Brazen: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 2)

by Felisha Antonette

  “No, it is not! And not my daughter, who’s supposed to have more respect for herself. That was more than kissing.”

  I look down at myself and then back at him. “Well, the last time I checked, you have to be naked to do more than kiss,” I sass.

  “Young lady!” he shouts, enraged, charging toward me.

  I throw my hands out, hoping to stop him. “I’m sorry, Dad. Sorry. I’m a little upset. I shouldn’t have said that. That was disrespectful. I’m sorry.” I step back, knowing I need to stick my foot in my mouth. He’s still my father, and I’d be mad at me too if I walked out and saw what he did.

  He halts and scowls at me in a way that tells me I need a good excuse if I don’t want to be chopped down from my high horse.

  I breathe. “Dad, in there, you upset me. I believe that that conversation wasn’t held at an appropriate time and not with the right people.” I shake my head, not wanting to say, but I need to cover all bases. “We came out here, so I could get some air. Nathan’s like my rock, my confidant, helping me cope. Our talk got a little intimate,” I say in a disapproving tone. “We were only kissing, even if it looked like more. But it wasn’t appropriate for the time,” I say, squeezing my eyes closed. Thinking about it makes his taste tease my mouth, and I bite it back, hating this haunting aspect of the bond. “But I’d be lying if I said it has never happened or that it’ll never happen again.”

  Nathan returns to my side.

  You get your shit together? I scoff, a bit upset he walked away, leaving me to fend for myself.

  Hush. He clears his throat. “My apologies, Mr. Warren. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  “I agree.” Dad turns his back on us, heading for the house. “We’ll be leaving shortly, Tracey. Your mother’s talk with Natalia shouldn’t take long, so be ready to go.”

  “I’ll just have—”

  Whipping around, he barks, “Be. Ready. To. Go.” His tone, commanding and indignant, makes me jump. He’s never spoken to me this way, no matter how angry I’ve made him. Turning back around, he walks into the house, closing the door. He turns around and stares out the window until Mom calls for him, sending him away.

  “Shit! Just shit,” I grump. “What is this?” I ask, raising my hands in a way to surrender to the world. “National Catch Nathan and Tracey Day! Gah, Nate. What the hell has gotten into my dad? He’s so much better than he’s been.” I turn to the house, and Nathan grabs my wrist.

  “I’m going to be honest with you, Sparks. Your dad’s going to have to wait for that one-on-one.” Fingertips brush over my palm before his hand clasps mine. Pulling me nearer to him, he says, “You can’t leave me like this.” There’s a nudge against my waist from the growing bulge in his pants.

  Smiling, I confess, “I like this Nathan. Where has he been this entire time?”

  “Controlled, Sparks. Very controlled and extremely respectful.” He looks me over. “But you’re making that really hard tonight.” Pointing at me from my head to my feet, he says, “Maybe you should tone that down.”

  “You better stop talking to me like that. You’re trying to get something started.”

  He pulls me with him into the darkness on the other side of the house. “Un-uh. You already got something started. The moment you put that on.” He points to my outfit.

  “You’re going to get us in so much trouble, Nate.”

  His eyes swirl sandy-ocean blue, shining in the darkness as he leans against the house. “Just give me a shot. I won’t drink the entire bottle.” He lifts me. I wrap my legs around his waist and grab onto his shoulders. “Though, I really want to drink the entire thing . . . and lick the rim,” he utters with a husky rasp in his low voice.

  “Lick the rim, huh?” I already know where this is going to lead. Good now, bad later.

  “Yeah,” he answers too softly, leaning his head back against the brick wall of the house. I move my hands behind it to serve as a cushion.

  Staring into his lust-filled eyes, I kiss his parted mouth, my lips clasping onto his bottom, mildly grazing its smoothness with my tongue. Without separating, our lips stay planted as our tongues dance. I grab his neck, finding a wrath in a suite of tranquility, though I try to control myself.

  Nathan readjusts, and snakes his free hand up my back, touching me too softly. It glides past my neck through my hair and fists it. The pads of his fingertips and nails scrape over my scalp, and the counter reactions of his roughness and the effects of his ease drives me insane. My fingers reflex with his shirt in my hand, and I sail through our aggressive caress.

  A soft moan escapes my throat against his mouth. The sound, a plea for more. I need more than a shot. He travels back down, leaving a heated trail as he makes it over my butt and kneads my sweetest spot.

  He twists us around, and the cool brick is to my back. His body shoves against mine. “Mmm. Sparks?” he groans against my mouth.

  “Yeah?”

  “You’ll let me give it to you against this wall?” His hardness nudges me when I shift my hips. “See? It’s been like this all evening.”

  I think to answer yes, but I wouldn’t be serious. “It’d be cool if you could vanish, like Olar, to your room.”

  “That’s a good idea. Hang on.” He climbs the tree, and from the tree to the window of his room. We close it and quietly lock the door. And if but for a minute, we escape and find a break of freedom in each other, putting a non-existing pause on the outside world.

  I’ll worry about my dad later.

  Little Nathan and Taylor are outside calling for us, and Olar’s blowing up Nathan’s phone. We’ve been away for almost fifteen minutes, but they call us as if it’s been hours. We clean up as quietly as we can, making it so the water doesn’t run too loudly in the sink and the lights don’t show from the window. Nathan’s all over me. I’m all over him. I muffle my giggles with his shoulder, not wanting to give us away if someone’s upstairs, and he quiets his laughs in my neck.

  We leave from the window, landing in the darkness. Little Nathan comes around the corner of the house, spotting us as if we were lights.

  “What are you two doing over here and in the dark?” He pauses, throwing up a hand. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. Just come back. Tracey’s Dad is losing his shit.”

  Nathan laughs. “Come on. When you found us, we were coming from the trail, coming back from a walk, alright?”

  “Yeah, I got it,” Little Nathan says, rounding the corner before us. The three of us head into the house. “I found them,” Little Nathan announces as we walk into the living room, where my parents, Natalia, Roseland, Scott, Glen, and Taylor have gathered. “They were walking the trail.”

  Dad stands, drawing all the attention to himself. “Is that what you were doing, Tracey?” he nags accusingly.

  I try to hold my smile and can’t. It’s growing, tightening my cheeks, displaying my teeth, and pushing up my ears as it spreads wider and wider. I cross the living room to where he stands and wrap my arms around his lean waist. “I’m sorry about earlier, Dad.”

  Nathan comes up behind me. “We are sorry, Mr. Warren,” he expresses in a kind, apologetic tone.

  “Why are you two sorry?” Mom asks, shifting her gaze between us.

  Not wanting her to mention anything extra, I hurry to say, “Dad walked out to Nathan and me making out in the yard.”

  Dad whips around, eager for Mom’s scolding. Little does he know, Mom is on our side. At least, I hope she is. “Alright. I thought you were going to the bathroom,” she states rationally, unlike Dad.

  “Dear,” Dad enunciates, as if she’s deceived him with her peace. “You’re not upset about this?” he asks too quickly and too loudly.

  “Should we have this conversation at home?” Mom doesn’t like arguing, and if she must, she never does so in front of others and rarely in front of me. I can count on one hand the times I’ve witnessed them argue.

  Dad’s shoulders lower as he deflates. “I’m sorry, dear. I’m in
terested in knowing your thoughts on this.”

  “James,” she starts calmly. “Tracey is eighteen, and he is her boyfriend. Do you expect them never to kiss? Not like you caught them in the bed together.”

  I cringe, shoulders tensing up.

  Dad sits back down, crossed, at the moment, by daughter and wife.

  “Dear,” Mom starts, “she is not a child, and we know she did not intend for you to see her partaking in those actions. However, you did, and for you to think that it would not happen would be insulting yourself. Calm down, dear. She’s growing up.”

  Woohoo! Thanks, Mom!

  Dad looks at Nathan and me, then back at Mom. “You may be right. But I’m not ready for . . . that.” He shivers, disgust turning down the corners of his mouth.

  “She’s right, Dad. I’m eighteen, like, adult age.”

  He stares. “You’re not an adult yet, Ladybug. Let’s go. We’ll finish talking at home.”

  I can work with that, but I’m not staying there tonight. “Okay, but Nathan’s coming to get me after.”

  Pushing up his sleeves and stuff his hands in his pocket. Eyeing me, he dominantly asks, “And what time do you plan on coming back?”

  Be a woman, Tracey. Step up to the plate and go in for the home run. “I don’t. Tonight.”

  Dad’s eyes widen.

  Mom seems to know where this was going, saying, “We’ll talk when we get home.”

  I breathe. At least he didn’t strike me out.

  Not yet, Nathan condescends. I punch him, catching everyone’s attention. “Sparky, it’s not nice to hit,” he jokes.

  My parents stand, and Mom kindly says, “It is very nice to meet you finally. Thank you for having us.”

  Natalia smiles. “It was our pleasure. I hope the opportunity occurs again soon.”

  “Oh.” Mom turns to Dad, handing him her clutch. “Before we go, Tracey has something she wants to show me.”

  “What would that be?” he sourly responds.

  She pats his chest. “We will be right back. Come on, Tracey.” She flicks her wrist, inviting me as if she knows her way.

  I hustle to her front and lead us to Nathan’s room with Mom and Natalia on my heels. “I didn’t think you were serious, Mom,” I tell her, climbing the stairs.

  She ignores me, asking Natalia, “Have you known about Tracey and Nathan’s relationship since they started dating?” I look over my shoulder to glimpse her facial expression. It’s as smooth as stone. Her even, fair toned hand elegantly glides up the railing as she follows closely behind me.

  Natalia is a step behind her. “I have. Some days after their meeting, Nathan mentioned her. She and I met not long after.”

  Mom clears her throat, and I hear her swallow hard. “You are . . . okay with their relationship?”

  “They’re moving a little quickly in my opinion, but I know their feelings are genuine and enduring.”

  We hit the landing, and I proceed down the dimly lit hall. In a puzzled tone, Mom says, “She is only a teenager. The three of you sound so sure about this. I expect that from them because they are young and in love. I mean no disrespect. However, I did not expect that from you.”

  Natalia chuckles lightheartedly. “None taken. I understand your concern and how this may be different for you. For us, when we find or are found by our mates, there is no doubt. And for my son, I know this is tangible for him. I see it when he looks at Tracey, and she returns it. Nathan would turn the world upside down for her. I can’t deny their mating, or prevent them from living through their relationship. I wouldn’t dare.”

  “Hmm.” Mom takes a pause. “I know what you mean. James and I met and married very quickly afterward. We have been together since. I didn’t expect for Tracey to love so quickly and be so. . .” She looks at me head-on. “Certain about it.”

  I let them chat as I continue into Nathan’s room. I peek in first, making sure everything is in place. Wouldn’t want to give away our secret getaway.

  Mom follows me in, and her mouth falls open. “Tracey,” she squeals. “His room is bigger than our master.”

  “It’s not that big, Mom.” She is where I get my over exaggeration. “But, this is where I sleep. Thanks for not going crazy. About this. I appreciate you understanding.”

  “You are not a child, Tracey, even though your father and I will always see you as our baby. You’re growing up, and I know you will not be alone forever. And Nathan makes you happy.” She grabs my shoulder, gives it a light squeeze, and then her arm falls to her side. “You two remind me of your father and me. Young and in love and there’s nothing and no one able to take you from each other or change your minds about what you believe you have. I get it.” She crosses the room from the TV stand to the bathroom. “I respect it. Can I look in here?” she asks, pointing to the closed door.

  I smile. “Yes, it’s the bathroom.” She opens the door and quickly shuts it. “What’s wrong?” I ask nervously.

  She ignores me, opening the door again, and then nods. “Nothing, making sure I saw what I thought I saw.”

  “What? What’d you see?”

  “My gosh,” she gasps. “Why is Nathan’s bathroom this big?”

  Natalia chuckles. “It came with the room. Everyone’s room is a nice size for them to grow into. They keep this space until they leave or bring home their mates. Most of my children have convinced their mates to come here instead of them leaving the family, and they prefer to choose the bigger rooms for their comfort. But Nathan’s had this room since he could tie his shoes.”

  I eye her oddly for using the term so loosely, but Mom doesn’t question it.

  Mom nods, pulling the bathroom door closed. “Tracey, that bathroom is huge.”

  “No, Mom, wait until you see the closet.”

  She raises her chin. “Would this be the same closet that has clothes in it for you?”

  “If you’re going to be weird about this, I’m not going to show it to you.”

  “I am going to be weird about this, but only because you did not tell me about this before you started progressing in your relationship to the point where you can have clothes at your boyfriend’s house.”

  I pull her to the closet and push open the door. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  Entering the closet first, she melts. Mom is crazy about fashion. True shopaholic!

  “Oh my goodness, Tracey Nicole. This closet is the size of your bedroom at home.”

  “I know right!”

  “Yes!” She glides her hand over the dresses to our right. “He has it sectioned off like a his-and-her closet.” Her voice shakes a little, and I veer to look at her face. She pinches her nose and averts, trying to hide her red turning eyes.

  “Oh, Mom. You are not going to do this right now. Don’t cry.” A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow hard. It bursts, burning on its way back down. I hate to see her tear up.

  She doesn’t respond immediately. “I’m not,” she croaks. “It is just a lot for a mom to take in. When her only child grows up, has a boyfriend, and she’s never had one before, invites him home, and brings me to meet his family. I’m suddenly made aware she has been sleeping over here, and then it kicks in. It all sinks in as I look at an organized closet with her stuff and his stuff as if you two are married.” A quiet sob escapes her. I wouldn’t have heard it had it not been for these ears.

  I wrap my arms around her, needing to embrace her, needing her to feel my love. She hugs me, squeezing me tightly. “Don’t cry, Mom. I’m sorry I didn’t include you.” Her heartbreak weighs heavily on me. She’s always been here, and I’ve always talked to her about everything. For me to leave her out of one of the most important decisions of my life shows just how selfish I’ve been. Or negligent.

  “It’s okay, honey. I’m glad Nathan has someone like you. Before, your father and I may have made it seem as if Nathan was more than you can handle, taking into consideration his age and endeavors, and you know our concerns about maturity. But you ar
e more than enough.” She draws back to look me in my eyes and rubs her hands over my cheeks. “Perfect in every way. Nathan better make sure he treats you right, he would be hurting himself if he hurts you.”

  If she only knew how true that is. I step back as she dabs under her eyes. “You want to see the best part of this closet? Besides the clothes.” I smile, trying to lighten the mood. I don’t want to cry, and watching her blink away her tears will make me.

  A proud smile spreads across her face. “Yes.” She shakes her shoulder as she straightens her spine.

  I take her shoulders, turning her around to face the door-sized mirror that sits on the back of Nathan’s closet door.

  Her mouth falls open. “Oh. My. Goodness,” she whispers.

  “I know. Every woman’s dream mirror, right?”

  “Tracey, yes. This is the best part about this entire room.”

  She cleans the tears and smudged mascara from her eyes. “Honey, I like Nathan. I love the light in both your eyes when you look at each other. You both have my blessing.” She looks at me through the mirror. “And yes, I will talk to your father.”

  I rise on my tiptoes to kiss her cheek. Hugging her around her shoulder, I smile at her reflection. “Thanks. You’re the best Mom ever. I’m sorry if I let you down. Open and honest from here on out. Love you.”

  “I love you too,” she says, turning to kiss my forehead. “Let’s go. Nathan’s Mom is out there waiting for us.” We leave from the closet, finding Natalia sitting at Nathan’s computer playing solitaire.

  “Sorry we took so long,” Mom tells her. “It was a lot to take in.”

  Natalia turns off the monitor and stands. “No apology needed. You two ready to head back downstairs?”

  “Yes,” Mom answers, smoothing out her dress. “I have had my husband waiting long enough. Let’s make sure your father has not scolded Nathan to dust.”

  “Good point,” I agree, laughing.

  We head back downstairs to the living room, and to our astonishment, Dad’s sitting in a chair, intently listening to Nathan talk about his company and what they do. A nice, smooth conversation that has them both engaged. Why didn’t I think of that? Dad loves sole proprietorships. It’s one of the things he helps people interested in running their own business establish.