by Lana Melyan
He kissed me back with such passion that I thought he would never let me go. But then he stopped and pulled back.
“We can’t do this. We still have work to do.”
“Yeah,” I breathed out. “I know.” I drew closer and touched his lips with mine. “You want me to learn to protect myself. But I don’t feel in danger right now.” I snuck my hands under his shirt. His eyes closed. “And I’m not angry at all,” I murmured. “How am I going to do it without something driving me crazy?”
“I’m sorry,” he said dryly. “But this is not gonna happen.” He tossed my hands away from his body and stepped back. “You’re eighteen and I’m. . . . We can’t do this.”
“What?” I gaped at him. The wind was gone, and the leaves started falling down. “I know what you’re doing.”
“Do you?” he said in a cold voice.
“Nathan, stop.”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing. Stopping this. I have to do what’s right. Don’t you see how wrong this is? I brought you here so I can teach you. Instead I’m distracting you. I’m weakening you. I’m leading you into the wrong direction. I’m teaching you to love instead of to hate and to fight.”
“Oh, you’re so close to that hate part.”
“Am I? I look into your eyes and all I see right now is fear. How are you going to fight anyone like this?”
“Because you’re scaring me?”
“Then do something about it!” he shouted. “Fight it. Be strong.” His face darkened, then he slowly moved his hands above the ground. The leaves rolled toward me, gaining speed. They moved faster and faster from all over the place, bringing the twigs along. Next moment, they swirled up, forced by a wind that grew stronger with every second. The trees swayed, and I felt like I was standing right in the middle of a powerful storm. The moment the first twig hit me, I raised my hand and punched the air, sending Nathan flying across the clearing.
He crashed to the ground, and for a second, my heart stopped. But then I heard his laughter.
“I didn’t think it would be that easy.” He sat up. “I had a whole speech ready, and I haven’t used even half of it.”
“What the hell was that?”
“Motivation,” he said, getting on his feet.
“Nathan, you’re an ass!” I shouted at him. “I could’ve hurt you. You’re lucky I don’t hate you that much.”
The storm was fading away. He came forward, his look warm and tender.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I wasn’t afraid of . . . I was afraid you meant what you said.”
“I know. You believed it so quickly.”
“It was mostly my—”
“Temper. That’s what I was going for. Still, sorry I had to do this.”
“I knew you were strong, Dad told me. But this . . . this was very impressive.”
“You’re as strong as me. You could do that too. You just don’t know how yet.”
“Nathan, don’t you have to be really angry to perform that kind of magic? It was kinda aggressive.”
“No. I’m not acting out of a mood. I already know how to use my powers. The real feelings, in this case, anger, would strengthen them, of course.” He came closer and locked his arms around me. “You thought I was really angry? It was just magic, Nicky.” His hand ran up my back. “Here, let me make it up to you.”
The moment his lips touched mine, all my frustration with him disappeared. Once again, my hands slid under his shirt.
He removed them again. But this time gently. “Nicky, this still isn’t going to happen. Don’t get mad again, please.”
“Nathan, you’re seriously scaring me,” I said, looking up at him.
“I know, and I hate myself for that.”
“Those things you said, you didn’t really mean them, right?”
“Of course not. It’s not that. I want to, and right now it’s very hard for me to resist you. And believe me, it’s much harder for me than it is for you. But we can’t rush this, you need more time.” He stroked my face with the tips of his fingers. “I stormed into your life, and everything is happening too quickly. You don’t know much about me yet. This would be like me taking advantage of you. And I can’t do that. You’re not just some girl, and I want to do this right.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t . . . I know we only kissed yesterday, and I shouldn’t . . . I’m sorry for making you . . .”
“Don’t worry, I can handle it.”
“And I really want to know more about you, but to be honest, I’m afraid to ask. And I don’t know where to start.”
“Start from what bothers you the most.”
“Oh, okay.” I walked to the stump at the edge of the clearing and sat down. Nathan sat on one a few feet away. “Let’s start from those some girls.” I said, my tone more serious.
“It’s not what you think. I don’t change women every other day. There was a time, but it’s in the past. I grew out of it.”
“Are you saying you weren’t with anyone before you came here?”
“I was. But I’m with you now.”
“No, you’re not. We kissed, and I don’t think that’s enough for a man who—”
“Is that what worries you? You think it’s not enough for me?”
“I know it’s not.” His trip to New Orleans really bothered me, and I had to say something, find out the truth, or I would always doubt him. “That friend you went to visit in New Orleans, was that a woman?” I asked. He looked away, and I waited for him to look back at me. But the moment he did, I changed my mind. “No, don’t answer that. Nothing really has happened between us yet, and I have no right to be jealous.”
“Yes, you do,” he said quietly. “You have every right to feel, to ask, to know. Yes, it was a woman. It was—”
“You don’t have to share the details.” I said, steaming up. “I know my place. My father was right. You’re being nice to me because you need something from me. I’m the key you need to open that damn mausoleum.”
“Nicky, what the hell are you talking about?” He looked at me like I had just punched him in the face.
“Is she the missing piece you were looking for? You know what? I hope she’s really special.”
“Nicky, don’t do this.” He got up and took a step, but I raised my hand, stopping him.
He froze on the spot. “I’m sorry it happened.”
“Are you?”
“Of course I am. But we’ve talked about this. Remember? Having someone and loving someone are different things.”
“No. When you already . . . when you’re with someone . . . this means you’re still looking.”
“I’m not looking for anyone.” He clenched his teeth. “I know exactly where my missing piece is. The problem is, I can’t touch her, you see. I made a promise to her father.”
I gaped at him. “You made a promise? So you’re saying that you two have decided for . . . for her everything all by yourselves.”
“As you can see, it didn’t work. I’ve broken my promise a hundred times already.”
“Nathan, I don’t want you to keep me in a glass box and go look for. . . . somewhere else.”
“I wanted to see if it would help. But it didn’t. When Sam . . . I got mad that evening. Mostly with myself. Because I thought he was right, that it was better for you to be with someone like him, and the right thing to do was to stay away from you. And I took off. But it didn’t work. I missed you so much. I hated myself for leaving you, and I got back as soon as I could.”
He was telling the truth. I just knew he was.
He could’ve lied to me, but he didn’t.
“So, you’re not going to go look for solace somewhere else?”
“I wouldn’t do that. Not after I kissed you. That changed everything, and yes, that means I’m with you. Seeing you, kissing you, holding you in my arms is all I need. No one else can give me more satisfaction, make me feel the way I feel when I’m with you.”
I was silent.
A storm raged in my head. I was right, it was a woman. So what? We met yesterday, and God knows how long he knew her. She was the one who had the right to be jealous. He said no one else could satisfy him . . . and the way he feels . . . Does this mean he loves. . . ? he said I’m his missing piece.
“Nicky,” said Nathan. He pulled me up from my seat. “Say something. Now you’re the one who’s scaring me.”
I looked at him. He was right; he hadn’t done anything wrong. At least not yet. He had lived a long life, and it wasn’t right to be jealous about anything that happened before he kissed me. There were no promises made yet, and he had given me no reason to mistrust him.
“Nathan.” I tilted my head. “I don’t think I have said it enough times to you. You are an ass.”
He put a hand on my back, ran the other one under my knees, and lifted me up, making me feel as light as one of those yellow leaves. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Nicky Callahan, you’re the only one I want to be with. Do you hear me?”
“So, I’m your girlfriend now?” I asked carefully.
“You are my everything.” His eyes looked deep into mine.
“Nate,” I whispered. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were smiling. “Thank you for coming back to me. I don’t know what would I do if you hadn’t.”
“Now you’ll never find out,” he whispered back, and his lips reached for mine.
11
Next morning when I arrived at school, Nate was waiting for me at his spot next to the parking lot.
“I’m on my way to Brian,” he said, brushing back a strand of hair blown on my face by the breeze. “Just came to say hi.”
“Then say it.” I looked into his eyes.
He kissed me.
“I hope you’ll come meet me after school.” I tilted my head. “To say good afternoon.”
“I sure will. And I’ll spell it for you, letter by letter.”
“Well,” I heard Connie’s voice. “Aren’t you two a picture?”
I looked around. She leaned on her car, sipping from her travel cup and beaming at us.
“Hi, Connie,” said Nate.
“See you after school,” I said to him, but as I stepped away, he pulled me back and kissed me again.
“Nathan, you see that building there?” Connie pointed her finger. “It’s called school, and we go there.” She started toward us. “It has this thing called a bell. And the trick is to walk in before it rings.”
Nathan threw her a sideways look. “She’s just jealous because Logan is still asleep.”
Sam’s car drove past us. Connie and I exchanged a glance.
“You should go,” said Nate. Still holding me, he turned to Connie. “Kate is leaving tonight. We could meet at the Grill before that to wish her good luck. If you and Logan don’t have plans.”
“No, we don’t. I’ll let Logan know,” said Connie.
“If he wakes up before then.” Nathan rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Connie, could you be more exhausting?”
Connie stared at him. Then a grin spread across her face. “Who is jealous now?”
The annoyed look on Nathan’s face made me laugh.
“Like I said––don’t listen to her.” He kissed my temple and headed to his car.
“You said the dinner went well. You didn’t say it was that good,” said Connie, raising her eyebrows.
“It was hard to describe in a few words in a text how good it was,” I said, beaming. She still stared at me, and I added, “Don’t look at me like that. We didn’t go as far as you and Logan.”
“I’m sure you’ll get there in no time.” She clapped my back, smirking.
At the other side of the parking lot stood Jess with his eyes fixed at me. As I nodded to him, he nodded back and turned away.
We caught up with Sam and Kate, and the four of us headed toward the school. Sam didn’t say a word to me.
Not until I closed the locker and was ready to go to class.
“So,” he said, stepping in front of me. “I see your relationship with Nate is progressing.”
“Yeah,” I replied, realizing how quickly the news of me kissing Nate was becoming the hit of the day. “Thanks to you. Mostly.”
“You’re saying you did it to piss me off?”
“No. I’m saying that Nate thought you were right. So he left. But he couldn’t stay away. He thought it was up to the two of us to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. And he came back.”
“And?”
“And we talked. And we decided if being together makes us both happy, why fight it? But if it makes you feel better, we also decided not to rush things.”
“Nathan? Not rush?” Sam scoffed.
“Yeah.” I gazed at him. “Maybe you don’t know him as well as you thought.”
He looked at me for another moment.
“Can we go to class now?”
“Sure," he said quietly.
I was already behind with my homework, and history class added to the pile. I had to write a paper due Thursday.
“I’ll do it tomorrow, after school,” I said to Connie during lunch.
It was just the two of us at the table. To be able to spend time with us at the Grill, Kate had to finish packing. She’d decided to leave early and had asked Sam to drive her home.
“Do you think our boyfriends kept journals? We could just pick the right year and copy them.” She chortled.
“You haven’t asked Logan yet? I’m surprised. You two don’t have much time to talk lately, do you?” I grinned.
“What makes you think that?” said Connie, playfully fixing her hair.
“I was curious.” I lowered my voice. “If he doesn’t drink from people, what does he eat? Did you ask him yet?”
“Of course I did. That was the first thing I asked. I said, ‘What’s your favorite dish? Mine is nachos.’”
“What did he say?” I asked, giggling.
“You mean besides laughing?” She chuckled. “He uses blood bags. He has a supplier. But thankfully, he likes food too, so when he invites me to dinners he eats with me instead of staring at my neck.”
“Is it hard for him? I mean, when you’re so close together?”
“If it is, I couldn’t tell,” said Connie, glee vanishing from her face. “When I asked, he said that I shouldn’t worry about that, that he wouldn’t harm a hair on my head. He never had a human girlfriend, so I don’t think it’s easy for him.” She sighed. “What about you? Do you have time to talk?”
“Does bickering count?” I paused. “He said I can ask him anything, but I’m scared.”
“Why?”
“Nate doesn’t want our relationship to get too intimate until I get to know him better. And I think that means he’s afraid there are things I won’t like.”
“Nicky, a hundred and fifty years is a long time. Maybe he has done things a long time ago, but he looks like a good man now. People change.”
“That’s what Gran said. She said she thinks he’s changed.”
“I think you should start asking your questions. I was scared too. But I thought better to find out who he is now and see if I could accept him after I learn about his past.”
“And?”
“And he didn’t try to hide the truth. He said that he’s killed people. It was a very long time ago, but it happened.” Connie bit her lower lip. “Are you freaked?”
“Well,” I sighed. “It’s not really shocking. He is a vampire. Nate said he helped him resist temptation.”
“He said it too. He said that thanks to Nathan, he’s changed. He’s a different person now. By the way, since when do you call him Nate?”
“Since yesterday.” I beamed. “After he said that I’m his everything.”
“He did?” Connie stared at me with wide eyes. “Wow. He is very into you, but Nathan, actually saying . . . that’s something.”
12
The four of us—me
, Nate, Connie, and Logan—arrived at the Grill first. It was the first time we sat across from each other as couples. And it felt different. Warm, cozy, and intimate. I wished it could stay this way forever. But the thoughts about jeopardizing our future dangerous mission crept into my head.
I leaned closer to Nate. He kissed my hair, and his hand slid down my shoulder, then under my arm. Here, next to him, I felt safe.
“How is the training going?” asked Logan.
“Yesterday she sent me flying across the clearing,” said Nate with pride.
“I knew she’d kick your butt,” chuckled Connie.
“Yeah, you haven’t seen what he did,” I said.
“Pissed you off, I assume.”
“That too,” I smiled as I glanced at Nate.
“So, what have you two been up to?” Nate cleared his throat. “I mean, except the usual.”
“We went hunting.” Logan pulled Connie closer and kissed the top of her head.
It melted my heart. I’d never seen them do that before.
“For bunnies?” I asked.
“Yep,” Connie grinned. “I wanted to see if he’s faster than them.”
“And?”
“And, what can I say? Poor bunnies. But he didn’t kill them,” she hurried to reassure us. “I didn’t let him.”
“Connie said you were looking for a new place?” I asked Logan.
“Yes, but Nate just told me that Brian and Sam are leaving soon, so I thought I might take that house. Connie likes it.”
“They are?” I pulled away from Nate so I could see him. “Did you—”
“I didn’t force him to do anything.”
Connie raised her eyebrows, and her eyes darted from Nate to me and back.
“Don’t you look at me like that, you little witch.” Nate gazed back at her. It sounded pretty cute, and Logan smiled. “It’s not what you think. I told Brian it’s safe there at the moment, and he asked if it’s okay with me if they go back.” Nate turned back to me. “Brian has nothing to do here right now, and he’s happy to go home, open the bar, and start working. And we need him there to keep an eye on things.”