When the time came for us to go home, Tracy practically chased me all the way up to my bedroom trying to get information.
“Marjorie Emery, you better tell me what’s going on or I’m going to tell Kenny Marshall you like him more than what you’ve let on.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I challenged.
“The hell with that, sweetheart, you know me better than that.”
“Fine.” I started rummaging through my closet in search of an outfit while Tracy sat on my bed flipping through a magazine. “We’re going out on a date tonight.”
“What?” She nearly toppled over as she jumped off the bed to get to me.
“Yeah, it’s just a small concert, he said.”
“So, ah, you guys are dating now?”
“It’s just one date. No one said anything about going steady. Don’t jump to conclusions, Tracy.”
“Wow, you must really like him.”
“Why?”
“Because you haven’t dated much.”
“Thanks for reminding me.” I continued eying items of clothing, trying to decide what to wear.
“No, I mean, you never took boys seriously back in high school.” Tracy stepped in closer to the closet.
“Boys were just boys.” I said.
“Yeah, and Kyran is different. Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“What’s different about him?”
“He’s not a boy.”
She smiled wickedly at me. “You got that right.”
Unsure of what to wear, I took a step back and let out some air. “Help me pick out an outfit.”
“What kind of concert is he taking you to?” She stood right next to me as she started rummaging through my closet.
“I don’t know exactly, he just said something about a rock and roll band.”
“Okay, you are harboring a serious crush on this guy.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked, a little annoyed that she knew me so well.
CHAPTER SIX
Tracy merely smiled and removed a blouse from my closet to lay on the bed.
“Because Marjorie Emery doesn’t like rock and roll music, and if she’s going to a rock and roll concert with a guy, that means she must like him very much.” Ignoring my attempts at protest, she removed a mini skirt from my closet and laid it on the bed next to the top. “Of course it helps when the boy is drop dead gorgeous and has a pair of eyes that can reduce you to a puddle in seconds.” She turned to look at me, grinning.
“First of all, I do so happen to like rock and roll music. What I don’t like is heavy metal. And second, I’ve never denied liking him.”
She chuckled then ducked inside my closet to remove a pair of black boots. “Here, I think this is a perfect outfit.”
Eying the outfit briefly, I had to agree. Tracy had great taste for clothing and she put together an ensemble that I would have picked myself. The skirt length I considered to be acceptable; it was two or three inches above my knees and I was perfectly comfortable with that. The boots were high, reaching halfway up my calves, and the blouse was low cut but not enough that it would show any considerable amount of cleavage.
“After all, you don’t want to show too much on the first date.” Tracy started to laugh and I threw my favorite teddy bear at her.
“After I shower, will you help me with my hair?”
“Sure, I’ll stick around just long enough to see you get ready, then I’m off home.” True to her word, Tracy helped me get ready. She not only picked out an outfit for me but she did wonders with my long sandy-colored hair.
The hardest thing I had to do that night was actually explain to Vicki that I had a date. She was a little reluctant to let me go, but finally gave in saying that I was a big girl and my father had already trusted me enough. The only warnings she gave me were the don’t-do-anything-foolish one, and the don’t-be-home-too-late one.
At seven o’clock sharp, the headlights of Kyran’s car illuminated the driveway. To avoid an embarrassing situation, I bolted out the front door before Kyran had the opportunity to turn the car off and head for the house. I was slightly taken aback by the shiny blue Corvette parked in my driveway, especially since you don’t get to see sports vehicles like that one out here. But somehow, the car seemed to fit his bad boy image. It made him appear more mysterious for some reason. I didn’t know if he wanted to come across like that to others, but that’s how I saw him.
As usual, he was wearing all black with the exception of a white shirt he wore underneath his jacket. His hair, which usually hung loose over his shoulders, was tied at the nape of his neck. Single locks of chestnut-colored hair hung loose at the sides of his handsome face, framing it like a pair of hands would. Kyran definitely had the ultimate bad boy look.
The completion of his bad boy outfit came in the shape of a pair of sunglasses that hid his gorgeous silver-colored eyes but did little to prevent the effects of his gaze as it traveled over my body as he appraised me. Goosebumps pebbled on the surface of my skin at the feel of his gaze on me. To lower the effects of his lingering stare, I rubbed my arms up and down and very hesitantly stepped toward the car. He faintly smiled and stepped out to open the passenger side door for me. I slid inside, fully aware of his powerful presence as he slipped back inside the car. Within minutes, we were driving away.
“You look beautiful, Marjorie,” he said at last. He smiled and removed his glasses.
“Thank you. You look pretty good yourself. So, ah, where are we going?”
“To Luther’s Café, It’s a small coffee—”
“I know what it is. I’ve been there before.”
Luther’s Café was a small coffee place local teens and young adults liked to hang out in. It had a very pleasant atmosphere that lured people of all ages. During the weekends, they celebrated special events where small, unheard-of bands were invited to play.
“The band we’re going there to see is new, but they’re good. I saw them once in concert back in Iowa.” He sounded so enthusiastic about the whole thing he even had me excited to see the band.
“They must be good if you’re driving me all the way to Millersville just to see them.”
“Yes, they are. I have a feeling you’ll like them.”
Twenty-five minutes of driving and many unspecific chats later, we arrived at our destination. Luther’s Café was packed with people who wore casual-looking clothing and appeared to be ranging in age from eighteen to thirty. A line of young adults led from the front door all the way to the back.
Kyran, being the gentleman, took hold of my hand and led me to the front of the establishment. As Kyran and I walked toward the front entrance, I noticed that some people were begging the security guy to let them in, some even tried to bribe, but he wasn’t having it. As it turned out, if you didn’t buy tickets ahead of time you weren’t getting in. Luckily for me, Kyran had tickets. Two minutes later we disappeared inside, leaving behind a very disappointed group of people.
Once inside Kyran led me to our seats—a table for two at the far left corner of the big hall-like café. Instead of seating himself opposite me, he moved his chair and placed it next to mine. Mesmerized by his handsome physique and soft demeanor, I watched as he sat next to me and smiled. He seemed excited, and his excitement was rubbing off on me.
As soon as everyone was seated, the lights dimmed and the curtains were opened, revealing a five-member band. I expected to see a group dressed all in black, with makeup and, well, Goth-like. They were nothing like that. They wore jeans and T-shirts just like most of the young adults around the room. When they started playing I understood why Kyran liked them so much. They were like musical magicians playing magical instruments. The moment they started playing the first song, the already lively atmosphere lit into an uproar of laughter, excitement, and enjoyment. Many even sang along with the vocalist, apparently having memorized the lyrics by heart.
The music started to flow through my system and I suddenly wished I knew
all the lines so I could sing along with them. Leading by example, I stood and practically dragged Kyran across the room toward the dance floor. We danced to several blood-pumping songs. He smiled the entire time, his eyes never leaving mine. His smiling eyes and lips enchanted me so much I hardly even noticed there were other people around us. Kyran was all I could see; he was all I cared about. Every now and then he would place his hands on my hips to bring me closer to him, and I secretly hoped he would kiss me. But he refrained from doing so.
After several numbers, Kyran led me back to our table and offered to bring me a bottle of water. As he walked away, I couldn’t help but stare at his tall form. Kyran was stunning. I never got tired of complimenting him, even if I never actually said it aloud. As he made his way toward the counter, women turned to ogle him. Women with dates still stopped to stare at him, much to the disapproval of the men standing beside them. For a fleeting moment, I couldn’t help but feel pleased having him as my date. He was quite possibly the most handsome guy in the entire café.
As I continued to wait for Kyran to return, I fanned my face with one hand, trying to cool myself down. It was incredibly hot inside the crowded room and I was beginning to sweat. I’d danced so much I had become tired and my feet started hurting. Oddly enough, Kyran hadn’t so much as broken a sweat.
The band began to play their last song for the night when I felt Kyran lightly touch my arm. I looked up to see him offering me an ice-cold bottle of water. Relieved, I took the bottle and opened it. The water felt good as it traveled down my throat, and I nearly swallowed half the bottle in one gulp. Embarrassed, I glanced over at Kyran. He didn’t appear to notice, since he was watching the band. He sat so close I could feel the warmth emanating from his body.
Wasn’t he hot? He was wearing a jacket and I wasn’t. I was hot and sweaty, but he wasn’t. Not only were Kyran’s mood swings completely unpredictable but so, apparently, were the sudden changes in his body temperature. It all seemed so strange to me, but I kept all comments and questions to myself.
Kyran’s gaze turned from the band back to me and I smiled as he glanced my way. My heart leapt inside my chest when he removed a stray lock of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear. His hand caressed my cheek, leaving an imprint wherever it touched. I leaned against his hand as it moved up and down my face, drowning in the feel of it. The music was still going, the room was still dark, but none of that mattered as Kyran and I felt like the only two people in the otherwise filled café. When Kyran leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, I felt a sudden bolt of energy run right through me. It was the most unbelievably pleasant experience I’d ever had by far. His lips sought mine and I returned the caress. My ears became deaf to anything but the loud pounding of my heart.
Kyran’s hand shifted from my cheek to the back of my head, bringing my face closer to his, and therefore having a better angle to kiss me. I didn’t resist; if anything I returned his kiss with as much hunger as he was kissing me. I found myself bunching my fists in his shirt and bringing him down toward me. It was a sweet and passionate kiss, far better than I had imagined. My body buzzed all over and my hands itched to touch and explore him.
The kiss ended abruptly when we heard the music die down and many people started to cheer for the amazing band. Embarrassingly, up to that point I hadn’t even bothered to ask what the band’s name was. Self-consciously, we glanced around to see if anyone had noticed our brief lapse, but apparently no one had. Not a single person was paying any attention to us.
“Are you hungry?” he asked me when some of the cheering had died down enough so that he could speak without having to raise his voice.
“A little.”
“Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
“Okay.” Apparently the night didn’t have to end yet.
Minutes later, we were driving away from Luther’s Café and back to Wolf Creek Hollow. So far the night was going great, better than expected. And I was extremely happy because of it.
Kyran drove up to the little diner we’d visited once with his family for lunch. Despite the late hour, the diner was packed with people. We finally found a place to sit, which ended up being a booth. I didn’t mind the closeness since sitting next to Kyran was a real treat. The waitress took our food orders after she took note of our drinks, and headed toward the kitchen area. Just like last time, Kyran ordered a big meal of steak, mashed potatoes, and beans. The steak he ordered rare, again.
Kyran was quiet while we waited for our food. Coming up with a coherent topic of conversation after that amazing kiss was very difficult for me also. Just as I was beginning to think that I’d never speak again, the waitress brought our food. I started to chow down on my insignificant salad while he enjoyed his meat, which was a little too rare for my taste.
“What is it with you guys and steak? Is that, like, your favorite food?”
He paused to look at me. His eyes grew wide and for a moment I thought maybe I’d said something that offended him. “Um…yes…I guess it is.”
“Can’t you squeeze in a salad with that?”
He made a face at me and I smiled.
“I mean, seriously. Aren’t you afraid of getting a heart attack or something?”
“No such luck.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” He looked up at me. “I’m not much of a veggie lover, sorry.”
“That’s okay, I guess. I know many people aren’t.”
“I have to have meat…” He smiled at me, his fork halfway to his mouth. “It’s a guy thing, I guess.”
“Nice to know.”
My phone jingled then, but I ignored it; I knew exactly who it was. Since I couldn’t talk, I let it go to my voicemail and continued eating. “So, ah…what’s the name of that band you invited me to see?”
“The Lycans,” he said with a half-smile on his face.
“Interesting choice of name, but a good fit for a modern band.”
“The name suits them in some way, I’m sure.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m not exactly sure but the name must have a meaning, at least to the band. I mean, that’s why they chose the name in the first place, right?”
“I guess…I’ve never been in a band, so I don’t know how that works.”
He nodded and put another bite of steak into his very sexy mouth. “I’m assuming that’s how it works. I could be wrong, though.”
His accent was so much more noticeable when he wasn’t around other people. He seemed to be very comfortable around me for some reason. Kyran totally confused me. His boyish features confused me also; he looked young, but something told me he wasn’t as young as I assumed.
“How old are you, Kyran?” The question seemed to startle him for some reason because he almost dropped his fork.
“I’m twenty-one.”
“Oh.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious, you have such a boyish face so I wondered what your exact age was.”
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
He nodded and took several more bites of food. “So you think I have a boyish face, huh?”
“Just a little. I mean…It’s a very pleasant face. It just throws you off guard somewhat.”
“How so?”
“Well, your face seems so much younger than what your age suggests.”
“I get that a lot.”
“But your body totally contradicts your face, so it gets confusing.”
I knew exactly how much his face drew attention everywhere he went, and his face wasn’t the only thing. He certainly hadn’t gone unnoticed on campus. Judging by the way the women inside the diner ogled him, I deduced he hadn’t gone unnoticed there either.
“So, is this band famous yet?”
“Not yet, but I don’t think they’re truly interested in fame. I read somewhere they do music just for fun.” His smile was one of mystery, as if he knew something I obviously did
n’t.
“Well, they’re really good. I don’t doubt for a second they could become famous in a heartbeat if they truly wanted to.”
“It would be nice. But even if they don’t make it to fame, they are on my list of top ten favorite bands.”
“You have a list?”
“A mental list. I don’t keep an actual list written down.”
What a coincidence. I kept a list too. “I’ll make sure to add them to my list of favorite bands now.”
My comment seemed to please him and he rewarded me with a smile that took my breath away. Kyran seemed overall pleased that I liked the band. I had enjoyed the concert, a lot more than I thought I would.
“I’m glad you liked them. The next time they’re having a concert nearby, I’ll make sure to bring you along.”
“That sounds great. I’d love that.” The fact that he was considering asking me out again delighted me. “I had an amazing time tonight, Kyran.”
The commendation eased another smile from him.
“Thank you.” That was about the most sheepish I’d ever seen him.
Unfortunately, all good things must to come to an end sooner or later, and since it was getting late we decided to go home. I wished the night would go on forever, though. While Kyran stood at the register to pay for our meals, I excused myself and headed to the ladies’ room. Once I was done, I washed my hands and opened the door to walk back toward the register, where Kyran was still waiting for me.
As I opened the door, I nearly collided with a man standing just outside the bathroom exit. He was dressed all in black and I couldn’t see his face because he wore the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. He had both hands inside the front pockets and his head lowered into his chest. Of what I could see of his face, which was the lips and lower jaw, I noticed his skin was pale white. The man was freakishly tall, taller than Kyran even. At first, I thought that perhaps he’d confused the ladies’ room with the men’s room, so I tried sidestepping him. But then he stepped in front of me to block my way and I realized he wasn’t confused, just looking for a victim.
Secrets of the Moon Page 11
