Chapter 12.

Colliding Worlds "When are you coming back?" I whine into the phone.

"I'll be back soon, I promise. We've tracked down almost every lead," Devin says with a tired tone.

"I'm sick of Deacon, for the record. I have to sit in the padded room just to talk to you in private. He never goes anywhere. He's only funny for a little while, and then he's just annoying," I grumble.

"Well that's because you've been cooped up with him for over a week, and he's not supposed to go anywhere. Anyone grows annoying after that amount of togetherness," he says with a chuckle.

"I would never be that annoyed with you. In fact, the new bed finally arrived this morning, and I've been wondering how much togetherness it can withstand," I seduce.

"Please don't use that voice with me. I'm dying as it is. I swear I've been having withdrawal pains for you," he groans.

I smile at my victorious attempt to tease him, and then I decide to step up my game. I turn on the laptop and pull up the pictures I had taken during a devilish attempt to make him miss me more.

Until this moment, I have lacked the desperation and the courage to actually send them. There are several of me in a tight, red corset that has a small black faux-fur trim and black satin laces drawing together the back. The fishnet stockings bear rose designs on them, and the black underwear shows just enough to truly tease the wandering mind.

In a gutsy moment, I had set up the camera to take several very provocative and daring poses. In several pictures, the green eyes glare against the camera - though only immortal eyes can see them - and even I'm a little turned on by them.

I take a deep breath as my finger hovers over the send option. I grit my teeth and finally gain the courage to go through with it.

"Adisia? You there?" Devin asks.

"Yeah. Sorry. I got a little distracted. I just sent you something that will hopefully give you some incentive to hurry up out there. Or you're going to laugh, and then I'm going to be really embarrassed."

"What did you send?" he muses while laughing under his breath.

I blush even though he can't see me, and I resist the urge to squeal. I wish Aphrodite would take over and control this situation for me.

I don't think I have the scandalous ferocity needed to follow this through, but I attempt it anyway.

"Check your email," I prompt.

"Okay," he almost snickers out.

I wait very impatiently, and my nails find their way to my mouth. I chew them vigorously as I await his response, but there's a deathly silence on the other side.

"Holy shit," he coughs out as if he's strangling on something.

I giggle slightly at his caught-off-guard reaction, and then I shake hands with Aphrodite.

"Well?" I urge.

"Well, I'm definitely wishing I hadn't opened my email. I only thought I was hurting until now. Please be wearing that when I come home tomorrow," he says breathlessly.

"Tomorrow? You're coming home tomorrow?" I squeal.

"Yes. I was going to surprise you, but now I just want to come home to you wearing that. Damn it. Where the hell did you even get that?"

I blush slightly as I recall the awkward interaction I had in order to acquire the racy garment. I didn't realize Devin has such strict security. If you don't forewarn Greer that a package is coming, then he inspects it to ensure Devin's safety before delivering it. He'll never look at me without blushing again.

"I ordered it online. I thought it would be fun to entice your return. I can't believe I actually did it," I bashfully reply.

"Oh, it's definitely enticing. I'm afraid you've just destroyed my mindset for the day. I'm going to be completely lost in my fantasies for the rest of my stay."

I smile deviously. "So there's really no need in you staying there another night then. Perhaps you could just come on home to me," I seduce.

He sighs loudly as if he's struggling with the new encouraging bits of temptation.

"I love the way you said that. I can't believe I'm looking forward to coming home to anyone. I love you, baby."

I grin foolishly, and my cheeks cringe in pain when the smile extends too far.

"I love you, too," I almost giggle out.

"I should be home by noon tomorrow. We have to get some leads sorted out right now. I have to go, and I'll try to think of something other than how completely dazzling, tempting, and intoxicating you look in these goddess pictures you've tortured me with."

I giggle again, and then I sigh with a twinge of disappointment.

"Okay. Go be a hero. I'll see you soon,"

"Bye, babe."

"Bye, Devin," I say with some seductiveness and disappointment at once.

I put my phone in my pocket and stare at the picture of us kissing. I'm going crazy being confined to this apartment. I'm sick of being here without him here to keep me occupied.

My phone rings, and I juggle it for a minute as I scurry to answer it.

"Miss me already," I seduce.

"I've been missing you for too damn long, Aphrodisia Titan," Clara says with a chuckle.

I blush slightly as I answer with an embarrassed giggle.

"I miss you, too, hot stuff. How's the married life?" I ask in an effort to recover.

"It's pretty great. I still haven't gotten my freaking honeymoon, due to the fact I married a workaholic, but I love him. I was actually calling to see if you had lunch plans because I'm coming into the city right now."

I cringe a little. I'm not supposed to leave the apartment, but I can't tell her that, and I suck at lying.

"I don't. How about you come see me at the apartment? I know a great Thai place that delivers, and you haven't seen my new place," I say with a perky, hopefully affective offer.

"I'll see your place, but you're totally going out with me. I can't come to New York and eat in," she says with exaggerated drama.

Crap.

"Okay. I'll text you the address," I murmur nervously.

"Awesome," she squeals. "See you soon."

I slowly lower the phone as my mind starts strategizing a plan. I rush out of the padded room to find Deacon or Camara.

I see Deacon at the bar and steady my breath as I walk over to him.

"I kind of have a problem," I awkwardly mumble.

He turns with a menacing smirk plastered to his slightly shadowed face.

"I knew it. I knew with Devin gone you'd fall for me. Come, love," he says while crunching on his cereal. "Let's go break the bed."

I scowl at him as I narrow my eyes.

"You're not even the slightest bit funny anymore," I grumble.

He chuckles lightly to himself, and then he adds, "So you say. I find myself to be wildly amusing."

He returns to his bowl of cereal, shrugging as he does so.

"Or just incredibly obnoxious," Camara says with a smirk as she emerges from the guestroom.

He rolls his eyes, and then he gives me a semi-serious look. It's probably the best serious-face he can muster.

"What's the problem?"

I take another deep breath as I grimace.

"I sort of have a friend from back home coming over, and she's expecting me to go out."

"Oh a friend. That's cool, but no," he snarks, still crunching on the enormous bowl of his cereal.

I feel like a child asking for permission to hang out with my friend on a school night. This is absurd.

"I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you my plans for the day, so either help me work it out, or watch me walk out without your approval," I scold.

He shakes his head. "And I'm saying it's not going to happen. I'll tie you up if I have to - no pun intended," he teases as his eyebrows bounce up and down.

I roll my eyes and grab my purse.

"Forget it. I'm going now. I'll just meet her somewhere. If you try to tie me up, I'll just force you to let me go. I've become quite adept with that little skill, in case you've forgotten," I smugly counter.

He glares at me as he thinks back to when I enslaved his mind long enough to have him wait on Camara and me for bits and pieces of a day. He even wore an apron to add to his humiliation.

Camara and I immensely enjoyed the show, and we took pictures of the entire charade for intense mocking purposes. It's amazing what someone finds to do for entertainment when they've been locked away in a tower for so long. Even a tower as lavish as this one becomes dreadfully boring after a while.

Camara chuckles lightly in amusement, and then she sighs with slight dismay.

"It's really not safe. There are eyes watching from all over. It's possible someone can use the mortals the way I can use the animals," she gently inserts.

"It's possible they can, and it's also possible they can do as I do in a different way. It's possible they can infect masses by some unknown medley of powers and control them that way as well. It's possible they can use mind control without even seeing their victim, and it's possible they've created something to use on the mortals.

"There are so many theories about what they can do that I can't even keep up anymore, and we're no closer to finding out who they are. I'm tired of being held captive, and I need the fresh air before I blow up inside this apartment. It's just lunch. I'm not going to be frolicking around the city aimlessly. We'll eat, chat and share a drink. I'll make up a reason to excuse myself if she tries to extend the visit," I murmur with exasperation.

Camara sits back and sighs as if she feels sorry for me, and it's possible she empathizes with me. She is the embodiment of the wild. The wild isn't meant to be kept locked up. It's very likely she's going as stir-crazy as I am.

Deacon continues shaking his head.

"It's too risky. Devin will flip out if I go along with this," he grumbles with a mouthful.

"I'll go with her. You can stake out the place and keep a watch for anything seeming suspicious. They can't possibly find us every time we're out there," Camara says while joining my side.

I almost squeal and look expectantly at Deacon.

"You're going regardless of any perfectly executed argument I make, aren't you?"

I nod with my critical and stubborn eyes staring confidently into his. He sighs loudly and spoons the last mouthful of food.

"I'll make myself scarce before your friend gets here. I'll follow you lasses, but if I call you and tell you to get the hell out, you do as I say," he sternly orders.

"Deal," I squeak.

"Bloody hell. Devin's going to kick my ass for this," he gripes.

I rush to the bedroom and decide to change into a sleek, dark red, low cut, and completely flattering shirt coupled with a black pencil skirt. I look in the mirror at the refined goddess staring at me, and I smirk.

I've changed so much since I last saw Clara.

The elevator dings, and Clara steps out with wide eyes.

"Holy crap. You hit the jackpot. This place is huge," she gasps, her busy eyes not yet finding me.

I giggle a little as she looks around at the massive space with the spectacular view.

"The guy who owns it is far more impressive," I chuckle out like a silly girl.

She rolls her eyes and pretends to gag on her finger before finally looking me over.

"You're such a cornball," she mocks. "Are you ready to wine me and dine me with your flashy, hot-as-hell new style? You look fantastic. Have you been working out?"

Hmm... That depends on what one might refer to as working out.

"Here and there. It's just the new clothes mostly. They fit a little better than my old ones," I lie.