The Awakening (Wake Up #1)

by Sarah Brocious

  He squatted down to her eye level. His eyes were wary, and very sad. "I was cursed." He took in a deep breath to steady himself. It was not easy revealing this." I promise...I will tell you more...explain it all...just not tonight, not like this."

  "Cursed?" Her eyes blinked up at him. Her lip trembled.

  "Hush," he whispered. His hand gripped her chin and his thumb stopped the trembling lip.

  "Not you...you can't be..." She felt his thumb press her lip again and she quieted.

  "Raina not now. You need to sleep...I need you to sleep."

  She smiled sadly. "Why is now different? You're always telling me to wake up," she accused softly. She tipped her head and studied him. He shook his head in amusement.

  "Let me help you get settled," he soothed. He gently reached for her ankle and slid her sandal off, then reached for the other and did the same. "Lay down," he ordered gently. She obeyed, and he chastely straightened her dress over her legs. He reached for the afghan on the back of her sofa and covered her.

  She followed his every move. Her eyes full of questions...and concern for him.

  "Don't worry over me, baby," he growled low in his throat. He smoothed back her hair and grinned.

  “I’m sorry about trying to seduce you.”

  His gaze warmed. "Two centuries and I've never been more tempted," he crooned.

  She'd tried to seduce an immortal tonight! Her heart leapt, and she felt a shiver pass through her. She blushed, as she watched him head to the door.

  "Tomorrow," he whispered.

  She swallowed and gave a nod.

  She heard the door click softly behind him, and that was all. Her tired brain shut off and she fell asleep, still surrounded by the scent of him captured in his leather jacket.

  Chapter 7 Boundaries

  Raina yawned and stretched, shocked when her feet came in contact with an obstruction. She jumped up, knocking Turk to the floor. She blinked against the sunlight filtering through the front window. Was she on the couch? Her mind took a moment to put it together, and then she groaned. Not because her head hurt or her stomach reeled...no, both felt just fine, amazingly. It was the memory of her actions from the night before.

  She closed her eyes against the memories. Oh she deserved a migraine...a nauseated stomach...she had drank so much! And she had not been her usual collected self, that’s for sure.

  Turk rested his head in her lap, looking up at her with his expectant puppy face. Percy meowed from the arm rest. "Morning boys," she sighed. Both remained still, just looking at her.

  Raina pushed back her afghan, and then groaned again. She was in her dress, and Nolan’s jacket.

  "Ughh, Nolan," she groaned. She had attacked him....he'd responded for a moment. Albeit, a lovely short lived moment. She felt the rejection again, as she recalled him tossing her from his lap. "His lap," she moaned. Oh, she had no pride. "I crawled into his lap!" She ran her fingers through her hair. "Two hundred years, and I've never been so tempted," he had said. She smiled at this...so maybe he hadn't quite regretted it as much as she thought. Her heart lifted just a smidge.

  "Two hundred years, “she whispered. It was then that she remembered his confession. She sat up straight. “Nolan is two hundred years old.” Her mind wanted to reject the idea but her heart knew it was true. She had seen how his admission cost him. This was for real.

  He had supernatural strengths that she could not even begin to imagine. She should be in shock, but somehow...on him, it made sense. Hadn't she always figured he was different...that Thanatos was different too? Was she really that sensitive, or was it obvious? No, not obvious... no one around her noticed...Emily never alluded to it. But she, Raina, had known.

  She sat, deep in thought for a few moment and then shook herself. As much as she'd like to lose herself in imagination, she had to get Turk outside, and then feed the two hungry beasts. She got stiffly to her feet, and led him to the back door.

  She filled the bowls, and then turned to start her own coffee. Its scent made her mouth water!

  She needed to wake up. What had Nolan said? We were going to help with the clean up? He would call her? Yes, that sounded about right. She again marveled that she could remember anything at all. And why wasn’t she sick?

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket of her dress, and was thankful she hadn't crushed it in her sleep...it was dead. No, wait, she had turned it off at Nolan's demand. She turned it on quickly, and decided it needed a charge anyway.

  Turk was at the door by the time she poured her cup of coffee. She let him in, and then went to latch the gate. Her eyes wandered warily to the woods. No one was out there, not this early. She doubted either would believe she had awakened without a hangover. She was shocked herself. Just in case though, she didn't linger ...especially in her wrinkled dress...and, yes, she still wore Nolan's jacket.

  She stepped inside, and reluctantly took off the wonderfully scented jacket. She wondered if he'd notice if she kept it. She smiled impishly, smoothing it gently on the back of a dining room chair.

  She drank down her coffee, careful not to burn her tongue. It revived her slightly. She popped some bread in the toaster; it was a good idea to get something on her stomach. She enjoyed the simple breakfast, washing it down with the rest of her coffee.

  She still needed to shower and dress. Nolan had promised to call...he was a prompt one. She checked her phone, almost willing it to ring right now.

  Her tummy fluttered at the idea. She liked thinking of his deep gentle voice over the phone. With that in mind, she hurried to go get ready.

  She made good time, and was back in her kitchen, sipping a second cup of coffee in under forty five minutes. She peaked at her phone, no missed calls or texts. She pouted. But it was only seven thirty in the morning...surely they would not need to be there that early. She decided it was just her anticipation to see him again. She had so many questions for him.

  In the meantime...she glanced about her living room and made a face at the dust on the shelves and entertainment system. You could see the places where her many pictures had been. She could stand to clean up a bit.

  She shuffled through her cds and found a mix she had put together, some of her favorite guilty pleasures. She tried to remember what the first song would be. She popped it in and smiled. It was Britney. She gave a shrug...it would do...it was very upbeat. She turned it up and laughed at Turks reaction, his puppy head tilted.

  She went for a dust rag and the pledge. She'd open the windows too...the front door...let some air in. It was spring and the winter air inside seemed to choke her. She pulled back her hair into a pony tail, and got to work.

  She smiled at Percy, who had jumped up on the window sill to watch the birds. Turk took to the couch, not liking the appearance of cleaning supplies...that meant the vacuum would be making an appearance, and he hated that thing.

  Raina put herself into her work, enjoying her silly upbeat music…great motivational music...at least to get you moving. She shook off her heavy thoughts and dove back into her work.

  She soon had all her wood surfaces glowing, and, much to Turks chagrin, the vacuum came out. Before she turned it on, one of her favorites came on.... Pussy Cat Dolls "Buttons" She laughed and turned it up so she'd hear it over the noise. She would never admit how much she loved the song....what would others think?

  In time to the music, she swept. She sang at the top of her lungs, really getting into the corners, pulling furniture out of the way. What was it about this song that got her going? She thought of Nolan, and grinned...she wouldn’t mind him loosening up a few "buttons". Her cheeks burned.

  With one final push, she completed her task. She switched off the vacuum, laughing. She turned down her music, turned about, and gasped.

  Mortification...this was the definition of her entire being at this very moment. She prayed that the floor would magically swallow her up. She swiped a strand of hair from her eyes and froze where she stood.

  Nolan...yes, beauti
ful Nolan stood at the screen door, grin on his face.

  She had no way of ever hearing his arrival. Not with her blaring music, and roaring vacuum...

  She just stood there, her mouth agape.

  Nolan, hid his grin, unsuccessfully, and ended up chuckling softly. "I take it from the loud music and the uninhibited dancing, you are hangover free?" His silver eyes twinkled merrily.

  Raina bit her lip, shoving her hands in her back pockets, and shrugging. Her face was tinted rose, and she still hadn't found her voice.

  "May I come in?"

  She nodded, not taking her eyes off him. Turk, who had no inhibitions, lunged at him in greeting. Nolan took the impact of the dog’s fronts paws on his chest and laughed at the puppy whines. She watched with jealousy....oh God mortification had stolen her tongue.

  "You okay?" His eyes did not leave hers. He roughed Turks fur, and set him down, and moved closer.

  "Speak idiot," she screamed at herself.

  "Did I scare you?"

  Raina closed her eyes and shook her head. "I um, I was just um......you were going to call," she said softly.

  Nolan smiled. "I did Raina...three times. I was worried you were sick when you didn't answer!" His eyes quickly ran her over. "So imagine my surprise...seeing you..." he couldn't help his laugh.

  Raina set her face in her hands. "So embarrassing," she moaned. "I'm sorry!"

  He shook his head.

  Raina blushed again and went for her phone. Indeed there were three missed calls. "So, we're heading for clean up?" She didn't want to even look him in the eye.

  "I got us out of it."

  Raina looked up at this. He looked proud of himself, and worried at the same moment. "Out of it?" She tilted her head slightly. “So why are you here?"

  He shrugged. "We need to talk.”

  Raina swallowed. Her heart thrummed a happy beat. "We do need to talk," she agreed. She grimaced and lifted a shoulder. "Firstly, last night...I'm so sorry how I...."

  He held up his hands. "Let’s go take a ride," he offered.

  She bit her lip, liking the sound of that. "A ride?"

  "We need some new scenery," he offered. "Or if you'd rather, we could go help with the clean up?"

  She smiled and shook her head. "You really got us out of clean up duty?" She couldn't imagine her finicky friend allowing something like that. "How did you convince Emily to allow it?"

  He tilted his head. "Well... her agreement had terms," he admitted.

  Raina almost groaned. "Terms?"

  His silver eyes danced. "She said if I could convince you to take a ride, she'd let us out of it."

  Raina scoffed. "That’s it?"

  He tilted his dark head toward the front window. "Yeah, just a ride."

  She turned in the direction of his head tilt.

  "What do ya say?"

  Raina's mouth dropped open. Out on her drive sat a pretty impressive piece of machinery. It was all black and chrome. "A motorcycle?"

  "A motorcycle," he agreed.

  She blinked. "I...I don't know. Those things are dangerous!" Her tummy did a somersault. She knew now, Emily had never expected her to agree to this! She knew she'd fear it...beg him to go get his nice safe shiny red Charger to drive them over for the cleanup.

  Nolan crossed his arms; he had his gorgeous frowny face on. "Don't you trust me?"

  Raina looked at him incredulously. "Of course I trust you...undoubtedly." She felt her spine stiffen in defiance of her friend’s assumption. She'd like to prove her wrong!

  A slow sexy grin tugged at his lips. "Then take a ride on my bike, Aelan."

  The butterflies broke loose in her tummy. She studied him in his jeans, tee and leather jacket. Very tempting.

  He looked down on himself to see if something was out of place. "What?"

  She giggled. "No Chaps Mr. Gregor?"

  He shook his head.

  "Helmet?"

  "For you."

  "Not yourself?"

  "Immortal," he whispered.

  She blinked up at him. She had forgotten that for a moment. She glanced again toward the bike. It really was a pretty bike! "What do I wear?"

  He eyed her with a smile. "What you have on...you can use my jacket."

  Raina glanced toward the dining room. She had hoped he had forgotten.

  Nolan gave her that gorgeous frowny face. "We'll take just a short ride...if you want to go further, we will, but I won't force you to do anything you don't want to."

  "I want to," she argued. There was nothing she wanted more and to insure he believed her, she went for her boots.

  Minutes later, Nolan was throwing his leg over the Harley. He looked so sexy just sitting there, regarding her. He held his hand out, taking her hand and drawing her to the bike. Her blue eyes were wide with uncertainty.

  "Put your hand on my shoulder. Use me to balance...I promise I won't topple over." He grinned, trying to put her at ease. He held her helmet in the other hand, waiting.

  Raina held to his shoulders and threw her own leg over. He stood solid as a rock as she used his weight to right herself. Her fingers shook, itched to touch the back of the dark head. She held back...not sure what to do with her hands now. He helped her decide, by handing her the helmet. She pushed it on, adjusting the visor.

  He slipped on a pair of sunglasses, and her mouth went dry when he glanced back at her.

  "Put your arms around me.”

  "Hmm, that’s touching," she teased.

  "It’s allowable," he teased back. He flipped a switch and the machine rumbled to life.

  Raina thrilled at the purring bike. She bit her lip, and wrapped her arms around his torso. "Ready?" he shouted.

  She nodded, swallowing.

  "Just squeeze me if you need something."

  She tightened her hold...tempted to screw her eyes closed.

  And they were moving.

  Moments passed before she allowed herself to relax her death grip on Nolan. She sat up a little straighter, and her breath caught at the excitement the scene before her caused. The houses of her town flew by, and soon the wood lined sidelines also whizzed by all green and brown. It was a great temptation to throw her helmet off and feel the wind whip blonde locks from her face...but Nolan would be opposed to that. After her actions last night, she did not want to displease him further.

  "It’s great, isn't it?" he shouted over his shoulder.

  Her answer was a tight squeeze rather than shouting over the wind and the growl of the engine. She loved it! Absolutely loved it! No fear, no worry, no inhibitions...she was happy. She knew it was because of the man...the immortal…in front of her.

  They drove for miles in speeding silence. Nolan was in perfect control of the machine. He actually seemed more relaxed than ever as they moved with break neck speed.

  Raina realized she could maintain her own balance, and reluctantly loosed her hold on him further. She had been enjoying the excuse to keep her arms around him. It was much easier though, to sit back and watch all that was around her.

  The signs for a park forest came up, and Nolan slowed his speed. He turned into one entrance, and they were soon canopied under the shelter and shade of the monstrous trees.

  "Its beautiful back here," she spoke for the first time since they'd left.

  "I come here to think," he answered her. "And to get a break from Thanatos," he chuckled. He shoved his sunglasses up on his head, and pulled the bike over.

  Raina sat up and felt a bit of disappointment when the engine died.

  He put the kickstand down and glanced over his shoulder. "Want to take a walk?"

  She nodded, gripped his shoulders for balance, and threw her leg over. He quickly reached back to keep her from toppling over, then smoothly got off the bike himself.

  "Thank you," she smiled. "That was fantastic!" She tossed him her helmet. He caught it easily and hung it on the bike.

  He grinned. "I know."

  She laughed at his boyish delight.

&n
bsp; They started for a path in silence. The birds above chirped and sang, fluttering about...looking for food...for nest material...for mates. Every spring it was the same.

  "There’s a river a ways up this path...nice rocks...we could go there and sit, talk," he spoke up. "I know you have a lot of questions for me."

  Raina nodded. That was an understatement.

  She heard the rippling water, before she saw it. It was nothing like the stream that ran through her wood. It was wide and deep, and untamed...and breathe taking. "Oh, I should have brought my camera," she whispered.

  "I have a digital in the saddle bag on the bike."

  She shook her head, "No! You need a thirty-five."

  He grinned at her. "Really?"

  "Digital is just not the same!"

  "And you have one?"

  She frowned "Mine broke. I've yet to get a new one."

  "Well, when you do, we could come back again," he promised softly.

  Her heart faltered. His words meant that he intended to spend more time with her. She hadn't completely messed up last night! "I'd like that."

  He surveyed the river, and the shoreline, then gave Raina a grin. "Give me the jacket." He was shrugging out of his, and she reluctantly followed suit.

  Her eyes hungrily went to the water...rough and swift in the middle, but lapping gently at the shore line.

  “You want to test it?"

  Her eyes brightened. "The water? Sure...don't like the idea of numb fingers, but I will." She moved toward the short bank. She intended to do her usual hand in the stream test, remembering the last time she was around water and Nolan.

  "Ah, ah," he chastised. "Using your hand is cheating!"

  She laughed at this. "So tell me sir...how do I test it if I don't touch it?"

  Promptly, he pulled his boots from his feet, followed by his socks.

  "Nolan!"

  He grinned playfully. "It’s shallow right here on the banks. There are a few sharp rocks, but it’s perfectly safe....Come on," he tempted. "Haven't you ever done this?"

  She blushed, as he began to roll the cuffs of his jeans up, revealing heavily muscled calves. She couldn't help but admire.

  He stood straight, noting she hadn't moved. "Are you going to let me do this myself?"