Lovers & Monsters, page 15
Isaac turned astonished eyes on her. “Are you kidding me? Sidney, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
“Stop it.”
"No, I’m serious. Look at everything you’ve been through. Loosing your mama at a young age, and enduring an abusive marriage. Not only enduring it, but getting out of it and starting over all on your own.”
“Yeah, running for my life and going into hiding. Putting myself into exile for nearly two years.”
“You’re being sarcastic, but yes. Running for your life and going into hiding takes a whole lot of courage, Sidney. It takes guts. And strength.”
He had such a way of making her feel good about herself. She wasn’t sure if it was his overly generous, eloquent words, or simply his calming presence, or the way he looked at her. But even in the midst of all the craziness surrounding her at the moment, he made her feel like everything was going to be all right. He made her feel like anything was possible. No man had ever done that for her before.
“God, your skin is so soft,” Isaac whispered. “Seriously, how do you get it so soft, Sid?”
“Um… moisturizer.” She grinned at him. “Like that lotion I was putting on when we got out of the shower? You know, right before you sexually assaulted me?”
Isaac hooted with laughter.
“Hey, I helped! I spread the lotion all over your back for you. And your very perfectly proportioned, bottom.”
Sidney laughed. “Perfectly proportioned, huh? Is that a wise crack about my black girl booty?”
Isaac’s eyebrows lifted and he looked at her.
“Black girl booty?”
“Uh huh.”
“I don’t even know what that is.”
“Oh, sure you do. Big and juicy? Fat? Too much junk in the trunk? Black girl booties… You know what I’m talking about.”
A sexy smile drifted over his lips and Sidney’s heart fluttered. God, those dimples!
“Well, your booty may be juicy, but it is definitely not big or fat. When I said perfectly proportioned, I meant exactly that. Nice and round and firm and just the right amount for my hands.”
He took that moment to grab a handful and squeeze.
Sidney squealed.
“Sorry! I couldn’t resist.”
“Umm hmm. Is that why you attacked me?”
His cheeks turned candy apple red, and his sexy smile tarnished with embarrassment. He looked adorable, and Sidney giggled, but she could see he was actually troubled.
“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to pounce. I just suddenly couldn’t stop myself from pressing up against you. I needed to know what it would feel like to have you that way. To have your perfect, round ass fused to my groin like that. Be inside you in that position. I don’t… I-I sound like some skeevy perv, I know…”
His voice was full of remorse as it trailed off, and Sidney ran her fingers over his face.
“Isaac. You are not a skeevy pervert. You know, that’s about the third time tonight you’ve called yourself that. At first it was funny, but now I don’t think I like it.”
“Well, it’s hard not to feel that way when all I can think about lately is touching you and making love to you. I mean, I get it. I’ve been so closed off to physical touch for most of my life, Sidney. Sex was just not an option for me. I couldn’t risk it. The pain and the flashes… It was just easier to avoid the whole mess. But with you I don’t have any of those fears or restraints, and it’s like… I don’t know. I can’t help myself. I fear I’ve become this big raging out-of-control sex fiend.”
“I want you too, Isaac. All the time.”
He looked up into her eyes.
“You do?”
“Yes. And there is nothing wrong with that. Two people completely caught up in the desire they feel for each other; the passion they share. That’s normal, and it’s healthy and good. And totally not skeevy or pervy or anything for you to be embarrassed about. Not with me.” She ran her hand gently down his chest and over his stomach, and placed it on his impressive manhood that was already standing at attention. “Never with me.”
He closed his eyes for a second and a shudder ran through him. When he opened his eyes Sidney saw raw desire blazing from his vast grey pools. They seemed to darken in color from light dove to smokey in a matter of seconds. She wrapped her hand around his massive erection and stroked the length of him, ripping a deep moan from his chest.
“Whatever position you want to try, Isaac,” she whispered, still stroking him. “Whatever you think you might like, just tell me.”
He reached for her, his mouth finding hers in a crushing kiss.
They were a tangle of arms and legs as he rolled her onto her back, and Sidney could feel him reaching out with one arm in the direction of the bedside table. She grinned through their kiss and glanced over to see if his hand was anywhere close to his goal.
He snatched the foil packet and smiled as his lips found hers again.
“Here. Let me do that.”
She took the condom from him and tore it open, tossing the wrapper aside. Then she sat up and gently pushed him onto his back. He looked up at her with an expression so hot she thought she might burst into flames and she couldn’t help leaning down to kiss him first. A long, wet, lustful kiss that left them both breathless.
She sat up and straddled his thighs.
“It’s a wonder I can even walk now after three run-ins with this monster.”
“Monster?”
He sounded shocked, and she smiled at him. “Well, he is an exceptionally big boy. You know that, right?”
“Well, no. I don’t go around comparing it to others. Is it too big?”
Sidney giggled and then bit her bottom lip in an effort to stop. She couldn’t help it. He was just so damn cute when he was being insecure about matters of sex.
“You do know that most women like ’em big, right?” she purred as her hand gently stroked him, causing his erection to grow even more.
He grunted. “I don’t give a shit about what most women like. Is it too big for you?”
“Don’t you worry about that. For me, he’s perfect.”
She rolled the condom onto him, taking her dear sweet time, and watching the erotic tortured expression on his handsome face. He groaned, and it was the sexiest sound she’d ever heard in her life.
“You shatter me, Sidney,” he breathed out. “Into a million tiny pieces that you crumble into dust when you touch me like this.”
His words left her breathless and dazed, and she was still reeling from them when he grabbed her hips and lifted her just enough to slide himself inside.
They groaned in unison as she sank down on him. Then they started to move.
Even in the midst of her ecstasy she couldn’t get his words out of her mind. To think that she could affect him so deeply with just a touch or a caress or a kiss. It was all so new and profoundly emotional for him to experience this level of intimacy with someone, but for Sidney it was intoxicating. Making love with Isaac gave her a sense of empowerment and self-esteem that she’d never known before him.
“You are so beautiful, Sidney,” Isaac said as he surged into her, one hand gently squeezing her breast while the other held her hip in a bruising grasp.
He sat up abruptly, bringing them face-to-face and never missing a beat. Sidney called out in pleasure at the new position. Her forehead met his, eyes locked, breaths mingling as they ground together, rising higher and higher, a torrent of passion pushing them toward the precipice.
“Fuck, Sidney!”
“Isaac!”
They sailed together over the edge, his body going rigid beneath her and she vibrated like a motorcycle engine.
They collapsed onto the bed, their bodies still joined and they struggled to take in air.
“Please tell me that was good for you too,” he begged, his playful tone twisting up with his sweet southern drawl as his hands slid gently over her sweat-slicked back.
Sidney laughed and tried to catch her breath.
“Much, much better than good.”
13
They hadn’t left the room at all since their boating excursion. The late afternoon sunshine had given way to darkness and they’d gone from the shower to the bed and there they’d stayed, making love and taking little cat naps. Then they’d talk a little and do it all over again.
This was bliss.
This was paradise.
This was everything Isaac never thought he would get the chance to experience, and he knew without a doubt that Adam was right. Sidney was the very best thing that had ever walked into his life.
He licked his lips and watched his fingertips trail over her skin, glistening with sweat. He couldn’t decide which of her tastes he loved the most — the slight saltiness of her skin, the berry sweetness of her lips, or the salted-caramel-honeyed-goodness of her treasure box. It was a question that was going to require much more research, and he was looking forward to the field work.
He let his fingers drift over her collarbone and then down between her perfect breasts.
“Isaac?”
“Hmm?”
“What have you seen in your visions about me?”
His hand stilled, just for a split second.
“I told you back at that shitty motel when we were hiding from Rivas-Solis. When we first met in person and I shook your hand, I saw you on a beach.”
Sidney nodded. “Yeah, I know. But if memory serves, you also said that your visions come frequently with me. So surely you must have had more than just that one by now. Tell me. What else have you seen?”
Her voice was light and optimistic, and Isaac glanced up at her eyes for just a moment. He didn’t want to lie to her anymore. He licked his lips again.
“Honestly Sidney?”
“Yes?”
“All of my flashes of you have been of the future.”
Sidney blinked a couple of times and then pulled herself up into a sitting position and stared at him.
Isaac felt a brick land in his stomach, and he slowly sat up next to her.
“You keep claiming that you don’t see the future, Ike.”
He nodded. Time to come clean.
“I never did before. Not until the night we met in person.”
For a moment, the air between them crackled with that little bombshell.
“Well, what do you see? Does it involve danger? Did it involve Damien?”
Her voice took on a slightly panicked note and Isaac could see a million things were suddenly running through her mind with lightning bolts, like The Flash.
“Is that why you insisted on sticking close to me? Is that why you brought me here to your place?”
Isaac shook his head and grabbed hold of her hands, lacing their fingers together and looking into her eyes, trying to calm her down.
“No. That’s not it at all. I brought you here because… well, because I want to keep you safe, yes. But not because of anything I’ve seen in these visions. I want you safe because you’ve become important to me, Sidney.”
Sidney searched his eyes and then sank back into the pillows, appearing to give no thought to her state of nakedness. Not that he minded.
“You’ve become important to me too, Ike.”
Still holding hands, they stared at each other for a moment. But Isaac could tell that she couldn’t completely quiet all the questions in her head. He braced himself for what was coming.
“So, what have you seen?”
There it was.
He sighed and hesitated. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he didn’t want to tell her everything about his flashes of the future either.
“I’m not sure you want me to answer that, Sid. Or that I should.”
“Should? What, are you afraid of contaminating the timeline or something?” Her voice was full of trepidation and sarcasm. “This isn’t a time traveling episode of Star Trek, Isaac. This is my life we’re talking about!”
“And my life too!”
He hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but there it was. They stared at one another for a long moment of frustration.
Isaac sighed and looked away.
“All of the visions I’ve had of you, Sidney… They involve me somehow. I’m always in them.”
Sidney frowned and then looked slightly alarmed.
“Doing what?”
Isaac licked his lips and hesitated. “I don’t want to speculate about the details, okay?”
“Well, are you saving my life in these visions? I think I have a right to know that at least!”
“No.”
“No, you’re not saving my life? Is that because it’s too late to save my life?”
Now she really sounded panicked.
“No, Sid! Come on. It’s nothing like that, okay?”
“Then what is it like, Isaac?” she practically yelled.
“We’re in love, Sidney!”
His shouted words sucked all the air from the tiny bedroom.
Sidney stared at him with big round eyes.
“Or at least… in lust.” He shrugged a shoulder and shook his head. “We are romantically involved and doing very… coupley things.”
He let out a ragged breath and then dragged a hand through his blond hair, pulling it back from his face.
“Oh.”
It was all she managed to mumble after his shocking outburst, and Isaac knew his words were not at all what she had been expecting him to say. It didn’t get rid of the questions he still saw forming in her mind though.
“I-I wasn’t trying to manipulate you, Sid. I would never do that. It was just everything all at once, you know? I see scenes from people’s pasts, not their futures. But then you walk in and BAM! Everything changes. That threw me like you would not believe. And then to have those visions involve me? And this strange connection I feel to you, and having no pain with you on top of it all. It was just…”
“No, I get it.” Sidney nodded. “I do, I get it.”
“Well, I’m glad you do, but I still don’t!” He looked at her feeling nothing but confusion. “I had never seen the future before you, Sidney. And until this morning with those two little boys at the lake, and touching Bree’s belly, I had never seen the future with anyone but you.”
Sidney stared at him, eyes round, brow furrowed.
“So your abilities are changing. Getting stronger?”
“Getting scarier,” Isaac mumbled.
“But why now? After all these years of them being one thing, why would they suddenly evolve now?”
Isaac shook his head.
“I wish I knew. Been asking myself that question since I met you. I’ve spent my entire life running from these monsters, Sidney. Trying to ignore their existence and wishing them away for so long. I never wanted to turn around and look them in the face, you know?”
Sidney nodded.
“But now all of a sudden it’s starting to seem like maybe I have to. I mean, if they’re growing and morphing into something else — something I truly don’t want — then I think I have no choice but to finally look them in the eyes.”
“I think you’re right, Ike.”
“I tried the other day.”
He gave her hand a light squeeze and met her gaze.
“I tried to take your and Adam’s suggestion to figure it out. Actually went and met a psychic.”
“You did?”
Her voice held a lot of surprise and excitement, and Isaac nodded.
“Well, what happened?”
“Nothing. Basically I chickened out and hightailed it out of there. But I guess I need to force myself to go back and try again. Whether I want to or not.”
“I’ll go with you if you want.”
Isaac looked into her eyes and thought about how much her touch had soothed him earlier in the day. Having her there might make it easier to stare down his monsters.
“You would do that?”
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
“Of course I would.”
Isaac threaded his fingers in her soft curls and pulled her close enough to kiss. The heat of it sparked something inside him and he wrapped his arm around her waist and gently pulled her back down, maneuvering her beneath him. His erection sprang to life, digging into her abdomen.
Sidney gasped. “Again? You’re becoming insatiable, Detective.”
“I know,” he mumbled, between kisses. “I should apologize, but I’m not really sorry.”
Her soft giggle ended with a hiss when he took her nipple into his mouth.
They worked together to roll on another condom, and he plunged deep inside her. Long groans of pleasure ripped from each of them formed a duet of passion that resonated around the room. He kissed her long and hard before he started to move, setting a punishing rhythm that had them both on fire. As he ground deep into her Isaac knew with certainty that he would do everything in his power to keep this incredible woman by his side and in his bed for the rest of all time.
14
The sun was bright and the city was barely awake, but Isaac and Sidney stood outside the door of Inner Light Books, just staring at the open sign. He didn’t have to be at work for another two hours yet, but right now he would much rather be at the scene of a gruesome, bloody murder.
Or maybe a shootout with bullets flying in every direction.
Or maybe even at breakfast with his father.
Hell, anywhere but here.
“You ready?” Sidney asked.
How long had they been standing here now? Two seconds? Five hours? He couldn’t remember.
“Nope.”
She smiled at him.
He tried to return the gesture, but he simply couldn’t. He was nervous as hell. He took a deep breath and grabbed hold of her hand. Then he opened the door and they stepped inside.
This time there was no soft Celtic music playing in the background, but he did detect the subtle scent of incense burning.
The same spark he had felt the last time he’d stepped foot in this place ignited again almost instantly, as if this place was somehow aware of his presence and was trying to welcome him back home again.
He knew it was nuts, but it was real nonetheless.
