Jinx

  A jangle caught my ear, and I looked down at my wrist. I might have been a wreck, but the bracelet Jasper had given me looked as good as new. None of the charms had so much as a scratch on them. I was just grateful it hadn’t spontaneously exploded while I dealt with Prism.

  I picked up the remaining supplies, peered into the mirror, and went to work on myself, cleaning and bandaging. When I was finished, I put the lids back on the bottles and tubes of ointment. Waste not, want not, and all that. Plus, the way my luck was running tonight, if I didn’t clean up now, I’d do something clumsy later—like step on a tube and squirt petroleum jelly everywhere. Talk about a bitch to clean up.

  Devlin sat there, watching me straighten things.

  “Bella, I’m sorry I left you,” Devlin said. “I just—I didn’t know what to do. You knew my secret, you knew how I felt about you, and then you said we couldn’t be together. It was . . . hard for me.”

  “I know,” I replied. “But tonight only proves my point. We both got off with only a few scrapes and bruises, but it could have been much, much worse.”

  “Bella—”

  “No.” I shook my head. “We were lucky, that was all.”

  Much as it pained me to say the word.

  “I’d like to think it was skill more than luck.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” I said, my voice harsh and bitter. “Trust me. I know a lot about luck—especially bad luck.”

  “What do you mean?”

  I sat down on the edge of the bathtub. “Because that’s my power. Luck.”

  I told him about how I could make good and bad things happen, depending on my mood and the capriciousness of my power. About my emotional flare-ups and all the chaos and explosions and disasters that went with them.

  “But you can’t control it?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “No, I’ve never been able to. Not really. Every once in a while, I can focus and get something to happen the way I want. But most of the time, my power does what it wants to, when it wants to. I’m just along for the ride.”

  “I don’t think that’s right,” Devlin said. “It’s your power. It’s part of you, not the other way around. You should be able to do anything you want to with it. You should be able to control it as you see fit.”

  “I don’t know,” I said, rubbing my head. “I don’t really want to know. I just wish it would go away. Forever.”

  Devlin looked at me, horror in his blue eyes. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yes, I do. More than you can possibly imagine.” I stood. “I should be getting home. Grandfather will be worried. I’m sure somebody’s found my burned car by now. It’ll be all over the news by morning.” I grimaced. “I’ll probably have your cousin Kelly Caleb camped out on my doorstep when she hears about this.”

  Devlin caught my hand. “It might not be safe for you to go home. Prism and Hangman could be there waiting for you. You should stay here tonight. With me.”

  I closed my eyes. I knew what would happen if I agreed. We’d wind up in bed together, and I’d only be more torn about my decision not to see the handsome thief again.

  “No.” I said. “I can’t stay with you, Devlin. I’m sorry. I won’t put myself through this anymore. Not even for you. Please take me home.”

  He argued with me about how the ubervillains might be waiting for us. He only agreed to take me home after I told him the Fearless Five were watching the house and would keep me safe. Finally, Devlin put his mask back on and teleported us just inside the front door of the Bulluci mansion. He stared into my eyes, but I scooted back out of his arms. I didn’t want to tempt fate. Or myself.

  “Bella? Is that you?”

  Grandfather appeared at the end of the hall and rushed toward us. He pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank heavens you’re all right! Chief Newman called and said they found your car on fire down by the marina. What happened?” His eyes went over my shoulder to Debonair, lurking in the shadows. “And who are you?”

  Debonair stepped forward and shook my grandfather’s hand. “I’m Debonair, sir. Pleased to meet you.”

  Bobby’s green eyes took in the blue-black leather costume, the scarlet rose, the mask, the bandages over Debonair’s eyes. “Are you the one who saved my granddaughter from Hangman at the museum?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And he saved me again tonight.” I filled Bobby in on Prism’s appearance and subsequent attack.

  “She seems pretty desperate to get her hands on the sapphire,” Bobby mused. “That should work well for the Fearless Five and their plan to trap her.”

  Debonair shot me a questioning look. I shook my head.

  Bobby looked back and forth between us. “Well, now that I know you’re okay, Bella, I’ll leave you and your friend to your own devices. This old man needs some sleep. Tomorrow, I think, is going to be a very long day.”

  He kissed me goodnight, then disappeared down the hall.

  “What is he talking about?” Debonair asked. “What are the Fearless Five up to?”

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll tell you everything.”

  We ended up on the sofa in my sitting room. I explained the superheroes’ plan to capture Hangman and Prism when they made another grab for the sapphire.

  “The Fearless Five are going to drop off the sapphire at the museum in the morning,” I said. “The museum plans to reopen tomorrow night and kick off another fund-raiser to help repair the damage done during the fight. We figure Hangman and Prism will try to steal the sapphire again after the museum closes down.”

  “And you’re going to be there tomorrow?”

  I nodded. “I want to see this thing through to the end. I want to see Hangman and Prism get carted off to prison.”

  “Then I’m coming too,” Debonair said. “After all, I’m the reason you’re in this mess.”

  “It’s not your fault. Just my own bad luck, bad sense of timing.”

  Debonair took off his mask, and Devlin stared into my eyes. “Is that what you think meeting me, spending time with me, has been? A run of bad luck?”

  “Of course not! I’ve enjoyed our time together.”

  Loved it, actually. But I couldn’t say that to him. It would just make things harder in the end.

  Before I could stop him, Devlin pulled me into his lap and kissed me. I found myself responding, despite my promise to keep my distance.

  “Let me love you, Bella. Please. Just for tonight,” he murmured against my mouth.

  I couldn’t look away from the need in his eyes, the desire, the passion. Couldn’t pretend they weren’t there. Those same emotions filled me too. I’d almost died half a dozen times the past few days. I might die tomorrow night, despite the Fearless Five’s assurances that everything would go smoothly.

  Suddenly, I didn’t want to pass up this chance, not when there were so many things that could go wrong. There would be time to be sensible later. There would be time to say goodbye to Devlin later.

  Much, much later.

  I climbed off his lap and got to my feet. Disappointment shimmered in his eyes. He thought I was going to tell him to leave again. I wasn’t. Not tonight, anyway.

  I wasn’t bold and daring by nature, not like Fiona and Carmen were. But tonight, I felt like I could do anything. Try anything. Dare anything. Part of me felt like I had to. Just this once.

  So I unzipped the back of the dress, peeled it down my arms, and let it crumple to the floor. Most of Fiona’s gowns were so form-fitting you couldn’t really wear anything under them, except for a bit of perfume. I stepped out of the ruined fabric and kicked it aside, along with my broken shoes. I stood there before him, naked, except for the angel charm around my throat and the silver bracelet dangling from my wrist.

  “Stand up,” I commanded.

  He did as I asked. I moved toward him, careful not to actually touch his body. If I did that, I’d be a goner. So, I reached around his chest, drinking in the smell of roses that emanated from him
, and unzipped the back of his costume. I tugged the leather down his arms and threw it aside. Next, I undid his boots. Devlin stepped out of them. Finally, I came to his pants. I undid the zipper, slowly, slowly, slowly, then pulled down the tight fabric.

  I moved my lips along his shaft, just brushing it with the softest, slightest touch. He stiffened and reached for me, but I evaded his grasp and finished lowering his pants. Devlin stepped out of those as well, and I drank in the sight of his naked form. He truly was a beautiful man. Toned. Muscled. And exquisitely hard just where he should be. And he was all mine. At least for tonight.

  I stood up and pushed him back until his legs hit the sofa, and he sat down. I put my knees on either side of his legs, straddling him. I rested my hands on his shoulders, the only part of my body actually touching his.

  “Do you want me, Devlin?” I asked, teasing him even more.

  “You . . . know . . . that I . . . do,” he rasped, his fingers clenching the edge of the cushions.

  His eyes locked with mine. The passion shimmering in the blue depths almost frightened me, but I was too far gone to care. And I wanted him just as badly as he wanted me. Maybe even more.

  “Then love me, Devlin Debonair Dash. Now,” I whispered and lowered my lips to his.

  I didn’t have to tell him twice. I’d pushed him to the edge of his control. His tongue plunged into my mouth, hard and demanding. His hands were everywhere. My face. My hair. Breasts. Stomach. Thighs. In seconds, we were both hot and ready and eager.

  Debonair popped a condom into the room and covered himself. I immediately rose up on my knees again and sank down onto his stiff shaft. I slowly began to move, sliding up and down on the hard length, riding him. His groans and cries of pleasure mixed with my own. I increased my pace, increased my rhythm, taking him a little farther in every single time.

  “Bella!” he cried out my name.

  I threw my head back, rose up a final time, and sank back down to the hilt of him.

  The world exploded as we came together.

  I slumped over his body, spent and euphoric. He nuzzled my neck, pressing sweet, soft kisses to the hollow of my throat.

  “Thank you for that,” he said.

  “What?”

  “Seducing me.”

  I leaned back and cradled his face in my hands. “Well, I learned from a master.”

  He shook his head. “No, you’ve far exceeded anything I’ve ever dreamed of. I love you, Bella.”

  I bit my lip and didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I couldn’t tell him I loved him. It would only hurt that much more to let him go in the end. To walk away and never look back. Devlin’s eyes grew sad when I didn’t return his sentiment, but he smiled anyway.

  “So what do you want to do now?” I asked, my eyes straying to the bed. It wouldn’t be quite as much fun as the water bed, but it would definitely do.

  An impish light appeared in his eyes. “You’ve had your turn, but I haven’t even gotten started yet, Bella.”

  POP!

  Suddenly, our positions were reversed. I lay on my back on the sofa, while Debonair knelt on the floor beside me. He eased my thighs apart and lowered his mouth to my molten core. I arched up off the sofa, burying my fingers in his hair.

  POP!

  We stood against the wall. His mouth was on my breast, his teeth scraping my hard, aching nipple. His fingers dove inside me, stroking, teasing, caressing. My head spun round and round as desire overcame me once again.

  POP!

  We lay on the floor, side by side. Devlin traced lazy circles around my breast with one hand, while the other explored my wet, aching folds.

  “That’s . . . not . . . fair . . . using your . . . superpowers,” I gasped.

  “But it sure is fun, isn’t it?”

  He continued his ministrations. I panted as sensation after sensation filled every part of my body. Pleasure. Pressure. I wanted him again. And again. And again.

  Now.

  POP!

  We landed in the bed. I drew him down to me, and Devlin covered my body with his. As he slid into me, I found my release.

  And so did he.

  27

  I awoke the next morning wrapped in Devlin’s arms. It was a good place to be. Warm, safe, secure. I stared at him, watching him sleep. The early morning light streaming through the windows highlighted the sharp planes of his face. His bruises had faded to mere shadows, and the shallow cuts had sewn themselves shut overnight. Devlin must have had a bit of regeneration in him. Most superheroes and ubervillains did. It helped in their line of work.

  Devlin must have felt me staring at him, because his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he looked confused, as if he couldn’t quite remember where he was or what had happened. Then, his eyes cleared, and he smiled.

  “Hey there, sleepyhead,” I whispered.

  “Hey there, yourself.” Devlin leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my lips.

  We lay there kissing for a long while, before I eased away and sat up.

  “How about some breakfast?” I asked, sliding out of bed and pulling on a thick terrycloth robe with black-and-white angels embroidered on it.

  Devlin sat up. The cotton sheet fell away, exposing his chest. I eyed him, thinking maybe breakfast would be better in bed.

  “I’m going to go,” he said, not quite looking at me. “I think it’s for the best right now.”

  “Oh. All right.”

  Part of me was disappointed. But part of me understood why he was leaving. He’d told me that he loved me, and I hadn’t responded. I’d hurt his feelings, but I didn’t have any choice. Not if I wanted to hang on to what was left of my sanity. But still another part of me longed to say the words back to him. Because they were true.

  I was in love with Devlin Debonair Dash. And I didn’t want to be. I wasn’t going to be a superhero’s girlfriend. I’d already spent too much of my life patching up my superhero grandfather and father and brother. I didn’t want to do that anymore. Didn’t want to sit up nights worrying about whether Devlin was going to come home or not. I wouldn’t put myself through that. Not even for him.

  Because if he died, it would break my heart all over again.

  But I didn’t want him to leave. Not yet. Not like this. So I did the only thing I could. I let the robe fall from my body and climbed back into bed. Devlin stared at me like I was Eve offering him a ripe, juicy apple. Maybe I was. I couldn’t tell Devlin that I loved him, but I could show him. In my own way.

  “Are you sure you have to go?” I asked, tugging the sheet down off his wonderful body.

  “Bella—” he said in a warning tone.

  “Hmm?” I asked, lowering my mouth to his stiffening shaft. “What were you saying? Something about going home, I believe.”

  “I think I can stay . . . a little longer,” he said, pulling me closer.

  “Good,” I murmured before covering him with my mouth once again.

  After another round of passion, we lay in bed, cuddled close together. We didn’t talk about last night or today or tomorrow. We just were, tangled together in easy silence. I closed my eyes and listened to Devlin’s heart thump-thump-thump under my ear. If I’d had the power to stop time, I would have used it to preserve this single, precious, perfect moment.

  Finally, though, Devlin put on his costume, promising to meet me at the museum reopening tonight. I told him the Fearless Five would have everything under control, but he insisted on being there. Just in case. His concern only made me love him that much more, and I bit my tongue to keep from telling him. Devlin pressed a kiss to my wrist and popped away.

  After he left, I stayed in bed, huddled in the warm spot we’d created together. My eyes drifted over the clouds and cherubs frolicking on the ceiling, but I didn’t really see the blue-and-white paintings.

  I was too busy wondering if I was doing the right thing.

  Maybe . . . maybe I was wrong about us not being together. Maybe Devlin and I could make it work. Maybe there was a
chance for us, mask and leather and all. I loved him so much. There had to be some way we could make it work. There just had to be.

  But try as I might, I couldn’t think of what it could be.

  Still, I went downstairs to the kitchen more cheerful and hopeful than I’d been in weeks. Bobby sat at the kitchen table, eating scrambled eggs with cheese and mustard, and reading the latest editions of the Exposé and the Chronicle.

  “Someone looks happy this morning,” Bobby said.

  I couldn’t stop the blush that crept up my cheeks, so I concentrated on pouring some juice without spilling it. “I had a nice time last night with my date.”

  “Ah, yes, your date.” Bobby smiled and stuck his face back behind the newspaper, saving me from any more embarrassment.

  Footsteps sounded in the hallway. I turned to the door, puzzled by who else could be in the house this early in the morning. Grace Caleb appeared. Her loose silver hair flowed around her shoulders, and she looked just as rumpled and satisfied as me. I froze, my glass of orange juice halfway to my lips.

  Grace sashayed over to Bobby and gave him a long, lingering kiss like I wasn’t even in the room.

  “Ahem.”

  She kept right on kissing him.

  “Ahem!”

  The two of them broke apart.

  “Hello, Grace,” I said, finally taking a sip of my orange juice. The pulpy liquid tasted sweet and wet in my parched mouth.

  “Hello, Bella. Did you sleep well?”

  I flashed back to last night. I hadn’t gotten much sleep at all, not with Devlin popping us into a variety of interesting positions. But I didn’t feel tired. Not in the least.

  “Oh, yes. And you?”

  Grace shot Bobby a naughty grin. “Wonderful. The best sleep I’ve had in a long, long time.”

  Grandfather gave her a slow wink. I sat there and tried really, really hard to pretend that sleep was all she was talking about.

  Bobby had made enough eggs for the three of us, and we relaxed around the table making small talk. After we’d finished, Grace announced she had to leave. Bobby pouted a bit, then walked her back to the guest room where she’d spent the night. They didn’t reappear for an hour.