The Return (The Edge of Forever Book 3)

by D. C. Gambel

  His body was hard and rigid at first, but as my tongue teased his lips, beckoning them to open, he groaned and kissed me back full force. His hand cradled my head while his other wrapped around my waist, pulling me tighter. His tongue slid past my lips and I tasted him for the first time. I felt tingles zing through my body and I wanted more, but Sebastian pulled away.

  He turned away but rested the side of his head against mine. I was breathing heavy while I wondered why he stopped.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “What?” I was stunned. Sebastian had been trying to get me to come around to him for a while, and now that I kissed him, he didn’t want that anymore?

  “I told you this wasn’t a date. Kissing makes it a date, so we shouldn’t be doing this.”

  I nodded even though I didn’t truly understand where he was coming from. I stepped away from him, but refused to make eye contact.

  “Gaby,” he beckoned, reaching for me.

  “No, it’s fine,” I stepped out of his reach, “but it’s getting late so I think I should head back.”

  He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn’t. “I’ll see you home.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” I smiled, but it was fake and I’m sure he knew it too. “I can get myself back. After all, this wasn’t a date.”

  I left Sebastian standing there and let my anger fuel my departure.

  “You kissed him and not just a little peck. A full blown, tongue in your mouth, make your toes curl kiss?”

  “Yup,” I said as I changed my clothes.

  “And he stopped it?”

  “That’s what I said, Shawn.” Shawn had already replayed through the details I shared with him twice.

  “I’m sorry, Gabs. It’s just a little hard to believe.”

  “Well believe it.”

  Shawn was quiet for a moment. “So how was it?” He grinned wickedly.

  I rolled my eyes and smiled. “It was pretty fantastic. I don’t know if it’s the angel blood or if we really just have insane chemistry, but it was a good kiss.”

  I looked down feeling the guilt bare down on me. Shawn noticed and scooted across the bed towards me.

  “It’s okay, Gaby. It’s alright to enjoy kissing someone.”

  “It’s just…” I looked up at Shawn trying to find the words. “I wish it wasn’t like this. I don’t want to enjoy kissing someone else. I hate that I do. I hate that I have too. I hate that he’s not here and that means that even if it’s not today, that one day I will have to move on.”

  Shawn pulled me into his arms. “I know.”

  I stood in the dirty room full of jail cells. This time, remembering where I was, I moved to the cell before the last and saw Grayson. I called to him as I stepped through the bars.

  He looked up at me and appeared worse than the last time I saw him. His face looked shrunken and he had dirt spots across his cheeks.

  “I told you to dream up somewhere better. I hate this place.”

  I smiled at him sympathetically. “I know. I wish I could control it. If I could,” I reached out for him and my hand blended with his, “I would stop that from happening and let me touch you.”

  Grayson gestured to the spot next to him with his eyes. He looked too weak to move. I moved next to him. I didn’t understand why I kept dreaming of him like this.

  “How long has it been since you were here?”

  “A week,” I said as I closed my eyes and tried to feel him.

  “A week? I guess time feels differently. I thought it was longer.”

  My brow knitted, but I didn’t dwell on his comment. “I wonder why I keep coming to this place?”

  “Dunno, but I’m glad you’re here,” he said with a soft smile. I instantly felt guilty. “What’s the matter Gaby?”

  I didn’t know why I felt the need to tell him and ruin my dream, but the guilt was too much. “I kissed Sebastian.”

  “I know.” Grayson closed his eyes, but I could see the pain stricken expression take over just before he did. He was a part of my subconscious. It made sense he knew what I knew.

  “I’m so sorry, Grayson.”

  He buried his face in his hands. “I know, baby.”

  “I’ll wait for you Grayson, until the end of time.”

  “No,” he stated firmly looking me straight in the eyes. “I won’t be responsible for you never finding love again.” He tried to touch me, but his hand just fell through. I felt the tears stream down my cheeks. Grayson lifted his hand and held it so it just hovered there, but looked like it was laying on mine. “But…”

  There was a loud crash in the background that made him break off. I jolted straight up in my bed and realized that I was back in Shawn’s spare room. I rubbed my hand across my face and was surprised to find it wet with tears.

  “I need a drink,” I told Shawn the next morning.

  “Another dream?” Shawn asked. I had already explained to him after my first dream of Grayson. I guess my mood was as bleak as the last time.

  “Yup, plus the whole Sebastian thing... I just want to let go.”

  “Well, it’s only 10:00am. You think you can wait until tonight to get hammered.”

  “If I have to.” I poured myself a cup of coffee and spiked it with a blood bag I had in the fridge. “I like irresponsible Shawn better. He was all about the day drinking.”

  “Shut up,” he said just as my phone rang.

  “Hello,” I answered without looking.

  “Hey there beautiful.” It was a woman’s voice. I looked at the caller ID to see who it was.

  “Jade?” I asked seeing Damien’s name. I hadn’t seen or heard from her since I told Damien I wouldn’t be able to plan his extravaganza. He hadn’t been upset, in fact he canceled it explaining that now was a time for grief and we could always have the party much later down the line.

  “You get called beautiful by any other woman? And here I thought I was special.” I didn’t respond. “Damien needs to see you ASAP.” She didn’t say good bye before she hung up.

  Great. I hope I didn’t run into Sebastian.

  Luck was on my side as I made my way into Damien’s office.

  “Gaby,” Damien made his way to hug me. “You look…” he hesitated.

  “I didn’t get great sleep last night,” I stated knowing I didn’t look my best.

  “Bad dream.”

  “You could say that.”

  “Do you mind if I ask what it was about?”

  Damien didn’t normally show that kind of interest so it astounded me when he asked. “Um… I had a dream about Grayson.”

  He didn’t seem surprised. “I’m assuming this was not the first?” I shook my head. “It is normal to dream about those we lost, but you said it was a bad dream. I thought dreaming of Grayson might bring you some peace of mind.”

  I didn’t know why I explained it, but I did. I told Damien about the place I kept seeing him. How he looked malnourished and how I was unable to touch him. His eyes widened slightly. If I hadn’t been staring at him, I probably wouldn’t have noticed.

  “I am sorry that your dreams are being so cruel, but I need to get to the reason I asked you here today.” He changed the subject so quickly I thought I might have whiplash. “I have been hunting for the nest that kidnapped you and I believe I have someone that was involved in the actual kidnapping itself, but I need you to confirm before we continue to interrogate him. I want them to pay for what they did to you and your mate.”

  I was shocked. I didn’t even know that Damien was working on something like that. I felt my heart swell and tears threatened to fall.

  “If it is too hard for you, I understand and we can interrogate him anyways. I just worry that if we have the wrong vampire the others could be getting further and further away.” He mistook my emotions.

  “It’s okay.” I barely whispered. My throat had become instantly dry and I was having a hard time talking. “I want those bastards to pay.”

 
; I followed Damien to the elevator. He inserted a key and pressed multiple floor buttons. It took me a moment before I understood that he was putting in a code. We began moving down.

  “This building has a basement level?” I asked, but it went unanswered.

  We rode down in silence. As the doors opened I followed him down a long hallway. He led me into a room that looked somewhat like a lineup room that you saw on law shows. We were behind a one way mirror that I knew had to be made out of something unbreakable to keep vampires in. Damien gestured for me to come forward. There sitting on the floor, was the oldest vampire that had kidnapped me, the one that had driven the stake through Grayson’s chest.

  I didn’t even realize I was biting my lip until I tasted blood. I looked at Damien, who was studying me. I didn’t have to answer. He nodded and led me away from there.

  Shawn decided that maybe a visit to our old lives before we got involved in relationships was a necessity, which meant we were going clubbing. I let Shawn play dress up with me. He originally picked out a tight black dress that barely covered the required places.

  “Really?” I asked.

  “What’s wrong? You’ll look hot in it,” he looked over it not seeing my dilemma.

  “Yeah, but everyone wears black,” I said while tugging the fabric down my thighs trying to cover myself, but it only revealed more of my breasts. I played on Shawn’s inner fashionista. If I had qualm about the size, he wouldn’t budge, but it wouldn’t let me blend into the crowd.

  “True. Hang on.” He walked out of the room and returned a moment later holding up a nude halter dress.

  “Where’d you get that? It’s not mine.”

  “You’re right. I had Clive drop some stuff off while you were out earlier.”

  “Clive was here?”

  Shawn smiled, but his face reddened. I couldn’t help but grin back knowing that they had some alone time while I was gone.

  I slipped into the dress tying it around my neck. It clung to my hips and thighs but hung loose around my midsection draping across my chest. From my sides across my back, the top of the dress was nonexistent exposing my skin.

  “I feel like I’m naked!” I explained, looking at myself in the mirror. I turned to the side. Lifting my arm halfway up, I could see the side of my breast. “And the color doesn’t help with that feeling. You sure I can’t wear anything underneath it?”

  “What are you talking about? Every guy in that club will want to do you. Hell I might even be into you.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Like you’d even know what to do with a girl...”

  “Fuck off, Gaby. I’ve seen The L Word. I know the logistics.”

  “That’s a lesbian show!”

  “Yeah, so they know the vajayjay. Plus they have some straight sex on it.”

  Littering the sidewalk outside of the club were photographers. I’m sure they were hoping for some big names to show up. When Shawn and I stepped out one loan photographer took our picture. I heard one of the others ask him who we were. He responded, “No one,” but continued snapping. Thinking the guy was lying, he raised his camera to snap a shot of us, but we were entering the club, so if he got one it was of our backs.

  We ordered drinks and chose a table. After the third round, I was finally ready to head out onto the dance floor. After a few dances with Shawn, I required more alcohol. I hated to admit it, but Shawn’s plan was definitely helping, or maybe it was the alcohol, either way for the first time in a while, I felt like the old Gaby. Pre Anton drama.

  I stood at the bar. Before I could order, the bartender placed a drink in front of me.

  “From the gentleman,” he pointed to the man with dark brown hair and eyes, or at least that’s how it looked under the lights. He was wearing a black button down shirt and dark slacks. Just then I felt a hand slip around my waist. I turned, seeing it was Shawn.

  “Getting free drinks?” He eyed my outfit, “Your welcome.” What he was doing was classic us. He was giving the guy the impression that we were together, subtly letting him know that his attentions were misplaced.

  “Maybe I should talk to him?” I slurred. I had been throwing back drinks pretty regularly since we arrived. My body felt numb and tingly.

  “Gabs, that’s a bad idea. You don’t need to add any more to the mix. Your plate’s full already.”

  He was right of course, but I was drunk. “I’m just going to thank him and tell him that my love life is shit and he needs to find someone less complicated.”

  “Gaby?” Shawn warned, but I pushed away from gently and he let me go. The guy needed to know.

  When I was only a few people away, I felt someone grab my arm and pull me against them. One second I was standing in a crowded club, the next I was in an alley.

  “What the hell!” I yelled. Turning, I saw Sebastian. He glared at me and I glared back while yelling again, “What the hell? Did you just fucking kidnap me? I am so damn tired of being kidnapped.”

  “Of course not,” his tone had an underlined hint that my question was absurd.

  “Then what the hell?” I threw my arms up in the air.

  “You kiss me and you don’t like my reaction so you’re going to try and go home with that guy?”

  “Who Shawn? I’m sorta living with him right now, and he’s gay!”

  “No, that asshole who sent you the drink.”

  “Ohmygod! I was not going home with him. I was just going to thank him for the drink.”

  “Right. That’s how it starts. You’re drunk and shouldn’t be having conversations with strange men.”

  “Well, I’m talking with you, aren’t I?”

  “I’m not strange.”

  “You’re just a fallen angel, with wings.” I fluttered my hands at him in makeshift wings. I stopped for a second eyeing him suspiciously.

  “What?” he asked.

  “How did you know about the drink?”

  “I saw him send it to you.”

  “Sebastian,” I began, “that raises more questions than it answers. How did you know I was here?” He looked away. “You followed me, didn’t you?” I couldn’t believe it. “Do you understand how incredibly creepy that is, and stalkerish? Next thing you know, you’re going to have me in a basement telling me ‘It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.’”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “Turn on a TV!” I looked around to see where I was. The street looked familiar. Perhaps it was the entrance to the club. “And how is it any of your business anyways? If I want to go home with him, it’s completely within my right. I’m single, remember? And it’s not like you want me.”

  “Are you serious right now?”

  I was done with the conversation. “I need to go. I gotta find Shawn before he freaks.”

  “Gaby, wait,” he grabbed my arm. I hadn’t realized until that moment that I wasn’t feeling the tether. The alcohol must have numbed it like everything else. But when he grabbed me, the binding feeling crashed down on me with full strength. I spun and launched myself at Sebastian. My fingers were in his hair and my lips were on his. He didn’t hesitate even for a moment as I shoved my tongue passed his lips tasting him. He tasted minty, like he had just had a piece of gum. His hands ran up my bare back only igniting the arousal I was feeling at the moment. He spun me around to face the wall. Sebastian grabbed my hips and pulled me against his erection. I shifted myself, letting my ass rub against him. My hand reached behind me, I slid my fingers into his hair pulling him down to my neck. Tilting my head to the side, I offered him access. He placed fast kisses along the column of my neck to my ear before taking it between his teeth, biting it slightly. While his mouth was busy, his hands explored my body. He ran them down my bare back, over my hips. He squeezed my ass before pulling me back harder against his erection. I bit my lip enjoying the feel of him. His hand drifted up my side until it found bare skin. The fabric from the halter hung loose that his hand slipped under it with no effort, es
pecially since my fingers were buried in his hair. His fingertips grazed across my exposed skin before resting on my bare stomach. Going excruciatingly slow, his fingers glided up my rib cage leaving a trail of goose bumps behind.

  “Oh god,” I moaned as he palmed my bare breast before rolling my tender nipple. My panties were drenched. I didn’t care that we were in an alley, that any passerby might see us. I wanted him. My hand clenched his hair while the other griped his shirt where it rested on his hip. I threw my head back, letting it rest against his shoulder. I didn’t want to do anything to hinder the pleasure he was causing me. He rolled and flicked my nipple then would knead my entire breast.

  “Please,” I cried out. For what, I didn’t know. For more? For him to never stop?

  Sebastian spun me around and I groaned as his hand slipped away, but I didn’t have time to voice my feeling because his mouth was on mine instantly. I wrapped my arms around his neck as his hand ran down my backside. Gripping my ass, he lifted me and I wrapped my legs around him as he pressed me against the wall, all the while never breaking from our kiss. The wall was made of brick and it scrapped against my exposed skin, but my brain didn’t register pain, all I knew was his erection was now rubbing against the spot I wanted. My tongue slid past his lips, dancing with his while his hand slipped back under the loose material of my top giving my other breast his attention. Even from this angle he had no problem. The alcohol mixed with my arousal was overwhelming. Sebastian started kissing his way down my chest. I knew any moment that I’d feel the cold air brush against my bare breast before feeling the heat of his mouth. Just the idea had my wet.