“I don’t know, I thought it would be a nice change.” He shrugged, and rested his elbows on the tops of his knees, holding his water loosely in his hands.
I knew he was lying, he was avoiding my suspicious gaze, and his answer wasn’t very well thought out.
“A ‘nice change’?” I scoffed. “Sorry Andres, but I’m done for the day. I’m exhausted and I just want to shower, and go lay back down.”
I got up to walk inside, but he stopped me. “Sara we need to do this. I think it’s important.”
“Why? Why is it important? What are you not telling me?” I demanded.
He sighed, and ran his hands through his hair. “I just thought it would be nice if you knew how to defend yourself, just in case.” He added.
“Right. Just in case.” I mocked and rolled my eyes. “Why is it so hard for you to be honest with me?”
He didn’t say anything for the longest time. “I’m sorry Sara. I know things have been weird, and I know you’re still confused over everything that happened to us, but-”
“You’re not?” I accused. “How can you be done with that?”
“I’m not,” he said and stood up. “I need you to trust me. You have to know that I want nothing more than to keep you safe, and I promise everything will work out.”
“I’m sorry too Andres, but I don’t know how you can ask me to trust you, when you can’t even trust me enough to tell me what is going on. I know that you know more than you’re telling me, and obviously lying to me seems better than trusting me at this point.”
I pushed open the double door before he could respond, and jogged up the stairs to my room. I just wanted the day to be over with; I was too drained to deal with anything more today. After shedding my workout clothes, I took a quick shower. I dressed in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, slipped on my hoodie, and left my room. I walked slowly down the steps, and peeked over the railing to see if I could spot Andres. I was in no mood for another confrontation with him, and I hoped to leave the house without having to see him again.
I heard the ceiling creak above me and glanced up, knowing he was in his room. I hurried through the kitchen and out the patio doors. Hopping down the patio steps, I nearly sprinted toward the path to the forest. You would think after my dreams today that this would be the last place I wanted to be; but Andres had a way of making home the last place I wanted to be, and if that meant going for a walk in the forest that had nearly tried to swallow me this morning, then so be it.
As I entered the forest, I could feel Andres watching me, and I continued on without looking back.
He had some nerve asking me to trust him, I thought angrily to myself. Nothing he had done, since climbing out of that damn ice hole, had made me want to trust him.
I used the trees as support, to cross over the bigger rocks; my feet crunched loudly as I stepped on small twigs and dried pine needles. There was a slight breeze following me, and I could feel the warm rays of the sun as it glinted between the trees.
I didn’t plan on walking for very long, but I needed to escape the suffocating confines of that house for a while. Even though I felt like I could sleep for days, I kept trudging in.
I didn’t like coming into the forest alone, in fact the only times I had been in here were with Andres on our runs. I didn’t have fond memories of the last time I had been surround by nature, and it kind of scared me for the time being. Today I just needed to escape. I could have called Sara, but honestly I didn’t feel like being with her either. Scott was definitely out of the question
I dreaded seeing tomorrow night, and I felt guilty for feeling like that. Up until yesterday things had been fine with Scott and I, or at least I had thought they were. After hearing Elizabeth’s confession, it seemed like Scott was keeping secrets of his own. Not that I could blame either one of them, I was currently the queen of secrets and lies these days. Meeting Adan had changed things, at least for me it had; I had never felt like this over anyone before, not even Scott. I couldn’t be sure that Adan felt the same as I did, but that didn’t really matter. I couldn’t stay with Scott, if I could feel this strongly for another man could I? Thinking about Adan made my skin flush, and my heart pound just a little bit harder.
I stopped walking, and leaned against the one of the trees, hoping to catch my breath. It was a silent in the forest, but not the creepy silence it had been in my dream this morning. There was a slight breeze, and an occasional bird whistle above me, as it flew from tree to tree; but other then that I was completely alone. I glanced around quickly, probably shouldn’t have said that, it’s always when I think that I am alone, that I find out there is something waiting for me.
I decided that I should probably head home before it got dark. All I needed was to get lost in the woods again, I had already learned that lesson the hard way. It took me no time at all to find my way back. I had taken the trail that Andres and I jogged, and within a few more feet I should probably be able to see the house from here.
I could hear a crunching sound behind me. I didn’t have time to react, or even be frightened, before I was grabbed around the waist and swung around. I gasped and struggled with the arms around me, before it registered who was holding me. I was spun a few more times, before he finally set me down and spun me around to face him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked, but trying to maintain my composure.
“I got home early and wanted to surprise you!” He wrapped me up in his big arms and hugged me to him. “Did you miss me?”
“Of course I did Scott. I’m glad your home.” I said, and felt horrible for the lie. What had I gotten myself into? I tried to infuse more enthusiasm in the hug, but it was difficult.
He pulled me back, and looked me over, grinning widely. “Good, because I sure did miss that pretty face of yours.”
I smiled up at him. It was hard not to compare Scott to Adan as I took in his features. He was tall, taller than I was by a foot and a couple of inches, but Adan was taller than Scott. Adan was built; I had felt the definition of his muscles when he had pressed against me inside the booth; and even though Scott was anything but scrawny, he almost seemed too big now. Scott’s features were considerably fairer with his light skin, his green eyes, and blonde hair. Scott was very attractive, and I knew every girl would be lined up to take my spot. But Adan….
“Sara?” He said, leaning back to catch my attention. “Where’d you go babe?”
“Sorry I was just thinking of how sweet you are.”
Well it wasn’t a lie.
He beamed, and lifted me up again, spinning me around.
“Scott,” I gasped. “You’re making me dizzy! Put me down you goof ball.” I laughed, and waited for him to set me down on my feet. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he tried to kiss me, and I wanted to avoid that for as long as I could, until I knew what I was going to do.
“Come on, let’s head back to the house. I’ll tell Andres you’re staying for dinner.”
The way I saw it, Scott would keep me from having to be alone with Andres, and Andres would keep me from having to be alone with Scott. Scott was very proper when he was around Andres, and I was counting on using that to my advantage tonight. I grabbed his hand, and tried to tug him toward the house, but he wouldn’t budge. So close, I thought. He turned the tug of war around on me; taking my wrist and pulling me to him, until I was flattened against his chest.
“I just need one kiss, before we enter the ‘no public display of affection’ zone.” He said, and lowered his head toward mine.
I closed my eyes, knowing there was no way to avoid this without hurting his feeling. I couldn’t pull away, because he would want an explanation, which I wasn’t ready to give him yet. I waited until I felt the pressure of his lips over mine. I couldn’t avoid the kiss entirely, but I could end it quickly. I could feel his breath against my lips, and I tried to push the image of Adan’s face from my mind. I felt the flare of the flutter to late.
Scott nearly
did a back flip when he heard the angry growl from behind him. I probably would have screamed if I wasn’t filled with an intense sense of pleasure, and momentary shock, at seeing him here. I couldn’t believe my eyes, my heart jumped into my throat, and my first instinct was to run to him. I needed to touch him to make sure he was real, and not my imagination playing, cruel tricks on me I didn’t expect the reaction I got from Scott.
Before I could do anything, Scott was shoving me behind him, covering me with his body.
“Sara get back!” he shouted. “Run to the house, and tell Andres to call the police!”
I stared at Scott, slowly realizing what he was saying to me. He was willing to sacrifice his own life to save mine. I stared at him in shock.
I walked closer to Scott, hoping to calm him down. “Scott it’s-”
“Sara, get back!” He turned around to hold me back, not realizing how much closer I had gotten to him. His hand swung out hard, slamming into my chest, and sending me backwards.
I lost my footing, not expecting the blow from Scott, and I fell to the ground on my butt.
“Sara!” Scott started to rush to me, but the ferocious growl stopped him dead in his tracks. He turned around, just in time in time to see the huge wolf lunging at him.
“NO!” I screamed, as my wolf sent Scott flying back, trapping him under his massive paws.
I could hear the grunts and moans coming from Scott, as he was crushed under my wolf, who was snarling down at him. My wolf’s hard breathing was causing his chest to rise and fall violently. I scrambled to my feet, and ran toward my wolf. I placed my hand softly on his side. I wanted to enjoy the way his fur felt under my fingers, but if I didn’t hurry he was going to kill Scott.
The minute I touched him, he seemed to be aware of only me.
“It’s okay,” I said soothingly. “He didn’t mean to hurt me. It was an accident. Please, you’re going to kill him.”
I looked down at Scott to make sure he was still breathing, and sighed in relief when I saw the rise and fall of his chest.
“Please, you have to get off of him.” I pleaded. Looking up, I met his gaze. There were so many emotions behind his beautiful, blue eyes that I started to get lost in them trying to separate them all out. Scott’s grunts reminded us both that My Wolf still had him pinned.
Slowly he climbed off of his chest, and Scott immediately rolled over; coughing, and holding his stomach. I rushed over to him, ignoring the low growl behind me, and knelt down to wrap my arms around him, as he sat back. When he saw the wolf standing a few feet behind me, he grabbed me to him again and I was sprawled across his lap in his clumsy attempt to keep me from the wolf. My wolf snarled again angrily. I tried to push against Scott’s chest so I could sit up, but his grip was firm around my shoulders.
“Scott it’s okay. He isn’t going to hurt us.” His grip didn’t loosen, and I pushed once more against him. “Scott I need to make sure you’re okay.”
“What do you mean he isn’t going to hurt us?” He demanded confused. “How do you know?”
It’s okay,” I tried to soothe Scott. “He has been wandering around the woods for a few weeks now.” I lied. “He doesn’t seem to mind Andres or me. You must have spooked him.” I felt his grip loosen, and I pulled back, my fingers searching his chest for any major injuries. “Are you hurt? Can you breathe alright?”
“I’m fine.” He said and cupped my cheeks in his hands. “Are you okay? God Sara, I’m so sorry! I never meant to hurt you!”
“No, of course not. Its okay Scott. I’m fine, really.” I said. Before I could stop it this time, he was pulling my face toward his pressing his lips to mine.
The roar that erupted from behind us shocked us both, and we jumped away. “What the hell is his problem?”
“I don’t know, but let’s get you back to the house and have Andres check you out just to make sure you’re okay.” He nodded and I helped him to his feet. We started off toward the house, and I threw a quick glance at my wolf, pleading with my eyes that he not go anywhere.
What was he doing here, and how had he managed to find me? I had so many questions, and sighed in frustration when I realized none of them were ever going to get answers. Even if My Wolf was different than most, I didn’t expect to get any answer out of him. None of that mattered knowing My Wolf was alive and here with me.
It took us a little longer to reach my house, having to help Scott. When I knew we were within hearing distance, I shouted for Andres until he was running up to us to help me bring Scott inside.
“What happened?” He asked when we helped Scott into one of the chairs.
“It was The Wolf,” I said. Andres’ head snapped up the minute I spoke. “You know, the one that’s been in the backyard a few times.”
“Oh…right. He attacked Scott?”
“No…not really.”
“It seems to have some obsession with Sara. It freaked out when I accidentally knocked her down as I tried to push her out of the way.” He was ashamed.
“He didn’t mean too,” I came to his defense. “He was trying to save my life.” I smiled at Scott, and he grabbed my hand squeezing it tightly. He let go of my hand and I walked over to the French doors, gazing out into the backyard. I couldn’t see My Wolf, but I could feel him watching me.
“Are you alright Scott? Should I take you to the hospital?”
“No Sir I’m fine. But maybe we should call the sheriff, and have him come down here to and-”
“NO!” I screamed, scaring both Scott and Andres. “No! You can’t do that Scott! Promise me you won’t call them.” I moved to stand in front of him.
“Sara did you not see the size of that thing? He is obviously a freak breed and I don’t think it’s safe for him to be wandering around out there. What happens if kids wandered into the woods-”
“Scott don’t be ridiculous. If he wanted to hurt us he would have. He was just trying to protect me the way you were trying to protect me. Please Scott, please promise me you won’t call the sheriff.” I pleaded.
“Sara…” He groaned when I gave him the puppy dog eyes. “Fine!” he finally said in defeat. “I won’t call them.”
“Say you promise.” I pointed my finger at him.
He held up his right hand. “I promise.” He laughed softly and then turned toward Andres. “How do you say no to this pretty face Andres?”
Andres laughed. “When I figure that out, you’ll be the first to know kid. I think Sara is right though, I don’t think he is going to hurt anyone. Are you staying for dinner Scott?”
“If you don’t mind Sir?”
“Of course not, we love having you don’t we Sara?” He looked at me questioningly, and I shot him a glare, before smiling down at Scott.
“Of course.”
“So what are we having?”
Before Andres could answer, the door bell rang.
I looked at Andres. “Are you expecting someone?”
My body was humming, I could feel the power it had over me, and I knew who would be waiting on the other side of the door.
“Nope. You?”
“I’ll get it.” I said, bounding for the door.
I grabbed the door handle and it tingled underneath my hand. I pulled open the door. My heart doubled, and I couldn’t help the blush that crept over my cheeks.
“Adan!” I hissed, casting a quick glance behind me. Scott was looking me curiously and smiling. I returned the smile and held up my finger for him to hold on a minute. Squeezing out the door, I shut it softly behind me. “What are you doing here?” I whispered.
“Are we really going to play that game again Sara?” his smile was devastatingly sexy and my insides melted. “Why are you whispering?”
“You have to go Adan. You don’t come around all day, and then you think you can just pop in at night whenever you want?” I demanded.
I had wanted to see him all day and I couldn’t deny that I had ventured off into the woods earlier, hoping he would find me.<
br />
“I like the way you say my name Sara,” he whispered. It was almost a groan, and he took a step closer to me. “Are you trying to tell me you missed me?” he teased. I watched his eyes detonate into a frenzy of blue sparks.
“I missed you as much as you miss me.” I countered.
His smile was slow and lazy as it spread across his face. “So a lot then?”
My stomach flipped and the flutter deep inside was smoldering. I couldn’t describe the sensations, but they were intense. I was about to respond when the front door was pulled open and Scott’s big frame filled the doorway.
“Scott,” I sounded breathless and guilty. Adan, who was still inches from touching me, didn’t move an inch when the door opened and Scott eyed our position.
“Sara,” he sounded nervous and suspicious. “What’s going on? Who is this?”
Adan smiled at me and lifted his adorable brows, but his next comment made me want to strangle him. “Should I tell him Sara or would you like too?”
I gaped at him. The nerve! I fell back a step and wrapped my arm around Scott’s middle. I took only a small amount of pleasure in the narrowing of Adan’s eyes, as he started at the contact between us, before his eyes found me with a ‘well played’ look.
“Sara,” Scott interrupted our silent communication. “What’s he talking about?”
I put my hand on Scott’s chest to comfort him. “He’s just kidding Scott.” I said and looked up at him, smiling sweetly. ”This is Adan. I met him yesterday at the music festival. Well Elizabeth and I met him.” Damn me and my lies. I made a mental note to call Elizabeth as soon as Scott left, in case he decided to go to her for confirmation.
Scott was eyeing Adan. I could feel him relax a little under my arm, and he placed his arm around my shoulders. “Funny stuff. What’s up Adan, I’m Scott, Sara’s boyfriend.” He held out his hand to Adan, and I looked up at Adan through my lashes. There was no mistaken Scott’s obvious message.
Adan was staring at me, but took Scott’s hand and gave it a firm shake. I wanted to roll my eyes at the dramatics of it all. “What happened to you there, Scott?” Adan motioned to Scott’s dirty tee, and the rip in the collar of his shirt that I hadn’t noticed before.
Flutter (The Discover Series) Page 24