Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
Scorpio could sleep anywhere. Couch, floor, bog. Sitting down, standing up. Not tonight, though. He lay on his couch and thought of the woman in his bed.
An intriguing woman who seemed neither awed nor daunted by his existence.
He’d not been surprised Rebecca turned down his offer to share his mattress. The impression he’d gotten thus far didn’t have her as the type to indulge in casual relations. Pity. She had a great body and pretty face, but his attraction was more than physical. She displayed a sharp wit and intelligence, as well as courage and resilience. She’d also been adjusting well thus far to all the revelations. Not everyone could handle the tower or the warriors without having a meltdown. People sometimes broke when their perception of reality shifted drastically.
Not Rebecca. She asked questions, didn’t immediately believe the answers but also didn’t deny when provided proof. A good thing, since she might be stuck there a while. Aquarius had sent him a message while they gamed.
Your doctor friend’s place was broken into. A neighbor who’d been asked to water plants while Rebecca worked in the Antarctic had contacted police after noticing the door showed signs of tampering. The subsequent report indicated her home had been tossed, but cops couldn’t tell what, if anything, had been stolen. Most likely the intruders sought Rebecca’s current location, and he only needed one guess to know who. Perhaps now she’d believe him when he claimed she was in danger. Or more likely, she’d argue again. She was cute like that.
He eventually managed to drift to sleep, only to be awoken by a voice. Rebecca’s.
“How can I free you?”
Who did she speak to? He rose and padded to his bedroom, which lacked a door. He’d never had a need for one in his space.
She shifted restlessly under the covers on the bed and murmured, “Who are you?”
Her body squirmed and twisted some more before the screaming started.
Pain-filled yells that sent frissons down his spine. He darted to the bed and put a hand on her. “Rebecca! Doc! Wake up.”
Her lashes fluttered, and he asked, “You okay? I heard you crying out in your sleep.”
Her reply?
A kiss.
She dragged Scorpio down and mashed her mouth against his for a torrid embrace that fired the senses, but he remained aware enough to know he should be careful because she might still be asleep.
Usually, he wouldn’t care, but he knew Rebecca would be pissed if the kiss were inadvertent, so he pulled away, murmuring, “You’re okay, Doc. Just a bad dream.”
It took her a second before her eyes opened and focused. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Guess we’re even when it comes to surprise kisses.”
“I don’t know what came over me.” Neither did he, but the effect lingered since she retained her grip on him.
“Seems to me like you were having a nightmare. Want to talk about it?”
She frowned. “You’ll think it’s weird.”
“You’ve been around me long enough by now to know my threshold for weird is high.”
“Good point,” her wry reply. “It was the strangest dream. In it, I floated in an empty space. No light, not even sure I had a body, although I could hear because a voice spoke to me. Asked me to set it free.”
“Whose voice?”
“I don’t know. I tried to reply, but it couldn’t hear me and it kept demanding I free it and then said, if I didn’t, the world would burn. And then suddenly it was as if I were aflame. The pain…” She trailed off and swallowed. “It was agonizing.”
“I take it you’ve never had this dream before.”
“No. I don’t dream much, if at all, actually.”
“We’ll have to tell Sage and Aries.”
“Why?” she asked. “It was simply a nightmare.”
“Was it? Best to not take chances.”
She sighed. “If you say so. What time is it?”
“Four a.m.”
“Ugh. Too early to get up.”
“Agreed.” Did she realize she clutched his shoulders still, as if she didn’t want him to leave?
“You should try to get back to sleep.”
“I guess.” She sounded uncertain.
“Worried you’ll end up back in the nightmare?”
“A little. I really hope not. It was really unpleasant.”
“Move over.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to stay here and keep you safe.”
She snorted. “What makes you think you being close will help?”
“You’ve read part of my namesake’s book. I’m a hero. It’s what heroes do, keep the bad shit away. So scooch.”
He expected her to argue. Instead, she shifted over enough for him to slide into the bed, staying over the covers. He draped an arm over her middle and tucked her close.
“This feels weird,” she murmured.
“Surely you’ve slept with a man before.”
“Not often and it’s been a while. You’re also a lot larger than the men I usually date.”
“More of me to love.” The words slipped out, and he froze. What the fuck had he just said?
“I thought you didn’t believe in love,” she countered.
“I don’t. Now quiet. I’m trying to sleep.”
“Okay.” Pause. “Thanks, Scorpio.”
Thank him for what? Being decent? Being present? Keeping his erection from pressing against her backside?
Lying with her so close proved a form of torture he’d never experienced. Sleep eluded him for a bit, even after her breathing slowed, showing she’d found slumber.
Truth told, he rarely—very very rarely—ever slept with his sexual partners. Much easier to fuck, say thanks, and leave.
In this case, he’d not even gotten past first base, although he took it as a good sign she’d kissed him first this time. She might deny the attraction, but she obviously felt it.
It took time, but he fell asleep, only to wake at a blaring siren.
He jolted hard and, being on the edge of the bed, promptly fell out of it. Stunned, he sat on the floor, and Doc dangled over the side a second later to ask, “What is that noise?”
“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” Scorpio groused as he rose and rubbed his ass.
“Oh, did someone get a boo-boo on his tush?” She rolled her eyes. “What’s that alarm for?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard it before.” The hidden speaker in his room came to life with Aries barking, “Perimeter alert. All Zodiacs outside, now!”
The command widened his eyes. Never before had the tower been breached.
Scorpio didn’t pause to put on a shirt or even shoes. Wearing only his sleep shorts, he raced out of the bedroom and snared the weapons kept by the door. He threw the strap for his sword scabbard over his back and grabbed a rifle as he raced out into the hall. He saw Leo emerging from his suite, bleary-eyed with hair tousled.
“Who the fuck is attacking at this ungodly fucking hour?”
“No idea. Grab your gear and let’s go,” Scorpio shouted as he ran past.
Leo appeared to be hungover again. His usual state these days since the incident five years ago.
Scorpio began pounding down the stairs, only to whoop in surprise as the treads suddenly turned into a smooth ramp. He slid, picking up speed as he descended.
He also whooped because, fuck yeah, like snowboarding down a steep hill, this was fun.
As the bottom approached, he tensed his legs and leaped, landing with a slight bend before continuing to run. He emerged from the tower to find Aries already outside with Cancer, the pair of them shielding their eyes against the dawning sun.
“Where’s the enemy?” Scorpio huffed.
Aries pointed to the sky, where a tiny dot hovered.
“I fell out of bed for a fucking bird?” Scorpio complained. He’d been looking forward to waking with a snuggle.
“Not a bird, a drone,” Aries flatly replied. “And before you ask, it’s not ours.”
“A drone? Here? How?” Because the tower had shields against outsiders, whether living or mechanical.
“I don’t know, and I don’t like it.”
“Let’s find out who it belongs to.” Scorpio raised his rifle and took aim.
Bang .
His bullet snapped a moving rotor blade, and the drone began to drunkenly weave as it lost height, heading for the new moat, the surface of it a still and bright green.
“Don’t let it hit the acid,” Aries yelled as he bolted for it.
They all sprang into motion, splitting apart as the drone zigged and zagged, left and right, unable to control its direction with the broken part.
Don’t touch. Don’t touch. Scorpio kept repeating that as he raced along the moat’s edge keeping pace with the drone. When it dipped low enough, he leapt and reached, his fingers brushing against the solid material of the invader before gripping it tightly. Only as he began to descend did he realize he’d overextended with his leap.
Before he could find out just how bad the acid would be for his skin, Aries snagged his foot and managed to yank hard enough Scorpio landed on solid ground. With the drone, he should add.
Other warriors converged, everyone curious, which led to Aries barking, “Leo, Cancer, and Virgo, run a circuit around the tower. See if there’s any more eyes in the sky.”
Off they jogged, leaving Scorpio and Aries with the catch.
The device stopped whirring abruptly, the red light of its camera going dark.
Aries pointed. “I recognize that symbol.”
Scorpio had a second to mutter, “Fucking Cetus,” before the drone exploded.