Finding Obscurity (9 page)

I opened the
fridge and pulled out the bottle of wine along with two glasses from the
cabinet. I handed one to Sam and took one for myself. “This was my downfall.
His friend makes this stuff. I have to figure out where to buy it.”

“This is
some good shit!” he said, making a smacking sound with his lips after taking a
sip. “You will have to let me know where to find it when you do. I would
probably buy a case of this stuff! Why doesn’t Revive sell this wine? We would
make a killing.”

“I think
they should. That stuff is like ambrosia.” I grabbed the bottle and my glass,
heading back into the living room.

We sat on
the couch together and I curled my knees in. I wasn’t used to having normal
visitors every day. I was starting to like it, though. My social life was improving.
That was a good thing, right?

“So tell
me all the juicy details of your date, because I have to know everything.”

I took a
drink of wine and filled Sam in about the night with Ashton. I even included
the comment that Jeffery, Carlotta’s husband, had made about me. When I got to
the part of the night that we made out on the dance floor, I could see Sam’s
eyes light up. He loved gossip, juicy stories, and everything exciting. Living
vicariously through other people should be his motto.

“Was it
amazing? Did you cream your panties? Oh, to be a fly on the wall!” Sam clapped
his hands in excitement.

“Cream my
panties?” I snickered. “I guess you could say that, if I had been wearing any.”

“Girl, you
are too funny! I know you better than to go anywhere without panties on. I just
hope you ditched the granny panties for a nice thong at least.”

“I don’t
have granny panties!” I gasped. He hadn’t been rummaging around in my drawers,
had he?

“Bullshit.
All girls have a stash of granny panties for those lazy days. Even guys have
ratty underwear to wear from time to time.”

Okay, he wasn’t lying. I did have a few pairs like that. I liked to be
comfortable and there was nothing wrong with that. If a guy likes you then he
will like you whether you wear a nice lacy thong, or what Sam called “granny
panties.” Of course, they would likely be more turned on by a thong, but I like
to dream they aren’t all the same. “Enough talk about my underwear choices.
What do you know about Blake?”

“Blake? He’s nice enough. I met him through Stacy, who knew Paige,
too. We haven’t been best buds or anything. Another
hottie
in my opinion, even if he is a little strange.” Sam took another sip of wine
before refilling his glass.

 
“A little strange? I could see
that. I think he may have a thing for me. I’m not sure really what to think of
that. He kissed me last night.”

He choked on the wine, eyes bulging. “You were with him last night?
What about Ashton?”

“Blake came over last night out of the blue. I don’t plan on telling
Ashton anything about it. They don’t like each other for reasons I don’t
completely understand, and I do not want the drama of it all. I prefer for them
to not have a pissing match over a virgin.” I slapped my hand over my mouth at
my slipup. I hadn’t told anyone I was a virgin.
This damn wine was like truth serum!

“Shut the front door!” Sam said and turned to face me with his full
attention. “You are a virgin? You haven’t done the horizontal tango, dirty
deed, knocked the boots, or let anyone have access to the secret garden? I just
can’t believe that. You’re too pretty to not have had some guy pop
your
cherry.”

I wrinkled my nose in disgust at his choice of words. “No, I haven’t
done any of those things. There are reasons that I haven’t lost my virginity.
Sam, you believe in fortunetellers, psychics, and things beyond normal, right?
Like how you think Stacy has abilities that are beyond ordinary?”

I was going to tell him. After all, he was my closest friend and it
would explain some of my strange behavior. I just hoped I wasn’t putting faith
in people who would end up hurting me in the end.

“Of course. There are things that happen every day that are hard to
believe. You know I already believe in ghosts since I watch all those shows
where people hunt them down. I know Stacy is special and can sense things that
she shouldn’t. Why?”

I sighed and struggled on how to begin. “Because I can… do things that
should be impossible.”

“Excuse me?”
 

“I can get premonitions of the future, can short out electronics, and
sometimes can locate things or people when I shouldn’t be able to. I’m sorry I
haven’t said anything before. Trust is hard for me, and I hope that you don’t
ruin that trust, Sam. You can’t tell anyone. Blake knows, but that’s because I
think he is like me too. I knew Stacy was, too, the moment I touched her.”

Sam took a few more drinks of wine and bit his lip. I knew he was
trying to remain as calm as possible. I wasn’t sure if he was mad at me for not
telling him, or if he was trying to keep composed for my sake. I had dropped an
unexpected bombshell on him.

He finally took a deep breath. “So you can tell that by touching them?
How is that even possible? That would also explain why Blake is so weird if he
has special talents like that.”

“I don’t know. It’s almost like touching an electric fence.” I
shrugged. “Up until the last couple of days, I hadn’t met anyone living that
felt like that. Guess it’s a rare ability.”

“Have you seen my future?” He shook his head holding up a hand. “No, I
don’t want to know. What do you mean you can short out electric stuff?”

I never realized that I hadn’t dreamt or had a premonition about Sam,
which was odd, but it didn’t come to mind until now. I had more important
things to worry about, like hoping that Sam still wanted to be my friend after
he found out how much of a freak I was. “Well, you know how the whole security
system and computers shut down the other night at the club? That was me. I was
really stressed and it just… happened. I also killed my cell phone last night.
I can mostly keep it under control, but strong emotions can make things go
haywire. It’s hard to explain.” I held out my hand and thought about sparks of
electricity jumping from my hand. The tiniest spark jumped out of my palm. I was
actually shocked I could do it, and I started in surprise.

Sam jumped as well. “Holy shit! Are you some sort of witch or
something? You’re not messing with me, are you?”

I sighed and told him the story about how my abilities started, up to
when my sister died, before answering his question. “I’m not sure. I’ve been
trying to find answers for as long as I can remember. Maybe one of these days I
will find out. For now, I feel like an outcast.”

“You know that I love you no matter what. If you want me to be there
with you while you try and find answers, then I will be. That’s what friends
are for. Freaky abilities or not.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Sam. That means a lot to me. I had promised I
would never let anyone get close, but I’m glad you’re there for me.”

“Anytime. And I hope you know you can talk to me about anything. What
are you up to this weekend? Do you feel like going to
Revive
again? I think Ashton will be there.” He waggled his eyebrows.

 
“I don’t know. You’ll be
working and I won’t have anyone to hang out with while I’m there. I can’t
really hang out with the club owner. He is always being pulled away for this
and that.”

“But he always comes back for you after, though. That says something.
Besides, he is filthy rich.” He tapped me with his elbow.

“Money doesn’t matter to me, Sam. I can’t believe you think I would be
that shallow!” I leaned into him playfully.

We laughed together and finished the bottle of wine. We watched a
little bit of trashy reality TV and made fun of the drama queens. It was nice
to just sit and relax with a friend. Sam and I were on the couch with our legs
crossed while munching on popcorn as we laughed at the people on the screen. I
hadn’t done this sort of thing since my sister was alive. In less than a week,
I had gained another friend with Carlotta, and I had let Sam in. It was nice to
not be lonely anymore, but a part of me still had those warning flags waving
inside, telling me not to trust anyone. But for the moment, I ignored them.

Maybe it was okay to have friends again, and my heart seemed to be
healing more with people there to share the burden.

Chapter Twelve

After Sam left, I began working for some of my customers, quite
comfortable in the normalcy of it all. Jinx was curled up on the desk by the
window and I had soft music playing while my fingers danced across the
keyboard. Raindrops were rolling down in big, fat drops, racing to the sill. I
stared at clouds whirling with an occasional strike of lightning before thunder
rumbled gently. It wasn’t a bad storm, but the lightning shooting across the
sky caused my palm to lift from the keys, concentrating on the getting those
sparks to come back. I sunk back in my seat in defeat when nothing happened.
There was no way I could ever be as powerful as Blake thought I was.

My mind began wondering about the couple who died in the fire.
Could they actually be relatives of mine? I opened the web browser, beginning
my search for the Stone family who died in Tennessee, and I found a few
articles about the fire. It happened in a small town, just a short drive from
the North Carolina border. Unfortunately, it didn’t have any pictures like I
was hoping there would be. Evangeline and Thomas Stone, as well as their
daughter, had perished, but the baby didn’t have a name listed because she was
a newborn, and there was no name on record. I thought that was strange, but
maybe they had the baby at home and didn’t have a birth certificate. Stranger
things have happened. The article didn’t list any other family members, and
even the obituary didn’t list any survivors or a picture of the couple.

Part of me wondered if I was their daughter, because of what my
adoptive parents had told me. It may have been a coincidence, but my intuition
told me there was more to it. I jotted the name of little town down on a piece
of paper and called the local police to see if they had anything on file,
wondering if they would even give me anything. They hadn’t promised they would
have anything on file, but would look for me if they could. I gave them my phone
number, email, and address hoping I would hear something in the next week or
so. It was almost tempting to drive there myself to see if I could get some
sort of answers, but patience was a virtue and all that crap.

My cell phone chirped, telling me I had a text message. It was
Ashton.

I miss you.

Staring at the phone, I wasn’t sure how to respond. My thumbs did
this little dance over the screen while I thought a reply, and finally went
with something coy:
Do you?

Yes. How was your hangover?

Nasty.

Are you still hung over?

I smiled before responding.
Well, I did crack into the wine
today.

Do you need me to tuck you into bed again?

I think I can manage it tonight. ;)

I was clutching my phone, waiting on the next message in
anticipation. What was wrong with me? I was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl.

You wound me. Going to Revive this weekend? Am I going to see
you?

Deciding to keep being playful, I replied.
If you’re lucky.

Hating myself that I was waiting by the phone like a lovesick
teenager, I headed to bed and plugged my phone in before washing my face. I
curled under the covers and picked up a book I had been trying to read for the
past couple of weeks. It was by one of my favorite authors, and I was easily
caught up in the story while Jinx curled into a ball on my legs.

My phone beeped again. I opened it and saw another message from
Ashton.
Feeling lucky? Check your front door.

I leaped out of bed, throwing the covers aside, making Jinx dart
across the room. I rushed to the front door, looking out the peephole to see
Ashton standing with a bouquet of roses. I straightened my hair and tugged my
pajamas in place before checking my breath with the palm of my hand. Thank
goodness I had just brushed my teeth. I tried to calm my heart before opening
the door to the most handsome man in the world, who wore a blue T-shirt and a
dark pair of jeans. He grinned with his blue eyes twinkling, placing a light
kiss on the cheek before handing me the flowers.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, running a hand through my hair
again.

“Do I need to have a reason to come see you?” He ran his knuckles
down my cheek. “I missed you.”
 

He walked into the apartment, shutting the door behind him.
Locking the deadbolts before turning and seductively wrapping his arms around
me, he pressed his lips against mine.

Our tongues brushed when the kiss deepened in urgency and I found
myself pressed against the wall with Ashton’s hands in my hair and my legs
wrapped around his waist. He ran his lips down my neck and I tilted my head
back, allowing him more access with a moan. My nipples pebbled underneath my
thin shirt and desire blossomed deep in between my legs, which was so foreign
to me, that I gasped in surprise and pleasure at the same time. I tore at his
shirt, lifting it over his head, and threw it aside so I could feel the muscles
underneath. I ran my fingers against his defined stomach and chiseled arms
before wrapping my hands around his back along powerfully built shoulders.

He pulled back and yanked off my tank top, freeing my breasts and
perky nipples before tilting his head to suck on them. My fingernails dug into
his shoulders, as I moaned at the sensation of his tongue against my breasts.
When his teeth nipped the sensitive skin, I almost screamed his name in bliss.
My legs were still wrapped around his hips and I could feel his erection
against my core. With a growl, he put his hands underneath my backside, lifting
me up from the wall.

“Which way to your bedroom?” he said breathily.

“Behind us,” I moaned when he nipped my ear. My voice was so husky
I almost didn’t recognize it. “First door on the left.”

Ashton carried me towards my bedroom and I began kissing along his
neck while we made our way to the room. Once we entered, he tossed me on the
bed and I bounced with a squeal before he crawled on top of me, kissing from my
belly button up to my breasts again, causing me to groan. I was so wrapped up
in the sensations that I didn’t realize I was down to only my panties. He was
unzipping his jeans before I had time to take a breath.

“Wait,” I said in between deep gulps of air, putting my hand on
his chest.

He sat back and was breathing just as hard as I was. “Are you
okay?”

“I have to tell you something before we keep going.” I laid my
head back on the pillow in embarrassment.

“Am I doing something wrong?”

I shook my head. “God, no. Ashton...”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Do you not want me?”

“Oh, my God, yes, I want you. But… I have never done this before.”
When he gave me a baffled expression I continued. “I’m a… virgin.”

On a deep exhale, he dropped his forehead on my chest, and feeling
his breath across my nipple, I moaned again. He kept his forehead on my chest
for a few minutes and I ran a hand through his hair before he looked up at me
with those azure eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” I whispered, my voice shaking with nerves.

He kissed me lightly on the lips. “You’re full of surprises, Lily.
We will go very slow, okay?”
 

He smelled of cool night air and clean soap, which would be a
scent I’d never forget. I nodded and he met my lips again more gently than I’d
hoped. I deepened the kiss, running my hands through his dark locks. I didn’t
want
slow
right now, and I was so out of my league
with all the sensations pooling between my legs.

Ashton gradually pulled my thong down my thighs, and everywhere
his fingers touched left a trail of fire going straight to my core. Tossing
them on the floor, he kissed from my ankle, up my thigh, and when his lips touched
in between my legs I bucked with a cry. He began lapping his tongue and my body
bucked with tingles. Pressure built in my womb before I combusted with a shout.
He continued to pleasure me a few more times between my legs, and when I didn’t
think I could take it anymore, he left a trail of kisses up my body before
meeting my lips again.

He freed himself and I felt his erection press against me. “Are
you sure?”

“Yes!” I moaned and rubbed myself against him.

He groaned and pushed little by little inside until he was
sheathed all the way. “Oh, God, Lily.”

There was a slight sting and I panted as he began moving
hesitantly in and out before the pain disappeared, only to be replaced with a
slow building inside of me again. My nails were digging into his back, making
him groan, and when he lapped up one my nipples, I felt the orgasm blast
through me as I screamed his name. Ashton tensed and followed with a
groan.
 

He adjusted our bodies and cradled me with my head on his chest,
kissing the top of my head while we caught our breath. I was no longer a
virgin, and was happy that I waited for Ashton to be my first. Although, while
listening to his heartbeat, I speculated that fate had planned this the whole
time.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded, running my hand in slow circles against his chest.
“Never better. I wouldn’t have wanted my first time to be any other way.”

“How have you remained a virgin after all these years? Surely boys
were chasing after you.”

“At first, yes. After seeing the visions of what would happen,
including liars and cheats, it ruined it for me in high school.”

 
“Teenage boys are nothing
but that. Boys. I’m glad you waited for me, though, and giving me one of the
best gifts I have ever received. After the nightmare of a life, meeting you was
a breath of fresh air. You’re my sunshine on a cloudy day, Lily.” He kissed the
top of my head. “You see visions then?”

“I can see things that are going to happen sometimes. My life is a
total mess right now, Ashton. I lost everything I ever knew when my sister
died, I found out I am supposedly a Conjurer who has no control of any of her
powers, and I am learning to trust people again. It’s harder than I thought it
would be.”

“I can understand what you’re going through. I didn’t trust anyone
for a long time until I met Carlotta and Jeffery. They have shown me over the
years that friends are a good thing and you can let people inside your heart,
even when you don’t want to. Now I meet you, and things are starting to get
even better.”

I trailed my fingers against his stomach, outlining his abs, thinking
about what he said. Sam and Carlotta had become friends even when I never
expected anyone to get close ever again. I swore to myself that I would never
allow anyone back into my heart, but here he was sneaking inside the cracks of
my broken heart. If I weren’t careful, I would fall in love with Ashton. That
scared me. “I feel the same. I never imagined a few days ago that I would be
letting so many people into my life when I promised it would never happen again.
I thought I was happy being alone with just my cat.”

“Sometimes you need the help of other people to allow yourself to
heal. I will never forget my brother and will never stop looking for answers,
but my life has turned full circle after meeting my friends and opening
Revive.”

“I will never forget my sister and how she loved me completely. I
think she would want me to be happy.”

He squeezed me gently. “I think my brother would feel the same.”

“What was his name? You never told me.”

“Alistair.”

“That’s a unique name. I like it. Do you have any other siblings, or
do your parents live anywhere close?”

Ashton ran his hands though my hair with a sigh. “My sister and
parents died a very long time ago. I hardly can picture their faces anymore.”

“Were you a really young when they died?”

 
“Enough talking.” He chuckled
as he climbed on top of me, cupping my breast pressing his lips to mine. “I am
ready for round two.”

Ashton and I made love several more times that night before I was
exhausted. We just held each other while he began running his fingers lightly
through my hair. I started falling asleep, but before I drifted off, I could
have sworn Ashton whispered, “I love you.”