by C.M. Owens
Though she knew she was lying to herself, she also knew that she couldn't simply leave this room, and him, with her pen.
Her heart hammered as her fingers curled around the top of the pen, mere centimeters from where his fingers stopped. Though they were not touching, a current shot through her and left her breathless and shaken. Vivid images of the dream sizzled through her. He didn't move as the smile slipped from his face and his eyes burned with the consuming need she had seen in him before.
Then he moved.
His fingers slid up the pen to breach the small gap between them. Cassie inhaled loudly, something inside of her locked into place, it froze her muscles and kept her immobile. The world disappeared as everything in it became him, became them. They were joining, their molecules blending and twining together in a sensuous dance that was soothing and beautiful. Everything suddenly made sense; everything became right as his touch became the balm that soothed her soul.
The dream last night had been very realistic, but the true reality was far better than anything she could have imagined. In that moment, she knew she had found her home in him. This was where she belonged, where she would always belong. Her life would never be the same, but she wasn't frightened by the realization anymore, but rather, exhilarated by it. Everything would be ok now that he was a part of her.
His eyes darkened as a tremor shook his powerful frame, a tremor that melted her heart, and made her ache to touch his cheek. It didn't make her feel better that he seemed just as mystified as she was by all of this. No, it only made her yearn to get closer to him, to ease the torment she sensed deep inside him.
She didn't know where his torment came from, but she suspected it ran even deeper than her own. Somehow she knew that she could help him with his pain, just as he helped with hers. She could feel the strength running through him, the control he exerted over himself.
His sudden release left her feeling lost once more, but the feelings of hurt and confusion weren't as consuming or as unbearable as before. He had healed something inside her; somehow his touch had put back some pieces of her broken soul.
For a moment something dark shifted behind his intense gaze. He rose with a grace that was breathtaking and staggering. Staring down at her, he was unable to suppress the small tremor racing through him, a tremor that warmed her heart. It was apparent that she affected him just as much as he affected her, and he hadn't even had the same dream that she'd experienced last night. He stretched his hand with a hopeful expression on his face that tugged at her heart.
She took note of the perfection of his fine boned, strong fingers. Heaving her bag onto her shoulder, she took a deep breath as she decided to throw her life over to fate. There was no stopping it after all. Sliding her hand into his, she clasped hold of it, surprised to note his slightly cooler skin.
Devon would keep her safe, keep her protected from the darkness of the world; she knew that with every fiber of her being. However, given that she wasn't entirely human, she was probably stronger and far more capable of protecting him. Though, with him, she felt entirely human and completely feminine. It was such a welcome change from all the confusion her life brought with it.
"Where to?" His deep voice sent a shiver of delight down her spine and caused goose bumps to break out on her suddenly oversensitive skin.
The last thing she wanted to do was go to another class, but she couldn't just walk out of school with him. Noise finally broke through her turbulent and uncertain thoughts. She was surprised to find that the next class was already filtering into the classroom. Students glanced questioningly at the two of them as they took their seats. It was past time for them to get to their next classes. "I have Anatomy and Physiology now."
"Lead the way."
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to start moving. "What class do you have now?"
He frowned as he dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his rumpled schedule. Though he'd been in school for nearly a week, he apparently hadn't learned it yet. "Study hall."
He almost looked confused as his forehead creased and he frowned at the paper. For a moment it appeared as if he didn't know what study hall was, but that was impossible, every student knew what study hall was. Didn't they? "That's probably in the library, but some are held in classrooms," she told him.
"Library."
"Would you like me to take you there?" she asked, certain that his confused expression was because he didn't know where to go.
A cute smile curved his full mouth that melted her heart. He appeared so much younger and more approachable when he smiled like that. She'd thought that he was gorgeous before, but when he smiled, he was magnificent. It took all she had not to stroke his face, not to bury herself against him, hold him close and shut out the rest of the world.
"Trying to get rid of me already?" he teased.
Cassie couldn't stop herself from grinning back at him. "No," she answered honestly. "I just don't want you to get lost."
He shoved the schedule back in his pocket. "I've found you, how could I be lost?"
Cassie blinked in surprise. If anyone else had said that to her, she probably would have laughed in their face and blown them off as corny. Coming from him, it was the sweetest thing she'd ever heard, and though it sounded like a pickup line, his tone rang with sincerity. She realized that if she had been the one to say it to him, she would have meant it too. His presence alone had helped to fill the holes inside her, and his physical touch was like aloe on sunburn. She had never believed in love at first sight, never believed in soul mates, but maybe, somehow, her body and her spirit had known that he was out there and had been waiting for him.
He was staring down at her, his emerald eyes stormy and intense. He was waiting for her to say something, waiting for her reaction. Cassie couldn't find the right words though; she could only manage a reassuring smile.
The tension eased from him. His eyes crinkled with the smile that lit his striking features. Cassie couldn't stop herself from grinning back at him. "I'll be fine; the library was one of the first things Melissa showed me the other day." He easily replied, as if what he had just said to her hadn't left her as shaken as a baby's rattle.
Swallowing heavily, Cassie tried to calm the turmoil racing through her. If it had been just a pick up line, she didn't want him to know that he'd just caught her hook, line, and sinker. "Of course it was."
They arrived at her class much faster than she would have liked. "I'll see you soon." He seemed to try and memorize every detail of her as he scanned her face.
Cassie didn't fully trust herself to speak. Part of her felt like crying, which was completely crazy, she would see him again soon. She hoped. He took a step closer, and for a moment she was certain that he was going to kiss her. She held her breath in anticipation, her entire body clamored for the feel of his lips against hers.
Instead, he squeezed her hand briefly and released it quickly. Cassie felt the loss of his touch as acutely as a knife to her heart. She couldn't move as he slipped away and disappeared into the crowd.
CHAPTER 9
Devon folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall as he waited impatiently for the bell to ring. He'd tried to sit through the whole study hall thing, but he didn't understand what he was supposed to be doing, or why he even had the class. Then again, he didn't understand any of this high school stuff. They were like rats in a maze, going through the same thing day after day.
He supposed education was a good thing; he simply had no use for it. Maybe if he was a human in this day and age he might find it useful, but he wasn't. When he'd been human, he'd had schooling because he'd been a member of the aristocracy, and it was expected of him. Even before he died, he'd seen no reason to continue with his education as he'd discovered better ways to spend his time with gambling and women. What he didn't have he simply took with no regard for the person he took it from. Death hadn't lessened that trait but only made it far worse. It was not a fact he was proud of, it
was just a fact that he had to live with, and try to atone for every day of his lonely existence.
Just as he'd already suspected, his dreams had been nothing compared to the reality of her. Her skin was even softer and warmer, her hand even more delicate and supple. Though he knew where his intense urge to possess her might be coming from, he was still unwilling to explore that possibility yet. There was still a chance that he could walk away from her. Her safety was number one as far as he was concerned, and she could never be truly safe with him in her life. It was essential he be able to walk away, but if what he suspected was true, there was a good possibility that he may not be able to.
He'd meant what he'd said to her earlier, he was not lost when she was near. When he was around her, he didn't feel adrift in a world where he wasn't welcome among humans or vampires. If staying here, and torturing himself in high school was the only way to be close to her, then he was going to suffer through the classes like everyone else.
He shifted as the discomfort in his veins increased. He should have fed before he came here today, but he hadn't realized how arduous it would be to keep control around her outside of their dream. The burning in his veins had kicked into hyper drive the minute his skin brushed against hers. The sweet scent of her blood had slammed into him, causing his mouth to water and his body to burn with hunger. It had taken every bit of self restraint he had not to pull her against him, sink his teeth into her delicate white throat, and drain the delicious blood that flowed through her veins.
He hadn't touched a drop of human blood in a hundred and thirty seven years, and until that moment he'd never felt the craving so acutely. He'd never had his control nearly shattered, never nearly cracked and drained a person simply from touching them. However, as much as she rattled his firm restraint, she also had an odd calming effect on him. His baser instincts were held at bay when her delicate fingers curled around his. Touching her had locked the demon inside him back in its cage; it had calmed his raging urge to drain the blood from her even more than it had enticed it. Whatever spell she had cast over him had him completely ensnared.
The annoying bell rang suddenly, its sound was exceptionally piercing to his sensitive ears, but it was a welcome distraction from his disconcerting thoughts. Stepping away from the wall, his arms fell back to his sides as he eagerly waited for her to emerge from the class. Doors were flung open around him, chatter spilled into the halls as students emerged. He was barely aware of the humans as they filtered around him, the boys instinctively left a larger gap then they would with anyone else. The girls drifted closer, "accidentally" bumping into him, and giggling flirtatiously.
He ignored them as his attention fixed on the people filing out of Cassie's class. He could smell her and feel the beat of her delicate heart. She appeared in the doorway, her mouth parted, and her step faltered as she spotted him. The small redhead that had been speaking to her broke off abruptly and her brown eyes widened in surprise.
He didn't think about what he was doing as he instinctively held out his hand, relief filled him as her fine boned fingers slid into his. The beast inside of him stilled instantly. The burning in his veins lessened as her presence calmed his edgy instincts. He couldn't separate from her again. If he did, he wouldn't make it through the rest of this day.
"Um yeah, I'll talk to you later Cass."
Cassie glanced at the redhead and gave her a brief nod before turning her full attention back to him. "You got here quick."
He shrugged. "I don't really see the point of study hall."
The sound of her laugh was beautiful and sweet, like the gentle ring of wind chimes. At that moment, he knew that he would do everything in his power to make her laugh as often as possible. Her eyes twinkled merrily as her laughter broke off, but she continued to smile at him as they made their way down the hall.
"Most people look forward to study hall; it's their favorite time of day, other than lunch of course," she informed him.
"I don't see why, there's nothing to do."
"That's exactly why."
Devon shook his head as he realized that he would never understand teenage humans. There was no pleasure in doing nothing, it drove him crazy. "I see," he said, even though he didn't.
Her smile slid away as she looked at him questioningly. "Didn't they have study hall at your old school?"
"Of course," he lied smoothly, sensing that to do anything else would seem odd. "I didn't see the point of it then either."
She smiled again, and shook back a strand of golden hair that slid into one of her eyes. Without thinking, he brushed the hair aside. She froze, her breath caught in her chest, as his fingers lingered on her skin. He found he couldn't take his hand away as he caressed the delicate contours of her face. He recalled touching her like this last night but it was nothing, nothing compared to this. She didn't move, didn't even breathe as she watched him in fascinated awe. In her gaze he could see her own recollection of the dream. Her heartbeat kicked up, her pulse pounded loudly through her veins..
"Cassie!"
His hand fell away as Chris's prickly voice broke the odd spell holding them both hostage. He took a step closer to her, a wave of possessiveness tore through him as Chris appeared at her side. Chris's blue eyes narrowed as he met Devon's gaze and his shoulders stiffened. "Hi Chris," she greeted.
"Did you do the homework?"
Cassie rolled her eyes. "Yes, but there's not enough time for you to copy it."
"I was just checking to make sure you had done it."
Cassie's forehead furrowed in confusion as she frowned at Chris. Devon was nowhere near as confused as Chris shot him a dark look. Though Melissa felt that they were more like siblings, Devon was beginning to believe that Chris's feelings were not so platonic, and Chris didn't like the competition that Devon threw into the mix.
Devon didn't particularly care what Chris thought. Cassie was going to be his no matter what. His shoulder brushed against hers as he took another step closer. "Are you going to English now?" he asked harshly.
"Of course, I'll see you there." Though it had been a clear dismissal, Chris hung around for a few seconds more. He glanced briefly at Cassie before turning on his heel and disappearing into the thick throng of students. She turned back to Devon, confusion still evident in her features. "Ready for class?"
He fought back a groan, he wasn't ready at all. He wanted to stay here, with her, but he was in her world now, and unfortunately he had to obey the rules that came with it. Even if the rules sucked. The only good thing was they had the same class now.
He followed her down the hall, taking note of the people surrounding him for the first time, or at least taking note of the boys. Many of them didn't acknowledge his presence as they watched her go by. His temper bristled at the obvious lust behind their stares. They didn't care about his presence, every one of them would easily ignore him if they thought they had a chance to talk to her.
It was a fact he didn't like, but would remedy very shortly. Following her into a classroom, he reluctantly released her hand when he slid into the desk next to her. He'd been assigned a seat a few desks away from her, but he wasn't going to sit there today. Though he couldn't touch her, he wasn't moving any further away from her than this.
Chris and Melissa entered the room with their heads bent close together as they talked quietly. Chris grew quiet as his eyes darted toward him and Cassie. Melissa quirked a dark eyebrow, a smile flitted across her mouth. She gave Devon a brief nod before sliding into the seat in front of Cassie. Chris sat next to Melissa. The boy who had been assigned Devon's seat hesitated for a moment, and looked as if he was going to argue with the new arrangement. Instead, he wisely closed his mouth and resigned himself to Devon's abandoned seat.
Cassie ducked her head and chuckled faintly. Unable to resist her anymore, he leaned across the aisle and took her hand. He was acutely aware of the fact that she had stopped breathing and was watching him in wide eyed wonder. She clung to him with a desperation that
he recognized instantly, as it resided inside of him also.
The teacher breezed into the classroom, dropped her books on her desk, and turned toward the chalkboard. Though she hadn't noticed them yet, it was only a matter of time before she did. He reluctantly released Cassie's hand.
Though they were separated, he kept his hearing attuned to every beat of Cassie's heart. He was well aware of the delicious scent that wafted from her skin and hair. His mouth started to water as the burning in his veins intensified. For a moment it took all he had not to grab hold of her and taste her. The temptation was almost more than he could handle. Clenching his teeth, and fists, he forced himself to stay calm.
He was beside her again the moment the bell rang. Her touch relieved the aching tension coiled within him as her smile warmed him. "Would you like to show me all of the town hotspots tonight?" he teased, unable to stop himself from grinning at her like a fool as they made their way outside.
Her laugh was enchanting. "Well you've already seen the number one spot, B's and S's."
"Yes, and it was amazing."
"Well, their shakes definitely are. I'd be happy to show you around town though."
"That sounds great."
Her long lashes lowered shyly over her eyes, a dull flush stained her cheeks. "Great, I'll uh… oh crap." The smile slid from her face as her forehead creased. "I forgot, I can't tonight, there's something that I have to do."
He tried to contain his disappointment as she stopped walking and turned to face him. Students milled past them, eager to get to their cars and escape the crowded parking lot. "Tomorrow night then?"
Her smile returned, but her eyes remained oddly troubled and distant. "I would like that."
Though she said yes, he sensed something behind the words, disappointment maybe? Anguish?
"Cassie come on, let's go!"
She glanced over her shoulder to where Chris was leaning out of his car with his arm resting on the driver's door. Melissa was by the passenger door, her dark eyes narrowed as she studied them. "I have to go."