Catalyst (18 page)

             
"Ok, that's fine. I'm sure I can come up with something," Lillian answered, and though she was pissed at me, she was warm to Marissa.

             
"G
reat. Thank you so much for doing this. It'll be so much easier on the kids
than having
to play catch up when I get back."

             
"No problem."

             
We watched Marissa walk away and I waited for it
as
we
stood in the alcove of darkn
ess by the stairs. There it was;
t
he glare.

             
"You, sir, don't get off so easy."

             
"Lovely," I crooned to get on her good side
,
but it was a no-go.
I decided to change tactics.
"Listen to me and listen good," I told her, all games aside. "I will never, ever put you in a dangerous situation that isn't needed. I know I took you to the club with me before
,
but that was a public place and I knew nothing bad would happen with all those people
there to witness it. They were trying so hard to sway the human vote. This is different and I don't care if the Keepers said you could go with me or not, I wouldn't let you."

             
Her glare intensified as she said, "I'm so glad that you get to decide and dictate my actions for me."

             
"Lillian-"

             
"It's not fair that you have to go
off and put yourself in danger
just because you're a guy."

             
"It's not because I'm a guy, it's because
I can handle myself. I was in the military. I've done things way worse than this, princess."

             
"Don't call me that," she sulked.

             
"And for the record, to further prove we aren't being sexists, Marissa and Celeste are coming too."

             
"Then why can't I?" she yelled.

             
"Because you don't have a gift to help protect yourself!" I bellowed back, but quic
kly backpedaled and turned her
so she'd be against the wall and I was on the outside. "Baby," I sighed and wished with everything in me that she would understand witho
ut my having to say the words.
"I already told you," I said softly, "nothing is going to happen to me. I'll be fine. I'm not trying to boast or anything
,
but I can take down more Lighters than anyone in this joint put together," I said boastfully and grinned.

             
She smiled
up at
me
and
I was shocked at
how
easy she
relented
with
, "Ok, fine
." I must've been gawking because she added, "Y
ou would have thought it was odd for me
to
not put up some kind of fight, right?"

             
"Yep, I would have
,
"
I agreed with a reli
e
ved smile.

             
"
I understand. Even though I may want to go
with you
, this is different
,
I know that. I want you to be completely focused on your
trip. It sucks but…
this whole
thing sucks,
so
why should this be any different?"

             
"You
," I bent and spoke into the skin of her neck,
"
are being pretty awesome right now.
" I kissed her collar bone.
"
I thought we were going to spend our whole last night together fighting."

             
"Not unless you want to," she goaded.

             
"I don't want to."

             
"Then who needs supper,"
she said flippantly and grabbed my hand to drag me with her.

             
"Where are we going?"

             
"I want to spend
all
my time with you
before you leave
."

             
I pulled her to
a
stop as her innuendo smacked me in the thinking part of my brain. "Whoa, hold the phone."

             
She laughed and yanked me forward again.

             
"I said I wanted to spend time with you, Cain, I didn't say that we were doing anything specific
,
"
she replied with a smirk.

             
"Ok, as long as we're clear."

             
She giggled some more and closed the door as we entered. I wasn't sure what I expected her to do
now
that we were there, but I didn't expect the sweet, tight, loving hug that she swept me into.
She whispered her heavy words against my chest.

             
"Promise me you'll be careful."

             
"Of course."

             
"
Say it," she commanded in her still whisper.

             
"I promise that I
'
ll be careful and nothing will happen. I'll come back in three day
s."

             
"
I know you will," she said with conviction and pulled me down to the floor with her. "Don't wake me up in the morning when you leave, ok?"

             
"Ok…but why?"

             
"Because I don't want to cry before you go," she admitted.

             
I lifted her chin to look into her face. She
looked back at me and the unashamed look of love on her face hit me full force. Did she love me too? I tucked her h
air behind her ear just like the
way she'd done a million times before. She rubbed her thumb over my lip ring before kissing me
.

             
I had been
worried before that she was going to try to do something rash with me because I was leaving. I would never have let her because it would have felt too much like a 'goodbye' instead of a 'come back'. But I should have known that she just wanted to be a snuggle bunny. I almost laughed, but I felt so…caught up in the sweetness of her.

             
I lay down with her, never breaking our lips. I hadn't slept in my room since…a long time. Since we got back from the club that time, I realized.

             
She needed me then and it
felt like I needed her now. I needed to know she wasn't angry and she would be here, safe and warm and alive, when I returned. I'd never felt much like a soldier before
. I was a machine. I didn't feel, I just operated. But with precious things at home waitin
g for me, it was harder to go.
I'd never let her see that though. So I kissed her, and kissed her, and pressed her to me to feel her for the real thing she was. I kicked the door to tell them to shove off when someone knocked and said it was time for supper.

             
When someone came by later to tell us supper was done, I growled at them, making L laugh
and press her lips together
.

             
"Don't worry. Food is the last thing on my mind right now, Cain," she said sweetly and softly. Then she pulled me back down to her and I tried with ever
y
fiber in me to
remember where my hands could travel
.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Secrets

Chapter 11 - Lillian

             
I woke
still snuggled against Cain. I looked at him closely, feeling strangely sentimental for such a time of day. He was a Nean
derthal, a chauvinist
, a gorilla when it came to me and my decisions. I smiled at the thought. Someone who was so adamant about my safety couldn’t be all bad, right?

             
It had been a crazy few
days. We had gotten Sherry back and gained a newbie
, Ellie, who was just now starting to come back around
to
the land of the living
. Margo had been dealt with, with s
urprisingly
awe inspiring
results. Merrick told us all about it, abo
ut how incredible it was. Danny
and Celeste had ret
ired right after understandably
and not come out until afternoon the next day.
They seemed fine now, though Celeste seemed less like her normal self and more like someone hell bent on revenge.

             
In times like this, I guess you needed that kind of drive sometimes.

             
Last night, Cain was relentless in his need to show me his affections, but not push me. I told him
last night not to wake me up for his departure
this morning
, but I was wide awake. It was like my body knew he was leaving and there was no way it was going to miss it.

             
I crept out easily and smiled when he grabbed my pillow and said my name. Well, the nickname he made up for me, L. I loved it when he called me that.

             
I finger brushed my hair as I went down the hall and tried not to think about what was coming. Miguel met me as he burst from his door in a rush. I smiled at his eagerness to crack heads.

             
"The Lighters aren't going anywhere, Miguel.
There's plenty of time.
"

             
He looked confused
,
but then laughed. Even his laugh had an accent. "Yeah, I admit I'm ready for some action. This sitting at home stuff isn't for me."

             
"Me either, but here I sit."

             
"I'm glad you'll be
here," he replied. "At least I
'll know you're safe and sound."
He looked away at his admission. I stopped him and smiled, a friendly smile.

             
"
Come back safe, ok? I'd hate it if we couldn't meet in the halls like this every day."

             
"Will do. You can't keep a good Aussie down," he joked. I laughed and hugged him
. He accepted it easily, then
released me and left with a wink
in
typical Miguel fashion.

             
Polly and Piper were friends again it seemed as they looked evil enough,
no doubt plotting on the couch
. They didn't even look my way as I passed them. They would be staying here with us. They couldn’t be
trusted to go out on the run. It was s
ad really.

             
In the kitc
hen, Sherry was up and making
bottles of water. I decide
d
to help since Merrick was nowhere to be seen yet.
I wouldn't want to interrupt their goodbye.

             
"Need help?"

             
"I'm just finishing up actually, but thank you," she answered and when she turned I saw a bruise on her collar bone.

             
"Sherry, what happened?" I moved to touch the mark as she looked down at it, but then she flushed and covered it quickly.

             
"It's nothing," she insisted and her cheeks got even pinker as I understood and chuckled. She laughed too, pressing her lips together to stop the smile. "Merrick…gets a little carried away sometimes."

             
"No explanation needed.
" I waved a hand in flippancy.
"
I'm glad you
guys had a…good time your last night."

             
She swatted me with a dish towel on my arm laughing and then smiled brightly as Merrick came up behind her.