“What happens now?” he asked.
Rose frowned, shaking her head slightly.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You’ve taken an injured champion captive,” said Malcolm.
“An injured champion that I let escape in the first place,” said Rose. “I might have chosen to align myself with Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden, but I’m not a surrogate for them.”
“You were waiting at the church,” said Malcolm. “What would have happened if I hadn’t been there? If it had just been Melt, and another champion?”
Rose looked away from him. Her face was flushed slightly, a darker purple than its usual tone.
“There is a very good chance that I would have killed them,” said Rose. “That’s what I was there to do, Malcolm. I’m not going to lie to you… even if it would make things easier.”
“I guess you didn’t plan on Melt having a, well, you know… meltdown.”
“You are such a dork,” said Rose. She sighed, and leaned so that her shoulder was against his.
“I still don’t get it,” said Malcolm. “You don’t believe in the religious nonsense. You’re not totally onboard with their methods. And you claim that you don’t care about your sister…”
“I do care about her,” said Rose. “Just not in the way you care about your family. And she’s safe now. I convinced Rain Dancer to move all of the Awakened Children outside of Vanderbrook and Halter City, for a time.”
“Why, though?” asked Malcolm.
Rose let her hand slide through his hair affectionately.
“Because I didn’t get to pick the side that I’m on,” said Rose.
Malcolm frowned and shook his head.
“The Champion Authority is going to crush Rain Dancer and Shield Maiden eventually, Rose,” he said. “You know it as well as I do. They aren’t strong enough to stand on their own.”
“Rain Dancer is stronger than he looks, Malcolm,” said Rose. “So much stronger. You would have to see it, to believe it.”
“I’m going to beat him the next time I see him,” said Malcolm. “Maybe even kill him.”
Rose didn’t say anything. She kept sliding her hand, letting it massage and caress his shoulders.
“Leah told me more about who I used to be,” said Rose. “Bits and pieces from my past.”
“Seriously?” asked Malcolm. “That’s awesome.”
“It hasn’t really triggered much,” said Rose. “It’s not like… someone else can explain to you who you are, when it comes down to it.”
“I’m still interested,” said Malcolm.
Rose smiled, suddenly looking a bit sheepish.
“My name was Rosalina,” she said. “I was, I guess, kind of nerdy? I liked to read a lot, and worked as a biologist.”
“Huh,” said Malcolm.
“What?” Rose raised an eyebrow at him. “What would you have guessed my previous career to be?”
Malcolm grinned.
“Stripper,” he said. “Or maybe a lingerie model.”
Rose punched him on the arm, rolling her eyes.
“I don’t know whether to be insulted, or flattered,” she said.
“Why not both?” asked Malcolm. “What else did she tell you?”
Rose’s expression took on a pensive quality.
“She talked about our parents a little,” said Rose. “They’ve both passed on. I tried to get her to tell me more about my personal life, friends, relationships, that kind of thing, but didn’t get much from her.”
“She wouldn’t tell you?” Malcolm raised an eyebrow.
“She was evasive about it,” said Rose. “She wouldn’t even tell me my last name. It was strange. But beggars can’t exactly be choosers. I feel as though I’ve learned enough, at least for…”
She tensed up suddenly, and Malcolm saw her lose control for an instant, darkness clouding her face.
“Hey,” he said. “Are you okay? How long has it been since you, well, you know…”
Sex. Her focus activity.
“Since the last time between me and you,” whispered Rose. “I can’t just go to anybody… past a certain point.”
“Past what point?”
Malcolm stared into her eyes, seeing a sudden mixture of vulnerability and longing. He reached his hand out, letting it caress her cheek. Rose drew in closer to him, her gaze darting down to his lips. Malcolm kissed her, and felt her wrapping him in a familiar embrace, both with her arms and her powers.
CHAPTER 32
Malcolm let his kisses travel along Rose’s neck. She was wearing a loose grey t-shirt and black leggings, the same clothes that most of the members of the Awakened Children wore. He peeled them away from her legs roughly, along with her panties underneath, and planted a kiss on her inner thigh.
“Malcolm…” breathed Rose.
He rubbed her thigh with his hand and grinned up on her.
“Consider this your reward for letting me go last night.”
He brought his tongue in and gave her a slow lick, followed by a soft, gentle kiss. Rose squirmed. He pinned her thighs to keep her in place and kissed again, and again, each one building with intensity until high pitched moans of pleasure began to escape her lips.
“Oh god,” she whispered. “Malcolm!”
He let his tongue dart out, unsure of whether he was pleasuring her or punishing her. Rose shook, but he stopped just before she reached her bursting point. He stripped off his own pants and slid his hardness into her.
His onslaught had gotten her hot and ready, and almost immediately, Malcolm began thrusting at a fast pace. He forced himself to slow down, letting his eyes drink in the sight of her. She was watching him, and there was so much emotion in her expression, so much said with a simple look.
Will I ever be able to fight against her? Is that even I question I need to ask myself?
“Rose,” he said. He kissed her, moving slow within her, savoring the moment. It was what his heart demanded, but he could tell it was torture for her. Rose bucked her hips against him, grinding and shifting, desperate for the release he’d already brought her to the precipice of.
She caressed him, both with her hands and her shadow tendrils. She nuzzled her face in the nape of his neck, kissing the sensitive skin there, and gently nibbling with her teeth. Malcolm pulled her shirt up, taking her breasts in his hands as he continued his deliberately slow pace.
“Are you… doing this on purpose?” Rose whispered, her voice clearly frustrated.
“No.” Malcolm smiled. “If I was, I’d do something more like this.”
He slid out of her and held himself above her. Rose flashed a mock glare at him and took hold of his hardness with a shadow tendril, forcing him back into her.
“It’s mine, right now,” she said.
“Maybe you are the jealous type?” said Malcolm, with a wink.
She was about to reply when he started thrusting, this time hard and fast. Rose let out a surprised squeal of pleasure, and then dug her hands back into the couch, overwhelmed by sensation.
Malcolm kept it up until she quivered and cried out, burying her face against his chest. He kept going, shifting and handling her body to get the best angle, until he found his own release. He let out a soft sigh, feeling the warmth of her body and enjoying the feel of finishing inside of her.
“I might… need to see you again,” said Rose. “In a couple of days. If that’s okay?”
It’s the only thing keeping her stable. Not that I’d say no, even if it was just sex.
“Of course,” said Malcolm. “We might have to work out a system. A secret way of leaving each other messages. Maybe meet up at a hotel instead of my apartment.”
Rose made an offended noise.
“You’re making it sound like I’m your mistress!” she said.
Malcolm chuckled, and then grew serious.
“We do have to be careful, though,” he said. “Not just for my sake. Rose, if Rain Dancer finds out that you’re still seeing me…”