Falling to Pieces

by L. T. Kelly

  “You’ve been busy,” I said through my grin. His shoulders slumped, his mouth turned downwards. “Hey, what’s the matter? I tell you you’re house looks great, and you look, well, depressed.” I rushed over to him, placing my head on his chest.

  “I thought you were dead.” A sob ripped from his body as fat tears dribbled over his chiselled cheekbones.

  “Well, I’m not.” My voice came out curled with uncertainty as I placed kisses along his jawline, catching his teardrops on my face. How might I admit my fate was still undecided?

  “Depression hit me hard. I came out here and decorated the place to take my mind off things. I walked away and left everything to my sister to deal with, my businesses, everything. I haven’t slept in two weeks. I haven’t functioned.” He pressed me closer to his body, the suppleness beneath his clothes ignited a flame within me.

  It seemed wrong to be so turned on when Marc was so clearly upset. It wasn’t something I could turn off. I just wanted to be happy. I wanted to forget that these might be my last days. Perhaps Marc’s grief wouldn’t be so bad the second time around?

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” I said, placing my palm over his chest, his heart pounding beneath my touch.

  “I’m here now,” I said brightly, raising my face to peer into his watery eyes. “Let’s have some fun.”

  I whooshed to the front door knowing he would soon be complaining that he’d never get used to my rapid movements.

  “Catch me if you can,” I called to him as he appeared by the living room door, shaking his head with a grin on his face and his hands on his hips.

  I giggled as I opened the door and raced to the entrance of the woods. As I reached the earthen pathway, I caught the sound of the bounding paws thrumming on the compacted mud. A huge blob of rain landed on my nose. I looked skywards just as another plopped down.

  The sound of paws slamming into the ground grew closer. I unzipped the hooded top and dropped it to the ground and charged further into the treeline.

  The rain began to fall in earnest then, the scent of the grass filling my nostrils from the patches around me as if they were enjoying the drink. I removed my t-shirt, allowing it to fall to the ground before I pressed through the dense set of trees.

  The rain dampened my skin and the whistle of the wind on my naked top half made my nipples become erect, aching to be caressed.

  I pressed my back against a tree, running my fingers over the velvety moss snaking through the bark before I slipped out of my jeans kicking my sneakers off with them.

  A swirl of naughtiness swished around my stomach, my arousal evident by the liquid flowing from between my legs.

  I ran on, the earthy scents of the wood consuming me, opening me up like a blooming flower. The rain dripped through the branches and the leaves coating my skin with their untainted aroma.

  I had never felt so free.

  I wanted to jump up and down and scream. Open up my lungs and pelt out a noise while dancing naked in the rain, but I didn’t want him to find me too easily.

  I knew he’d be busy tracking my scent through the woods, knowing from the trail of clothes in my wake, that my body was his prize.

  I’d reached a clearing where the grass had been able to grow freely, tall and thick, undamaged and beautiful, proud. I tiptoed through it, trying not to make a trail and laid down in the centre, closing my eyes.

  The clearing had turned me on even more. I wondered what made a clearing in dense woodland appear to be so sexy. The surrounding trees shone an eerie blue-grey in a circle around me. I realised it was because I was free from the dark canopy of the trees and yet they were still there, just a moment away to provide a loving shelter from the elements.

  Droplets fell from the starry sky dampening my cheeks. They felt like tears.

  I missed crying sometimes. I’d done a lot of crying in my human life. It had taken me at least a hundred years to come to terms with the fact I couldn’t anymore. Lying down with my face pointed to the watery sky made me think I was able to cry. I imagined the raindrops to be long awaited tears cleansing my soul.

  The rain pummelled my naked body, dripping off me, caressing me, soaking my hair and weighting me to the grassy carpet.

  I kept my eyes closed but a smile flickered over my rain kissed face as I sensed the wolf’s paws stalking the edge of the clearing, his breath a pant. I pictured his inky nose trailing through the wet earth, catching whatever scent remained. I giggled at the thought and heard his strong furry body rustling through the blades.

  A rough tongue lapped up the rainwater from my soaking face, tickling me. I scrunched up my eyes. “That’s gross, get off,” I squealed as I rolled over onto my hip. I sensed the air around me change before the sizzling heat of his body connected with my back. One hand ran down the length of my arm before entangling his bronzed fingers around my pale ones.

  “It’s beautiful here,” he breathed in my ear.

  “Yes, I thought so, too,” I said lazily, shutting my lids again, taking in the heat of his body in contrast to the cool rain.

  “I meant you. You’re beautiful.”

  He slid his free arm under my neck and pulled me against him. I felt his length straining against my bottom. Wriggling out of his arms and flipping him over, I had him flat on his back, straddling him in a heartbeat. His eyes widened with shock. Stifling a laugh, I leaned forward and whispered, “You’re all mine, baby.”

  I slid down his torso, gasping from the touch of his body against my sensitive clit. I knelt up hovering over his hardness. His full lips were parted as his eyes admired my body, causing another lurch in my belly. As much as I wanted to be sensual, I needed him.

  I cradled his erection, squeezing his girth while I dipped the head into my soaking wet opening, slowly sinking down until I was filled up with him, moaning gently the deeper he sank within me.

  I lifted my ass up and down, pumping his manhood with my slick passage. His hands clutched the grass before he let go and began running his thumbs over my hard nipples. I arched my back encouraging him to be firmer with his caress.

  His eyes were a melting pot full of golden light. I sped up, raising my ass and slamming back down furiously. He suddenly sat up, lifting his body from the sodden grass in one fluid movement, the pooled rainwater cascaded between us. I adjusted my movements to fit with him, thrusting my hips back and forth, my arms encircling his neck, my hands lost within his hair, his hot palms lay flat against my back.

  He was licking, kissing and nipping my ear lobe when I lost it. The pressure had built to an unmanageable high. I cried out as I exploded around him, tightening around his thick rod, the rain helping me relieve the dizziness I experienced as I tilted my head back so the drops spattered my face.

  Marc groaned huskily, still moving within my wetness, letting out a long throaty moan as he filled me completely, holding me firmly against him as if he was using me body for support as he came.

  He lay back on the grass, pulling me with him. “You’re so full of surprises. I hope this never ends,” he said, his voice faraway. I couldn’t stand any more sadness.

  “It must be getting close to sunrise. I’m so tired.” I brushed my lips across his. We were both muddy and soaked, I momentarily dreaded to think what I looked like as I brushed the strands of hair clinging to my wet face.

  “Yes,” he sighed, “and you still have to find your clothes.” He flashed me a cheeky grin.

  “I’ll race you back,” I said, shooting up to a standing position, laughing at his figure still on the ground, his arms held out as if I were still in them.

  “One of these days, Teagan Lewis—”

  I’d understood his words as I whipped back through the trees flowing along with the wind and rain.

  I got back to the house, knowing full well he was far behind me. I passed a heap of his clothing at the top of the dirt pathway leading to the sidewalk. I grinned at them, arguing with myself whether to take them or not and laughing at t
he thought of him arriving home in the nude. But, I thought of the hassle of him being arrested, so I left them alone.

  Luckily, he’d left in such a hurry he hadn’t locked the door. I went upstairs to clean up. He really had done a good job with all of the rooms, especially the one I guessed was his. It was all dark wood, deep reds and vibrant oranges, like autumn. The en-suite bathroom followed the same theme. A round basin sat on top of dark wood, while red and orange towels were neatly folded on a matching wood rack. The entire room was tiled in rich matte brown. The floor at the other end of the bathroom sloped down above a huge uncontained rainforest showerhead. I stood beneath the hot water and soaped away the dirt, raking my fingers through my orange locks to get rid of the grass, which had become tangled between the strands. I was happy, safe and warm wrapped in my self-made illusion, that all seemed well, that Marc and I could continue like this forever, having fun and making love in the woods in the rain.

  My mind flickered over the reality and back to the dream as I wrapped a scarlet towel around my body and a burnt orange one around my long clean hair. I perched on the edge of the bed, wringing the water out with the towel.

  I heard to door close downstairs, the sound of a heart beat pounding and ragged breaths. Heavy footfalls landed on the stairs. Marc steadied himself on the doorframe, his enormous chest rising and falling erratically.

  “Man, you wanna’ get yourself to the gym,” I joked, combing the long strands through with my fingertips. He tipped his head towards me narrowing his eyes, just about managing a smile. His teeth gleamed as white as snow due to the mud pebble-dashed across his face.

  “You gonna’ take a shower?” I laughed, throwing the wet towel I used for my hair with precision at his chest.

  “No,” he rasped. “I wanna’ show you something first.” Between each word he sucked oxygen deep into his lungs.

  “Ok.” I jumped up off the bed. “Come on then, raggedy ole’ man,” I chided as I walked towards him.

  His breathing evened out as we walked across the upper level of the house. He opened the closet door to reveal a staircase. The wood was still unvarnished. I cocked my head, frowning. As though someone had injected a new lease of life into him, he grabbed my hand and tried to hide his immense childlike grin.

  The stairs led into the attic, where we had slept the first night we came here, only it looked totally different now. Flat against the slope of roof were pale blue panels, the same colour as the sky on a clear day. The beams forming the roof were painted white to match the carpeted floor. Beautiful natural lights boxes were placed in the four corners of the room.

  “It’s like daytime in here,” I breathed.

  “I know, that was the point.” He moved beside me, placing his arms around my shoulders, smiling at my stunned face. The bed sat in the middle of the room with a strong high head and footboard, painted in the same pale blue but with fluffy white cloud-like images painted skilfully over the top.

  I gasped, recalling the image I’d had when I’d drank his blood in this room. My hand flew up to my mouth as I turned to stare at his face. 'Can he read my mind? I wondered.

  He had one hand on his hip swishing his glance around with the same awe as I had been. I didn’t think he could see my thoughts. This was merely an uncanny coincidence.

  “But Marc, you thought I’d died. Why would you do this?” I waved my hand around the magnificent cloud room.

  “Because, with you, my head was always in the clouds. Is always in the clouds,” he corrected himself, rolling his eyes. “This room is the top of the house, and most of all, I’ve slept here with you, made love to you. I wanted somewhere where I could come to think of you.”

  I literally almost swooned. I grabbed the back of his neck and brought his face down immediately forcing my mouth on his as my tongue licked at his.

  I drew back from his face and gazed around the beautiful space as I walked across the room. “This is amazing. I love it. If you weren’t so filthy and I wasn’t so tired you’d be in trouble, Marc Romano.” I shrugged as I flopped down on the cloud bed. “Always tomorrow, though.” I grinned, running my hand over the white high-count Egyptian cotton cover.

  His breath hitched as I dropped the towel, displaying my nakedness, and climbed in between the sheets. “Go shower,” I mumbled as my eyes closed against my will.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  I sensed that the sun had long set when I awoke. The light boxes remained on, casting natural-looking daylight.

  I can’t say that I’d ever been so happy and satisfied. I can’t recall a time when I woke up already smiling like I did that evening.

  Marc wasn’t beside me in bed so I honed my hearing and listened to him moving around on the storey beneath.

  I lay still, just going through everything in my head. Maybe he’d agree to skip the country with me? I think I was just too scared to ask, fearing the possibility of rejection. What else could I do? I wasn’t ready to die but I didn’t want to spend another minute away from Marc. He’d been my only source of happiness. The only way I’d ever be content.

  Looking around the lovely room I spied my clothes, laundered and folded beside the bed. ‘Mm mm, washes your clothes and makes love like an animal’ I smiled as I dragged myself out of the ‘sky bed’ and pulled on the jeans and a t-shirt.

  I jolted at the sound of loud bang and the unmistakeable sound of glass shattering. I held my breath, frozen to the spot beside the bed for a moment before starting towards the stairs.

  “Where is she?” Thomas’ voice boomed on the lower floor of the house.

  “Fuck,” I breathed.

  “Get the hell out of my house,” Marc bellowed. Footsteps fell on the stairs, my heart thundered in my chest.

  I made out a woman’s voice, a soothing tone in an Italian accent. Marc’s mom?

  Another Italian, gruff and high pitched with anger and disbelief. Marc’s Dad.

  My jaw hung slack as I sat on the stairs and waited for Thomas to sniff me out. My gaze flitted around the room as if a miraculous exit would appear from nowhere. It didn’t. There was only one way out.

  I went and slumped back down on the unmade bed waiting for the inevitable to happen.

  I scrunched my face up as I heard the door at the bottom of the stairs slam open before the erratic speedy tapping of shoes on the untreated wood of the staircase.

  I opened my eyes to find Thomas standing before me, his cheeks flushed and his nostrils flared.

  “Sorry,” I said, not knowing quite what else to say. I thought that seemed like a good start. Thomas didn’t. His lips pulled back to reveal his sharp gritted teeth.

  “I can’t believe you did this to me, Teagan.” He turned his back to me and raised one hand to his forehead, his other rested on his hip. At least he’d seemed to calm down.

  More commotion became apparent at the bottom of the stairs, growling and snarling. Marc’s panicked voice screaming “Teagan. Teagan. Run. Run.”

  My vision swished around the room, I had nowhere to run to. There was no way out. “Please, please, Dad. No,” Marc cried out, his voice strangled. Sharp nails scratched on the staircase.

  “I’m fucking dead,” I breathed. My heart felt as though it was about to jump up through my throat.

  Thomas’ back shrouded my vision, his intention to use himself as a shield seemed obvious. I knocked him out of the way, having caught him off guard, and he fell onto the bed, immediately bouncing back to a standing position.

  “No fucking way,” I spat. “I’m not letting you die right in front of me. I’m probably going to die no matter what, but there’s no reason for you to.”

  Our conversation was cut short by the snarling coming from the top of the stairs. Buttercup eyes surveyed us. We were now standing side by side mirroring each other’s stance, fists balled ready for the attack that was sure to come.

  Marc and his mother followed at a fast pace and stood at the powerful beast’s flank, their eyes wide, trained solely on the back o
f the animal.

  I narrowed my eyes, trying to look unafraid, which is quite difficult when you’re petrified.

  I watched in slow motion as the wolf leapt in my direction in one fluid motion. The front that I’d put up moments ago dissipated. My eyes mirrored the terror that I actually experienced.

  I was paralysed, standing there with my mouth hanging open as the deadly figure grew closer, flying gracefully through the distance between us. Hiss front paws were extended forward while his back legs stretched backwards, his sharp toxic teeth bared and prepared for the kill.

  At the last millisecond instinct kicked in. I threw myself down on the floor, my face buried in the thick white carpet, wrapping my forearms in a defensive gesture over the back of my head.

  It was no use. The beast flipped me over using his solid paws and taking advantage of my blindness. I’d been fully exposed lying on my back with my hands behind my head. He didn’t waste any time, planting his meaty paws on my armpits, pinning me to the ground. Ragged breaths and pounding hearts filled my ears from the onlookers as teeth snapped in my face, hot frothy drool dripped from his jaws onto my nose.

  “Come on then,” I screamed. “Come on, fucking kill me.” One last shot at defiance. His teeth parted opening his jaws wide while rearing his head back.

  “Now, now. Lets not be too hasty,” said a voice as smooth as glass. Confusion amidst the disarray stopped everyone dead in their tracks.

  If it’s possible to read confusion or not in a werewolf’s face is beyond me, but I’m convinced that’s what I saw. His muzzle slipped back over his teeth as his head turned to trace the source of the voice. I craned my neck to follow the wolf’s gaze.

  Now, as much as I thought, ok knew, that Bartholomew was a complete and utter sleezeball, I don’t think I’ve ever been so elated to lay eyes on someone, with the exception of Marc, of course.