Page 28

28

ARELLA

I expect him to burst out with a loud What? but he doesn’t. Instead, he stares at me with a deadpan look like he doesn’t understand the language I’m speaking.

“I’m sorry, Trey. Maybe I should have started with that.” I didn’t because I needed him to know that I had never cheated on him. I needed him to know the baby was his. I didn’t expect him to react so strongly about being a father.

“W-what do you mean, gone ?”

“As in, I’m not pregnant anymore.” I’m surprised by how well I’m keeping myself together. I wasn’t sure if I could say it out loud without crying. However, after seeing how happy Trey was just now, I think he’s going to lose it, and at least one of us has to stay strong.

He squeezes my hands tighter in his. “No! That’s... no! But—you... H-how? How do you know?”

“Because the morning after I was electrocuted, I couldn’t sense other people’s emotions anymore.”

“Electrocuted?”

“Yes. While you were in the infirmary, Victor sent me to a lab. There, a lady did a bunch of tests on me. One of them was dropping lightning balls on me to try to get me to shield myself from them. I couldn’t do it, and I’m pretty sure that’s what caused the baby to?—”

I’m right. He does lose it. He flies off the bed and heaves a hand through his hair. Now that is in the manner I’m used to seeing. “No! This can’t be. I—Goddammit! Victor! That fucking... There’s not even a word horrible enough to describe what I feel about him right now.”

Trey paces the room. “He’s probably the goddamn Royal who organized the murder of my parents. He kidnapped my girl, then he killed my baby. How can one man cause so much damage? Why? What did I ever do to him?”

The blanket Trey ripped off me hovers into the air. I grab it as the dresser drawers open and all their contents float out. Shirts, pants, and boxers drift around the room. “Trey.”

He’s not even looking my way. “And he’s supposedly my biological father? You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me! If he really was my father, why would he kill my mother? A woman he supposedly loved?”

“Trey,” I say louder as I grab a pillow from the air, trying to keep it against the bed.

He continues pacing the other side of the room. “I can’t allow him to keep tormenting me. Everything that man does is toxic. He’s going to keep hurting people if I don’t stop him. He’ll keep coming after my girl too. You’ll always be in danger for as long as he’s alive. I can’t let that happen.”

The pillow I’m holding down bursts into flames. My scream makes Trey spin around as I toss it onto the floor.

“Oh, shit!” He waves a shaky hand at the flaming pillow. The flames don’t stop. “Fuck.”

“Trey, make it stop.”

“I—I’m trying.” His chest rises and falls as he gasps for air. He has that desolate look in his eyes again—the same look he got after Li told him that Victor is his real father.

Suddenly, I know exactly what I need to do. I jump off the bed. The second I take his face into my palms, everything in the air falls to the carpet. The flames consuming the pillow disappear into plumes of smoke. It takes a minute for Trey’s breathing to slow. The entire time, my hands never leave his face.

After several deep breaths, he finally makes eye contact with me. That desolate look is gone, replaced by sorrow. He wraps his muscular arms tight around my waist. “I’m sorry, babe. Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay. Are you?”

He nods slightly, and I don’t need Li’s lie-detecting power to know he’s lying.

I drop my hands, then turn to find what’s left of that pillow in a burnt heap on the floor. The carpet beneath it is scorched too. It hits me that the bedroom I was locked inside of at the Ridge was probably Trey’s at one point.

“Good thing we have extra pillows,” I say.

“Good thing we’re underground.”

“Good thing the fire didn’t spread.”

With a tender finger, he tucks some of my hair behind an ear. “Good thing I’ve got you. Did you know you have a special power where every time you touch me, it calms me?”

“I’ve noticed.”

Trey leans down to kiss my forehead. “Thank you for being everything I never knew I needed.”

My heart swoons. He’s everything I never knew I needed too.

I leave him to grab a new pillow from the closet and toss it onto the bed. “This has happened before, hasn’t it?”

His gaze falls to the carpet. “Yeah, lots. It started after my parents died, then it stopped sometime after I turned sixteen. It hasn’t happened since until today. I don’t know what it is or how to prevent it.”

“When does it usually happen?” I ask, even though I know the answer.

“Whenever I get too emotional, or anxious, or depressed.”

“I think they’re panic attacks.”

“Hmm” is all he says. Then he spends a moment staring at the carpet.

Eventually, we get back under the covers. Trey pats his shoulder, then gestures for me to scoot closer. I don’t hesitate to nestle into the crook of his arm. As he wraps his limbs around me, his hand bumps my gauze. It doesn’t hurt.

“It’s been long enough,” he says. “Can I take this off for you?”

“Sure.” I expect him to peel it off. Instead, he points at my arm. The gauze flies away and lands on the floor. My skin under it looks brand new.

Trey inspects my arm, then nods his approval. I let out a sigh as I nuzzle deeper into him and rest a hand over his pec. He points at the light switch, and it flips with a click. The room goes dark. A night-light plugged in on the other side of the room illuminates everything just enough for me to not feel like I’m stuck in a box with no exit.

For a while, neither of us says anything. All that fills my ears are the sounds of our soft breaths. I shut my eyes and relish the warmth of being in Trey’s arms again.

I’m about to drift off to sleep when he says, “Babe?”

I don’t open my eyes. “Mmm?”

“I think you’re right.”

“About what?”

His chest rumbles against my face as he says, “The panic attacks. I think that’s what they are too.”

“I’m no doctor, but I’m, like, ninety-nine percent sure that’s what it is. You exhibit all the signs of it. Short breaths. Shaky hands. A blank look in your eyes. You said it started after your parents were killed, which means it probably stems from that trauma.”

“How do I stop it?”

“There’s no way to stop it, really. I think it’s something you just learn to live through and manage until they go away on their own. In the meantime, you could go see a therapist and see if that helps.”

“I’d have to see a zerapist, but yeah, I’ll think about doing that.”

“Ahh,” I say when it clicks. “Because you can’t talk about your world with Ordinaries.”

“Exactly. And because we have different bodily functions, we have to see people like zoctors and zutritionists.”

“But if your car breaks down, can you see a regular mechanic?”

“Yes. There are no such things as zechanics because there aren’t special cars just for Zordis.”

Now that I think about it, that all makes sense.

Trey shifts under the blanket until he’s on top of me. He opens his palm, and a little fireball appears in it. He tosses it into the air, and it hovers above us as he caresses my cheek. I’m grateful that he brought out the flames. I wouldn’t be able to see the intense look in his eyes otherwise.

“I love being able to openly talk to you about my world, baby. I love you so much—with all my heart. I want to marry you and have babies with you and grow old with you. I want it all with you. Say you want it with me too.”

I don’t hesitate. “I do.”

He grips the back of my neck as he drops his mouth over mine. His lips are as eager as his tongue. My hands caress down his bare back as he peppers tender kisses over my neck. I arch my head back and moan as he sucks my skin into his mouth.

In a low voice against my collarbone, he says, “We’re meant to be together, Arella. I know it within the depths of my soul. You’re it for me, and I’ll spend the rest of my life convincing you that I’m it for you too.”

“I don’t need to be convinced, Trey. I already know you’re the one for me.”

He shifts onto his side and props himself up on an elbow. His other hand caresses me behind my ear in little circles. Shadows from his fireball dance across his features as he says, “When this is all over, I’m gonna get you a ring. It’ll be so big, the fucking astronauts will be able to see it from space.”

“That sounds great, honey, but what about?—”

“No. Don’t say it. I know there are logistics, but I don’t care. No zovernment is going to keep me away from you. We can’t get married legally, but I’d love to at least see a ring on your finger. We’ll know what it means, and that’s what matters to me. If you want to have a small ceremony with some friends and your family, we can do that too, just without the paperwork. We can do it wherever you want. I’ll buy everyone plane tickets to Paris if that’s your dream wed—oh!” Trey pops up and slides off the bed. “That reminds me. I have something for you.”

He flips the light on, using his hand this time, then his hovering fireball smokes out. He digs through our backpack to pull out his leather jacket. From the inner pocket, he drags out something shiny.

“My necklace! How did you?—”

“Katie gave it to me. She said she had a vision that made her think Victor might have stolen it, so she took it before he could.”

That Katie, saving the day again. “We owe that girl.”

Trey scoffs. “No kidding.”

Once I’ve got all my long waves pulled up, Trey rejoins me in bed and hooks the jewelry around my neck. The entire time, he stares me in the eyes like he wants to devour me. Maybe he does. I wouldn’t mind.

I let my hair back down, then run my fingers along the diamond. “Have I ever told you how much I love this thing? It’s stupid because it’s just a necklace, but it means so much to me because it came from you.”

“ You mean so much to me.”

Roughly, I grab the back of his neck and pull him on top of me. He comes willingly and goes straight for my lips. His kisses are hard and desperate. Mine are just the same. The way we move so in sync only solidifies how perfect we are for each other.

I drag my shirt over my head, then shove my pants down. Once my bra is off, Trey doesn’t waste a second wrapping his tongue around my nipple. I arch my head back and moan toward the ceiling as I cup the back of his head and wrench him closer.

“Oh, baby,” he says against my breast. “You taste so good.”

He keeps licking me as he rolls my other nipple between his thumb and fingers. I claw my way down his back until I reach his boxers and pull them down just enough to give me access to his dick. He groans into my chest as I stroke his thick shaft up and down.

“Don’t be gentle with me,” I say breathlessly.

As if that’s what he’s been waiting to hear all day, he shoves his boxers down all the way, then pulls my legs up. I rest them against his shoulders.

He slides his tip against my damp opening and moans. “Fuck. You’re so wet.”

“You did that to me.” I gasp as he plunges into me, no warning or anything. My fingernails dig into his arms as I let out a yelp. I know I asked him not to be gentle, but I didn’t expect him to shove it in that hard.

He plants a hand on either side of my head. “Fuck, baby. You’re so tight.”

I half moan, half scream as he draws back and shoves it into me again.

He stills. “Are you okay, babe?”

“Yeah,” I lie through a pant. “Give me more.”

He draws back and thrusts again. This time, the pain is partly pleasure. With each of his thrusts, he kisses my neck and grunts into it. His deep, guttural sounds turn me into a puddle.

I grip his shoulders as I eventually stretch to his size. After a while, the pain transforms into satisfying bliss. With each pump, his chest slides up and down mine as if he needs to be as close to me as possible. His deep groans mix with my breathless whimpers and the sounds of our bodies smacking together. I wanted it rough, but I’ll accept these slow and steady thrusts for now.

“I love you, Arella,” he whispers into my ear. “I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too, Trey,” I say as my head bangs against the pillow over and over.

His breaths send warm air down my shoulder. “I promise I’ll always love you—no matter what. And I’ll always fight for you. And protect you. And treat you right. And make love to you with my whole heart like I am right now.”

“Yes, Trey,” I moan. “I want that. All of it. But harder.”

“Harder?” He pushes himself up. “You want it harder?”

“Yes, Trey. Fuck me.”

His mouth parts, then he licks his bottom lip. “Beg for it.”

“Please!” I scream. “Fuck me!”

“Again.”

“Please! Give it to me as hard as you can.”

“Good girl.” He slaps a hand on either side of my hips and keeps me against him as he gets to his knees. Then he slams his cock into me over and over. With each thrust, he yanks my hips into him so our bodies meet as hard as they can. I scream his name to the ceiling and clench my hands into the sheets.

“Fuuuck...” he says between grunts. “You’re taking it so good, baby.”

I can’t respond. Not when he’s pounding into me so hard like this. It’s taking all my energy just to keep up with him. The mattress creaks beneath us again and again. I screw my eyes shut as the pleasure consumes all my senses. Just when I think it can’t get any better, his thumb finds my clit.

“I need you to come for me,” he says through moans. “I need to feel your emotions rush through my head.”

I have no idea what he means by that, and now is not the time to ask, because I can’t think about anything except the feel of his thumb rubbing me to my climax. Like he has before, he goes in little circles, using the perfect amount of pressure. I head straight for the edge.

“Oh, god,” I breathe out. “That feels amazing.”

“Tell me how you want it, baby.”

“Just like that. Don’t stop.”

He doesn’t. He doesn’t go any harder or faster either. He just keeps his rhythm as he continues pumping his cock back and forth inside me and rubbing my clit. I keep my eyes closed and take in every ounce of pleasure he’s giving me until I reach the edge and jump over it.

I scream out as the pleasure ripples through me. I pulse around his shaft as tingles shoot down my legs in waves. He continues rubbing me until my breathing slows into long pants and my body relaxes.

When I open my eyes, I find him staring at me through dazed blue-grays. Without wasting another second, he pulls my legs up higher and relentlessly drives into me. I grip onto his firm arms to hold myself as still as possible for him. His pumps feel even better after my orgasm. I’m so sensitive, I can feel every vein of his cock against my inner walls.

“Fuck, babe,” he says through deep grunts, “I’m gonna come.”

“Come inside me.”

“Oh, god.” He thrusts into me harder. “Beg for it, baby.”

“Come inside me, Trey. Please!”

“Beg some more.”

“Please! Come for me!”

“Fuuuck...” He thrusts a few more times before he stills, then fills me with his load. He pulsates over and over, grunting as he drains his final drops inside me. His hands lock my hips against his as if he needs to make sure I can’t get away.

Don’t worry, honey. I don’t plan to.

After one last pump, he collapses over my chest. Together, we pant until our breaths slow.

I’m sweaty, but he’s not, which is nothing new. I’ll assume that has something to do with the way his body functions differently from mine.

“That was amazing,” he says against my breast. “Whenever you orgasm, your emotions rush through my head.”

“How?”

“I have no idea. Your immunity walls just come down—only for a few seconds though.”

Interesting. “I better never fake it, then.”

He chuckles a little. “I’ll know it if you do.”

I grab his face and guide him up to kiss me. Then I whisper against his lips, “Do you want to do that again?”

He pulls out, making me gasp. “Hell yeah.”