“Hey, nice to finally meet you.” His voice sent vibrations through my body like a tuning fork. I gasped and looked directly into those blue eyes again. He was holding out his hand to shake mine. I looked from his eyes to his hand and felt myself reach out toward him.
As I grabbed his hand I said, “Nice t-to meet you too.” I managed to stutter as his warm hand heated up quickly in mine. We both looked at our hands then quickly back to each other’s eyes. He didn’t let go and neither did I until Julie cleared her throat and brought me back to reality.
She looked at me, then back to Kyler. Confusion covered her face and a hint of jealousy gleamed in her eyes. “Do you two need a room?” She seethed. I glared at her unable to speak or move away from his touch. The heat and electricity raced from his hand through my whole body. It was glorious pleasure. I looked back to him and searched his face for any hint at why this might be happening and whether he felt it too.
His eyes were tightly focused on my face searching for my eyes. His rosy full lips were no longer smiling. His chest muscles were tense and it seemed he too was having trouble finding his breath. I looked back at our hands gripped firmly in a hand shake and willed myself to let go. It was a bit of an awkward situation and that seemed like an obvious way to ease the tension.
“Wow, that was, um weird.” Julie said questioningly looking from me to Kyler. “Do you know each other already?” she asked looking at Kyler first.
“No” we both said at the same time and that same vibration sent tingles all through my body. He looked at me again, astonishment in his eyes. Could he be feeling those same vibrations?
Julie was unconvinced and clearly uncomfortable with the tension. “I’m going to go get a drink. I’ll let you two ‘catch up’.” She glowered at us and turned and walked away.
Kyler let out a strangled breath, dropped his surf board in the sand on the other side of Julie’s chair and sat down on his board. He rested his arms on his knees grabbing his right hand around the wrist and looked down in the sand. His light brown hair fell down over his face covering his eyes. I couldn’t see his eyes anymore and my heart skipped a beat in anticipation. I didn’t know what to say. Questions flew threw my head but I didn’t want to sound crazy. My mind rushed through everything Julie said about him for an ice breaker question or comment. I was agonizing over not being able to touch him or see his face. I felt completely ridiculous. I’m sure he’d think I was a stalker if I reached out to touch him. I balled my fists and tucked them under my legs.
“So you’re the famous Kyler Julie’s been telling me about.” I blurted out trying to get a response. He inhaled sharply and held his breath for a moment. His eyes were closed in a look of meditation before he slowly raised his eyes back to me. Sapphire stones bore through me. He smiled a quick smile and dropped his gaze.
“So you’re the legendary Raegan everyone tells me about.” The tingles quivered through me again. He watched me and I tried to hide my pleasure. I grabbed my shirt to cover up some of the embarrassing flush my body was experiencing in his presence.
“I’m definitely not legendary.” I scoffed. I stood up and pulled the sleeves of my cover up over my arms and tried not to ogle him like a stalker.
“That’s not how I hear it.” He chuckled and I about fell over in ecstasy. His quick laugh sent bolts of electricity through my body. It wasn’t painful, but definitely an unexpected pleasure. I quickly sat down to collect myself. “Are you okay?” he asked concerned. He got to his knees to attempt to help me, but he restrained from touching me.
Anticipation, quickly followed by disappointment, filled my body. I definitely wasn’t okay, but how could I explain that to him? “Yeah, sure I am. Why do you ask?” I answered in near hysterics, trying to play the confidence card. My heart was hammering in my chest. My pulse was pounding in my ears. I was sure I was about to pass out. I breathed deeply and closed my eyes.
He sat back down eyeing my every move. “I was just referring to you surviving the accident and all. From what I’ve heard, you shouldn’t be alive.” He bluntly stated what everyone else skirted around.
I angled my head to appear as if I was looking into his eyes, but purposefully looked away. His eyes were hypnotic. I didn’t know how to reply to his comment about the accident. “I really don’t remember much about that day, but yes, I’m very lucky to be alive.” I choked back the emotions. That’s all I needed right now was to start bawling. I glanced toward the Rock to collect myself and when I returned my attention back to Kyler, I noticed he wore an interesting braided choker around his neck. The braid was black leather connected to a blue-green iridescent stone. “That’s a beautiful stone you have on.” He grabbed the stone as if to remind himself he was wearing it.
“It was given to me by my father when I was born. It is like a – family heirloom.” He said nonchalant.
“Well it’s very beautiful. It’s almost the same color of your eyes.” I looked up again into the hypnotic eyes that were unknowingly melting me.
He smirked, flashing a crooked smile. “Take off your sunglasses.” His eyes never left my face. His intense stare and the powerful quivers commanding me to do whatever he said. I removed my sunglasses without question and they fell to the sand. I couldn’t blink or move. I was lost in his brilliantly blue eyes. The sunglasses blocked how utterly blue they were. I couldn’t breathe until he looked away. When he looked down at his hands again, I let out an uneasy gasp. Still looking at his hands, he spoke again. “I just wanted to see your eyes. It’s hard to read someone when they’re hiding behind sunglasses. I’ve never seen such green eyes as yours.”
“I was going to say the same about your eyes. Are they contacts?” He chuckled and shook his head.
“No, they’re mine.” He just stared at the sand avoiding my stare.
“My father had green eyes too, but they were lighter. My mother had blue eyes.” I whispered still searching and longing for his gaze.” I was rambling, trying to will him to look in my eyes again. “So, um, you surf a lot?” I was grasping for straws trying to get him to talk again. His voice was deep and comforting, and the powerful energy it sent through my body was addictive.
He looked up and took my breath away. “How old are you?” He changed the subject with a weird question.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Well, I’ll be 18 at the end of August.” I shook my head trying to figure out why he’d ask.
“You seem older, but you never can tell anymore.” His smile faded when he heard Julie approach.
I had just managed to put together some complete thoughts when Julie returned. She looked irritated as she looked from Kyler back to me. I don’t know why. She was the one that wanted us to meet. Kyler looked up at her and smiled welcomingly.
“Mind if I break up the chitchat?” Julie questioned. Her eyes searching mine for any worthwhile gossip.
Kyler jumped up and grabbed his board. “Yeah, no problem. I was just heading back out.” He looked at me briefly and stared back toward the shore.
I wanted to follow him just to be wrapped in his stare, but willed myself to stay seated. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Every part of my body craved his presence.
“You don’t need to leave.” Julie said to him.
He looked back at me. “Nice to finally meet you, Raegan. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” He glanced down the shore and back at me. Then he took a deep breath and started walking off toward the waves.
“Wait, Kyler.” Julie took a few hurried steps toward him. She tugged on his arm so he’d lower his ear to her lips. I envied her being able to touch him and to whisper into his ear. I envisioned what that would do to me to have my lips that close to him and shuddered involuntarily. He let her whisper something and then stood up straight again before turning back to glance in my direction. He stared at me briefly before turning back to Julie and nodded his head quickly then walked away. Julie smiled and waved as he walked away, but then turned back to me with that intense interr
ogator glare.
“What was that about?” Julie grilled as she dropped down on her chair.
“What?” I was still watching him. He was in the water now and paddling out to the bigger waves. His back muscles were strong and he paddled with ease.
“The ‘holy-cow-I-want-to-rip-off-your-clothes’ tension between the two of you. You sure you don’t know each other?” She glared out at the sculpted body crouching on the board as he cut through the waves.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never seen him before today. He seems like a nice guy.” I tried to act as if I was oblivious to the entrancing way he held my concentration.
“Yeah right!” she snorted. “You might want to wipe the drool off of your chin.”
I wiped at my chin absentmindedly and Julie doubled over laughing at me. “Don’t know what I’m talking about? Ha. You’re the worst liar I know. What did you talk about?” She turned her black eyes to me and situated herself for full report.
“Nothing much, really. He said it was nice to finally meet me that he heard about the accident, and his necklace.” I recalled the pertinent facts of the conversation. How could I explain my sudden desire to throw myself at him and latch on for life? How could I explain the way his voice sent ripples of pleasure through my body and that his laugh almost put me in a coma of desire?
“I was gone for almost ten minutes and that’s all you talked about?” She was clearly disappointed in my details.
“Yes, that’s all we talked about.” I stared back at her willing her to let the subject drop.
“Well consider yourself the luckiest girl on the planet. He hasn’t given anyone the time of day, especially none of the girls. There was a rumor around school that he was gay because he didn’t date anyone all year. He didn’t even go to Prom! He was asked by several girls and he just told them he wasn’t interested.” Julie sulked.
I guessed she was one of the ones that asked, but I knew better than to ask. “I don’t believe he’s gay, Julie.” I commented. She narrowed her eyes at me, “Why? Did he ask you out?”
“No, he didn’t.” I glared back at her. She smirked as if she didn’t believe me.
“You wish he would, don’t you?” She questioned again.
“Who wouldn’t? He is very good looking and seems like a nice guy.” I tried to keep the longing out of my voice, but failed miserably. I looked back toward the sea and couldn’t find him. I reached down to pick up my sunglasses again, took off my cover up, and lay on my stomach to sun my back. I positioned my chair to watch the waves roll in. I could feel Julie watching me.
“Nothing else happened?” she asked again knowing me almost better than I knew myself.
“Nothing, honestly.” I lied as best I could.
“You would tell me if something did happen, right?” I looked back at her to see the pouting face I grew up hating.
“Ugh, Julie, I swear, nothing happened. If it did, you’d be the first to know.” She smiled and turned her chair to watch the waves crash, too.
“Where’d he go?” Julie asked knowing full well that I was looking for him too.
“I don’t know. He seems to have disappeared.” We both lay there staring off into the ocean. Kyler was nowhere on the water.
CHAPTER 5 - SURPRISE
I went home that afternoon and showered. I stayed out longer than I should have. My shoulders were red from too much sun. The cool shower helped a little, but I was going to need some aloe. I stood there letting the water run down my back and thought about Kyler. My heart started racing at the thought of his touch. The memory brought back waves of heated pleasure through my body. I closed my eyes and let the pleasure rip through me. I couldn’t believe that a handshake could make me feel that way. What would a hug or better yet, a kiss do to me? My body shuddered at the idea. I turned the hot water off completely to let the cold water chill my thoughts and my burn. I toweled off tenderly and put on my hot pink, silk, spaghetti strapped sundress.
Aunt Sarah lectured me on skin cancer as she gently rubbed aloe on my back and shoulders. She told me that there was going to be a bonfire in a few days for the end of summer bash. If I wanted to go, she would join me. I told her that Julie and I were already planning to go, but she could tag along if she wanted. Knowing Aunt Sarah, she was just being nice offering to go with me. She really disliked the beach. She only moved here to help take care of me after my parents died. This evening, Julie wanted to get together with a few friends and hang out.
I ate a banana before Julie showed up. She was dressed in tiny blue denim shorts and a white eyelet lace halter top. Her body did not indicate the frying I experienced. Her summer tan looked beautiful against the white top. Her dark hair was fixed up accentuating her long slim arms and body. Her makeup was perfect as usual and her accessories put mine to shame. She took a look at me and shook her head. “You look like a lobster!” She blurted bluntly. “Hot pink will not work for you tonight honey.” She grabbed my arm and directed me to my bedroom for a wardrobe change. She decided on something closer to what she was wearing. Short denim shorts and a light turquoise halter top. It was a little more revealing than I wished, but she insisted it made me look stunning. My only desire to look stunning would be to somehow catch Kyler’s attention. I didn’t know if he’d be there, but I was hoping to at least see him again.
Julie inspected me from head to toe like I was her masterpiece and I had to look just right. She adjusted my makeup and added some accessories to my ensemble. Then looking satisfied she spritzed me with her perfume. “There, that should work.” She turned shoving her arsenal of beauty products back in her purse.
“What’s with all the extra attention?” I complained. I wasn’t ever into the makeup and accessory game. I did wear makeup, but not to this extent. I felt as if a bucket of paint had fallen on my face.
“Consider it a ‘welcome back’ gift from me.” She smiled devilishly. “I haven’t had a chance to play dress up with you in a long time.” She finished packing up her tools of the trade and returned her scrutinizing stare back to me. “Turn around, let me make sure everything is in place.”
I felt like a fool spinning on my sandaled feet wearing more on my face than my body. I ended my spin with my tongue sticking out at her. “Now what?” I glared at her.
“Oh play nice, Rae. You’re going to have a great time tonight. Just relax and go with the flow.” She smiled impishly.
I hated surprises, especially when Julie was doing the planning. It usually involved some kind of social torture, and I cringed knowing who the focus would be on tonight.
“Where are we going anyway?” I asked as we loaded her things back in her car. She raised her eyebrows at me in warning.
“It’s a surprise. You’ll know soon enough. Now get in.” She ordered as she jumped in the driver’s seat and started the engine.
She drove down the main street of town as I watched the lights flash by. Not much had changed in the past six months, but I couldn’t figure out where we were going. We were almost at the other end of the island before Julie pulled into a parking lot. There were a lot of cars parked, some I recognized, and others I didn’t. The building was nothing special. It was a large metal building like a warehouse. There weren’t any signs to indicate the name or nature of the building. I turned to Julie with questions written all over my face.
“No questions!” She blurted. She pulled a silk scarf from her purse and started toward me.
“Oh no you don’t.” I objected stepping back from her approaching 5’3” body.
“Please, Rae. It’ll only be for a few seconds. I promise it will be worth it.” She smiled her flashy white smile and batted her eyes at me as if I were one of her boy toys.
“Jewles, you know I hate surprises and attention. Please don’t make me put that on. I’ll die of embarrassment in front of all these people. Who are they all anyway?” I glanced around the parking lot of at least fifty cars. “They’re not all here to see me, are they?�
�� Panic filled my voice and my heart began to race. I could not catch my breath. I squatted down and placed my head in my hands.
Julie patted my back. “It’ll be painless, I promise. Please don’t freak out on me. Consider it your welcome back party. No blindfold, see, I’ve put it away. We’ll walk in together. It’ll be fun. You need some fun.” She pulled me to standing as I tried to catch my breath and not pass out. After a few seconds of deep breathing, I had it under control.
“Can you smile?” Julie teased. “You look like you did when we got off that roller coaster last summer.” She laughed and started steering me toward the door.
“What is this place anyway?” I asked before we reached the door.
“It’s going to be a dance club once Mom and Dad finish. They bought it a few months ago. Kids our age never have anywhere to go and hang out without going to the bars and clubs where we typically can’t get in. This is going to be the Under 21 Club.” We’d reached the door and she paused. She stepped back from me to examine the damage I’d done to her creation. She ran her fingers through my hair and pulled out her lip gloss to retouch my lips. “There. Perfect again.” She smiled and opened the door before ushering me into total darkness.
***
It was pitch black in the building and dead silent. The only sounds I could hear were my heart pounding in my ears and Juile’s bracelets clinking next to me. The silence was deafening, for a moment. I wondered if anyone else was actually here. I felt a buzzing as if something with high voltage were in the building right before the lights were turned on and everyone yelled “Surprise!” The sudden noise caused me to step back into the door where I bumped my sunburned shoulder on the door frame.
“Ouch.” I muttered as several people moved forward at once. I couldn’t hide the panic anymore as I looked from face to face. Several people were hugging me or trying to hug me. The pain of the pats on the back and arms were excruciating. Julie had disappeared and left me to the wolves. I did my best to smile at my greeters and return their hugs, but I was fuming.
Bonded (The Raegan Mason Trilogy) Page 3
