Braving the Elements (Darkness #2)(8)

Charles had noticed her look of crushed bewilderment earlier. He’d seen the dark cloud settle more firmly around her shoulders. It was heavier and darker than the previous dark cloud of failure and uncertainty. It was adding weight and pressure, which might crush her chances of becoming whatever the Boss thought she could be.

The strange thing was, Sasha seemed like such a tough, street-smart girl.

She would run head-first into danger with a smile on her face, but call her a pet and she broke down. There was a sensitivity there, an uncertainty of being different and cast aside, that flowed beneath the fun-loving, brash exterior.

She might play at being indestructible, but she was a person underneath it all, with the same soft spots and triggers. Charles could sympathize; he was extremely young for Watch Commander, and got poked at and ridiculed constantly. He’d spent a whole year beating the crap out of people to mask his insecurity. Sasha would beat this, too, she just had to beat a few heads first.

Maybe Charles should show her how. Later, though. For right now, he would use a little charm. He’d been studying up, watching the human romance movies. A little research and voila, spread legs and a happy ending.

Fail proof.

“Hey,” he said, careful not to touch her in case she blasted him with one of those hair eating fogs. “Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?”

“No. You must’ve missed that step in your pick-up routine.”

Her voice was flat. Serious, or sarcastic… It was hard to tell with her when she was in a bad mood. Probably serious—she didn’t tend to joke when she was sad.

Movie rule number one: when in doubt, apologize.

“I’m sorry, that was my fault. I can be really oblivious at times. But you really are, you know. You have beautiful eyes…”

She hesitated as she reached for the door handle. Slowly, not able to help herself, she turned to him, insecurity riding her movements. Fidgety. “Yeah right. I’m ugly compared to the girls in that mansion.”

Her long eyelashes fluttered and her heart-shaped lips dropped into a sensuous pout. Oh man, it would be worth it fighting that weird essence of the Boss. Charles wanted to conquer this mountain so bad, it hurt.

However, movie rule number two: he had to take it easy. Easy and sensitive—human chicks dug that.

He suppressed his grin and leaned against the car. “They have nothing underneath it. All they are is hip and breast. You are the whole package. You make me want to be a better person.”

Her brows dipped in confusion as her body unconsciously swayed toward him. He straightened up a little, draping his body around her, but not touching her yet. He had her on the hook, but he hadn’t reeled her in. She was skittish. He had to take his time.

“I am?” Her pout got more pronounced, uncertainty tugging at the corners of her lips.

Classic chick response. “Yes, you are. You’re really sexy. I’m scared of walking away and never feeling, in my whole life, the way I feel with you right now. You get me in all the right ways. No one else affects me like you do.”

Her lamb eyes blinked up at him, hopeful. Trusting. Wanting to be something special to a man, and begging him to be that guy. To give her that fantasy of happily ever after.

He bent down toward her, his face close to hers, his hands settling low on her hips. “We fit together, you and me. I like you just the way you are. We’ll make magic together.”

She stepped closer, unable to help herself, her eyes on his lips. Her hands, kept low, reached for him, needy. Wanting to be loved.

A surge of electricity lit up his world. His teeth welded shut and his eyes vibrated in his skull. He rolled back against the metal of the car and shimmied down the hood. Electricity frazzled his nerves and zinged out through his limbs.

“Why would you do that to me?” he yelled, spasming on the ground.

“And what the hell did you just do?”

“A whistle is good, but sometimes I like the power of a Taser.”

“Uuuuhhhhhh-uh.” His body pulsed in a horrible way. “That’s a helluva way to treat someone who’s complimenting you!”

“Charles, really? We’d make magic together? You like me just the way I am? Why didn’t you just say, ‘You complete me’? And no way do I rank over the super models with crazy kick moves that walk in that house. Give me a break.”

“I was trying to make you feel better!”

“By coming on to me? And, I feel fine. What are you talking about?”

The way he noticed her standing, though, with her chin raised and her face wary, it was pretty clear she did not feel fine. Charles had a feeling she was really self-conscious about something. But she was still fingering that damned Taser like her own personal bodyguard. Two words flashed through Charles head: s teer clear.

“My mistake. Operation: Let’s Get Charles Killed When the Boss Finds Out Sasha Has Defied a Direct Order is underway. Let’s get this baby up to one-twenty-nine this time.”

“No problem.”

His balls hurt. Stupid human movies. Now he’d have to give it some time before trying to have sex with her again. Otherwise, she may do irreparable damage.

The next day saw Bert completely hairless and extremely irritated. The man just would not back off when Sasha gritted her teeth and swore.

It was his own damn fault.

The bad news was Sasha was now being ridiculed by the other students.