Last Ascension

  He stood up. His cock stood out before him, and he didn"t try to hide it. Let her see what she did to him. “Why do we have to?”

  “Because she can tell me things about myself I don"t know. She can tell me if my parents were like this. If something was hidden from me. Shouldn"t I have someone in the family with these abilities?”

  “Generally, yes. But I don"t know if that"s true for everyone. Someone has to be the first of everything.”

  He could see the frustration on her face and wished he could rub a hand on her back and just take all of her pain away.

  “Lael, I need answers.”

  “Then we"ll get them for you.”

  Her gaze fell down to his cock. “Maybe we could do something about it first.”

  “Can"t help how I feel, sweetheart. You make me hard.”

  She walked toward him. Was it his imagination or did she have an extra sway in her hips now? Whatever it was that had made her feel sexy, and he hoped it was him, he liked the added sass.

  Margot dropped to her knees in front of him. “What are you doing?” He suspected he knew, but clarification seemed important considering how muddled his brain had become.

  “What do you think?”

  She took his cock in her mouth, swirling her tongue around the top. He closed his eyes and moaned. “I didn"t expect you to do this. I mean, I was hoping for some play time, but this….”

  His love laughed, and it moved around his cock, the rumblings sending pleasure shooting up his spine.

  “Shut up, Lael.”

  “All right.” He sucked in his breath when she took him deeper inside of her mouth.

  “Shutting up now.”

  No one else would ever talk to him like that, but he liked it when Margot did. His knees wobbled as her throat opened more, and she took him deeper inside. Did his liking her orders mean he had a submissive side? Questions to ponder another time.

  Right then, there could be no more thinking at all. Just feeling as her mouth did amazing things to him. She sucked deeper, and a jolt of electricity surged through his body.

  He wanted to keep it light, to let her do it at her own pace, but, as her mouth came down on him again, he lost control. His hips moved, seemingly of their volition. He pushed into her hot mouth and then pulled out again. Shit, he really needed to get this under control.

  Margot moaned, and he opened his eyes to look at her. Her face was lost in pleasure as he moved in and out of her throat. Did she like this?

  He decided she did. No way would she be letting him continue that way if she didn"t enjoy it, too. A sudden urge to be inside of her almost brought him to his knees.

  “Stop.” He pulled himself back as much as he could, then stopped her and scooped her up in his arms. In two seconds flat, he had her on her back on the bed. “Do you like these clothes? The ones Wendy bought you?”

  “They"re fine.” She tweaked his chin. “What a funny question.”

  Lael ripped them from her body. He"d pay his sister-in-law back. What had he been

  thinking, letting her getting dressed in the first place?

  She lay out in front of him, sprawled naked in all her glory. How had he ever gotten along without her?

  “I guess I see why you asked. Could you have restrained yourself from destruction if I"d said I really liked them?”

  “Not sure.”

  He bent over her and moved down until he was where he needed to. She had to come before he entered her, and, since his cock might explode if she even looked at it, he swatted her hands away.

  For now, he got to play—stealing a word from her.

  She tasted of honey from heaven, and he feasted on her for a while before he raised his hand to play with her clit. Margot seemed to like it best when he stroked her in a circular motion, so

  that was what he did. Every movement, moan, and thrust she made guided him on. There was nothing more important to Lael.

  Her fingers dug into his neck, and he loved the pinch of pain. Lael wasn"t sure how long he loved her with his mouth. Time had no meaning. He"d stay there, happily, forever if she let him.

  Margot shattered around his mouth, and he lapped up her juices as the sweet manna they were.

  She tugged him up to her until they were face-to-face. “Put it in. And Lael”—she kissed him hard on the mouth—“I think my being a Guardian negates your worry about hurting me when we do this. How about you let yourself really go for a change without suffering any guilt about it?”

  “You"re so fucking fantastic.”

  Her grin was one of pure female satisfaction. Were all women born knowing how to give a look like that?

  “I know.”

  Lael fit himself near her core and pushed in. Despite her assurances, he had no intention of just plunging inside her and heading to town. She stretched to fit him, and, even though she was still as tight as the last time he had the pleasure of being inside her warmth, he knew this time she"d fit him.

  He took a deep breath to savor the moment and try to remove the remaining tension from his limbs. She"d be safe; even more, she wanted this, too.

  “Lael.” She kissed his chest. “You feel so amazing inside of me.”

  She"d either gotten really adept at reading his mind, or she had a knack for saying the right thing at exactly the right time. He kissed her gently, worshiping her mouth, nibbling on her lower lip before he pressed himself deeper inside of her.

  Margot shuddered. “Yes, more.”

  Her words gave him the permission he needed. He pushed in, balls deep, and sighed as the most complete contentment he"d ever experienced filled his soul. This was where he belonged.

  For all his days and nights. Nothing else would ever matter as much as being held between her thighs did.

  Margot pressed her hips to meet him, and soon they were engaged in a primal dance of bringing each other to the peak of pleasure, only to pull away again.

  “Oh, sweetheart.” He didn"t have words to tell her what he felt, how for the first time in his life he was absolutely certain he wanted to be touched, to be held, to be caressed by the person he was with.

  He"d never thought it possible that he could be so invested in another person"s pleasure, to need her to feel as he did, to know he had given that to her.

  “Come for me, Lael.” Her words pounded into his pulse.

  “No, not till you do, my love.” Any pleasure he took when she didn"t share would be hollow. But he didn"t hold back, he moved within her without concern that she couldn"t handle it. She was his match in every way.

  “I"m so close.” Her muscles clenched around him. “Oh, Lael, yes….”

  Margot came apart in his arms. Yes, he savored the moment, rubbing against her clit to draw out her pleasure for as long as he could. Finally, when his ears rang and he might actually expire from the throbbing in his cock, he gave in and followed her into oblivion.

  He returned to his senses, listening to Margot hum. It was a soft sound. She rubbed her hand in his hair, pressed up against his side. At least he hadn"t crushed her in his oblivion. Her eyes were slits, but she was awake.

  Lael cleared his throat, and she smiled at him.

  “What time is it?”

  “Lunch.”

  Wow. He"d really knocked out for a while. “That late?”

  “This time, we eat and go to Anchorage. Much as I would love to lay here all day.”

  “Right.” His balls ached, and his cock jumped to attention again. It would be that kind of day. Somehow he had to get through it and learn to control himself around her, saving his incredible desire for other times. Well, either that or become a sex maniac. He wondered if Margot would go for the idea.

  ****

  Margot could barely stand but she had no intention of telling Lael of her discomfort. He"d think they should return to bed, and that would only make the problem worse. Had there ever been such a delightful type of sore? Why couldn"t she stop thinking about having sex with him?

  Well, prob
ably because it was mind blowing in a world of mediocre encounters. She had to keep her mind off the game despite his prowess in the bedroom.

  If her aunt had answers she needed to get them. Not that her Aunty Sally was anything to write home about. She"d come up to Anchorage after the death of Margot"s parents and never let Margot forget how much she had given up to raise her.

  There were all kinds of problems with her Aunt"s brand of guilting—any number of things Margot the adult could say to handle the constant barrage of nasty she had to live while she had grieved the loss of the only people she had ever loved—but she"d been young and she hadn"t wanted to upset the woman who she hoped might care for her.

  That had, of course, been the first time she"d ever really been afraid.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lael stretched his hands over his head after he set her down.

  She hadn"t been able to look the entire time they"d flown. “I can"t be a Guardian. I"m such a coward.”

  “Margot, you have performed so many brave things over the short time I"ve known and loved you, I can"t name them all. Maybe you"re scared of heights. Lots of people are. Or maybe you just think you are.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “What is this? Psychoanalysis with Lael Hudson day? I don"t enjoy flying. I"m scared of everything. End of story.”

  He rolled his eyes but took her hand, which took out some of the sting. Lael raised her knuckles to his mouth and kissed her.

  “Sensitive?”

  “Let"s go find my Aunt. It"s Wednesday night. She plays poker.”

  “Every Wednesday?”

  She nodded. “Yeppers.”

  “Sounds cool.”

  “Not when she gambles away your parents" money and you"re worried you won"t eat all week.”

  “Okay, yeah, not cool.”

  They found her Aunt right where expected. In Jimmy Trip"s basement with a cigar hanging out of her mouth as she pretended to be an expert card player.

  The closer they got to the place, the more Margot's anxiety level amped up. She wanted to run away. But Lael had her hand, and she had been the one to insist on this trip in the first place.

  No backing out now.

  Could Lael be right? Was it possible everything frightening to her was a manifestation of her Guardian powers?

  Her Aunt looked up when they walked in and spilled her cards over the table. Margot tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind as a great starter. Hey, Auntie, were my parents Guardians and you never told me?

  Lael spoke instead. “Hi.”

  The room was filled with her Aunt"s usual companions. About five of her neighbors and five other men she knew from work. Nothing had changed, and yet everything in the world had altered for Margot.

  Her aunt stood up. “I always wondered when you"d come with questions.”

  “How do you know I have questions?” She scratched at her head. Maybe she didn"t want answers. Maybe it was better to not find out.

  “Because you showed up with him.”

  Sally tromped outside, and they followed. All in all, her aunt had aged pretty well. For all the drinking and hard living the woman indulged in, Margot wouldn"t have been surprised if she had skin like leather and puffy red cheeks. But Sally looked relatively the same. Maybe a little grayer than she remembered her, but, other than that, pretty much the same.

  “You know who I am?” Lael crossed his arms over his chest.

  Her love wasn"t famous, not as his brothers were. “How do you recognize who he is?”

  Sally leaned against the building and lit up a cigar. Margot coughed at the smell. Her eyes watered, and she waved away the smoke. Apparently, in the time she"d been away, she had developed an aversion to the cigars her aunt smoked.

  “You"re Lael Hudson, and you"re related to Ace Hudson and Draco Powers.”

  She blinked rapidly. Her aunt, living up in Anchorage, far away from the Guardian

  headquarters had just stated blatantly something even the tabloids didn"t report.

  “That"s right.” Lael stepped forward. Her aunt didn"t seem intimidated by Lael"s glare, but she was probably the only one in the world who wouldn"t be. Well, other than herself. If Lael glared at her, she"d just kiss the expression off his face.

  “And now you want to find out how I came to have this information?”

  He nodded but didn"t speak. Somewhere a car poked down the street, backfiring while it tried to make speed. She turned to look at the sight. Whatever else she happened, she didn"t belong with her aunt anymore. When they left here, she wouldn"t be returning.

  “Margot"s mother told me.”

  Now, her answer made even less sense. “Communicating with the dead? Did I miss a Ouija board in there with the poker cards?”

  “Don"t get nasty, Margot. You always did have the worst tongue on you when you got

  mad.”

  How her aunt would know that was beyond her. She"d never raised her voice to the woman.

  Not once.

  “Go on.” Lael put a hand on her shoulder. “Tell me how Margot"s dead mom told you

  secrets about me.”

  “Before she died. Margot"s mom always knew things. She told me one day Margot would come back with Lael Hudson. That he would be the brother of someone named Draco Powers

  and Ace Hudson. All of them Guardians. And, when it happened, I was supposed to tell Margot something.”

  “What"s that?”

  Margot was glad Lael spoke since she wasn"t sure she could form words. Was her aunt making this up? Why would she do this? Why cause pain where none was needed?

  “That you belong, Margot. That you were born to do what you would do. That people in our family have always had…abilities…and, if that made you a Guardian, then so be it.”

  “What are your powers?” Her voice sounded hoarse.

  “Excuse me?”

  “If everyone in our family is gifted with these abilities, what are yours?”

  Her aunt spit on the ground before she cleared her throat. “None. My sister. My mother.

  They were all able to do things. Your mother could sometimes see the future. Not her own death clearly, but this she could manage. I got nothing at all.”

  “Lael.” She squeezed his hand. “My head hurts.”

  “Right. Then we"re out of here. Thanks for your help. Maybe we"ll see you sometime for a holiday.”

  Her aunt shook her head. “Not likely.”

  “Okay….”

  “Lael.” She really needed to get out of there before she started hyperventilating. Her mother had gifts? Why didn"t she know? Why hadn"t someone told her?

  He scooped her up in his arms, and they took to the skies. This time, she didn"t even care she might plummet to her death. She rested her head on his shoulder. They stayed quiet for a while but after a few minutes Lael spoke.

  “Maybe things happen for a reason.”

  “Are you suddenly going to get all mumbo jumbo about things? We can"t find a good reason so we say, well, gee, everything must happen for a reason.” She had to shout to be heard, but Lael"s extreme ability to hear came in handy.

  “Think about it. Everything that"s happened. You finding the paper that led you to the Organization. Me quitting on Draco. It led us together, and, ultimately, it did bring us to a time and place that your mother saw in the future. It"s kind of amazing actually.”

  She kissed his shoulder. “What a sweet thought. I"m more concerned about what happens now. Do you go back to being a Guardian? Do I become one? Frankly, I can"t imagine it. I have very little power and no control over what little I possess. I"ll probably freeze in terror instead of saving a client. And your electromagnetism machine? It had no effect on me. I can"t hear heartbeats. Isn"t that a Guardian requirement?”

  “You have never once frozen in terror, and, if I have to keep reminding you of that for the rest of our natural lives, that is what I will do. As for the machine, I bet it did affect you. Only you aren"t as sensitive as
me. You didn"t notice. I"m uber-sensitive. You are better designed to live in the real world. Not every Guardian can hear heartbeats. Face it, sweetheart, you"re amazing.”

  “Thanks for that.”

  “Anytime. And as for what happens now? You don"t have to be a Guardian, and neither do I. In as much as we don"t have to work for Draco. We"re still Guardians. We just are.”

  She nodded. “Like our eye color. Predetermined.”

  “Hold on.”

  Lael set them down. She didn"t even know where they were. Alaska still? Canada? Did it matter? They stood on the side of an unknown highway, the wind blowing at her, and she shivered. Should Guardians even feel the chill? Lael stood a Greek God, and she was so typically human. How could anyone in a million years think she belonged in the same category with him?

  “We make our own rules.” Lael took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly before he continued. “I don"t give a shit about what other people have or will do. I only care about you and me. And you"re plenty powerful. You"re untrained. So was I once. That we can fix. So what do you say, Margot? Should we make our own direction? Figure this out the way we want to?”

  She belonged. That was the message her mother had left her. And, like a light bulb turning on in her head, she understood. Yes, she did. She belonged with Lael. Whatever that meant.

  “I"m not wearing a stupid costume. Whatever path this is, I"m walking it with you.

  Costumeless.”

  Lael grinned. “Deal.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Lael knew Draco watched him. He"d sensed him the second the other man had landed on silent feet. His brother either didn"t want to be seen or he was waiting for some better moment to approach Lael. But, as the kitchen was always busy these days with people seeking food and a little hope during their testing, Lael didn"t know if there was going to be a more appropriate moment to talk than this.

  “Draco, if you"re coming in, then get to it. Maybe you could lend a hand.”

  He almost laughed at his suggestion. The day Draco donned an apron and cooked soup

  would be the day pigs flew into the room. Of course, with the randomness of things lately, maybe Draco"s cooking wasn"t so out of the question.