need in his arms. With an internal flash that was as intense as a solar flare, my abilities activated and I felt that the staff wasnât anywhere nearby. Oh, a few hallowed things were, but nothing as significant as an object that had channeled enough power from on high to control nature. That wouldnât register as a faint âblipâ on my radar. It would blast it, just like Davidâs ancient slingshot had when I found it months ago.
Adrian pulled away, his hands now framing my face instead of gripping my hips. âI felt that. What is it?â
âYou can feel that?â I asked with a gasp.
He brushed my hair away while his gaze raked over me. âYouâd be amazed by some of my abilities, Ivy.â
The raw sensuality in his voice promised pleasure and threatened obsession. At the same time, there was something distinctly not sexy about my abilities rearing their head right now. To say that I hadnât been focusing on anything hallowed for the past several minutes was putting it mildly.
Yet my abilities had had their priorities in order, even if I hadnât. I uncurled myself from Adrianâs embrace and began to scoot back into my seat. His eyes stayed locked onto mine, but he didnât stop me.
âYou were right, adrenaline did the trick, but the staff isnât here,â I said, voice raspy as I tried to regain control.
âAh.â The word did nothing to tell me what he was thinking about my putting the brakes onâor starting things to begin with. Was he frustrated? Upset? I couldnât stand not knowing.
âYouâyou could say something else about what just happened,â I stammered.
The faintest smile tugged his lips, which were fuller from how hard heâd kissed me. âSo could you, but if you want me to go first, fine. I love how you taste, how you feel, the little noises you make when youâre turned on, and when you ripped my shirt open, I wanted to throw you in the back and fuck you so hard, all the windows would shatter.â
Adrianâs tone was light and he never lost that half smile, but his stare said that he meant every word.
âYou promised.â My response was 90 percent a reminder of his vow, and 10 percent a plea for him to forget it.
He reached out, catching my hand in his. Then he brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles while never breaking his stare.
âThatâs why weâre still in the front seat, but you wanted to know what I was thinking, so I told you.â
Then he let go of my hand and moved his seat forward. I looked away, flushing. I hadnât even noticed him moving it back, but I wouldnât have fit on his lap otherwise. Despite my tinge of embarrassment, I also felt a sense of relief. By repositioning his seat, Adrian was further confirming that nothing else was going to happen. Iâm the one whoâd started this, but Iâd only meant it to be a kiss. Not for it to end with sex.
Then again, if my hallowed radar hadnât acted up, who knows how this would have ended? With lots of broken windows?
âYour turn,â he said, interrupting that dangerous line of thought. âYouâre the one who kissed me. Why?â
I squirmed at his bluntness. âIsnât it kinda obvious?â
Another ghost of a smile. âI didnât make you guess what I was thinking when I answered you.â
No, he sure hadnât. I looked away, unable to reply while on the receiving end of that deep blue stare. His gaze was too probing, too knowing, and yes, still too enticing.
âI shouldnât have,â I said at last. âThat makes me a tease, I suppose, but I felt so...free, right before I kissed you.â I let out a choppy laugh. âGuess it made me forget all the reasons why Iâm not.â
âIvy.â The way he said my name forced me to look at him. When I did, he pulled me into his arms before I even realized that heâd moved.
âAdrianââ
âShh,â he murmured. âI donât think Iâve ever just held you before. I was always pushing you away, and the one time I didnât, we were also in this car.â His lips brushed my hair. âDid you know that old Challengers were your aphrodisiac?â
I laughed, relaxing at his loose embrace and his light, bantering tone. âWhat can I say? Iâm into vintage things.â
His chuckle rumbled against my back. âIâve missed you, Ivy. All of you, so donât think youâre not free around me because you are. That means kissing me isnât teasing. I want to do truly filthy things to you, but I can wait. If Zach hurries his Archon ass up, I wonât even have to wait long.â
I had to say it. âYou do know itâs extremely twisted that you need an angelâs help to hook up, right?â
This time, his laughter had an edge. âI never have before, but with Zach, I can give you the guarantee that you demanded.â
I didnât remind him that Iâd only promised him a chance, not a sure thing. âHow does Zach factor into you proving that you can beat your fate?â I asked instead.
He tensed, but then relaxed almost as fast. âItâs complicated, so Iâd rather show you than tell you.â
âThatâs what my prom date said right before I cracked a beer bottle over his head,â I replied, my tone dry. âYou told me no more secrets, remember?â
He angled his head so he could look at me, and his expression was serious. âI donât want to tell you right now. Thatâs a choice, not a secret, and yes, thereâs a difference.â
Not in my mind, but Iâd given him an ultimatumâa huge oneâand heâd sworn to meet it. I still didnât think that it was possible, but I had to admitâthe idea was starting to appeal. And if it was possible for Adrian to prove that he could beat his fate without having to wait until the end of this war, how could I refuse to honor the only stipulation heâd given me?
âFine,â I said. âYouâll tell me, or show me, when Zach does what you want him to.â If he does, I silently added. Then I changed the subject. âSo, the staffâs not here. Whatâs next on our list of places filled with unexplainable natural weirdness?â
âItâs...â His voice trailed off, then he almost shoved me away. He was out of the car before I could ask what was wrong, but one look around answered that.
When Iâd glanced out the window moments ago, the sky had been bright blue. Now, it was deepest indigo that was fast turning to black. With all the crazy lightning, I wouldâve thought a storm was rolling in, except there were no clouds.
Adrian jumped back into the car, slamming it into gear and hitting the gas. The instant velocity knocked me against the seats hard enough to risk whiplash.
âCall Costa.â His
