by Holly Hood
“That’s not a problem. I brought you another.” Kidd tossed Slade something, hopping in the front seat. Slade grinned, fingering the small metal.
“I don’t know what I would do without you, Kidd.” He worked the ring back into his lip. I watched with much interest. So happy to be looking at him, even if it was when he was shoving metal into holes on his body.
“Your hair, you changed it.” His fingers slid through my long locks, his eyes growing serious as he looked at me. I hoped he wasn’t unhappy with my new hairstyle. “You look even hotter.”
I grinned. “You haven’t changed at all.”
Slade gave me a quick nod. “It’s hard to change perfection.”
I laughed at his overconfident joke. “Maybe we should get into the car before they leave us here.” I looked between him and the car. “I’d hate to be stranded.”
Slade brushed my hair away from my shoulder, leaning in and stealing one more kiss from my lips. Finally he broke our lip lock looking into my eyes. “So we make a broom or car or something to take us back, who cares.” He shrugged, his fingers toying with my lips. I smiled again like a giddy school girl.
“I care. Besides, I haven’t figured any of that out. I can make pudding cups though.” I smiled at the crafty little spell I performed at Dad's house.
“Go big or go home.” He smirked. “After you,” he said letting me climb into the backseat.
The first couple minutes of the car ride were filled with a thick silence. It didn’t take long before Karsen was doing what she did best.
Karsen twisted around in her seat. “So Slade,” She pushed her blonde hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes locked on his every move. She ignored my glare, concentrating on Slade and Slade only. “What did Tucker do that made you pound his face in?”
I linked my fingers with Slade’s wishing for the best. He squeezed my fingers, stroking them with his thumb. “I have my reasons.”
The way Slade spoke was enough to make any normal human being back off. However, not Karsen, she wasn’t afraid of his cold demeanor.
“Care to elaborate, you are with my best friend or are you?” Karsen gave him an innocent enough smirk. I knew her well enough to know she was simply being a bitch.
“No, I don’t care to elaborate. I’m quite fine with you assuming I’m the loser you already made me out to be.” This ended anymore arguments coming from Karsen. She quickly turned to the front. Kidd shot Slade a look from the rearview mirror. It wasn’t one that told us he was mad that Karsen was upset. It was more a look that showed he understood where Slade was coming from. I could tell Kidd and Slade would always be friends no matter what. I just wondered if I could say the same for Karsen and I. If she continued being such a bitch to Slade, she was going to make it easy for me to wash my hands of her.
NICE TO SEE YOU
I didn’t bother even looking at Karsen as I climbed out of the back seat of Kidd’s car. I slammed the door and stood in the middle of Henry Park with my arms crossed.
Slade shut his door and leaned into the Kidd’s driver-side window. “Thanks, buddy. See you in a bit."
Slade took my hand leading me up to the Rv. I wondered if anyone was home. If I was going to see Lucy or Erica, I hadn’t seen anyone in a long time. I wondered how Lucy was doing since I had left, or if she was willing to share any witchy secrets with me.
Slade turned the knob pushing the door open. I looked around as soon as I stepped inside. It was dark and empty. Old plates scattered on the table, dishes in the sink. The stale smell of cigarettes hung in the air. “Where is everyone?”
Slade pulled the door shut before he answered. “Lucy got a house while you were away.” He slid into the seat around the table. “Kidd, Erica, Oz and Lucy all moved out a while ago.”
“What about you,” I asked, taking a seat across from him. Why hadn’t he gone with them?
“What about me,” Slade asked back. He dropped his hands to the table, giving me a look. The kind that said I really don’t get you. As if I should just understand why he was now alone with the rv and his family was living happily in a house.
“They just left you here?”
“They didn’t leave me. I don’t know if you know this, but I was in jail for a week.” He smirked.
I sighed, looking away from his penetrating gaze. His eyes were enough to make my heart beat right out of its chest. I pushed my hair out of my eyes. Slade worked himself out of the seat. His fingertips tugged my face to him. I finally looked up.
“Are you upset that I wasn’t there when you got home?” he asked. I stood up, working my way underneath his muscular arms. He drew them around me and squeezed me tight, his chin gently pressing on the top of my head.
School took me away from Slade for too long—much too long. And now all I wanted was the contact more than anything. Hearing his voice every day for months, but never having him next to me was tough—especially not knowing why he never cared to visit.
I shook my head. “No, I’m not mad. After everything Tucker put me through last year how could I be?"
“So then kiss me.” He moved in, his lips searing into mine. He drug his shirt over his head, his lips leaving mine for mere seconds. Slade slid his fingers through my hair, guiding my head every way he saw fit; his tongue trailed against my mouth. He smiled at the soft moan that escaped my lips and gently bit down on my bottom lip.
His fingers dug into my sides. The pressure of his fingertips gave me pleasant goose bumps as his fingers gripped flesh. He worked his thumbs gently back and forth across my waist, to my navel, and then hit every slight indent of my ribcage. “Your even hotter than the last time I seen you.”
I smiled, pleased he was complimenting me. It was nice and not something Slade did a lot, even to me, his girl...friend, if he even considered me that. I figured he did seeing I was the only girl he talked to. Even Kidd referred to me as his girl. And not a lot of guys told you they loved you. Although he only said it once, and we never talked about love again. “So are you,” I murmured, trailing my hands down the length of his chest, to his abdomen, and then they vanished. Slade’s reaction told me my journey lower was welcomed. He steered me toward the hallway that led to his bedroom. I kept up with his kisses.
He fumbled with the doorknob shoving the door open and kicking it out of the way. We fell down on his bed. Our bodies bouncing against the force, Slade crawled on top of me. I bit my lip, the sight of his body doing all kinds of crazy things to me.
He pushed into my legs, his knee parting mine. I closed my eyes as his hands slid up my thighs, his fingertips tracing the zipper of my shorts making me shudder. But just when I thought, he was about to undo them. He dropped down, pressing himself against me, his breath on my neck, his lips making me melt. I was putty in his hands for sure. I told myself to pull it together. This was the first day back; I needed to keep up not act like an amateur. I had slept with him before I could hang—or so I thought.
His tongue slowly glided against my jaw line, my breath hitched. He returned to my mouth, dipping his tongue in and making my heart beat a thousand beats per second. I squeezed my eyes tighter, moaning softly and then louder at every suck of my bottom lip. At every thrust of his hips against my body, I tried tugging my own shorts down, but his hand stopped me. “I haven’t seen you in months. We are going to take our time.”
I sighed, sure we hadn’t, but didn’t that make him want me more?
He brushed his cheek against mine, breathing in my hair. “You smell good.”
I nodded, waiting for more. More touching, more kissing, more Slade, he trailed a finger against my lips. I kissed it. “I missed you.” I admitted.
“I hope so.” He rolled over, lying down next to me on his bed, his fingers brushing against my hipbones, gliding softly back and forth. “How was college?”
I scrunched my nose. “I don’t want to talk about college. Let’s do more kissing.” I leaned in, laying a kiss on his lips.
Slade traced my lip w
ith his thumb sending shivers up my spine, his lips intoxicating, and his touch enough to make me forget every god-awful thing that happened recently.
“Did you miss me?” I whispered, in between kisses. Oh how I hoped he would say that he did.
“I thought you said you wanted to do more of this?” Slade interrupted, his fingers tangling with my hair; familiar butterflies swam in the pit of my stomach.
His fingers gently pried the button of my shorts. He tugged them down my legs. He pressed himself into me, his hand holding my jaw in place as he stole kiss after kiss away from me.
“Did you miss me?” I asked again, turning my head to the side to break free long enough to allow him to answer. I wanted to give him a chance to express his feelings. To tell me being away from me was just as hard for him as it was for me. But, the eerie silence that filled the room proved otherwise.
I told myself that it was just the way Slade was. His eyes darkened. He scanned mine, searching for the issue. The reason behind the stop to our intimate moment, the one we both had been waiting for, for months now.
His lips caressed my earlobe, “I’m glad your back, if that’s what you're searching for.”
I smiled against his soft lips. He ran his lips across my cheek and down my throat. His teeth grazed my jaw line, sending prickles of excitement through my skin. He undid his jeans, working his way out of them. Finally, the familiar feel of his skin against mine was back. My fingers stroked the muscles of his biceps.
Slade hooked a finger through my panties and tugged them aside. I closed my eyes at the feel of him against me. The slow tease was enough to have me scream as he worked his hips in circles, but never gave me what I wanted.
Slade kissed me gently, running his knuckles against my cheek. I pressed my cheek against his inhaling the earthy scent that always reminded me of him. His hands skimmed up my body, tugging at my shirt and releasing me from my bra. I closed my eyes at his touch, the way his hands caressed every part of me made my entire body catch fire. He traced my collarbone with his skillful fingertips.
Finally, when I thought, I was going to lose it right there he pushed my legs apart, and sunk slowly into me. I gripped his back, arching my own, thankful he was taking it little by little because it had been awhile. He kissed my hair, moving in and out steadily my body matching his every move and wanting more, I dug my nails in his back, biting at his neck.
Slade took my hands, pinning them above my head, ending my attempt at clawing him. He picked up pace, biting at my neck with every delicious thrust, going from slow and careful to hard and animalistic, and I liked it.
“How much did you miss me?” Slade breathed. He kissed me, his kiss deepening. I moaned against his mouth. “Let’s hear how much.” He took hold of my hair tugging my head backwards. I let out a blissful moan, close to letting go and losing it. He thrust harder not letting me give up, forcing my body to surrender to him.
I bit my lip, falling apart around him. He crushed my hand in his grip, pinning it down into the mattress as he released, his body slowing. There was a tap on the door. I pushed into Slade’s chest trying to gain his attention. But he wasn’t interested in the door. He was ready for another round.
“Knock knock.” A strange girl said from the doorway in a cheerful tone. She was wearing jean shorts and a pink tank top, with a head full of really blonde hair.
Slade closed his eyes, pressing his head into my forehead. He sighed loudly. Clearly, he was disturbed with the unforeseen visitor. He pulled out, getting up—naked. The petite blonde didn’t blush or even bother to look away. She concentrated on me now. I covered myself with the comforter.
“Could we get some privacy, whoever you are?” I snapped, really, someone needed to learn some manners.
Slade zipped his jeans and shot her a warning glare. She threw up her hands and left the room. I dropped my feet off the side of the bed. I wasn’t sure what to say. Some blonde just caught us in the act, some blonde also found it okay to traipse right into Slade’s home and check on him. Who was she?
I turned around, slipping my arm through my shirt. “Who is that?”
Slade lifted the blanket searching for his shirt. “Audrey. That is Audrey.”
“Who is she?”
“A friend of the family,” Slade replied, taking off out of the door. Leaving me to collect my shoes, it got under my skin that he was so short with me once little miss Blondie came bounding into the room.
I sucked it up and headed outside. There she stood, toying with her shiny blonde hair, one hand gripping her tiny hip, the other extending a finger in the direction of Slade as he sauntered toward her with very little enthusiasm. “What do you want, Audrey?”
She pursed her pink lips together. “A girl isn’t allowed to say hello?” Her voice was smooth and sweet sounding. But the haughty glean her eyes danced with told me there was nothing sweet about her. I took a seat on the stairs.
“Barging in, and hello are two different things.” Slade crossed his arms, his biceps straining under his T-shirt. She smirked at the sight of them proving she noticed them just the same as I had.
“Oh how I missed your attitude this week since you’ve been behind bars. So mean and brooding. It’s very fitting,” she said with a dazzling smile. “I’m Audrey. I’m not sure if Slade told you about me.” She looked between the two of us. “Or if he’s had the time. Audrina as in the daughter of the coven that gave Slade and his family their lives back. He likes to forget that sometimes.”
I swallowed. “I thought those men were all dark and creepy?” I shut my mouth, as soon as I noticed the evil glare Audrey was giving me. She wasn’t amused. “I mean… no, he never told me about you.”
Audrey winked. “Witchcraft is dark and creepy. However, I have always been a fan of femininity. Just because I am a witch doesn’t mean I am going to embrace the dark side of fashion.”
I shook my head. Slade sighed, cutting into the showdown going on between the two of us. “So cut to the chase and tell me what you’re here for.”
Audrey nodded toward me. “I heard the girl who you thought was worthy of our witchy ways rolled into town. I had to see for myself.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I cut in. I wasn’t sure why I felt it necessary to explain myself. I just didn’t want Slade getting in trouble for what I had become.
“It doesn’t matter what it’s like. What’s done is done. And now I am here to show you the ropes. Teach you the rules.” Audrey smiled.
“What do you mean rules? I wasn’t informed of rules.” I stared at Slade. He kept his mouth shut.
“Of course there are rules. There are rules to everything in life, right Slade?”
WELCOME PACKET
I laced up my running shoes on the front porch of my house. It was super early. Everyone I knew was still asleep. And after a night like last night, there was no way that I was going to be in my bed.
I had taken up running while I was away at college. It was a way to break free from the monotony and to clear my head. Being away at school I felt more alone than ever before. I had no parents, no friends, and no loyal furry friend. It was just me in a sea of kids whom I never met before in my life.
Aside from the late-night phone calls from Slade and the occasional drunk dial from Nona, life was boring. Dad only called when he was checking up on me. He didn’t call to talk or see how I’d been. He just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t mugged or lost on campus. It was his way to keep me from feeling bad for being away. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.
I shoved the ear buds to my loyal iPod into my ears and headed down the porch steps. Turning on my favorite running tunes, Kelly Clarkson, my feet hit the runner’s path in sync with Stronger as it flowed through my ear buds.
The sun at my back was glorious. Its warmth made me feel safe and secure. Like nothing else in the world mattered.
I steadied my breathing, the wind whipped my hair against my back. I picked up speed dodging seagulls gathered on the path as I
ran.
I still was upset that my homecoming was ruined by jail breaks and uninvited guest.
Who was this Audrey? Why did she think she had the right to fill me in on anything? She knew nothing about me. So what if she was the daughter of the witch who brought Slade back to life. What did that have to do with me and my current situation?
I swore the next time I saw her, I would tell her just that.
I lifted my head, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes fell on the one person I did not want to see.
She smiled. Audrey. There she stood on the runner’s path. I tugged the ear buds from my ears. Oh how I hated her sweet little smile.
“Good morning,” she said.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. I walked around her, letting the ear buds sway as I started jogging again.
“It’s nice to see you too.” She kept pace. I gave her a once over. She was wearing short shorts of the hot pink hue and a white sports bra. Her hair in a high pony tail and her cheeks dashed with a soft salmon-pink blush. If it wasn’t for her odd personality, I would have admitted she was angelic.
“The ropes, don’t you remember I said I would show you them?”
I frowned. I was hoping she was kidding. I didn’t want to learn magic from a girl like her. I didn’t trust her; there was only one person I trusted when it came to magic. And that was Slade.
“It’s okay. I understand your apprehension with me. You have absolutely no idea who I am.” This grabbed my attention. I stopped jogging, standing in the middle of the path waiting for her to say more.
“Your right I don’t. All I know about you is that you like barging in on people in awkward situations,” I replied dryly. She ruined my moment with Slade. The first sexual encounter I had with him in months.
“There’s always next time. Right?” She winked. “How about breakfast? My treat."
I tugged the rubber band from my hair. Did I really have a choice in eating with her? I wasn’t sure.