“Hey, we’re here, sleeping beauty.”
“Already? How long did I sleep?”
She sat up quickly and looked at me with her chocolate eyes. I felt my stomach tighten and fought back the urge to kiss her the rest of the way awake.
“Not long, an hour tops,” I reassured her as I watched her body shudder from another chill. “Come on, let’s get inside. It’s cold out here.”
Holding out my hand, she took hold of it, as had become our usual.
“Wait.”
She stopped me and climbed back into the seat to reach over the center console; grabbing our duffle bag and Wal-Mart purchases. I left her at the front of the car and quickly grabbed the key from the ignition; turning off the headlights and throwing us into complete darkness.
“Smart, Xander,” I scolded myself out loud when I realized we couldn’t see. I pulled the cell from my back pocket and held it up as I made my way back to Skye, whose giggling made it easy to locate her.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” she teased, her voice pitched an octave higher in mock innocence. I could picture her nose crinkling up as she laughed. Her sweet laughter filled the dark woods around us. I stood still and shone the little light from the phone towards her, and saw that she was leaning against the grill of the car with her hands full of bags from the store.
“You’re not scared of the dark, Princess?” I jested with her, as I clicked the cell off and pitched us into darkness again.
“Um, no Xander. Not really,” she replied, laughing again.
I slowly tip-toed backwards a fraction in an effort to find out if she could see me. Keeping my movements small and as quiet as possible, I made a wide circle around her. As a plan formulated in my head, I planned to come up from behind her and scare her.
I knew it was juvenile of me, and with all she had been through the last few days it was probably a dumb move…but I just couldn’t help myself.
“Xander, come on! It’s cold out here. Can we please go in?”
I stayed still for a moment as she listened for my reply. She shuffled her feet and I heard the bags rattling, so I quickly took a few large steps to place myself on the opposite side of her.
“Xander?” she asked again, her voice a tad more nervous but still sounding pretty calm.
“Xander!” she finally exploded. “Stop screwing around! I’m freaking cold.”
As I stepped closer to her, my foot slipped on a larger rock and the grinding noise gave me away. I expected her to jump or scream, but was shocked when she seemed calm, if not mad.
“Are you trying to scare me?” she asked in disbelief, kicking up rocks around her as she turned around.
As she spun around, she had the audacity to swing the bags out wide, and knocked me right across the chest with one.
“Umph,” I groaned. “Damn, girl! You trying to kill me?”
“Well you’re trying to scare me, so it serves you right!”
Raising the phone up to illuminate us once more, I caught her silent laughter as I rubbed my side with my free hand.
“You weren’t scared, huh?” I asked in mock disappointment.
“No.”
“Seriously? Not even a smidgen? We’re out here in this pitch black mountain forest with lions and tigers and bears, and you’re not scared?” I teased; stepping up almost toe to toe with her so that I could see her face better in the small blue light of the phone.
She chuckled at my joke, and then shook her head no again.
“Why not?”
“Why not, what?”
“Why were you not scared?” I asked, not even sure why I was asking.
“Because you’re here with me,” she confessed, her eyes lowering to my mouth as she stood there in front of me.
Ah, Christ, I mentally swore as I watched her soft mouth take a breath and hold it. She was asking for me to kiss her. It was as plain as day, right there in those eyes and in her answer.
I shifted one more step forward until our chests were almost touching, and lowering my hand along her arm, I removed the shopping bags from her hand. I placed the bags on the hood of the car and lifted her empty hand to my chest.
“So, you’re not afraid because you’re with me?”
She swallowed and shook her head as she whispered, “Yes.”
“Why do you think that is?”
“Because I trust you,” she acknowledged, sounding almost reluctant. “And…” she continued as she dropped the bags from her other hand and raised it to my face, “I know that you would never let anything happen to me.”
Skye moved her hand around to the back of my neck and slowly put pressure on it, pulling me towards her. Our lips met softly and then just as quickly, she released me and stepped back.
“Oh crap, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, and attempted to pull her hand from my grip.
“What? Why not?” I questioned, as I tried to keep her body close to mine.
“We still have a lot that we need to discuss, Xander. I…I can’t let the way you make me feel cloud me from all of the questions I have. From all of the questions you made me have when you confessed your…well, um,” she stammered.
“Yes, go on. When I confessed my love for you,” I spoke clearly, as I looked her directly in the eyes.
“Well, yeah! Xander, you said things that make absolutely no sense to me. Can we go in and talk? Because I’m afraid of what might happen if we don’t talk.”
“Of course.” I gritted my teeth at the thought of what she meant might happen if we didn’t talk. Was she implying that something physical would happen? I forced my hormones to calm down so I wouldn’t embarrass myself, or her. We hoisted the bags and slowly picked our way through the gravel and rocks to the front door.
After I unlocked the door, I dropped the bags in the foyer and pulled Skye behind me.
“Just stay close until I find the lights and check things out okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
I could feel her breasts pressed against my back as she tried to stay close. I stopped and looked over my shoulder, my arm sweeping the wall next to the door in my quest for a light switch.
“Skye, there’s no one here. I wanted to check things out because I don’t know what shape this place is in. There could be an animal or something like that, but nothing I can’t handle,” I told her, as I found the wall switch and flicked it on.
The switch activated a small table lamp across the room, which illuminated the cozy space. Skye stepped back and picked up the bags I’d dropped, and then kicked the door closed with her foot.
“This is nice,” she declared, walking into the quaint cabin.
I left her by the door and paced over to the hallway, noting a bathroom and one large bedroom. The cabin had a large open floor plan with a living space, dining area and large kitchen. The bedroom and bathroom were located off a small hall in the back left hand corner. There were no other closets or rooms in which to hide.
“It looks clear,” I told her, coming back to her side. “It is nice, huh?”
“Yeah,” she agreed, stifling a yawn. “A shower would be great right now.”
Fighting the urge to suggest a shower for two, I pointed her towards the bathroom and then followed behind her to the bedroom. The room had a huge king-sized bed situated across from a massive stone fireplace.
“Ohhhh,” Skye gawked at the room. “This is heavenly, Xander! Can I just hide out here forever?”
“I wish.”
Skye looked at me a moment and smiled. It was a winsome smile. She had no idea the effect that simple charming smile had on me. I wanted to tell her all of the secrets I still held inside. I wanted to throw myself at her feet and beg her to stay with me forever. All because of her smile.
Snap out of it, man! I chastised myself. I had a duty to get her to Tyalbrook, and I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way of the goal.
“Why don’t you get a shower, and I’ll make sur
e everything is secure,” I suggested a little brusquely.
Her smile drooped a little at my tone, but she nodded and carried the duffle bag into the bathroom. A few minutes later I heard the shower running, and I allowed myself a few moments to worry about Rioden.
What had happened back at the hotel after we’d left? Something in my gut told me that he was fine. He was a strong fighter. He wouldn’t leave me without a fight, so I clung to that as I checked all the window locks and started a fire in the bedroom fireplace.
Rioden would be fine and he would be here tomorrow.
Skye
I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and then slipped on a pajama set I’d bought at the store. I combed through my long hair and brushed my teeth. My mind kept replaying the kiss Xander and I had shared over and over the whole time I was in the shower.
The memory of his beautiful words danced through my mind and warmed my insides. We needed to talk. I was going to walk out there and ask him about the kiss, and about his comments. I would stand my ground and not allow his beautiful face and shining blue eyes to dissuade me from the discussion we had to have!
I was really starting to feel mental. I laughed at my reflection in the mirror and let out a long sigh.
I stepped out into the small hallway and stopped in the doorway of the bedroom, where I saw the large, roaring fire that Xander built in the bedroom fireplace. He stood in front of the fireplace with his hands stuffed in his back pockets. He had taken off his hoodie, and his tee-shirt was tight over his shoulders, revealing his muscular build.
I couldn’t help but stare at his stance. His legs were apart, and his head was thrown back just slightly. I drifted his way slowly, staring at his back. As I got closer I could see that his eyes were shut. The glow of the orange flames cast shadows over his face and highlighted his strong features. His mouth was pulled tight; the muscles in his throat and cheek taut. He looked to be in some kind of internal struggle.
My heart leapt at his vulnerability and before I could stop myself, I stepped up behind him and wrapped my hands around his waist.
Xander tensed perceptibly at my touch. I almost started to withdraw, but as quickly as he had tensed, it passed. He pulled his hands out of his pockets, rubbed my arms and hugged me to him. He didn’t relax his stance, and he didn’t say a word. He just stood there and let me wrap myself around him.
I decided to step forward a little closer, and I rested my cheek on his back. I smiled to myself when I felt his hands squeeze my arms. I could tell that he liked it when I held him. Touched him. I couldn’t help but be excited at the thought.
I knew that I shouldn’t second-guess his feelings, but I couldn’t help it.
I had lived so long, having no one to love me that the thought of someone caring for me the way Xander had professed to just didn't make sense. The fact that I stood there, wanting nothing more than to be in his arms, was quite a change for me as well. Normally I would never let my guard down for anyone, except for maybe Janelle.
Xander was different. From the moment I heard his voice that first night, I simply couldn’t stop myself from wanting to be with him. The warmth that ran through me every time he was near, the words he spoke that made me feel special…there was just something about him that I couldn’t deny myself anymore.
Why shouldn’t I let myself feel good? After ten years of loneliness why couldn’t I allow someone to love me?
“Xander.” I spoke softly, almost hating to break the moment. “You alright?”
“Mmmhmmm,” he replied; straightening up slightly, but not releasing my arms from his waist.
“Can we talk now?”
“Sure Skye,” he sighed, and then turned to face me; holding both of my hands as we stood across from each other.
“Let me jump in the shower real quick and then we can talk, okay?”
“Of course.”
I couldn’t deny him his shower…goodness knows I had needed one! I decided to just sit by the fire and wait for him.
“The bed is clean if you want to lay down. I’ll sleep on the couch…”
“Like hell you will!” I snapped, shocking myself with my vehemence
His eyes grew wider at my tone, but the smile that spread across his face said he was pleased with my response, even as his next words shot down that thought.
“I should take the couch. It would be best.”
“We slept together at the hotel. There’s no reason we can’t share the same bed,” I reminded him.
“Skye,” he muttered, exasperatedly shoving his hand through his hair. “Things have changed between us since then.”
I interrupted him and decided to tease him into submission. “Xander! You are sleeping in the bed with me. I mean, unless you’re worried you can’t control yourself around me? Is that it? You’re afraid you won’t be able to control your baser instincts?”
“No Skye, I...,” he stammered in his attempt to come up with an excuse.
“Xander - please,” I heard myself begin to beg. “Nothing is gonna happen between us. I just don’t want to sleep alone. I’m…”
“You’ll be fine, Skye. I’ll keep watch.”
“I need you, please. I’m not scared but I hate the nightmares I keep having, and when you’re by my side I seem to sleep better,” I finished on a whisper.
I watched as a multitude of emotions played over his face. He finally sighed and pulled me in for a hug.
“Okay,” he relented. “I’ll be out in a minute, and then we’ll talk.”
He kissed the top of my head and released me. While I waited for Xander to finish in the shower, I snuggled up in the large bed. I lay there, staring as the flames licked at the large logs Xander had placed in the fireplace.
My eyes got heavier and heavier until I finally closed them and fell asleep.
THIRTEEN - EVERYTHING CHANGES
Skye
“I’m gonna win!” I laughed over my shoulder as I ran down the street.
“Oh, no you won’t!” he yelled, laughing back at me and making stomping sounds right at my heels.
I laughed, and then screamed in terror as he started to catch up to me. I dropped my backpack - because I knew he would pick it up - so I could run faster. The joy on my face proved that the screams were just for show.
I heard his laughter and looked behind me to see him swoop down and pick up my backpack in one swift movement. He never stopped running. Just when I thought I would make it around the last house before he did, I tripped. I landed on my knees and thrust my arms out to break my fall.
“Skye!” he called out, as he jogged up to me with concern in his voice. “You okay?”
I looked up at him, wiping my scratched up palms on my pant legs, and declared, “I was winning when I fell!”
He laughed as he started to sit on the grass beside me. His face was a silhouette in the setting sun as he leaned over me.
Suddenly he pulled up, snapping his head toward the house.
“What is that?” he mumbled to himself, and held his hand out to help me up.
“Hang on, Skye.”
He slowly walked around the corner of the neighbor’s house and peered around the bushes.
“Oh no!”
Quickly dropping our backpacks, he grabbed me and hid me beside him.
I tried to peek around him and the bushes, but he pushed me back. The air was ripe with the smell of smoke.
“Stay here and be super quiet,” he said as he walked closer to the house.
I bit down on my sweater sleeve to keep myself from crying out. I could hear screams coming from inside the house. My house. The shatter of glass sounded as a fireball sailed out of the kitchen window.
“Skye! RUUNNNN!”
I stood up and stepped out of the cover of the bushes, and suddenly he was beside me.
“Listen, Skye - you have to run. Go to our hiding spot at the park and don’t stop for anything. I’ll come and get you when it’s safe, I promise! Run, now GO!”
>
He grasped my arms, turned me towards the park and pushed me to go.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw that the house was beginning to glow now from the fire. I noticed a smoky-looking man run out of the house, being followed by someone. The sound of metal scraping metal pulled me back to the boy who was still talking to me.
“I will never let you fall, remember!” he pleaded. I shook my head while the tears streamed down my face.
“Run!” he shouted one last time as he ran towards the house.
The boy turned at the door to the house and looked for me. Flames lit up his face for just a moment, but all I could see were his bright blue eyes as they stared at me. The flames leapt out of a front window, and I belatedly noticed that the black figure and whomever was chasing him were now gone. The boy stepped into the front door and was swallowed by the fire…
“No!” I cried as I sat up. “There’s a fire!” The crackling sound and acrid smell of a fire still filled my senses.
“Skye! Skye, it’s okay! It’s just the fireplace,” I heard Xander call, as I rubbed the sleep from my blurry eyes. The edge of the bed sank down as he sat beside me. He leaned down, holding my face in his hands, and looked into my eyes.
“It’s just the fireplace, baby. It’s okay,” he reassured me. I couldn’t stop hyperventilating as I stared into his eyes.
“No! The fire - he walked right into it! He told me to run, and he walked into it…!” I raged hysterically; trying to remember my nightmare.
“Did I have a brother, Xander? I think it was my brother. Oh. My. God. Why can’t I remember?” I cried, falling into his chest. “Who was he?”
“Shhhh,” Xander soothed, stroking my hair. “Don’t worry right now. You’re safe.”
Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook) Page 11
