Soul Seers Complete Set (15 page)

“What’s up?”

“This is my mom’s cell phone.
 
Do you want my number instead so you
can get in touch with me directly?”

“Of course!
 
Let me get a pen,” he said as I heard
some shuffling.
 
“Ok, ready when
you are.”

I gave him my number and was sure
my face would split in two as I smiled big.
 
My smile was so wide, my cheeks actually hurt.
 
I felt like such a child.
 
My inexperience with boys was entirely
valid.
 
It seemed so much different
in my dreams.
 
In real life?
 
These new lustful feelings were nothing
short of euphoric, causing the pit of my stomach to do summersaults at the mere
thought of seeing him again.

A few minutes later, after the
girly-giddy-gallops with my mom, I received a text message from none other than
the enigmatic Jonah.

I can’t wait to see you again, lovely Ella.
 
Be there at six.
 
We’re not going anywhere fancy, so you
can wear something comfortable.

I could hardly contain my
excitement during my PT session that day, eager to get home and get ready for
my date with Jonah.

I was nothing but a big bundle of
nerves as I climbed the few steps towards Ella’s front door.
 
I still hadn’t decided whether I would
tell her about the dreams or not.
 
I didn’t want to scare her away.
 
Yet, I also didn’t want to wait too long.
 
Then she would be pissed at me for lying.

I thought about taking her back to
my apartment and letting her see the drawing.
 
But, I didn’t want her to think I had other intentions.

My best bet?
 
Let things play out as they go.
 
No need to rush.

Just as I stepped onto the front
porch and was about to knock, I inhaled an aroma so mouthwatering, it made my
eyes roll and my head turn into the direction of the Jasmine scent.

There she was, curled up on a
suspended wooden swing, her hands folded up neatly on a pillow under her head
and her knees tucked up to her chest.

What a sight.
 
The sleeping Orella was just as lovely
as she was awake, save for the amethyst eyes I’ve grown so used to over the
years.

Quietly, I made my way over to the
swing and knelt down next to her.
 
I took a moment to just stare in awe at this wonderful creature.
 
She was truly the most magnificent
woman I had ever seen.
 
My drawings
didn’t do her justice, of course.

With a shaky hand, I gently slid
an errant curl back behind her ear, successfully clearing the path between my
eyes and her lovely face.
 
At that
moment, her lips parted ever so slightly and she dragged in a breath, almost as
if she had been starving for air until I arrived.

I wanted to kiss her.
 
Those lips were so tempting.
 
I wanted nothing more than to wake her
by pressing my lips to hers in a gentle, reverent display of affection, which
couldn’t possibly express how I feel about her.
 
I knew that action would be way out of line and the last
thing I wanted to do was scare her away.

Instead, I touched her cheek with
the palm of my hand, lacing my fingers lightly into a few curls along the side
of her head.
 
So soft.
 
So warm.

Wait.
 
What was that?
 
I could… I can see her.
 
She’s standing on the beach holding hands with someone.
 
But, who?
 
Then, as if looking from her eyes, I saw me.
 
She’s dreaming of me?

That thought had me smiling and
pressing my forehead to hers as I gently held onto her head with my hand.
 
I could see clearly now.
 
Closing my eyes and keeping my forehead
against hers, I could feel her dream.
 
I was living her dream.

We’re on the beach here in town.
 
She has her jeans rolled up just enough to stick her dainty
toes in the water.
 
Her laugh is
intoxicating as the waves roll in enough to make her jump in surprise.
 
Never letting go of my hand, she dances
around the water like there’s no other care in the world.

The dream was broken as I heard
her voice whisper, “Jonah?”

Opening my eyes and only
marginally pulling away enough to see her, I was stunned by her groggy
splendor.
 
“Hey, sleeping
beauty.
 
Rise and shine.”

“I’m so sorry.
 
I didn’t mean to pass out.
 
The weather was just so perfect and…”

“Shhh.
 
It’s ok.
 
You
must’ve been tired.
 
Are you still
up for dinner?
 
I’d hate to drag
you out if you need some rest.”

“Oh, no.
 
I’m fine, really.
 
I wouldn’t pass up our date for all the sleep in the world,” she said as
she grinned and began to stir.
 
She
hadn’t moved a muscle, other than to talk, since she woke.

Reluctantly, I let go of my lovely
and helped her gain her balance.
 
She was very fragile and weak, which reminded me of the physical therapy
comment she had made.
 
Maybe she
was sick?
 
My heart would surely
never survive such a tragedy.

Ella took my breath away as she
stood, straightening her clothes, and stepping into the muted afternoon sun.

She wore a low-cut purple top that
matched her eyes perfectly.
 
Jeans
hung low on her hips and hugged every curve of her slender body.
 
Black boots with a slight heel finished
it off and made her look beyond words.

“Wow.
 
Ella, you look beautiful,” I whispered as I stared at her,
mouth agape, like a big dumb fish out of water.

“So do you, Jonah,” she
responded.
 
Damn.
 
Hearing her say my name was the most
beautiful sound… next to her laugh, of course.

She fidgeted for a moment before
saying, “So, Mr. Chantrey, are we ready to go?”

“Oh, yes.
 
I’m sorry.
 
You just… Well, you simply take my breath away,” I admitted
as I handed her the single purple Calla Lily.

“Thank you.
 
It matches perfectly with my shirt,”
she said as she held it up against her chest.

“And your eyes,” I added.

“That too.
 
Thank you for remembering,” she said
with a smile.

“I could never forget,” I said
loud enough for her to hear me.

“Why?”

“I could never forget the most
beautiful eyes I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing,” I deadpanned as I held my
hand out for her.
 
Luckily, she
didn’t hesitate as she slid her fingers into my grasp.
 
The feel of her soft, warm skin against
my hand was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

She smiled as I walked her closer
to the Charger.
 
I opened the door
for her.
 
Noticing she was just
standing there grinning, I had to ask, “What’s the smile for?”

“You have a black Charger,” she
answered as if it were to explain her happiness.
 
It didn’t.

“You noticed,” I said, making fun
of the obvious statement.
 
“What’s
so fascinating about my car?
 
Well,
besides the fact that it’s a kick-ass car.
 
You like Chargers?”

“Oh, I just…” then she
blushed.
 
“It’s nothing,
really.
 
It just suits you.”

“Is that a good thing?”

With that, she nodded and climbed
into the car, leaving me standing by the passenger door, utterly confused with
our most recent choice of conversation.

On our way to the riverside
restaurant, my Ella sighed loudly enough for me to notice something was
bothering her.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I
lightly grabbed her hand from her lap and kissed a knuckle, trying desperately
to glance at her while keeping my eyes on the road.

“Why are you blocking me, Jonah?”

Her question caught me off
guard.
 
She wouldn’t know about
blocking if she wasn’t…

“So, I was right.
 
You are a soul seer,” I stated.
 
She just nodded, continuing to stare at
me expectantly… waiting for me to answer her question.
 
“Well, I’m actually not purposefully
blocking you.
 
I know that sounds
like a crock, but I promise, I’m not.”

“Then, if you’re not purposefully
blocking me, what’s going on?
 
Why
do you seem so afraid to let me in?”

“Good question, and one I don’t
yet have an answer to.
 
But, trust
me, I’m not afraid.
 
A few days
ago, I suddenly had an increase in sensitivity, like someone turned up the
volume on everyone’s thoughts.
 
Within a few minutes of painful awareness in a public area, it all
suddenly stopped.
 
Not only did the
ability for you to read me stop, but my ability to read you has stopped as
well.
 
I can’t read anyone and I
have no idea why.
 
And…” I paused,
just before I was about to say something I wasn’t quite ready to tell.

“And?
 
And what?” she probed.
 
Damn.
 
I wasn’t going to get
away with my slip of the tongue.

“And, my dreams have stopped as
well.”

“Oh,” was all she said as she tore
her gaze away from me and out the front window.

We had just pulled up to the
restaurant and I chose a rather private spot in the parking lot.
 
I faced her fully as she stared at me,
obviously thinking about something.
 
Finally, she spoke.

“I’m not sure whether I would be
happy or upset if I ever lost my ability,” she said.

Yeah, lost.
 
Damn.
 
Her words made it really sink in.
 
What if my gift was lost forever?

“You would be upset.
 
Trust me.
 
I know it can seem like a curse at times, but once you’re
totally barren of other’s thoughts, it’s like a piece of you has been gashed
from your soul.
 
I’d give anything
to figure out what the hell is wrong with me.”

“Jonah,” she said as she grabbed my
hands with both of hers.
 
“I think
it’ll be just fine.
 
The vibe that
I’m getting from you is that you are blocking me.
 
Seriously blocking.
 
It’s almost a tangible barrier I can feel.
 
If you were willing to take down that barrier, I’d be able
to see… well, everything.
 
So, I’m
sure in defense to your issue, you probably just put up this barrier.
 
You know, to protect yourself.
 
It’ll come back.”

“Thank you.
 
I hope so,” I whispered.
 
At this moment, I wanted to do nothing
more than kiss her.
 
Show her how
appreciative I was of her kind words.

She nodded her head.

“What?”

“You said you wanted to kiss
me.
 
Well, I’m saying, yes.”

“I said that out loud?” I asked,
confusion wracking my brain.

“No, you projected it. You didn’t
do it on purpose?”

I gulped as I shook my head
no.
 
I had no idea what was going
on, but I should just take it for what it’s worth and do as the lady said.

“So, Ella.
 
You want me to kiss you?” I asked in an
attempt to clarify what she truly wanted.

“More than anything,” she
admitted.

Within moments, I was on her like
white on rice.
 
Scooting as close
as I possibly could in the confined space of the car, I leaned in, laced my
fingers behind her head, and brought her lips so close to mine I could feel her
breath on my face.

“Here?” I asked as I tapped the
soft patch of skin beneath her earlobe.

“Yes,” she whispered and I did
what I was told.

I lightly placed a small peck on
her neck then reverently licked and sucked until I heard her softly moan.

“How about here?” I said as I
traced my finger along her jawline.

“Please,” she sighed.

Holding her chin lightly with my
fingers, I trailed more kisses along her jaw, making my way to her beautifully
plump lips, puckering up at the mere thought of me ravishing them with my own.

“And here?” I asked as I gently
grazed my fingers over the soft pads of her lips.

“Christ, yes!” she begged.

With a smile, I closed the
distance between our lips.
 
The
kiss started out soft, warm, and oh so perfect.
 
She was perfect.
 
I took my time with her, savoring her taste as it exploded in my mouth.

With patience and tenderness, I
began to lick at her lips, asking her to open for me, just enough to feel her
tongue on mine.
 
Oh boy, she didn’t
disappoint.

She swallowed my moan as we molded
our mouths together, harder this time.
 
She was exquisite.
 
Everything about her made my body respond.
 
I devoured her, kissing her passionately as I pressed her
soft body against mine.

Reluctantly, I pulled my lips away
from hers, figuring maybe she would have to breathe at some point.
 
Before I could retract myself away from
her, I held her close against my forehead, closing my eyes and just breathing
her in.