“Are you a jealous girl at heart?” He teased.
“Maybe,” I hinted, raising my eyebrow.
“Nope. You’re a tease,” he laughed.
“I can be whatever I want,” I said with a laugh. “My mommy told me so!”
“Definitely a tease,” he confirmed with a nod.
Chapter Eleven
I stirred some of the energy shot Mary had given me into my lemonade and joined Sy on the couch.
“What’s that?”
“Just something that Mary gave me.”
“Your therapist?”
“Yeah. This isn’t for that though. She thought I would like it because it boosts energy and I run a lot.”
“I don’t think you should drink any more of it,” he cautioned, taking my cup from me.
“I only put a little in there,” I said, reaching for my glass back.
“How do you know if it’s safe to take?” He asked. “There wasn’t any label or anything on the bottle I just saw.”
“It’s not a big deal, really,” I asserted, grabbing the cup back from him. “She’s a doctor, I trust her.”
“She’s not that kind of doctor though,” he argued.
“What is your problem with me having a little more energy?” I laughed. “You’ve been taking me out almost every night for two weeks. I’ve got to catch up somewhere.”
“It’s not that,” he defended. “And you’ve been working every day since school started. When else am I supposed to take you on a date?”
“I can’t help it, it’s my job,” I chuckle. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take all the extra help I can get.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “But not too much. That stuff can really hurt you.” He eyed the bottle Mary had given me on the counter. “In fact, why don’t you just let me take it home with me? That way you won’t be able to use more than you should.”
“I’m a big girl, Sy,” I teased. “I can measure it myself. Give it a rest, okay?”
He gave me a stony look and returned his attention to the evening news. After a few more minutes, he glanced at his watch.
“I’ve got to get to work,” he said, standing up. “I’m on night feedings.”
“Have fun,” I teased.
He bent down and kissed my lips lightly. We hadn’t really kissed much since the last time. I was afraid we would get carried away again. I think he might have had that same fear. Every time our lips came together there was an explosion of endorphins making me ready for more, but he always retreated quickly. Sometimes I could see the battle for self-restraint in his eyes.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he said with a shaky voice as he pulled away.
“Drive safe and sleep well.”
I closed the door behind him, sighing softly and placing my cup on the counter. I stopped then, looking at the now empty spot where my energy supplement had been.
“That little sneak!” I opened the door again and called out to him. “Sy! Bring back my glass!”
Only the sound of his Jeep starting up answered me.
“What a dork,” I mumbled, going back inside.
I drained the rest of my cup and sat back down, curling up under a light blanket I’d pulled out earlier in the day. August was the hottest time of year here, but I still liked the comfortable feeling of curling up in a good, soft, blanket.
My head was pounding, limbs aching, and my foot felt the hand of death itself was grasping it. Every breath I tried to take crushed my lungs even more.
I blinked, trying to get the salt out of my eyes, while my fingernails scratched at the rocks around me. White water crashed down on top of me, pushing me further from freedom. My arms flailed in the cold as I faded into the dark.
I jerked awake, sucking in a breath to ease my aching chest.
Did I just . . . am I remembering what happened? I laid my blanket on the arm of the couch and walked to the bathroom to splash water on my face.
It was a tad unnerving, suddenly remembering details of my accident after a year of trying and getting nothing. What was I doing different now? It must have been being around Sy. I couldn’t think of any other reason.
I looked at the clock on the wall and sighed. It was four thirty in the morning. I’d planned on getting up at five.
Might as well stay up now.
I set my hand down on the counter, into a small puddle of water. Immediately, I remembered walking along the rocks at the beach, slipping into the surf as I turned, and hitting my head on the way down.
It all came quickly after that, right up to the point that I first saw Sy in the water.
Death had almost claimed me!
It had been one thing to hear everyone tell me that, but reliving it all now . . .I’d had no idea. Sy was really, truly owed great thanks.
I must have passed out as soon as I saw him, I mused on my way back into the living room. I need to go tell him thank you!
Running my fingers through my hair during the quick walk across to his door. Hopefully he wouldn’t be too upset to be woken up.
I knocked softly, smiling when rustling began behind the door.
“Well, hello handsome,” I beamed, appraising him as he opened the door.
There he was in all of his shirtless and sleep tousled hair glory, more naked than I’d ever seen him. It made my insides twist happily, causing my blush to appear.
“Hey,” he said sleepily, rubbing his eyes. “What’s up? Is something wrong?”
I tilted my head and smiled, just looking at him.
“Audrey?”
Within milliseconds I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my tiptoes to kiss him easier. His arms wrapped around me, drawing me close as he returned the kiss. A vague awareness of being picked up and wrapping my legs around his waist registered as he pulled me inside and shut the door, pressing my back up against it. His hands caressed my thighs, fingers slipping under the edges of the short shorts I’d changed into after work. My hands weaved through his hair as he kissed me harder, a soft moan escaping him.
There was no way to get enough, as I clutched him tightly and slipped my tongue in his mouth. He responded by pressing his hips against me harder and raising his hands to my arms. They trailed down my skin slowly, leaving goose bumps. He didn’t stop there though. He continued up my sides, lightly brushing over my breasts and pulling at the collar of my shirt.
His bottom lip caught between my teeth as he turned me away from the door, carrying me down the hall to his room. All the while he kissed me like a man dying of thirst and my lips held the last drop of water.
As he laid me on the bed and fell on top of me, my heart soared. Could this be falling in love again? As if he’d heard my thoughts, Sy spoke up.
“I think I’m falling in love with you, Audrey,” he whispered breathlessly. Warm lips brushed over my neck, his tongue flicking out and licking my collarbone. He moved a little further, testing the waters by lowering my collar and placing a kiss just above my breast.
“I think,” I stuttered, trying to keep my brain functioning as he touched me. “I think . . . oh, I don’t know what I think. Just kiss me some more.”
He did as he was told, his mouth descending on mine like a pack of wolves. I pressed him as close as I could get him to me, clutching our bodies together until we were practically one.
“Tell me you love me,” he plead, pushing away enough to look at me.
“Why should I?” I teased.
“Because I want to hear you say it.” His head dipped back down and he nipped at my ear softly.
“Tell me you don’t want anyone but me,” he whispered softly. “That you’ll die without me. Tell me you feel the way I do.”
“I remembered,” I said instead, my gratitude resurfacing.
“What?” he said, freezing.
“My memory of falling into the water and thinking I was going to die came back. You were there right before I passed out, swimming towards me.”
He pushed himself up again to look at me.
“That’s it?”
“What do you mean?” I jokingly asked, “Is there more?”
“No,” he rushed. “I just thought—I’m happy for you. I know you didn’t need to remember, but it’s nice to know your brain didn’t suffer permanent damage.”
“All thanks to you,” I reminded him pushing my fingers into his hair again.
“Audrey,” he was hesitant.
“Is something wrong?”
He seemed to battle within himself before lowering down and kissing me again.
“Not at all. Where were we again?”
His lips took mine once more as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer, causing my back to arch. Taking advantage of it, he quickly nipped at my collarbone again before laying me back down softly.
A soft moan escaped as one of his hands slipped beneath my shirt and rested on my stomach in a fist. My hands ran down his bare chest, kissing his neck as he brushed softly over my shoulder.
Ever so slowly, the hand under my shirt relaxed and began to travel upwards, into the space between my breasts.
“You’re perfect, did you know that?” He asked, each breath coming in short bursts.
The hand on my chest moved down, brushing over the side of my shorts before unbuttoning them and tracing the edge of my panties.
“How do you do that?” I half laughed, pleasure racking my whole being.
“Do what?” He breathed.
“Make me feel completely boggled and happy at the same time.”
“Like you can’t help but want to be with the other person?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t know,” he said and rolled off me, much to my dismay. “But you’re doing it to me too.”
“Hello?”
I snapped my head to Amy’s general vicinity.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked you what you were thinking about,” she repeated. “You’ve been off in Audrey Land all day.”
“Just . . . stuff.” I smiled and returned to looking at the band on my finger. It wouldn’t be so hard to take off—would it?
“Uh huh,” she said, going back to whatever she’d been typing, her fake nails clicking on the keys. “I bet you were thinking about that hunk who came in here a few weeks ago.”
“Maybe,” I half teased, placing both hands in my lap.
“Well, I was wondering if maybe the two of you would like to come over for dinner sometime.”
She continued to look at her screen, scared anticipation on her face. When I didn’t speak right away, she started again.
“I mean, if you don’t want to that’s fine. I know that’s what we did with you and John. Matthew doesn’t really know how he feels about it either, but he said he’d try. You never know, we might love Sy as much as we di—”
“I think that would be wonderful,” I interrupted. “Thank you.”
“Really?” she questioned, turning to me with tears in her eyes. “We’re not trying to replace John. It’s just that we loved when we would get together before.”
“I understand,” I assured her. “Don’t worry about anything. Let me know when and I’ll talk to Sy about it.”
“Is this weekend okay?”
“It is for me. I’ll let you know about Sy. Sometimes he has to work extra hours.”
I smiled warmly and twisted the ring under my desk.
“How exciting!” she cheered, wiping a tear from her cheek. “It will be just wonderful, I’m sure.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”
I stood and walked out of the office, headed towards the ladies restroom right down the hall. Students greeted me as I passed and I returned the salutations the best I could in my rush. Once I was safely inside the staff restroom, I closed myself in a stall and sat down on the closed toilet.
I slid my ring off my finger and looked at it. So many happy memories came flooding to the surface. The first time John kissed me, the look on his face as we were married, and his kiss first thing in the morning all still seemed so real. The memories of his death and the death of our child resurfaced as well, the unhappy ending to my fairytale.
Thoughts of Sy flash through my mind as I continued to look at it. His very presence stole my breath, something I didn’t think would ever happen for me again. He took care of me—loved me. His confession this morning hadn’t even fazed me. It seemed perfect, like we were made for each other. How could I wear another man’s ring when I felt that way?
Taking a deep breath and finally admitting to myself what I hadn’t wanted to before—I was falling in love again. Not what I had imagined would happen—feeling a sisterly type of love for someone who wasn’t John—but real, honest love. I wanted to be with Sy. It wasn’t some weird hero love either. I was positive we could have met on the street and my feelings would still be the same.
With a deep sigh, I stood and placed the ring in my skirt pocket. My hand felt naked without it as I left the restroom and returned to my desk, but it was time. If Sy asked me to tell him I loved him again, I didn’t think I’d be able to avoid the question.
After answering a phone call, I retrieved my cell phone out of a drawer and sent him a quick text.
Hey, some friends invited us over for dinner this weekend. Is that okay with you?
~Audrey~
It didn’t take very long for him to respond.
Yeah, sounds great! When do they want to get together?
We’re waiting for you to tell us what works for you. ~Audrey~
I’m good with anything as long as you’re there.
All right, I’ll let Amy know. ~Audrey~
I placed my phone back in the drawer and turned back to my friend.
“We’re good for any night this weekend,” I told her, smiling. “Call me and let me know once you have it all figured out.”
“For sure,” she said smiling. “I have to check with Matthew, that’s all.”
She went back to her work again and I leaned back in my chair, contemplating the place I’d been in my life a year earlier. I was on a mandatory leave from work, never leaving bed, and ready to give up on everything.
Now, I was happy again. Still saddened by my past, naturally. Things had turned around though, like I kept telling myself they would. I hadn’t believed it then, but I was grateful all the same.
Same is safe, but it will always be simply that—the same.
Chapter Twelve
“How did I not know there was a pool here?”
Sy swam up behind me and wrapped his arms around my bare midriff, nestling his face in the hollow of my neck.
“No idea. I thought that was what sold you on the place,” I joked, leaning into him.
“This was the first place I looked at. It fit my needs so I took it.”
“That’s nice. Way to skip the shopping around part.”
“Well, you picked this place after looking at a million places so I must have done pretty well.” He kissed my shoulder lightly, stroking my stomach with his fingertips.
“You lucked out,” I told him.
“I really did. You were here.”
I turned around to face him, wrapping my legs around his waist and resting my arms on his shoulders.
“Do you love me, Audrey?”
“What if I do?”
“I will be the happiest man on this or any earth.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I will wait until you do.”
“What if I never do?”
“Then I guess I will wait forever.”
He reached a hand up and pushed a strand of hair off my forehead.
“You’re such a sap,” I teased. “Where do you come up with those lines?”
“I come up with them myself,” he replied in mock defensiveness. “I thought it was pretty good. From the heart, you know?”
“If you say so,” I laughed.
He res
ponded by kissing me gently, hugging our bodies closer together.
“I like you like this,” he said, breaking away.
“What do you mean?”
“In your bikini. Red is a good color on you. Also, it’s almost like you’re parading around in your underwear for me, which I’m totally down with. You could do that for real if you wanted, by the way.”
I gasped and unsuccessfully tried to push away from him. He was so much stronger than me though; it was like pushing against a brick wall.
“Hey now,” he laughed. “Don’t be like that.”
I laughed in return and splashed in him the face, trying to get the upper hand. Within minutes we were in a full-blown splash and tickle war, with Sy clearly coming out on top.
“Stop!” I squealed.
“Never!” His battle cry rang out seconds before dunking me and pulling me back up several times.
“Okay, you win!” I cried out. “Mercy, please!”
“Fine,” he conceded, his laughter booming out around the pool. “But only because you said please.”
After my breathing returned to normal again, I wrapped myself around him once more.
“Are you excited for dinner with Amy tomorrow night?” I asked.
“Actually, yes. I was beginning to think you were never going to introduce me to anyone.”
“Whatever,” I retorted, rolling my eyes. “You met my mom.”
“Through a closed door after you’d been arrested at a party I took you to. Yes, I remember.”
I laughed and kissed his cheek.
“I should probably properly introduce the two of you at some point.”
“That would be nice, yes.”
I swam away from him and got out of the pool, drying off with the towels we’d brought.
“Done so soon?”
“Yeah, I’m tired. It was a long day at work.”
“So many phones to answer. It must be tough.”
“Not all of us can be shark wranglers,” I giggled. “Someone’s got to do the mundane work.”
“Hang on, I’ll come up with you.”
He joined me at the gate, shaking his hair out as I opened it. We walked hand in hand up to our doors and then kissed each other good night, well wishes whispered.
Poseidon (The God Chronicles) Page 9