by SJ West
“I wouldn’t mind getting a little lip action going on with her,” Rayden declares as he goofily kisses the air in an extremely disturbing and graphic interpretation of him making out with Liana.
“My eyeballs feel totally violated right now,” Keelan says as he watches Rayden with a mixture of horror and morbid fascination on his face. “Please stop doing that before I begin to reconsider our friendship.”
Rayden does stop and shrugs his shoulders. “I’m just saying. I wouldn’t be opposed to some face-to-face time with Liana. It’s not like she has a boyfriend.”
“She is way out of your league,” I inform my friend. “Besides, her dad wouldn’t let you get within a ten-foot radius of her now.”
“Why’s that?” Rayden asks.
“Because he was staring at you like you had lost all your marbles while you were kissing the air,” I inform him, finding a reason to laugh as Rayden cautiously looks around until he spots Uncle Malcolm standing over by the other end of the glass buffet table staring at him warily.
“Oh well,” Rayden says with a deep sigh. “I guess I can scratch ‘becoming the king of a cloud city’ off my wish list.”
“That would probably be the smart thing to do,” I agree. I try to refrain from laughing at my friend’s expense, but I fail miserably.
I catch sight of Liam and Liana walking through the dancing crowd toward us. Right before he left, Liam asked me to cover for him and his sister in case they didn’t make it back before their parents realized they were gone. He told me he had to go get Liana from the down-world territory that his parents control. I didn’t have time to ask why she was there, but it really wasn’t any of my business. I understand Liana’s need to step out of her parents’ shadows and find her own way in life. If that requires making impromptu trips to the down-world every once in a while, I don’t see anything wrong with that. Liana’s more than capable of taking care of herself. Plus, she can phase somewhere safe instantaneously if she ever runs into trouble.
“I hear the birthday boy is about to get his present,” Liana says as she and her brother join us. She leans over and gives me a chaste peck on the cheek. When I look over at Rayden, I see the green-eyed monster of jealousy briefly take control of his expression.
“I was just waiting on the two of you before I told my mom I was ready for it,” I tell her.
I have to admit that Rayden is right about one thing: Liana is super hot. And if she wasn’t like a sister to me, I probably would have fallen for her hook, line, and sinker a long time ago. But as things are, that sort of relationship isn’t in the cards for us.
“Then hurry up!” Liana happily urges me. “I want to see your reaction to what they got you.”
“Do you know already?” I ask, confused how Liana could have found out what I’m getting before I even see it.
“I saw your dad yesterday in Stratus when Brutus had to rework my bracelet,” she tells me. “He told me what they got you.”
“I don’t suppose you would give me a hint,” I prod.
“And ruin the surprise?” Liana looks shocked that I would even suggest doing such a thing. “No way! I don’t tell other people’s secrets. You should know that about me by now.”
“Fine,” I say, feigning disappointment. “I guess I’ll just have to go find my mom and dad so they can show me what they got.”
“Wise choice,” Liana says as she winks at me. “We’ll wait here while you go get them.”
It doesn’t take me long to locate my parents since they’re standing right beside Liana’s mom and dad. My mom sees me first and smiles brightly. I love my mom. She’s always been the one person I can lean on whenever I need added strength. That isn’t to say that my dad hasn’t been there for me when I needed him, but my mother is the one I’ve always gone to for advice or a shoulder to cry on. Not once have I felt judged by her, only accepted. I can’t imagine having someone else as my mother because no one could ever take her place in my heart.
“I was wondering if my present is ready,” I say to her as I reach the small group of adults.
“Good question,” she replies, turning her head toward my dad. “Do you think it’s ready?”
“I think it should be,” he answers with a sly grin. “Why don’t you take everyone out back and I’ll bring it around.”
My mom walks over to me and loops her left arm around my right one. I see her hold up her free hand toward the band and wave. Instantly, the music stops, and the singer says into the microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, the royal family would like for you to join them in the back courtyard. Prince Callen will be receiving his birthday gift from his parents there.”
As we lead the way outside, I have a feeling I know what my parents’ gift to me will be. Almost all of my friends were given hover cars on their sixteenth birthdays. I was hoping that I would get one too, but every time I mentioned owning one, my parents always had an excuse ready for why I didn’t need a car just yet. I had basically given up on the idea until now. Since we have to go outside to see my gift, what else could it possibly be? I am a little too old to be getting a pony.
Just as my mom and I make it across the large veranda outside, I hear the whir of the hover car just before I see my dad fly it over the castle and land it directly in the middle of the courtyard. It’s a maroon Lazzarini 4400 with white trim and black and silver detailing. It’s able to seat four people and has falcon doors that swing upward. A clear glass dome covers the passenger cabin, and I see my dad smiling as he urges me to come over and take a closer look at my sweet new ride.
“Go on!” my mom urges me, practically pushing me to go down the stairs. “Go look at your gift!”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I run down the stone staircase and make it across the lawn with lightning speed. My dad opens the driver side door and steps down.
“Go ahead and get into the driver’s seat,” he tells me. “I know you’ve driven Gideon’s car, but this one has a few more bells and whistles than the one he owns.”
I climb into the car and listen patiently as my dad explains a few of the added features that this version of a Lazzarini has as compared to a base model. I almost tell him that he doesn’t have to bother because I already know all about them. Instead, I let him show me everything, even though I’ve been studying the specs of this particular model for months now. He seems to be enjoying telling me about the booster jets and emergency ejection seats so much that I don’t have the heart to say I already know how to use them.
“Well, that’s about it,” he tells me once he’s finished his explanations. By this time, most of my guests have already returned to the ballroom and resumed dancing. All but one.
“Why is Mom talking to Clarissa?” I ask my dad as I catch sight of the girl I’m interested in standing beside my mother as they have a friendly discussion on the veranda.
“I would imagine your mom’s stalling her to give you time to go over and ask her if she would like to be the first person to ride in your new car,” my father replies.
From the cheesy grin on my dad’s face, I quickly come to the conclusion that my parents had all of this preplanned to give me the opportunity to take the first step in asking Clarissa out. Sure, a car ride isn’t exactly a date, but it would give me the opportunity to be alone with her and work up the nerve to ask her out on one.
“Thanks, Dad,” I tell him as I hop down to the ground from the driver’s seat.
“When your mom mentioned you were having trouble knowing how to start a conversation with Clarissa, I thought a car might help you break the ice with her.”
“It’s perfect,” I say as I give my dad a hug. I try to make it a brief and manly one because I don’t want Clarissa to think I’m a wuss.
“Now go,” he encourages me. “I can tell your mom is running out of things to say to keep her talking.”
I make my way back over to where my mom is, but I don’t run. That would probably make me look a little too eager. I try to play it
cool as I walk over, and I purposely avoid making direct eye contact with either of them. I feel my dad walking slightly behind me. His presence gives me an added sense of comfort, because I know no matter what happens, he’s got my back. There are two people in my life I know I can always count on: my mom and dad. They’ve always been there when I needed them and even when I didn’t know I needed them, like now. If it wasn’t for their planning, I wouldn’t be about to talk to Clarissa or have the opportunity to ask her to go on a joyride with me in my brand new car. It’s a perfect setup.
“Here comes the birthday boy,” my mom says, looking relieved to have me take over for her. I’m sure she doesn’t have a whole lot in common with Clarissa, but she managed to hang on until I got here.
“Sweet ride, Cal,” Clarissa says, smiling coyly at me. “I would love to take a ride in it.”
Wow. This is easier than I thought it was going to be! I didn’t even have to say a word to get her to go with me.
I hold out my right hand to her and say, “I was hoping you would say that.”
Who knew I could be so smooth? Certainly not me. That’s for sure.
Clarissa continues to smile at me as she places her hand in mine. I grasp it gently to let her know she’ll be safe with me.
“Have fun!” I hear my mom say behind us as we walk away.
I turn my head and wave at my mom and dad, thinking that I have the coolest parents in the whole entire universe.
When we reach the car, I help Clarissa into her seat and make sure her safety harness is securely fastened.
“Thank you, Cal,” she says to me. When I look up into her eyes, I almost get lost in their warmth.
“You’re welcome,” I tell her. The moment seems to be taking on a more intimate tone than I expected, but I’m not about to complain.
I quickly make my way around the car and hop into the driver’s seat. Once I have my own safety harness on, I push the button to start the four engines, which will provide the lift needed to get the car off the ground and propel it through the air.
“Here we go,” I say, giving her a small warning before taking the wheel and pulling it toward me to lift us off the ground. Flying a hover car isn’t that difficult. Everything is pretty much controlled with the steering wheel. If you want to go up, you pull it toward you. If you want to go down, you push the wheel away from you. Obviously if you want to make turns, all you have to do is turn the wheel in the direction you want to go. Speed is controlled by two thumb buttons located at the two and ten o’clock positions.
During the past six months, Gideon has been teaching me how to operate a hover car. I wasn’t sure why he was bothering, since my parents made it clear I wouldn’t be getting one for my birthday. Now I understand that it was a misdirection. My folks must have told Gideon that I would be getting a car and asked him to show me how to drive one so I wouldn’t be spending precious time on my birthday learning how to do it.
“Where would you like to go?” I ask Clarissa as we hover over the castle.
“Can we go to the beach over there?” she asks excitedly, pointing to the area right off the cliff near the castle. It’s the same beach where I first met my Guardian Angel, Cade, on my fifth birthday. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. There have been times since then that I’ve wished he could come back and visit me. But from what he said, he is only allowed to come when I die so he can revive me. Although it’s really cool to know I have someone looking out for me like that, I’ve never felt the need to do anything reckless enough to kill myself just so I could see him again.
“Sure,” I reply, still keeping it cool so Clarissa doesn’t know how excited I am that she’s sitting so close to me. I definitely don’t want to come off as being a total stalker, and I know there are a lot of guys trying to get her to go out with them. As far as I know, she hasn’t accepted any of their offers yet. Rayden keeps telling me it’s because she wants to go out with me and no one else.
As I maneuver the car down to the beach, the wind current coming off the water causes us to unexpectedly lift into the air rather quickly. Clarissa lets out a tiny squeal of fear. I reach out and reassuringly squeeze her left hand, which is clenched tightly in her lap.
“Don’t worry,” I tell her calmly. “Everything is going to be all right. It’s just a little turbulence caused by the wind coming off the ocean. You’re perfectly safe. I’ve got this.”
Clarissa visibly relaxes after hearing my words, and the hand I’m holding unclenches. She turns it over so our fingers can intertwine in a comfortable hold.
“I trust you,” she tells me, squeezing my hand a little tighter as I slowly begin to lower the car to the patch of beach by the water.
Once we’re back on solid ground, I reluctantly let go of her hand so I can turn off the engines. Clarissa proceeds to take off her harness and swing open the door on her side.
“Do you know how to swim?” she asks me as her gaze travels to my wings. “Do your wings get wet in the water?”
“No,” I tell her. “They actually repel moisture.”
Clarissa smiles. “Awesome! Let’s go swimming!”
I’m about to tell her that I didn’t bring my swimming trunks, but I soon realize she isn’t concerned with what we wear in the water. In one quick motion, Clarissa strips off her white sleeveless dress and tosses it back onto her seat in the car. I have to admit that I stare at her in sudden awe as she stands in front of me clothed in only her white bra and underwear.
“Come on!” she urges me with a wave of her arm. “Let’s go!”
Before I can even force my mind to start thinking coherently again, she runs toward the beach squealing with glee as soon as her feet hit the water. Having no other choice, I get out of the car and take off my own shirt and pants. It seems rude not to join her. If I ask her to put her clothes back on, she might take it the wrong way and call me a prude. Thankfully, I wore my black boxer shorts today. They can pass for swimming trunks in a pinch.
After I toss my clothes back onto the driver’s seat, I casually walk over to where Clarissa is standing knee-deep in water and again marvel at her exquisite beauty.
She grabs my hand and pulls me farther into the water with her.
“Come on!” she urges me. “Let’s go out a little deeper and swim.”
I silently follow her lead. She only lets go of my hand when the water becomes too deep for her to stand upright. We proceed to swim a few feet out and stop to turn and look at one another as we both tread water.
“So,” she says as she looks at me, “I heard a rumor that you like me. True or false?”
I laugh nervously. “And who did you hear that rumor from?”
Clarissa shrugs her shoulders slightly. “A friend. Now, answer the question, Prince Callen.”
“I’ll answer it if you answer one of mine first,” I counter.
Clarissa smiles. “Okay. Ask away.”
“I heard a rumor that you like me. True or false?”
Clarissa laughs and shakes her head. “That is so not fair. I thought you were supposed to be noble and gallant. Why would you make me tell you how I feel first?”
“Oh, so you do feel something for me?” I tease.
“True,” she answers, still smiling.
I remain silent for a moment, trying to decide if it’s a good idea for me to admit my feelings for her so openly. The worst thing she can do is mock me, but I don’t think that’s her plan. So I decide to go all in.
“Yes,” I say, watching for her reaction as I start to say the rest of my answer, “I do like you. I like you quite a bit, actually.”
“Why?” she questions with her head tilted to the right slightly. “Is it just because I’m pretty?”
“That definitely helps,” I tell her, wanting to be completely truthful, “but it’s mostly because of how you make me feel when you look at or talk to me.”
“How do I make you feel?” she questions, sounding intrigued to hear my answer.
“When yo
u look at me, I feel like someone important enough to catch the eye of a girl who can basically have any guy she wants in school, and when you smile at me, I feel like the world is full of possibilities. I just have to be brave enough to take them.”
Clarissa swims a little closer to me, and I see her checking out my arms.
“Are you strong enough to keep us both afloat if I wrap my legs around your waist?” she asks unexpectedly.
I have to swallow hard before I can answer. “Yes.”
Clarissa loops her arms around my neck and proceeds to wrap her legs around my waist, just like she said she would.
She leans her face in close to mine and whispers, “I want to give you my gift now, Cal. Would you like to know what it is?”
I swallow hard a second time but find that my mouth is completely dry, and I can’t utter a single word. Instead of answering her question verbally, I simply nod my head in response.
“I also heard a rumor that you haven’t kissed a girl yet. Is that true?”
Again, all I can do is nod.
Clarissa smiles as if she’s pleased with my answer. “Then allow me to give you your first kiss. I hope you remember it for the rest of your life.”
Clarissa leans in even farther until her lips are pressing gently against mine. Her mouth is soft and warm, and the lavender scent from her perfume seems to surround me like a heady fog. As I try to keep us afloat, I feel Clarissa press her tongue against the seam of my lips, taking full control of our first kiss and coaxing me to open up to her. When I do, I feel the silky smooth warmth of her inside my mouth and forget how to breathe for a few seconds. As she continues to coax me into a deeper kiss, I faintly wonder how she became so good at it, but I quickly push that thought aside for now. I’m not going to ruin my first kiss with senseless jealousy.
It’s only when I feel one of Clarissa’s hands move away from the back of my neck that her experience with boys becomes evident. At first, her hand simply glides over my right shoulder and down my chest, leaving a sensitive trail along my flesh. When her hand dips below the water, I don’t think too much about it until she slips it into my underwear and slides her fingers against the most private part of me.