by Jarica James
"She thinks we're out of her league, and she isn't hot enough for us," Tristan announced disapprovingly. The others narrowed their eyes on me.
"You're literally the kindest, strongest, and prettiest girl I've ever met. You clearly don't see yourself the way you should," Lachlan countered, tucking a stray strand of my ebony hair behind my ear.
"Don't worry, we'll convince you eventually," Calev said with a shrug. "Now go get ready. Come on guys." They each come over and give me a hug, Lach and Calev giving me a quick kiss before walking out. As soon as the door closed, I let out a little squeal and happy dance, before composing myself. Time to get ready.
He’d never actually told me how to dress, so I started to rummage through my closet, suddenly hating every single thing I owned. This date felt so monumental, that I wanted to dress to impress. I finally settled on a cute, purple lace halter dress that stopped mid thigh. I set it out with my favorite black flats and obsidian jewelry.
Rushing to the bathroom I showered quickly, just in case he wanted to shower before our date as well. After drying and styling my hair, I took my makeup bag with me to my room, locking the door behind me. Tucking my towel tighter around me as I sat in front of my mirror, I opted for a smokey eye and a pretty, deep purple lipstick to match my outfit. I loved the sultry, mysterious look it gave me. Makeup was one of those things I loved to do. It didn’t mean I wore it all of the time, but it was something I taught myself on lonely weekends. Thank god for tutorials.
After slipping on my clothes and jewelry, I grabbed my small wallet and tucked it into the hidden pockets on my dress. Yes, my dress has pockets! Now that I was about to go over to their room, my nerves hit me. My hand was poised in front of the door like a statue, too frozen to knock. Will he care that I have no experience? This is literally the first time I’ll be going anywhere with a guy alone. What if he thinks I’m boring? Stop… you know he’s better than that, I reminded myself, pulling myself out of my panic.
"Just come in, you dork!" Tristan called from the other side, clearly picking up on my internal turmoil. It was just the kind of ice breaker I needed, making me roll my eyes before opening their door. The chatter in the room died down as I stepped in, my hands toying with my pockets as I stood awkwardly in front of them.
"Fuck, and here I didn't think you could get any hotter, Doll," Evander said, his voice more of a groan than anything. I clenched my thighs at the husky quality to his voice, loving the effect he had on me. He wasn't there earlier to tell me his thoughts on dating me, but from his vibes, I'd say it was a yes.
"Damn, Cutie," Aeson said, walking over and letting his eyes slide over my entire form, the throbbing between my legs growing even more intense. "I can't wait for my turn to take you on a date.” He stopped for a moment, as if a thought had struck him. “Or are we taking her together?" he asked Tristan, who only grinned back at us. Aeson leaned forward and gave me a quick toe-curling kiss, before wiping off his lip to check for makeup and walking over to Tristan. He sat down next to him, pulling his boyfriend close and kissing him next. Fuck, these men might kill me. They’ve certainly gone from ‘giving me time’ to all in. I didn’t even mind how forward Aeson was, his personality was perfect for pulling me out of my shy and awkward moments.
"Back off, she's mine tonight. Don't entice her," Calev scolded Aeson playfully, stepping over from his closet. My mouth went dry at the sight of him, his all black attire fitting his typical style. This time, his usual dark jeans were accompanied by a black button-up shirt that accentuated his muscles perfectly, his biceps and abs visible through the thin material. His hair was gelled back in a soft wave, and his stone gray eyes shone with excitement. Fuck, they're all so perfect, I thought as he walked over and gave me a quick kiss, before taking my hand and leading me to the door. "It's okay to be jealous. Don't wait up."
"I've never hated you more," Evander sang out as he gave me a longing look. They have a way of making me feel so beautiful and wanted.
"You are beautiful and wanted, Kitten. Now go be good... or not," Tristan called out, giving me a wink.
"Stay out of my head!" I called back playfully. I really needed to learn how to mentally block my thoughts.
"Thanks for going out with me tonight," Calev said, pulling me through the halls and out to his car. He opened the passenger door and helped me settle into the front seat, before running around to his side and jumping in. My excitement kept growing as he pulled out of the lot and drove toward the pier, though confusion started to seep in when he drove to the outskirts of town and pulled up to the ferry.
"I thought these were closed at night?" I questioned, looking around at the nearly empty lot.
"Some are," he said mysteriously, flashing the guard an ID card. The guard gave a nod, lifting the partition and letting us through. He drove onto the waiting ferry, the workers securing the ramp as soon as we were parked and signaling the captain to go. "Let's stay in the car this time. I can't trust you not to jump into the water," Calev deadpanned. Well, he has a pretty damn good point. Even being this close to the inky, obsidian depths had my powers rising within me, my skin tingling where the scales usually popped up.
"I can't even argue that, since I probably would. The call isn't as bad now that we've been going to the pool, but the sea just feels different," I explained wistfully, remembering the feeling of gliding through the cold, dark waters. My fingers pressed against the glass of the window, as I longed for the sea surrounding us.
"Probably similar to how I feel when I fly," he said with a soft smile, trying to distract me. "Look, that's where we’re heading." Where there had only been inky darkness moments before, a brightly lit city appeared on the other side of the island, way bigger than I would have expected. He chuckled at my confusion, then explained, "It's a barrier meant to keep others away. They hit the magic, and it directs them a different way. We can pass through, and as soon as we do, it comes into view. Welcome to Obsidian Island. This is where we usually live and go to school. There's also this amazing restaurant with live music I wanted to take you to," he gushed as we drove off the ferry and onto Main Street.
I nodded but didn't speak as my eyes remained glued to the sights. Excitement welled in my chest as I took it all in. It was a completely different world. Bright lights lit up the different businesses on this side of town, the less lit up homes nestled further into the trees and hills of the huge island. Instead of streetlights, lanterns glowed brightly above us, all different colors as they illuminated the world around us in a kaleidoscope of colors and magical neon signs.
Clearly people here didn't have to hide, because wings, horns, and unusually colored eyes were everywhere I looked. A weird sensation hit me, almost like I should have felt right at home, but it was all a bit overwhelming. Despite it feeling right, I had never felt so much like an outsider as I did now I didn’t quite comprehend how the two worlds could be so different, yet merge together into one city.
Calev didn't stop me from gaping out the window as he drove his way through the brightly colored city. Parking in a huge lot and coming around to my side to help me out, he led me toward a strip of restaurants and shops. Glad I wore flats, I thought as we made our way through the streets.There were a few specialty clothing stores, a barber that specialized in manicuring horns, a blood bank for vampires, and an interesting looking apothecary, the window full of various bottles and colored liquids. It was like the supernatural version of New York City, and I wanted to explore every single shop.
"This is so cool," I whispered to Calev, not wanting to bring attention to us, though I'd say it was pretty obvious that I was a tourist.
"I thought you could use a taste of what life is like on the other side," he said proudly, gesturing to the city around us. The sound of music wafted into the street, and I watched the people dancing and laughing on the sidewalk. The vibe in this place was fun and carefree, much warmer than I was used to.
We finally stopped in front of a restaurant and nightclub that had a
tall, winged bouncer standing out front. His stoic face lit up when he saw Calev, and in that moment I saw the resemblance. His feathers looked the same as Calev's did, and their eyes and jawlines were almost identical.
"Little brother! What brings you to these parts? I thought the dean sent you on a tracking mission at that human school!" he called out, his voice an octave higher than Calev's smooth tone.
"He did, but even we need nights off occasionally," he said quickly, "plus I had a hot date,” he explained, pulling me flush against his side before introducing me. “Lennox, this is my annoying older brother, Lorcan. Lorcan, this is my beautiful date, Lennox.” his smile was proud, and the way he looked at me made me blush
"Oh, hello there! What are you doing with a loser like Cal?" he asked with a wink, his joking demeanor making me like him immediately.
"What kind of girl turns down a gargoyle?" I ask, teasing right back. He let out a barking laugh as he waved us past.
"Smart girl, I like her," he called after us, the sound of the restaurant drowning out anything else he said. A tall, blonde waitress greeted us and took us back to a small booth tucked away in the corner. It had the perfect view of the band, but was shadowed enough that we weren't on display, which I appreciated. I didn't miss the stack of cash he passed her to procure this spot. He tried to be subtle, but I was observant. I appreciated that he was trying hard to make the night perfect, but he didn't realize it already was.
"This place has really good food, and the band tonight is one of my favorites. They're a mix of rock and punk. This whole place will be crazy in about an hour," he said, his smile still firmly in place. He slid a menu over to me, and we fell silent as we studied the pages. The food was still the same, though I noticed a few odd choices, like blood cocktails on the drinks list along with a few raw meat selections.
He slid around the circular booth to sit next to me after he closed his menu, his hand resting lightly on my thigh as we waited for our waitress to come back. I couldn't help but watch everything around me, until I realized I was being an awful date.
"I'm sorry, I'm paying attention to everything but you," I said with a small wince, turning my body to face him better, my knee brushing against his thigh.
"That's okay, I like watching you get excited over this stuff. It makes it all new again. Plus, it helps that you're adorable when you get excited," he said smoothly, leaning forward and nipping at my bottom lip. With that, all thoughts of looking around were lost, and I fused my lips to his, not holding back this time. My leg slowly moved to cover his, my pussy throbbing at the feel of his hand roaming my leg.
A voice cleared, pulling us apart, though Calev didn’t even look sorry. I shot the waitress an apologetic smile along with my dinner order, trying to ignore my furiously blushing cheeks. I figured I couldn't go wrong with tacos, since they're almost impossible to ruin. When she walked away, he grinned and brought his hand to my neck, pulling me back to him. Let’s be honest, it’s not like I’m protesting.
When we separated for air, he grinned and whispered in my ear. "You know, when I first saw you, I knew there was something different about you. Everything I saw had me more and more interested. But the moment you first touched me, my gargoyle wanted you more than anything. He's never done that before, but I think he knew you were special." My chest warmed at his words. I could tell that he thought I mattered, and that meant a lot to me. He saw past what the others had said about me for years, and managed to find the real me. Not only that, he wanted and liked the real me.
We were interrupted again as our food and drinks were dropped off, falling silent as we dug in. He was right, the longer we sat there, the livelier the restaurant got, eventually morphing into a dance club before our eyes. The lights dimmed, and something sparkled and moved through the air, almost like a weaving trail of magic. By the time we finished eating, people were moving their bodies to the loud music, the restaurant getting hotter as the night wore on.
"Want to dance?" he finally asked when we were done eating, dropping cash with the waitress before I could even protest.
"Sure," I said excitedly. Dancing was one of my favorite things to do, I was even part of the dance team before things went downhill. I pulled him this time, weaving my way to find an open spot on the dance floor. The music pulsed around us as I began to move my body to the beat. The lights danced above us, getting brighter and brighter as the music got louder. Calev's hand moved to my hip, before sliding to my stomach and pulling me back to him. I felt his muscles moving behind me with each twist and sway of our bodies, getting more and more turned on as time went on. Feeling bold, I spun in place so I was pressing my chest into his, bringing his mouth down to mine once more. Our tongues danced together while we moved our bodies to the music.
Eventually, I let him pick me up, my legs weaving around him as he continued to sway. The bulge in his pants hit me perfectly and made me moan into his kiss. It was the hottest thing I'd ever experienced, and I just wanted more of him. A cloud of shadows moved around us, secluding us in the crush of bodies enough for him to slide his hand between us, rubbing my throbbing clit through the lace of my panties. I panted and threw my head back as I let out small sounds of pleasure. He kissed my neck as his thumb circled faster, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.
Bringing my head back down, I latched my mouth to his neck, sucking in the delicate flesh there and reveling in the deep groan that rumbled through him. I flicked my tongue over the sensitive flesh, before sucking it into my mouth again. The moment my body gave into his attentions, I bit down, and the orgasm crashed over me as my pussy quivered. He slipped a finger inside my panties and into me, prolonging the orgasm with each pump of his hand. I rode it out, practically crying out in the middle of the club. I probably should have cared that we did that in public, but I didn't. We were alone in the shadows, and I found myself abandoning any shyness that normally would have stopped something like this from happening. When my body finally calmed, he pulled his hand away and dropped me to my feet, never letting me go. He swirled his tongue around his fingers, giving me a sexy wink, before heading to the bar. I fixed my dress, following him a moment later. He ordered two sodas, which we sucked down, before heading back outside and to the car. When we finally got there, I was shocked to see that several hours had passed.
"Thanks for tonight. I think that's the most fun I've ever had," I said happily, leaning back in my seat as I twined my fingers with his free hand. He smirked over at me, before driving us back toward the ferry.
"It was my pleasure," he said happily, clearly having had a good time too. It gave me hope that this whole thing could actually work out, that I could actually be happy with him... with them. Maybe that was why I felt like I never fit in. Maybe I’d been waiting for them all this time.
"Nope, it was definitely mine," I teased back, looking out the window again and watching the sea move by us as we passed the magic to get back into the human world. I felt like I was leaving my home, not coming back to it. There would be no love lost if I moved with them back to their school, and it was just a matter of catching up and finding out what I was before going. I didn’t want to spend my entire life as an outsider, but now more than ever I longed for something other than just getting away. I longed for the life I got a glimpse of tonight.
April 15
Morning
Lennox
My smile was still plastered to my face when I woke up, memories of last night keeping it firmly in place. Who would have thought that of all the guys, Calev would be the one to show such a flirtatious side. Well, it was a bit more than flirtatious, I thought with a blush, remembering how his hands worked my body into a heated frenzy.
The red letters on the clock read 10:30, meaning I definitely slept in and missed breakfast. My stomach gave a loud protesting rumble at that thought, forcing me to get up and get dressed. The cafe usually kept some fresh fruit and crackers available at all times, and that would have to do until lunch. Since it was the we
ekend, I got to dress a bit more freely, sliding my legs into skinny jeans instead of my usual uniform. After pulling on a band tee, braiding my hair, and putting on some quick makeup, I was ready to leave. I hesitated a moment, listening for the guys, but their room was still silent. Not wanting to freak them out, I wrote a note on the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker, and started working my way downstairs.
The dorm rooms were on the upper floor of the building, the academic rooms on the second, and the first floor was the foyer and cafeteria along with the administrative offices. Our student population was huge, so there was usually someone milling around the halls. Today they were pretty empty, though I had heard about a party someone was throwing in their room that they paid off the RA to keep quiet about the night before. In fact, most of the student body was probably still hungover. You'd think private schools were quiet and prestigious, and some are, but don't be fooled into thinking that meant the students were well behaved. We had a whole disciplinary team for a reason, though nobody got into any real trouble, since they were from rich families that weren't afraid to throw their money around. The teachers were even afraid to give bad grades. These kids were going to be fucked when they tried to go to college.
I was so lost in my head, that I didn't notice someone blocking the hall when I turned the corner. I crashed right into her, sending her and her bags flying. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" I squeaked out as I gathered up what I could and helped her to her feet.
"No worries, I probably shouldn't have stopped around a corner, but I just got a bit turned around. The headmaster gave me directions, but they didn't really help. I'm just trying to find my room," the girl rushed through her words, taking her bags back and looking over at the directional signs on the wall.
