16 Chapter Sixteen: Prepare

Jade's heart beat faster as she turned in Derik's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him gently.

Derik responded by kisses her back just as gentle, his hands a warm comfort on her hips. Slowly, Derik's fingers slipped under the hem of Jade's shirt, his fingertips brushing her bare skin.

A shiver ran through Jade, and with it, a wave of pleasure. She loved it when he touched her.

Their kiss began to grow in strength, Jade pulling herself against him, Derik holding her in place.

Derik's hands had made it under her clothes, and they were now resting on her bare hips. Warmth spread through Jade as she pressed herself close to Derik.

Their kiss broke long enough for Derik to speak.

"Fuck, Jade, I won't be able to hold back at this rate." He said, his voice deep and to Jade, very sexy.

"Then don't." She said simply, pulling him into another kiss.

She thought her heart would beat out of her chest as Derik's hand moved to her breast. He taunted her for a moment, before slipping his hand under her bra. Jade moaned in surprised pleasure, and Derik picked her up and carried her to the bed, gently setting her down.

Their kiss and intimacy increased into a frenzied want and need for each other. Their passion exploded, leaving them both gasping for breath.

Jade was snuggled beside Derik, his arm draped around her, his hand making small patterns on her bareback. She hummed, content. She rested her head on Derik's bare chest, listening to his heartbeat, feeling her own heart match the rhythm. A small, relaxed smile was on Jade's face as she drew small circles on Derik's chest.

Even with the terror, she'd soon have to face, she felt calm, relaxed.

The mood was disturbed by knocking on the door. Jade jumped, but Derik chuckled gently, stroking her hair.

"Relax Babe. They can't come in." He said, smiling at her gently.

Jade still sat up, blushing when the blanket fell away, leaving her chest exposed. Derik rolled his eyes as Jade scrambled for the blanket. She was obviously new to all of this. Her cheeks flamed red, and Derik got up, exposing himself to pick up Jade's scattered clothes. Jade was drawn to his naked body, and mentally berating herself, she looked away, towards the door and more knocks.

Jade gratefully took the clothes Derik was handing her, fully aware he was watching her hungrily.

"Yes?" She asked, her confidence returned now that the adrenaline was lessening and she was putting her clothes back on.

"You're gorgeous." Derik breathed, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her.

The comment made Jade blush more, but she took it graciously, turning and kissing Derik again.

"I wouldn't do that right now," Derik warned her.

"Why?" Jade asked, a flirty challenge in her voice.

More knocking on the door.

"That's why," Derik said, although his eyes told her that he wanted a repeat of earlier.

Smiling to herself, Jade hunched over the book again, memorizing the words she'd have to say in order to banish the Incubus.

Finally, after dressing himself, Derik opened the door. He was calm, as always. Jones walked in, grumbling under his breath.

"Took you long enough."

A glance around the room told him something major. The bed was a mess, and Jade and Derik were the only ones in the room. He walked over to Jade and gave her the bowl and sage.

"Holy Shit.," Jones whispered to Jade.

"What?" She asked.

"You and Derik, that's what." He said.

He caught a smile and blush from Jade before he moved away. Mark gave Jade the knife and smiled knowingly. They were the only four there, the rest of the group couldn't make it for various reasons.

'Wimps.' Jones thought, annoyed.

"So, now what?" Jones asked Jade, as Derik walked up beside her.

"Now, we prepare," Jade replied, grinding the sage and adding it to the bowl, pouring water on top and placing the Soul Stones in. "Prepare and wait."

Jade finished soaking the Soul Stones, then poured the sage water out, leaving the bowl empty. Then she packed the Soul Stones, knife, and obsidian paint away, and turned towards the others.

"We're all set, now all we need is the Incubus," Jade said.

"Are we going after it?" Jones asked.

"No. It will come after us, or, more specifically, me." Jade said.

"Because you're female?" Mark asked.

"No, because it was interrupted from feeding on her," Derik said, his eyes growing darker.

"Exactly. An Incubus lives for the hunt. I got away, thanks to Derik and my dad, so it will keep hunting me until it catches me." Jade explained. "Once it finds me, I'll lure it to the already made Banishing Pentagram, then banish it. Simple."

"But even a slight slip up could cost you your life," Derik said through gritted teeth.

"True. But I'm a Hunter, risk, and danger comes with the job description." Jade pointed out.

Jade woke up to the feeling of Need. She didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but someone had carried her to the bed. She assumed it was Derik, who now lay beside her.

The feeling washed over her again. She needed something. She needed to go outside. Now.

She stood up quietly, noting everyone was asleep. The clock read two eighteen. The feeling washed over her again. Obviously, the Incubus was here.

Standing up quietly, she grabbed the bag of banishing supplies, applied some obsidian paint to her wrists, and headed out of the room, careful not to wake anyone.

With the bag, she left the room and safety of Derik. She made sure to follow the main street for as long as she could, then turned into the alley with the waiting banishing pentagram.

She was just kneeling down to set up the Soul Stones when she heard footsteps behind her. A shiver went down her spine, and the feeling of need increased.

"Finally my Sweet." A deep, rich male voice said, directly behind her.