IT WAS WELL after midnight, by the time Ashe and Bels had reached the sliding glass doors of C.C.H. The leisurely walk had been filled with talking, soft gazes, and gentle laughs. “After you, milady.” His hand extended, giving her the chance to step through the set of double glass doors. Ashe was half expecting Bill to jump out of his seat, as he did for every beautiful woman who walked through the door. To his relief, the elderly security guard was absent from the guard’s station.

“You are too much.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t follow. What do you mean?” He could feel the blossom of warmth blooming at his swollen cheeks, as she brushed up against him.

“You’re very sweet, is all I meant. You’re right. You’re every bit the gentleman you claim to be.”

His cheeks were on fire, glowing almost as brightly as her luminous smile.

“Thank you. That’s kind of you to say. Please, allow me.” Yep, his chest was puffing waaaaaaaay out as he hit the circular call button for the general elevator. “You don’t have the slightest clue of the effect you have on people, do you?”

She cranked her head around, worry dancing across her eyes. “What do you mean?” Her words came out in a rough rush of syllables.

“I mean, there’s something about you I find truly unique and genuine. I doubt I’m the only one who’s been affected by your charms.” She didn’t say another word as they climbed into the elevator and he punched the button for the fourth floor.

His eyes fell to floor, and he felt like kicking himself in the ass for saying something so stupid. The problem was, what he had said to her was true. Bels had an aura of kindness surrounding her, as though all she wanted to do was to take away the pain from every person they came across.

The elevator door slid open, revealing another long hallway of hospital rooms. The silence was broken up with the sound of monitors beeping, reading off heart rates and blood pressures of the sleeping patients. “This is my favorite floor.” Ashe motioned Bels to lead the way out of the elevator. His eyes lingered on the sway of her hips as she stepped out, and caressed the curve of her splendid ass. Everything about her stirred a carnal need deep in his primal core. The blood pumping through his veins burned hotter with each footfall he watched her take. Mine. You will be mine.

“Why? What’s so special about it?” Her voice tickled in his ears, calling to him like a siren to the sea. Swiveling around to meet his gaze, her eyes were full of questions. With one look, Kakabel had mesmerized him into a bumbling fool. His mouth was dry, so he worked his tongue around to moisten it.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Is everything all right, Ashe?”

His palms were slick, and his heart was hammering loud enough to hear it. He quickly thanked the powers to be for his ribcage holding it behind a bone jail. What a fool he’d make if the stupid thing plopped out right in front of her. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?” The gentle sound of her voice reminded him of soft fingers combing through his hair. Comforting, and at the same time, alluring.

“The way you look at me, like all this is new for you and I’m the lucky bloke who gets to introduce you to the world.”

Her cheeks began to flush a deeper shade of rose as she wrung her hands together. “I guess I’m curious at heart,” she murmured, and then broke the connection by glancing down at the floor. It was too late though. Bels had somehow hardwired a tether to his desire, stronger than any known aircraft cables man could make. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Which was?”

“Why is this place so special?” There was an odd hitch to her voice this time, and she tried to avert her stare from his. He’d give her this one. Whatever the connection was he had felt, in the long moments of gazing into each other’s eyes, had affected her, too. Could it be possible? Was she actually blushing?

“Well, it’s the ICU ward. I’ve met many great little ones in here. The stories these kids come up with are astounding. Their imaginations are ingenious! I love listening to them talk.”

“But don’t you work third shift? Shouldn’t the patients be sleeping during the night?” Her face was soft yet unreadable when she turned back to face him again.

“Um yes, I do as a matter of fact. How do you know?”

“I assumed it, based on your lack of tan.”

“I am Irish, remember? We’re all a bit suntan resistant.” Her small laughs made the knot in his gut loosen, allowing him to relax. She had this way of making him feel like everything was as easy as breathing. Ashe idly wondered what it would be like waking next Bels, her warm smile greeting him from the moment his eyes popped open, and the supple crush of her body intertwined with his.

“Well, I assumed since I saw you leaving here in the morning, and again walking to work the other night, I put two and two together. Truly, it wasn’t hard.”

Smart and beautiful, I don’t stand a chance in Hell with her. She is so far out of my league, it’s not even funny. But why is she here then? I don’t get it. “Clever one, aren’t you?” His smiled lifted, as did hers, and they shared the quiet moment. Another vision of her lying beside him as he stroked her cheek, and the supple flesh along the column of her neck lightly with his lips, struck his frontal lobe with a powerful longing. It was all he could do to rein in his growing desire to reach out and test his theory of her skin. Was it as buttery soft as he imagined it to be? Would she flush from his touch, or recoil?

“It seems peaceful up here. I see why you chose to work at night.”

Work … night … huh? Oh yeah, she’s talking about my job. Focus, mate! Blinking back the vision, Ashe shook out his head and turned toward the ICU ward. “We have to be quiet. Come.”

She followed his lead, stepping next to him. A burning shot of electricity ran up his arm and down his spine until it reached his balls with the brush of her hand against his. The subtle perfume of water lilies filled his lungs with each inhale. You smell heavenly.

 

 

INTERNALLY, HER WARNING systems had been firing off since the moment Ashe had opened his front door. The bruises set in quickly, as the blood crusted over and stained his brow, cheek, and lip. The fire in her veins surged throughout with the dire need to seek and destroy whomever beat the living piss out of him. Although he was reluctant to discuss it, she managed to attain some basic facts, which had her gut swimming in stress. Her mind kept circling around what he had told her, and what she could see with her own silver eyes.

Her purpose had become a dual mission. First, investigate his apartment and ask him coyly about the two tomes she had seen sitting on his couch just days earlier. It hadn’t taken her but a few minutes to scan his living room and assess they weren’t there. She held out hope he had tucked them away in his room. And jumped at the chance to look in there, while he was searching for his first-aid kit. Unfortunately it was with the same result; she didn’t find them. The same question chanted through her mind. Where are the books? Who is he? Was he actually attacked by demons?

The latter was answered the second she pulled the wet gauze back from the gash at his brow. Trace hints of black blood fuming with sulfuric scent hit her nostrils. She didn’t miss the way he winced as he leaned back against the couch cushions either, or when he pulled his coat on. Something was definitely going on, and she wasn’t going to stop searching for answers.

What she hadn’t expected was to feel her pulse kick up when Ashe cupped her hand as she blotted the cut on his cheek. The heat pouring off him was hot enough to make her body flush in response. His dark eyes lingered on hers a little too long. His cracked smiled spread a little too wide, as he allowed her to care for him. Things had felt a little too intimate, sitting on the couch with him. It was almost a relief when he asked her to walk to his work. Some cool night air, surrounded by the city and its inhabitants, would give her the distance she needed to clear her head.

It hadn’t, though, had it? Her mind raced with the rote questions, as she worked on keeping her composure. One thing didn’t change; she was on high alert. Searching down each road, doorway, and nook, her eyes darted over anything posing as a possible threat. At least it gave her time to play the twenty questions game with him. And found the only topic he wasn’t willing to dip a toe into was his childhood, or rather his family. When Ashe returned fire, she kept her answers short and sweet.

As they ambled down a long corridor, the muffled beeping of monitors going off and shuffling of papers littered the cool air. She kept pace with Ashe as he guided them past the nurse’s station and around the corner. “There’s someone here I wish you to meet.” The sound of his hushed voice—rich, deep, and accented in a thick Irish brogue—wasn’t helping her tamp down the seed of wonder blooming in her belly.

“Ashe, it’s the middle of the night. The kids are sleeping. I don’t want to wake them up. Maybe we could come back when it’s daylight.” Her hands worked themselves over, wringing and patting her hips to dry the sweat heating up from her palms.

“I assure you, its fine. There’s one in particular who doesn’t sleep well. I stop by and say hello the nights I work. I think you’re going to like her. She’s a sweet kid.”

What could she say? Hell no, let’s leave? She gave him a small smile and glanced around. The last thing she wanted was to be caught up in his gaze again. The depths of his nearly black eyes were an abyss she was too tempted to play in. Bels didn’t say another word, as they passed three more rooms.

“She’s in here.” He pushed the slightly ajar door open, peeking his head inside. “Hello, milady. How do thee fare this night?”

Bels sensed the concern and compassion in Ashe’s voice as he spoke to the child, and it caused her to cup her heart. A cheerful voice squealed out his name, as he stepped over the threshold.

“May I bring a friend in?”

A muffled, “Yes,” followed, as the air around Bels shifted. A lightness swaddled her as she leaned against the jamb. Ashe turned back to her, and reached out for her hand. At the moment of connection, her lungs shuddered, as the sensation of electricity exploded throughout her body. “Jovie, I’d like you to meet my good friend Bels.”

Bels locked eyes on the young girl, and even in the dim light, she instantly recognized the child. Sucking in another shuddering breath, she had to blink back from the golden aura encapsulating the child. Jovie was special, there was no denying it. Bels’ heart sunk once more. The impending death was looming over Jovie like a sick joke.

She closed the distance, and offered a gentle sounding, “Hello,” in time to see the girl’s auburn brows shoot up.

“I’ve seen you before!” Her voice lifted higher as she continued. “But where are your wings?”

Ashe swiveled his head around, staring at Bels then Jovie and back to Bels again with a sardonic glare. With a shrug, Bels laughed a little to play it off, but wondered how the child had known she had been watching over them. Maybe those close to death can see us. I don’t remember it ever happening before. Then again, I’ve never seen a Dark Angel kill a full D\demon before Ferrian. Shit. This is so not a good thing. Think, Bels! Think! The longer she thought about it, the more her heart seized. Was it possible the child had seen her? How was she going to explain this one to Cass and the rest? Chalking it up to the impending death, she figured it was her mind opening up, readying to pass on from this world. “Awe, sweetie … I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I have one of those faces.”

In unison, Ashe and Jovie answer with a, “No you don’t.” It would have been cute normally, if it hadn’t flipped her panic switch on. “No, I saw you … out there, flying around the building. I know it was you!”

“Jovie, it’s not possible. The medicine can make you see things. It plays tricks on your mind. Bels doesn’t have wings as you can see.” Ashe twirled his finger around, coaxing her to follow his lead. She spun around for Jovie’s viewing—and she was sure Ashe’s benefit, too—until she had done a full three-sixty. “See, no wings, little love. I think you’re not getting enough rest. Maybe we should go.”

“No!” She jerked forward, her hazel eyes brimming with dread. “Please, don’t go. I’m so bored and no one will talk to me.”

“Jovie doesn’t get many visitors.” He turned to explain to her. “Other than her father, it’s the nursing staff and me.”

“I do see. Well then,” she smiled at the girl, sidled up to the bed, and proceeded to plop right down on the end, “what shall we talk about Miss Jovie?”

The child beamed as though it were Christmas morning. A rose flush warmed her cheeks as she sat up in a bouncy fashion. “Do you like the show Once Upon A Time?”

Bels tucked her hair behind her ear, thinking about all the shows she had seen since television was invented. She remembered watching I Love Lucy up to Criminal Minds, and her favorite, Treehouse Master. This time, she came up empty. “No, sorry. Is it any good?”

The scuffing sound of a chair being dragged up next to the bed was promptly followed with a groan of the oak frame, as Ashe slid down into the chair. A bright smile glowed from his lips, watching them chat it up.

“Yes! It takes all the fairy tales and mixes them up in the current time. It’s crazy! What about The Walking Dead, have you seen it?”

This time it was a no-brainer. It was the one show she, Roc, and Cass all watched together. “I sure have, kiddo. Love it. But aren’t you a little young to watch something so scary?”

Ashe coughed out a laugh. “You’d think so. Don’t let her age fool you. Miss Jovie over here is older than her years.”

“Yup! It’s not scary anyway. I always said if a zombie apocalypse breaks out, I want to be like Michonne and run around with swords, and slice zombies in half.”

“Well, I’m sure you’d do wonderfully. Mind if I’m on your team? Zombies are kind of creepy.”

For the next hour, Bels, Ashe, and Jovie discussed the finer points of proper sword techniques for cutting down zombies, and then moved on to Arrow. For a child, Jovie seemed to have an usual fascination with weapons. Especially the ones which made little to no sound. It wasn’t any wonder why she and Ashe had become such a pair.

Jovie’s eyelids drooped, and a yawn split her lips with a sigh. Bels climbed to her feet. “It was wonderful to meet you, Jovie.”

“Will you come back?” Panic raced across her face. “I mean, it was fun talking to you and I’d like to do it again.”

Bels leaned down, and held the girl in a tender embrace, stroking her hair back. “I’d like to, if you’re up to it,” she whispered in Jovie’s ear. “You make sure to get plenty of rest. All right?”

“Milady.” Ashe followed Bels, and leaned in for a quick squeeze “She’s right. You need your rest, squirt.”

“I will.” Jovie’s lids lowered until lashes crossed lashes. Bels was first through the thick wood door. Her heart hadn’t realized the bear grip it had held on her heart since Jovie first recognized her. A subtle click later, Ashe was standing next her, pulling away from Jovie’s room.

“She’s great, Ashe. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m glad you came. I think she kind of likes you.” His eyes lifted to hers; so dark and warm, flashing with specks of amber. She had to blink a few times to focus. Had his eyes changed color in front of her? Still, the desire pooling in them was matching her own, with each passing second. “I can’t blame her. I kind of like you, too.”

Cue the hitched breath and lightheadedness. It wasn’t so much as feeling her body light up, as it shouldn’t be happening. Ashe had triggered a primal feeling deep in her sex, and it was both scaring the shit out of her as well as milking her dry of reason.

“I … I have to go. I’m sorry.” She didn’t wait for him to protest, or give him the chance to tug her back to him. Bels took off like a shot and bee-lined it for the nearest empty room. The first one she found, she ducked into and dematerialized out of the hospital and up to the rooftop.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit! What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be this close. No. I need to stay as far away from him as possible. No more pop-ups and coincidental run-ins.” Sure, the promise sounded solid. She repeated it over and over until a voice shattered her frantic pacing and chanting. It was Ashe, running out into the street, calling her name. “Shit! What have I done?”