“That feels wonderful and it’s so clear.”
We stood back up and as we spoke he dropped his pants, “Excuse me, boo, but I can’t resist. I’m sure you’re as warm as I am from that long walk. Come on and join me.”
“I promise there aren’t any critters in here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, look at how clear the water is. If anything were in there, we’d see it. Come on let’s just be normal teenagers for a while and have some fun.”
“I won’t skinny dip.”
“I don’t either in front of girls. Just wear your underwear like me. We can go commando back to the room. We could hang around long enough for our undergarments to dry on the rocks and then go back. Whatever you want to do will be fine with me, just let me know. I won’t tell any of the guys about this.”
With that, Julian jumped into the water in his tight boxer briefs, which left little to the imagination as they hugged his lean, fit body. His splash resounded off the walls of the cave, disturbing the wistful flow of the waterfall as it wound around the rocks.
“Come on in. The water is great. I know you’ve never gone swimming in a cave lake before. You’ll love it.”
What the heck, I thought. This was the closest to normal that I’d felt in a long time. I turned around and decided to strip down to my undies and bra, while Julian was on the other side of the lake.
Stunned at his male beauty, I watched him as he agilely climbed up on a large rock jutting out near the falls. His toned body wasn’t as bulky as Vincent’s was, but his muscle tone was obvious as he stretched out on the rocks. He was all lean muscle and pale golden skin. Julian was not as light skinned as his brother. His lightly tanned golden skin looked as if he’d spent time in the sun, but he was far from brown skinned. The brilliance of his green eyes sparkled as he studied the roof of the cave, drawing my gaze to his soft lips below.
I stopped studying him long enough to remove my top and quickly drop my pants. There I stood in my new hot pink bra and panties that Raven had gotten me, which I didn’t want to think about. Just as I was about to jump into the water, I looked up to find Julian’s eyes on me. His lopsided grin and blushing cheeks told me he was enjoying the view. I blushed a shade that was probably brighter than my underwear and wasted no time jumping into the water.
Julian had warned me that the water was deep, but I was a strong swimmer and didn’t fear the clear indulgence. He jumped back into the water and met me halfway. He started splashing me, which immediately started a water fight. After clearly being soaked from repeated bursts of water, I feigned cleaning water from my eyes, only to wait for him to get closer. When he got near me, I bombarded him with water, repeatedly splashing him until he grabbed me around the waist from behind. He’d managed to sneak up on me during all the splashing. His other arm coiled around mine pinning them to my sides.
“No fair using your brute force to hold me. I won.”
He kissed the water off the back of my neck and spoke between his gentle kisses, “Mhmm, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Now about that cheating move of yours luring me towards you only to half drown me, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
I giggled as he tickled my naked side, under the water, “I am not. I’m proud. You’re just mad you didn’t think of it first.”
He chuckled and turned me around to kiss me full on the lips. It was a playful kiss that resulted in both of us going underwater together. I’d never been kissed underwater. It was nice, but we had to come up for air rather quickly, since neither of us had thought to take a deep breath before submerging.
Julian immediately broke the kiss when we surfaced. His fingers under my chin, turned my face up to look into his eyes, “I’m sorry, but your lips are so kissable. You ok?”
“I’m fine, sneak.”
“Oh, am I to have a new nickname?”
“Well, you are a sneak, kissing me and then dunking me at the same time.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“I didn’t say that. Actually, this swim and our time together is the most normal thing I’ve done in a long time.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is all crazy for you. We’re used to nonstandard crap happening around us with our involvement with the Order, but you’ve had enough, lately, to last a lifetime.”
“I probably won’t get to graduate this year with my class.”
I wasn’t sure why I’d said that, but looking at Julian’s youthful face had made me think of how much of my school year I was missing. He immediately tried to make me feel better, “The graduation ceremony isn’t all that great. Several of the guys have graduated more than once and it’s not that big of a deal. You can still get your GED. Raven or Victor can help you do that online. I know you’ll be missing your senior year and the Prom, which is special in a young woman’s life. I’m sorry, boo.”
I felt him kicking to keep us above water as he continued to hold me in his arms. It felt almost too intimate being so close to his semi-naked body in just my underwear and bra, but there was something innocent about Julian that made it seem alright. When he released me, I knew it was over too soon, “Hey, let’s lay on the rock formation near the falls. I want to show you something.”
He led me over and helped me up onto the slab of rock, where he’d laid earlier. We looked up towards the top of the waterfall and the gaps in the rocks were filtering in the bright sunlight from above. This caused rainbowlike colors to sparkle off the mist from the falls. It was beautiful, just as he’d promised.
I was surprised that I was so relaxed with Julian. I just knew when he looked at me it wasn’t sexual as much as it was a discovery of one another. We lay there quietly, side by side for a while with our arms tucked under our necks watching the waterfall.
Eventually we resumed our conversation, “So you’re worried about missing graduation.”
“It’s not so much the actual graduation ceremony that I’ll miss. I plan to get a GED. I know it’s silly, but I was looking forward to my senior year. There’s a lot of things I’ll miss like the Homecoming Dance and, as you mentioned, the Prom. I was really looking forward to dancing with my boyfriend this year.”
“I didn’t know you had one before us. Um no offense, well, I guess there was Vincent. Did you hope to dance with him at the Prom?”
“To be truthful, I never really considered him an actual, like, boyfriend until now.” I got red in the face realizing what I’d said and to his brother. I continued trying to backpedal a bit. “I guess it would have been ok with him. It’s just that I’ve never danced with a guy before and Senior Prom is special.”
Before I knew what he was about, Julian got up and pulled me to my feet. We stood on the rather large flat rock formation facing each other. I noticed that he was now wearing a sapphire stud in his left ear. I wondered about it, but would have to ask about it later as he was looking more earnestly at me. Julian asked in the most sincere voice I’d ever heard from him. “May I have the pleasure of your first dance, Miss Stephens?” He bowed before me so gallantly in only his wet underwear. I had to stifle a chuckle as he attempted to keep his hands in front of him. However, Julian looked so sincere that I found him utterly charming no matter what his attire.
Forgetting for a moment what I was wearing, I curtsied and took his outstretched hand, “What will we do for music, my pale prince?”
“I have that taken care of that, too. Don’t you hear it?” He started humming and then broke into his acapella version of “My Boo” by Usher and Alicia Keys. Julian’s clear tenor voice echoed around the cavern as he softly serenaded me with his slower version of the song. He held me close, but not enough to make me uncomfortable, dressed as we were. It was one of the most romantic things any guy had ever done for me. I’d never forget my first dance with my prince, Julian.
He came to the part where Alicia Keys sang and he whispered in my ear, “your turn.”
“I’m not sure if I’m good enough to sing with you. That
was really good.”
“Thanks, but you know I can’t sing a duet by myself and we can’t dance without music. Do you know the song? It’s my song to you, my boo.” He held me in his arms, but we’d stopped. I didn’t want to spoil the magic moment, so after a little hesitation, I began to sing. I started out very softly, but sang louder as we got to the chorus. We were there smiling and singing. I was having the time of my life as Julian twirled me around our make-believe dance floor in my wet undies. What would have been embarrassing with most guys was magic with my sweet, innocent Julian.
I wondered how many girls he’d danced with to become so smooth and graceful. The thought made me sad for a moment. I wished I looked pretty for him with a long formal on and my hair done up.
Never danced with any other girls, boo, just you. I used to practice with a broom. Dancing with you is so much better and you look just fine. Actually, you look beautiful just the way you are. My aunt insisted I learn to dance. She taught me, because she said all refined gentlemen knew how to dance. I’m glad she taught me now.
You heard my thoughts.
Yes, I have been hearing a few random ones, since I got here. We have to get back to our music, but I do need to tell you something.
What?
I’ve never danced with a girl in her underwear before.
It's not something that I make a practice of doing.
That’s too bad, boo. I don’t think you realize how beautiful you look with wet hair. I could get used to this.
I believe I could, too, my pale prince.
We’ll have to keep this place and our first dance between us.
It’ll be our special secret.
We glided around the rock platform singing our hearts out. It was a good thing that Julian had removed the stones from the surface before we laid down, or my feet would have been very sore after two more duets and multiple twirls.
I did ask about the sapphire stud in his left ear. What he said made my heart flutter at his sweet sentimentality. He’d had it done before all the craziness started, because it reminded him of the color of my eyes. He’d chosen well it almost matched my contacts perfectly.
At one point, I even started a solo at Julian’s request, of “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion. My lyric soprano voice filled the air around us as I sang my heart out for him and this special time he’d shared with me. I was almost finished with the song when Julian stopped dancing.
I was horrified to find Victor and Raven watching us from the entrance of our secret cavern. I turned about twenty shades of red when I realized they’d not only heard me singing, which I seldom did in front of anyone, but I was dancing in very scant, wet attire with Julian.
Raven looked mesmerized as I turned around, using my arms I attempted to cover myself. Victor had an amused smirk that I wanted to smack off his face. Julian quickly moved off our platform to help me down, looking a bit on the embarrassed side himself. He didn’t get a chance to help me. Victor was suddenly beside me. He took in every inch of my exposed flesh before he remembered to hand me the towel he was holding.
I quickly took it and wrapped it around myself, giving him a huff as I turned around.
He tried to wrap his arms around me and I smacked them away. He lifted an eyebrow and his smirk was back in place again. I was embarrassed and irritated that he found it funny. It had been such a sweet, romantic moment and he’d ruined it. He certainly hadn’t hesitated to get his eyes full of my pink underwear. At least, Raven was a bit more discreet with his covert looks in my direction.
I admit I enjoyed every inch of your pink flesh and it was pink, wasn’t it? I think pink is my new favorite color.
Get out of my head, vampire.
Now there’s no need to be snippy, printesa, and you are right it was a very romantic moment. I’m glad we got to share it with you.
It wasn’t meant for you to share. What does printesa even mean and why are you here?
It means princess, and I’m here because your icy friend, Vincent, got his underwear in a wad over your disappearance. I’m not overly fond of you sharing my favorite spot with another shield, before I got to share it with you.
I had no idea this was one of your favorite spots. It is beautiful. We’re being rude. We should talk out loud.
I’m not sure you’d like me to say this aloud, but the next time you come here, it will be to skinny dip with me.
Ooh, the nerve of that vampire, I thought as I raised my arms to swat at him again.
His arms quickly snaked around me, stopping me and then we were standing beside Raven.
“That’s a rather cool way to travel, but a little advance warning would be nice. You can remove your arms now, Victor.”
He finally did, allowing his hands to linger a minute or two longer than necessary, which caused heat to pool in my stomach, despite my irritation with him. The vampire may have been irritating just like Alexander, but he, too, had the same effect on me as the others. I couldn’t resist any of them.
I quickly turned to Raven, wondering what he thought of everything he’d seen. He probably thought I was a tramp at the very least. I had better show him the letter and quick.
“Hello, Raven. It’s nice to see you.”
“Nice to see you, too, Emma. Perhaps you should get your clothes back on before we go back to the apartment.” Were all seven of us now staying in those rooms? That could get interesting and not necessarily in a good way.
Raven didn’t look too happy standing there in his jeans and t-shirt with his arm in a sling. He turned his back to me as Julian walked out the door. He must have swam back across and put on his clothes. He’d handed me mine on the way through and took a second to reassuringly squeeze my hand and whisper, thanks, boo.
In the interest of time, I quickly put my clothes on over my still-wet undergarments. I didn’t want to aggravate Raven any more than he was. Victor had left, too, leaving Raven and I alone.
“Raven, I have to talk to you. Are you alright?”
“I am now that I know you’re safe. You gave Vincent quite a scare when he returned to find you gone. Do you have any idea how many Dark Hearts are around the area? I can’t believe you’d sneak off, but I understand. You needed some normal didn’t you?”
“Yes, I guess I did. Julian and I didn’t mean any harm. We just meant to take a little walk to stretch our legs and we found this place.” I thought there was no need to throw Julian to the wolves or in this case the gargoyle. “By the way, I’m glad to see you, but why are you here?”
“Sebastian is here, too. The hotel was no longer any safer than my house. Unfortunately, I’m not sure this place is much better. Dark Hearts are everywhere. The mansion was becoming overrun with their spies. We relocated to a distant motel only to have them find us again. They have ramped up the search for you, more than I’ve ever heard of them doing for anyone. I want your word that you won’t go anywhere without telling one of us and letting at least two of us accompany you.”
He didn’t seem mad about me being half-naked with Julian just a bit envious and upset that I'd wandered off with him. He was definitely upset that I’d wandered off alone with him. Raven reached his hand up to stroke the damp curls off my forehead. He then leaned down and placed a tender kiss there.
“I don’t think I could bear it if they captured you, piccola dolce, just when I’m finally going to get some time alone with you. I need to know you. I want to know all about you, what makes you tick. I want you to know me, too. I want you to know how I feel about you.”
“I want to know all about you, too, Raven. I want time alone with you, too. However, first I have to show you something. Victor and Julian left because they knew I had to talk to you alone. Here,” I said as I handed him the letter condemning him to become not only my shield, but also the leader of them. While he was reading it, I sat down on a nearby rock. I wanted to watch his facial expressions. He has to agree to lead the shields, because I believed he was the only one that could. The grou
p wouldn’t follow the vampire, Vincent was a hothead, Alexander was a smart-ass, we’d need Sebastian as a healer if things got ugly, Julian lacked the maturity of a leader and I knew Miles would never do it. That left Raven. I knew he could handle them and from the sounds of things, they would need to be organized and soon.
He finished and looked down at me. His hand pulled me from the rock and tucked me against his chest. “This explains a lot.”
“I’m sorry, Raven.”
“I don’t know why you’re sorry. You had nothing to do with this, besides I’m not sure I mind all that much, except sharing you with Victor. The way he was looking at you, I’ve no doubt that he’s the vampire shield. I don’t suppose you have any idea what this is about or who you are.”
“No, I don’t have a clue. I don’t even know if I’m human. I thought I was the daughter of a nice ordinary human couple. Now I find it’s all been a lie.”
“I believe they loved you very much, piccola, just as we all do. They were doing their best to protect you from all this.” He said as he motioned around him with his hand.
“I feel the same. I just don’t like that it ties all of you to a life you might otherwise have refused. It’ll be worse for you, because they will need a leader and it will ultimately have to be you.”
“Why do you think it must be me?”
“You are the only one capable of doing the job. Besides, the Order and your father trusted you to be a leader, so why shouldn’t I do the same.”
“I think a couple of the others might disagree with you.”
“I’m not asking them. I’m asking you to lead my shields. Look Raven, I don’t know what lies ahead for any of us, but it would be much easier knowing that you’re in charge of my protectors. Would you please consider it? You don’t have to answer right now.”
“I do need to answer immediately. You know I can’t refuse you anything, piccola. Shall we seal our agreement with a kiss?”
Dark Secrets (Dark Hearts Book 2) Page 14