“That’s not all.” He scrunched his brow. “I can also read minds, put up a shield, and even sometimes glow.”
“That’s um…” he looked for the right words, but I knew he was struggling, and at the same time trying not to think about anything I would be able to pick up in case I was telling the truth about being able to read minds. “When you say you glow?”
“I literally glow. My whole body does, like a bluish silver color. It only happened a few times and each time I was using a lot of power. Ms. Kraft was working with me to try and figure out what caused it and why it was happening, but we couldn’t find anything,” I shrugged.
“Ms. Kraft?”
“She’s one of my teachers at Hamilton Hill.”
“I see you actually took my advice and went to that school.”
“Hate to burst your bubble, but I more or less didn’t have much of a choice. My dad told me I had to go to the school or basically be a prisoner for the rest of my life.” Just the mention of my dad made me mad. I looked down and picked at the corners of the pillow, thinking about the fight with my dad.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” Tristan asked, leaning closer to me.
“I had a really bad fight with my dad,” I said. No longing caring about being good, I threw the pillow to the floor and crawled on to his lap. I just wanted him to hold me, to feel his arms around me.
“I’m sure whatever it was it will blow over,” he said as he stroked my hair.
“I don’t think so. Not this time.”
“You want to tell me about it?”
I sighed and pulled back. “When he found out I left school and came here to look for you he got really pissed.”
“You shouldn’t have left school,” he agreed.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s beside the point,” I argued.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed my forehead making me melt and forget my anger. “I’m sure he’ll get over it.”
“He told me if I didn’t come home with him that I shouldn’t bother coming home at all.”
“Ella, you know he didn’t really mean that. I’m sure he just said it out of anger.”
I picked at my pajama pants. “I don’t know…maybe.”
“How about we talk about something else?”
Tristan knew me well enough to know when to let things go and move on. I was thankful for the change in subject. “I met your cousin, Josef.”
“You met Josef?” he said surprised.
“And your grandmother,” I said, grinding my teeth.
“So how’d that go?” he asked, smiling.
“She made me work in the garden all morning while she watched and then made me clean the kitchen.” Tristan turned his head to try and hide his laugh. “It’s not funny. She was mean and very judgmental and she doesn’t even know me.”
“That’s why she was so tough on you and trust me, she likes you.”
“That’s what Josef said.” I crossed my arms not happy.
“You and Josef spend a lot of time together?” he asked curiously.
“Jealous?” I teased.
“Please, he can’t compete with my charming smile and winning personality.”
I rolled my eyes. “At least he knows how to respect women.”
“Please, I’m totally respecting you right now by not tearing off all your clothes and throwing you down on that bed.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “If you really wanted to respect me you would stop thinking those nasty thoughts about all the things you want to do to me,” I smiled.
I think that was the first time I ever saw Tristan blush. “I can’t help it. You’re taunting me with your wily ways and that small, tight tank top you’re wearing, and your new fetish for body art.” His lips started to twitch into his cocky smile as his hand slowly pushed down the strap on my tank top.
My heart was racing from his touch and it took everything I had to resist him. I reluctantly pushed him back and jumped off his lap. “Tristan we can’t.”
“Why can’t we?”
“We’re getting off track here,” I said, hoping to avoid this conversation.
He sighed. “Alright, let’s get back to your powers. What is this shield and can I see it?”
“No. Gabe and I are still working on it so I can control it better. Besides, it usually only seems to work when I get really mad or use a lot of power.”
“Gabe as in the guy who nearly choked me to death?” he asked.
“Yes. Gabe is my guardian now and he’s been spending a lot of time with me to help train me.”
“Train for what?” His tone suggested he didn’t approve of this.
“To defend myself.”
“Whose idea was this?”
“My self-defense teacher. He thought I had good potential, but lacked discipline. So they asked Gabe to work with me.”
“How’s that going for you?”
“Pretty good if I do say so myself,” I said with my head high. “I even took Billy down in practice a few times.” He looked at me skeptically. “I could kick your ass!”
“I’d like to see that.”
“Don’t tempt me.” He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Don’t even think about it,” I warned.
“So…all I have to do is get you mad?” He looked at me with a devilish grin. Then he pushed me and I almost fell off the loveseat.
“Tristan!” He pushed me again. “I’m not going to do it, stop,” I said, trying not to laugh. He slinked back into his seat, but before I could relax I saw that playful look in his eye. He pounced on me and I squealed when we hit the floor. He wrestled me to the ground and I started to laugh. If he thought this was going to make me mad he was going about it the wrong way.
“Come on Ella, show me what you got,” he taunted, holding my arms by my sides. It wasn’t like I couldn’t get out of his hold. I just didn’t want to. He kept egging me on to do something, but I refused. “What’s the matter little girl, scared?”
“Ha!” I laughed.
“Afraid I’m going to hurt you?” He tightened his grip.
“More afraid I’m going to hurt you,” I countered.
“Oh come on Ella, what’s wrong with a little friendly competition?” He smiled. I smiled back. He thought he had me and leaned down for a kiss. I reacted quickly by flipping him over my head and onto to his back, pinning his arms above his head, and gripping his wrist tight. He smiled seductively at me. “If you wanted to be on top all you had to was ask.”
I let go ready to smack him, but he stopped me and tackled me to the ground pinning my arms by my sides. He looked deep into my eyes. He was begging me to hear what he was thinking. How much he loved me, how much he missed me and how much he wanted to be with me. I opened myself up even more to her his beautiful mind, closing my eyes and taking it in, until I went a little too deep and ended up hearing all the perverted things he was envisioning he wanted to do with me. “God Tristan!” I growled, trying to get up.
“What?” he shrugged innocently.
“You are worse than Dean.”
“Better dirty thoughts about you than another girl.”
I smacked his chest and pushed him away from me so I could sit up, but before I could pull away he grabbed my wrist, the one that was wearing his watch. “Where did you get this?”
“Dean.”
“Did he steal it?”
“No,” I glared, although I couldn’t blame him for coming to that assumption. I had thought the same thing when Dean first presented the watch to me. “He asked your parents if I could have something of yours and this is what your stepmother gave him.”
He ran his thumb over the face of the watch. “Figures that bitch would give up my grandfather’s watch.”
“You can have it back.” I went to take it off.
“No, you keep it.” I looked at him confused. Clearly this was something that meant a lot to him. “I’m sorry. I’m glad she gave you this. I want you to have it,” he smiled, hold
ing my hand.
He was still sitting on my legs and I needed to get up. With him this close it was harder to resist and I was running out of excuses to keep pulling away. “You can let me go now,” I said softly.
His face turned serious and he placed his hand softly on my cheek. “I don’t ever want to let you go.” My breath caught as I let the words sink in. Before I had the chance to protest he was pressing his lips to mine. I no longer had the strength to stop him. I no longer wanted to. When he was kissing me the only thing on my mind was how much I wanted him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my fingers in his hair deepening the kiss. He didn’t hesitate when I parted my lips and welcomed his tongue inside my mouth.
I didn’t care about anything else at the moment. All I cared about was that I was with Tristan. His lips started to trail down my neck, collarbone, and across my chest. “Tristan,” I said breathlessly. “I want you.” I could feel the smile on his lips as they traveled back up my neck.
“Are you sure?” he asked as he softly brushed his lips against mine.
“Yes,” I said a little too excitedly. I heard him chuckle under his breath, but I didn’t care. I pushed him to floor and sat on top of him attacking his lips with mine. My hands were groping every inch of his body, needing to feel him, to touch him. I tugged at his shirt trying to pull it off, but only succeeded halfway.
“Ella,” he said, holding me back. “I know you know I was thinking about tearing each other’s clothes off, but –”
“You can’t tell me you don’t want to?” I interrupted, not giving him the chance to finish. I was really confused, because yes I knew what he was thinking earlier, but his mind was a mix of emotion and everything was jumbled together.
“Oh no I do, but I prefer we move this to the bed,” he smiled. I smiled back as I pushed myself off of him and then held out my hand to help him. He threw me a wicked smile before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I giggled and squealed when he smacked me on my behind.
He threw me down on the bed and I laughed. “Come here you,” I purred and beckoned with my finger.
He gave me his cocky smile before he took off his shirt and climbed on top of me. I placed my hands on his chest and felt his heart racing. He gently brushed back a piece of my hair and caressed my face. “I love you la mia bella stella,” he whispered.
“I love you too, Tristan,” I said, pulling his lips to mine. Wasting no time, his hands moved down to my waist. He tugged at my shirt and swiftly pulled it off over my head.
His eyes widened at the sight of all my body art. “You were very busy I see,” he said with a quirky smile.
“Too much?” I asked nervously. I never cared before what anyone thought about my tattoos, but for some reason it mattered to me what Tristan thought – maybe because he was part of the reason behind them.
“No, I just never expected you to do something like this?”
“Why, because I’m a prude?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Are you really going to start a fight with me now?”
“You started it,” I said childishly.
“Ella, you are beautiful inside and out. Everything about you is everything I could want in a girl. I love all of you, including your new body art,” he said. “I love your smile. I love the way you look at me when you’re annoyed with me…like now,” he laughed. I couldn’t help but smile. “I love your sense of humor and the kindness in your heart,” he placed his hand on my chest. “I love your big, beautiful…” he paused, hand moving slowly, cocky smile on his face. I was about to pinch him when he said, “Green eyes and the way they sparkle when I do this.” He pressed his lips tenderly to mine making me want to melt.
“What else?”
“I love your long beautiful hair,” he gripped one of the blue streaks and stopped.
“It’s a side effect from my powers,” I said sourly.
“It gives you an edge,” he winked. “Although I always knew you had a darker side to you.”
“Tristan,” I giggled.
“I love your lips,” he said, kissing me again, lingering a little longer this time. “And the way your skin feels.” He started to work his way down my neck, stopping at my chest. He looked up and smiled. I just laughed and rolled my eyes. “I love every inch of your beautiful body, including your tattoos.” He traced his fingers lightly across the tattoos on my stomach, sending shivers through my entire body.
“The tattoos are exotically beautiful just like you are. They’re a perfect touch to an already perfect girl.”
“Tristan, I am far from perfect.”
“To me you are the picture of perfection. My beautiful star,” he whispered, caressing my cheek. His eyes met mine and I could no longer hold back. I slid my hand behind his neck and pulled him down on top of me. I kissed him so hard I thought I might lose my breath. It felt so right. I never felt like I belonged anywhere, but there, with Tristan.
His hands slid up my slides, slowly. It felt like the caress of a warm summer breeze tickling my skin. He glided his fingertips tenderly across my stomach, making me ache for more. The slow descend of my pants was a torturous play on his part and I knew he was doing it on purpose too. He wanted me to beg. I held my breath as he slid them off at a pain stakingly slow rate.
He started at the tips of my toes. His lips trailed up my legs, leaving tiny echoes of ecstasy in their wake. I pulled him up to my lips needing to feel him. Then I pushed him down and rolled over on top. I tore off his pants in one swift slip. I ran my hands up his chest and around his neck pulling him closer to me. I never wanted anybody more than I wanted him at that moment.
He sat up and I wrapped my legs around him. He slipped his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss, his other hand pressing into my lower back. I could feel his emotions and how badly he wanted me as much as I wanted him. His hands started to roam up and down my back leaving the hairs on my skin to stand straight up. He unhooked my bra and softly pulled it forward, his eyes never leaving mine. Before I even heard the bra hit the floor he was pushing me down and climbing on top of me. I allowed him to explore every inch of my body and with every gentle caress I let out a tiny moan.
He pulled the sheets back inviting me to join him. I brushed my hand across his check and he held it there, closing his eyes. I knew he was nervous, I could feel him shaking. “Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered, encouraging him to keep going.
“I promise I’ll be gentle.” He kissed me then, taking away any pain I might have felt. His hips pressed against mine, I gripped the sheets, gasping. He moved slowly, steady, while his hand caressed my arms, sides, and face. I never thought I could ever feel something as powerful as this. He tangled his hand in my hair and pressed himself closer. I gripped his shoulders, feeling an explosion of pleasure. I was on a high and I never wanted to come down.
I ran my hands through his hair and down his back, pressing him close to me, wanting to feel his skin against mine. It was like nothing I have ever experienced and I never wanted it to stop. I kissed him hard and I kissed him fierce. He shook and quivered and paused to catch his breath. When I thought I couldn’t take anymore my whole body exploded with a light from within. So bright it lit up the whole room and just as fast as it came it was gone.
Tristan’s eyes fell upon me and he smiled. “You are the most amazing thing in my world.” I smiled as he laid his head on my chest to catch his breath. I couldn’t stop shivering. My whole body was quaking from the desire. “Are you cold?”
“No,” I said breathless. I slid down so I was face to face with him. “This is what you do to me.” I placed his hand over my racing heart. He took mine and placed it over his. I smiled and rested my weak head against the pillow.
Chapter 8
“How do you feel?”
“Amazing. I feel like I’m floating on air.”
He smiled and lay back on the bed. I wrapped my arm around him and laid my head on his chest so I could listen to the beautiful
sound of his heartbeat while he ran his fingers up and down my back as he sent me into a state of pure bliss. “Thanks for the shag, but I think I should be leaving now,” Tristan said, getting up.
I smacked him and he laid back down laughing. “Ha-ha very funny.”
“I’m scared to fall asleep,” he confessed.
“Why?”
“Because I’m afraid this is all a dream and when I wake up you’ll be gone.”
I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You’re not going to go crazy again are you? You need more blood?”
“No Ella,” he said, pulling me back to him. “The only thing I’m crazy about is you. I just…I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I think I might have something that will help.” I got up and walked over to my suitcase and then returned to the bed handing Tristan my grandmother’s cross. “You should have this back.”
“Ella that’s your –”
“I want you to have it. A little something to remind you that this is real and I will still be here when you wake up.” I helped him put the necklace on and then I snuggled up next to him.
“I wish I could describe the way you make me feel, but I don’t how to word it that you would understand.”
“Your actions speak louder than words,” I smiled.
“Can you read my mind?”
“I can’t.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No. I just can’t get a good read. Your emotions are so overrun I can’t get a clear look. It’s like they’re all jumbled together. Plus the power is still new to me and I haven’t quite got a handle on it. This is the first time I actually allowed myself to use it.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I first received that power, it was so overwhelming I couldn’t handle it. Ms. Kraft bound my power by using a spell to block out everyone’s thoughts until I could control it. The spell just started to wear off when I arrived in Ireland.”
“How exactly does it work?” he asked, curious.
I thought for a moment. “I hear thoughts. It’s not like I hear everything, just what’s bothering the person at the moment.”
Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) Page 10
