Savor (22 page)

“Lost me?” She sat up on her elbows. “Like I was dying?”

I laughed dryly. “No, like you didn’t want this as much as I did right now.”

“How do you know I want it as much as you?” She ran her teeth over her bottom lip, proving my point.

“By the way you’re looking at me.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like you want me so bad it hurts.”

“Then why are you still standing over there?” She relaxed back down on the bed.

“Because I like teasing you.” I got out a condom.

“That’s mean.”

“Is it?” I walked over. “You tease me a lot too.”

“Not when you’re naked and ready. I do it at other times.”

“You are naked, but how do I know that you’re ready?” I moved over her on the bed, holding my weight with my hands on either side of her.

“There’s an easy way to find out.”

I brushed my lips over her neck. “Show me.” I moved next to her on the bed.

“Gladly.” She took my hand and guided it between her legs.

She was as wet as I’d hoped. “Yeah, you’re ready.” I lowered my mouth to her breast.

She moaned and closed her eyes. She was leaving herself completely vulnerable to me, and I knew that was a far bigger deal to her than being naked. Vera didn’t like feeling vulnerable, and neither did I.

“I’m never going to hurt you.” I didn’t mean to utter the promise I might not be able to keep.

She opened her eyes. “I hope I don’t hurt you.”

“Right now I just need you.” I moved over her again.

“Then take what you need.” She thrust her hips against me.

“I think I will.” I got ready to enter the place I wanted to be most when the sound of a loud siren interrupted. I rolled off of her. “What is that?”

“I don’t know.” She sat up. “I haven’t heard that before, but it doesn’t sound good.”

“We should probably get dressed.” I looked down. I was in no state to get dressed, but I didn’t have a choice.

“I promise we’ll finish this later.”

“I hope you keep your promises.” I was worried, but I wasn’t willing to admit it to Vera. She liked me strong and confident. I wanted to give her exactly what she wanted. I quickly dressed in my usual clothes. The traditional Norco cotton outfit was comfortable, but it wasn’t mine. It didn’t feel right.

“What do we do?” She pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top. “Find my mom and Gareth?”

“We can sit tight for a few minutes now that we’re dressed, I just wanted us prepared.”

Loud knocking on the front door crushed that idea.

“Vera! Jared!” Taliana yelled.

I rushed down the hall and pulled open the door.

Taliana pushed right in and closed the door. “Good you’re dressed.”

“Of course we are.” Vera crossed her arms.

“Your hair is wet. Don’t bother pretending.”

“What’s going on?” I waited impatiently.

“We don’t have time for me to explain.”

“What do the sirens mean?” I strained to make sure I couldn’t hear anything else over the loud sirens. “Are we under attack?”

“Yes. We didn’t expect it. Grab your bags and get ready to go.”

“Ready to go where?” Things were moving fast. I needed to stay focused.

“The cave.”

“The cave Gareth took me to?” I asked to make sure. I couldn’t imagine she meant another.

“Yes.” Taliana wrapped her arms over her chest. “I wish you two would have had more time, and I’d had the opportunity to tell you everything, but I don’t. The rest of your team will meet you there. Wait in the cave. Do not leave until they arrive, do you understand?”

“What team?” This was the first I’d heard of it.

“Just do as I say. You need to trust me.”

A loud explosion had us all hitting the floor.

“What the hell was that?” Vera asked.

“This isn’t the time for questions. We don’t have time.” Taliana started down the hall to the bedroom.

I chased after. “Taliana, you have to tell us—”

Taliana cut me off. “Take Vera to the cave and wait for the rest of your team.”

“You have to tell us what’s happening!” Vera tugged on her mom’s arm.

Taliana sucked in a breath. “I don’t have time to argue with you. Please for once in your life do what I’ve asked without questioning it. It’s time you stepped into the role you were born for.”

Another explosion sounded, and I knew we had no choice. I put on my pack and handed Vera hers.

She held out her hand to me “Let’s get out of here.”

Taliana was waiting in the hall. “No flying, you don’t want to be spotted, but get there as fast as you can. Everything you need is packed.” She kissed Vera on the cheek. “I love you, sweetie. I wish I could do this with you, but you’re in good hands. Make us all proud.”

“Uh….”

“She will.” I adjusted my pack. “What’s the most direct route?”

“Southwest.” She hugged me. “Take care of her.”

“I will once I figure out what the hell we’re doing.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out quickly.”

I sincerely hoped she was right.

M
y life was getting more and more insane by the minute. My head was spinning with all the mixed emotions. It was hard to tell which way was up. Jared and I were asking for trouble. Everything we did muddled the waters further, and now we were running from some sort of attack. I had no idea what to think.

“Go as fast as you can and don’t stop.” Mom repeated her instructions for the millionth time. “This isn’t a joke. You have to survive, Vera.”

“I value my life. I’ll survive.”

“I’ll keep her safe.” Jared pulled me protectively to his side. I wished I knew what he was thinking. Were his feelings for me real, or was he playing a game? It would have helped if I understood my own feelings. I wasn’t quite there yet.

“Good. I need to make sure everyone is safe.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and fight?” Jared looked my mom straight in the eye.

“That is a noble offer, but we need you to stay with Vera. Getting her and the crystals safely away is our only hope.”

“Crystals?” I asked just before another loud blast shook the ground. I held onto Jared. I was getting far too used to relying on him. “What crystals?”

“Jared will explain everything.” Mom kissed me again. “Go. The others will be there soon. They know what to do.” Mom hurried off before I could ask any more questions.

“What’s going on? What crystals is she talking about?”

“I’ll show you.” He started moving further into the forest.

“Show me how, and do you really think it’s smart to go this way? What if we get lost?”

“Do you still doubt my sense of direction?” His face remained serious. He wasn’t joking. Jared was in battle mode.

“No, but this isn’t the time to take chances.”

He spun on me. “I’m not taking chances. Your mother asked me to get you to the cave. I’m going to do it. Either you trust me or you don’t.”

“But why? What is this cave? And what the hell are the crystals?”

“We have to keep moving.” He continued forward through the night, and I followed.

A loud explosion went off near us, blocking out the sound of the sirens. When were they going to stop?

“You okay back there?” He called over his shoulder.

“Yes. That was a little loud.”

“It was loud because it’s close.”

“Are you sure we’re not walking further into danger then?”

He turned again. “Vera, stop doubting me.”

“Or what?” I put a hand on my hip. “That kind of sounded like a threat.”

“Or I’ll throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and drag you to the cave.”

“Kidnap me?”

He leaned in close. “I promise I’ll tell you everything I know, but right now we have to move. I’d prefer to fly, but I can’t risk us getting spotted and tipping them off that a Pteron is here. But if I have to I’ll do exactly that, got it?”

“But why not just get us off the island?”

“Because of the crystals. I don’t fully understand them, but I know they’re important.”

He ducked under a branch and turned us even deeper into the woods. “Watch out, we’re going to be heading up hill.”

“You think I can’t walk up a hill?”

“I’m just giving you a heads up.”

“Keep talking. What else is there to these crystals?”

He didn’t reply, so I let it go for a few minutes. I followed him up the steep terrain, glancing back every few minutes to make sure we weren’t followed. I wasn’t sure what kind of enemy we were up against, but I wasn’t eager to have them surprise us from behind.

“Are you ready to talk yet? Or are you going to feed me some bullshit about waiting instead?” I hated being kept in the dark.

“I’m not going to feed you bullshit, but I’ve got a feeling there are eyes and ears around here.”

“Eyes and ears that probably already know everything.”

“Fine. I’ll tell you what I know, but if this ends up getting us in trouble, I’m going to be pissed.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be the talking that gets us in trouble.” I stopped in my tracks as a bright light filled the sky. “What was that?”

“I have no idea, but these have to be witches. Well-armed witches.”

“Your favorite.”

“Next time you invite me home, let’s try to keep it less eventful.”

“Yeah, because this is the way I planned it.”

“I’ll admit I’m impressed.”

“What are you impressed about exactly?” I pressed my lips together preparing myself for whatever sarcastic comment was about to come out of Jared’s mouth.

“You.”

“Me?” I put a hand on my chest.

“Yes. You didn’t run. There were several points you could have, but you stayed.”

“What do you call what we’re doing right now?”

“This isn’t running away from your problems. This is listening instead of talking and getting to the bottom of a lot of questions we’ve been waiting for answers to.”