Awakening (The Magic of the Black Forest Book 2) (37 page)

Again he placed his fingers over my lips. The moment his fingers touched my lips electricity shocked through me making me jump. He smiled and slowly moved his eyes from my lips to gaze and grab hold of mine. “As long as you still love me I know that one day you’ll let me kiss you again.” He looked at me like he’d just realized he loved me. “I’ll wait all of eternity for you.” His smile softened me. I even felt my facial muscles relax a little. He chuckled. “I’ll be back within two hours.”

Dave waited patiently for us to come out. Bill on the other hand, you can tell he was a newborn. He had no patience. When we walked into the living room he looked at me like I was dinner. Bradley saw it too, letting out a low dominating growl. “Watch it, Bill. If your mouth ever goes near her again, I will kill you.” As if to second the notion, Dave stood next to Bradley, ready to fight.

I felt myself smiling at Dave. It’s his friendship -- no they’re more brothers than friends -- it’s how he respects my Bradley that I appreciated most. Bradley deserved to have a good, loyal friend or two. Dave is definitely one of them. It wasn’t until I heard Dave and Bradley laughing, that I realized they were watching me. Blushing I looked over at Bill. He was just staring at the floor.

Turning towards Bradley I said, “Have a good time and be safe.”

They all piled out of the front door.
“Lock the door, Natalia.”

I did as he requested. I also put up a shield to protect us.

Not only did Bradley get his phone number changed, he also did a little food shopping. After eating and cleaning up I went to watch a movie. I couldn’t stop myself from checking the time. From the moment he shut the door until now I kept an eye on the time. For some strange reason even though I knew he was hunting, if he breaks his promise it’s going to hurt. He’s been gone for a little over an hour. I tried to concentrate on watching a ‘Friends’ repeat. I flipped between that and ‘NCIS.’

I started to worry after an hour and thirty minutes had passed. Fortunately five minutes later they walked in the front door. The black stars that surrounded his pupils were now a yellow gold. They looked even better. The yellow gold was mesmerizing surrounded by the bluish green of his eye color. Before they fed, Dave’s eyes were brown and Bill’s a sky blue, they’re almost red now. Actually they’re quite scary looking. Within an hour they shouldn’t be as red. The first time I noticed their eyes being red I asked Bradley about it. He thinks it’s because they were bitten. Adding that they weren’t born vampires like he was.

“Nat, I’m sorry about the other day. I should have had better control.” When I looked at Bill he looked sincere, but I still didn’t trust him. Once Bradley took his rightful spot beside me I felt better, more secure.

“He thinks he bit you.”

“You didn’t bite me but you did scare me.”

The way Bill looked at me was frightful. “I know I did, I tasted you.”

Bradley growled in response his remark.

“I think you just imagined it. Where is it you think you bit me?”

“The inside of your left arm.”

I lifted my sleeve and showed him, from a distance, that there was no bite mark. “Bill, please don’t worry yourself, you didn’t bite me. I think you just tasted the blood from my head wound.” I lifted my hair to expose a cut big enough to cause severe bleeding.

“Natalia, you didn’t show me that.” Bradley was all over me wanting to clean it up.

“It’s fine
. I just put it there.”
I backed away from him and noticed that Bill seemed to like that we were still being distant. Even though I wasn’t ready for this, I felt it more important to send a message to Bill. “Well I don’t mean to be rude but I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Feel free to hang out with Bradley.” I hugged Dave goodbye and thanked him for stopping by. Turning toward Bill, I nodded and thanked him as well. Now it was time to send Bill the message. But before I could Bradley swept me up off my feet and laughed.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to tuck my wife in.” He gently placed me in our bed. “When you kiss me, it’ll be because you trust me again, not because you’re sending a message to someone. Have only sweet dreams, my love.” Then he kissed my forehead.

“Thanks for keeping your promise,” I mentioned as he walked out the door. He turned and looked down at me, his smile said it all.

My shield slowly went up, blocking everything and everyone from my thoughts, especially Bradley. Although he kept his promise tonight, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to forgive him for what he did, or if I could trust him ever again, especially when it came to the Queen of Manipulation… Margaret.

Thoughts of just disappearing crossed my mind but I wasn’t sure where to go. I couldn’t go home, he’d check there.

No… until I can come up with a plan, I couldn’t go anywhere.