by K. K. Allen
“What are you doing?” he asks, his voice husky. He snakes his other arm around me, running it up mine and leaving a blazing fire in its wake. “You’re going to get me into trouble.”
“It’ll be worth it.” Smiling, I slip a leg around his waist then pull myself on top of him.
As bold as I might sound, my nerves are tingling from his concentrated gaze. He stares up at me, fingers digging into my waist as I start to rock against him. The only sound that comes next is the rustling of the sheets as he pulls my upper half down and brings his mouth to mine.
“I’m not even inside you yet, and you feel so good,” he murmurs against my lips. His palms grip the backs of my legs, and he rolls me so that he’s on top of me now, sheets swaddling our bodies as we grind against each other. We might as well be naked, the way he’s pressing against my center, his bulge fighting against the resistance of his underwear. Meanwhile, my hands start roaming his bare skin above his waist. Just touching him and tracing the formation of his muscles gets my heart racing.
His fingers slide through my hair and hold me there while his thrusts become hungrier and more desperate for the chamber of secrets that awaits him if he were to break free from his constricting clothes. I run my hand down his chest, past his waist, and into his briefs. I wrap his firm length in my palm and stroke him from base to tip, again and again, until his groan falls into my neck.
“Let’s go to your treehouse or my boat,” he whispers huskily before kissing me on the lips and thrusting into my fist.
A rush rolls over my body, and I swear if we kept up like this, I could let go at any moment. “You know we can’t go far right now.”
“Fine, then my house. It’s right down the road, and it’s protected. He deepens his thrust as if in warning. “I need you, Kat. I need to feel you again. I need you to feel me.”
The desperation in his tone and expression match everything I feel inside. “And what will we tell everyone?”
He growls and pushes against me again. “That I’m aching to make love to my girlfriend. That I thought I might have lost her forever and I need to remind her why she should never do something so stupid ever again.” He swallows and stills above me, his eyes darting between mine in a moment of seriousness that squeezes my heart. “I was so afraid.”
The heat of his words brush across my cheek, and I swallow past the lump of emotion stuck in my throat. “But I’m here. We didn’t let Erebus win. And we won’t.”
Johnny nods. “I know, Kat. But you have to know that when I realized what you were about to do, I felt like I was having a heart attack right there. You were gone, and I didn’t know if you were coming back.”
I bring my palms to his cheeks and search his eyes. “I’m right here.”
His brows crease together. “I know, but—I didn’t know loving someone would change my entire perspective on the world, but that’s what you’ve done. You’ve made me see clearer than I ever have before. When I thought there was a possibility of losing you, I—”
I cut him off by slamming my lips to his, not wanting to hear him say the words, then I cup his neck and pull him toward me to deepen the kiss.
He finds the opening between my dress and my skin and slips his hand inside, stealing my breath while his fingers run along smooth skin. I’m lost in the slow, tender touches across my surface, and the euphoria wraps my skin and reaches me down to the depth of my bones.
“I love you so much.” His murmur runs across my lips before he dips his mouth to the crook of my neck.
“I love you too.” I sigh against his touch. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
He looks at me again, his gaze darkening slightly. “Don’t do it again, Kat.” It’s a demand, but he looks and sounds more afraid than angry. “I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”
I have to clutch his shirt to feel in control of something, because he’s got full control of the most important organ in my body. I peer up at him. He’s looked at me as if he sees everything—the good and the bad—yet still loves me. And that only makes me fall more deeply in love with him. “You’re not going to lose me. We’re stronger than that, remember?”
He nods as the pad of his finger grazes my nipple. “Are we strong enough to handle the wrath of your father if he were to walk in right now?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
He cups my breast and moans while pushing my legs apart with his knees. “I might just be crazy enough to tempt fate for you.”
When his lips press to mine again, all innocence is lost. His tongue dips into my mouth, exploring and tasting, until we’re a mixture of warm breaths, scraping teeth, and panting tones as we kiss.
“Well,” I say, already breathless, “I guess it’s a good thing everyone is fast asleep.”
His lips turn up in a smile as he nods. “Lucky us.”
I push my hips into him, and he pulls aside the fabric of my panties.
He looks over his shoulder. “Maybe I should lock the doors and soundproof the room, just in case.”
We both laugh, but when he looks back into my eyes, our laughter fades. We aren’t two reckless teenagers trying to get it on in secret. We’re two consenting adults who love each other in the purest of ways. It’s like he’s come to the same conclusion, because his mouth is on mine again as he sinks two fingers into my opening.
I writhe against him, greedy for more. I want Johnny so badly, all sense of reason whooshes out of my body. I welcome his touch as my heart pounds through my ears and the heat in my chest explodes through my veins. Blood rushes through my head so fast, my entire body feels like it’s on fire.
“Kat,” he breathes into my mouth as he works his magic below my waist, bringing me to climax with his magical fingers.
“Hmm.” My response comes out like a high-pitched moan.
“Do you think you can stay quiet?”
He doesn’t have to elaborate. I can already feel the tightening of my muscles as they anticipate my release. I nod, though in the back of my mind, I’m not so sure I’m at all in control of what’s about to happen.
With a free hand, he yanks down the ribbed covering of my dress, exposing my breasts. His lips cover one nipple as his fingers continue to punish me below my waist. He builds me up, higher and higher, only to freeze completely right when I’m at the edge of the cliff. I gasp, my eyes opening wide. “What are you doing? Don’t stop.”
There’s a smirk on his face. Wet fingers slide out from my depths, then he pushes down his briefs, releasing his glorious length. The tip glistens with his wetness, but when I reach out to grip it and smear it around his tip, he grabs my hand and pushes it above my head, holding it to the bed. “If you touch me, I’ll lose it, and I want to be inside you before that happens.”
My core is practically screaming from the loss of his fingers, but it's muffled the moment many inches of his sheathed erection slides into me. As I watch him find his rhythm, his girth stroking the walls of my cave with each rock of his hips, I’m completely intoxicated by his every movement. The way his muscles flex and jerk beneath tanned skin. The pure unadulterated bliss blended in with his concentrated gaze. The sheen that begins to coat his skin the longer he brings our bodies together.
Johnny has me. Heart, body, soul, and mind. And as he brings me to the brink once again, we’re shattering, separately but together, until our energy binds inside me just like the first time.
“That day we spent together on my yacht was one of my favorite days with you.” He tells me this long after we’ve come down off several highs, our naked bodies wrapped together as he twirls a strand of my hair near my shoulder.
“Does that mean you have more than one?” A warmth spreads through my chest as I realize just how much of a closet romantic Johnny is.
His serious gaze focuses on my eyes, then my lips, then my eyes again. I can’t tell if he’s planning to kiss me or lecture me. He does neither. “Between my parents’ death and when I met you, my life was
void of happy moments. Since meeting you, happy moments are the only ones I hold on to. I may have left Apollo Beach for a while, Kat, but you never left me.”
I reach for his face, cupping his cheek with my palm. “I know. And you never left me.”
He smiles. “I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how much I thought about traveling the seas with you by my side.” He searches my gaze, as if in doubt. “Would you ever do that with me?”
I nod without an ounce of hesitation. “I would go anywhere with you, Johnny Pierce.”
He kisses me again, and for the first time in my life, my future is clear—my future is holding me.
When it’s near dinnertime, Johnny and I sneak downstairs to see what everyone is up to. Charlotte is stressing over dinner, so Johnny offers to help.
I leave them be and head down to where my mom is staying, only to find her and my father in the same spots I left them in. They’re fully awake now, talking animatedly.
Wow. This is a change from this morning. My mom looks up, her eyes softening with her smile. “Hello, Katrina. Your father has been filling me in on lost time.”
I look down to where she’s holding one of Rose’s photo albums. My heart skips a beat as hope flickers through me like a weak candle. “Do you remember anything?”
She frowns, and the flickering light dies along with it. “I’m sorry, I don’t.”
“Well,” I say, purposely picking up my tone to distract the sadness that just filled the air. “Johnny is cooking dinner. I can hang out here until it’s ready.” I look toward my father, hoping he’ll understand my need to be with her alone.
His eyes seem to register what I’m saying, and he nods, but Grace speaks first as she moves from the bed to her feet. “I think I’m finally ready to leave this room. Do you mind if I shower first?”
Paul nods and begins to speak, but I interrupt him. “I’ll get your shower ready. I have some things you can wear too.”
After I run upstairs to grab a pair of sweats from my room, my dad leaves us alone so I can start her shower. My mom is standing in the doorway, watching me through the mirror. I catch her looking at herself then back at me, then she meets my stare.
Color stains her cheeks. “I’m sorry. You look so much like me.”
“Well, you are my mother.” I smile, my heart heavy.
She shakes her head, her hair falling in long waves over her shoulders. It’s grown so much since I last saw her. “I really am sorry, Katrina. I want to remember you more than anyone else. I may not remember what happened, but I know I would never make a conscious decision to leave my daughter behind. It sounds like we were very close.”
Controlling my tears, I nod. “We were. It was just you and me against the world. At least that’s what you’d always say. But you shouldn’t feel guilty. I know this isn’t your fault, Mom.”
She forces a smile. “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you. I can see that you are extremely perceptive and strong. If I could remember having a daughter, I’d wish she were just like you.” She looks around the room at nothing in particular. “Rose provided a good life for you when I couldn’t. Even if my memory never returns, I’ll be forever grateful to her for that.”
My fingers grip the clothes in my hands as a tsunami of emotions floods me. There’s so much of her that still feels familiar. Her tone, her innate need to do the right thing, even the way she lifts her wet hair from her shoulders and wraps it in a quick bun to get it out of her face, almost makes me feel like nothing at all has changed. But then I look at her again and note the confusion in her expression as she eyes me like I’m still a stranger. Then she retreats to the bathroom to change like she still can’t trust me, and it breaks my heart all over again. I need to get my mom back. She needs to remember.
Bright-red hair and fiery-green eyes confront me on my balcony later that night. Johnny left for the boathouse after dinner, and I want nothing more than to shower and go straight to bed. I’m still exhausted from the previous day’s events. I’m confused and happy to see Arabella. We’ve been distant lately, especially since Alec and I broke it off. But I think our distance has more to do with how wrapped up she’s been with Kaleb. I’ve never seen her so happy. Seeing her here now, anger flaming from her eyes, worries me.
“Arabella.” I join her on the balcony and shut the French doors of my bedroom door behind me. “What’s wrong?”
“What were you thinking?” She glares. “Kaleb almost died because of you. You willingly gave yourself to Erebus? Are you nuts?”
I don’t remember Kaleb during yesterday’s battle, and she must see my confusion. “Erebus pushed him off the scaffolding. Circe just barely saved his life.”
I gasp as she tells me the story of Circe levitating Kaleb’s body, a power not even I have been able to master. Circe did say she was capable of unique magic.
My arms wrap tightly around my friend, thankful Kaleb is okay. I couldn’t bear to see anything happen to one of my friends. “I didn’t have a choice, Arabella. He was threatening to come after everyone, and he had my mom. I would have done anything.” I pause a beat. “Have you talked to your father?”
Arabella nods. “He’s in town with my sisters. They’re going to visit Rose in the morning. I’ve been with them all day, but I came back here to find you. I was worried when I didn’t hear from you. You should really look at your phone every now and then.”
I cringe. “I’m sorry. I don’t even know where it is. It might have fallen at the energy plant.”
Arabella sighs and takes a step forward. The moonlight casts a glow over her fair and flawless skin, illuminating her hair with a purplish tone. “He hurts good people, Kat. We could have lost you last night too.” She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you pushed him out.” Then she looks up with wide eyes and continues, her voice softer now. “How’s your mom? My dad is desperate to see her.”
I frown. “She can’t remember anything about her life. She just remembers moments before and after Erebus controlled her.” The conversation I had with my father comes to me, and I wonder if Circe really does have a memory recipe. “Apparently, there could be a cure, but we need to get to Circe to get it.”
“Can she come here?” Arabella asks.
I shake my head. “She’s protected by the Solstice plant. If she leaves, she’s as good as dead.” I shiver.
She narrows her eyes at me. “Let me guess. You’re planning to sneak over there and talk to Circe yourself. Don’t try to be a hero, Kat. One of these days, it’s not going to work out very well for you and everyone else.”
Why is everyone lecturing me? It’s not like our community has any other choice. The longer we allow Erebus to haunt us, the greater the risk.
“I don’t think it’s stupid. It’s risky, but not stupid. Just hear me out, okay?”
Arabella glares at me, but she sits silently as I inform her of my plan. When I finish, she’s still glaring at me. Her chest puffs out, and she stands so she’s just inches from me. “You want to sneak out of here and go back to the plant?”
I flush with embarrassment. “Even my dad agreed to the plan, but he wants me to wait. We don’t have time to wait.”
She pushes past me and heads for the balcony doors to enter my room.
I panic. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to tell everyone in this house what you’re up to, then I’m going to call Johnny, because it’s a horrible idea. If anyone will stop you, it’s him.”
“Arabella!” I grab her arm. “You can’t.”
Her eyes are ablaze. “You know what, Kat? You’re so smart, but sometimes you let your head get in the way and you become ridiculously careless. I’m not losing anyone I love to Erebus. I won’t.”
Her eyes become watery again, and I feel like crap. Kaleb’s near-death experience must have really affected her. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and squeeze her tightly, wanting nothing more than to relieve her of the grief she’s feeling now. “I’m sorry. Maybe I�
��m not thinking things through clearly. I just need to get to Circe. I’m afraid Erebus will find a way back to my mom somehow, and if he does, I could lose her again—maybe this time for good.”
“You’re so damn stubborn. You know that?”
I nod. “I’m well aware.” I tilt my head and give Arabella my most pleading look. “This is the world we live in. Please, just trust me. I know I need to do this.”
Arabella squeezes me back then pulls away. “Fine,” she growls. “But if you insist on doing this, then I’m going to help you.”
I shake my head. “No way. I’m not putting you in danger.”
She glares. “So you’re admitting your idea is dangerous?”
Now it’s my turn to growl. “C’mon, Arabella. Let me do this my way.”
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Besides, Erebus will never expect me. And I can take you through the protected waterway right into the plant boundaries.”
“There’s a protected waterway?”
Arabella nods. “Of course there is. It’s where the manatees gather.”
My mind is blown. “Well, then let’s go find some sea sprinkle.”
“This way.” Arabella points with her index finger.
We’ve escaped Summer Manor, and we’re now swimming through the bay toward the Solstice plant. Arabella leads me the long way around the nature trail walkway that juts out into the bay, separating us from the inlet of water where the energy plant sits.
As soon as we cross the boundary, I notice the first few manatees resting peacefully near the top of the water. The crowd of the giant creatures thickens the farther in we travel, until it becomes an obstacle course to veer around them. Arabella points down, and I follow her to the bottom of the bay floor to navigate quickly, a blanket of manatees hovering above us.
