[Perspective: Aryan Spencer]
I was leaning back into the deep cushions of the sofa, my legs stretched out beneath the coffee table. Wanda was still curled sideways in my lap, her knees tucked against the armrest, her head resting comfortably in the crook of my neck.
Her hands were still buried deep inside the flannel pockets of my shirt, capturing my body heat.
I let out a slow exhale, feeling the rise and fall of my own chest translate directly into her.
"You know," I murmured, my voice dropping to a register that barely disturbed the quiet air of the room. "I am a very patient man. And I have a high tolerance for delayed gratification."
Wanda shifted slightly, her cheek rubbing against the cotton of my t-shirt. "Is this a medical lecture, Dr. Spencer? Because I left my notebook upstairs."
"It is a statement of fact," I corrected, bringing my right hand up to trace the delicate curve of her spine through her cardigan. "But my patience does have a designated limit. Specifically, regarding closed doors inside my own house."
She let out a soft laugh, the sound vibrating directly against my collarbone. "Your house?"
"Our house," I amended quickly, dipping my chin to press a kiss to the crown of her head. "But the geography remains the same. The library, Wanda. It's been locked for hours. What exactly are you building in there? A portal? A secret government laser?"
She pulled her left hand out of my pocket, the sudden loss of her warmth making me suppress a shiver and brought her fingers up to trace the line of my jaw. "It is a surprise. And you cannot rush a surprise. If you rush it, it becomes merely an event."
I turned my face slightly, catching the pad of her index finger between my lips, pressing a playful bite to her skin. She gasped softly, her eyes darkening in the amber light.
"I could just walk in," I challenged, releasing her finger and trailing my lips down to the sensitive skin just below her ear. "I have the master key."
"If you breach the library," she whispered, tilting her neck to give me better access, her breath hitching as I kissed the pulse point fluttering there, "you will find your belongings moved to the Wanda Wing."
I pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. "You wouldn't dare. You just admitted I'm an efficient heater."
"I can buy an electric blanket," she countered, her green eyes sparkling with pure mischief. "They have settings. 'Low,' 'Medium' and 'Not Annoying.'"
"An electric blanket cannot do this," I said.
I slid my left hand around her waist, gripping the soft knit of her sweater and pulled her flush against my chest.
At the same time, I brought my right hand up to cup the back of her neck, my fingers tangling in the auburn silk of her hair. I didn't give her a chance to formulate a witty comeback. I captured her mouth with mine.
The kiss started slowly, a teasing slide of lips, but the moment she tasted me, the playful banter evaporated. She made a soft sound in the back of her throat, her remaining hand abandoning my pocket to grip the collar of my flannel shirt, hauling me closer.
I opened my mouth, deepening the kiss, letting the taste of the chocolate ice cream we had shared mix with the intoxicating sweetness that was uniquely her.
I mapped the roof of her mouth, my tongue sliding against hers in a slow slide that sent a pooling heat straight to my core.
She angled her head, granting me deeper access, her fingernails scraping lightly against the nape of my neck.
I broke the kiss just enough for us to pull in a jagged breath, resting my forehead against hers.
"Can an electric blanket do that?" I asked, my voice a rough rasp.
Wanda swallowed heavily, her chest heaving against mine. She stared at my lips, her own swollen and wet. "An electric blanket," she whispered, her voice lacking any of its previous conviction, "does not have a medical degree."
I chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Exactly. Superior service. Now, about that library..."
"No," she said, slapping my chest lightly, a smile breaking through her dazed expression. "You are trying to bribe me with physical affection. It is corrupt."
"It's a perfectly valid negotiation tactic," I argued, shifting my weight so she fell slightly backward against the arm of the sofa, hovering over her. I braced my forearm beside her head. "I am simply utilizing all the assets at my disposal."
I glanced over my shoulder, finding the invisible 'lens' hovering near the darkened television screen.
'Watch and learn,' I said to the audience, letting a smug cross my face for a fraction of a second before turning back to her. 'This is how you win a standoff without firing a single shot.'
"You will see the room tomorrow," Wanda promised, her hands moving down to rest flat against my chest, feeling the heavy thud of my heartbeat. "In the morning. Until then, you are forbidden."
"Forbidden," I repeated, tasting the word. I leaned down, dragging my nose along the curve of her cheek. "I don't like that word."
"You will learn to like it," she murmured, turning her face to catch my lips again in a searing kiss.
[Location: The Mojave Desert, Sector 4]
[Perspective: SWORD Agent Foster]
The desert at night was a specific kind of misery. The heat of the day vanished, leaving a biting cold that seeped right through the tactical Kevlar.
Agent Foster adjusted the strap of his rifle, squinting through the thermal goggles. Ahead of him, stretching out into the darkness, was a sea of fused black glass.
The crater.
"I still don't get it," Davis muttered from his crouched position behind a slab of scorched sandstone. The rookie was shivering, his breath pluming in the cold air. "We're guarding a hole. A literal hole in the ground. What are we supposed to shoot at? The sand?"
PS: Come on guys, we just need 41 more Power Stones for the bonus chapter. Let's push a little harder, haha.