He landed on what looked like a matching couch on the floor, opposite to where Sophia and Zagan sat. He landed first and then I followed, only unlike him I didn’t land on the soft bed sized cushion. Oh no, I landed right on top of Draven with my butt to his groin, making him groan in what I hoped wasn’t in pleasure…well, only half hoped anyway.
I scrambled off him all red faced and embarrassed when trying to find a place to put my hands. He finally took pity on me by lifting me off him and shifted me to his side. I didn’t fail to notice how his hands lingered longer than needed either.
“I guess there’s my answer,” I commented, referring back to him misbehaving and this made Draven’s head fall back as he burst into roaring laughter. I’m not gonna lie but I was momentarily transfixed by the glorious sight.
The way the soft light reflected off his midnight dark hair making me long to run my fingers through it just once more to see if it was as silky to touch as I remembered. The way I could have reached out if I was just brave enough and run my fingertips over the cords in his neck and then down to his bunched strong shoulders. Was his skin still as smooth and were his muscles still as hard as they looked?
Sophia cleared her throat and I snapped my gaze from Draven and saw her give me a hidden smile, as if she knew exactly what I had just been thinking about. Draven had finally composed himself with a grin and sat up a little straighter before he clapped his hands. A servant came from behind a wall of green foliage with pretty orange flowers blooming like stars in clusters.
“A bottle of the White Gold Jeroboam, oh and lo si può entrare ora” ( ‘You may let him in now’ in Italian) Draven said leaving me wondering yet again what he said. Sometimes I don’t think he even realised he started speaking in a different language.
When we were together I would often wake up to him whispering words I didn’t understand over my skin or speaking to me while making love and having to ask him afterwards what he meant. Of course it used to frustrate the bejesus out of me when he would just smile and make a motion of sealing his lips at me like it was his little secret.
“He’s here?” Sophia asked which certainly got my attention. Draven nodded not giving anything away so I grabbed his arm and asked without restraint,
“Who’s here?” To which I received my answer from the deep gruff voice behind me that I would have known anywhere.
“Oh my God!” I shouted excitedly and bounced in my seat turning round to see if my mind was playing tricks on me. But no, thankfully it wasn’t.
As there behind me was my past and he was certainly a beautiful sight to behold…
“My friend.”
Chapter 10
Little Apple or Little Bear?
“Lille øjesten.” That deep rumbling voice said and my heart leapt at the sound.
“Ragnar!” I shouted as my only warning to the man who I was now throwing my body at. He let out an umph sound at the impact but his colossal arms encircled me all the same.
“Hello, little one.” He said looking down at me trying to fit my arms all the way around his waist with no such luck. I felt my throat start to thicken with the emotion that built from seeing my old protector once again. It had been so long and I understood why. As Draven’s head of the guards Ragnar rarely went anywhere without his King. So because of this I knew why I hadn’t seen him since that painfully fated day when I left Italy and its agony behind me.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, big guy.” I said laughing and trying to wipe my damp eyes without being caught. Of course as I turned my head to the side to use my sleeve I couldn’t help but notice Draven’s eyes on me, watching my every move with great interest. He gave me a small smile at my reaction to seeing my old bodyguard once again. I gave him a shy smile before mouthing the words ‘Thank you’ at him, to which he nodded his head and mouthed back ‘You’re most welcome’. Of course I blushed but thankfully had the perfect reason to turn my attention away from him.
“I must say little human that I am surprised you have managed to keep yourself out of trouble all these months.” Ragnar said, teasing me which was like old times once again.
“Oi! As shocking as it sounds I am sometimes capable of taking care of myself you know.” I replied crossing my arms and looking up at this seven foot giant with not one ounce of fear making him laugh down at me. At one time this rough looking beast of a demon used to freak the F words out of me but now, well let’s just say that I wasn’t sure some of those massive muscles weren’t filled with marshmallows!
The rest of the night went by without a hitch. Though most surprisingly was how comfortable it all felt. It was a cruel and dangerous thought to allow myself to have but it felt like old times. It also became very clear that trying to sit without being next to Draven wasn’t an option. So after he grabbed my hand, when I was trying to pass him, and quickly yanking me down without a word, I thought it best not to protest and make a scene. Ok, so being honest here… did I want to be away from his side for even a second…? Hell no! But glutton for punishment remember.
I don’t know what was going through his head and if he even realised that given the circumstances shouldn’t he be pushing me away? I mean I was more than thrilled he wasn’t but this didn’t mean I wasn’t spending half of the evening confused as pumpkin in a pie…and just like my analogy, it didn’t mean I didn’t like the taste, it’s just that I didn’t get it!
“So, off to Italy then, Keira?” Sophia asked just as she was pouring another drink from the shiniest silver champagne bottle I had ever seen. It was only when it was on its way round to me that I read the label as Dom Perignon and I gulped thinking Christ only knew how much that cost per swallow.
“Keira?” I heard my name being called and I heard Draven chuckle next to me as he no doubt saw the look on my face as I followed the bottle around the tent. I felt a bit like a magpie attracted to something shiny but given that the bottle looked like it was silver plated I could only look on in awe.
“It’s Dom Perignon Jeroboam White Gold and a 1998 Vintage, you should try some.” Draven whispered with his lips at my ear. Bloody Hell, but I was sure he even licked them first! How on earth was I supposed to sit here and take this kind of attention from Draven without my heart stopping? Then he reached out and found my hand that held onto my champagne flute in something akin to a death grip.
His fingers artfully closed over mine and he extended my arm out for our server to fill my glass. I had to wonder what he thought when my hand started to tremble in his as there was no way to miss it. Well, if the way his grip tightened on mine was anything to go by, then yeah, he most certainly didn’t miss it. I turned to face him when he winked at me before letting me go finally allowing me to breathe again.
He nodded to my now full glass and I knew he wanted to see what I thought. I took a tentative sip and couldn’t help but moan as the gentle hints of grapefruit and almonds danced along my tongue. I was no wine connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, hell I bet I could barely even say the word without it sounding funny in my Northern accent, but I knew what I liked and this was freakin awesome!
I looked up to find Draven watching me with a hungry expression. This meant that I had to look away quickly to hide my blush but in doing so noticed how his hands had fisted at his sides enough to be turning his knuckles white.
“Eh…sorry, I guess I missed that…what were you saying?” I asked turning back to Sophia who had called my name yet again.
“Italy with your new Boyfr…”
“Sophia,” Draven warned cutting her off.
“Uh…it’s ok…really, I mean, I guess it was only a matter of time before the elephant walked back into the room…right?” I said, trying to defuse the tension that was mounting between brother and sister. Sophia gave Draven a look I couldn’t place before turning back to me to smile.
“So you were saying.” She prompted again with her hand rolling at the wrist in one of those ‘I am getting impatient gestures’. I squashed down the urge to roll my eye
s and cleared my throat instead ready for the awkward bit of the evening that was obviously going to happen at some point.
“Alex has some work thing out there and …was, erm… he was picked to represent the firm at some event, so he decided to surprise me and make it a holiday.” I said trying really sodding hard to keep my voice even but I cracked half way through when I felt the air crackle with Draven at its centre. I wish I could say I was brave enough to look his way but I totally chickened out with that one.
It wasn’t hard to catch the look Sophia shot her brother before continuing with her Spanish inquisition…Monty Python would have been proud!
“And when is it you are being whisked away?”
“In a couple of days.” I said murmuring the answer over the rim of my glass.
“Where in Italy?” This question came directly from the brooding man to my left and I suddenly wanted the building to cave in on itself just to get away from being everyone’s centre of attention.
“Uh…I’m not actually sure, he wanted to keep it as a surprise.”
“Of course he did.” Draven replied severely and I winced before finding my back bone.
“And what is that supposed to mean exactl…?”
“I am sure you can understand our worry and concern Keira, after all, what do you really know about this Alexander Cain?” Sophia interjected quickly. I folded my arms across my chest and snapped,
“Yes well, you weren’t exactly forthcoming yourselves when I met you all, now were you?”
“Point well made.” Sophia replied taking a sip of her own drink.
“Look, I know this is…awkward. But it is what it is. I am with Alex now and what happened is in the past, where I think you can all understand I would like it to stay. I am just trying to take this one step at a time and keep you all in my life as much as I can. So all I am asking is simple…please don’t make this any harder than it has to be.” I ended my plea by turning to the main culprit in all this and Draven looked less than happy as he gritted his teeth.
No one responded to my outburst and I sighed feeling my heart grow heavy.
“I’d better just go.” I said putting down my glass and getting ready to heave myself from the cushioned floor.
“Don’t.” Draven’s voice sounded like a soft command but his restraining hand on my arm was anything but. He didn’t hurt me but it was firm enough for me to know that I couldn’t pull away, even if I wanted to. I first looked down at his hand on my arm and then looked back over my shoulder at him ready to give him a glare. However, I didn’t expect the hint of vulnerability I found there and it was enough to get me to soften my expression.
“Yeah, come on Kaz, don’t go yet… it’s still early.” Sophia said jumping on the guilt inflicting bandwagon.
“I guess I could stay for a little while longer.” I said quietly and Draven let go of my arm only to reach across me to reclaim my glass for me. The feel of half his hard body leaning over me was too much of a temptation to pass up on and I inhaled a lung full of his incredible scent to a point that I almost felt light headed.
“Or you could just stay.” I would have thought this idea would have come first from the prettiest member of the Draven clan but I was wrong. Draven had said this whilst looking down at me and holding out my glass for me to take.
“I…I…couldn’t/” I said hearing for myself the disbelief in my breathy response.
“And why not? I think we have the room, Keira” Sophia added laughing. I bit my lip and as I looked up at Draven some of the shorter parts of my hair fell across my left eye thankfully hiding some of my blushing skin. It was all down to that heated look he kept giving me and when the telling ring of purple pulsated through the black I knew what it meant.
“You have nothing to fear being here, Keira.” He said as he gently caught my fallen hair between his fingers and pushed it back behind my ear, proving just how wrong his statement had been.
“I will have to text Libby so she won’t worry.”
“Excellent!” Sophia shouted, clapping her hands together once as if she knew I would be unable to resist. And if you’re gonna add a Draven to the mix then God wasn’t that the truth!
Not long after I had stupidly agreed to stay the night Draven seemed to relax on a greater level, as did everyone else, including Vincent who also joined us shortly after. I on the other hand was still at the point where I wanted to smack myself for being suckered into doing something as foolish as sleeping under the same roof as Draven. What the Hell had I been thinking? Could I even do something like this? What was I saying…? If I could be lounging around on a day bed/couch with Draven by my side, touching me at every chance he got, then sleeping in a spare room under this immense fortress should be a piece of cake. Yeah right!
“So Keira, a big brother birdy told me you were the new Librarian on campus, is that true?” I laughed and thanks to four glasses of beautiful golden bubbles I followed it with a trademark snort. This made Draven laugh and I shot him a dirty look, one that did nothing to wipe the grin from his handsome face.
“Yep, that’s me! I can’t hook you up with The Gutenberg Bible but if ya fancy a bit of Harry Potter then I’m your girl” I said with a wink at Sophia that ended with my mouth dropping open like a guppy when she said,
“We already have a Gutenberg Bible, oh and a first edition Harry Potter, signed of course by the talented J. K. Rowling herself but I am holding onto that for Pip’s birthday…”
“The Gutenberg Bible...? Wait, Pip’s birthday is coming up?” I asked deciding this was more important than the five million dollar book that was one of the rarest out there.
“Yeah and she has a massive crush on Harry Potter, which is only because he reminds her of Adam.” Now this made me smile and because of my tipsy state I thought it a good idea to turn back round to face Draven and say,
“It’s Pip’s birthday soon!” with possibly the biggest grin in history that I could feel almost crack my lips.
“Yeah sweetheart, it is.” He replied giving me a warm look that almost made me melt…what am I saying, almost my ass, I was already melting like a cherry flavoured ice lolly in the Sahara!
“Oh shit!”
“What?” Draven asked concerned with my dramatics when throwing up my arms.
“What on Earth am I going to get her!?” I said thinking it best to cut the ‘Bloody Hells’ whilst around the Demons in the room.
“Are you kiddin me, she is like the easiest person to buy for! For starters just think of something you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing, add a rainbow and some Gothic skulls, black and white stripes and there you go!” Sophia said making everyone laugh, as yeah, she was pretty spot on with that one.
“I think I know what we can get her…” I turned to Draven oblivious to the fact that everyone was now staring at us and silence had washed over the tent.
“…I saw this girl when I was back at home for Christmas and she was wearing this Fraggle Rock t-shirt, she would go mad for it and…” I trailed off when I saw his brief expression of pain and it took me a while to realise my slip up until it was far too late.
I had said ‘we’.
“What’s a Fraggle Rock?” This question came from Zagan and thankfully it broke the tension my mistake had caused. I gave him my thankful eyes and he winked at me when no one was looking. I was just happy that my little mishap had quickly been brushed over and having me explain the old puppet show known as Fraggle Rock was enough to get us to the next topic without incident…
That was until I started to fall asleep.
I don’t really know what was happening but I felt deliciously safe with a pair of solid arms wrapped protectively around me. I think I even released a contented sigh as I snuggled closer to the warmth and my hands fisted the material I was already clutching on to. It was like my body was scared of losing the blissful cocoon it had encountered and was acting on reflex.
“Leave them be, it’s about time they found some peace for once.” I
heard a distant voice speaking in hushed tones and I wondered what perfection the next part of my dream would hold. But then my body quickly tensed at the horrible thought that threatened to turn this beautiful dream into a nightmare. What if someone tried to take me from these arms or worse still, what if these arms suddenly pushed me away?
But then something glorious happened, almost as if my dire thoughts had been heard. The arms that held me tightened around me and pulled me flush against the body lying next to me. I could feel my nose touch the softness of a t-shirt that covered the hard planes of a strong chest and I could hear the steady heartbeat behind that strength. I flexed my fingers out from the tight fist and spanned them across a man’s lower back feeling for the skin I knew was hiding there.
I moved so slowly, knowing somewhere in the back of my mind that if I woke him up this would all end and I couldn’t allow that to happen… not yet. So with painfully slow movements I pulled at the material ever so slightly and sucked in a breath when my fingers finally felt the warm skin beneath. It was as if my body craved the connection, even in sleep. I was drawn to this man in such a way it was like my body needed to be locked down to keep me away from it…
Like I needed to be imprisoned.
But wait, why was that thought such a sobering one? Why did my heart jump as though an understanding just rammed me in the chest?
“Ssshh now, I’ve got you. Go back to sleep.” A deep and powerful voice spoke softly, one that vibrated through me thanks to my close proximity. I felt a large hand smooth down the back of my hair and the action made me moan without shame. Well if I was going to enjoy this dream I might as well… really enjoy it.
I let my head fall back and this soothing hand suddenly gripped my hair at the base of my neck, igniting a blissful bite of pain. This caused a captivating tingle to course down my spine and come to rest in between my thighs.
My eyes fluttered open to find the most intense purple gaze staring back at me from above. For long moments we both seemed frozen, suspended in time from the force of what our bodies were desperate to do. But it wasn’t only our apprehensive minds that held us back… it was also our fragile hearts.
The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) Page 13
