Valentine's Special
A smirk lit Ry's face as the bullets lodged into the skin of the tall blond woman and the black haired man. The bullets burrowed into their skin before shimmering and spreading like a glittering light across their skin.
The woman rubbed at the spot with a grimace just as the man let a spew of curses leave his mouth with a hostile glance around, ready to blame someone for hitting him. The man paused at the sight of the woman and Ry could feel a magnetic click in the air as she glanced at him. Their eyes never left one another.
Ry clicked the safety on his gun, slipping it in the waistband of his denim jeans. Another job well done, and, he thought smugly, done with class. He pulled on his denim jacket, ready to make his way out. His job was done other than the yearly check ups.
Those sucked the most he had to make sure the couples were still together. If they were fighting it was kind of fun but usually his presence mellowed them out to where they showed their real feelings.
Lame.
It was really gross when they were in happy moods already because his presence just upped that. Then they got mushy. Ry shuddered and screwed his face up in disgust.
"For a guy with a love gun who plays cupid you sure don't look happy about pairing someone up."
Ry gritted his teeth at the woman draping herself over the hood of his Mustang. Her long red hair twisted into a messy bun, casting shadows haphazardly across her face making one eye a dark Forrest green and the other a bright clear green. She wore a dark blue summer dress, and his eyes followed the curve of her body to her pale legs that stretched across his door. She was blocking him from getting in his car and driving away, the clever bitch.
"Deni, leave." Ry ordered shortly, forcing his eyes from her and the pout she sprouted.
"But I want to play with the gun," she said and he took a second to breathe in deeply. It took a few reminders that he would be punished should he shoot her or likewise harmed her. He settled for clamping onto her wrist and drawing her to a standing position.
Bad idea, Ry discovered, when she stepped into him pressing herself against him with a coy smile. She was playing him and he hated games.
"Denise, step away from me and walk away. Don't come bother me again," Ry snapped at her and she placed her hands against his chest, bringing the hand he still held hers with between them and forcing his other to rest on the curve of her hip.
So he could push her away, he told himself.
"No, I think you should answer me. Do you not like your job, Ry baby?" The last word was a purr into his ear and he clenched his jaw. He felt his mask slip, the cold feelings he usually felt heated to a white hot fury.
What right did she have to bother him on the job? He bent his head down and felt more than saw the gleam in her eyes and the wicked smile curving her lips.
"Sweetheart, I don't play games so unless you want a bullet in your ass and a bullet in some idiot as well I really suggest you walk your pretty self away."
Her hand tightened and she let a low chuckle out."You think I'm pretty?"
Ry growled in the back of his throat and pushed her away only then realizing they'd attracted some onlookers.
"God damnit, get in the car. All I need is a public display on my spotless record," Ry said to her and led her to the passenger side door. He didn't miss her snort of amusement and her snarky comeback.
"Spotless? Please, we could barely play a life threatening game of hopscotch on your spotty as hell record." Ry glowered as he slammed her door and made his way to the other side. This was not going to be a fun trip.
**
They arrived at his condo within minutes, thanks to him breaking all the speed laws to get them here. He couldn't imagine being in a confined space with her for too long.
She did weird things to him, she made him mad when he was usually just blank and she made him want when he was too fucking old and knew too well that he couldn't have. He never could.
He couldn't have the fire in her eyes and hair, or the wit waiting on her tongue or the intelligence in that pretty head of hers. He couldn't have the confidence she exuded with every graceful move of her body.
God damnit, he couldn't have her.
He didn't want her, he silently admonished himself.
"I think you have to put the key in the lock, sweets. I'm no expert, really, but I think that's how it opens." Her voice interrupted his internal debate and he took a second to realize he had been staring at his door for a while.
Mentally shaking his head, he made quick work of the lock and led her inside his living room.
"You know, I really love all the neutral colors but I think you should add in some bright colors. A splash of red and green perhaps, maybe against that wall, or on your fabulously large bed." She directed her attention to his room and hurried towards it, jumping on it and sprawling herself across it. He had to admit, the green and red did compliment his bed well.
Snap yourself out of it, you horny asshole. You don't get to keep her, they've made the rules clear more times than you can count. How many ways can you spell off limits?
D-E-N-I-S-E. That's one way.
"Get off," he growled curtly, and he saw a flicker of unease enter her eyes. She was starting to wear from his attitude.
"You know, you need to be nice to me. " she stated crossly. He quirked his eyebrow at her, disbelief clear in his expression.
"I need to? Really now, because I beg to differ, sweetheart. Now, I suggest you explain why you're here and then leave."
"You have to find me love." You'd think she slapped him with the force of his recoil.
"Sorry, I don't take projects," he stated, his voice cold and flat.
"I'm not a project," she countered, her voice dropping dangerously low, "I'm your assignment. You have to find me love, the Council said so."
Her expression turned smug as his turned to one of horror.
They just did that to him-- threw her in his face like that. Those bastards. He'd quit, he was one of the best at his job and them losing him would be detrimental.
Of course, they might terminate him on the spot since this was what he was made to do, he thought with disgust.
Be cupid, but you can never fall in love. Be cupid, but never find happiness with another.
Ry had been alive for centuries and he couldn't take the love he ignited in others because in no uncertain terms was he told he couldn't have the same thing.
He envied her just as much as he admired her, because she was allowed love. She was a Spring nymph, immortal and beautiful and graceful and allowed--even encouraged-- to love. He was the giver of love, the essence of feelings, the height of sex and the craze of lust and yet he was allowed no love.
Sex, sure-- but sex got boring after a while, and sex with women he would eventually find a love for was even more depressing.
"I don't want you to be my assignment," he said through his teeth, directing his gaze upwards, hoping the Council was listening in.
"I can tell." She said dryly, "ever think I don't want it either?"
He shot her a disbelieving look.
"Deni, what reason would you not want this? I'm your chance to find your true love who you'll spend your immortality with."
"Yeah, well, maybe I already chose someone, and if you're helping me find someone I know I won't get to be with him."
"Then he is the wrong guy, I'm never wrong."
"Yeah. So I hear. The Council kept telling me that I couldn't have the guy and I suppose this is their way of getting my mind off of it." She flicked a strand of red behind her shoulder and looked at him.
For some reason it affected him more than anything else might have. Hey eyes were wide and full of resignation and more than anything he wanted her to be happy. He needed to see her happy, even if it physically hurt him like hell to allow someone else to do that for her.
"Fine. I'll help you. It's getting late, I need to sleep. Can you see your way out?" He asked while he scrubbed a hand down his face. He had to have a few minutes to get it together.
"Well, actually," she began, pursing her lipsand he had to stifle a groan.
"You're a full time assignment? Like, you get my guest room and everything?"
"Well, I was more hoping..."
"Deni. I don't want to hear it, the guest room is down the hall. Go make yourself at home," he cut her off and began digging around for some sweats to sleep in. Stripping his shirt off he searched for another to take it's place when he felt a breath on his back.
Deni was standing right behind him, and before he could tell her to stop she traced her fingers along his shoulder blade where his wings laid dormant. At her touch, they rustled, eager to stretch out and allow her to feel them but Ry surpressed the urge. People didn't touch his wings.
Ever.
"What are you doing?"
"What I want," her response was laden with stubborn intent and he wished he could give in to what she wanted.
Her hands left a trail of heat racing down his back, then along his sides and before he knew it her hands were skirting along the waistline of his denim jeans. Her hand paused on the gun before she slipped it off of him and tossed it to the ground.
She resumed her exploration and Ry simply closed his eyes. He couldn't fight anymore.
"This can be our one night, Ry. I chose you, but they won't let me have you. Please - just for a night. Let me have you."
Her lips settled against the back of his neck and his wings unfolded at the feeling. Monstrous white wings spread out of his back, causing her to step back. But only for a moment. Within the next second she was tentively searching his wings, drifting her fingers over their softness, kissing the tendons that held them together and massaging at the juncture between his shoulder blades and his wings.
Ry groaned and turned to catch her in his arms.
"Deni, if I give you one night I won't want to let any other man give you the time of day. I can't do that to you," he was cut off by her lips pressing against his. He pulled away and tried again.
"Deni, we can't because if we do I won't want to give you up. I can't lose you, and I would because I'm not allowed to love. I'm not allowed that and I never will be." Her hands came around his neck and she pulled him down.
"One night," she whispered against his lips before again kissing him and ultimately leading him towards the bed.
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There will be more, that I will try to write when I get home from work. There is still a little in store for Ry and Deni so stay tuned and enjoy this little Valentines Day Special! Drop me a comment and be sure to vote!