by Angie Derek
“And you believe her?” Alandra stared at her son in disbelief. “We’ll see. Won’t we?”
She stepped back. “You’re welcome to come in. The vampire is not.”
Her words held steel in them. Lily cast a nervous glance over her shoulder to Brenda standing near the truck. With the vampire’s acute hearing, she couldn’t have missed what Alandra said. Brenda gave a tiny shrug and nodded, giving her okay for Lily to go in without her.
CHAPTER SIX
Lily hesitated at the steps leading down to the beach. She’d come looking for him, but now that she’d found him she wasn’t sure what to do or say. Despite not knowing him for more than twenty four hours his pain radiated in the center of her chest as if it was her own. She just didn’t know what was causing the anguish. Selfishly, she hoped it wasn’t her.
She walked gingerly down the old wooden stairs to the white sandy beach. The sun had already set and the moon glittered down on the ocean. Reyes stood where the waves rolled to meet the dry sand. The ocean was full of noise. It was noisier than she would have imagined. She’d always thought the ocean was supposed to be peaceful, but the constant sound of rushing and crashing water didn’t relax her.
“You look worried.” Reyes’ words came softly across the sand. His eyes didn’t leave the water and she wasn’t sure how he knew she approached.
“Do I?”
He smiled as he turned to her. His happy expression didn’t quite reach his eyes and the compulsion to apologize rose within her again. She forced it down. He wouldn’t welcome another apology. The moonlight glittered on his eyes making them look darker and harder to read.
“What’s bothering you?” His words were patient
She hesitated, looking at the waves. “You.”
“And what have I done to earn your ire?”
“No ire.” She almost smiled at his word choice. “You’ve been worried and that worries me.”
“Broadcasting am I?” He glanced down at the sand and then back at her. “How much can you see?”
“Not much.” She hurried to reassure him, wondering at the clipped note she could hear in his tone. “I can tell you’re worried, but I think I would know without the extra stuff.”
“Know me that well do you?”
His comment jabbed at her as she tried to figure out what he meant by it.
“Something’s wrong with my mother.” He started to glance over his shoulder to the house, but stopped the movement. “I don’t know what. She never mentioned being ill.”
It was obvious to her something was wrong with his mother’s power, but she hadn't considered the cause being illness. “Her power seems muted.”
He gave a jerky nod. “Yes, but it’s more than that.”
“She survived the attack from the vamps, but maybe the healer wasn’t able to restore her.”
“She was stronger when I left, hurt, but much stronger than she is now.” He kicked the sand and she noticed he wasn’t wearing shoes and his pants were rolled up. “Something’s happened since then and she hasn’t told me.”
She realized with a sudden rush of clarity that what she felt was his anger at himself and worry toward his mother. He should have known something was wrong before now. Stepping next to him, she slid her fingers into his hand and squeezed. “What do you think’s wrong?”
He shook his head, his thumb rubbing along the back of her hand. Shivers crept up her arm.
“She’s ill. Her aura’s dull and dingy.” He took a deep breath as if steadying himself. “People who have auras like hers are usually…I think she’s dying.”
Her own mother’s face flashed in her memory and her eyes prickled with the need to cry. She shoved the image out. He needed her support right now. Her own sorrows could wait until later. Much later if she had anything to do with it.
“But you don’t know for sure that she is.” She tried to reassure him. Something was wrong with Alandra, but it could be the lingering effects of barely surviving the vampires’ attack. “I could see what’s wrong.”
His sharp gaze held hers. “What do you mean?”
She shrugged, not wanting to promise what she might not be able to deliver. “I healed you. If she’s sick it could be something I could make better.”
His face softened and he smiled for real. “I’d appreciate it.” He raised her hand up to press his lips against her knuckles.
“I’m not promising.” She wanted to make sure he understood she might not be able to do anything for his mother.
“I know,” he whispered and tugged her a little closer to him. “Just look and tell me what’s wrong. I won’t ask for anything else. So, you can do that? See inside someone and see what’s wrong?”
She bit her lip as her hip brushed his and she focused on his words not her body warming up. “Yes.”
Unsure of how to explain how it worked, she opted to keep it simple and not explain that she didn’t know how she did it. When she healed someone the answer was there along with what she needed to do to fix it.
“Where’s Sophie?” His other hand went to her waist and he pulled her so she was facing him, her back to the ocean.
Her shoulders tensed at not being able to see the waves behind her and he automatically adjusted their position so their sides faced the ocean. “She wanted to see Brenda.”
He glanced toward the road. “And where is Brenda?”
“Still hanging out in the back of your truck.”
He grimaced. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s understandable for your mother not to want a vampire in her home.”
His gaze focused back on her face and she could see herself reflected in his eyes. “You’re beautiful in the moon light.”
His words were serious and her heart fluttered in reaction. “I thought I was blinding.”
“Blindingly beautiful.” His lips curved a fraction.
She narrowed her eyes and frowned. “Sarcasm isn’t appreciated.”
Laughing, he put his hands on her shoulders. “No sarcasm though…” His voice trailed off as he cocked his head. “You look,” one hand moved up to touch her chin, “flipping young. How old are you?”
His silent perusal almost made her laugh and she raised an eyebrow in challenge. “How old do you think I am?”
“Young, too damn young.” His hands ran up and down her arms, his touch eliciting a trail of fire. “You see, I have this unspoken rule. I don’t date anyone who isn’t old enough to legally have a drink with me.”
She didn’t drop her challenging expression. He couldn’t be a day over thirty and she guessed he was younger than that. “You’re one to talk, Grandpa.”
He slid his fingers through her hair to cup her head and waited with an expectant look on his face.
The feel of his hands in her hair made her want to hum in delight, but she tried to focus on his question and what it would mean if he didn’t like her answer. “Almost twenty.”
He chuckled, his fingers moving in a gentle caress. His face dipped down and his lips hovered over hers. “Almost ten years, baby. Nearly a decade.”
“But if I was two years older you wouldn’t blink an eye about doing what with me,” she whispered, tingling in anticipation of the kiss.
The corners of his lips turned up. “You do realize this feeling between us isn’t normal. But then again, considering your lack of experience maybe you don’t.”
She narrowed her eyes in irritation. “I wasn’t a virgin last night.”
“No, but.” His lips brushed teasingly against hers before pulling back far enough so she could see all of his face clearly. His fingers tightened in her hair. “You’ve been on the run for how long?”
She didn’t want to focus on her life. She wanted him to kiss her like he had last night. She went up on her toes, sliding her hands up around his neck. But he resisted her tug.
“You didn’t answer my question.” His eyes were serious and the smile was gone from his mouth. “How old were you when they kill
ed your parents?”
She tried to break the embrace, but he held on. She shoved against his chest. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I didn’t want to talk about my mother.” He released his hold on her.
She frowned at him not wanting to admit he had a point. Hugging her arms around herself, she took a step back and considered. She often thought about the night her parents were slaughtered, but she didn’t talk about it. Brenda had never even asked her.
“They came for me just after I turned seventeen. Something I did tipped them off to who I was.”
“A vamp just had to see you,” he said softly. “Nothing you did tipped them off.”
She shrugged. She had always believed she’d drawn them to her. “I came home after a school dance. Didn’t even realize my date was a vamp until it was too late. I think they were hoping I’d lead them back to a family of whitelighters, but I’m the only one. I invited him in.”
The cold gripped her and she couldn’t speak. He brushed his hands against her and she jerked back. Closing her eyes, she tried to block the images out. The blood. There had been so much blood.
“My mother realized what was happening first. I never heard the pack come in until they were around us.”
“I’m sorry, Lily.” He kissed her cheek and pulled her forcefully into his arms. “It’s okay, shh.”
As he soothed her, she realized she was crying. He kissed her wet cheek again. A sob worked its way up her chest as the grief squeezed her heart. Shaking her head, she tried to force the feelings back to where they couldn’t hurt.
His lips found hers and she clung to him, letting the pleasure drown out the pain.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered again against her lips before trailing kisses down to her neck.
She opened her eyes. The moon wrapped them in its silvery embrace. The breeze off the ocean cooled the hot air surrounding them. Heat radiated from his body as he pressed against her. She combed her fingers through his hair as he nibbled and licked at her neck. Focusing on the here and now allowed her to pull back from the grief and only feel the sensations flowing through her body. His lips moved back up to hers, and she opened her mouth to let him in, rising up on her toes to press against him.
He groaned deep in his chest and broke the kiss. Resting his forehead against hers, he sucked in a breath. “We should go back to the house.”
“Why?”
“Because if we keep doing this I’m gonna push you down into the sand and have my way with you.”
“Sounds promising.”
He laughed and his hands moved back up to cup her face. “You’re not running hot.”
“I beg to differ.” If she was any hotter for him she would melt into the sand.
His fingers found their way back into her hair and his expression remained serious. “You’re running dim is what I meant. You don’t have to do that.”
“Blinding you doesn’t seem to be the best way to seduce you,” she whispered, her gaze focusing on his lips.
“You came down here to seduce me?”
She shrugged. She’d come down to comfort him, to see why he was upset, seducing had actually been the last thing she was thinking about.
“You don’t lie very well.” His lips were gentle as he kissed her again.
Warmth spread on his gentle touch, surprising her with its intensity. She could feel his power increasing as he took his time tasting her. She tentatively let her own power flow slowly through her body. He chuckled before deepening the kiss. It switched from tender to fierce in a heartbeat.
They were wearing too much clothes. She wrestled his shirt out of his pants and slid her fingers along his hot skin. He broke the kiss again and dropped his hands to grab her wrists. Groaning in disappointment, she opened her eyes to glare at him.
His breath came faster, but his serious expression was in place again. “Let’s go inside.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t a private beach and I don’t think you’d enjoy getting sand in all types of uncomfortable places.”
“There’s no privacy in your house either.”
“My mother’s house.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “We’ll just have to be quiet.”
“Where?” From what she’d seen of the house there wasn’t a “where” in it.
He considered a moment as he released her wrist and took her hand in his. “Bathroom?”
She laughed, picturing the tiny bathroom with its ocean theme. “Seriously?”
“We could explore some interesting positions.” He tugged her back toward the stairs to his mother’s house.
She flashed hot at his words. “Someone will notice.”
“The couple walking their dog down the beach would surely notice us getting busy down here.”
She glanced over her shoulder as they reached the stairs and sure enough she could see something moving toward them. Her first instinct was to run.
“You’re safe.” He squeezed her hand as if he felt her flight instinct kicking in. “No bad swirls, just an old married couple out for an evening stroll.”
The adrenaline pushed the lust aside and she couldn’t help the quick glances toward the couple as she walked up the wooden stairs to the back of his mother’s house. She didn’t stop watching them until he’d walked her into the kitchen and shut the door. A lamp glowed in the living room giving them a little light to see by.
Reyes frowned, touching her cheek lightly. “Relax. I’ll go get Sophie and bring her back in for bed.”
She started to nod and stopped, amazed at how natural it felt for him to be looking after her and Sophie. He didn’t seem to notice her preoccupation as he stepped into the living room.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Reyes stretched out on the chaise lounge and stared at the ceiling of the screened porch. Lily was in the living room with Sophie in the makeshift bed his mother had set up for them while he’d been kicked out here. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold or too hot, but it was too far away from Lily. He regretted calling a halt to their interlude on the beach. It didn’t look like he would be getting a repeat anytime soon.
Thinking about last night made him hard all over again. He expelled a breath in frustration. It wasn’t like she was leaving tomorrow or that he was some randy teenager, even if he felt like one, who only thought about sex.
“Reyes,” Lily whispered through the screen in the kitchen.
It creaked softly as she came through. He turned his head to watch her walk toward him. The filtered moonlight glowed on her hair and enhanced her curves. Her long t-shirt barely covered her panties even with her gripping the edge to keep it down. She stopped at the foot of the chaise.
Her power dimmed down. He sat up and reached to draw her against him. She moved willingly even eagerly into his embrace and snuggled on his lap. Not wanting to waste time, he pulled her close and found her lips with his. She sighed as she leaned into him.
Sliding his tongue into her mouth, he savored the taste of her. Her hands moved over his bare shoulders as she kissed him back, her tongue tangling with his.
He cupped her face with one hand while the other worked its way under her shirt to slide up her back. The softness of her skin enchanted him and he didn’t think he would ever grow tired of the feel of her skin under his fingers. A quiet moan escaped her lips and he swallowed it, remembering the open door.
“Lily,” he whispered, nibbling on her lips.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“I want you.”
“I know.” Her hands slid down his chest.
He closed his eyes to fully focus on the sensation of her touching him. “Just so we’re on the same page.”
She giggled and her hands dipped to his boxers. Desire shot through his veins and he reached for her hands before she grew too bold. She leaned in for a kiss and he obliged her. Shifting in the chaise to draw her closer, she moved to straddle him, surprising him into looking at her. Her power was banked down the lowest he�
�d seen it, but she still glowed like a beacon in the dim room.
She opened her eyes and smiled tentatively at his appraisal. “What?”
“You’re beautiful.” He moved his hand up to slide his finger down her cheek.
She leaned closer to him growing bolder. “You said that before.”
“It bears repeating.”
She captured his lips and a moan worked its way up his chest. Squashing it down, he laid back pulling her with him.
“Reyes?” She snuggled against him, her arms going around his neck.
“Yes,” he whispered against her neck as he licked his way to her collar
“This isn’t normal, is it?”
He lost focus as he gripped her shirt. “What isn’t?”
“The way I feel. I’ve never felt like this with anyone.”
Satisfaction flowed through his blood and he couldn’t help the smile curving his lips. “Me neither.”
She leaned back and pulled her shirt off her head, revealing round perky breasts. She didn’t try to cover them, but sat in his lap looking down at him. His erection nestled right where he wanted it. He would be inside her if it weren’t for their clothing blocking her entrance. He was so intent on her breasts it took him a moment to realize she was waiting for him to say more.
“What do you want me to say, Lily?”
“I want you to reassure me we aren’t acting crazy.”
He focused his attention on her face trying to read what she was saying and why she would bring it up while sitting half naked on his lap. “If you don’t want to have sex with me, say so.”
Her lashes dropped, blocking her expression, and she leaned so her lips were an inch away from his. “I more than want to have sex with you.”
“You can’t doubt that I desire you since you’re sitting on the evidence.” He couldn’t keep his confusion out of his tone.
Her lips brushed against his, enticing him all over again with barely a touch. “Then why aren’t you taking me right now?”