Destiny (Absent Shadows Trilogy Book 1) (14 page)

‘Yeah that would be pretty cool alright,’ I replied.

We sat there for a few more minutes until we realised that the lights were on in Michael’s house. Crystal must have come home while he was telling me about Henry.

He sighed, and gave me a tender smile. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the things that the money allows me to buy—like the house, and this car. The finer things in life are not lost on me, and I enjoy living as if I were still human. But that’s enough of all that. Ready for dinner?’

‘Yeah, of course,’ I answered, trying to read his face. What an incredible story this man had—travelling so far in search of a new life only to lose it on his first night in Australia … but then, accepting his situation and making the best of it. It had all turned out okay for him, hadn’t it?

He got out of the car and came around to open my door and as I got out of the car he sighed deeply, ‘And so, there you have the history of my “family money”. Thank God for dear old Uncle Henry,’ he said, as he slammed the car door shut behind me.

‘Come on in,’ I heard Crystal call from somewhere inside when we knocked on the front door.

Sam led the way to the kitchen at the rear of the house. From what I could see, it was a beautiful home—an older place, but neat and uncluttered. And everything was sparkling clean.

There was a pot of some delicious smelling rich red sauce bubbling away on the stove. Crystal stood at the sink preparing a salad. The aroma made me realise how hungry I was, and I laughed nervously when my stomach rumbled in anticipation.

She smiled as she offered me a glass of red wine, which I took to be polite even though I had no intention of drinking it. Sam just leaned in the doorway, looking amused.

It was an awesome evening. Crystal had been right about us becoming good friends. By the end of the night we were laughing and exchanging knowing looks and winks as if we’d been friends forever.

Watching her with Michael was quite an experience too. I gathered they’d been together a long time, as he seemed to pre-empt her every request, handing her things just as the look on her face suggested she was about to ask for them. I wondered if my parents had ever gotten to this level of understanding, or if his life was cut off too early.

The conversation remained light and there was a great deal of laughter, and though Sam didn’t eat much he seemed to take great pleasure from watching us enjoy the meal. When we were finished, I helped Crystal clear the table. While we were in the kitchen, I could just hear Michael and Sam talking in low, muffled voices, and something about the way they spoke alerted me. It was no longer the pleasant chitchat we’d been having; they were discussing something serious. But when Crystal and I came back into the dining room, they moved apart, and Sam came over and put his arm around my shoulders.

‘I’d best get this one home,’ he said, giving my shoulder a rub. ‘Thanks for the lovely meal, Crystal.’

‘My pleasure,’ said Crystal, smiling warmly.

‘Yes, thank you—it was absolutely delicious,’ I said as we walked toward the door. The rain had stopped and the air was fresh and cold. It made me shiver, but I was so happy it didn’t matter.

The traffic had subsided while we’d been eating, so the trip to the apartment took no time at all. But when we got there, Sam didn’t pull up out the front where I’d expected him to. Instead, he went around the back into the loading bay.

By the time he stopped the car, my heart was racing wildly, and my whole body quivered in anticipation of what was to come. He leaned over, taking my face between his hands, and kissed me. The gentle kisses I’d become used to were quickly followed by more urgent ones as he drew me in closer and closer. His passion triggered a response in me that took me by surprise. My whole body seemed to melt into some sort of jelly-like substance, ready to bend and fold into him in a way I’d never experienced before. It was as if some barrier between us had been stripped away, allowing us to become one, and I wanted him to hold me like this all night.

A noise behind the car startled us both. Sam’s entire body became rigid as he turned in the direction that the sound had come from. I could hear voices now, and as they got louder I heard laughter and a sound like an empty can being kicked along the pavement. But then the voices faded into the distance as the group of young men walked past us and out to the street.

The moment was lost. Sam turned and looked at me, then stroked my cheek. He started the car and drove around to the front doors of the building and stopped with the car still running.

‘I really must get to work,’ he said, his voice giving away nothing. He was the calm and serious Sam again.

‘Okay. I … had a great time tonight,’ I replied, wishing we could recapture that closeness. I searched his face for clues … did he, too, wish we hadn’t been interrupted?

‘Goodnight, Lili. Sleep well,’ he said, then leaned across and gave me a light kiss on the cheek.

I sat for a moment, indecision killing me. Should I say more? Should I do something? But in the end, I simply smiled and got out of the car, leaning back in to say goodnight and thank him once again for the phone.

When I was safely inside the foyer, he drove off. I stood there wondering what might have happened if those boys hadn’t chosen that moment to walk by.

When I finally got upstairs, I was relieved to find that Debs and Ian were out, and I didn’t have to explain my ruffled hair and flushed face. I went straight to my room, and though it wasn’t that late, I slipped into my pyjamas and crawled into bed.

I pulled out my new phone to have a play with it, then looked up Claire’s number and added her into my contacts. I rang her, but she didn’t answer so I simply left a message:

Hi Claire. I finally have a phone.

Sam, who happens to be the sweetest man on earth, got it for me.

Not long now ‘til we go away. I can’t wait!

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, imagining they were his arms, and as I drifted off to sleep all I could see was Sam’s face, and his sparkling blue eyes.

~ C
HAPTER
T
WELVE
~

The following evening when Sam met me after work, it was as though our intimate moment the night before had never happened. We walked along holding hands as we made our way to the apartment, but the control that he’d always shown before had returned. And I couldn’t honestly say whether I was disappointed or relieved. I felt shy around him again.

‘So, I’ll see you tomorrow,’ he said, stopping as we approached the front of the building. He was still holding my hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

I suddenly felt very nervous about this little trip of ours. We’d be alone … in a cabin. What was he expecting to happen? What did I think would happen? What did I want to happen? I felt my pulse speed up, and my breathing became laboured—as if I’d been for a fast run. It felt like minutes had passed and I still didn’t know what to say.

‘You do still want to go, don’t you? I mean, everything’s okay, isn’t it?’ he asked, a concerned look on his face.

I shook my head, and squeezed his hand back. ‘Oh, sorry … yes, I was off with the pixies there for a minute, wasn’t I? Of course everything is fine. And yes, I’m looking forward to our trip. It’s going to be great—hiking, fresh air, a real change of scenery,’ I said, hoping my voice sounded casual, and that he didn’t pick up on the nervousness I was feeling.

‘Great. Well, until then … sleep well tonight,’ he said, but his eyes still showed traces of the concern I’d seen on his face just before.

I stepped forward, anticipating a goodnight kiss, but instead he wrapped his arms around me and held me for a moment. He kissed the top of my head, then released me and smiled, and the warmth in his eyes seemed to dissolve my nervousness. Then he gave me a gentle kiss and said goodnight once again, before opening the front door for me. As he walked off, he turned and waved.

As I made my way to the lifts, I shook my head and called myself all sorts of names; mainly stupid and insane and ridiculous. Was I going nuts or what? Passionate one day, nervous the next; I’d never felt anything like this with David. Was it something to do with Sam being a vampire? Or was it just because he was the most wonderful man on the planet and I still couldn’t believe he was interested in me?

~~***~~

By the time we hit the road it was nearly five—later than we’d expected because Debs had wanted to meet Tom, and well, Debs can never just say hello.

I knew it would be dark before we got there, but I’d looked up the park on the internet so I had some idea of what it would be like: sheer cliffs, walking trails winding alongside ravines, stairs going down to waterfalls and lots of rocks and trees. We’d have the whole day to explore tomorrow, and the weather forecast said fine, whatever that meant. I was looking forward to it.

Who was I trying to kid? Sure I was looking forward to hiking tomorrow, but first I had to get through tonight. And even though I desperately tried to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, they weren’t too keen on staying there. I caught my breath, remembering how it felt when Sam held me the other night … how my body had responded. And this time, there’d be no interruptions. Or at least I didn’t think there would be. We’d be alone in a dark cabin, and I wasn’t entirely naïve about what that meant.

The truck’s stereo was loud, so I used that as an excuse not to talk too much—but really, I was afraid my voice would give away my nervousness. Sam just squeezed my hand from time to time while giving me his beautiful smiles.

After we’d been driving a while, Claire lean over and said something to Tom. A few minutes later Tom stopped at a gas station. Claire got out, insisting I go in with her. Once inside, Claire headed straight to the drink fridges in the back.

‘Now, just so we’re perfectly clear before we get there … Tom and I get one cabin, and you and Sam get the other one. Understood?’ she said, pulling a bottle of water out of the fridge.

‘Of course … yeah … I mean, did you think I’d expect to be sharing with you? After all the trouble you went to in getting this weekend organised?’ I whispered back, hoping the young boy at the cash register didn’t hear us.

‘Exactly,’ Claire replied, grinning.

We got back in the truck, and my nervousness intensified. It was now official, not that I had expected anything else.

It seemed like we were there in no time. Tom pulled into a gravel parking lot, and Sam jumped out to check us in at the manager’s office. I stayed in the truck, waiting, barely able to breathe—my heart beating like a hummingbird’s. I’d been excited about this trip when it was just a dream, but now that we were here I’d completely lost my nerve.

Sam came back with the keys, a map and some other sheets of paper and got back into the truck. Tom took the map, and worked out where our cabins were and drove off down the little dirt track. I just stared straight ahead.

‘Here we are,’ said Tom, stopping in front of a pair of dark cabins. Many of the others had dim lights showing through the canvas curtains.

Sam jumped out, and tried the key in the door of one of them. ‘Yep,’ he called back to Tom.

I swallowed hard. I felt like such an idiot. I had this picture in my mind of standing in the doorway of a small plane, all parachuted up to jump, then not having the guts to do it. Not that I’d ever done that, but I was sure it would feel just like this.

Sam opened the door on my side, and smiled at me. ‘Are you getting out? Or did you want to spend the night in the truck?’ he laughed.

‘Oh, sorry …,’ I mumbled, still not moving.

Claire and Tom had already gone into their cabin and turned on the lights. I could just make out Claire’s giggles, followed by Tom’s deeper laugh.

‘Come on, it’ll be fun. I know they look a bit rough, but they’re clean and they don’t smell too bad,’ said Sam, still smiling at me as he grabbed my overnight bag from behind the seat. When I still didn’t move he reached forward and took my hand, then gently helped me out of the truck and led the way into the cabin. He flicked on the light and threw my bag onto the bed. The room was bigger than it looked from the outside, and though the air was a bit stale it didn’t smell of cigarettes or anything.

‘Are you alright, Lili? You don’t look well,’ he said, concern written all over his face.

‘Yeah … sorry … it’s just … well … I guess I’m a bit more of a chicken than I realised. I mean … I wanted to come on this trip … I’d been looking forward to this very moment … but now that we’re here, I feel like …’

‘Hey, it’s alright. If you want, I’ll stay in the truck tonight. Is that what you’re worried about? Are you frightened … of me?’

‘No, I mean, well, it’s not you …’ I stammered, not sure what to say.

He walked up and put his arms around me, holding me gently until my breathing relaxed a little, and my heartbeat dropped down to something more approximating a human’s.

‘It’s okay,’ he whispered into my hair. ‘Don’t be afraid. You know I would never hurt you, don’t you?’

‘Oh, Sam, it’s not that. I’m not afraid of you, I mean … it’s not because, you know … you’re a vampire …’ I struggled to find the right words, knowing how stupid I must sound. ‘I mean … we haven’t known each other very long … and … well … this whole … sex thing … even if you weren’t a vampire I think I’d be just as nervous ….’

He laughed—the sound making my nervousness turn to embarrassment. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks and I was glad the light was dim, although I suspected he could still see me perfectly well.

‘You think I’m an idiot, don’t you?’ I asked.

‘No, not at all. I think you’re wonderful, actually. Look, we don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to.’

He kissed me then, and it felt as if we were the only two people on the planet. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and held on tightly. Sam was just so wonderful. How could I ever have doubted that?

We sat and talked for a bit—just chatty stuff. I’m sure he was just trying to make me more comfortable. Then, after I yawned a few times, Sam suggested I should get some sleep.

He walked with me up to the large concrete building that had the bathrooms and showers, and stood guard outside while I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. I changed into my pyjamas and pulled my heavy jacket on over the top before walking back out to meet him. The night air was freezing and the wind seemed to cut right through my jacket.