Midnight Surrender: A Paranormal Romance Anthology (14 page)

Maybe I could negotiate with him, work something out. Offer him money instead.

By late that afternoon, I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Claudette, grandma’s nurse, eyed me curiously when I walked in, then walked out of the kitchen for the thirtieth time for no reason, too anxious to sit down.

Half an hour before Kieran was due to arrive, I chose a simple, purple sundress imprinted with tiny lavender flowers. I stuffed my stash of money into a small clutch purse, threw the strap cross-wise over my chest and left my room.

Halfway to the stairs, I stopped and glanced at grandmother’s door. I could hear her talking to Claudette, could hear the machines go crazy when she fell victim to a fit of coughs.

When Kieran picked me up precisely at seven, I was more convinced than ever that I would do whatever it took to help grandma — even if it meant sex.

“
All right?” he said.

I didn’t dare look at him. “Where are we going?”

“
To the festival de Lumière by the pier,” his fingers drummed on the wheel. “I thought you might like to see it.”

Confusion had me glancing in his direction. “I don’t understand.”

He made a smooth turn. “What do you mean?”

I took a deep breath, warding back the hot red pooling into my face. “It’s a little… open, isn’t it?”

A thin crinkle formed between his eyebrows. His lips pursed thoughtfully. “Ooookay…” he ruffled a hand through his hair, eyes never leaving the road. “Did you have somewhere else in mind?”

The heat was uncontrollable now, rushing up, burning a path up my neck to sting the back of my eyes. “Why are you asking me? I’ve never done this before!”

His eyebrows were touching his hairline, his eyes wide when he darted a glance in my direction. “Seriously?”

My jaw dropped, outraged. “Do I look like the sort of girl who would do something like that with just anyone?” Was it the dress?

He rubbed the back of his head. “I’m not sure it’s safe to answer that.”

“
You think I look like a prostitute?” I exclaimed.

We narrowly missed clipping the back fender of the Toyota in front of us when he suddenly jerked the wheel hard to the right, yanking us out of traffic. The wheels grounded against gravel as he pulled to a stop on the shoulder of the road. He turned nearly all the way around in his seat to face me.

“
Who said anything about prostitutes?”

“
Well, you did!” Didn’t he? I no longer had any idea what was going on.

“
I did not!” He looked genuinely outraged. “I just wanted to take you to see the lights at the pier.”

“
I don’t understand that!” I barked back.

“
What’s not to understand? I want to take you to see the lights!” he said very slowly, pronouncing each word carefully.

“
Why?” I shot back. “I don’t expect you to wine and dine me before… before…” I bit my lip, certain my face was glowing.

He sat back, head cocked to the side, eyes narrowed. “Before what?”

“
You know what!” I retorted, turning my face away, wishing I could just die already.

“
No, I really don’t think I do.” I jumped when he lightly slipped his fingers through mine and gave a gentle tug. “Tessa?” his fingers moved up to take my chin, forcing me to face him. “What did you think was going to happen tonight?”

I pulled free, too humiliated not to burst into tears if I looked at him. “Just what you said!”

I dared a sidelong peek at him when he took too long to respond. He was staring up at the sky, face pinched in concentration. I knew the moment it dawned on him. His lips parted, his eyes widened. He gave a soft ‘Oh!’ of surprise. A pink tongue slipped over his bottom lip. His eyes were dancing with silent laughter when they dropped back down to mine. I quickly looked away.

“
That wasn’t what I meant, Tessa,” he murmured quietly. “I just wanted to take you out.”

I hugged my middle, silently praying I wouldn’t throw up in relief. “Why couldn’t you just say that?”

A soft sound escaped him, a chuckle. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t word it properly. I wasn’t thinking very clearly when I said it.”

I stole a peek at him from beneath my lashes. “What do you mean?”

He sat back a little, rubbing his jaw. “Well, it’s not often I meet someone like you.”

My head jerked up. “Someone like me?”

His hands came up. “Let me finish!” He reached over and lightly tucked a curl behind my ear. “You interest me. I wanted to get to know you better.”

I felt my eyes narrow. “Is this how all your… clients pay you for your services?”

He laughed. “No. Everyone else pays me in cash.” His fingers glided down the side of my cheek, sending tendrils of fire skating down my spine. “Like I said, I wanted to spend more time with you.” His head tipped to the side. “Is that okay?”

I felt my lips bow into a smile. “Next time, don’t be so cryptic.”

“
Deal.” His grin twisted mischievously. He raked a tongue over his teeth. “So all this time, you thought we were going to…”

I dropped my blistering face into my hands. “Ah! Stop!”

His laughter drowned out the crunch of tires as he pulled off the shoulder and slipped back into traffic.

The sun was pouring gold and crimson into the Pacific Ocean when we arrived. The Festival de Lumière glowed brilliant against the dwindling daylight. Fairy lights looped through arches of white roses, twinkled from bushes and swayed in the breeze over our heads. Lanterns dangled from trees, floated in ponds and lined the ivory bridge joining the festival of lights to the pier. It all looked so magical.

“
It’s beautiful!” I breathed.

Couples passed us, arm-in-arm, looking as entranced as I felt. A prickle of something sparked in my chest as I wondered how we appeared to others. Did they think we were a couple? I pushed the thought aside in fear of blushing.

“
Would you object to going on a few rides with me?” he asked.

God I hope I’m not blushing!

“
No, I’m all for rides,” I said, loving the way the lights pooled in his eyes and shone in his hair.

He beamed. “Great! I’ll show you my favorite one.”

I followed his lead through the boardwalk.

“
Your favorite is the Ferris Wheel?” I asked dubiously.

He grinned. “Got something against the wheel?”

I shook my head. “No, I just never pictured you as the Ferris Wheel kinda guy. Maybe the roller coaster or the zipper, but not this.”

“
Well, I’ll have you know that, if done right, the Ferris Wheel is the best ride at the fair.”

My laugh escaped without consent from me. “Really?”

“
Yup.”

We boarded five minutes later. The bar was slammed into place in front of us. I grabbed it like a lifeline. Kieran lounged back comfortably, hands in his lap. I stiffened as we swooped up backwards.

“
Don’t like heights?” he teased.

“
I have nothing against heights,” I replied stiffly. “It’s meeting the concrete from the top that bothers me.”

He chuckled. “The top is the best part. You get to see for miles.” He shifted, rocking forward as he tried to adjust his position. The seat rocked with him.

I yelped. My stomach dropped to my knees and I lunged for him, sinking my nails into his biceps. “Oh God!”

Smart man, he kept the laughter I could see in his eyes at bay as he pried one hand free and threaded our fingers together. “It’s all right. I got you.”

“
Just don’t rock the seat!” I moaned through my teeth.

I could see him biting the inside of his cheek. His lips were twitching, but he wisely kept his amusement in check.

All too quickly, the ride ended and Kieran was helping me off the ramp. He never released my hand, I noticed, not even as we made our way up and down the pier. I didn’t mind.

“
So tell me more about your special abilities,” I said as we bought ice cream and wandered down to the beach.

He shrugged. “Nothing really to tell.”

I licked a stray droplet of chocolate as it rolled over my fingers. “Do your parents know?”

He shook his head.

“
Why not?”

“
It just never felt like the right time. My sister Kali knows.”

“
The girl who answered the phone?”

He nodded. “I’m sorry if she was… abrupt. She’s doesn’t approve of what I do. Plus, she’s not the friendliest person in the world.”

“
Why doesn’t she approve?” I tried slurping at another steady stream of melted chocolate running down the cone, marveling at how quickly it seemed to be coming apart despite the cool, night air.

“
She thinks I’m going to get hurt. Neither of us knows much about this gift so we’re never sure what to expect, especially with my epilepsy.”

“
Then why do you do it?” I gave up trying to control the disaster in my hand.

He stopped walking and turned to me, ice cream already devoured, lips quirked in the corners. He reached over and gently wiped at a chocolate smear on the tip of my nose. I blushed.

“
To help people,” he answered. “What’s the point of having these… powers if I can’t do something useful with them?”

“
So you can really heal people?”

He nodded. “Most of the time. If it’s really bad, I can only take the pain.”

“
What’s really bad?” I asked.

He scratched the back of his neck. “There was a guy who got hit by a car, broke every bone in his body. I was the first to get to him. He died in the hospital.” I didn’t miss the tightness in his voice.

We didn’t speak of his abilities again. The conversation veered away to family, books, favorite music and what we were going to do when summer ended. Gradually, we meandered through the attractions, going in no real direction as we prolonged the night.

“
I had a really great time tonight,” I said as we passed over the bridge, our fingers interlocked. I truthfully couldn’t recall us ever letting go.

He stopped at the arch and went to the stone railing. He leaned back against it and pulled me between his parted feet. My heart tripped.

“
I did too.” A ghost of a grin darkened his lips. “Although, your plans for tonight sounded equally… intriguing.”

I frowned, confused. “My plans…?” Realization hit me like a two-ton truck. “That wasn’t—I didn’t…!” I exclaimed, mortified.

His laughter filled the air. His hands worked their way to my waist, burning me through my dress. My breath caught as I was reeled closer. Our thighs touched.

“
Do you have any objections to kissing on the first date?”

So many things about that question threw me for a loop, but the only thing that blurted out was, “First date?”

His lashes dropped a little, hooding his eyes. “Well, I was kind of hoping for another.”

Another. This was a date and he wanted another! I wanted to jump and squeal and do cartwheels.

“
Me too!” I breathed, a little too fast, a little too breathless.

He grinned. “Good to know. Now… about that kiss?”

My heart ragged against the confines of my ribs. I shook my head. “No objections.”

He didn’t swoop in as I’d expected. He took a moment to brush hairs off my flushed cheeks, to caress the curve of my jaw with his fingertips, to trace the curve of my bottom lip. He had me in complete pieces, a melted puddle of want, before his head lowered and his mouth touched mine.

It was like kissing embers; my very soul blistered with the heat. I was drowning in sunlight, floating on hot, summer winds. The solid ground beneath me vanished and I was falling, falling, falling heedlessly into space and time, lost in the scent of musk, spices and leather. On his tongue, I tasted mint and chocolate, and I knew I would never be able to face either without thinking about that moment again.

“
No…!” I grabbed him, holding on tight when he began to pull away.

“
Shit!” he growled into my throat, his voice strained as if he were in pain. “Tessa…” Another meeting of lips. “I’ve wanted to do that since I saw you last night.”

I trembled hard. “Again!” I burned, realizing too late how licentious that sounded. “I’m sorry.”

His fingers tipped my face so I was falling into his eyes. His free arm hooked my middle, pulling me flush against him with a single yank. The solid length of him felt hard against the softness of mine. His heat enveloped me like a blanket.

“
You apologize too much!” I heard him growl seconds before his lips slammed back down over mine, this time with an angry vengeance, like he wanted to hurt me, hurt us both, like he just couldn’t get enough.

His fingers gouged into my back, bruising flesh as he crushed me violently into his chest. His teeth cut into my lips, nipping, sucking and making them swell. Then, his tongue was invading, plundering and conquering mine into submission, and I was gasping, and moaning, and clutching at him to keep him from stopping, because if he stopped… the thought, the heart-stopping, the mind numbing… the torturous thought was just too much, too much and I’d die. I just knew it.