Catalyst Page 4

  It wasn’t as bad as I thought was my first thought when I finally got up to them. The blonde decided to act as if she didn’t see me, so I started to walk away to get an extra chair. As soon as I turned around, Ales’ long arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. My body didn’t even fight it this time as I sat back. I felt his big chest on my back and his breath on the nape of my neck. I was tipsy on the verge of being drunk, but my body was super aware of every little thing he did. I felt him before I heard him.

  He leaned in and whispered in my ear. I shuddered the moment his voice traveled past my ear canal and made its way down to my heart, tugging on it. I shut my eyes, blaming it on the alcohol. This wasn’t me. I’d never felt like this for anyone before. Why would it start all of a sudden?

  Ales’ voice broke into my thoughts. “Do you want the truth?” he asked me, his lips tempting and close to the skin under my ear.

  “What truth?” I asked him without turning to face him.

  “Why you feel so safe in my arms? Why, when I pulled you onto my lap, you relaxed?”

  His words hit me like a ton of bricks as I looked down at my body. I was leaning back, positioned in comfort on his lap as if I’d done it a million times. My body seemed to know this body, and, when his large hand gripped my thigh, I shut my eyes.

  Damn, that felt good.

  “What the hell?” I whispered.

  His touch was making me feverish, and he knew it.

  “What’s wrong? Tell me, so I can fix it.” His voice dropped an octave, and I cursed. How did he do it?

  “Stop.” I gritted my teeth.

  Why did I feel such an intense feeling coming over me? What was going on with me?

  He flicked his tongue over my ear, causing my body to break out into goosebumps. “Let me help you, love.”

  “No!” I hadn’t realized how loud that was until I opened my eyes and the people around the table were looking at me, including Stacey, who sat next to Patro.

  I stood up, out of Ales’ hold. I was dumbfounded for a second thinking I had to put up a fight for him to let go of me. I avoided everyone’s eyes as I walked off.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I reacting like this to a stranger? I didn’t understand this.

  As I reached for the bathroom, a hand grabbed my arm and spun me around. I was about to protest, but then I exhaled, realizing it was Jace. He looked worried.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked me. His voice and his question didn’t have the same effect on me like Ales’.

  “Nothing. I’m fine. I just need a moment and then I’m heading home.”

  “You sure?” he asked me again.

  I nodded and suddenly Jace pulled me into his arms, hugging me. A couple of weeks ago, I would’ve probably liked it, but now, I felt nothing. I didn’t want to be in his arms. My body didn’t want his warmth and didn’t crave it either. Before I could wiggle out of his tight hold, Jace was yanked back from me.

  “What the hell?” My eyes widened.

  Ales had Jace against the wall, and I was frozen into place. Ales didn’t seem crazy. But, there he was picking Jace up by the throat, slamming him into the wall, again, as if he were a rag doll.

  “Get off him!” I finally screamed, after I snapped out of temporary paralysis.

  Ales ignored me and stared at Jace. “Don’t touch her! You hear me?” he growled so unhuman like it instilled fear in me.

  I whimpered.

  That little sound caused Ales to turn and look my way. His anger seemed to turn to me, and I took a step back. He noticed, then blinked a couple times. He looked back at Jace who was grunting and trying to get Ales off him.

  Ales moved in close to Jace’s face. With his icy demeanor in full effect, he spoke, “Elani is mine. She is mine and will always be mine.”

  I gasped. Those words…Those words did something to me. They did something to my brain. Before I could stop myself, a name left my lips.

  “Achilles…” I called out to Ales, and his head whipped toward me so fast. I was surprised he didn’t experience whiplash.

  “What did you call me?” he asked, but before I could respond, my world suddenly went black.

  Chapter 3

  Ales

  I couldn’t believe she called me Achilles. Everything seemed to go by in a blur after that. I let go of the idiot that seemed to not get the idea that Elani was mine. I ran to her and, without thinking, I scooped her up in my arms. I turned to walk away and Jace was there blocking the way.

  “Where do you think you’re taking her?”

  I didn’t have time to smack him like the little boy he was acting like, so I kicked him right in the damn torso. I knew precisely what it would do as he dropped to his knees clutching his midsection.

  “Next time, you won’t be so lucky. Keep your filthy hands off her,” I growled as I walked past him and toward the door.

  I didn’t bother going to the table to tell Patro I was leaving. I kept moving until I was outside. I knew he would see me; it was as if he had eyes everywhere. I heard his heavy footsteps as he came up behind me.

  “What happened?”

  I turned to face him and the serious look on my face wiped off his smile. His smile was now replaced with a forlorn expression as he looked at Elani in my arms.

  “Is she okay? What’s wrong, Achilles?” I knew he was worried the moment he called me by my former name.

  I sighed. “She’s fine. If anything, I believe she’s getting her memory back.”

  Patro had a bewildered look on his face. “What do you mean? She remembers it all?”

  I shook my head and looked away, not wanting him to see the yearning in my eyes for Elani to remember me.

  “She called me Achilles. Other than that, I have no idea. Call me a car.”

  “Got you. You need anything, boss?” he asked me as he pulled out his cell and typed a message to our driver instead of calling.

  “No, I’m good. I’ll take her to my place. Call me when you get information on our mission.”

  He nodded sharply as the driver came around in a black Lincoln SUV.

  Patro walked in front of me and opened the back door to the SUV. I nodded at him and got in. I looked down at Elani as I settled in the car, but she didn’t wake up. Instead, she nestled into my arms. I groaned and threw my head back.

  Patro chuckled and shut the door.

  I looked down at Elani, remembering how much I loved looking at her when the sun was rising on her incredible face before I went out to train. I couldn’t look away from her face, even now, as she peacefully rested in my arms. If I had the choice to have her remember, I would want her to. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

  ***

  The sun came in and shined on her face as I had my elbow propped up. I watched as she stirred and moved closer into my body to avoid the bright sun. Her nipples grazed my chest, and I groaned. It took only a few seconds for me to stand to full attention. Damn… I wanted her, even though I knew she hadn’t slept much. I was leaving soon, and I wanted to spend as much time in between her thighs as I could. I gently opened her legs and buried my nose in the crook of her neck. She smelled like wild flowers. As my lips connected to her skin, she moaned.

  “I’m sorry, love,” I said as I lifted her leg and slid inside of her. I hissed as I slid in so easily. ‘So slippery’ was all that came to mind. I began to move in and out of her. She gasped, indicating she was awake now.

  “My liege,” she called out to me, making me harder than I was before.

  “Gods!” I proclaimed as my movements became quicker, more efficient causing her to grow louder.

  I didn’t know when I fell for her, but I had, and there we were. Me losing myself inside of her, while she marked me as hers with her fingernails.

  Her body was indicating she was ready for her release. Her tell was the way she wrapped her arms around me and whimpered. I loved that little sound, a sound I would never forget, even in death. I immediately slowed, and
came to a stop, halting all movement right before her release.

  “Why?” she asked frustrated.

  I chuckled and looked into her eyes. We looked at each other with longing before I leaned in taking her lips captive. She constricted around my member causing it to twitch. I reluctantly stopped kissing her and laid my forehead on hers.

  “You’ll be the death of me, love.”

  She smiled and shook her head.

  “I would never let anyone near you. I’ll protect you,” she replied with such innocence.

  I threw my head back and laughed hard.

  “You’ll protect the great warrior Achilles? A small, little thing like you?” I teased her.

  She tightened her arms around my neck and kissed me senseless. She pulled my bottom lip into her mouth and sucked so hard that I moaned. She finally pulled away and smiled sweet but defiant.

  “I’ll never leave your side.”

  I smirked and continued our lovemaking.

  “So, you promise to always protect me, Alana?” I asked.

  She pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and nodded. “Yes, my liege.”

  “Then, it’s decided. You’ll train with me.”

  “Hmm?” Her voice raised an octave as I quickened and hardened my movement, ripping her release from her, before she could question my demand again. She cried out her release as she dug deep into my back, breaking skin, triggering me to release inside her, filling her with the evidence of our love.

  “I love you, Achilles,” she cooed.

  “I love you even more than that…Now let’s get to training.”

  ***

  I trained Alana for months before I finally saw progress.

  She made an, ‘oomph’ sound when she hit the ground on her butt. I kept my face neutral as she looked up at me. She eyed me with such anger in her eyes I almost gave in and laughed, but I had to be the same as if I was training my men.

  “Do you have to beat me every time?” she asked.

  “I do it because I love you.”

  “If you loved me… you would let me beat you,” she retorted.

  “If I let you beat me that means I’ve taught you nothing, and I must teach you, love, I must.”

  She must’ve noticed the weariness in my voice. She stood up and looked up at me with worry placed all over her face.

  “What is it Achilles?”

  I looked away from her and went to put our weapons back. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts and what I was feeling. For the first time, I didn’t want to leave her, not even for the war.

  I am Achilles, a great warrior, and it is my duty to fight for my people, but she is my heart, and something keeps pulling me to not leave her.

  I abruptly turned around, and she stumbled back at how fast I spun on my heel. I reached out, placing my hand on the nape of her neck. I stared into her eyes for what seemed like forever. She placed her small hand on top of mine. As she opened her mouth to talk, I beat her to it.

  “Promise me something?”

  “What? Anything?”

  “When I leave, go to your village and don’t come back, until you hear word from me.”

  She was weary and took a moment to answer.

  “Promise me, Alana!” I said harshly.

  She shut her eyes and shuddered.

  “I promise, my liege.”

  “Tonight, we attend the feast and say nothing to no one, am I understood?”

  She nodded her head in agreement.

  “I need you to say it out loud for me. I need to be reassured.”

  “I assure you. No one will ever know.”

  I pulled her in for a kiss with a dreadful feeling something would go wrong this time.

  Elani

  I held my throbbing head in my hands, trying to remember how much I drank to make my hangover this bad. I risked opening my eyes, and when I did, I immediately shut them again. The sun was shining so damn bright in my room that I refused to open them up again, until someone’s muffled voice became clearer. The sound was booming, and I wondered if Stacey brought someone back here. I opened my eyes and blinked once then twice. I looked around my surrounding as I slowly sat up.

  Where the hell am I?

  I looked around the open concept room. Before I could explore it, I heard him. His face came into view, and I was about to open my mouth to speak but I froze. Ales walked in from what I assumed was the bathroom with only a towel in his hand, drying his wet hair. My eyes bulged wide as I took in his body. I studied every curve of muscle from his shoulders, his pecs and his abs. Those curves were covered in art, magnificent ink that served as a masterpiece.

  I bit my bottom lip as I continued my journey going down to his member.

  Blessed sweet Jesus!

  I gasped loudly causing him to look up at me. His ink was no longer the masterpiece; his member was. It was so beautiful to look at. I couldn’t stop staring at it. The longer I looked at it, the more effect my eyes had on it. It grew hard, enlarging in front of my eyes. The veins throbbed, and it was longer and thicker than it was a moment ago.

  Before I could catch myself, I was crawling over to it on the bed. I was almost off the bed and two or three steps closer to it when Ales cleared his throat. I finally looked up at his face and he looked pained. He quickly recovered and smirked. He reached down and grabbed it, giving it a quick squeeze.

  “Baby, as much as I’d want you all over it, you need to concentrate,” he said.

  “Hmm?” I replied as I tilted my head a bit.

  “Give me a minute,” he responded, walking back to the bathroom.

  As soon as Ales walked away, I scrambled to get to my feet. I didn’t need to see if I had my clothes on. He hadn’t remove anything I wore, which was a relief. I looked around for my purse or even my cell phone. I didn’t see either of them, so I settled for my shoes. They weren’t there either. As I was about to leave, I heard a chiming sound. I looked back at the nightstand. I quickly padded toward it and picked up the cell phone. I cocked an eyebrow. The phone chimed again, and this time I saw the message.

  Now that you’ve apprehended your asset, eliminate!

  It was from an unknown number. Before my brain could process anything else, I dropped the phone and took to running down the stairs.

  Ales exited the bathroom.

  “What are you doing?” I heard him yell after me, but I didn’t stop.

  I reached the bottom stair and ran for the door. I tried to unlock the door, and pull it open, but it wouldn’t budge. I turned and saw him at the top of the stairs staring down at me with a stern look. I panicked, running in the opposite direction from the door. I was glad for the open concept loft, even more ecstatic the other door was near.

  I need to get out of here! I don’t want to die!

  As I got closer to the back door, I stopped in my tracks. Ales had jumped over the railing on the top floor and landed right in front of me. If I wasn’t so scared for my life, I would have been in awe; especially the way he looked like a warrior landing on one knee and the other on the ball of his foot. When he looked up at me with visible anger, something happened to me. The fear was palpable, but my stance changed from being in a frozen state to a fighting stance. I moved one leg back a bit while getting my fists up for a fight. My brain was panicking, yet my body seemed to know what to do. Ales cocked his head to the side and smirked as he stood up to his full length.

  “You’re going to battle me, baby?” he teased.

  I didn’t like it. I charged at him, but he moved out of the way. I quickly recovered and turned to face him, again, with a thought in my head.

  Never give them your back, love.

  I instinctively reached down my right thigh but for what? I had no idea.

  “You’re looking for your knife,” he said.

  I didn’t reply. All I could think about was the message on that phone. I didn’t want to die. I charged at him, and he met me blow for blow. I didn’t land not one single hit, and I was getting t
ired of trying to attack someone who seemed impossible to reach.

  “I don’t want to die!” I screamed out, and he stopped fighting me, causing me to land a punch to his face.

  His face barely moved to the side as I busted his lip. I covered my mouth in a gasp. I didn’t expect to hit him and now I was regretting it. Instead of getting mad, he reached for my now throbbing hand and took it in his as he examined it.

  “Why do you think you’re going to die?” he asked as he looked at my hand.

  My hand shook as he ran a thumb over my knuckles.

  “I saw it. I saw the message, just get it over with. Kill me now because, clearly, I can’t outrun you.”

  At this, he ceased all motion. Then, like a crazed man, he laughed so hard and loud. I watched him for a moment as he laughed. He looked beautiful without a dangerous look displayed on his face. After he settled down, he looked down at me with such adornment I had to look away.

  “You’re not the target that needs eliminated, baby.”

  “You’re lying.”

  He chuckled at this. “You’re still the same as ever.” He shook his head. “I would never lay a hand on you. Ever!”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Yes, you do,” he said.

  I blinked and looked away, wanting to pull my hand out of his. He didn’t let it go.

  “You called me Achilles last night before you fainted. Do you remember?” he asked.

  Then, it clicked! I looked at my surroundings. I knew I wasn’t in my apartment from the moment I opened my eyes, but now I was remembering. I had called him Achilles at the bar last night; then, my world went black and he brought me back to his place. I was probably the dumbest girl in history. There I was in a stranger’s house, letting him massage my knuckles with his thumb while asking me if I called him Achilles.

  The only Achilles I knew of was from Homer’s the Iliad. I don’t know why I even called out that name. All I remembered was Ales choking Jace, and he said words to me that my mind held unto.

  I looked up at Ales again as he observed me through those beautiful, green eyes. I knew those eyes. I’d seen them before, but where? Yes, I was seeing them in my dreams, but it didn’t make sense. The way he looked at me made words pop up in my head.