by C. G Leigh
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask in awe. This guy has some nerve
He moves his head away from my neck, “You’re sexy when you’re angry, you know that?”
“What?” He dips his head down to mine and places his lips on mine. Completely catching me off guard, he’s gentle, yet, firm. I find my eyes shuttering closed as my hands move up to his head, my fingers running through his hair.
He pulls away, and I find myself not wanting him too. He grins, dinner’s soon, as much as I would love to ravish every single part of you. People might get a bit suspicious and I am a gentleman.”
I let go of him, my legs standing, “Don’t do that again.” I say pointing at him firmly.
“You didn’t have any complaints when it was happening.” Not I didn’t
“Yeah well I do now, and that can’t happen again, got it,” I say planting my hands on my hips.
He holds open his door for me, “Sure Darlin it won’t ever happen again.” He bites his lip, definitely watching my ass as I make my way across the hall. I turn back to him, “Never again.” He holds up his hands, “I’m a gentleman, remember.”
It doesn’t take me long to clean up, the dining room is lit up by the sounds of laughter. Shep comes in behind me, smirking. Ahh if only he could be hideous
Everyone stops eating to look at me, "Gemma won't you take the seat beside me?" Anna requests. I nod, moving to sit beside her, Shep takes the seat across from mine in between Ray and Charlie.
"Where's Baby gone?" Shep asks looking around for Lex.
"Where do you think?" Anna asks, giving him a questioning gaze.
"Reese,” everyone at the table chimes.
I look around confused, "Reese is a friend of Lex's, well don't let either of them hear you say that, but we all know they're secretly in love with each other, they're both just too stubborn to admit it,” Anna explains. More questions come to my mind, but before I can voice any Anna interrupts my thoughts.
"Gemma Madgi has something he'd like to say to you", she says, drawing my attention to the man beside her, Shep's Dad.
He clears his throat, "Thank you honey, I just wanted to say that it was a brave thing you did today fighting that werewolf even though you owe us nothing and so thank you.”
You’re thanking me for killing, maybe this place is more like Huntington than I thought?
I nod, "You're welcome, just out of curiosity how often do these werewolves come a knockin?"
Madgi places a protective hand on Anna as if sensing the conversation worries her.
"Just once every few months they live deep within the woods, once they get a whiff of us here though it's all bets off.”
Shep sees my confusion, "Because no lycan would assist the witch in turning her lover she imprinted a natural dislike and hatred for lycans into her lover, which has carried on to all werewolves.”
"Aren't you supposed to have an infinity tattoo?" A little boy sitting a few seats away asks.
"Jed you hush,” a woman that looks similar enough to be his mother chastises him.
I smile nicely at Jed, "Only full fledged hunters who have gone through the rites have them.”
"What's that?" He asks, looking interested.
"It's when students of Huntington nearing the end of their training go to a Council of our elders known as the Creed and they swear a blood oath of allegiance. It's basically when a Hunter swears that they will protect innocents until the day they die. Then we have an infinity symbol branded into our skin so we'll always remember,” I explain.
"Remember what?" He asks excitedly.
"That we'll always, no matter what, protect innocents over anything else. A vow that only ends when we die,” I add looking at Jed very seriously, this is something that no hunter takes lightly.
Everyone sits quietly looking at me, no one uttering a single word, just staring at me. For once I think they may understand, understand us hunters.
"Would you have done it?" Shep breaks the silence, drawing my eyes to him and for a moment, for just a second I allow myself to remember, before I learned all that I have, when I still had a set purpose.
"Done what?" I feign ignorance. Please don’t ask
Looking at me like he can see right through me he asked, "Would you have stood in line, waiting for some old men in robes to brand you? Would you follow their ideals with blind allegiance and kill vampires, even if they gave no sign of aggression?"
I wish I could say that my answer would be no, that there was no way I would just kill vampires, kill people, but that is what my blood was made for. What my bones and skin and every fiber of myself was supposed to do, it was my future and I would have been brilliant at it, now I don't know what I'll do.
My eyes meet his, "I wouldn't have waited in line, I would have been first.”
THIRTEEN
No one moves, no one speaks, not a hair slips out of place as they all share a look. I expect insults to be hurled my way, dirty looks at the least. Maybe even an attack or someone throwing something at me, but no, instead, they do something far less predictable. In fact, as far from what I have been expecting as they can all get. They laugh, all of them, sharing amused looks and even Shep cracks under the pressure and smiles.
"What's so funny?" I ask, crossing my arms.
Anna places a hand on my shoulder, all the while laughing, "Oh you my dear are going to fit in around here just perfectly"
As everyone around me continues laughing and chatting their laughs become contagious and I cannot stop the slight smile that makes its way onto my face. I can't help feeling something, something strange that I have only ever felt with my grandparents, I feel almost, maybe, no definitely, at home here in this moment with these unique individuals.
Later, Shep leads me upstairs to my room, "Tomorrow I need to go out to the fields so I'll be waking you up early, have sweet dreams Darlin. Unless you want to forgo your stance on never again and join me?" A little flare appears in his eyes.
I blush, "I hate when you call me that", I half heartedly whine, trying to change the subject.
Yes, take me back to your room
Despite my own thoughts, I open my own bedroom door, face planting on the bed in exhaustion. Hands gently work to remove my shoes, my blanket is pulled over me. For a brief moment, I feel a hand touching the side of my face moving some of the hair away.
It seems strange that I was taught my entire life always to be on alert, but I am able to sleep so soundlessly, so effortlessly without much thought here.
As night changes to day, I dream of the white doves again, but this time things are different, it is no vampire they are fighting. The Creed are standing watching me, just watching me, until they charge me and the doves each come to perch on my shoulders. One on each side, waiting protectively, for some reason they give me comfort.
I'm jolted from my dreams in the bright and early hours by the sound of a throat clearing. I reach up clearing the crust from my eyes slightly disoriented by the light. Gaining focus, my eyes meet those of one Shepard Greybane. He smiles, a hint of a smirk on his face.
"What?" I question wanting to know what could possibly be so hilarious as to mare his face with a smirk and that would cause him to wake me from my slumber.
"Vampire hunter in training, huh?" he says, looking at me doubtfully.
"I am,” I look at him annoyed. I'm really not a morning person, what's he getting at?
"It's just that for a vampire hunter, you’ve had an awfully easy time falling asleep under a house full of people you've never met before,” he looks at me almost daring me to argue.
So I take the immature approach, "Oh shut up, I can’t believe you woke me up this early,” I throw the pillow that had only moments ago supported my head straight at his face.
He catches it, "Hmm I guess over at that Academy of yours they didn't teach you to throw.”
Annoyed, "Get out,” I yell reaching for another pillow.
He chuckles, hurrying out the do
or, just as the door closes a pillow smashes into it, doing nothing to silence the laughing on the other side. "Get dressed will you? We're going to the fields, remember?".
"Stupid lycan thinks he can tell me what to do.” I glare at the door. He peeks his head back in, “I promise next time I wake you up I’ll do it in a more pleasurable way,” he winks.
“Why you,” I grab a shoe from the floor and throw it at the door, just missing his head as he slams the door shut.
I march to the closet pulling out a pair of jeans and a shirt. Going to the bathroom I change, brushing my teeth and hair. When I finally finish I charge out, only to find Shep leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"Not a morning person?"
"Shut up,” I hiss walking past him as I head down the stairs. I hear him following behind me, laughing.
Descending the long staircase with quiet cautious steps, my mouth twinges upwards into a smile as I take in the sight of Anna.
She’s dressed from head to toe in mermaid memorabilia, "There she is my sweet little fawn, I take it you slept well my Shepherd should have seen to it?" She gives Shep a knowing look.
"Well we should be going before everyone's up,” he clears his throat and marches out the door giving his Mom a kiss on the cheek on the way out.
Anna smiles warmly, touching my shoulder as I pass by.
I don't know how I didn't notice before, but Sheps steps are almost double that of mine, he's fast. Before I even realize it he's standing by my side of the truck holding the door open for me to get in.
I stop, thinking, before choosing my words carefully, "Just because you're nice to me doesn't mean you're going to change my principles.”
With a genuine look in his eyes he asks, "Haven't I already?" Maybe
I ignore the question getting in and let the answer simmer in my mind, truthfully uncertain of the answer to it.
We drive in silence, neither of us having the stomach for conversation. Taking turns glancing at each other suffices for the short drive.
Stopping the truck near a huge pile of hay Shep gets out, I wait a few minutes before joining him. He works hard, knowing exactly what needs to be done and executing it without hesitation.
He gathers and ties the hay into blocks as I wander around, not too far from him, of course. But, just look at the beauty of the sunrise and the magnificence of nature when it's first waking up. The beauty of this place, could take anyone's breath away and may steal mine for good. “Here mom packed this,” Shep lays out a red blanket for me to sit on.
I take a seat and look off into this distance I feel only a moment go by, but in reality it is several minutes, "You seem like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders and no idea what to do with it,” he observes sitting down beside me.
"Am I that obvious?" I ask, truly not needing an answer.
Another moment goes by, Shep looks towards me hesitating and tries to choose his words carefully, "Is it because of your parents?"
"What do you know about that?" I ask harshly, pain and resentment in my words.
He looks pained, "I have exceptional hearing,” he trails off. I put two and two together, he heard the others and me talking, he knows the truth.
"Does anyone else know?" I ask my words cautiously.
He shakes his head, "Vampires are weak during the day their abilities are like humans they wouldn't have heard.”
Standing up, I turn away from him my body quivering in unshed tears, tears I refuse to allow. A gentle touch on my shoulder catches me off guard. Turning to look at him I ask the words that have been waiting on the tip of my tongue, "Are you going to tell them?"
He shakes his head, "I'd never, even though I think they deserve to know. That's your burden to bear and I won't take it from you, not unless you ask me to.”
With a nod in his direction I move to sit back in my spot, it only takes a second for him to decide to sit back down beside me. "I was raised by my Grandparents, they were great, but growing up I always felt so angry, angry at what I had been told happened to my parents and Uncle. Everyone told me that vampires killed my parents, and that my Uncle Jonas was so traumatized that he shut himself away. He lives in a Psych Ward and hardly speaks or moves,” I don't know why I tell him this. Maybe some part of me thinks that I need to explain why I haven't told them, that I need to explain what my life has been like to lead me where I am.
"I'm sorry that your life has been so difficult. No one deserves to lose the ones they love, especially not when they're so young. I believe that your Uncle will come back to the world someday, he has a lot to live for,” he comments. His words touch me someplace deep, and I feel a few droplets escape my eyes.
"You know I didn't know hunters could cry,” he comments.
I scoff, "I wasn't crying,” I wipe the wetness on my cheeks away.
"Sure you were, what do you call all that nonsense there?” He taunts me almost begging for a fight.
"You are the most insensitive ass I have ever met, in fact I don't believe that you are a few hundred years old because if you truly were you might have learned a few things about women by now,” I slap his shoulder, glaring.
"There you are,” he says smiling fondly.
"What?” I question, surprised.
"I love the ire in you, the fire,” he moves a piece of hair out of my face, for some unknown reason I let him.
"You're insane,” I whisper looking away shyly.
"I think I'll kiss you,” my eyes rise in a fiery flood, both terrified and shocked.
I scoff, “What now?”
"Don't worry Darlin, I thought I'd let you know my intentions for the future, prepare you so no unfortunate accidents happen, you do have a track record for hurting the men who fancy you,” he gives me a knowing look and I fight the urge to blush.
I pray that my efforts have succeeded, "You Mr. Greybane are playing a very dangerous game. One that's likely to end badly.”
He laughs, "Haven't you heard Darlin? I'm quite attracted to danger. It makes my long life that much more interesting and you, you are a different kind of danger, one that I can't help trying to resist, but find myself failing at every turn”.
“How old are you again?” Sheep asks, giving me a dangerous look.
“Eighteen, why?” I look at him curious.
He moves closer to me moving a lock of hair behind my ear, “I want to make sure I’m about to legally corrupt you.”
“What are you?” I go silent as he kisses me hard like he’s trying to mesmerize my lips with his own. My eyes go wide, in shock. He kisses me, my eyes slide closed against my will as I fall under his spell.
His lips move against mine, and I get the idea trying to mimic his moves, responding to the kiss. I feel him smile against my lips.
He pulls away to my utter disappointment, “Has anyone ever touched you?”
I shake my head. No
“Words Gem, I need words,” he tilts my chin so our eyes meet.
“No,” I whisper shyly.
He moves in closer to whisper into my ear, “Do you want me too?” His lips brush against my cheek.
“Yes,” I say, not quite believing myself.
He smiles in awe, only giving himself a moment of disbelief before kissing me again and urging me to lay back on the blanket. I let him lay me down, his mouth moving to my neck suckling licking, gently biting. A weirdly pleasant combination. A few moans escape my lips. He pulls back his eyes, meeting mine as he pulls the bottom of my shirt up and over my head, discarding it to the side. He takes in my black lace bra, his eyes turning gold as his eyes devour me.
He asks with his eyes for further confirmation, and must see something in mine because he dives in. Reaching behind me he unclips my bra and pulls away to look down at me, “Darlin you are a work of art,” his lips descend on a nipple.
He sucks, and licks nipping the bud very gently. These new feelings driving me mad as he does the same to the other. Warmth pools below
, a feeling I’ve never felt before. I crave something that is so unfamiliar but needed.
I need him to keep touching me. He pulls back looking at me, “You’re fire Babe.” He moves back to my lips kissing me as his mouth explores mine, he brushes his tongue along my lips wanting me to open. His hands play with my nipples, as his tongue plays with mine. He pulls his mouth away, moving further down my body.
When he gets to my stomach he stops. I know he wants to keep going, “Can I?”
I nod, “Yes.”
He grins and his hand moves under my dress moving between my thighs. He keeps there caressing my thighs, urging me to spread my legs wider.