Page 37 of Torn Between Two Worlds

She looked down and saw the faintest sparkle of energy coming off of them, almost like electricity.

“Flick your wrist.”

She nodded and flicked her wrist toward the ocean. The sparks jumped and sizzled on the water’s surface. “Oh. My. Goodness.” She squealed in delight and jumped into his outstretched arms, their lips meeting in a scorching kiss. “I can shoot electricity. I did that.”

He looked pleased with her. “Yes you sure can, when you're angry. I'd bet everything is tied to an emotion and probably only usable when you're on my side, well not all emotions, but at least that one I bet. Makes sense, you said you were able to perform some basic spells when you visited with Alcott.”

She pulled out of his arms and slapped him hard across the face. “That was clearly a manipulation, but do not do it again. I have no idea what I'm doing. And it terrifies me. I don't need you reminding me of the sins I've committed, or the fact that I'm pretty fucking sure I'm falling in love with you.” She gasped as the words came out. Had she said that out loud? Sure, she had told Fasheem that the night before in her decision to find Stryder, but now she'd said them, she couldn't take them back, couldn't make them go away.

Stryder closed the gap between them so fast, she didn't even notice. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her into him, crushing her against his chest. His hand tipped her chin toward his, and his mouth covered her, devouring her. She felt her terror and anxiety slip away as their tongues danced together. Her arms ran up and down his sides, and she was rubbing herself against him when he pulled back.

“Sweetheart, stop. I can’t be distracted from this training right now.” He kissed the top of her head and smoothed her hair down. “You have no idea what those words mean to me. I won't push you. I've tried not to this entire time. But in the end, I will make you choose to be with me or to let go.”

She looked into his earnest eyes and nodded.

“Now, you need to focus. We've figured that out. And we know there's fire. So let’s get on that. Safety first, emotions second.”

She didn't move as he let her go and swatted her ass. Her brain was a swirling mess, a trash dump of thoughts and emotions that were piled up and mashed together with everything else on her mind. She took a deep breath and knew she needed to focus.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the fire she could feel in her body's center. She imagined it growing and expanding through her. In quicker time than expected, she felt the heat break out over her arms, and she smirked. Slowly opening one eye, she glanced down. A ball of fire flickered, hovering just above her palm, and flames danced over her arms.

“That's it, sweetheart. Don't celebrate. Not yet. Not until we know you can use it.”

She snorted at him. “Are you implying that I can't control this?” Reaching out with her hand, she tested it to make sure it was as big as the ball would get. She pictured the tree a few hundred yards away burning. In an instant, the tree sparked, and the smell of burning wood filled her nose. She felt awful, even as Stryder race over, yanked his shirt off and began to wave it at the flames to stop them from growing further.

“I'm sorry, little tree. All's fair in love and war.” What shocked her was when she looked down and saw the flame still flickering in her hand.

Smirking from her success, she pictured a bucket of water being poured over her head and the fire immediately flickered out, leaving her arms warm from its heat, but nothing else in its wake. She immediately tried to call it back and growled when the fire did not spark back to life within a few seconds. What good was it if she couldn't draw it out quickly? She couldn't possibly have to think that hard and not get herself killed in the process.

Stryder wasn't saying anything to her. It was almost as if he could sense her frustration. He was still near the tree, watching now that it was out. She tried at least five more times to summon it and learned that it was much harder to call it up than it was to snuff it out. She supposed she should be glad of that. At least that way, if it got out of hand, she could stop the damage being caused before it got too bad. She quit after torching a mark onto the stone house by mistake when she got annoyed at her failure and threw her hands up in the air.

“No more, Stryder.”

He nodded and walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly. “I am so proud of you. But you are not taking anyone on in battle.”

She opened her mouth to contradict him, and he actually put his finger on her lips.

“Shh, the point is to make sure you can help yourself if needed. I am a big, dumb male from the stone age, and I will not let you jump into battle. Don't argue this with me.”

“There is no arguing with you. I always lose.” She went on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. “I don't want to be the party popper. But I've been here almost twenty-four hours. Sooner or later, someone is going to call or text me, and I have work in the morning. I need to go. Come with me?” her voice was meek as she asked the question. She realized she didn't want to leave him. “Because nothing could feel better than this,” she mumbled.

He kissed her quickly. “I will not pretend to know what's going on in your head. But no, I want to stay here. To research a little more. Something happened at the bar that doesn't sit right, and it's what I was doing before you pounced me.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She smacked his shoulder playfully.

“I want to find out exactly who this Jonathan is, and we have a few fallen angels who haven't lost their wings that will help.” He motioned to the doorway she’d created. “I won't be far, you know that, and I'll be with you as soon as I can.”

Without looking back at him, she stepped through the doorway and into her living room. “I will never get used to that.” She was used to waking up in her own body in a place she'd laid down in, not actually being able to leave the real world. She supposed in a way it was more useful because no one would think she was in a coma. “No, they'll just think I've run away or have been abducted.”

She smelled herself accidentally when she raised her arms above her head to stretch. “Ugh very sexy, Ci.” She tore her shirt off and went to grab deodorant when she heard the knock on the door. Confused, she hastily rubbed the deodorant on. “One second.” She left the bathroom and looked around for a shirt. Tugging a shirt off a hanger in the closet after not finding one she walked out and yelped.

“Derrick.” She stood, confused by his presence.

His arms wrapped around her, and his lips pressed against hers. It didn't feel like it did with Stryder, and she felt sickened at the thought of betraying him. With more force than was needed, she pushed Derrick backward. “Derrick, stop it. We're not together anymore. You don't get to show up here randomly or kiss me. You don't get to do either, actually. Why are you here?” She knew irritation laced her voice, but he should be lucky she hadn't tried her powers out on him for his little stunt.

“I hope I didn't startle you. I wanted to surprise you.” He waved his key in the air. “You really should have changed the locks. Living alone, well, I'd like it if you did. In fact, I can get it done tomorrow.”

Her smile was genuine. She was still pissed at his entry choice, but after the intensity that sparked between her and Stryder, she could use a little calmness. Her cheeks flushed thinking about just what she would most likely be doing if Stryder had come back there with her, and she wondered briefly if she should just head back, screw work and hope they didn't fire her.

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