by C.M. Owens
Chapter 10
Looking Over Your Shoulder
The same monsters are still there in the light, but they always strike more fear when they're hidden within the shadows of darkness.
I jumped straight up in the bed in a cold sweat. My heart was racing and my hands trembled in fear. I was breathing hard, like I was exhausted. I couldn't come to grasp with the reality that I was safe in my room.
After a month, you'd think I wouldn't still be waking up so disoriented. I didn't come to terms with where I was until Tallis put his hand on my back.
His voice was soothing and compassionate, but there was a hint of worry as well. "Aria? What's wrong?"
"I was just dreaming. Sorry. Go back to sleep. I'll be fine." It seemed to happen more and more lately. I was glad Tallis had been sticking around.
I knew I probably wouldn't sleep too much more after that.
"Tell me what it was about." His tone was so considerate and concerned at the same time. He pulled me into his arms and my head rested on his right shoulder.
"A dark figure draining me dry. Same as always."
I felt like I was annoying everyone with my constant worry. I was still adjusting. My whole life had changed drastically in the past couple of weeks.
"Aria, it's going to take some time. I'm here though. Don't worry."
"I know I'm safe," I said, smiling as he kissed my forehead. "I've got you and my grandmother has enlisted an army of bodyguards."
He tensed a little, and then he let out a harsh breath. "Yeah. Plenty of bodyguards."
I was quick to question his odd response. "Why do you say it like that?"
He shrugged and loosened his grip on me.
"I just don't trust bodyguards. I've got good reasons for that." He sounded a little distressed with a hint of anger. There was something eating at him.
"Why don't you trust them?"
He took a deep breath and his eyes shifted toward mine. His look turned from deep thought, to forced comfort. "Another story for another time. It's late and you've yawned like five times in a row. We have to go to school soon. Sleep deprivation is never a good thing for young minds."
He leaned over and kissed me on top of my head. He was hiding something that had happened.
He slid down into the covers and patted the bed beside him, gesturing for me to join him in comfort. But I refused to relent that easily. "I want to know. There's something bothering you, so I have to know. If you expect me to confide in you, then I should be entitled the right to expect the same."
He sat back up and stared into my eyes, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand. "Maybe I just don't like bodyguards because I don't like McKee watching your every move." He smiled playfully, proud of his witty little cover up.
"Uh-uh. It's not that easy. I want to know the truth." I crossed my arms over my chest in protest of his unwillingness to confide in me.
He sighed and shook his head. "Okay. I'll make a deal with you. If you lay down with me right now and go to sleep, I promise I'll answer any question you have before we go to bed tomorrow." His eyebrows went up and down mischievously.
My heart fluttered. I'd been sleeping with him for a while now, yet we hadn't even kissed. It was confusing and frustrating. Especially since he never slept with a shirt on.
I leaned in closer to be inches from his face. "Well, that depends on if you plan on avoiding me all day tomorrow."
His eyes softened as did his voice. "I couldn't avoid you even if I wanted to. I can't stay away from you any longer than what I'm forced to, in case you haven't noticed. I've been sleeping in your bed for a while now, and it's not just because I was asked to watch over you." He rubbed my side affectionately.
I looked down a little embarrassed. "Sorry. I guess you probably miss sleeping in your own bed, in your own room, in your own house. You should probably stay at your own place tomorrow. I shouldn't be so needy. I promise I-"
He stuck one finger over my lips to stop my incessant, embarrassing ramble. "There's no way I wouldn't be with you for any reason unless I was hurting you. I wasn't complaining about being here with you. I was pointing out the fact I can't be without you."
Now I was really blushing. "Thanks." Then I raised my head. "It's odd that everyone is so okay with you sleeping in my bed with me. I don't say anything about it because I keep worrying they'll make you stop."
He laughed and then covered his mouth to muffle the sound.
"They're definitely not okay with it. Your dad would probably hate me if I wasn't here for your safety. They want you to feel safe, as well as be safe. Not to mention…" He hesitated to finish. "They sort of have the impression that I've been sleeping on the floor."
"Oh… Well that makes sense."
I thought to myself about how they had nothing to worry about. If it was taking us this long to get to first base, I would be, well, immortal by the time we even rounded second. There's no telling how long it would be before I got any farther.
I assumed his concept of time was goofed up due to the fact that he was immortal. I wasn't going to be pushy about it either, at least not right now
I finally decided to agree to his terms. "Okay. Deal. Tomorrow I question, and you answer. No diverting."
He yawned before responding. "Good, because I'm so beat." He slid me down into his arms and pulled me to his body.
I wasn't sleepy at all at first, but as his fingertips trickled up and down my arm, I found myself more at peace. My eyes got heavier and heavier until finally I was out.
The alarm sounded its infuriating buzzing noise. I rolled over to my stomach and pulled a pillow over my head. I heard it suddenly cut off. Then there were two hands on my shoulders, massaging them.
I loved it when Tallis touched me for any reason.
"That feels good," I mumbled, relishing the strength and softness he used.
That fire didn't seem to be blazing inside me as it usually did under his touch. I assumed I was getting used to it.
I still had my head buried under the pillow as the massaging continued. I was in a pair of boy-cut panties and a white tank top. I didn't realize I had kicked my shorts off during the middle of the night. Now I could feel a gentle breeze hitting my skin, alerting me to that fact.
I didn't race to cover up though. I was thinking it might encourage him to move things along a little faster if he got a tiny little peek. I smiled to myself as I thought of my scandalous plan. Then I rolled over as his hands were rubbing my lower back.
As I turned around, I was greeted with a horrible realization. It was McKee, not Tallis. I screamed.
"What the hell are you doing?"
He put his hands in the air, playfully surrendering.
"Easy, Aria. I just came to see if you needed a ride. Nice bedtime attire, by the way."
"Get out of my room!" I grabbed a sheet to cover myself with.
"Hey, no reason to get all upset. It's nothing I haven't seen on a girl before. Bathing suits show more than that, you know. I just came to tell you I think you should ride with me today. We really need to talk."
I could hear the agitation growing in my tone now. "About what?" I was completely uninterested in anything he had to say at that point.
He lost all the playfulness in his eyes as seriousness swept in. "About your new boyfriend getting lost. He shouldn't be within a hundred feet of you, let alone with you twenty-four hours a day. You don't need him skulking around when you have all of us. I don't like him or the fact that he's spending every night with you. Call me crazy, but I think it's a little undignified."
His arrogant, condescending tone infuriated me to the point where I was shaking.
"Oh, I'll definitely call you crazy. You can leave now," I said through gritted teeth, trying not to scream again.
"I'm not leaving until you agree to come with me. I promise you'll want to hear everything I have to say."
"I can promise you that there is nothing you can say that will make me stop seeing Tallis. I don't want you touching me... ever again. I don't want you following me, and I don't want you anywhere near me right now! You will leave or I'll scream for Iris."
I was completely enraged.
"Go ahead. She knows I'm not a threat. She'll laugh at you for being such a drama queen. Tallis isn't here anyway, so you need an escort."
I heard a slight swish of wind from the window. Tallis was suddenly in the room with his arm around my waist from the front, holding me behind him.
"I think she's told you to leave more than once. I think that's probably a good idea."
He sounded so forceful and protective. He had been treading lightly with McKee because of how strongly tied he was to our family. Tallis had not wanted to make waves unless necessary. I was so glad he found it necessary then. I was also glad that he had shown up so quickly.
"I just thought you might have had something else to do at some point in your life. I was going to give you a little reprieve. She's being way too dramatic."
He was trying his best to belittle my reaction to his unwanted presence.
"If she doesn't want you around, then don't be around her. If you ever put your hands on her again, I'll blow them off," Tallis said threateningly without ever raising his voice.
"Don't tell me what to do. It was just a little massage, and she liked it." He was trying so hard to provoke Tallis, as usual. I was worried this time it would work. Tallis looked ready to try to blow him to pieces.
I spoke up quickly to discredit McKee's claim. "I thought it was Tallis. If I had known some perverted jerk snuck into my room, I would have screamed sooner."
Tallis let a small smile free. He enjoyed it when I took his side, especially against McKee. I was always on his side though, and he was always on mine.
"Well I guess that would be your cue to exit then. The lady has chosen. In case you didn't catch who, it was me… again."
He gloated triumphantly as I leaned against his chest. McKee stormed off in a huff.
"You're always right where I need you to be when I need you the most," I murmured, sighing softly.
I leaned into him, letting the sheet that had shielded me from McKee drop to the floor between us. I put my arms around his neck and stared into his eyes with seductive intentions.
He coughed a little. His cheeks blushed red as his eyes darted nervously from side to side. His heart was racing as I leaned in more, pressing my body against his. His hands ran down my waist, running to the top line of my underwear. He started to pull me in tight, and then suddenly pushed me away.
His voice cracked a little as he spoke. "You have to get ready or we'll be late."
His muscles were clenching, and his body protested. His posture was rigid as he walked away hurriedly. I heard him almost running down the stairs.
"I'm definitely wearing him down." I giggled to myself as I stepped into the shower.
