Helios Awakened (The Helios Chronicles #1)

by Tawa M. Witko

  Madison watched him walk further into the water, momentarily stunned. She marveled at his back and shoulders which she just now had a full view of. They were shrouded with an elegant tribal tattoo that spanned the length of his shoulder blades and then went down in almost a triangle ending at his lower back before it wrapped around the entire right side of his body. Madison wasn’t normally attracted to men with tattoos but Andrew was different. He looked simultaneously sexy and wounded, sweet and dangerous, all wrapped up in one beautifully inked package.

  “You okay, SunDrew?” Madison said coming up next to him.

  He raised his brow in a curious manner and Madison shrugged. Andrew shook his head and laughed riotously at the craziness of the moment. They spent the next several hours, swimming, laughing and, of course, flirting with one another and in between all of that, they talked. It was the strangest sensation for both of them. Two people who rarely opened up to others, talking freely. Of course, they didn’t tap any of the hard core personal things. Neither was willing to go there just yet but both had the sense that they could when the time was right. Eventually, Callie and Jayden motioned to them that the food was ready. As they emerged from the water, Andrew once again wrapped his hand around Madison’s, holding it tightly as they made their way to the picnic tables.

  “Isn’t the water divine?” Callie asked, looking back at the lake.

  “It was perfect!” Madison said, thinking that her assessment was most likely related to the company she was in versus the water itself.

  “After lunch we’ll go ride!” Jayden said excitedly. He loved racing with Callie but she never wanted to go that fast. Andrew however, he believed would truly race him, something he missed terribly.

  “Definitely!” Andrew exclaimed with enthusiasm.

  Madison watched the exchange Andrew had with Jayden and grinned. Boys and their toys, she thought. Callie had grilled burgers while Madison pulled out her famous potato salad. When Andrew had asked what made it famous, she had winked and told him to try it. Andrew had to admit it was pretty darn good, the best he had ever tasted. Not that he was a connoisseur or anything but he knew good salad when he tasted it. While the ladies were making carefree conversation, the men were bouncing and on the edge of their seats, rearing to go. After an hour, Callie had enough.

  “Alright fine, let’s go!” Callie said with a roll of her eyes. She knew better than anyone that once Jayden wanted to do something he would be antsy until it happened.

  Jayden’s eyes shot over to her. “Really?”

  She laughed and both she and Madison stood up, gathering the remaining food and putting it away. As they all headed back to the lake, Andrew once again took Madison’s hand in his. Madison had not been one of those girls who enjoyed the whole PDA thing, thinking it was no one’s business but hers who she was with and what they were doing. But she was really enjoying this small and simple gesture that told her in no uncertain terms that he liked her and simultaneously told others that she was taken. As they approached the docking area they came upon two bright yellow jet skis.

  “Boy, those are something else,” Madison said as she and Andrew walked over to them. She then looked up at Andrew. “You sure you can handle that, Your Royal Sexiness?”

  Andrew shook his head laughing. “I can handle a lot more than this,” he said arching his brow.

  “Hmmm.” Was all Madison said as she slipped onto the back seat of the water craft.

  Andrew watched her and looked down, before looking back up at her with a sexy smirk that said he wanted her immensely. She mirrored his look and Madison knew without a shred of doubt that she had to have him. There was no denying what she was feeling for him and as he looked at her with want and need she knew he felt the same way.

  “I only have two lifejackets and I think the girls should wear them,” Jayden said, breaking both Andrew’s and Madison’s gaze.

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Thanks, Jay,” Andrew said, taking the life jacket from him and tossing it to Madison.

  “Really?”

  Madison looked between Jayden and Andrew who were both nodding at her. She didn’t want to wear a lifejacket. She wanted to wrap her arms around Andrew’s waist and feel his skin against hers. Andrew grinned when he saw Madison pouting about wearing the life jacket. It was definitely important. He and Jayden talked briefly about the operation of the Jet Ski and as Andrew expected, it wasn’t too dissimilar to a motorcycle. Once Jayden walked away, Andrew turned to Madison again. He smiled and made sure her life jacket was tightened before he threw his leg over the seat. She immediately brought her hands around his waist and locked her fingers together. Andrew looked down at the delicate hands touching his abdomen and swallowed thickly, unsure he could form words.

  “I won’t go too fast, Madison,” he finally choked out.

  “But what if I want you to go fast?” Madison whispered breathlessly. Andrew’s sharp intake of breath told her that he understood exactly what she was saying.

  “Hold on tight then,” Andrew answered with a smile as he turned the engine on and rode away from the dock.

  Madison felt exhilarated. Water was splashing up from all sides of her and she could feel the muscles in his stomach flex and move as he maneuvered the Jet Ski. She was way beyond aroused. Once he was out a good distance, he slowed down to wait for Jayden and Callie. Madison relaxed her grip and rested her forehead against his back, her breath labored. Andrew brought one of his hands down and placed it over hers, lacing his fingers with hers, both enjoying the tranquility of the moment.

  “So are we racing?” Jayden asked, pulling up next to them and forcing water to splash all over Andrew and Madison, breaking their connection.

  Andrew and Madison both laughed. Madison moved her hands away from Andrew and wiped the water off of her face, wondering if she and Andrew would eventually catch a break. Andrew turned his head slightly and winked at her.

  “You ready for this, lead foot?” he said with that wicked smirk that seemed to trigger the cat in heat within her every single time.

  “You bet your sweet ass I am.” Madison brought her hands around his waist and squeezed him tightly once more.

  They spent several hours racing around the lake and then the boys dropped the girls off to sun bathe while they raced some more. As Madison sat down on one of the towels she had brought, she smiled at the happiness she now saw on both Andrew and Jayden’s faces. You could tell they were having the time of their lives.

  “I haven’t see Jayden laugh so much in ages,” Callie said solemnly.

  “Really? Wow! He kind of seems the type that would be laughing all the time.” Madison was curious what could make someone with such a carefree spirit feel so somber.

  “He normally does but the last few years have been difficult. After he got hurt he felt a little lost. Plus...” Callie looked down, “some bad things happened a few years ago.”

  Madison looked at Callie’s gloomy face unsure what she should say. “I’m sorry,” she stated with hesitance. Sorry sounded so insincere. “I know we don’t know each other that well but I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

  Callie smiled. “Thanks Madison, maybe some other time. I don’t want to put a damper on today.” She then glanced at Brie and her friends, “You’re probably wondering how we ended up here, huh?”

  “Well, the thought did cross my mind. You two don’t seem like you would fit in with that group of bobble headed idiots,” Madison said, lying down and glancing at her.

  A huge smile crossed Callie’s face. “You see the dark haired girl talking to Brie?”

  Madison looked over at Brie and her posse of gnomes and did indeed see a girl with long dark hair talking intently to Brie about what Madison was certain was something unimportant and insignificant.

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s my cousin, Irene. Her mom called my mom,” she said with an eye roll and Madison understood immediately that her cousin had not wanted her to be here at all. That it
was a pity invitation just as Brie’s invite to Madison had been.

  “I didn’t want to come since I can’t stand any of them but Jayden thought it would be fun, you know, just to piss them off,” she said with a laugh.

  Madison laughed as well. “Sounds like something I would do.”

  “Yeah, you should have seen their faces when we showed up. It was priceless!” Callie giggled again. “Of course it wasn’t as great as yours and Andrew’s entrance. I thought Brie was about to spit nails.” Callie chuckled as she lay down.

  “Screw her!” Madison said as she closed her eyes enjoying the summer sun. “I don't need her approval.” Madison smiled, knowing that was the truth.

  “Me neither!” Callie said with conviction.

  Callie already liked Madison and hoped they could become good friends. She thought about how wonderful it would be to have another person to talk to about things and wondered if maybe she could confide in her what had happened to her and Jayden. She sincerely hoped this would be the case. Besides, it was clear to Callie that Jayden was having a great time with Andrew so this could be good for both of them.

  The girls soaked up the summer sun for hours as the boys raced until their hunger forced them to come back to shore. As Andrew helped Jayden load the Jet Skis, he decided that he really liked him. This was the most fun he had ever had and he knew that he owed Jayden the truth. It was the least he could do.

  “I was high,” Andrew said softly.

  Jayden stopped what he was doing and glanced at him. “When it happened?”

  Andrew nodded. “I was wrong, I don’t deny that, but she said she was 18 and I was pretty messed up, too messed up to question it or see that she was clearly NOT 18.”

  Jayden frowned. “If she said she was 18 why were you convicted?”

  Andrew looked down. “I couldn’t remember for sure if she said it or not and she told her dad she didn’t remember much about the night because she was so drunk. I thought about it continuously while I was in prison and I am certain she said it but... I don’t know, maybe I just want to believe she did. Know what I mean?”

  Jayden nodded but was still frowning.

  “The judge gave me the maximum sentence because I was a lot older than her.” He again looked down, feeling remorse for what happened, “And then I got a few years for fighting her dad when he attacked me.”

  “You know, Andrew it really sounds like you had an incompetent attorney,” Jayden stated angrily. He was fully aware that a good attorney could have gotten him half the time or no time at all.

  Andrew shrugged. “I suppose so but in all honesty I didn’t give him much to work with. I was withdrawing and needed a fix bad by then and... I guess I sort of felt I deserved what ever happened. I know that probably sounds stupid.”

  Jayden looked at him and sighed. “It’s not stupid, Andrew.” He hesitated for a moment but decided this was an important question to ask. “Do you still get high?”

  Andrew shook his head. “No, but in the beginning of my incarceration I wanted it desperately, craved it all the time,” he said, instinctually wrapping his hand over his arm. “But I’ve been off it for a long time so I don’t really crave it anymore. Not that I want to test that theory,” he finished with a sigh.

  He wasn’t 100% sure what he would do if confronted with the opportunity to use again. He wanted to believe that he wouldn’t do it but who really knew what they would do in any given situation until they were in it.

  “Thank you for telling me, Andrew. I appreciate it.”

  “Thank you for everything. I have never really had anyone defend me. It felt... good.”

  “Well, you’re welcome, man,” Jayden said smacking his shoulder as they started to approach the shore. “If you want to hang out again, I am so there. You don’t need to hide out at that trailer park all the time.”

  “Thanks, Jay. I will have to take you up on that,” Andrew said as they started walking up to the girls.

  “I still work on a lot of bikes so maybe you can help me sometimes.”

  “That would be great. Aaron helps me get a lot of under the table jobs but I would love to come help you out.”

  “Sounds like a plan then,” Jayden said with a smile.

  As Andrew and Jayden reached the shore they realized that Callie was already gone and at the table, leaving Madison alone. Jayden waved at Andrew as he headed in Callie’s direction. Madison was lying on her stomach with her hair to the side and the strap of her bikini top undone exposing her beautiful back. His eyes roamed down her body and stopped at her shapely ass and then down her long, lean legs and then back up to her ass again. He swallowed reflexively as he sat down next to her.

  “Like what you see?” Madison asked, glancing at his now reddened face.

  “A man would have to be dead not too,” Andrew quickly replied.

  Madison smiled and held on to the top of her bikini as she sat up, turning her back to him. She then glanced over her shoulder, offering him a sexy smile.

  “Can you snap me up, Jet Boy?”

  She giggled as Andrew rolled his eyes at her feeble attempt to come up with a suitable nickname for him. He hooked her top and in the process allowed his fingers to lightly graze her back. He smiled when her skin pebbled under his touch. She turned around and watched him intently. His body was still dripping wet and his face was flushed with excitement. She smiled at his hair which was now a chaotic mess atop his head and his eyes sparkled in the afterglow of his adventure on the water. Before she realized what she was doing she had brought her hand to his face and was lightly touching the stubble he had along his jaw. He took a deep breath and was now looking at her with lost and scared eyes. Eyes that made her instantly want to comfort him. She hesitated for only a moment before her lips moved to his.

  Andrew was lost in the sensation. He felt every nuance of her soft lips and when her mouth parted, his tongue entered hers without haste, exploring her, breathing her, consuming her. His whole body became a part of the kiss as he pulled her close to him, wrapping his hand in her hair while his other hand moved down to her lower back, pulling her body flush to his. It was as if at that moment everything was right in the world. He hadn’t been in prison, he hadn’t had a messed up childhood and he was not branded with a scarlet letter that would forever mark him to the world. No, in that moment, he found solace. In that moment, she washed it all away and made him... clean.

  6 NOT SO HAPPY ENDING

  Madison had never kissed anyone the way she was at the moment. Andrew was intense; it was as if he couldn’t get enough, like if he stopped the world would stop as well. She could barely breathe but couldn’t bear to break their connection, so she continued until her body betrayed her and she was forced to separate from him, gasping and exhilarated. She placed her head in the crook of his neck, her breathing labored and her heart racing. After a few moments, she began to lay several soft kisses there, feeling his body tremble at the contact.

  Andrew wasn’t sure what he should say or do, all he knew was that what had just happened had set his entire body on fire and he was pretty certain that he wouldn’t be able to get up anytime soon. He had never experienced anything like that and longed to experience it again. Without thinking, he pulled her onto his lap and, to his surprise, she didn’t resist, instead she wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his neck even more. With a soft breath he kissed her lightly atop her head.

  “Madison.” It was the only sound he was able to mutter.

  “That was... amazing,” Madison whispered against his neck.

  She could feel him smile in her hair and turned slightly so that she could kiss him once again. This time it was slow and sensual, she felt an overwhelming desire to memorize all areas of his beautiful mouth. She was affected deep into her core and she could feel that he was affected as well when he shifted slightly underneath her.

  “So does this mean you like me?” she said with a smirk as she looked deeply into his eyes.

  “Ma
ybe,” he said, unable to mask the smile that was spreading across his face. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since I first saw you.”

  “Mmm, me too,” Madison replied.

  He placed his forehead against hers, thinking what a crazy day it had been. They had been on the brink for so long it seemed. Their spark or electricity or whatever you wanted to call it had ignited when they first met. That was undeniable. A part of him wanted to get up and leave, to take her somewhere to be alone, but the reality was there was nowhere they could legitimately go. He lived with his aunt and uncle and she lived with her grandmother. He knew of nowhere really and it seemed so unusual and bizarre to 'park' somewhere with her, not even sure that was something people did anymore.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked

  “Just how crazy this day has been,” he said as he laid a gentle kiss on her forehead.

  “I love it so far.”

  Madison gently ran her fingers along his shoulder, tracing the outline of his tattoo, following it over his shoulder onto his shoulder blades. She felt several marks there, wondering what they could be. Andrew flinched as her fingers ran over several of his scars. He didn’t want her to ask any questions about that. He wasn’t prepared to go there with her yet. It was something he just didn’t talk about. He quickly moved and helped her up, grabbing her towel from the ground. Madison stared at him a bit dumbfounded, especially noting the expression on his face.

  “Andrew, are you alright?” Madison asked with concern.

  She noticed that his posture had changed and he no longer had that relaxed feel about him. He was definitely in another place and she desperately wanted him back. She liked the playful and flirtatious Andrew. She liked the way his eyes had sparkled when he returned from racing with Jayden and mostly she liked the way his body had melted into hers when they kissed. Andrew blinked a few times and glanced at her troubled expression.

  “I’m sorry,” he said trying to smile but failing miserably.

  “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You just looked very far away.” She took his hand in hers and squeezed it lightly.