Despite the pain, I had to giggle. The mental picture of Sam cussing out an Archangel was just too much to resist. Lynn and Sam joined in, and before we knew it we were clutching our sides with one hand and leaning against each other for support. Glancing up, we saw the guys looking at us as if we had lost our minds, which sent us into a fresh onslaught of laughter. Finally the giggles receded and we returned our focus to the training in front of us.
Haniel had Shawn and Robert against each other while pairing Mark with himself. Observing Mark next to Haniel, their differences in stature were unmistakable. I had always liked that Mark was so much taller than me, enjoyed standing on tiptoes to link my arms around him, but watching him next to Haniel made it seem as if he had shrunken a few inches. I felt a wave of apprehension knowing that Mark was still recovering from his hospital visit and I knew for a fact sparing was out.
"Um….," I said starting to stand up. Sam tugged on my hand trying to pull me back down before I could intervene.
"He knows. See, he's using Mark as an example so Shawn and Robert can do the actual sparing," she said, pointing out how Haniel was only mock sparing with Mark. I could see she was right. It was obvious that Haniel's strength was limitless as he maneuvered Mark around, taking the brunt of each movement so that Mark's body was not jarred in the slightest.
I sank back down on the sand relieved. I didn't want to bruise Mark's ego by embarrassing him, but I also didn't want him hurt. I was glad Sam had stopped me. I knew that Mark's injury frustrated him and he was ready to return to normal. I also knew he still harbored major guilt that he hadn't been able to protect me, as he put it. I felt that was a big part of why he was blocking me from his thoughts lately. At least with him sparing with Haniel, I knew he was safe but still learning the skills he needed.
The guys continued to train for another hour until the sun began to set. Looking like we had felt the previous hour, they staggered toward us covered in sweat and sand. Mark reached a hand down and pulled me to my feet. "You okay?" I asked quietly. He smiled ruefully at me.
"Yep, but man, I'm out of shape. I know Haniel was taking it easy on me, but damn, the moves he's showed us are tough. Muscles I never knew I had are majorly cussing me out right now," he said, shooting me my most favorite grin.
Impulsively, I linked my arms around his neck and planted my lips on his the soft skin giving it an affectionate nip. At times like this I just couldn't resist the pull of our connection. Obviously feeling the same, he set his hands on my waist to anchor me in one spot while he dipped his head to place his own scorching kiss on my sensitive neck.
"Get a room," Sam said, pulling my hair lightly as she passed with Shawn.
"Um, how about not," Shawn mockingly growled. "That's my sister after all, and it's my job to keep the pervs away."
Laughing, I grabbed Mark's hand as we headed up the steep driftwood steps to the house. "Pretty sure I'm safe with an Archangel around," I said, glancing back at Haniel who was standing at the water's edge in obvious deep meditation. I couldn't help wondering where he went when he wasn't doing his job training us Guides and Protectors.
Chapter 3
The next morning I woke with a knot in my stomach. Lying in my bed, I analyzed my dream from the night before although nothing out of the ordinary had happened during it. Mark and I had spent the time watching the waves wash up on the shore. We hadn’t spoken, but that wasn't unusual. We often reverted to the non-communicative dreams we had shared over the course of our entire lives up until a couple of weeks ago.
The reason for the knot had to be something else.
"So, are you contemplating how to get out of prom?" Lynn asked from the other bed in the room.
Ugh, there you had it, today was our prom. That explained the knot. Once again, I wondered how Sam had even talked me into it. Yeah, yesterday the whole excitement of finding the perfect dress had clouded my perspective on it, but it now came crashing down on me. I had unsuccessfully tried to get out of it last night, using Haniel as the scapegoat, but the others had argued me down.
"Look Krista, we already know we're not normal, obviously," Sam had said, indicating Haniel who was still outside. "But we can at least act like we are every once in awhile. Plus, don't forget you already promised your mom we'd swing by the hospital on the way."
With that one statement, Sam had sealed the deal. I couldn't deprive my mom. Being cooped up in the hospital for weeks now was wearing on her, and I knew she felt like she was missing out on my last few weeks of high school.
"Maybe the training this morning will kill me," I grumbled, climbing out of bed. "Come on Feline, let's go change." I said grumpily, grabbing some clothes on my way out the door. I could hear Lynn laughing behind me as I trudged down the hall. "Whatever, Lynn, keep yucking it up?" I said, a little louder than necessary.
"What's up sis?" Shawn asked, coming out of the second guestroom he was sharing with Robert.
"Oh nothing," I said, not wanting to complain again. I hated it when people harped on stuff, and I didn't want to be viewed that way.
"It'll be fine," he said, not having to read my mind. "We'll stick together the entire night and don't worry, everyone will be so busy living up their big night, they won't give you a sideways glance," he added, ruffling my bed head before darting into the bathroom ahead of me.
"Hey, I was here first," I said, pounding on the door and stomping my foot in frustration.
"You can change in my room," Mark said, coming up behind me with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. My mouth began to water just looking at it. "What's wrong? Oh you want this?" he asked teasingly as he handed it over.
"Thanks," I said, flushing just slightly as he gave me the once over. I always felt so self-conscious when he saw me in the morning, all rumpled looking, but he recently confided in me that he loved seeing me that way. That he would love to wake up to me looking exactly like I did now.
Knowing what he was insinuating made my body heat up each time I thought about it. The mental picture of waking up in his arms was definitely something that got my blood boiling. And by the glint in his eyes, I could see he was thinking the same thing without even entering his thoughts.
"Um okay, I guess I'll go change," I stuttered, backing up from the oddly intimate moment. "Thanks for my drug," I added, indicating my mug of liquid gold.
"No problem," he replied, still watching me with his burning gaze.
I closed the door behind me sagging weakly against it. "Hormones my butt, that guy is just smoking hot," I told Feline as I changed my clothes.
***