Catalyst Page 3

  “Don’t say such things to me, love. It makes me feel inadequate, as if your love for me is much more than mine for you. It is not. I love you more than you love me. I swear it,” he said as he lifted one of my legs up and picked up the pace.

  I wrapped my arms around his body as my fingernails dug into his flesh.

  “Achilles…” I sang and sang like a songbird pleasing its master. He was my world. The love my heart swelled with because of him made me happy.

  “You are my everything, Alana,” he whispered breathlessly as we climaxed together.

  It took us awhile to come back down. When we did, Achilles didn’t move his big body off me. I enjoyed his warmth, feeling protected under him. He attempted to get off me, but I reached my arms around his neck so tight even he had to question the reason for this.

  “My love, what is troubling you?” he inquired.

  “Please don’t leave me. I’m begging you not to leave. Don’t leave me here alone, Achilles.”

  He shifted a bit and turned to look at me.

  “I will always return to you, Alana. No one, not even the gods, can hinder me from coming back to you. I will always come back to you.”

  “Do you swear this?” I asked him with tears filling my eyes.

  “If any man ever looked close enough, they’d find my weakness,” he said to me. I didn’t comprehend what he was saying. “What I am saying is, Alana, you are my weakness, not my heel, but you. You are the only thing that can make me drop to my knees and surrender. Nothing else can. Just you, Alana.”

  He leaned in and kissed me so powerfully it woke my entire body up again.

  I jolted out of my sleep. I sat up at the intensity of the dream. This was becoming a regular thing. For the past two weeks, all I kept dreaming about was me and that guy from the bar who kissed me. I couldn’t get him out of my dreams, even if I wanted to. The first week the dreams started, I was able to pretend like nothing was happening during the day, but the second week was horrible. I couldn’t get Ales out of my mind. I started waiting for him to come.

  Frustratingly, I pulled my covers off me in my pitch-black room. I headed straight for the adjacent bathroom and flipped the light switch on. The light in the bathroom blinded me for a moment and then my pupils adjusted. I groaned as the soles of my feet reacted to the cold tiles. I walked toward the sink turning the faucet on and rinsed my face. As I had my eyes shut, images of Ales popped up behind my closed lids. Images of him thrusting inside of me as I declared my love for him messed with my mind, so I opened my eyes, staring at myself in the mirror.

  I looked all kinds of crazy as my hair escaped its messy bun and reigned in its full glory as my dark brown mane went everywhere. I shut my eyes again and those images appeared again. My hands gripped the counter as I felt him on my body. I felt his rough hands as he ran them over my navel, holding me down to the bed, as he made love to me. I felt him moving inside of me, and I gripped the counter even harder. I threw my head back releasing a moan as I climaxed. Climaxing right then and there prompted me to open my eyes. It was as if a big bucket of ice cold water was thrown on me. I looked down at the evidence of me climaxing because of some wet dream with a man who I was going crazy over, yet he’d only kissed me once. I am officially nuts! I’m losing my mind over a man because he kissed me like he yearned for me.

  ***

  As I arrived at work, I put on my best smile, so no one would notice my lack of sleep and how I was becoming sexually frustrated over a man I barely knew. A very delicious man, if I might add. When Ales first walked into the bar, the air in my lungs was desolate. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, not even when he came up to me. The moment he kissed me, everything in me wanted to melt into his arms. His kiss was inexplicable. There were no words I could put together to truly describe what it was. He kissed like he was part of my soul. And, ever since that damned kiss, I couldn’t sleep. My heart seemed to ache for something all of a sudden.

  Even as I cleaned the bar and got ready for work, my heart ached for someone I’d never known or had a conversation with. I instinctively rubbed the left side of my chest over my heart. The feeling intensified to the point I felt like I might need to see a doctor. I didn’t even hear anyone approaching me until Jace waved his hand over my face. I blinked a couple of times before focusing on him.

  “What did you say?” I asked him.

  “I said, are you alright? You look like you’re in pain.” A concerned look was all over his face.

  “No, no. I’m okay.” I shrugged it off and cleared my throat to get back to getting ready for tonight. Luckily, before Jace could continue probing, Stacey walked in.

  “Hey girlie!” She smiled at me.

  I cocked my eyebrow at her, knowing her wide smile was her tell. She was trying to hook me up with Jace again. There was really nothing wrong with Jace, but I didn’t feel anything when I looked at him. He was sweet, caring and such a great friend but… nothing. He was sexy for sure, but, past his looks, I didn’t feel anything. I looked at Jace one more time, analyzing him. He was six feet of lean muscle that still showed through his t-shirts and pants combo. His dark brown hair was cut short, almost cropped to his scalp, and he had intense, blue eyes. Unfortunately, none of that drew me to him. He just couldn’t hold it for me, and that wasn’t his fault.

  I sighed, smiling at Stacey, loving the distraction.

  “Didn’t see you this morning, babes,” I said to her.

  She giggled. “I know…” She wiggled her eyebrows and looked at Jace, letting him know this wasn’t for his ears.

  Jace chuckled, shaking his head as he walked away. Once he was on the other side of the bar, Stacey leaned in, whispering in my ear.

  “I’ve finally moved on from Charles,” she said with a smile on her face. “I’ve been seeing someone for a couple of weeks now.”

  “Who?” I asked. I’d been working with and seeing Stacey at home, but she hadn’t mentioned anyone new.

  I looked into her hazel brown eyes. Stacey was a beautiful woman in and out. I wasn’t surprised she had been seeing someone. I was more surprised she was seeing someone other than Charles.

  “Don’t beat me, but it’s Patro.”

  My brows furrowed.

  “Who’s Patro?” I really had no idea who that was.

  “Do you remember a certain someone coming up behind your man?”

  “My man?”

  “Yeaaaah. The one that kissed you senseless.”

  I rolled my eyes at her words.

  “He didn’t kiss me senseless.”

  Stacey snorted. “Baby, that man kissed you so damn senseless that the moment I mentioned it your eyes were sparkling.”

  I sucked my teeth, moving away from her, not wanting to be under her microscopic probing of how my eyes sparkled.

  “I’m going to get to working, but I’m glad you’re over Charles.”

  Stacey threw her head back and laughed as I walked away.

  “Charles is going to miss all of this five feet six inches of chocolate divine!” she shouted as I walked toward the back.

  I laughed hard, knowing Charles would miss her, and I just dodged a bullet about the man making me crazy in my dreams.

  Ales

  I looked at Patro as he grinned, fixing his tie. He wanted us to go to the bar my lovely Elani worked at. I wanted to give her some time, since, according to Patro, the longer I stayed away from her after our first meeting the harder it would be for her to forget about me.

  “How do I look?” Patro asked me.

  I looked him over. We were about the same in height and build. The difference between us was his black hair stopped at the nape of his neck, his dark brown eyes with a hint of blue in them, and the thick beard covering his jaw. We were dressed to impress. Tonight, we were infiltrating a certain mayor’s party. My team and I had to mingle with the crowd and fit in, just like we did all the time.

  I smiled at my friend and shook my head. “You look good. She’ll like it; she m
ight even think you’re a businessman with the way you’re dressed.” I winked at him as he threw his head back laughing.

  He settled down and maneuvered toward the entrance of the bar. “Well, let’s get this show on the road. Plus, I’m sure Miss Elani will appreciate you looking like you’ve just stepped out of GQ.” He clicked his tongue as I rolled my eyes, smirking. “I’ve always told you, your face didn’t seem fit to be such a warrior. But, even back then you proved everyone wrong, well except the love of your life… Her, you loved her.”

  A huge smile crept on my face as his sentence flowed to my ears. As soon as we stepped foot through the threshold of the bar, I spotted Elani in less than a minute as she busied herself behind the bar. She was a sight to see as she smiled at customers and moved her body to the rhythm of the music overhead, while she poured the drinks like a pro. Her smile was so intoxicating I wanted to march right over there to pull her in for another kiss, but I restrained myself.

  I answered Patro without looking away from her. “Yes, I’ve loved and still love this woman so much my heart aches at the mere thought of not being with her already. This is torture.”

  I heard Patro’s laughter as it filled the room. He clapped his hand on my back and walked away from me toward the bar where Elani’s friend Stacey was.

  I looked at Elani as she started to rub her chest again. I continued to stare at her until she finally looked my way. I saw the recognition in her eyes as she continued looking at me without breaking eye contact. I smirked, making my way toward her as if I was stalking my prey and didn’t want them to take off. She looked away quickly, yet she ended up looking right back at me. I knew everything about her from the inside out. She was fighting her attraction, and excitement flowed through my body like a drug.

  This was going to be more exciting than I thought. I cocked my eyebrow and tilted my head a bit as she started backing away from the bar as if she was going to run. I shook my head slowly causing tendrils of my hair to escape the low bun I had it in.

  Elani didn’t move until I finally made it to the bar and leaned on the counter with my elbow propped up and my other hand in my pocket. She didn’t attempt to come closer to me, so I beckoned her to me with my forefinger. At first, she resisted and shook her head no.

  I tsked at her. “Come to me, baby,” I said again.

  She instinctively moved toward me.

  Poor girl didn’t know what she was in for.

  Her body belonged to me so long ago she couldn’t even claim it as her own now.

  Elani made it to the bar, and, through gritted teeth, tried to act hard with me.

  “What?” She practically shouted, making some people turn heads.

  I winked at her, showing I liked her talking to me like that.

  “I only want a drink, love. Isn’t that what customers come to the bar for?” I questioned her.

  She narrowed her eyes at me, but I wasn’t fooled. The moment I told her to come to me, her body came alive. She didn’t even have to say a word; I already knew.

  “What will it be?” she asked again with attitude laced in her voice.

  “What do you like to drink?” I asked her.

  “I like my drinks strong.”

  I cocked my eyebrow again and couldn’t help the smile that spread on my face. I heard her gasp. She had no idea, but I knew her weaknesses. One included the million-dollar smile I presented her sprinkled with my dimples. Those suckers had gotten me out of trouble, especially with her.

  “Give me a double,” I said to her.

  A wicked smile spread all over her face. She took out two glasses, filled them with ice and poured brown liquor in both. She pushed both glasses at me and arched a brow, challenging me. I smiled knowing she would be the one to regret this.

  I downed the first glass then tipped the second glass in salute to her and drank that one too. I shut my eyes loving the taste of it. It reminded me of old times and the ale she would mix together with perfection. I loved this woman so bad.

  Elani

  I could’ve died the moment Ales walked in. I had never seen anyone look so damn handsome in a suit. He really did look like he stepped off the cover of a GQ magazine. He wore a black suit with an expensive looking, black dress shirt underneath with a skinny tie and dress shoes that looked like they cost more than this place alone. The moment he started walking toward me, as if he wanted to eat me, my heart didn’t stop pounding. Instead, it beat so damn loud the music in the bar was tuned out. I couldn’t hear anything else but my heartbeat, as it sped up the closer Ales got. Authority oozed off him as he made his way to me. Others moved out his way like he was a king in this place. Where the hell did this man come from, and why was I reacting like this to him?

  Ales was one step away from the bar, and I moved back instinctively. I couldn’t handle being closer to him. Something was making me step back; it’s like my heart was afraid of something I couldn’t put my finger on. At the same time, I wanted to run to him as though he was the missing piece to my life. When I made zero attempts to go to him, he beckoned me to him. I screamed NO in my head, but my body automatically responded to him as if I was drawn to him. I refused to move and shook my head, no, but the moment his words travelled from his mouth to my ears, I was completely lost.

  “Come to me, baby,” he said, his voice deep as if it was a serenade.

  The moment I move toward him, I knew there was more to this than I was willing to admit. Why else would I simply give in to this man’s request, even if he was sexy as sin?

  ***

  After I gave Ales more drinks and attitude, I thought he would get fed up and leave me be. My chest was burning up way past the simple ache, and I didn’t know what to do. It shouldn’t have, but the moment Ales stepped away to join his friend, Patro, my smile disappeared. It was as if his presence affected my mood, and I didn’t like it. I cleared my throat, trying to focus on my job instead of letting him affect my mood. I finally started getting back in my zone, when Jace came over, nudging me in the side.

  “Guess he moved on quickly.” He smirked.

  I looked in the direction he was looking. I gripped the glass in my hand so tight, if I had a bit more strength, I would’ve shattered it. I cleared my throat and shrugged.

  “Good,” I said through gritted teeth.

  I started wiping the counter down, trying not to look in the direction of Ales’ table, but my eyes betrayed me. I looked at him once again. A beautiful, blonde woman threw her head back as she laughed. She lightly caressed his bicep, and he smiled at her as though she deserved to be there. He was sitting back nonchalantly as if I wasn’t in the same room.

  I growled so low I didn’t recognize my voice. Before I thought about my actions, I threw the towel on the bar and stomped over to the table where Ales was sitting. I saw red as I got closer. I could hear Patro telling the blonde and her friend a story about them two. I didn’t even acknowledge anyone else as I marched up in front of Ales’ chair. He had his chair moved back from the table facing the blonde instead of facing front to his friend. I stood in the middle of his open and relaxed, long legs staring down at him with my hands crossed.

  Ales’ gaze slowly and efficiently traveled from my feet up my body, until he met my eyes. He cocked his eyebrow as if he was talking to me through his gestures, but I wasn’t understanding them. He smiled at me again, this time a boyish grin that made my panties so wet I shifted my weight to my other leg.

  “Baby…” he called out to me.

  My body reacted to the word. Yet, I refused to let him know the way he called me, ‘baby’ made my nipples hard. He raked a glance over my breasts as if he knew, and his grin grew. I blinked and realization came over me like a breath of fresh air. I acted before I thought about how it would all look. I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away. I didn’t even take two steps before he spoke.

  “Are you jealous, love?” he asked me.

  Was he taunting me?

  I spun on my heel so fast to face h
im. Adrenaline shot up my body. An idea jumped into my head and I smirked. I could always get him back. I didn’t hesitate as I walked to him, stopping in between his legs. I leaned down a bit and gripped his tie in my hand. I pulled him to me and kissed him.

  I should’ve thought this idea through. The moment our lips connected, I was once again lost in the mayhem of who Ales was. He was in shock for only a moment, then he snapped out of it and groaned. He gripped my waist as he lifted me off the floor, then I was straddling him. He snaked an arm around my waist, pulling me closer to his hard body. His heat transferred to me. I was feverish as my hold on his tie became tighter. Yet, he didn’t say a word about that. I could’ve stayed like that with him forever, forgetting everyone. But, someone cleared their throat a couple of times, and Ales stopped kissing me.

  When he pulled away, my eyes glistened. I looked in his eyes and he in mine.

  “Who are you?” I asked him.

  His hand caressed my cheek.

  “I’m your destiny, love.”

  I wanted to protest, yet a calm feeling came over me, and the aching went away. My chest wasn’t in pain anymore from the moment those words left his mouth.

  ***

  A couple of hours later, I still regretted what I had done. I had convinced Ales I would join him and his friend, after my shift was over. I don’t know why I reacted like that, instead of letting it go and just letting him focus on someone else other than me. As I worked, I tried to analyze why I cared that he let another girl touch him. It wasn’t even that big of a deal. But, to me, I felt some sort of possessiveness over him.

  At the end of my shift, I looked Ales’ way, and he was watching me. I shouldn’t have told him what time I got off. Before I left the bar, I took it upon myself to take two more tequila shots back to back. I should’ve slowed down, since I had been drinking with the customers when they bought me drinks, but I needed the butterflies in my stomach to be dormant. I shut my eyes and let the liquid heat my body up some more. I inhaled and exhaled. It was time for me to face the sexiest obstacle in my twenty-seven years of living.