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

by Felisha Antonette

  “Don’t be. You’re not hurting me on purpose, so don’t worry about that.” He sits up, moving me with him. “Let’s sleep.”

  I follow him to my bed. He lays me down and takes off his shirt, exposing that illegally sculpted chest and stomach and shoulders and—.

  “Sparks?”

  Ah, he caught me. “Huh?”

  “What are you up to?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

  I scoot over so he can lie beside me. “Nothing.”

  He bends over the bed, boring into my eyes. I try to empty my mind before he can read my thoughts, but I realize I’m too late when his eyes widen. He sobers his expression right before a cocky smirk peeks out and his left brow jumps.

  Crap. He knows. I scoot away from him. “I’m starting to agree with Glen about her no privacy statement.”

  Nathan sits on the bed and pulls me to him. “You want some privacy?” His closeness erupts butterflies in my chest, causing my heart to double beat. My breath stalls, and I gasp when I try to catch it. Crazy how he can still do this to me. “I’ll always take your breath away. And be in your head.” Almost creeping, he stealthily moves me to lie under him as he’s hovering over me. Every inhale is drenched by his scent, flooding my nose with his intoxicants.

  I float, slowly drifting beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

  “You love me, Tracey?” the seductive tone of his voice pulls me deeper into him, and my head lightens.

  “Yes.” Our noses brush with him being so close, with him sucking in the air I expel.

  A heat surrounds my body as I blast through his ozone layer, charging inside him as a crave to feel his lips against mine worsens. He has a lock on me, though, keeping me from moving a muscle. I can’t rise to close these few centimeters of distance between us.

  “You’re going to choose me?” Nathan taunts me, letting his lips speak above mine. They’re close enough where I can feel their presence, but not nearly close enough to touch.

  “Yeah.”

  “Reassure me.” He descends, layering kisses across my jawline. I’ll never get why a single saturation of his lips sends me reeling. All breath leaves my body and my blood rushes as he kisses my neck. I feel butterflies as if their wings flutter against my skin—prickling and tickling my insides just beneath the surface. “Tell me, Sparks.”

  I breathe, “I love you, Nate.”

  He grasps my hands and pushes them over my head. Meeting my eyes, I stare into his ocean-blue, watching the sandy brown swirl in their depths. I love those. “And?” My legs bend at his sides, and my hands clasp onto his. “Say it, Sparks.” Our hips align, and his power kneads my center.

  I gasp, unable to break eye contact, but I want to close my eyes and indulge in the sensation. He adjusts as if he is going to kiss me and my heart returns, thrumming.

  “Say it, Sparks.”

  With him just centimeters away from my mouth, my lips silently beg for his to fall on them. “Nate, stop teasing me,” I whisper.

  Pelvis-to-pelvis, he provokes me. “Say it, and I’ll give you what you want.” He kisses my chin.

  “I’ll choose you, Nate. I’ve chosen you. Always and every time.” Please? Let me touch you.

  He strokes back against me, and I bite my bottom lip, feeling him aroused. “You want it?”

  “The crave for it hurts.” The bond makes this so much worse than it should be. It causes a pang in my chest and a stab in my spine. It won’t ease until I have him. Until we . . .

  “I want you, Sparks,” he says, eyes locked on mine. They swirl into this orange-brown that makes my heart melt.

  Watching them, I return, “I want you.”

  Finally, my body loosens, and I’m able to lift and touch my lips to his. This wasn’t at all a part of my plan. He stole from my thoughts and took advantage of my weaknesses.

  He breaks away from me and plops down at my side. “Argh. I’ve been up since four this morning, it’s like two. Come on, Sparks. Go to sleep. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

  “What? No, no, no.” He cannot be serious. “You will not do that to me.”

  He turns his head, meeting my gaze. “Go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow. It’s a big day for you.”

  “Nathan?”

  “Sparky.”

  I push my hands over my head. “Nate, are you serious right now?”

  “Sparks, I’m tired. Go to sleep. Breathe it out. The bond will calm in a second.” He smirks.

  Right . . . “Fine. If that’s how you want to play.” I sit up, pulling my shirt over my head and pull down my ponytail. My curls cascade over my shoulders.

  Nathan stares, watching me. “What are you doing?” He twists a curl around his finger, then lets his hand graze my arm as it falls away.

  I can have him infatuated and hypnotized, just as he had me. I climb over him to get out the bed, dropping my shirt to the floor.

  He sits up on his elbows. “Sparks, what are you up to?”

  Keeping his eye contact, I slowly push down my shorts, letting them fall to my ankles. He breaks his gaze and scans my half-naked body. It’s hot, brushing over my curves, resting on spots of me I assume he wants to feel under his touch. I step out of the pile of clothes and saunter on tiptoes back to the bed.

  Climbing over him, he grabs my wrist, stopping me from making it over. “Don’t get in trouble,” he warns.

  I bite back my laugh, pulling my arm away. He grabs my waist, feeling me beneath his graze. Melting from it, I try to hold my ground, but his touch is like kryptonite if I were Superman.

  “You’re going to get in so much trouble tonight.” He looks me over, bathing me with his ocean-blue eyes as he licks his lips. “Remember how I’ve mentioned that I’m not going to take it easy on you anymore?”

  I nod.

  He sits up, chest-to-chest, and only centimeters from my face. “Well, you’re going to be jelly in twenty-five minutes. Stay quiet.”

  I’m bare before I can blink and easing down on him before I can breathe. Gripped with trimmers, I scrape my nails against his chest, feeling them leave abrasions on our skin.

  “Too much?” he asks.

  I chew on my lip, half-nodding, half shaking my head. But it is. It always is at first.

  He flips us over. “That’s your fault. You know? No one told you to be this fucking gorgeous.” He drifts deeper, finding the center of my galaxy. “Or feel this damn good.”

  The lack of a barrier between us, and my never feeling him this raw, has me drowning in a state of euphoria. I’m not floating, I’m not sinking, I’m not stagnant, I’m not drifting to some far-off planet. I’m simply living . . . and spontaneously combusting every time our hips meet.

  His head dips beside mine, and in my ear he croons, “You are such a bad influence, Sparks.”

  A soft purr slips past my lips. It was supposed to be words. Words I would’ve liked to say, no you are, or maybe blame him for my irrational obsession, but my lips can only part, and a crooning purr is the only sound I can expel.

  “You used to it yet?”

  I nod and return his kiss, feeling him ready to lose all the control he’s containing. And with my permission, he does.

  We’re a celestial death storm, sending planets and comets colliding in our bound universe. My brash sighs and riveting moans are quieted by him silencing me. I’m jelly, needing him to hold me up when I lean my back to his chest, as he continues to blast through my galaxy.

  His roughened breaths thrash against my neck as he speaks in his entrancing language. Slowing, he peaks me, and himself, I assume, from his heightening grunts near my ear. He drawls another line of linguistics that invites me into the celestial beauty of us.

  cheerful pessimist

  “And if you have a dream, chase it. If you have a passion, use it. If you believe in you, that is what matters. After today, we’re responsible for putting our best foot forward. The only person who’s going to hold you back is you. So let’s make a vow today, right now, before you wal
k across this stage, that you will not stop you from accomplishing your dreams, you won’t stand in the way of your heart’s desires, that you will stand for you! Love the loves of your life and congratulations! We rocked this year! Woo!” I woot, raising my fists, and am matched by those of my cheering peers.

  Leaving the podium, I take my seat next to Scott. We sit on the stage beside the principle and superintendent. As the band plays, we’re allowed to leave and sit amongst our friends. I’ve never been more nervous and excited at the same time in my life, but I’m happy the worst part is over.

  We sit alphabetically, strategically assembled, so that our blue and white gowns create our school’s logo—a blue falcon in a white circle—when looked down on us. Principal Hollander gives a final word and then the names are announced.

  The students in my row stand, veering my attention back to the awesomely amazing fact that I’m finally graduating high school right now. In a few more feet, I’ll be walking across that stage, flipping my tassel, and grabbing my diploma.

  Rachel stands behind me, giving me the ‘you’re a bad friend,’ speal. “Are we at least going to hang out this summer since you kicked us to the curb at the end of the year?”

  I look over my shoulder. “Yes, Ray. I promise.” I face front. That was a flat out lie.

  “Tracey Warren,” they announce. I smile. My friends and family cheer me on as I walk up the two steps, cross the wood stage, right up to our principal. I shake his hand and grab my diploma with the other, smile for the camera as I switch the side of my tassel, and then run the rest of the way off the stage to Glen. We hug, jumping up and down, shaking our rolled-up paper in each other’s faces.

  Rachel’s right behind me, hugging the two of us. “You two, please don’t blow me off this summer.”

  “We won’t, Ray. We’ll be around,” Glen promises.

  “I’m holding y’all to it.”

  We head back to our seats. Glen should be up there with the ‘R’s, but instead, she’s sitting on my chair with me, a white gown in a group of blues, throwing off the logo. It poorly stands out on the recording of our ceremony they’re broadcasting live on the screen in the rear of the gymnasium. A drone’s been hovering over our heads and around us the entire time.

  Principal Hollander gives a speech about how we are now growing into adulthood, and it’s time for us to put away childish ways. He lifts his arms and says, “Congratulations, class of twenty fourteen!”

  We jump to our feet, throwing our caps in the air.

  I can’t avoid hearing the shouting, laughing, crying, and crap talking from my peers, teachers, and our families. My friends join Glen, Rachel, and I and we sadly say our goodbyes and give what I believe will be our last hugs. We each make broken promises about how we won’t forget each other, and we promise to keep in touch. I wish it were true. I love these girls, and I’ll try to do my best.

  Nathan and Scott come over, stealing the girl’s attention. One day, ogling at my mate will get old, and their eyes will fall out of their heads and onto the ground of a busy street.

  “Sparks,” Nathan calls, laughing. “It’s okay. They don’t matter.” Hugging me, he praises, “Congratulations. You did amazing. I thought you were going to cry up there.”

  “Thanks.” I kiss his cheek. “Me too, for a minute there. But I held my ground. You know I hate crying in front of people. Mom, Dad!” I chime, accepting their hugs when they make it to me.

  “Congratulations,” they sing and express how proud of me they are.

  “Oh, look!” I nudge Glen, nodding toward her mother and sister. “Looks like they made the effort to show up for once in your life.”

  She rolls her eyes and leaves me for Scott. The two of them cross the freshly waxed floor to Mrs. Richards and Gabby, her older sister. They’re both dressed in blue dresses and wear their hair in buns. Glen avoids their bogus hugs but is kind enough to introduce them to Scott. Unlike Nathan, Scott doesn’t encourage Glen to converse with her family. He hates them about as much as Glen does. Avoiding her mother’s scrutinizing scowl and harsh cusses, Glen averts, coming back to us. Mom hugs Glen and praises her for meeting this grand day as a mother should. Glen blinks away her stalling tears and thanks her. Dad joins in their hug, and a light takes over Glen’s eyes as I assume she’s feeling something she’s missed out on for a long time now. When they part, Glen comes to my side, asking, “What time are we leaving?”

  “Where are you four going?” Dad asks.

  “Taking Sparks to my house for a celebration,” Nathan answers.

  “Okay. You four stay safe. Check in, Tracey. You did a great job up there. I’m very proud of you. Let’s plan a celebration dinner tomorrow. The six of us. It’s on me.”

  “Great!” we cheer. “Thanks, Dad!” I hug them once more before getting pulled to take a few more pictures with my teachers and friends.

  We leave for Nathan’s car after my convincing we have to go. Glen and I blow kisses on our way out the door, and I’m convinced that she, too, knows we may not be seeing most our friends again, to whom we’ve blatantly lied.

  “Did you figure out what the plan is?” Scott asks Nathan, closing the back-passenger’s door.

  “We’ll leave in a couple of hours before it gets dark. Go to Lunis’ place where I’m hoping they still have him. And play it by ear when we get there.”

  Glen smacks her lips. “That’s not a plan.”

  “We play it by ear, darling,” Scott sweetly tells her. “It’s the best we have.”

  crash landing

  Glen pulls another blouse from the rack. “It was nice of Nathan to buy you all these clothes.” She throws that shirt to the floor, and it joins the pile of the first four she tried on but chose not to wear. “Why’s his closet this big?”

  “It was,” I agree, pulling on my jeans. “Nathan says it came with the room.” I shrug, snatching a gray, long-sleeved t-shirt from the shelf.

  “I’m sorry again, Tracey, for the way I’ve been acting. I can’t explain what came over me.”

  I take from her the sixth blouse she’s snatched off the hanger and hand her a simple black t-shirt. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay. I understand how you felt a little, and it wasn’t your fault.”

  She pulls the shirt over her head, asking, “It wasn’t?”

  “Sparks, come on,” Nathan calls from the bedroom. “How many clothes are you putting on?”

  “Impatient?” I yell through the door.

  “Yes,” he replies. “Get your butt out here.”

  Glen rolls her eyes, chucking her thumb at the door.

  I giggle, pulling on my sneakers. I’ve dressed warm enough in case Olar’s in a mountain and in loose enough clothing in case I need to maneuver quickly.

  I hang up the clothes Glen tossed on the floor and make sure she’s ready to go. It’s right for us to go after Olar. He’s looked out for me many times, and I’ve grown used to him always being around. So much so I miss him.

  Changed out of their dress clothes, Nathan and Scott sit around Nathan’s room waiting for Glen and me. “We need to talk to our family and let them know where we’re going, get something to eat, and then we leave.” Nathan lays out the plan.

  He stands, and as I stare, I’m reminded of everything I love about him. Like a plunging waterfall, his silent affection showers down; not drowning me, but saturating my being with what I yearn for even when I don’t realize it. The effects of his efforts to whisper because he knows I hear things too loudly, to touch me—not sexually, just physically because he knows I enjoy the contact, to notice the small things like when I change my hair or have the sniffles, and what I admire most is that he does these things out of love for me. “Hey.” I smile. He’s watching me.

  “Hey, Sparks.” He comfortably wraps his arms around my middle. “What are you up to?”

  “You just keep getting better. I’m not—”

  His hand clamps down over my mouth, and he shakes his head.

  We lock ey
es. His irises swirl into a deep green with that same honey-brown around his pupils. It’s a radiant color filled with affectionate intentions. “Wow,” I utter, captivated in their beauty. They’re almost as if I’m falling from the sky, looking down onto a forest of trees. “Those are new.”

  He focuses for a split second, then says, “They are.” Breaking out of a sweet kiss, he adds, “They show you what you do to me, and how you make me feel. Stop doubting your significance. As good as I feel to you, to me you feel better. Just like I take your breath away when I’m close to you, you stall mine.” He smirks. “But it’d be weird if I walk around gasping every time you touch me.” I giggle. “I don’t just cherish and protect because if you go, I go. But because if you go . . .” He places his hand on my chest, and my heart speeds up. “I’m going.”

  “What are you saying, Nate?”

  “I love you. And the moment you’re taken away from me. Shit will get real for this world.”

  “Good thing you’re not in this alone.”

  “You asked for all of me and that’s what I’m giving you. A lot of stuff I make you go through is because I don’t know how to deal. This relationship stuff is new to me so thank you for your patients and for holding on to me. Even beyond the bond, I can tell you’re with me because you want to be, beyond being forced.”

  “You got it,” I say, keeping his gaze, watching his eyes now swirl to bright orange-brown. “Your eyes are amazing.”

  “Hmm, I know something that’s better. Let’s go.”

  We turn to leave, but are halted by the impatient glares of Scott and Glen.

  I forgot they were here. “Maybe you two shouldn’t be so quiet.”

  “Or, maybe you should be more aware of your surroundings.” Smart-ass Glen.

  I gesture around us, laughing. “These are my surroundings. Maybe you should’ve gotten a head start.”

  They leave, and we’re out behind them.

  Our family is crowded in the great room. A few eyes look back at me I’ve never seen before. They draw on a discomfort that forces me to turn into Nathan. He moves from behind me to my side as we head to the couch where Little Nathan, Scott, and Glen sit.