Love, Immortal (Alchemy Book 2) Page 7

  “Thank you,” she said and took a polite sip.

  Travis took her hand. “Davey, I’m a man of science, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for the philosophical. Maybe everything that happened today is a sign. You and Hogan should stay with me tonight. We can come back and gather the rest of your things later.”

  Swallowing too quickly, the hot liquid scalded her tongue and throat as Davey choked. Coughing to clear her lungs, she took a wheezing breath and coughed several more times before recovering enough to speak.

  Travis pursed his lips. “Well that’s quite the reaction.”

  The mug clutched within Davey’s hands began to shake. Scalding hot tea sloshed onto the triangle of skin between her thumb and index finger, but she didn’t feel anything. Travis wasn’t going to put off this conversation any longer. “I can’t move in with you,” she said.

  “Then I’ll move in here,” he countered doggedly.

  “No,” Davey whispered.

  Crossing his legs, Travis set his mug aside. “You’re never going to be ready, are you?”

  Biting her lip, she shook her head. “No.”

  “I see,” he said quietly. “Is this about that guy—the one from your past?”

  “I’m not ready to let him go,” she admitted softly.

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, Travis inhaled deeply and then exhaled with equal intensity. “Let’s not talk about this right now. You’ve been through hell today and arguing about a long gone ex-boyfriend isn’t going to be conducive to helping you relax.”

  Davey stared down at her fingers, still wrapped around the mug of cooling tea, but didn’t speak.

  “Okay then.” Travis sighed and stood up. “Just know that I love you. I’m here and he’s not. I’m going to keep being here…no matter how hard you try to push me away.” He finished by changing the subject with a question that completely caught her off guard. “Has Hogan had dinner yet?”

  Shit. There was something else for her to feel guilty about. “No.”

  “How about I order some pizzas for the three of us then?”

  “Hogan would love that,” Davey said with a grateful smile. “Be sure to get the cheesy pepperoni bread too.”

  “You know that’s essentially the same thing as pizza, right?”

  “Try explaining that to Hogan.”

  Travis grinned as the tension finally lifted between them. “I could see how that might be a losing battle.”

  Davey mustered a small laugh. “And you wouldn’t be wrong,” she said.

  ∞∞∞

  Outside, the sun had begun to set and Ethan had yet to return. Davey went upstairs to check on Hogan, collaborating with him to choose the toppings for the pizzas. Since he had finished his homework, Davey insisted that he join her and Travis to watch the latest big budget, action-adventure flick about two spies who were also lovers. It took a little convincing because Travis had a tendency to get a little handsy whenever the lights were turned down—no matter the company—and Hogan hated that. But an hour later, all three of them were lounging in the living room, fully invested in seeing the final outcome of the thriller, especially after a major plot twist. The doorbell rang twice before Davey paused the television and moved reluctantly from the sofa.

  “Since no one else is moving,” she grumbled, and started for the door but stopped. “Travis, do you have cash for a tip?”

  “Yeah,” he said and tossed her his wallet.

  Making a clumsy catch, Davey uttered a begrudging thank you and answered the door. She was stunned to see Ethan standing outside. Without saying a word, he stepped in from the darkness, an effigy of cool serenity that electrified the room.

  Ethan was a paradox in many ways. He was a machine—a weapon. Without remorse, he could execute calculated horrors that might trouble even the most debased conscience. But he was also guided by the tender soul of a man who felt love and hurt deeply, and was capable of jealously, passion, and anger. Dying in his early twenties and hosted within a body that never aged, Ethan would always have the visage of a young man, but this second incarnation of Seth Eleazar had walked the earth for countless years.

  “I thought I made the situation clear,” he said, his voice low and furious as he placed the pizzas in Davey’s hands. “You were not to let anyone through that door unless I told you to.”

  “Dammit. I’m sorry. I completely forgot.” Wincing, she awkwardly juggled the greasy boxes. “Everyone was hungry, and when Travis suggested that we order pizzas, I didn’t even think about it.”

  “It could have been Drekker on the other side of that door. Then what?”

  Taking a deep breath, Davey decided she’d taken all the shit she was going to for one night. Leaning in close, she lowered her voice to match Ethan’s. “Then you should have stuck around instead of running off again like you did five years ago,” she retorted in an icy hiss.

  Before Ethan could reply, Travis inadvertently came to his rescue, leaving the couch to step into the role of protective boyfriend. Crossing his arms, he widened his stance and leveled a stare at Ethan that was just shy of hostile. “What’s going on here?”

  “Nothing,” Davey said with a huff of annoyance. Balancing the boxes on one hand, she secured the front door and double-checked the locks. Then she stalked into the kitchen and set the pizzas on the counter. At the moment, Davey was beyond caring if Travis wanted to challenge Ethan to a pissing contest. She was in the mood to just let it play out. “Hogan,” she called. “Come and eat.”

  He popped into the kitchen an instant later. “Is Agent Remington staying for dinner?”

  “That’s up to him,” she replied coolly.

  Coming up behind Hogan, Travis ruffled his hair playfully. “Gee, I dunno if we got enough pizza, buddy.”

  Ethan had followed them into the kitchen and answered almost simultaneously. “Of course, I can stay.”

  Travis rolled his eyes. He was facing Davey, so Ethan didn’t see. “I guess that means I’m having a beer,” he said and yanked open the refrigerator door. After taking a sip, he gestured the open bottle toward Ethan. “My apologies, man, would you like one too?”

  Ethan answered with enthusiasm that almost sounded sincere. “Absolutely,” he said. “Toss me one of those craft brews you’re hiding on the bottom shelf.”

  Davey looked back and forth between them, aghast at Travis’s behavior and subtly impressed by Ethan’s. The guy might have struggled with sarcasm, but even a toaster could have registered the antipathy practically radiating from Travis’s pores. Somehow, Ethan was handling it like a normal guy. Although, Davey suspected him of intentionally needling Travis’s aggression.

  Travis graciously retrieved the beer, but then practically slammed it on the bar island between them. “Think you can handle opening it? Or do I need to take care of that for you too?”

  Ethan smiled. “I can manage,” he answered easily as he reached for the beer and popped it open without the aid of a bottle opener. Taking a long drink, he winked at Travis.

  Davey knew Ethan didn’t actually require food or drink for sustenance, but Global Cures had ensured that their creation could physically imitate a human in every manner. The perfect weapon had to blend in perfectly.

  Obviously getting a kick out of the low-key war currently raging in their kitchen, Hogan leaned over the pizza box, munching away at a huge slice while grinning around his mouthful of food. “Hey, Remington, you should try the cheesy pepperoni sticks. I swear they’ll be the best thing you ever put into your mouth.”

  He beamed in triumph when Ethan accepted the morsel and took a bite. “It’s awesome, right?”

  Nodding, Ethan returned the smile. “I can appreciate your fondness for them.”

  Hogan turned to his sister, beaming smartly. “See, he agrees with me.”

  “Hey, I never implied that they weren’t good. I only said they were the same thing as pizza. That’s what makes them awesome, by the way.” Pointedly helping herself to one of the chees
y pepperoni sticks, Davey wondered how the hell she was going to make it through the rest of the night. Travis had to be one snarky comment away from exploding. Either she or Hogan was going to slip up and call Ethan by his first name. After that, it wouldn’t take long for Travis to fit the rest of the pieces together, and then Davey would have a lot to explain.

  Finishing the beer, Ethan deposited the bottle in the recycle bin. Then his steel grey eyes locked on to Davey and wouldn’t let go. Underneath his stare, she felt the floor shift beneath her feet and desire stir in her belly.

  “Davey, can we talk?” he said without releasing her.

  Ever the discerning one, Hogan piled several slices of pizza onto a paper plate, tucked the entire box of pepperoni sticks under his arm, and disappeared into the living room. The surround sound of explosions and gunfire soon erupted as he resumed the movie without them.

  Whatever lingering resentment Davey felt toward Ethan had vanished. “Y-yes.”

  Ethan’s gaze cooled considerably as it shifted to Travis. “In private,” he added.

  Travis turned about three shades redder. “Whatever you need to say to my girlfriend will be said in front of me.”

  “Travis, please,” she said, touching his arm to soften the blow. “Just knock it off and give us five minutes.”

  Travis gritted his teeth. “Fine.” Taking the empty beer bottle, he hurled it across the room and into the recycle bin where it shattered into pieces. Davey jumped at the sound, shocked even more by Travis’s outburst. This wasn’t like him.

  “Davey,” he said, pulling the bourbon from the cabinet. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m going to need an explanation very soon.” Turning to Ethan, he opened the bottle and held it up in the air. “Cheers,” he said and took an alarmingly long drink. “I’m going to go upstairs now and give you and my girlfriend some privacy. Davey, join me in the sack whenever it suits you.”

  “Travis, I’ll come up soon,” she promised. When he was gone, she covered her face and groaned. “He’s never like this.”

  “Crazy jealous?” Ethan raised an eyebrow. “I can’t blame him.”

  “I can. There’s no excuse for that.” Davey rubbed her arms.

  “You okay?” Ethan asked, suddenly looking rather guilty.

  “I’m fine.” Davey waved one hand dismissively. “Just mortified. That’s not the guy I’ve been dating this past year.”

  “It probably didn’t help that I was intentionally being an asshole.”

  “I sort of noticed that. You surprised me, Ethan.”

  “Are you mad?”

  Davey almost laughed. “No.”

  “I’m sorry, but when he kissed you earlier, I went a little crazy. I needed some air, but you were right, Davey. I should not have left.”

  “Oh, Ethan.” She shook her head, abruptly on the verge of tears for the billionth time in twelve hours. “It’s okay. I know what it felt like to lose you all those years ago, so I understand.”

  Flinching at her words, Ethan grew impossibly still. Then he moved closer, slowly invading her space until their bodies were only inches apart. He towered over her, eyes blazing with unsettling intensity. “Have I lost you, Davey?”

  She crossed her arms in front of her protectively, resisting the urge to fall into him and pick up exactly where they’d left off just before Travis had arrived. To allow herself to do that would mean crossing a line that was the point of no return. Reminding herself how time worked differently for Ethan, Davey bit back her initial reply and discarded the second. There was no way she could answer his question. Not now. But if there was ever going to be a chance for them, there were definitely things that couldn’t wait any longer.

  She touched the back of his hand, held on when the warm, buzzing sensation leapt from his cool skin to course through hers. Biting her lip, Davey took a deep breath and tried to strengthen her resolve. She seriously needed to put some distance between his body and hers. “Wait here,” she urged softly. Then she went to the living room, grabbed the remote, and muted Hogan’s movie.

  “Hey!” he exclaimed.

  “Go upstairs and do your homework.”

  “I’ve already done my homework.”

  “Then go work on your midterm project.”

  “That’s not due until next week,” he said, rolling his eyes in exasperation. “It’s not like I can hear what you guys are talking about.”

  Davey wasn’t swayed. “Upstairs. Go. Now.”

  Grumbling under his breath, Hogan collected a few of his things, took the rest of the pizza, and plodded up the stairs. After he was out of sight and had slammed his bedroom door shut, Davey unmuted the television and went back to Ethan.

  “Okay, you wanted to talk. So, let’s talk. Ethan, if things can ever be like they were between us, then I need you to level with me.”

  “Level?”

  “I want you to tell me exactly what’s going on. Earlier, you said that your primary directive was to ensure Hogan’s safety and deliver him to your superiors. First of all, Hogan is not going anywhere. If you try to take my brother anywhere near a Global Cures facility, you will have to kill me first. Secondly, why does Mason Drekker want Hogan? And don’t you dare lie to me, Ethan Remington. No more classified bullshit.” Despite telling herself to stay cool, Davey felt her temperature rising as her protective instincts kicked in, and she couldn’t stop the heat she was feeling from creeping into her voice.

  Expelling a short but forceful breath, Ethan winced. “Yes, acquiring Hogan was my initial directive, but it’s not anymore. Something has changed.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why does Drekker want him?”

  Ethan shook his head. “I honestly do not have an answer for that. Global Cures only sent me after Hogan to stop Mason Drekker from getting him. Drekker went rogue two weeks ago. He’s writing his own missions now.”

  “Is he like you?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.

  “No. Drekker was an even bigger mistake than I was.”

  “Ethan, you’re not a mistake.”

  He smiled, but it was a sad expression. “You’ve always believed in me, Davey Little.”

  “No,” she said without hesitation and moved closer, willing to risk anything to lift the melancholy surrounding him. “At first, I thought you were a total creeper.”

  The sudden light that sparked within his eyes told her that she had made the right choice. “Ah yes. I still don’t understand why you found it so odd that I could not stop staring at you.” Reaching out, he caressed her cheek, resting his hand in the cradle of her neck as he leaned in and pressed his cool lips against her forehead. Something between a whimper and a sigh escaped her throat and Davey closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his skin against hers.

  “I think I loved you from the moment I saw you, Daveigh.”

  “Ethan,” she whispered. Dull longing had become a roaring ache, one she desperately wanted to quell. Grabbing his hand, she tore it away from her body and planted a tender kiss in the center of his palm.

  He closed his eyes and uttered her name in a voice burning with unfulfilled desire.

  Two words. It only took two words to break her heart and shatter his. “I can’t.”

  6

  Davey stood against her bedroom door for nearly an hour, staring at nothing at all. She had never seen Ethan cry—wasn’t sure if his body could even manufacture tears—but downstairs, he had seemed on the verge of breakdown. And it was her fault.

  Before going to face Travis, Davey had offered Ethan pillows and blankets that he quietly refused, reminding her that he did not require sleep, but Davey had left them anyway. She made up the sofa bed, spending entirely too much time tucking the sheets and smoothing wrinkles from the soft cotton. It took a tremendous amount of effort to finally pull herself away and leave him standing there alone in the darkness but, somehow, she had at last. Now Davey’s gaze fell to Travis, sound asleep
as moonlight filtered in through the sheer curtains that covered the bedroom windows and washed over his peaceful countenance. Moving ever so cautiously, she crawled beneath the covers, trying to cause as little of a disturbance as possible. Her head had just sank into the pillow when Travis stirred. She could practically taste the whiskey on his breath each time he breathed.

  “You came to bed,” he mumbled in a voice thick with sleep.

  “Yeah.”

  “I hope you showed Agent Asshole the door.”

  “Travis, shut up and go back to sleep. You’re drunk.”

  Doing exactly the opposite, he propped himself up on one elbow to look down at her. His eyes drooped, halfway-closed, and his words were slurred as he spoke. “You two don’t seem like strangers. And I saw that before I got shit-faced.”

  “Let’s talk about it in the morning, when you’re not drunk.”

  His squinted eyes widened to the point of almost being a normal size. “So, you’re not going to deny it then?”

  “I won’t, not while you’re drunk.”

  He fell silent while visibly struggling to process that ambiguous response in his current drunken state. Then he shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  Groaning, Davey rolled to her side, putting her back to him. “Travis. Go. To. Sleep.”

  “Fine. But this conversation isn’t—” His sentence ended abruptly, replaced by heavy breathing and the occasional snore.

  Davey lay there for hours, swearing a hundred oaths as she listened to the roaring freight train beside her and begged for sleep to come. She wished for ear plugs but didn’t have any. It was on rare occasion that Travis snored, and only after a bout of heavy drinking. But other than a weekly glass of wine, Travis never drank because he prided himself on his intellect and therefore naturally abstained from anything that caused a dulling effect on that.

  At precisely 4:07 A.M., Davey gave up. She briefly considered sleeping in the bathroom, but her mind was too wired, and the cold tile floor would be unbearable. Getting some offsite work done would be a better use of time over lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, especially since she’d missed half of the day at the lab. Unfortunately, her work computer was still at Global Cures and her personal laptop was downstairs in the office.