8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Lexia

It's the first day of fall, but Queen Creek, Arizona is hot as hell. It's already hit 101 and it's not even midday yet. I've never been in a deserted area like this before, and it's interesting. I can't say that I'm enjoying it, but it's not terrible. We aren't far from Pheonix, which is convenient but means absolutely nothing since we can't go there and enjoy it. After hashing things out with his people, Lumen figured the desert was a good place to try. There are too many places for shadows to hide in the mountains and the woods. A wide open space with nothing but a cactus here and there should help keep shadows away, if they happen to find us again.

The question of how they found us in the first place remains.

Along with where the hell is Slate?

I blame moving on why he can't find us, but with each day that passes, that gets more and more unbelievable. He found us when he had no idea who we were, solely because we were talking about him. We've been talking about him more than ever… so why isn't he here?

Vesperon still thinks he two-timed us, while Lumen is trying to keep him calm by offering different suggestions. I'm starting to wonder if this is going to be my life now. Wondering who I can and cannot trust. Running and hiding from creatures most humans don't know exist. Playing peacekeeper between my monster mates. At least, until the world ends, since that's what's supposed to happen if I don't fulfill this prophecy—whatever that entails, because we still don't know the full story since we don't have the journal. All we know is what the prophecy says, but that can be interpreted a million different ways. There are no direct instructions there. Nothing that tells us what to do, only what our goal is. It's unhelpful.

Though I haven't spoken of it out loud to not cause more problems, I am running out of patience with Slate. We hadn't gotten far when it comes to our relationship, and I'm learning more and more that we don't know one another at all. But I still feel a betrayed by what he did. Personally betrayed, not just angry. Like someone close did something wrong to me. It must be the mate bond talking, because why else am I so offended? I guess it could go right back to feeling like this is my fault, since I'm the one who chose to trust him from the beginning.

"Do you want to go swimming?" Lumen asks.

My eyes dart to the in-ground pool on the back patio. I've yet to use it, though we've been in this house a few days already. It would be something to do; something to keep my mind off things. Swimming is fun, relaxing.

"Will you come with me?"

He grins wide. "I'd love to."

"Where is Vesperon?" I ask.

"In the basement… recuperating."

"This sun is taking a lot out of him," I say as I head to the bedroom to change.

Lumen made the trip back to the other house late last night to get all our things. It ended up being a few trips, since he couldn't carry it all. He took only the things I wanted or needing, leaving all the replaceable things there—like food, movies, and stuff like that. Already this morning he popped into town to fill the cabinets here.

"Hopefully we won't have to be here long."

Things with Vesperon are tricky. Though he is solid now, the sun and light still affect him. They make him tired. He's worried about being too weak if he has to fight again, so he spends a lot of his time resting in the basement, where there are no windows.

Lumen and I quickly change into our swimming suits, and I grab two towels from the bathroom. I'm pulling the sliding glass door open when Lumen grabs my wrist. He wiggles a bottle of sunscreen at me, raising a brow.

"You need this," he says.

I look down at my pasty white skin before glancing at his beautifully tanned skin and know he's right. He's spent a lot of time outside since being here. Of course he would. He's a light-being. He loves the light and the sun. His skin has turned a gorgeous shade of golden tan, his blond hair has gotten brighter, and he overall looks brighter. I love it for him but hate it for Ves. For me? I'm on the fence. I like the sun, but dealing with it all the time will get old fast.

I wait patiently as Lumen rubs the sunscreen into every inch of my skin.

"Your shoulders are tight," he says.

"Stress."

"Let me massage them later?"

I smile to myself. "I'd love that."

When he's finished, he kisses the spot behind my ear and tells me to wait a few minutes for him to get us some water and for the sunscreen to soak into my skin. I've never done that before, though I know you're supposed to according to the directions.

I stare out at the backyard, feeling like I'm in some kind of post-apocalyptic world. There isn't a green thing in sight. It makes it hard to stay focused. Being here, I feel like I disassociate more than ever. Like my mind just can't make sense of everything and believe this is all real. Though, that was an issue before too. But it seems the deeper we get into this whole thing, the less I recognize things around me and that's making it more difficult for me mentally.

Lumen returns a few minutes later with a small red cooler.

"It's filled with ice to keep the bottles of water cold."

"Smart."

Once we're outside, I lay the towels on the lounge chairs and Lumen puts the cooler close to the house, in the small bit of shade. Not that it'll do anything in this heat.

I go right to the pool and step into it, grateful that it's cool but not freezing.

"Are you coming in?" I ask, when I find him getting on a lounge chair.

"In a little bit."

He lies down, resting his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. I stay rooted in place, unable to pull my gaze from him.

He's impossibly sexy. Everything about him is gorgeous. From the abs to the tattoos to his jaw. It still stands that he's one of the—if not the —most attractive human I've ever seen. Though, Slate is right there with him.

"I can feel you staring," Lumen says smugly.

"Is it a problem?" I call back, trying to cover up the embarrassment over being caught. I shouldn't care that he's calling me out; I know he's only joking, and I catch him staring at me all the time.

"Not at all. Keep going."

I watch him for a moment longer, then make my way into the pool. The scorching sun beats down on my head, but I duck under the water now and then to refresh myself and cool off. I float around more than I swim. The cool water helps stave off the heat, but the sun's rays feel good on my body. I didn't get to enjoy summer in the mountains, so it's nice to enjoy it now even though it's technically over.

Now and then, I peek my eyes open to glance at Lumen, who looks like he's living his best life. He's so content to burn in the sun, even though I know he won't actually burn. His tattoos glow brighter out here, as if they're recharging him. The swirls of gold turn an almost electric color, shimmering under the sun. It looks as if lightning is about to shoot from his body.

I do a few laps from one end of the pool to the other. It isn't huge, but it's enough space that I can get a good workout in. Not that it's my intention to work out, but it's nice to be active when all I've been doing is lying around. When I'm done swimming, I float around again, relaxing, until there is a huge splash. The tiny droplets that rain down on me are like little ice picks when they hit my hot skin that's above the water.

I gasp and stand upright, opening my eyes to Lumen in front of me, smiling mischievously.

"Couldn't help myself."

I splash water at him. He looks offended for a split second before he dives at me, grasping me around the waist and throwing me over his shoulder. I squeal and yell for him to put me down. I slap at his back, but he only laughs.

"I'm going to flip you!" he calls out.

"No, no!" I shout, but I'm laughing so hard the words barely come out.

"One… two—"

He doesn't even get to three before he's tossing me, making me do a flip before landing in the water. I'm smiling as I swim up, and the moment I break the surface I suck in air and brush the hair back from my face.

"You're going to pay for—"

My words are cut off when he kisses me, wrapping a strong arm around my waist and tugging me against him. His tongue slips past my lips, and all thoughts are lost. It's only him and me, the hot Arizona sun, and the cool water around us.

Lumen kisses me until I feel drunk, and when he pulls back, I swear something has changed between us. How? I don't know. But the look in his eyes is different. The way my stomach feels is different. I have this abrupt realization that I love him. That the mate thing isn't just a physical connection anymore, not just the universe pulling us together, but my heart needing his.

I'm in love with this man.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asks huskily.

My gaze dips to his lips, and instead of answering him, I kiss him. When his lips are gentle, I push for more and he obliges. His hands go to my ass and he lifts me, grinding his hard dick against me.

He climbs the steps to get out of the pool, never taking his lips from mine. Lumen lies me down on one of the lounge chairs, his large body covering mine. He pulls back, but I tug him to me again, not wanting him to leave. Grinding my hips against him, I moan into his mouth, causing him to groan in return.

"I need you," I whisper against his lips.

"You have me, darling."

I push on his swim shorts, yanking them down. He kicks out of them, and I move mine down next. Once they're off, I wrap my legs around him, loving how his hardness presses against my aching center.

Lumen pulls his hips back and slides forward, sinking into me in one motion. I bite down on his bottom lip as he stretches me, and his hand tightens in my hair.

"Fuck," he whispers against my lips, freezing to catch his bearings.

Digging my heels into his ass, I urge him forward, deeper inside me. There aren't neighbors close, but we don't have a fence or anything. The road isn't far. Someone could see. Something about that is exciting. Knowing we could be caught, but not caring… it's hot. I've never done something like this before.

"You feel so good," he groans against my neck. "But I want to taste you."

He pulls out, not allowing me to argue. His mouth is between my legs before I can say a word, fingers digging into my thighs to spread them apart.

He laps at my clit like an ice cream cone, moaning the entire time. The sounds he makes are downright erotic.

"Lu-Lumen," I stutter. "You're going to make me come…"

"That's the point," he mumbles.

"But I—ah!"

I reach for his head, for the first time wishing he had longer hair so I could pull it, when he sucks on my clit and sends me soaring into a back-arching orgasm.

He's on top of me, slamming back into me before I catch my breath. He grasps my hips, pulling me into him as he pounds into me, fucking me hard and fast. Beads of sweat form on his brow, his eyes glued to where we connect. The feral look in his eye is sexy beyond belief. Knowing he likes what he sees makes me feel good—confident.

"Come for me," I tell him.

His bright gaze flicks to mine, and he smirks before sinking his top teeth into his bottom lip. His gaze goes back between my legs and his grip tightens on my legs.

"I'm going to come for you now," he says.

I grip his forearms, fucking him as hard as he's fucking me, wanting him to come. Loving that I can make him come. That I make him feel good. That he can lose himself in me . That I'm enough.

He grinds his hips into me, his eyes falling shut as he comes on a shuttering breath. I feel him throb inside me, his cum almost too hot to handle. I swear I'll never get used to how it feels… almost scorching.

Lumen sighs, opening his eyes and leaning down to kiss me.

"Well, that was unexpected," he says against my lips.

"Are you complaining?" I ask, running my hands up his back.

"Never."

He kisses me again, then reaches for the towel and helps clean me up. I find my bathing suit bottoms, but instead of putting them on, I take my top off. I toss it at Lumen, who startles, frowning at me when he sees me naked.

"What are you—"

I cannonball into the pool, feeling freer than I have in a long time.