding my breath.
Nikon doesn’t let go, though.