“Skye, are you alright?”
He stood where he was. He didn’t move. Skye was happy he didn’t. She wanted to be the one who did. She walked to him slowly never letting her eyes waver. She stared into his deeply. The fight inside of herself had finally ended. After months of debating on a course for her life she had decided. She let out a small breathless laugh. Even though Mike’s feelings had been clear, she still felt nervous.
“I realize that I’ve been of a miserable sort lately. I’ve been a down right party pooper. I’m sorry for that.” Skye suddenly felt a little breathless which shocked her.
“I understand. You don’t need to apologize to me.” Mike gave her his sincere smile. One he always had for her.
“I need to though. I let myself get dragged down by the past. I let myself stop allowing happiness into my life and that’s just wrong. Especially when I’m surrounded by those that I love.” She stopped as she stood right in front of him. She looked up at him amazed at how nervous she felt.
“We all understand, Skye.”
A strand of her hair was stuck in her eyelashes. She started to move it out of her way but his hand was there before hers. He softly brushed it to the side. His fingers slid across her cheek softly. She felt the heat branded on her skin where he had gently touched her. She closed her eyes to allow herself just to feel. When she opened her eyes he was waiting patiently.
“I’ve been broken. I’ve been a mess, not just recently, but during my whole life. I was so used to the darkness that I didn’t know how to allow myself to feel the light, the good. Kel brought it to my attention tonight that after we first came here and I cried for however long, that I actually forgot to be sad and I was just happy. I want that again. I don’t want to hold onto the bad anymore. I want to focus on the good. I’m choosing right now in this moment to be happy.” Skye was shocked at how true her words were. She felt the bricks that had been on her shoulders holding her down suddenly lift away.
“You deserve happiness. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.” Skye shook her head at Mike laughing softly. “What?” he asked confused.
“You! You are so understanding. You just stand by my side and support me no matter how selfish, mean, or crazy I’m being.” she said with a smile.
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m your friend.” he said.
“I’m not making sense am I?” she asked.
“Not always, but I try to follow.” he joked. Skye pressed her lips together deep in thought.
Mike was beginning to wonder what was going through her mind and Skye knew that. She decided to show him. She put her arms around his neck and gently pulled him down to her. She pressed her lips softly against his.
Mike gasped in shock, but his lips quickly caught up and kissed her back. Skye couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. She had imagined that kissing his lips would feel this wonderful and she had been right. He really was delicious.
Mike put his hands softly on her shoulders and gently pushed her back a little from him. Skye frowned slightly, a little shocked that he would push her away. He took a moment to look her in the eyes before he finally whispered to her.
“Are you sure? I don’t want this to be a pity thing, or…” he trailed off. Skye shook her head feeling ashamed of herself.
“There’s no pity. There’s nothing but what I want and what I need.”
“And that’s me?” Mike had to ask. Skye laughed gently and nodded.
“Very much so.” she responded.
“Just making sure.” He said quickly pulling her body against his. Mike kissed her with more passion this time. He allowed himself to let go and just feel with her. Skye met his passion with her own. She pressed her body harder against his. He lost his footing and they both tumbled to the soft ground and laughed.
“Well, that was smooth.” Skye mumbled as she giggled. Mike touched her cheek with his hand.
“I never claimed to be smooth.” Skye leaned down and let her lips gently brush his before taking his mouth almost roughly. He groaned into the kiss. Her enthusiasm excited him.
She ran her hands on his chest. His chest was rising and falling hard. He was breathing heavily and that made her feel powerful that she could make him feel that way.
Mike rolled Skye gently under him, placing one hand under her head to hold it gently as he kissed her. His tongue invaded her mouth in the most delightful way. Skye made a noise deep in her throat that Mike felt causing him to shiver all the way down his spine.
His hand slipped under the bottom of her tank top and slid gently until he was touching the top of her ribs. He stopped there. Skye felt frustrated and thankful at the same time. She wanted him to touch her, explore her, yet she also wanted him to continue to show the patience he seemed to be full of. He pulled his mouth away from hers, which was almost impossible for him to do.
“Is something wrong?” Skye asked embarrassed.
“Everything’s perfect. You’re perfect.” The way he said it made her feel that he really meant it. It almost brought a tear to her eye but she fought to remain in the moment with him.
“Mike…” She was at a loss for words. They both knew that was rare for her.
“You make me feel amazing and powerful. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Skye. All I’ve ever needed, which is why I can’t go any further with you tonight.” He forced the words out of his mouth even though they felt bitter coming out.
“You don’t want to…” she bit her lip nervously.
He let out a sharp laugh bending down to kiss her softly. She opened her mouth to him and wrapped her arms around him again pulling him closer to her, but he held his body firmly above hers. He kissed her nose softly then nodded.
“I want to. Believe me, I’m going to hate myself later for this but I think we should wait.” Skye blinked slowly processing his words.
“Really?” She had never thought she would hear a red blooded male actually say he wanted to wait to have sex.
“Did you come out here with the intention of sleeping with me?” he asked.
“No, of course not. I came out here to tell you I wanted to be with you.” Skye responded.
“Then be with me. Be my girl, my love. But that doesn’t mean we have to just jump into bed together, as much as I’d love to.”
“Love to, huh?” she asked with a huge smile. He laughed whole heartedly.
“Does my body seem to be saying no to you right now?” His question made her blush. The male species were not known for subtly when it came to being turned on. He touched her cheek loving to see the blush on her lovely face.
“Point taken.” she finally said. “You know my parents aren’t weird about the whole premarital sex thing right? From what I’ve learned about this place is love is given freely and cherished.” Although she felt her blush deepen, she no longer cared. Somehow she felt as if she were trying to convince him to continue. Part of her admittedly wanted to, but a bigger part of her knew she wasn’t ready.
“I know that better than you do, but that’s my whole point. I cherish you. I want to take my time with you. I want every second to count. I want every time I touch your arm,” he touched her arms with his fingertips leaving goosebumps behind, “or every time I touch your neck,” he kissed her neck softly and felt her gasp, “I want every time I do that, for you to want me more and more until we can no longer wait.” He smiled wickedly at her.
“So you want to drive me crazy first?” she said with a smile.
“Basically. Plus,” he said more seriously this time, “I want you to be sure of it.” Skye lifted her head to kiss him softly once, then let her head fall back down.
“Okay, tease.” He laughed at her response. He stood up and helped her stand. She looked into his eyes with a large smile.
“What?” he asked feigning innocence.
“You realize that I’m just going to do nothing but dream about you now right?” He laughed wrapping his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
“My evi
l plan is working then.” He kissed the top of her head as he simply held her close.
“I’m kind of embarrassed.” Skye admitted. He looked down at her.
“Why?”
“I basically attacked you tonight begging for it. I’m not usually so aggressive like that. Not sexually I mean.” He smiled at her words.
“I bring the beast out in you. Good to know.” She laughed at him.
“Keep patting yourself on the back why don’t you?” He took her hand in his and walked her slowly back to the house. She loved the feel of his fingers around her own. It made her feel special.
They got back to the house and when her parents saw them she flushed with embarrassment. They had leaves and grass all over them. They had forgotten to clean themselves off so it didn’t look like they just had a nice roll in the hay, or in this case garden. Her parents didn’t say a word or even look twice at them about it.
“Good night.” Her parents said to them as they walked up the stairs hand in hand.
Mike walked Skye to her room and when he kissed her this time he did it softly. His lips barely brushed against hers. When she went to grab him, he side stepped her with a laugh then walked across the hallway to his room. He paused once looking at her before slowly shutting his door.
Skye sighed and closed her own door. She was right. She did nothing but dream of him that night. In her dreams, every time they were making love there was a shadow in the corner watching them. Skye would gasp in the dream and try to see who it was but then Mike’s mouth would distract her and she forgot about the shadow.
She allowed herself to be lost in his embrace in the dreams, ignoring the shadow that she thought she heard crying softly.
Chapter Four
Maddox watched his father from the top of the staircase. He was surrounded by demons. Maddox wasn’t worried since it was a typical scene in his home but he realized they were all speaking in low tones. Secrets. Maddox shook his head. They were keeping secrets from him and he was not about to allow that ever again.
He walked down into the living room and stood beside his father with his arms crossed. His father and the other demons stopped talking and turned to look at Maddox. Maddox smiled, but it was not a happy smile. He was almost asking for someone to upset him.
“What’s going on now?” Maddox asked his father.
No one spoke at first. Several demons looked to each other slowly while others pretended not to hear him. Maddox found it amusing that demons were supposed to be master manipulators yet they were unable to lie well to him. He thought it was possible it was a gift he had at ferreting out lies because some others seemed to believe whatever lie was fed to him. Not Maddox though. He always knew.
“Maddox we are just having a meeting.” Luke said. Maddox laughed shaking his head.
“Lie to someone who believes that bull. When you have meetings you all are loud as hell. You never seem to mind cussing each other out, throwing things, and acting like babies. Yet today you all are basically in here whispering. Since when do demons need to whisper?” Maddox asked looking at them one by one.
“Son, just go on about your own business.” Luke said in a tone that said he knew that was not about to happen.
“I’m losing patience with having to repeat myself.” Maddox said looking at his father. “The only time you and your followers have ever whispered around me is when it involves Skye.” He noticed several men tense at her name.
“Maddox we can’t be open about Skye around you because you aren’t open minded about the subject.” Luke said with a sigh of frustration. “You let your feelings for the girl cloud your decisions.”
“Exactly what do I need to decide about her now? She’s gone. She has been gone for a long time and yet you are all still up her ass! Leave her alone.” Maddox warned them.
“We can’t simply leave her alone! She’s a threat to everything we are. She’s a threat to all supernatural creatures.” Luke yelled to his son.
“A threat? She left! She’s with her family! I don’t see how she’s such a threat when she’s never coming back!” Maddox stepped closer to his father. He let his arms fall to his sides as he squeezed his fists tightly. He tried to hold back from attacking his father once again. It seemed to be a common occurrence when Luke brought Skye up.
“She’s not here. That doesn’t mean she isn’t a threat. Prophecy says she will end our lives as we all know it. She has to be dealt with.” Luke lowered his head not able to look Maddox in his eyes.
Maddox looked around the room and saw the determination on the faces of the other demons. He looked at his father who seemed unable to look at him. Maddox opened his mouth shocked. He shook his head firmly.
“Any of you try to harm Skye then you will have me to deal with. Do you understand?” He yelled to them all then looked back at his father. “That means you too father. I will fucking kill you if you try to harm her.”
Luke looked up to his son with sadness in his eyes. The sadness shocked Maddox. His father never seemed to regret a decision he had ever made. Perhaps he knew this one would either lead to his own death or the death of his son. Maddox knew his own death would be the only thing able to stop him from defending Skye.
“She left you, Maddox. It’s time to let her go. I love you son but it’s too late to stop what will happen.”
“As long as she is breathing it will never be too late.” Maddox retorted. Luke shook his head.
“Others have already left to find her.” Maddox’s eyes went wide at his father’s words.
“They can enter her world?” Maddox asked.
“Yes, and may be there already.” Maddox turned toward the door to rush out but stopped and turned to look at the crowd watching him.
“If any of you get near her I will rip your heart out and shove it down your throat. That goes for you as well father.” Maddox roared at them quickly leaving the house.
He got into his car and sped as fast as he could to get to Skye’s grandmothers home. He had stayed away out of respect for Skye but now nothing could keep him from her. He pulled up to her house and jumped out of his car.
Nancy was standing in the back yard with Skye’s grandmother. They both paused seeing him approaching. Skye’s grandmother put her hand up.
“Stop demon or I will be forced to protect myself!” she said.
“I’m not here to hurt you.” Maddox said, but did as she said.
“What do you want?” Nancy spat at him.
“Nancy I realize you hate me for turning Skye against you when I lied about us having an affair, but I did that to help her. She would never let me go any other way.” he explained.
“Why did you want her to leave you?” Skye’s grandmother asked. “I thought you were supposed to love her.”
“I did, and do. I knew my father and his friends wouldn’t leave her alone once they found out what she was. I had to make her leave me so she would be safe. I could never actually cheat on her. I love her. I know I’m a demon but please I need your help.” Maddox said.
“What do you need?” Nancy was shocked to hear her ask him that.
“Other demons are after her. I was told they are going to enter her realm to… to kill her.” he said with a sigh.
“Is that possible Nanna?” Nancy asked.
“Technically anything is possible.”
“I thought only like beings could be sent there.” Nancy said.
“Not true. Only like beings can send themselves there. Have you forgotten I sent a demon with Skye?” Nanna said then looked to Maddox.
“You’re saying an elf sent demons there?” he asked.
“It’s the only way.” she responded.
“Who would do that? Who would want to hurt Skye?” Maddox asked shocked at the news.
“I don’t know.” Nanna said with a shake of her head.
“Send me there.” Maddox asked. “I need to protect her. If you send me I can keep her safe, I swear.” Maddox looked desperate.
; “I don’t know.” Nanna said looking down to her shaking hands and then back to him. “Come back to me tomorrow and I will have an answer for you. I’m going to try to communicate with her family first.”
“We may have no time!” Maddox said impatiently.
“I said tomorrow.” Nanna said then walked inside of her home leaving them.
“Why me?” Nancy asked. Maddox shook his head frustrated.
“You’re a siren. Sex is your power or gift, whatever you call it. I knew you would be an easy target. Look I’m sorry that you were upset to have Skye hate on you but I needed her so blinded by betrayal and hate that she didn’t have time to think it through.” he said shrugging his shoulders.
“If she thought it through, she would have known it wasn’t possible. I don’t like you and you have never liked me.” Nancy said looking at him crossing her arms.
“Let’s keep it that way.” Maddox couldn’t help but smile.
“No problem there demon.” Nancy turned and followed Nanna into the house.
Maddox stood in the yard for several minutes. He was at a loss of where to go. He didn’t want to see his father and he wasn’t welcome here. He got into his car and finally drove to the only place he wanted to be, Skye’s home.
While she was gone he had kept it clean and ready in case she did come home. As much as he feared she would never come back to Earth, he had to hope that she would. He also realized she would probably never forgive him, but that was okay, he would always love her.
When he entered her home he could still smell her there. He sat on her couch and picked up a shirt she had left on it. He felt like a stalker sniffing it slowly. Sugar. Skye was the sweetest candy in existence. She wasn’t his anymore. He put the shirt down with a groan.
He had to remind himself that if he hadn’t of lost her, she wouldn’t be gone right now. She was safer being far away from him. He knew that. Yet he thought of the possibility of seeing her soon if her Nanna sent him after her. He could save her. Would he tell her the truth? Would she even believe it? Would it make a difference?
Slivers of Skye (The Skye Chronicles Book 2) Page 4