Looking up, Katrina’s eyes stopped in shock at the reflection staring back at her. There were bruises everywhere. Her body was almost completely purple. She shuddered as the painful memories surfaced, about each and every one of them.
Feeling Donovan’s malicious hands as if they were still touching her caused her entire body to scream in protest. Katrina hoped in time the horrid memories of what happened would fade away. In disgust, she turned and made her way slowly into the glass shower.
As the beads of hot water pounced off her sore skin, she gritted her teeth together. It was all she could do to stop from screaming. It was like scorching metal pellets stinging every crevice of her body. Instead of letting the water massage her fatigued muscles like she normally would, Katrina made it a quick one. The pain was too much. Plus, she had spent so many nights waiting, yearning for Cole to come back. And now that he was just outside her door, she didn’t want to a waste another minute.
Stepping out, Katrina grabbed a charcoal colored bath sheet that was neatly folded on one of the golden shelves and dried off. As she bent down to dry one of her legs, she noticed a black bag nestled in the corner of the bathroom floor. It looked the same as the black bag she had always kept at Stacy’s house.
Katrina felt a brief sense of happiness, at the thought of the memories the bag held for her. Unfortunately her bliss was short-lived. Her joy quickly turned to pain, as she realized her best friend was gone and never coming back. Tears trickled down her cheeks, as the aching hole she felt in her heart throbbed. Part of her was missing and it always would be. She was so caught up in her grief the light tap at the bathroom door sent her heart racing.
“Caroline, is everything all right?” Cole’s muffled voice questioned through the door.
“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.” She quickly searched through the bag and grabbed the first thing her hands could find. Slipping into her black sweats and burgundy lace tank top, her body sighed in content. It felt good to have something that was so familiar and hers fit softly against her body.
Opening the bathroom door, she found Cole propped up against the wall. Glaring into the flickering of the fireplace, he looked like Michelangelo’s David—a perfectly carved statue, lost in his own thoughts and she didn’t want to interrupt.
She tried to step quietly, but should’ve known better. As soon as she took her first step, he turned to face her. Just the sight of him caused her pulse to race. The way he looked at her made her heart want to beat out of her chest in excitement. His whole face lit up at the sight of her. So much had happened while he was away and she wanted to spill every last detail, but she couldn’t. Instead, she sat back on the crushed velvet bedding, a nervous wreck, and fidgeted with her empty hands.
A heavy mixture of confused emotions began to run wild inside her. Keeping her eyes firmly planted on the floor, she pretended to be preoccupied with other priorities. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Cole since the last night they spent together. She was starting to feel awkward. And she wasn’t sure what to say or do.
“Caroline,” Cole’s low voice began. “Can you ever—forgive me?” he pleaded.
Katrina watched him make his way over and gently seat himself next to her. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him, but then her other emotions took over.
“For which part—the fact that you left me all alone or that you never even said goodbye?” She struggled to fight back tears.
Even though he was inches from her, she couldn’t bring herself to look at him. Nervous tension clouded the small space, as the two sat side by side. Having wished for this moment many times, her nerves began to work themselves into a heated frenzy. He was so close, within her reach at last, but she still felt betrayed.
“I suppose I deserve that. I didn’t want to leave, but I had to. It was the only way to keep you safe.”
“But you left without saying anything at all.”
“If I had waited until the morning, would you have let me go?” Cole’s hand gently reached for hers.
Katrina took a deep breath and realized he was right. “No, I would have begged you to stay.”
“For what it’s worth, I thought of you every agonizing second I was away,” he assured. Tenderly placing a finger under her chin, he forced her to look into his blue eyes and Katrina’s heart melted. She could see just how vulnerable he was and it made her body take over.
For too long had she been wishing to have those icy ocean colored gems staring back her. Katrina’s nerves began to work themselves into a heated frenzy, as he got closer. Within her reach after so many lonely nights, she wanted to take him right then and there. She could have sworn he was about to lean in and kiss her, when he stopped himself.
“Come in,” Cole answered, without taking his eyes off her.
“Kat,” Jake’s hesitant voice interrupted. Katrina turned to see her brother cowering in the doorway.
“You can come in, Elias. Her wounds are covered,” Cole assured him.
“Kat, I just wanted to come and apologize about earlier,” Jake said, giving her a half smile. “I didn’t mean to—”
“He didn’t mean to try and make a snack out of you,” Andrew’s sarcastic voice burst through, easing the awkward silence.
“Thanks, for that.” Jake threw a grin back at Andrew, as he knelt beside his sister.
“Apology accepted, Jake.”
“Really? You’re not mad at me?”
“No. Frightened would be accurate.”
“I’m so, so sorry,” he pleaded with her. “I would never ever try to do that on purpose. You have to believe me.”
“I do. And as much as it might scare the hell out of me, I know it’s part of who you are now.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that.” Jake sighed in relief, as he threw his arms around her.
“Aw, group hug!” Andrew said, as Katrina felt him squeeze his arms around the both of them.
“Andreas! Get up, before you crush her,” Cole laughed.
“Sure thing, dad!” Andrew winked. He went to leave when he stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot; I found something of yours.” His voice grew very soft and gentle. “I thought you might want it back.” Andrew held up her amulet.
Katrina didn’t say anything. She hesitated. After everything that happened, the amulet wasn’t exactly something she had been missing. Katrina knew Cole must have picked up on her apprehension because he quickly answered for her. “Why don’t you leave it on the nightstand? She’ll get it later.”
Andrew shrugged his shoulders and set it down. He stood back for a brief second before he added, “We’ll let you lovebirds catch up and go have some fun of our own.” Andrew cocked an eyebrow, took Jake by the arm, and led him out.
Jake turned and said, “Bye, Kat. We’ll talk more later,” before shutting the door behind him.
Katrina sat there absorbing everything in. Information overload was an understatement. It took her a moment to let some of the dust settle. Coming to terms with everything would come in time, but she needed baby steps to make it there. She shook her head at the thought of what had become of her once boring small town.
“What?” Cole asked.
“It’s just ironic how fast things can change. When I started school my biggest worry was when I would get out of here.”
“And now?”
“Now everything’s changed.”
“Caroline, I realize this is a delicate issue for you and I don’t mean to pressure you in anyway, but have you given any thought about us and our future?”
“Cole, I want to be with you always, but—”
“But not that way.” The hurt was in his voice, as he finished the sentence for her.
“But I’m scared,” she corrected him.
“Scared of what?”
“I don’t know. Of the unknown I guess.”
“Caroline, nothing will change. You’ll remember everything about your human life. The only difference is you’ll be you
ng forever. Do you know how many women would love to be offered such a gift?”
“I know and it’s not something I tread on lightly, believe me. Part of me wants to more than anything, but another is scared to death. With everything that’s happened I just don’t know who I am anymore and want some time to figure out me before I can do something that big.” Cole didn’t say a word. He just sat there and Katrina wasn’t sure what was going through his mind at that moment. “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
“No. What you’re saying makes sense. It’s just hard to hear that’s all.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Caroline, I love you. I always have and I always will. I’ve waited over a hundred years for you.” His hand lightly grazed her purple tinted cheek. The touch was so gentle that it sent shivers of fire vibrating inside her. “A little longer won’t kill me.” Without thinking, Katrina shuddered. Pain filled Cole’s face. “Sorry. I forgot about that.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mind.” Katrina could feel the blood rushing to her face, as she spoke.
Cole’s eyes lit up with intrigue at her. Katrina’s heart began to pound wildly, as his eyes penetrated the depths of her very core. At that moment she relished the tension of excitement flowing through the air. The two sat motionless, as they became lost into each other’s souls. The anticipated silence sent Katrina’s body into a tumultuous whirlwind of emotion.
Then Cole tenderly took her face into both of his hands and pressed his icy hot lips against hers. One of Cole’s hands traced over every contour of her body, while the other pulled her in closer. Every soft touch from his hands made her body tingle. Katrina was drowning in a sea of him and she didn’t want to be saved. She let out a congenial moan as his tepid hands made their way up the backside of her shirt. Cole’s pale supple hands felt like heaven against her moist smooth skin.
Katrina could feel Cole gently push her back onto the bed. Gently hovering on top of her, his fervent lips never left hers. Every gesture was complimented by the other as they moved as one. This was what Katrina had been longing for ever since he left and she wanted to make up for lost time.
“I love you, Caroline.”
“I love you too.”
“WE CAN HEAR YOU!” Jake and Andrew snickered.
###
Thank you for reading Katrina’s story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Not to worry all, of your favorite characters will return soon in Blood Ties.
About Author
Christine M. Besze lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and two children. Since childhood, she has been fascinated with stories of the paranormal world. When she’s not working on her next novel, she enjoys working out and spending time with her friends and family.
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