non-plus

nänˈpləs

verb

surprise and confuse (someone) so much that they are unsure how to react.

synonyms: discountenance, fluster, mystify, astound, baffle, bewilder, astonish

"I was wondering when you'd barge in." Ajax faced Liam, lowering his arms to his sides when he realized the enthusiasm was not reciprocated.

Liam sucked in a heaving breath through his nose, eyes closing. I'd never seen him this upset before. Angry, yes. But this looked like more than just anger. Finally his eyes opened, and his gaze flicked over me, then back to Ajax.

"When I heard my name, I could not resist." His tense stance relaxed marginally, and he mirrored Ajax, pushing his hands into his suit pockets and beginning a slow, prowling pace back and forth.

"What?" I blinked and stared from one to the other. "You heard that? How?"

Ajax pivoted around to face me, and I swallowed hard. I was suddenly and acutely aware of the fact that two giant, gorgeous dudes were standing at the base of my bed, looking very angry, in the middle of the night... and I was still completely naked.

"He was outside your apartment," Ajax said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "How did you think I found you, young Jack?"

"Oh." I hadn't actually thought about it. "Can you toss me a ... sweatshirt or something? And maybe some pants?" I glanced at Liam with a pleading look.

His mouth was still pressed together grimly, but he reached into my clean clothes pile and pulled out a loose sundress. He threw it towards me and it fluttered onto the bed. They both stared at me expectantly.

"Uh... turn around," I said finally, raising my brows.

I didn't think it was possible, but both of them looked... flustered. Like recalcitrant schoolboys, they shuffled their feet around and presented me with their backs. Swiftly I tugged the dress on over my head, then got up from under the covers.

"Much better," I said. "Okay. Turn back around. Let's handle this like adults. Liam, I thought you left. What were you doing outside my house?"

They both turned to face me, and their eyes performed twin sweeps up and down my body. "You would not blood bond with me," Liam bit out between gritted teeth. "You were not safe."

"Okay. So a creepy stalker thing." I nodded, then folded my arms and stared at Ajax accusingly. "And you knew he was there. You were just doing the whole knife thing to freak him out."

Ajax tilted his head back and laughed aloud. "Yes," he admitted freely, then sighed in satisfaction. "Oh, I have never seen him so worked up. Not for many years, at least."

I groaned and rubbed my head with my palm. "Okay. Short version of this story - neither of you are going to leave me alone until I do this freaky vampire ritual with somebody." I glanced up to see if either of them would deny it.

Liam shifted his stance, looking vaguely embarrassed. "We are not vampires," he muttered under his breath.

"You are correct," Ajax interjected smoothly. "I am afraid I must insist."

I eyed Ajax sharply. Despite his now relaxed stance, I had seen the unearthly glee in his eyes when he'd been approaching me with that knife. He had really wanted to do it. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him, and given our divergent heights, that was just about nowhere. And Liam. Liam was clearly still fuming under the calm exterior, casting resentful glances at myself and then at Ajax.

"You'll forgive me if I'm not particularly open to the concept," I said with a squint.

"As long as you do what I say, you can be as close minded to it as you like," Ajax said with a grin that didn't make it to his eyes.

"I was handling this," Liam burst out, whirling to Ajax. "She would have accepted my blood bond in the morning. You did not need to enter her private chambers in the middle of the night."

Ajax tilted his head, eyeing Liam's clenched fists and tense stance. "You, my friend, should have trusted me with this situation. What were you thinking? Attempting subterfuge? With this... human? We are brothers in arms, Liam. I thought you knew better."

"You are rash and impatient," Liam replied, rolling his shoulders in a clear attempt at releasing some tension. "Look where we are now. As I said, I was handling it."

Whoops. I knew Liam had gone too far this time when Ajax's perpetual smile dropped from his face so abruptly, I thought I'd imagined it in the first place. He drew himself up, and the subtle veneer of civility I hadn't even noticed before dropped away. Those eyes blazed hot, dull red brightening to flame white, and I could swear it got ten degrees warmer in the room.

Nope nope nope. I backed up five steps into the corner and shrank away from this particular confrontation.

"You forget yourself, Liam Cerberus." Ajax's silky purr vibrated through the room, filling it with his presence. It was like he was more than his body, and the shadows of him were spilling out of his frame, licking at the floors, the walls, the ceiling. "Remember who you are, and whom you serve."

I was spellbound, eyes wide, wrapped in him. I could feel my hands shaking, but my mind was numb, fresh fear and fascination wrapping around my brain in twin surges. Liam didn't seem to suffer the same fate. He stood his ground, keeping his chin raised, but his eyes flicked down, not meeting Ajax's white hot gaze. I noticed a barely perceptible wince, but then he squared his shoulders, took a deep breath, and nodded.

"My apologies," he said stiffly.

There was a moment where the future hung in the balance. Then Ajax drew himself back in, blanketing that horrible, beautiful, burning presence under his skin, and a smile began to spread its way back over his features.

"You know, if it was anyone but you, I'd have killed you on the spot," he said. "But you, my oldest friend and ally, of course I will forgive." 

Suddenly I could breathe again, so I did, gasping and leaning over to plant my hands on my knees. "What the fuck," I muttered. I was saying that a lot lately.

They exchanged an oh-this-little-human-woman-and-her-feelings look, then turned towards me. "Are you quite all right, Miss Jacqueline?" Liam asked with exaggerated solicitousness.

"Fine. Great with a cherry on top." I sank down onto the bed, giving my watery knees a rest.

"Excellent. You will need your strength for this part." Liam held out his hand, and Ajax slapped the switchblade into his palm.

Now that they weren't comparing dicks anymore, I could see how they moved around each other with easy camaraderie. "How long have you guys known each other?" I asked, eyeing the knife as Liam twirled it through his fingers. Stalling, stalling.

"Long before you were born," Ajax responded easily.

Again with the vague answers. I found myself in the familiar position of weighing whether I wanted to know more, or run far, far away. "Uh... How long?" 

"Later. For the moment, we must focus." Ajax glanced significantly at the knife, still slipping between Liam's fingers. "This may surprise you, young Jack, but I am a very busy man, and this is not my whole night."

Liam nodded and began advancing again. He settled his large frame on the bed next to me, and I met his gaze. He still looked a little ruffled, reluctant to let go of his outrage, but there was a small smile there, and I felt it calming me.

"So, the whole disease thing, you never answered," I said hurriedly as Liam reached for my arm.

"Stalling again," Ajax tsked and shook his head, coming over to stand in front of me and crossing his arms. Effectively cutting off any avenue of possible escape.

"I'm starting to feel a little claustrophobic with your cock at face level," I snapped, gesturing at his hips which were way too close for comfort.

"Forgive me if I do not sympathize," Ajax said, his eyes lit with laughter. He shifted his stance so his hips pushed out further towards me, and hooked his thumbs in his pockets.

"Ass." I looked at Liam, hoping for a final reprieve. "I'm not stalling. It's a real question."

"I do not have any diseases," Liam replied gently. His large, rough hand grasped my arm and eased it onto his lap. I froze, my eyes fixed on where my pale wrist crossed the soft material of his suit pants. His thigh was so hard, it was like a rock. A warm, sexy, thick rock. His finger stroked up my wrist, finding my pulse point with easy familiarity and resting there. "I am not capable of contracting them. You have nothing to fear."

"And you're sure this is necessary." I looked way, way up to Ajax, and found him already nodding and looking superior. "Does the Jax-ass have to be here?" I asked Liam, pulling a face.

This startled a bark of laughter from Ajax, and he reached down to pat my head in an almost fatherly way. "I suppose not." He glanced at Liam and gave a jerk of his chin. "Before sunrise."

And with that, he was gone. Again, I was surprised at the effortlessness of it. Just a small whiff of air that made me blink, and when I opened my eyes again, no giant man-crotch in my face. I twisted around, looking up at Liam and feeling very, very tired, and very small.

"Miss Jacqueline." Liam's large thumb continued to caress my wrist, passing over the vein there, back and forth, relaxing me against my will. I wondered idly if that was some kind of special power, or just the effect he had on me. "Let us accomplish the objective, so we may move on, shall we?"

"I guess I don't really have a choice," I said, my shoulders drooping. I dropped my head and sighed. It felt too difficult to even keep my chin up at the moment.

There was silence, in which my eyelids fluttered closed, and I just focused on the point where Liam's thumb stroked my skin. It felt so wonderful, I didn't even register the sharp pain for a long moment, until I felt the blood begin welling up and dribbling down my skin. I gasped and popped my eyes open, looking down at my wrist. A small cut, about two inches in length, stretched down my wrist, and a light droplet of blood was making its way towards my palm.

"Oh," I said numbly, then looked up further to find Liam's hand creating a similar cut on his own skin. Without my noticing, he had taken off his suit coat and rolled up the sleeves of his white button down shirt. He clenched his fingers into a fist and drew the knife across his muscular forearm, then grasped my wrist. He drew our skin together and pressed firmly, his free hand circling both our arms.

I gasped aloud at the sensation. The dull throb from the cut faded into the background as I focused on all his flesh on mine.

"Look at me, Jacqueline." Liam's voice was commanding and quiet.

I had to obey. I drew my face up and locked my eyes with his, losing my mind in the bright, clear blue pools. They were mesmeric, pulling me in, and I forgot what we were doing, I forgot his firm, near-bruising grip on my arm, I forgot the cut and the fact that small drops of our combined blood was getting on my blanket, and that blood was going to be almost impossible to get out. As I stared at him, I began to feel a quiet, powerful hum, filling my body. My eyes widened and I found myself straining towards him. Something was definitely happening, arcing between us like a line of electricity.

Then, far too soon, Liam blinked, and looked away. I caught my breath, staring at his face. Holy crap. He pulled his arm from mine, and I shook my head to clear it. I took a moment to self assess. I felt pretty much the same. No weird presence inside my mind or anything. I eyed Liam cautiously.

"Uh... Was that it? Did it work?"

"Yes. I told you it would be simple," Liam said with a small smile. He pushed to his feet and held out his hand. "Come. I will tend to your wound. It must be cleaned, correct?"

"Yeah," I said, glancing down at my arm. The blood had smeared over my skin, but it didn't appear to be bleeding actively anymore. Not a deep cut, then. "Thanks." In all honesty, I felt a little silly. Making such a big deal over such a small thing.

No. Adjust your thought process, Jack, I told myself with a mental eyeroll. The freak out over the whole open wound blood exchange thing with a freakish, apparently ancient being... Justified. Way, way justified.

He gripped my hand and pulled me forward towards my little bathroom, and before I could protest, whisked me up onto the counter with his hands around my waist. He released me just as quickly, and I crossed my legs, suddenly aware of my completely pantyless state. Mental note to sanitize the bathroom countertop later, because it was quite cold on my poor bare ladybits.

"Medicine and stuff is in that cabinet," I said as he continued to just stare down at me.

He blinked and gave himself a shake, then turned to where I'd indicated. He looked uncertainly at the rows of bottles and bandages.

"You don't use human medicine or something?" I asked in surprise.

"I have no need." He showed me his arm, and my mouth popped open in surprise when I saw his cut was already healed. Nothing but a faint line there showed what had occurred.

"Ah. Fancy. Well, you can use that cloth to clean mine, and I just need some disinfectant. That bottle there with the red label."

He took the damp cloth and bottle, then turned back around to face me. His large frame approached me, pushing close into my personal space and crowding me until I felt short of breath. Jesus Christ on a cracker, he smelled good. I couldn't help but stare at that totally entrancing little peep of dark hair under his unbuttoned collar, and I bit my lower lip. No nuzzling, I reminded myself. Distraction. That's what I needed.

"So, uh... what was the deal with Ajax? Is he some kind of a crazy fire demon under it all?"

Liam's warm hand grasped my wrist, and I winced as he began swiping the cloth over my arm, cleaning the drying blood from my skin. "Hmm..."

Well. That was definitely what I would call a noncommittal hum. Not the reaction to a joke, as I'd expected. "Are you serious? He's really a crazy fire demon?"

"Fire demon, this is not entirely accurate," Liam said. "But perhaps you will be more cautious in the way you speak to him if you think of him that way. Stubborn female."

"I think I've been exceedingly reasonable," I said indignantly. "I'm sure you wouldn't be nearly as adaptable as me if you suddenly discovered everything you'd ever known was a lie."

"Hmm."

There was a moment of silence as he put aside the cloth and patted my arm dry, then began applying the sticky disinfectant. I watched his face as he worked. His jaw was twitching occasionally, and now and then his eyes would flick up over my face.

"Are you angry?" 

He finished applying the disinfectant and unwrapped a bandaid. "No." There was a long pause as he applied the bandage to my arm and wrapped it around snugly, his palm pressing over it. He held his hand there for a long moment. "I am upset. You are far more wounded than you revealed."

His other hand came up to tenderly brush my bruised face, so soft I could barely feel the pressure. I licked my lips to moisten them. "I... I'm fine," I said, my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper. I hadn't felt this brain dead around him since we had first started talking in the coffee shop.

"I knew that paste on your face was concealing more," he said, his voice deep and ragged. "I did not anticipate how it would make me... feel."

"Is that why you were so upset earlier? With Ajax?" I felt dizzy under his regard, and when his thumb crept up to sweep over my lower lip, I let out a shuddery sigh that may or may not have verged on a moan.

"You are hurt here, as well," he growled, his thumb stroking my healing cut on my lower lip. "If she were not already dead, I would make her wish it so."

"You can't kill somebody twice." Every time I spoke it caused my sensitive lips to brush against his thumb. "And you can't kick a dead horse, and all that."

"That does not make sense," he grumbled, and pulled his hand back.

Damn. I fought back a surge of disappointment and nudged at his chest to push him back. "Can I go back to sleep, now?"

"If you wish."

"Of course I wish," I said with a frown. He followed me silently as I made my way back into my bedroom, and I glanced at my phone to check the time. "Ugh... Never mind," I said with a groan as I flopped down on the bed. "I have to get ready for work in half an hour anyway. Not worth it."

"Very well." Liam paused before me and locked his hands behind his back, looking every inch the security guard. "Shall I leave you?"

I pondered that. It really would be the smarter decision... ah, screw it. I'd already done enough dumb things lately. "Stay. We should talk," I said, patting the bed next to me.

I suppressed a smile as he pulled himself onto the bed, awkwardly crossing his legs in an attempt to mirror my own pose. Men with large, muscular thighs just weren't meant for yoga positions.

"Talk, then."

"Well, first of all." I ignored his imperious tone and poked his bicep. "Why were you so upset earlier? I want to know what I did, so I can never do it again, because you, my friend, are scary."

Liam looked a little surprised, then gave a one-shouldered shrug. "I was not upset with you." He tilted his head to the side as if just now realizing that statement was possibly not entirely true. "Perhaps a little. I heard you shouting, and as I appeared, I caught his scent. I thought... I do not know what I thought." He scowled and his gaze raked over me. "You were naked. Why were you naked?"

"I always sleep naked. I certainly wasn't expecting to be woken up by some creepy perv like Ajax."

"Perhaps you will use more good sense in the future," Liam said darkly, turning his head away.

"Maybe." Never. Sleeping naked was totally worth it.  

He muttered something that sounded a lot like, "Stubborn female," and I couldn't help it. I started laughing. As soon as I got started, I couldn't stop, like some kind of insane catharsis. I knew it was hysterical, but I couldn't stop until I caught Liam staring at me, looking concerned, which sent me off into another fit. It wasn't until he gripped my shoulders and started shaking me that I finally wound down, wiping my eyes and swallowing a last giggle.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing, I'm sorry... I'm sorry." I released a hiccupy sigh. "Call it a human moment, if you will."

Liam nodded and released my shoulders. "Well it was unpleasant."

"My apologies," I said solemnly, and coughed to clear my throat. All the laughter hadn't done my poor husky voice any favors.

"You are forgiven." He paused, and in the silence I found his eyes fixed on my mouth again. I licked my lips self consciously, and he blinked, moving in closer. "I wonder," he said quietly.

"Wonder what?" Yet again, far too easily caught up in the snare of those gorgeous eyes.

"What it would be like." His voice emerged as nothing more than a breathless grumble in his chest, and he was so close now I could feel his breath on my lips.

"What what would be like?" My voice was drowsy, my eyelids fluttering shut, and I could feel my lips whispering against his, so close our breaths mingled.

"This."

The last word was lost as his mouth finally pressed to mine. His hands cradled my head, fingers spearing into my hair to hold me in place. As if I would try to escape. His mouth was firm and gentle, moving against mine almost inexpertly, but the touch of his skin sent ripples of warmth through me. I wanted to clutch his shoulders, and draw his tongue into my mouth, and rub against him like a cat in heat. At the first curious touch of his tongue tip, I let out a tiny moan, almost giving in to the urge. 

No. My mind was in charge, and it was saying bad, bad idea. With a whimper, and a great deal of effort, I planted my hands against his chest and pushed at him. It took a moment for the sensation to break through, and when it did he tore his mouth away, pulling back, his hands leaving my hair to press against his lips. He stared at me, his eyes polished jewel-bright and heavy lidded with desire.

"Holy shit," I said.

Liam's hands fell to his sides and he fisted them, looking adorably ruffled with his mouth swollen from my kisses, and I felt a surge of possession move through me. Gah, I wanted him. Bad. All mine, my body screamed at me.

"Apt," he finally said in a raspy tone. He was staring at me in a way I could only call wonder. "That is kissing."

The words cut through some of my residual haze of desire, and I frowned. "You... have you never kissed anyone before?"

"I have," he replied, blinking and looking away. "It has been so long. I had forgotten."

Jesus. So long he'd forgotten what kissing felt like? His age was quickly rising in the ranks of things I wanted to know, but was afraid to actually find out. "You didn't want to? I mean, you're gorgeous. I'm sure you had enough women trying to get in your pants."

He shifted around to face me, and his fingers began playing with the switchblade again, stroking his fingers over the handle in a nervous habit. "During the first flush of life, sexual interaction feels so paramount. You would be surprised how swiftly it loses its appeal."

"I mean, I know a lot of couples who have been married for fifty years or more, and still have sex," I said. "Well, I mean, I've heard of a lot. I don't just go around making friends with elderly people and then asking about their sex life. But you know what I mean."

"Fifty years, yes. A blink and it is gone," Liam said with a small smile down at me. 

"Ah. Gotcha." I didn't want to know. I didn't. No, I totally did. "How old are you, exactly?" 

"I frankly cannot remember, Miss Jacqueline. I ceased counting."

"Oh. So like... ballpark, what's the first war you remember?"

Liam bared his teeth in a savage grin. "You would not know it. Beautiful and bloody, it was."

"Sounds, uh, great." I bit my lower lip, wincing when I realized Liam's passionate kiss had reopened the cut. "May I ask another question?"

"I do not think it is physically possible to stop you," Liam said with an exasperated look.

"Why did you kiss me, then? If you stopped wanting to."

"I have never touched a human," Liam said almost absently. "Not in an affectionate way, I mean."

"So it was... what. Curiosity?" I felt a sharp bite of disappointment through my gut, and a strange sort of throbbing around my heart. Of course it was just curiosity. Why would somebody like Liam... who was so beyond the scope of my imagination... actually be seriously interested in me?

"I have never been curious about it before," Liam continued, staring at the knife as it whirred between his fingers.

"Ah. Well. It's, um... It's late. Or early. Both. I have to start putting on my face."

Liam looked startled. "Your face?"

"Makeup," I clarified with a laugh. "You can stay and watch, but it's boring."

He hesitated, and began whirling the knife again, flipping it end over end, then catching it in his palm and slipping it into his pocket. "I feel the connection between us strengthening. If you need me, I will know." He unfolded himself from the bed and reached down to pull on his somewhat crumpled, damp suit jacket.

"Okay. Well, thanks for... this." I gestured between us. "It's been weird."

"As always with you, Miss Jacqueline." Liam sketched his signature bow, and before I could utter another word, was gone.