by Jordan Deen
“Thank you.” The burning heat of embarrassment spread across my cheeks. Someday, the man that sat next to me would be my husband, my partner, and more important than anything else in the world. I was lucky to have him. In fact, anyone would have been lucky to have him. Truly, I’d won the werewolf lottery through heritage. The fact was, Brandon may have been completely unaware of his alluring charms, but he rocked the tall, dark and handsome look.
“I’m not just saying that because of the whole mating thing. You do look amazing. When you walked out of the house it was like the first time I ever saw you.” He brushed a tendril of hair off my shoulder, “Perfect,” he whispered.
The lights in the theater started to dim, “I don’t know about perfect.”
“To me you are.”
The theater went completely dark and the previews started to roll onto the screen. Brandon relaxed back into his chair and sipped his soda a few times before finally putting it into the cup holder. His hand came dangerously close to mine, and for a brief moment, I thought he would grab it, but he didn’t. He was a perfect gentleman and kept his hands to himself—although, teenagers in a dark movie theater don’t usually focus so intently on the coming attractions.
I assumed he wanted to sit at the back of the theater to be alone with me, but halfway through the movie he still hadn’t made a move, and it appeared he never would. I shifted in my chair, put my arm on the armrest, brushed my elbow against his twice, and didn’t get a reaction out of him. I knew I shouldn’t test the waters like this, but we’d only had real contact a handful of times and I couldn’t be certain any of those times were real. The dreams of us were vivid, but they didn’t really count.
“Are you okay?” he leaned in to whisper, even though we were completely alone in the back of the theater.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You seem…anxious.”
“Oh.” I tried to hide my awkwardness. He was totally clueless over what I was going for. Instead of him thinking I wanted him to make a move, he probably thought I wanted to get out of there. “I’m fine. It’s just been a long time since I’ve been to a movie.” What a totally lame response.
“Are you sure?” He continued to press the issue, but I ignored him and focused on the movie. I tried to remember to laugh at the appropriate times, but had no idea what the movie was about or what was going on. It didn’t take long for my fingers to start fidgeting with my pants, my cup, my hair—anything to get my mind off of the stark reality that Brandon had no idea how to just date someone without the whole I’d die without you thing going on.
Brandon straightened in his chair and shifted uncomfortably. The whole night was a total disaster. We were doomed if things between us didn’t improve. It felt like he read my mind when he finally reached over and wrapped his strong hand around my fingers. He didn’t take his eyes off the movie as he rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand then settled his palm on top of my hand on my leg. I barely moved, longing for us to be whisked away to Haventon like the first time he took my hand, but we weren’t. We remained in the crappy theater, surrounded by strangers and stale popcorn.
Once my heart calmed, he pulled my hand with his onto his lap and threaded the fingers on his left hand through mine. With his right arm lying under mine, he mindlessly rubbed my forearm with his rough fingertips. The splintery texture on his normally smooth skin reminded me of all the hard work he’d done to prepare for more families. Just like Emma and Gregory had done eighteen years ago, Brandon was preparing for a battle. One I hadn’t thought of coming to the mountain top community I called home. History would repeat itself and Brandon knew it. I’d have to get through my mother’s book and start figuring out how to protect us; because watching people I cared about die didn’t sound like a great option.
I leaned across the armrest of the stiff chair until my head rested against his shoulder. “Is that okay?” I asked when his hand stopped rubbing my forearm.
He cleared his throat, “Yeah.” Tension grew again between us, although, this was different. This was a lot different. This was first-date-jitters-because-this-guy-is-freaking-hot type tension. And this hot guy was rubbing my forearm again, in smaller, faster circles like he could hear my heart beating and he tried to match the tempo.
Several deep breaths did not help calm my head or my heart, and unfortunately, he knew what I was trying to do. Brandon leaned away slightly and my head came off his shoulder, only to be met with his bent fingers under my chin. The movie faded away as I timidly looked into his eyes. He may not have been on a date before, but his kisses were always the perfect mixture of sweet and passionate—even the ones in my dreams made my knees buckle. Emile and Serena both told me all the dreams were real experiences, but they could never replace his actual lips touching mine or his warm hand cupping my cheek to show me every feeling he ever had for me.
The cramped theater seats were not ideal, so I shifted in my chair and he pulled away briefly to raise the armrest. Even though this kiss was only the third or fourth real one we’d ever shared, it felt like his lips were the only ones ever to have touched mine. And when he leaned back for less than a nanosecond, my body told me he had been gone too long and it wanted his skin against mine once more. That need compelled me forward as soon as the armrest was cleared and I pulled him into me—not self-conscious in the slightest of my want for him and that connection.
“Lacey,” he said breathless, just before I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed myself against him, thankful for the privacy the darkness allowed and the intimacy we desperately needed.
His melodic laughing caused me to yank back and open my eyes. I stayed secured in his arms, but the theater was gone. For the first time in months—we were in Haventon. My palm to his, matched our perfect crescent marks. Love free flowed from his bare skin against mine. I preferred the theater since I knew that was real, but lying naked with him in the theater… couldn’t really happen.
“I can’t believe we are finally here,” Brandon said and followed the curve of my spine with his fingertips. “I never thought we’d be here again.”
“Me neither.” I stretched my arm across his chest to feel the pulsating heat of his skin.
“Thank you for finally letting me back in.” He let out a light sigh, the most satisfied sigh I’d ever heard. “I love you.”
“Me too,” I responded, mostly because I didn’t want to talk anymore. Haventon could disappear at any moment, and who knew when I’d get another chance to have him this close—to feel his love shining on me brighter than the sun. Yes, it may have been just a dream… but I lavished in the feeling; in our final success.
c h a p t e r
ELEVEN
“Hey, sleepy heads,” Brea said, pulling us out of the deep sleep we sunk into by going to Haventon.
“I can’t believe you slept through the movie,” Catch said, but Brea’s face showed she knew exactly what we were doing. Her grin grew inch-by-inch until her pearly white teeth were glowing in the dim theater. She knew we were in Haventon, and worse, she knew what we were doing there because that was probably what all couples do there. I was more than embarrassed, even though I shouldn’t be considering her and Catch went into the woods at least once a day to go to their special place.
“Wow,” she whispered and linked her arm through mine as we walked from the theater to the truck. “I guess things are… better?” My glowing skin, and the spring in my step, probably gave it away. The moon seemed brighter, the air felt fresher, and the wind was just enough to make the tips of my hair dance. It was a perfect night, with a perfect guy, and a perfect first date. The evening couldn’t have gotten any better, or at least, I didn’t think it could.
“Want to go get something to eat?” Catch asked climbing into the truck. It was already after ten, but our escorts were still following us somewhere, so Brandon agreed to stop at the diner before heading back.
“Can we have a few minutes?” Catch asked Brandon quietly when we pulled int
o the parking lot. Obviously, our little trip made them want some alone time. So, Brandon and I headed into the café and got a table while they stayed in the car. Neither of them seemed embarrassed by asking to be alone, even though I didn’t think I’d ever be that bold with my affections for Brandon. Then again, if the giant flood gates ever opened, I was sure I’d be more outgoing about it. Honestly, being in Haventon with Brandon was addicting; a guilty pleasure I had only experienced in moderation so far, but if I had free access to it, I’d probably never want to leave there. It seemed like all things in the world were possible in Haventon.
“We really shouldn’t do that in public,” Brandon said after the waitress took our drink orders.
“I know.” I realized how reckless it was since we were both incapacitated without anyone to protect us if something went wrong.
His smooth fingertips brushed down the length of my hand; the perfect moment was disrupted when the waitress set our sodas down on the table. He waited until she was gone again to say, “I’m not complaining.” He grinned like a kid that just stole from the cookie jar. “I’d go there whenever you wanted and wherever you wanted.”
Me too. But the regular girl in me wanted the real experiences. The ones that I’d had with others, but needed to have with him. And with the mischievous look he gave me, I hoped he wanted all those things too. “When can we go again?” Hearing the words escape my lips turned my cheeks to scarlet, and my eyes dropped to our hands folded into each other on the table. He squeezed my hand, trying to get my attention back to him.
“Tell me when. Just say the word,” he crooned, obviously pleased by my request and not ashamed in the slightest at my request to fuel the addiction.
“Move over,” Catch said and slid into the booth next to Brandon, ending our very intimate, physically charged conversation.
Brea grinned and slid in next to me, but our talk couldn’t end that way. I wouldn’t let it. The addiction had consumed me to the point that skin-to-skin contact was all I could think about.
So, I took it to the next level. “I need to go to the restroom,” I said and Brea slid back out of the booth. “Can you come watch the door?” I looked directly at Brandon and trusted he’d pick up on what was going on. Luckily, he did.
With his hand in mine, I pulled him down the salmon pink corridor to the women’s bathroom. The small room was just big enough for the two of us. It seemed like a great idea, until we got in there and I couldn’t believe the thoughts running through my head. I’d lost my mind; my heart and hormones had taken its place.
“We can’t go to Haventon in here. No one will come get us out if we need them to.” He was completely unaware that I wasn’t interested in Haventon; my craving for him extended way beyond that. But he was new at this, and I wouldn’t exactly call myself a pro, either.
Shhhh… With my hands around the back of his neck, I pulled his lips down to mine and kissed him deeply until every part of my body was tingling and longing and…
He pulled back. “Lacey,” he panted, “we can’t do this now. I can’t control when we go to Haventon yet.”
“What?” I asked, but I’m only half caring about what he said. My greedy hands snake around his waist. My lips brushed down the length of his neck trying to get him to give in, to bend to the desire that even I couldn’t comprehend.
With his hands on my hips, he pushed me back. “Stop, please. I don’t want to hurt your feelings. Trust me. I’ve never wanted anything so bad in my life. But this can’t happen here. It would be stupid for me to give in. I’d put you in danger. It’d put us in danger. I can’t do that. Not now.”
I tried to calm myself down, knowing he was trying to reason with me when my body was clearly out of control, but I couldn’t help myself. “I’m sorry.” I pulled back from him, straightened my shirt and pushed my curls back from my face.
“Look,” he slipped his arm around my waist and hugged me, trying to reassure me after his mood-breaking rejection. He whispered in my ear, “When we go back to camp, come stay with me.” He swallowed hard before adding, “I’ll sneak you in.”
Coming to the bathroom was reckless, going to his room… suicide. “What about Michael?” He’d be totally against the idea considering we weren’t allowed to be alone… ever. If he found out I spent the night in Brandon’s bed… we’d be in deep shit.
“I’ll deal with him tomorrow. Ultimately, the goal is to grow our bond, right?”
“Right.” Not that I had actually thought of the soul mate type bonding in those previous moments.
“Well? Do you feel any different tonight? Do you feel connected to me?”
The only connection there had been physical thus far, but that was enough to make me feel intoxicated by his touch and yearning for more.
“Yes,” I said and pulled him into a deep hypnotic kiss that made the mesmerizing, light headed feeling return. He must have felt it too because he leaned back with a wide grin overtaking his face.
“You’re going to get us in trouble,” he said and gave me a quick peck. “Will you stay with me?”
“If you want me too, I will.”
“Of course I want you too.” He dipped his head to run his cheek up the length of my neck, and my breath staggered. My knees threatened to buckle. “I never want you away from me.”
We shared a few more reserved kisses before finding our way back to the table with Brea and Catch. He made Catch sit next to Brea so he could sit next to me. I barely touched the food the waitress brought. Thoughts of the rest of the evening swirled in my confused mind. Living without Brandon was not an option and not because of the prophecy. No, in one night, he became a touch I couldn’t get enough of, a smell I couldn’t forget, and a fluttering in my heart that wouldn’t subside. In one night, we went from awkward first daters, to boyfriend and girlfriend, to much more.
Brandon took Catch aside as we got to the truck to tell him about the plan, since we’d need their help sneaking me into Trevor and Britney’s house. There’d be no way I’d be able to slip him into my room since Lily would be there. In fact, if the camp were still awake for our return, our little rendezvous wouldn’t happen anyway.
Brea and I leaned on each other in the back seat of the truck on the way back to camp. It didn’t take long for her to start dozing off, but I couldn’t. Considering how freaked out I was about what Brandon was offering, and how much trouble we’d probably be in for it. If they went into my room the next morning and didn’t find me, they would launch a worldwide manhunt.
Brea was long into dreamland by the time we pulled into camp. None of the lights were on in the cabins. “Act like you’re asleep.” Catch said from the front seat with a mischievous grin, “It’ll make it easier.”
I slumped into the seat next to Brea and waited for our next move. Both Brandon and Catch climbed from the truck and were gone for what felt like an eternity. When they finally returned, Brandon opened my door and lifted my limp arms to wrap around his neck. He easily pulled me from the truck and curled my body against his. He whispered as quietly as possible, “Stay limp. I don’t know where our escorts are.” I nodded in silent agreement as he climbed up the stairs to the patio of Trevor’s cabin. The front door shut behind us and Brandon’s heavy footsteps pounded on the stairs to the second floor with Catch following.
“Night,” Brandon said quietly to Catch and continued down the hallway to the last room. “Okay,” he said when we got into the room and set me down. “I’m going to leave the light off.”
“Alright.” I fidgeted with my top, trying to figure out if I should strip down to my underwear or let him undress me. We both knew what we came here for, but being ready for it was a different story. Earlier, the thought of coming to his room was exciting, daring, and even amazing… but as I stood in the darkness, it didn’t seem so amazing. It seemed careless.
Two sharp thuds made me jump, until I realized Brandon took off his boots. I slid out of my tennis shoes, and then my jeans. At least the dark sav
ed me from him watching my every move and curve of my body. That’s when the reality of the situation set in. He wasn’t my first kiss or first love, but I was definitely his. And I’d be his first time. He already told me, it just never set in until now. Dread set in. My first time with Nate Randall was horrible, I hoped Brandon wouldn’t think that of me later.
Brandon came to my side and wrapped his arms around me. “I can take you back to your cabin,” he said and I wondered how he knew my nerves were shot, and how come his weren’t. Then again, Lily told me she could feel a shift in Matt’s emotions, so maybe he could feel mine.
“No, I want to stay with you.” My heart would not let me leave him regardless of what my head told me.
“Are you sure?” His breath warmed my face.
Brandon’s unique earthy scent filled my lungs and clouded my head. He didn’t let me answer. He kissed me like it would be the last kiss of our lives. The only kiss that ever mattered in the entire world; one laced with equal parts of love and lust. My need for him grew stronger and stronger with every brush of his lips to mine, every mingling of our tongues, and every beat of his heart through my thin shirt. A shirt that had to go, and did, quickly into a heap on the floor somewhere in the darkness.
Abandoning all doubt and fear, I let him lay me back on the bed; it creaked and moaned in response to the weight of our bodies. No pain, no remorse, and no war could have existed in the world with these feelings sending electric currents rushing through every inch of my body. My skin and muscles filled with excitement, but my head remained calm and peaceful—clouded with a euphoria that wouldn’t subside.
“Try to concentrate on staying out of Haventon,” he said in between fevered kisses to my neck. “I can’t fight it by myself.”
“It took all that time for us to get there, now you want me to block you out?” I asked, confused.
“No, don’t block me out again. But if this is going to happen here, instead of in Haventon, we have to fight not to let it overtake us. I can’t do it by myself. That light headed feeling is the portal opening, you have to push that part back to stay here with me.” His tongue ran up the length of my neck, intensifying the fog in my brain. “Lacey, concentrate.”