Crossfire - a sizzling slow burn with supernatural powers

And the kiss

"Harper, are you alright?" His tone was serious. It was the professional Brandt, who answered the phone, ready to spring into action. The thought of him caring that much warmed me and helped me form words despite the lump in my throat.

"Hi, I was looking at the news coverage of the smoke incidents and I..." Truth be told, I didn't know what I wanted to say, I just wanted to hear his voice.

"I know, it's a lot to carry, when you know what's not being reported." He said, this voice softer and smoother.

"Is there any way I can see you today?" I blurted out.

"I'll come by..." I heard Neil Duncan's commanding voice call for Brandt.

"Later," Brandt ended his message and disconnected the call.

I tried to draw, but I couldn't gather myself and focus on something to draw. I was fidgeting and couldn't stay still. My body was still recovering from the fight, but I needed to move. If anyone had suggested that I voluntarily would go for a run, before meeting Brandt the first time, I would have laughed in their face. Now, I wanted to go for a run when my thoughts weren't in neat rows, which was most of the time. I put on my trainers and went downstairs.

My mom was in the living room with her computer in her lap. That was her version of lying on the couch.

"I'm going for a run," I said from the doorway, just for her information.

My mom stared at the bruise on my shoulder, which was beginning to change color. She put her computer on the coffee table.

"Come sit with me," she patted the seat next to her and I sat down. It wasn't often that we had an actual conversation.

"I know that I'm not that involved in your life." She searched for the right words or meanings, speaking slowly, while her gaze was fixed at the coffee table. In her ordinary business environment, my mom was confident to a T, but here and now, she was anything but. I don't believe I've ever seen her as vulnerable. At this moment, I could recognize the mom I was reminded of in the mindscape, from when we were a family of three.

"I may not be the mom you want, but I care for you deeply. Seeing you like this... I want you to know that you can come to me. I'll do want I can to protect you." She glanced at me and I took her hand in both of mine.

"I know, mom. You have my back and my best interests at heart." I paused, scrambling to say what I wanted to say. "I am growing up. I am an adult and the problems I meet are more adult, and I want to do this on my own. I have friends in my corner." I looked down on our hands. I was clutching her hand.

"I'm sorry," I said and let go of her hand. She patted my knee.

"No, don't be. I'm proud of you, Harper," she said and smiled at me. I smiled back. I felt like her daughter.

"Go on, weren't you going for a run?" She asked in her usual cheery way as she picked up her computer again. I nodded and headed out.

I set off slowly, feeling my body and letting it warm up. I could definitely feel the soreness in my muscles and the blood flow in my bruises. This wasn't going to be a run, where I pushed myself in speed. This was a settling run to clear my head. I jogged down the driveway and turned at the path between the trees. This was the way I had come the first time I saw Brandt.

I was getting into the motion of running. My feet found their footing on the foot path and undergrowth on either side slapped my shins, reminding me of my forward motion. Before reaching the road, I turned downhill on another path that lead down to a creek. Two wooden planks constituted the bridge across the creek, slippery when wet, but it wasn't wet today. I ran across and readied myself for the ascent on the other side. My stride was small and I grabbed a hold of the trunk of a young tree halfway up. From here I walked or climbed the rest of the way up to the next path.

This was my halfway point. From here the path snaked in a long curve, where I didn't have to focus on any obstacles or turns. I just followed the path in my own thoughts. Sometimes, I consciously thought about something and sometimes, the run itself did its magic, rearranging my thoughts, so that I had clarity when I arrived back home.

I... A shadow passed on my right and I ran directly into a wall in front of me. The wall grabbed me and held me tight, making it impossible to break free. Panic flooded my body. I wanted to scream, but I was breathless from running. My heart thundered in my chest. I focused on the wall in front of me.

"Hi," it was the voice, I longed to hear. Brandt.

He let go of me and guided my chin, so we were eye to eye. It was only an instant, before he leaned forward and kissed me softly.

I was delighted and thirsty. I didn't want a soft or gentle kiss. I wanted Brandt with his roughness and the strong pull between us. I intensified the kiss, touching my tongue to his lips, and he immediately followed my lead. I felt the kiss everywhere. Our hands pulled our bodies closer and our tongues played. It didn't want it to end.

Brandt caressed my hair with his hand, drawing a little spark from his hand.

"I'm sorry," he said, breaking the kiss and looking guilty for a split second.

"Don't be. Hi," I answered, enjoying his hands around me. I sounded different to my own ears, older perhaps.

"You scared me, jumping out in front of me like that." I glared at him, hoping it came across as admonishing and playful at the same time. He scared me, but I was elated with his presence and the kiss.

"You run the same route almost every time." Brandt smiled that snide smile that I found so enticing the first time we met in my kitchen. Now, I relished his closeness. He didn't scare me like a malicious force. He had a gravitational pull and being here in his embrace was exciting and safe at the same time. And the kiss...

"A-ha, you've been here before!" I smiled at the thought.

"You're right, Sherlock, I haven't been able to stay away." A lock of his hair fell across his forehead.

"Good," I commented and kissed him.