by C. M. Owens
"Ah. Well, then I guess I'm on my own now," I sigh out, and Frankie smirks as his eyes cut toward the side of my house.
"Um, you might want to lift the spell for one person before he knocks himself out," he whispers, his tone almost too low for even me to hear.
I look over to see Kane pulling himself over the porch railing on his hasty way toward me. His arms are around me and pulling me into the air before I even have a chance to say anything.
Kane can come in.
I feel the magic working, thankfully, before Kane's lips cover mine and we abandon Frankie on the front porch while heading inside.
"Damn I've missed you. Why didn't you call me?" he breathes against my lips while squeezing me almost too tightly.
"Sorry, it's been crazy," I murmur while wrapping my legs around his waist, my lips devouring him with a hunger I didn't realize I had.
He pulls back with a breathless rattle, and his forehead presses against mine as he keeps me strapped to his waist.
"I hope you know, you're never leaving my sight again."
I smile, though it's forced. I wish it was true. I wish I could spend my life in his arms, but I know soon it won't be possible at all. Being with a human is completely forbidden once you're immortal.
"Well, how about we start with tonight and see where that leads?" I chuckle out, though the weight of reality still rests on my shoulders.
"Tonight's a good start," he says with an adorable grin, and then he starts carrying me toward the bedroom.
"How did you know I was here?" I muse before I slip onto the bed, and suddenly I don't really give a damn anymore when he falls between my legs.
"I was on my way to the diner, and I ran into Thad. Needless to say, I knew if he was here, you were here. I didn't give him a chance to object either."
I smile as his lips reclaim mine, and my legs slide up to be fully nested around his waist. His hands feel so incredibly familiar, though he should still be a stranger. His breath is heaven's grace as he fills me full of his life with each kiss.
My shirt starts slipping over my head, and I surrender completely, giving myself to him without pause, though I shouldn't. I can't help it though.
His lips slide down my chest, and my breath catches in my throat when his touch burns through me, awakening the desire I've forced to lie in hiding for far too long.
"I love it when you do that," I murmur as his lips stroll over my neck, nipping at it as he pulls the skin between his teeth.
Something I should loathe actually turns me on when it's him doing it.
"Do you?" he murmurs softly while moving to the other side and repeating the arousing action.
"Mm hmm."
I feel his smile against my neck as he starts lowering himself against me, his lips still owning me as my pliant body folds to his will. My hips start to rock against his, giving me a chance to feel his erection digging into the front of my pants that he decides to pull off of me in one swift motion.
"Damn. I can't believe I forgot how fucking perfect you are," he breathes in exaltation.
"I think you should look in the mirror," I giggle out. "Your scale for perfection should be much higher if you get to look at this everyday."
I rip his shirt off, and then his body slides against mine, his lips pulling me in closer as my hips rise to meet his.
"Kane," I mumble against his lips, "this is probably not a good idea. You shouldn't be around me. My life is… complicated, and I-"
"Forget it. You're mine," he interrupts, and then his lips crush mine, silencing me for good, except for the moans rising from my throat.
"Completely yours," I utter involuntarily, scaring the hell out of myself, and suddenly he backs away.
Crap. I just scared the hell out of him, too.
"Sorry," I murmur with embarrassment. "I got carried away."
I keep my eyes low, refusing to look at him. Before I know it, he slams my body back against the bed, his weight crushing against me as his carnal desire becomes almost overwhelming.
I gasp as he surges in, not even knowing when or how his pants came off as I fully offer myself to him. His tongue dances and plays with mine, as his rough, fervent need calls to the beast within me I didn't know existed.
His body moves vigorously between my legs as his breaths become rasp, desperate, and fully engulfed in our heat. My body flames in a way I can't even explain, my insides burning as his body claims mine.
The sounds exuding from both of us only intensify the already hellacious, exquisite pace, and then his delicious mouth finds mine again, drawing out my few, harsh breaths as a tear springs free from my eye, and my body goes stiff - my toes curling, my fingers gripping, and my eyes rolling back in my head.
Then I'm limp in his arms as he thrusts in one last time and holds himself at the deepest point, finding his release. He pulls me to him as he falls to the bed, and I nestle against him as he kisses my cheek, making me feel so warm, wanted, and… perfect.
"Say it again," he murmurs softly, pulling me closer as he does.
"Say what?" I muse while running my lips over his collarbone as my leg slides around his waist.
"Say you're mine."
My heart flutters, and I get a little sick. I wish it wasn't true, but I really am his - his to do with as he pleases despite all the heartbreak I'll be forced to endure when my immortality comes.
“I'm yours," I utter, and his lips fall on mine very possessively as he breathes me in.
Kane makes my bed look so damn good, and I feel somewhat like a creepy, lurking stalker just standing here, watching him while sipping my coffee. His glorious, bare body is only slightly hidden by the sheet as he rests on his back.
His smooth, even breaths are almost hypnotic, and those mouthwatering hip lines peeking out from under the sheet are drool-worthy.
His eyes flutter open, and he smirks when he catches my obvious gawking.
"Taking in the view?" he teases while pulling his arms behind his head, giving my eyes an even tastier treat.
I smile behind my coffee, careful not to giggle, and then I nod.
"It's not everyday my bed looks this good."
He lets a laugh free while shaking his head, and he stands up, his body sleek and perfect under the glow of the sun peeking through the window behind him.
"I wasn't kidding about not letting you out of my sight," he murmurs while coming to wrap his arms around my waist, pressing his bare perfection against me.
"I figured as much," I mutter with a goofy, ridiculous grin.
"I'm going to take a shower. You coming?" he says, a salacious grin spreading over his face.
"I would, but I just had one." I motion to my damp hair.
His lips pucker in an exaggerated, sexy pout, forcing a giggle out of me despite my attempts to restrain the degrading sound.
My arms slide around his neck as his lips press against mine. His breath shouldn't taste this good after just waking up. I'm starting to worry I've already fallen harder for him than I should.
"I won't be long, and then we can head to my place," he murmurs while pulling back.
Remembering Frankie and Thad pretty much forbid me to leave, I grimace.
"I should probably stay here in case one of the guys shows up to-"
"Absolutely not," he murmurs dismissively in interruption while walking away.
I tilt my head, admiring the nakedness of his body from behind as she struts into my bathroom.
Following him, I grumble, "No offense, but I'd like to steer clear of Amy as well."
At least that's not a lie.
He turns the water on, and I hop up on the sink as he tests it to see how long it will take to heat up. He shakes his hand to dry it on his way back to me.
"Amy is simply a roommate. Don't start this nonsense again. You're coming with me. I'll change, and we'll go out to eat. We can do whatever you want to all day."
I smirk, genius striking, and then I murmur, "Then we'll skip going to your place
, stay here, and order in."
His eyes swirl with scandalous thoughts as a devilish grin plays on his lips, but then he frowns.
“As much as I would love that - and I would love that - I want to take you out. We've yet to have a real date, and I… I'm ready for this to feel like something more."
My coffee cup finds a place to rest behind me as he kisses me in a completely different way. For the first time, it's not a kiss full of passion, desire, and unkempt carnal need. It's something so much more, a depth I can't fully understand so soon.
His forehead rests against mine as he withdraws from the kiss, and against all of Frankie's demanded rules, I murmur, "Okay."
He smiles triumphantly, and then he steps away to head into the shower. Watching his body drenching under the cascading shower through the transparent curtain sends chills through my body, and the lustful devil inside commands my attention.
Without thinking, worrying about tomorrow, or even worrying about the next hour, I drop my clothes to the ground and follow him in, surprising him.
My eyes fall upon his hard body, and a sinful smirk plays on my lips as I take him in. His wet arms wrap around me, pulling me under the rainfall with him, and our lips become as entangled as our bodies.
The gathering awkward tension between Amy and me is only mounting the longer I sit here in the den, while Kane speaks with Deke and Zee. Sierra keeps coming up with short bursts of conversation, but neither Amy nor I care to speak for longer than necessary.
Hurry the hell up, Kane.
I hear the oblivious boys laughing about something mundane as the three of us sit quietly. Sierra shifts uncomfortably as she struggles to find a new topic.
"So, the moon is crazy bright tonight," she murmurs, her eyes glancing through the window.
Great. The brighter the moon, the stronger the vamps.
Although it's a small sliver of a moon, it is bright.
"Yeah," I murmur softly, feeling the uneasiness of the reality they don't know exists.
"Sure is," Amy mumbles while flipping another page on the book she's merely pretending to read.
"Well I'm glad you're back. It's nice to see Kane doing more than obsessing about finding you," Deke chirps as the three boys join our tense room.
Finally.
Kane's arms wrap around me and pull me to him as he sits down beside me, and I willingly nestle into him, paying no attention to the fuming black-haired girl trying not to be obvious with her dagger-throwing glare.
"You ready, babe?" he asks while kissing the side of my head.
Hell yes. Get me the fuck out of here.
"If you are," I murmur casually, trying not to show him how completely out of place I feel.
"Hallow's Ball is in two months," Zee randomly inserts as he sifts through the mail, obviously finding an invitation of some sort. “It's hard to believe Halloween is so close."
"Hallow's Ball?" I muse, happy someone is talking about something other than the moon.
"It's a local thing. Every year they throw a big masquerade ball at one of the prominent homes. You want to go?" Kane asks while running his fingers through my hair.
"That's two months away," Amy scoffs, not enjoying his future planning.
"And?" Kane growls, his tone more threatening than his word.
She looks down, huffing as she does. Apparently he's warned her not to say anything, and now he's reminding her. It just makes me feel all the more uncomfortable.
Zee walks by her, patting her shoulder as he does, and Deke's lips tighten as he too takes notice of her sullen stance.
"We'll see," I mumble, suddenly feeling like the girl everyone wishes would just go away.
It's obvious they want him with her, and I certainly know this thing between us can never actually work.
"It's up to you. I'd like to take you. I've never gone with a date before," Kane murmurs softly, pretending not to notice the sudden uncomfortable shift in the room.
"I think we should get going. Nothing in this town stays open too late in the off season," I say with a strained sense of nonchalance.
He finally acknowledges my discomfort, and his lips thin into a knowing line. I look away, feeling all the more insecure as his friends cast their disapproving stares to their roommate.
Standing, I wave at everyone, feigning dignity, and I walk out without waiting on Kane. Once the fresh air hits me, I fight to keep my composure. With the wind rustling in the trees, and the lake fighting with the shore, I can't hear them, even with my amplified hearing.
I know he's probably scolding them for not making me feel comfortable, but that's only going to make it worse.
"Out of all the creatures on the planet, humans are the most complex," a smooth voice murmurs from my side, forcing me to shriek a little.
"Damn you. Can't you ever just call ahead," I gripe while glaring at Gage who has appeared on the railing beside me.
"Sorry," he snickers out. "I didn't mean to startle you."
I don't believe that one little bit.
"Sure you didn't. What are you doing here? Did you find out something?" I ask hopefully, my eyes glancing through the windows to make sure Kane isn't coming out yet.
"Unfortunately, no, but I wanted to check out this town of yours. An associate of mine told me a vicious pack of lycans lives here. He also said he sensed my kind and night stalkers here. I was worried about you, and I see I was right to worry."
"What does that mean?"
"You're standing alone on a deck, your mind is completely distracted, and there's not a spell you can cast to keep yourself safe in the open like this. You should be in your house. The spell Frankie cast was strong. It even kept me out."
My brow arches as I eye him suspiciously.
"You tried to break into my house? I think we should discuss boundaries."
He smirks, and then his eyes flash to the inside of the house as Kane shakes his head and starts walking to the door.
"I suppose we'll discuss them another time. Go out tonight, but don't make a habit of this. I'll keep an eye on you."
Before I can say anything, he vaporizes and rides off on the wind. I'm not sure how I feel about a dark user looking out for me.
"I'm sorry about that," Kane murmurs while joining me outside, and I turn around to face him, still wondering just how closely Gage has been watching me.
He got one hell of a show last night.
My cheeks blush, but I shrug at Kane, not giving him any insight to my inner turmoil.
"Nothing to be sorry about besides making me wait so long on food. I'm starving."
He smiles, though he knows I'm simply downplaying the obvious distaste his roommates have for me.
“The guys and Sierra have no problem with you. I want you to know that. They feel sorry for Amy, but they do like you. I swear."
"Sure," I murmur, not meaning for it to sound as sardonic as it does.
"Alyss-"
"It's fine, Kane. Really, I get it. I don't have friends like that, but I've been around others that do."
His fingers interlock with mine as we start descending the staircase, and I try to shake off the lingering uncertainties plaguing my every step.
"Do you have any friends?" he asks.
Trying to find a way to not make myself sound pathetic and unloved, I choose my words carefully.
"Frankie… though he's more of a father figure than a friend. I suppose I've sort of started considering Thad a friend, but I wouldn't go so far as to room with him."
"I wouldn't allow that," he quickly inserts, sounding possessive and jealous once more.
My eyebrows cock up in surprise and defiance.
"You really wouldn't have a say in the matter. You live with two other girls, and well… You can't say they're both like sisters. I've met Amy."
Though my tone is joking, the context is somewhat serious. He shouldn't get all worked up about Thad when he lives with Amy.
"Does it bother you?" he asks, seeming authenticall
y perplexed.
"You living with Amy?"
He nods.
It royally pisses me off.
"Not really. It's your life, your choice. It's none of my business who you live with."
He winces, and then his grip on my hand loosens.
"So it does bother you, but you refuse to be honest with me."
"Reading minds now?"
"Believe me, I wish I could read minds. It'd make life so much easier," he grumbles, making me laugh a little. "Since I can't read minds, you have to be honest with me. I'll kick her out."
My eyes widen. As much as I would love to see him kick her ass out of the house, it's not just his house. It's obvious the others care about her, and they were all friends before I came around. I can't be that girl.
"Don't be so dramatic. I'm fine. I was simply saying you don't have any room to talk. I wasn't trying to stir you up."
"I wouldn't let you live with Thad unless I was there to beat the hell out of him every time he made a pass."
I let a laugh out, and through my snickers, I mutter, "How do you know he's ever made a pass at me?"
He rolls his eyes, seeming insulted by the fact I even asked that question.
"Because I know how incredibly gorgeous you look. I also know how he looks at you. I fucking hate it."
His jealously is adorable, and Thad definitely tries shit. He makes it hard to be a good girl, but I managed to keep my pants up even with my hormones on the fritz.
"I lived with Thad since we split up in Phoenix, and nothing happened."
Well, other than the times he caught me by surprise with his devilishly soft lips. No sex though.
I think I'll keep all of Thad's sneak attacks to myself. Kane looks as though he's ready to combust as it is.
He sighs out, obviously not enjoying this conversation any longer. I kept him at my house until nightfall, but that was all I could wrangle him to stay indoors. I wish I could tell him how incredibly dangerous this all is - walking around in the open.
I knew this town was crawling with immortals, and then Gage confirmed it. It's amazing at the gravitational pull we all seem to have to each other - even though most of us are forever engaged in blood wars.
I dread that part of my future. Right now, there's not a whole lot I'm looking forward to as far as immortality is concerned.
