Page 17 of Torn Between Two Worlds

Stryder was still just a fantasy at that stage of her gift. However, what she was experiencing felt so much stronger than anything she'd ever felt with Derrick or any of her few boyfriends before him. It terrified her because she wanted him, and she suspected it was for more than just a onetime thing.

10

When he steppedthrough the shimmering doorway, he had a grin on his face. She wasn't going to scream obscenities at him or throw him back on his ass. Well, she might do that, but he had a feeling he was safe from her wrath and ire. Talk about an improvement from the last few times he had shown up.

Thirty-six hours of waiting in his world had been hell. Fuck, the raging erection he got just thinking about her was enough to drive him mad, and he was growing tired of his brothers. One wrong comment from Jameson and he'd punched his brother so hard, he wasn't so sure the teeth he'd knocked out would grow back. They were riding him about her.

Apparently, he wasn't focusing, and with their namesakes locked in stasis until the apocalypse, he was supposed to be out training in every way. Training with his brothers to tamper down his demon, so when it happened, they could fight on their chosen side—the angels’ side. It was their little secret, his brothers and his, and plotting out shit to do with Ciara had severely gotten in his head. He needed to learn to control his demonic nature and not scare her.

She was waiting for him. Her gossamer blue dress hugged her body, outlining every curve, and clearly showing the absence of a bra. The powder blue cardigan she put on to combat the California winter didn't look as if it helped much because he could see her pebbled nipples. He clenched his jaw and forced his cock to stand down. Ciara kept managing to take his breath away. He'd seen her in so many stages of dress, and all suited her. A low growl formed thinking about seeing her in a state of undress, and she turned to look at him, raising a brow.

“Got something on your mind, Stryder?” her voice was playful, different.

He couldn't believe the change, but he sure as fuck wasn't going to question it, though. He'd thought about it constantly since leaving Ciara. He had one chance to get her to stop throwing him back into his world. One chance to show her who he actually was.

“Sorry, happens sometimes. I promise I'm more than the demon killer you saw already.” He wanted to sound sincere, but it came out sarcastic.

She flinched backward a bit. Cursing, he extended his hand to her. She was cautious, but gingerly slipped her hand into his, and he gnawed his cheek, praying she didn't look between his legs.

Her smile was delicate. “Just what do you have planned for me this afternoon?”

The teasing nature was slightly present again, but he could sense her fear of his demon skill.

He actually wiggled his brows at her as he reached back into the doorway and snagged out a very mundane straw basket and fuzzy blue blanket. “I had hoped to try for a little outdoor meal.”

Her smile was genuine and lit up her face. His demon growled the warning again,mine, and he knew he couldn't screw this up. Forget whatever he had unknowingly promised to that trench coat dude when he'd signed on. She was his, and he'd be damned if he would lose her. Somehow, he knew getting stuck in a parallel world meant he would forever be without his mate. He’d seen Fasheem; he wanted his ownmate. Sex was great, but sex with his mate?Damn it.He carefully adjusted his pants when she wasn't looking as they walked out of her apartment.

Laying the blanket down on the grass, he couldn't help but glance at the female next to him, and almost tripped over his own foot. The weather was beautiful. The sun was playing a game of hide and seek with the clouds, creating a soft yellow glow and warmth that was not overpowering. He didn't like birds chirping and insects buzzing, so he was grateful it was quiet, a benefit to the slightly colder winter day. However, none of it compared to the female walking with him to any extent.

“I hope you like demon food.”

He was joking, but her face scrunched up in such a fashion it almost made her less than beautiful. When she sat on the blanket, she tugged her knees to her chest and held them, blocking herself off to him. He cursed as he realized his joke wasn't a good one.

“Fuck. It was a joke. Sorry.”

Not bothering to address what had happened prior, he sat next to her, kicking his legs out in front of him and turning sideways to get into the picnic basket. Fasheem's mate had been helpful in putting it together. She didn't sneer or tease him either as his brothers had. In fact, she'd pointed out how hard Fasheem had had to work for her attention, and she was a demon herself and intimately familiar with their strange role in the world. He carefully pulled out the roasted chicken breast sandwiches and set six in front of her.

“I hope that's not too many.”

She shook her head, and he continued, pulling out two bottles of beer, potato salad, a bottle of water for her and a bag full of chocolate chip cookies. When he finally turned fully back to her, she was staring at him, mouth slightly agape.

“What is all of this?”

He chuckled. “Strange, I thought picnics were a common event everywhere. Not that I knew anything about the reality of worlds, but I still thought it would be okay since you agreed last night.”

She snorted, and he pulled the cap off his beer and wrapped his lips around the neck of the bottle. His mind pictured his tongue swiping across her tongue, and not a beer bottle. His cock stirred, and he growled again. That was not what was supposed to happen. Leaning on his hands, he shifted his weight again, his cock not hiding a damn thing.

A few moments passed. Quietly, she ate, and Stryder drank. He wondered if he had offended her, ruined his chance. Just as he was about to make an impassioned plea for her to speak with him and tell him how to help, she cleared her throat.

“Not to be blunt, but I think we need to actually discuss this.”

She gestured between them, and for a second, he thought she meant his boner and paled in color.

“You know I don't want you here. And you certainly know that whatever was promised to you in return for protection isn't happening. I will release whom I choose.” He was just looking at her, and she glared. “Just what were you promised, Stryder?”

Chuckling low in his throat, he couldn't stop the smirk that crossed his face. “Well, sweetheart, that would be telling. I don't think we're quite at that stage yet.”

When her cheeks pinkened with annoyance, he wasn't sure whether to chuckle at how cute she was or curse himself for acting like his moronic self. He went with chuckling.

---