Seduced by Innocence (7 page)

He already knew how much I loved Italian food from the getting to know each other question and answer phase of our date. "Sounds delicious."

Couples walked hand-in-hand down the sidewalk as we pulled into our parking spot. On the way in, Derek purchased a single white rose from a man selling them and handed it to me. "A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. Though I do believe you outshine even the loveliest of roses."

"Sweet words. I hope they have some meat behind them as well."

"Nothing I say is without substance and truth." A devil of a gleam shined behind his eyes, and I flushed in the few parts covered by Ocean's dress.

As soon as Derek gave his name, we were ushered to a table in a private corner, complete with candlelight and live violin music.

I'd never been on a date before, so I had no real life experience to compare this with, but if I had to judge based on movies and romance novels, I'd have said this ranked as one of the best, most romantic dates ever.

"You sure know how to make a girl feel special," I said as he pulled out my seat for me.

He sat across from me, and the candlelight danced in his eyes as he stared at me.

Had this been Blake, the attention would have made my skin crawl, but with Derek it felt so natural, so right. I couldn't avert my gaze from him either.

Two hours later, I acknowledged that he had been right. They made the best meatballs I'd ever had, not to mention the dessert.

But the best part about the evening had been getting to know Derek. His wit, intelligence and sheer animal magnetism made him impossible to resist.

As we left, he offered his arm to me. "Are you up for an adventure?"

I wrapped my arm around his, enjoying the feel of the hard muscles under his jacket. I longed to feel his body pressed against mine, those strong arms wrapped around my whole body, our flesh touching. It created an ache somewhere deep inside me, made worse by his proximity. In that moment I knew I'd do just about anything he wanted as long as we could spend more time together.

"Sure, as long as it's physically possible with my current outfit. I didn't think to bring a change of clothes."

"You'll be fine with what you're wearing, though maybe a bit chilly. But if you'll let me, I can help keep you warm." With that, he pulled his arm out of mine and wrapped it around my shoulders, holding me close to him as we walked back to the car.

He smelled of aftershave and mint, and I didn't want him to ever let me go.

When we reached his car, he pressed me against it and leaned into me. "Rose, would it be too forward of me to kiss you right now?"

That swarm of butterflies living in my stomach staged a revolt, leaving me breathless with heart pounding need. His lips had paused mere inches from mine, waiting for my response. My heart screamed yes, my body screamed yes, and my mind tried to calm everyone down, to no avail.

I tilted my head back, my lips parting a fraction, and nodded. He didn't hesitate to claim my lips with his as one arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me tight against him and his other hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me deeper into his kiss.

His lips tasted of wine and, when he parted my lips with his tongue, I eagerly met him with my own. My nipples hardened from the friction against the lace bra I'd worn, and heat flooded my belly.

I moaned against his mouth, and his fingers tugged at my hair, pressing me even closer to him.

Nothing in my life had ever felt this good, this full of bliss and pleasure.

His hand dipped down the small of my back and covered part of my ass. With more pressure, he closed whatever distance still remained between our hips, and I felt him harden against my stomach.

Time slipped away and fireworks danced beneath my eyelids as our bodies fought through layers of clothing to find each other.

Control slipped, and the core of my power bubbled to life, summoned by intense emotion. It latched onto our passion, ready to unleash itself in our moment of surrender.

All at once my world lit on fire within me, and I pushed him away, stifling a cry.

He stumbled back, more from shock than from my overwhelming strength. "I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you? I didn't mean to get so excited."

I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't process what I had almost done. Another moment and he could be laying on the cold cement, a husk of his formal self.

My power still buzzed inside me, and I hated myself for who I was and what I could do. Tears threatened to spill down my face, and, for a fraction of a second, I worried about all the makeup Ocean had put on me. I'd look like a dying clown if I cried.

Overwhelmed, scared, and nearly out of control, I kicked off the stupid heels I was wearing and ran away into the night.

I heard footsteps behind me and Derek calling my name, but as if from a dream.

All that mattered was getting away, saving him from me and my dark gift from hell.

I turned down a corner and disappeared into the night.

O, I am fortune's fool!

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I BENT DOWN
to pick up her shoes, and, when I looked up, she'd disappeared. This had never happened to me before, and I had no idea what to make of the situation. Should I chase her? Give her some space?

She was running around Seattle, barefoot, barely dressed, in the cold, at night, without any way home. Surely she'd come back. Right?

I called her cell phone, but heard it ringing near me and realized she'd also left her purse.
Great.

Pacing back and forth, I considered my best option, then made another call.

"Aren't you supposed to be on your date?"

My sister—straight to the point.

"I
am
on my date, but she ran away?"

"What did you do to her?" I could hear the laughter through the phone.

"This isn't funny. I didn't do anything to her. I took her to that restaurant you suggested, which she loved by the way. We had a great time, and then, when we walked back to the car, we kissed. Probably the best first kiss I've ever had but, mid-way through it, she freaked out and ran off, leaving her purse and shoes. What do I do?" My eyes darted down the street, looking for any sign that she was coming back.

"You go after her, stupid."

"But doesn't she need some time to clear her head? I don't want to piss her off or freak her out even more."

She sighed. "Trust me on this one, bro. You need to go after her."

"Okay, thanks. I'll let you know what happens."

"And try not to terrorize any more women in the meantime."

"You're a brat." She hung up before I could, but her banter lightened my heart a bit. This had to be just a misunderstanding. Perhaps the kiss had been too much. I'd find her and sort all of it out.

I threw her purse and shoes in the car and debated whether I should walk or drive. Driving would be faster, but if she went down walkways I couldn't drive I'd never find her.

She was barefoot and freezing, so she'd need to sit and warm-up as soon as I found her. The car would be better for that. I could always park and walk if need be.

With that settled, I slid into the driver's seat and slowly pulled out of the parking spot, then drove in the direction she'd gone.

Had this been any other girl, I'd have been pissed. Instead, I was worried. I didn't know what I'd done wrong. Had I hurt her? Scared her? Traumatized her in some way? She seemed so innocent, so pure. Had she never been kissed like that before?

It was that innocence that drew me to her. She didn't play games or use seduction to woo me. She said what she thought and meant what she said. No other woman had affected me this way before. I didn't want to lose her before I even had the chance to get to know her better.

A small nagging voice in my mind took that moment to remind me that I didn't plan on sticking around long enough to get to know anyone, but I ignored it and continued to scan the streets for signs of this girl who had already burrowed her way into my heart.

I thought about what Master Kyoung had said, that she and I were meant to be together. He'd always had a bit of a psychic bent, and I'd never known him to be wrong about anything. If he was right about her, then I had to fix this.

After circling the neighborhood for fifteen minutes, another kind of fear settled in my gut. I should have found her by now. She could be hurt.

A hum of magic buzzed through me as I brought my shifter powers to the surface. With heightened senses, magical and physical, I scanned the area, sifting through different scents and sounds and emotions, until the scent of rose perfume drifted into my car.

Her perfume.

I tracked the direction it came from and concentrated harder. A swell of fear blasted me, causing my heart to stop.

She was scared. Terrified. In danger.

And I might not make it in time.

O teach me how I should forget to think

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

TERROR FILLED ME,
pulsing through me with each step I took. Some part of my brain acknowledged that my feet had frozen into ice cubes, and that as numb as they were, I'd never notice if I stepped on something sharp or dangerous until it was too late. But the more I thought about what I'd almost done, the smaller that part of my brain got.

I looked down at my bare hands, shocked and ashamed that I'd let my guard down like that. I could have killed him, wiped out his mind and soul with the fire burning in me. Its hunger consumed everything once given freedom, and I'd almost let it out tonight.

The burn of his kiss still lingered on my swollen lips. His scent clung to my skin. I craved him so much it scared me. I could never allow myself to lose control like that again.

Lights flickered off as the last of the businesses in this area closed. Bars would be open, and be warm. I could call Ocean and have her pick me up. I looked around, but didn't see anything that looked like a bar. In the distance, I saw lights from what I assumed was the Seattle Science Center. The Space Needle filled the sky, even though it wasn't the tallest building in Seattle.

I walked toward that area, not sure how far away it was or if there would be any answers for me there, but not ready to face Derek after that kiss and my embarrassing and hasty departure.

I'd run away from the guy.

Barefoot.

Only the sheer horror of my actions eclipsed the mortification I felt in that moment. He must hate me. Certainly, he'd never want to go out with me again, which was probably a good thing.

I'd have to find a new martial arts instructor, which sucked, but it was necessary. Whatever power he had over my heart and body had nearly undone me, and him. He didn't know the danger he was in being with me, and I could never tell him.

My whole life I'd lived under this curse that prevented me from getting too close to anyone.

I thought I could handle it, that I could live this way—until I met Derek.

I'd tried to convince myself that he wasn't really the man in my dreams, that I'd superimposed his face—and body—into my fantasies after meeting him, but I didn't believe my own lies.

And tonight I'd fallen under the spell of Derek so completely that I'd lost myself, and my dark gift had taken over and nearly devoured us both.

I failed to pay attention to where I was walking until I found myself by a beautiful fountain in a courtyard near the Seattle Science Center.

In anticipation of the holidays, lights shone down on the asphalt and projected a lightshow of snowflakes and colorful Christmas tree ornaments.

Walking through the lights, I made my way to the fountain and the large Christmas tree glowing with festive decorations.

Nothing appeared to be open, so I sat by the fountain and watched the light and water dance together in synchronicity.

As the fever of lust cooled, I considered at least a hundred better ways I could have handled that kiss rather than running off like a twit, shoeless and without my purse. I could have stayed and pulled away gently, citing inexperience and wanting to take it slow. It would have been true. I could have said I felt sick and needed to go home. That also would have been true, in a way.

Anything but what I'd done. And now look at the mess I was in.

Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my cheek and into the swirling water below me. If throwing coins into a fountain made wishes, what did the tears of a broken-hearted girl make?

The scuffing of shoes on cement pulled me out of my wallowing. My pulse raced as I shifted to see who had made the sound. I wished and hoped for it to be Derek, but in my gut I knew it wasn't.

Turning away from the water, I saw two figures walking toward me through the heavy mist that coated Seattle.

I didn't get a closer look until they approached me. They looked to be in their early 20s and had the staggered walk of people who'd been drinking too much. So, there was a bar around here after all. If these two were indicative of the clientele it brought in, maybe it was best I hadn't found it.

The tall one on the right wore low hanging jeans and a baggy shirt that came down to the middle of his thighs. The bandana around his head made him look like a Hollywood reject for a gangster movie. The shorter, meatier guy to his left at least had his pants on properly, but that was about the only improvement to his looks.

Walking with his groin thrust forward, the tall one leered at me. "Look at this, Johnny. Looks like the little flower lost her way. You must be cold in that skimpy dress of yours. Maybe my friend and me can warm you up a bit."

Johnny licked his lips, and I would have laughed if I hadn't been so scared.

Not scared for me, of course.

Scared for them.

My dark gift had already been called up once tonight, and it sat on the edge of my consciousness, waiting for its chance to strike. These two jerks had no idea what they were about to get themselves into.

"I'm just waiting for my boyfriend. My shoe broke and he left to get me my other pair. He should be back in a minute or so." I poised myself as if I hadn't a care in the world. "You might know him? He teaches martial arts and is pretty famous for his fighting skills."

My insides shook as they neared me. They didn't look convinced, or the least bit deterred from their course of action, and I had no intention of allowing myself to be raped or killed.

"I might believe that, except ain’t no one out here but us. So I'm thinking you're lying to me. And no one lies to me. Not never. Ya hear?" His voice dropped two octaves, and Johnny pulled something from his jacket.

A knife.

On instinct, I jumped into the fountain, hoping they wouldn't want to get wet on such a cold night. The ice water sent pulses of pain through my feet and legs, and I worried that I might be doing permanent damage to myself. Could I get frostbite this fast?

I had no time to consider my own question as the men laughed and joined me in the fountain. "You think a bit of water will keep us away? We're gonna party tonight, little girl. We have more friends who'd love a taste of such a fresh peach."

He slid his hand over my shoulder and pulled down the strap to my dress, revealing the black lace bra under it.

I smacked his hand away and yanked my strap back up. "Get the hell away from me, now! I will scream so loud you'll need a hearing aid for the rest of your life."

"Oh, this one has some fire in her, Johnny. You like fire, don't ya?"

Johnny nodded, but didn't speak, and as I looked into his eyes, I shivered. He looked cold inside, heartless and empty and vicious. I wouldn't be the first girl he used that knife on if he got close enough, and I wouldn't be the last.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to use my powers on these two. I'd be saving other innocent victims from future pain and death.

Power filled my hands, and I wished I could do other kinds of magic, control other elements, but aside from a few enhancing spells, I was useless. This dark gift was my only strength, the only thing that could save me just then.

"This is your last chance to leave me alone. Don't come any closer or you'll regret it." Not true. There'd be nothing left of them to regret anything.

I imagined how I looked from their eyes. A scantily clad girl, dripping wet and defenseless. Nothing I could say would convince them of the danger they were in.

Images of Derek's martial arts demonstrations flashed in my mind, and I wondered if I could throw them off balance with my skills, then run like hell.

When the spokesman for the group stepped closer, I kicked out like I'd been taught, but he caught my foot easily and pushed me back. I fell into the water, hitting my head on the fountain. Bright lights spun in my eyes as I tried to focus.

They leaned in to me, one spreading my legs while the other reached for my shoulders. I extended my hand, touching the one without the knife, channeling my power. It trickled at first, my fear at war with self-preservation. The wolf-boy's face flashed in my mind, and I pulled my hand free as adrenaline surged in me, panic overriding thought as those memories transported me to that moment, as I stared at his lifeless eyes. My heart hammered in my chest, pushing so hard I felt it in my ribs.

My head ached and nothing made sense. Time, faces, events, they jumped around, jumbling in my mind.

"Come here, little bitch. I'll show you what a real man can do."

I pushed him away, trying to control my power, and Johnny lashed out with his knife and sliced across my right bicep. I cried out in pain as my blood mingled with the water, turning it pink.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I had to protect myself. Holding in a sob of grief, I touched them both at once, and just as I was about to unleash every dark thing inside of me, they pulled away and turned to someone approaching us.

"Get the hell away from her, or I will kill you both and eat your hearts for breakfast."

That voice, I knew that voice. He growled under his breath, sounding more animal than human. I couldn't see him through the mist and the two men blocking me, but I knew Derek had come. He thought he was saving me, and maybe he was… saving me from the guilt of taking two more lives. Saving me from having to become the person I hated most.

I pushed myself up as my attackers sauntered over to Derek with a cocky disregard for the danger they were in.

The fight couldn't have lasted more than two minutes. Derek took them out with a few carefully chosen kicks and punches, until they both lay on the ground, unconscious. When he turned to face me, his eyes glowed with a supernatural light that disappeared as he ran toward me.

"Rose, are you okay? Oh my God, I was worried I wouldn't find you in time."

Water splashed on him until his white shirt clung to the muscles of his body. My own clothes had probably turned into a second skin, but the pain in my head and my arm made concerns about modesty insignificant.

He reached for me and pulled me into his arms. "You're bleeding. He cut you. I'm going to rip his head off and feed it to him through his ass."

The violence in him should have scared me, but it only made me feel safer, protected. "Don't. Let's just go. I don't feel well."

He nodded, then lifted me into his arms and began walking back to his car.

If I hadn't been so cold, so tired, and in so much pain, I might have protested. But I wasn't sure I could actually walk any distance in my condition, and his arms felt so good, so right, around me. His strength gave me peace and comfort. I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes, content to forget about everything else for this one moment and think only of him.