It wasn’t gentle, but firm and assured. He pressed harder, forcing my lips apart. There was a longing; it was as if he wanted every part of me right now. I had been so careful over the last few months, not allowing more than simple kisses. The only exception was on my birthday. It was as if he was making up for lost time, letting me know he wanted me in so many more ways than I could imagine. He wasn’t giving up or giving in—and I didn’t want anyone else. My desire was for him as well. I had been holding back, searching my heart.
I loved him. As much as I’d tried to deny it, I loved him as he loved me. I didn’t want this moment, this kiss, to end. But the pain in my side was aching something awful. I had to pull away.
I attempted to draw my face back, but he held it in place firmly with his hand. I pushed on his chest with little effect. My left ribs were starting to really pinch, and it was becoming harder to catch my breath. He withdrew and began kissing my neck as I took smaller breaths, trying to relieve the building pain. His velvety lips moved to my jaw and traced my neck; tilting my head back they followed my collarbone. His fingers drifted from my neck to my side and pressed against the broken ribs.
“Ouch!”
“Oh, Cheyenne,” he said with sympathy as he immediately drew back. “I’m so sorry.”
I dropped my head to his shoulder, trying to catch my breath, knowing the kiss was worth the pain. “I know. I’m okay.”
His fingers brushed my neck. “We should get you back. You need to eat, and it’ll be getting dark soon.”
“Just hold me,” I whispered as I leaned forward again. He pulled me into his arms; the warmth from his touch filled me. I wrapped my left arm around his shoulder and neck as I nuzzled closer. His steamy lips placed kisses on my neck and shoulder as he waited for me to say I was ready to leave.
I didn’t want to ever leave. At long last, my doubts were gone. I’d trust him with my life.
“We need to go.” He lifted me in his arms and crossed the river. He set me on my feet, wrapped the towel around me and gently began drying me. I managed to slide my shorts on while he held my arm and assisted with the shirt. I sat on his knee and he placed my boots on.
Carefully he reattached the brace, and I watched as he placed his shirt back on, leaving it open, the water glistening on his chest. I blinked. I knew he could see my reaction, and he was making himself extra sexy on purpose.
Taking my hand in his, he led us back. The return trip seemed short, maybe because I wasn’t done having time alone with him. I could have sat and stared at him for hours without getting bored. Let him hold me in his arms forever…
I sighed. I needed to let him know how I felt. He needed to hear those words from me. He needed to hear me say, “I love you.”
I was so distracted that by the time we neared camp, I hadn’t noticed Mandi closing the distance. She snorted in my ear, and I screamed.
Colt burst out laughing and Daniel joined in as he saw what happened. All I could do was smile and shake my head. Crazy Mandi. Even she thought it was funny to tease me.
Colt left me at my tent while I changed into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I purposely left the bandages off, it made it more comfortable to breathe. I was sure Callon would wrap me up again later, but he wasn’t here now.
I zipped the tent and turned to find them sitting around the fire. Colt had changed into jeans, but his shirt was still unbuttoned. It was a distraction, and he knew it. He gave me a sly wink, and I blushed.
Fish was cooking over the flames; Callon and Daniel had been busy while we were gone. I wasn’t much of a fish eater, but I was hungry, and it smelled good. Colt patted the log between him and Daniel, and I sat. Callon glanced up. “You hungry?”
“Famished,” I replied eagerly and grinned.
“Good.” He flipped a trout on a plate and handed it over. I willingly accepted. He was cooking quite a few. I ate faster than normal, picking bones out along the way. All in all, it was good, considering I typically hid the taste of fish with tartar sauce.
“Thanks,” I said as Callon took my plate.
“Did you want another?”
“No, I’m good.” Callon took the plates to the stream and washed them. Colt gently rubbed my back. As I waited for Callon to return, my mind mulled over the lights. I had some questions I wanted to ask. Callon came back and squatted near the fire, stoking it. My thumb passed over the etched ring on my index finger. Now was as good a time as any.
“Callon,” I began. He didn’t look up, but nodded once. “After my accident I told you about the lights I saw. What are they?”
Callon poked his stick a little too hard, and a stack of ash fell close to his foot.
“You need to stay away from them.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re dangerous.” He added another log to the fire. It was growing dark.
“Why? I don’t understand.” Mr. Evasive had returned from his absence.
“You need to stay away from them, don’t look at them.”
“Don’t look at them?”
He didn’t reply.
Oh, no. He who must be obeyed was back in full swing too. My lip curled. Why couldn’t he just tell me what they were? Annoyance rang through my response loud and clear, “Why do you do this to me?” My voice was beginning to rise. “Do you think I’m stupid? That my little brain can’t handle it? You think I’d willingly run to danger because you said I shouldn’t?”
He sighed, looking up at me. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and eyes were slightly narrowed, showing his annoyance. “I never said that, Cheyenne.”
“You imply it,” I hissed.
“If I don’t tell you things,” Callon replied calmly, “it’s because you don’t need to know right now. There’s a lot going on in the background that you aren’t even aware of.”
“Then tell me so I’ll be aware!”
“It’ll frighten you.”
I didn’t know if I was more vexed that he wasn’t telling me, or the fact that he was so calm when he was doing so.
“When will I need to know, Callon?” I stood up. “When I accidentally run into the lights and find out what they really are?” My hands flayed in the air about me and a sharp pain rose, but I pushed it aside.
Colt reached out, but I jerked my arm away. I stormed over to the field where the horses were. I just needed to get away from Callon. I didn’t understand his reasoning. I wasn’t a child. He was acting like a bossy parent again.
If only I could figure out what the journal said. I bet my parents would have put warnings in there for me. They would have told me everything instead of the tiny bits of information I managed to scrounge from the trio.
I found a narrow section of the stream, and jumped across. Mandi saw and headed for me. She lowered her head, and I began scratching it, moving to her neck and brushing her mane back and forth. The rhythm was soothing, relaxing.
I knew I flew off the handle too easily with Callon. He was trying to protect me. He and the others had proved it after my attack. Like Callon said, there probably was a lot going on in the background that I wasn’t even aware of. My fingers traced my ring again. I just wanted to understand. It was unfair. Everyone knew what was going on. It was hard being the only one who truly knew nothing. I didn’t like relying on them for everything. It made me feel like such a burden.
“Cheyenne,” a soft voice called out.
I didn’t reply as I continued petting Mandi. I was still calming down; coming to grips with what I had to do. It was best if I didn’t speak yet.
Callon stopped behind me.
“I know you’re angry. I’m sorry. Look, I don’t always tell you things because I don’t want to scare you. I grew up knowing I was Timeless and even then it was overwhelming. I don’t want you to run from us.” He stepped closer, his words gentle. “I don’t think you’re stupid, never have. You figured out more than I thought you would. That’s why I have to protect you, sometimes from yourself.”
Hi
s fingers raked my hair, causing goose bumps to rise on my arms. “The last thing I would ever want to do is cause you more hurt. You’ve already been through so much in your short life.”
He reached out and took my hand, turning me around. I couldn’t look him in the eye. There were too many complicated feelings. I had no choice but to accept his explanations. Would my parents have hidden these things from me also? They had in essence—but would they still? Again I wondered how much they had been planning to reveal to me on the camping trip we never got to take.
I inhaled, composing myself once again.
“No, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I haven’t been very pleasant tonight. You’ve cared for me, protected me, and watched over me, and I’ve been nothing but ungrateful.” I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”
I felt like such a basket case. He drew me closer, looking me in the eyes briefly as an understanding seemed to pass between us. He knew I was letting go, trusting them. His arms wrapped around me tightly, but not snug enough to cause me pain. I rested my head into his chest as his fingers rubbed my back. This was his way to comfort me, to show me he could be gentle and understanding.
“There’s so much I want to tell you, so much I want to share with you. In time you’ll see; in time I’ll keep no secrets from you. But I need you to trust me.”
“I just want to understand. If I could just read the journal I’m sure I’d be better.”
He kissed my head and warmth spread all the way down to my toes. “Just trust me right now,” he asked. “We’re going to get help on the journal, I promise.”
I shivered. He felt it, and eyed me with concern. “We need to get you by the fire. You’re cold.”
If only he knew that the chill wasn’t from the cold.
“Callon?”
“Yes?”
“I know we’re running right now. Are we heading someplace special? Are we going to find your friend you talked about?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“A couple days’ ride.”
“Are we being followed?”
He sighed.
“We were, but we’ve lost them for now. I need you to stay real close at all times.”
“Is it the Sarac?” I whispered.
Callon didn’t say anything, but his eyes told me I was right. We’d left quickly because we were being followed, but they could still find us. I didn’t like it one bit.
Callon helped me back across the stream to the fire. Colt’s jaw was tight as he rose, his cool blue eyes stressed. He glanced at Callon and nodded. Colt’s face relaxed slightly as I neared. I rolled my eyes. They were going to drive me nuts with the telepathy.
“Speak out loud, please,” I demanded, crossing my arms. Colt grinned as his arm slid around my shoulder, and we sat down. I sighed and snuggled in. I was becoming sleepy as I listened to them talk about which direction to head tomorrow.
I sank lower into Colt, drifting off as the fire and his touch warmed me. It was easier to breathe, my chest didn’t ache anymore, and I could lie down without it being painful.
Soon it became quiet, and I let the heaviness take over, but not before something inside me stirred. For the briefest moment, a slight ache rippled through me, and a horrible dread came over me, but the weariness of sleep soon pushed it back.
Chapter 18
A faint rustling woke me, and I opened my eyes to see it was still dark. Colt was lying next to me in the tent, and I was still in his arms, but facing away. Callon was resting in front of me, face to face, but his eyes were closed. The tent was small, but it seemed more than a coincidence that he was this close. A feeling of impending danger swept over me. I elevated my head slightly; Daniel was on the other side of Callon. Something was going on.
The noise outside the tent made me glance toward the opening. It was closer this time. Lights were flickering. Why would they have a fire going if they were in here with me? Who was out there, and why weren’t they checking it out?
I was about to ask Colt when his arms tightened, and his long leg shifted over mine. He was bracing for something. What?
My heart began to pound. Callon’s eyes popped open. He was focused. I parted my lips to speak, but he pressed a finger to my lips. Movement at the tent door made me glance back again. The lights were getting brighter. They were dancing. Were these the same lights from before? If so, why were we lying here? Why weren’t we moving? Shouldn’t we be trying to get away?
Panic set in, and my breathing came in shallow gasps, but Callon’s fingers were still over my lips.
“Cheyenne,” he mouthed. “Close your eyes. Don’t look at the lights. Colt won’t let go of you. Just keep your eyes closed.” He was trying to reassure me, but it was too late. I understood what he’d said, but I couldn’t close my eyes. I didn’t know if it was from panic, fear or…
The lights were in the tent now. They were brighter, more beautiful than I could imagine. My body began to tremble. Colt’s hold tightened, almost painful.
Callon didn’t speak, but his eyes showed me everything. I narrowed mine because of the brightness filling the tent, but instead of closing them, I watched in wonder. I couldn’t break my gaze from them. The reflections were dancing off Callon’s face. They began to cast shadows on the walls of the tent. It was as if a thousand twinkle lights were dancing in the night just for me.
The lights began to cluster together, becoming more frenzied. With each progression they jerked back and forth, brightening and moving closer.
I wanted to reach out and touch them, experience their sensation on my skin. They were mesmerizing. They fell upon me, and it was soft like whispering kisses. But soon it changed to a pinch, then a sting. In a matter of moments, the stinging sensation was all over my body.
Every inch of my skin was on fire. I was being yanked, tugged in two different directions. I wasn’t the one moving. I looked down on my body from above. I was thrashing in Colt’s arms! A force was attempting to drag me away, and there was nothing I could do.
Colt was holding on, desperately trying not to crush me. Callon was in full panic. His hands were holding my cheeks. He was screaming at me to close my eyes. My body didn’t respond. In sheer desperation, I watched him lunge his lips to mine.
He was kissing me; fervently kissing me, the way he said he’d wanted to that day in the meadow.
My eyes closed, and I felt his warm lips on mine, pushing, parting, pressing me closer. My heart burned, and I began to respond.
The moment Callon sensed me, he drew himself away. His fingers moved to my temples, placing his thumbs over my eyes.
“Don’t open your eyes.”
I stopped thrashing, but then the shaking began. I felt clammy and ill. What had just happened?
Callon let go, and Colt flipped me around so my face was now pressed against his chest. I didn’t open my eyes. I was afraid of what I would see. My mind was wildly trying to grasp what had taken place. Fear seized my limbs, and I whimpered.
Callon, however, was not sympathetic. “You stupid girl!” he roared. “I told you to close your eyes! You just don’t get it, do you? We work so hard to keep you safe, and you can’t follow a simple instruction!”
I went from terror to anger in an instant. What right did he have to yell at me? I pushed with everything I had against Colt’s chest to flip around and answer.
“Damn me!?” I screeched. “I asked you about the lights. I practically begged you to tell me about them, but all you could say was that it wasn’t important for me to know!” I was shaking, this time with fury. “Do you not trust me? Is that it? You think I’m just going to run off to the Sarac?”
Colt suddenly spoke up.
“Cheyenne, Callon’s right. You need to start listening to us. I almost crushed you…”
“Shut up, Colt!”
I attempted to get up, but he was holding tight. He grasped my wrists and pinned them to my side. If fire could have been thrown from my stare, Callon would h
ave burned before me, and I wouldn’t have felt the slightest bit of remorse.
“Cheyenne, calm down!” Colt snapped, his deep voice rumbling in my ears. He shoved me harshly against his chest. “We don’t have time to argue with you. You’re not going to win this one. We need to get moving before they come back. It’s only a matter of time before they find us again.”
He paused, inhaling deeply. In a softer tone he added, “I can’t have you wandering off. You need to stay put so we can pack. Are you going to listen to me?”
I didn’t reply, too angry to form words. Callon looked over my shoulder at Colt. In the next second Colt was on his feet, taking me with him. I was like a rag doll under his grasp as he ripped through the tent opening; my feet didn’t touch the ground.
“Colt, let GO!”
In response he pinned my arms down with one hand as he thrust me to his side. I couldn’t move, his vice-like grip hurt my ribs, but my anger numbed the pain. Damn him if he thought he could handle me this way!
In no time, the horses were saddled and camp torn down. The tension was thick between us, but I didn’t care. I wanted nothing more to do with them.
When Callon and Daniel were finished, Colt gruffly hauled me to Sam. He shoved me into Callon’s waiting hands. I stumbled into him, while Colt mounted. Callon was no gentler as he threw me up to Colt. Colt caught me mid-air and set me in the saddle before him. He jerked his arm around the front to grab the reins and hit my injured ribs. A bolt of pain lanced up my side, and I gasped. He said nothing.
It was still dark, but they lost no time and entered into a full gallop, weaving in and out of the trees.
How dare they treat me like this! Like I would run away. Where would I go? We were out in the middle of nowhere. They constantly lectured me to trust them, but they wouldn’t even try to do the same! They only gave me information when it suited them.
Cheyenne (A Timeless Series Novel) Page 20
