Counterpart (Succubi & Incubi Assn.) (43 page)

Today just seemed to be a day where everything was different because
Tristan wasn’t alone. Instead, he was sitting down on a bench, unwrapping and
wrapping his hand while a doctor examined his cut again. “You won't need
stitches, but you just need to keep the swelling down. You'll be alright,
mate.”

“Thanks, doc,” Tristan said, smiling towards the middle-aged man.

I stayed by the doorway, waiting for the doctor to finish packing
up, and when he left, Tristan finally noticed me.

“Hey.” The cut that was under his eyes was bandaged up, an obvious
swelling around it and I was sure that was going to be a black eye tomorrow. At
least that was the only thing wrong.

“Hey handsome.” I grinned, walking in and taking the remaining few
steps before sitting on his right. “You look even better than you did this
morning.”

Continuing to wrap and unwrap his hands, he flicked his gaze towards
mine, a smirk pulling up on his lips. “Really? I always thought black eyes and
cuts worked for me, thanks for confirming that.”

“You're welcome.” I reached up and lightly touched the bottom of his
eye, where the swelling was at its max. I removed my hand and held it in front
of him. “How are you feeling?”

He knew exactly what I wanted and he passed me an ice cold beer.
Placing it slowly under his eye, I heard him intake a sharp breath before
relaxing, letting the cool feel soothe the skin. “Better now that you're here.”

“Still being a sap, hm?” I leaned forward and let him meet me in the
middle, where he lightly placed a kiss on my lips.

“If you haven't noticed, I still have maple syrup on my chest.”
Moving my eyes down, I spotted a few specs here and there that were indeed the
syrup but could easily be mistaken for sweat. “I never realized how much of a
bitch it was to wash off.”

I was still looking at his chest, and about 90% of me wanted to
finish off what we were doing. “Well…” Lifting my legs, Tristan accepted them
as I slid them onto his lap. “Mel and the boys are going out, so maybe we could
go back—”

“Knock, knock. Oh shit, sorry, Tristan.”

My legs were quickly off Tristan's lap and I felt my back stiffen.
It wasn't that I was surprised by the sudden voice that walked into the locker
room—I was. It was the reality that this voice sounded familiar that startled
me.

“Oh, no,” Tristan said, “come in.”

My mind was quick to decipher this voice, and I was too scared to
move my eyes as they narrowed where Tristan was sitting. I didn't want my
memory and ears to be right with what I was going to see. If they were
right—which I'm hoping to God they're not—then how the fuck did this even
happen?

Noticing that I'm probably making this obvious to everyone, I turned
my eyes to the door.

Oh my God.

“Maya, this is Tanner,” Tristan said, “Geoff's son. He's taking over
his father's position.”

I couldn't even hear Tristan's voice as the male walked into the
room. I felt like I was being haunted. Brown skin covered his tall and lean
frame. Dark brown eyes were shaded by the messy ruffle of his black hair.

It was then that the memory hit me.

I moved my palm over his cheeks and threaded them into the silk
strands of his hair. They felt like heaven between my fingers, and I lightly
gripped them, urging my fingers to lose themselves in the midst of it.

He was definitely alive and standing right in front of me.

God, I remembered when he annoyed me.

A brown complexion with brown eyes and short black hair was the only
thing I managed to notice about him. Other than the fact that he held a strong
yet lean build, there was nothing about him that satisfied me. Maybe because I
was annoyed or maybe because I just wanted to go home, but I just wanted punch
him for talking so much. He would have been considered a jackpot, if he didn't
stop asking questions. He had asked me things like, 'What's your name? How old
are you? Do you want a drink?'. I answered every question simply, not even
bothering to ask the same—it's not like he'll remember it in the morning—and I
was grateful for the last question.

The way he walked towards Tristan and I with a glint in his eye and
a smirk playing on his lips, I knew he wasn't that guy anymore. I also knew
that he knew exactly who I was.

“Maya, it's nice to finally meet you.” He out-stretched his hand. I
knew I was staring but fuck, there was fucking ghost standing in front of me.
Not only that, but he was Tristan's new mentor.

Maya, Tristan’s going to think something’s up, cut it out!

“Uh, yeah you too.” Out of despite, I shook his hand and as if this
moment wasn't already freaky enough, I felt something in his shake. It wasn't
the way he shook my hand, or the way his skin still felt the same from the
night I met him. It was the fact that I felt every single piece of his lust,
and then something else that I couldn’t put my finger on.

This guy was an incubus as far as I was concerned, and he knew that
I was a succubus. He was the scent I could smell earlier.

Slipping his hand out of mine, I felt nerves rake through me, hoping
he didn't say anything to Tristan. Honesty was something he wanted from me, but
how the hell was I going to tell him that I slept with his ex-trainer, and I
slept with his current one as well?

Like he could hear what I was thinking, his smirk deepened and he
switched his gaze to Tristan. “I actually came here to congratulate you on your
match, and I can't wait to work alongside you.”

“Yeah.” Tristan was oblivious to everything and I was glad about
that. “For sure, man.”

Tanner nodded his head once and was back to looking to me. “Until
next time, Maya, Tristan.”

When the ghost walked out of the room, I begged that Tristan woke me
up from this dream, and we'd be back in my bed. I just want this day to start
over again, is that too much to ask for?

“Babe.” I felt Tristan slide his arms around my waist. “You look
like you've seen a ghost, do you know him?”

“What? No. No.” The lie felt disgusting as it passed my lips and I
hated myself for doing this right now. “It's just...” The fake smile that I
forced on my face was instant. “He just reminded me of someone I used to know.”

“Oh, okay.” I could tell that Tristan didn't believe me. I could
also tell that Tristan figured that this guy was one of my victims. I didn't
have a problem with that. I just found it hard to tell him without him becoming
all weird about it. It just had to stay a secret, just like the note that I
found by my dresser.

“Maya,” Tristan whispered into my ear as his lips pressed against
the skin. “You have that thoughtful face on again, and you know I know that
you're thinking really deeply about something. Tell me what's up.”

There he went getting all husky voiced and sexy while he persuaded
the truth out of me. Just by the way his arms were securely wrapped around me
only led me to believe that I could be honest with him. I should be honest with
him.

What have I got to lose?

Tristan.

Swallowing my pride, I took a deep breath. “Tristan, that Tanner
guy—”

“Maya Simmons?”

Starting to get irritated by the interruptions, I turned, preparing
to glare at the culprit.

My glare was definitely put on hold when the last people I'd expect
to see were standing in front of me. A dark-skinned man in a clean suit stood
between two dark uniforms. These uniforms weren't something you missed, or even
thought of positively when they stood in front of you.

It was never good when these people were involved.

“Officer,” Tristan said, “what's going on?” I felt his arm move in
front of me, and I knew he was thinking the same thing that I was.

“Please step aside, sir,” the man in the suite said, keeping his
eyes on me. “Are you Maya Simmons?”

I wanted to do the whole lie thing again but how did I know that
they didn't already know that I was Maya? “Yeah, that's me.”

The guy in the suit nodded his head, and the two officers moved
accordingly.

“Maya Simmons, you're under arrest for suspicion on breaking and
entering and damaging of property.”

“What?” One of the guys was behind me before I could do anything and
my hands were forced behind my back.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and
will be held against you in a court of law.”

“This has to be a joke,” I heard Tristan say, who was currently
being pushed back by the other cop.

“You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an
attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have
just read to you?”

The only thing I could understand was my heart pounding against my
chest. What the hell is going on?

“Do you understand these rights I have just read to you, Ms
Simmons?” the suit-man asked again.

I was looking to Tristan and I expected to see the same expression
on his face as mine. It was in a way, but I could tell by the way his eyes were
averted and how his hands were clenched that he was more angry than worried.

“Ms Simmons—”

“Yes, yes I do.” I said, not wanting to hear it. “I just don't
understand what the hell is going on.”

The cuffs secured around my wrist were so uncomfortable and they
clenched around my skin like a vice.

The suit man stood in front of me and he held a face of pity as his
eyes stared into mine. “There was a break in at the city gym last night.
Windows, doors and mirrors were smashed. Your blood was found on the scene
along with fingerprints. Take her away.”

“What? No.” I tried to tug my arms free of the male behind me but it
only made matters worse when he went rough. “Tristan.”

Tristan was frozen as he watched me getting taken out. His eyes
connected with mine and in the look, I could see that he didn't know what to
do. He hated it. The pain in his eyes confirmed that and I was almost choking
on the lump in my throat.

“Maya.” He was suddenly in front of me, his hands holding my face.
“I'll fix it. Okay, baby, we'll fix it.”

What did he mean by we'll fix it? How was I going to fix this when
I’m behind bars? How could he possibly fix something like this?

I needed a lawyer, a fucking good lawyer.

I was pulled away from Tristan no more than two seconds after he
touched me and the officer that was in front of him was now pushing him back.
As they pulled me out of the room, I couldn't get my mind to focus on one
thing.

I was being arrested for breaking and entering, and damaging of a
property? They found my blood and fingerprints? Was this what Ethan was trying
to warn me of? Was this what that note was warning me of?

At least I had my rights, I guess.

It still didn't kill the obvious though.

How was I supposed to fight for myself—or even find a lawyer—when I
can't even remember anything that happened?

I watched Maya lying there. The thoughts running through my head
were making me mentally exhausted. Was she going to be okay? Is she still even
breathing? Was she dying? How come she hasn't woken up yet?

Tension grew in my muscles every time I looked at her helpless body.
She doesn't even look like what happened had happened. The way her eyes were so
lightly closed, confirming she was in a deep sleep. The way her perfect lips
parted as she dreamed. It was the only thing keeping me from running over there
and attempting to coax her awake.

“She's starting to gain some color back in her cheeks,” Melinda
murmured, “and her breathing is starting to sound normal. It's a good sign.”

I just wanted to hug
Rosa
tightly right now. Maya had looked like death when we took her down
that I wasn't even sure she was going to make it. I hated that I saw the whole
thing happen to her, yet my own flesh wouldn't respond. I wanted to help her so
bad. I wanted to do anything I could to tell her that I was alright, tell her
that we were going to be okay. But I couldn't. All I could do was watch from a
bird’s eye view and hope for the fucking best. I'd never felt so frustrated
before that moment.

“Um, can you guys step out for a minute?” Melinda asked, flicking
her gaze between Daniel, Ethan and
I.
“I just want to get rid of this dress. She'd freak if she woke up
in it.”

The last thing I wanted to do was leave Maya but Melinda had a valid
point. If we were in different circumstances I’d love to see Maya in that red
dress as it hugged her curves perfectly. Maya would freak if she saw the blood
that was smeared on her right side. With that and the fact that she wouldn’t be
able to remember what had happened, she’d instantly think the worst.

Walking out of the room, I kept myself close to the door. Daniel let
out a frustrated sigh and I knew that he was feeling the same as we all were.