Eventually Hendrix and Nelson joined us and Miller, King and Harrison traded places. They sat down and dug into our dinner with as much enthusiasm as possible.
Which was none.
“Where are Tyler and Vaughan?” I asked around a bite of cold artichoke.
“Uh,” Nelson started but then shot Hendrix a look. “Having a chat.”
“Good chat or bad chat?” Haley narrowed her eyes protectively. Yes, Tyler was spoiled and at times embarrassingly naïve, but she was our sister now. We had adopted her and for the most part we liked her- at times maybe even loved her.
“They’re devising a plan to make her more…. effective,” Hendrix added carefully.
“So Vaughan is yelling at her.” I sat up, ready to save her from Vaughan and his arrogant, unhelpful ways. She had been through enough today.
“No he’s not,” Nelson argued quickly. “She approached him. Honestly, he’s trying to help her. I swear,” he finished on a chuckle.
Haley and I settled down, but just barely. He better be helping her or I would kick his ass myself. Slowly, everyone filtered back in and either started their dinner or finished it. When Tyler walked in Haley and I gave her questioning glares but she smiled confidently at us so we relaxed.
The night dwindled down and watch assignments were given out. True to his word Hendrix and I were not on the list.
When Nelson and Harrison had gone off to the front door, and everyone started settling in for the night, Hendrix led me to a corner of the room. We were partially hidden by the side of the table, but still sharing the room with everyone else.
He made pillows out of our packs and pulled me down next to him. I laid on my back next to him, but that wasn’t good enough. He pulled me snug against his body and ran his nose up the column of my throat and across my cheek before placing a tender kiss on my earlobe.
“I care about you, Reagan,” he whispered. “So much more than I can tell you.”
I didn’t know what to say, but I tilted my head so I could meet his eyes. He stared down at me and from the light of the camping lantern I saw the ferocious sincerity in his expression.
“I care about you too,” I promised.
If possible his eyes darkened further and the emotion on his face deepened. “There are things I feel that I am choosing not to say to you tonight Reagan, but I want you to know that they’re there.” My throat closed and my mouth refused to work. I knew what he was saying, I felt the unspoken words down in the core of my very being. “And I’m going to say them soon.”
I nodded. That was all I was capable of.
“You’re not going to freak out,” he ordered further.
I almost smiled, but thought better of it. I didn’t want to encourage this kind of bossy behavior. So, I shook my head in agreement with him and his lips tilted up in a roguish smile.
“Thank you for warning me,” I teased him.
“That will be your only warning,” he whispered in my ear. He bit down on my lobe and nibbled there until I was squirming and breathing heavier. “Now get some sleep,” he demanded abruptly.
My head was still spinning when he tossed me on my side and pulled my back tightly against his front. His arms wrapped around mine like a vice grip and we wiggled a little until we were both comfortable.
I was exhausted. This day had been trying. But still I laid awake just relishing in the feel of his hard body pressed against mine and the promise of his words as they floated around in my head.
Part of me was terrified of Hendrix and how deeply he felt for me. And another part could not wait to hear his feelings expressed as words I would remember forever.
He was so much more than I could have hoped for. And this life was infinitely more than I could have imagined.
Live was tough and awful and oh so horrible. But then there were the good things too. The great moments and beautiful people that would stay with me into eternity.
I almost died today. And even apart from that it was one of the most difficult fights of my life so far. But at the end of all that I was going to sleep with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.
And it all had to do with the boy wrapping me up in his arms and his generous family that accepted me and Haley so completely. I hadn’t known love like this- except maybe from my parents. And never had I known anything like what Hendrix felt for me.
It was hard to fight day in and day out. Almost impossible. But it was a fight I would never give up. A fight I would never lose.
And through all that hardship and pain I knew each day would end like this.
And that made every battle, every traumatizing moment, every single day….. worth it.
Look for Episode 8 coming Friday, October 11th, 2013
About the Author
Rachel Higginson was born and raised in Nebraska, but spent her college years traveling the world. She married her high school sweetheart and spends her days raising their growing family. She is obsessed with bad reality TV and any and all Young Adult Fiction.
Look for more from Rachel in 2013.
The remaining episodes of this novella series will be released twice a month. Look for Episode 5 coming September 6th, 2013.
Other books by Rachel to be released in 2013 are Sunburst, the second book in the Starbright Series, The Relentless Warrior, the sixth book in The Star-Crossed Series and The Fall, the second book in the Siren Series.
Other Books Out Now by Rachel Higginson:
Love and Decay, Episode One
Love and Decay, Episode Two
Love and Decay, Episode Three
Love and Decay, Episode Four
Love and Decay, Episode Five
Love and Decay, Episode Six
Reckless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 1)
Hopeless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 2)
Fearless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 3)
Endless Magic (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 4)
The Reluctant King (The Star-Crossed Series, Book 5)
Starbright (The Starbright Series, Book 1)
The Rush (The Siren Series, Book 1)
Bet in the Dark (An NA Contemporary Romance)
Follow Rachel on her blog at:
www.rachelhigginson.com
Or on Twitter:
@mywritesdntbite
Or on her Facebook pages:
Rachel Higginson
Or
Reckless Magic
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Love & Decay (Season 1): Episode 7 Page 7
