Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (58 page)

He put on some opera of his own choosing
, and I found it surprisingly bearable and soothing on low volume even though I couldn’t understand Italian.

“I sent you the picture,” I told him, my heart ra
cing when I thought about his image.

“Thanks.” He replied.

I cut my eyes towards him, but I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, however the feel of the hot static he gave off was present again, along with his unique fresh scent.

“I’ve never really listened to opera before. What is this one about?” I commented
, and then asked.

             
He inhaled deeply and exhaled softly, “She’s been shunned by her family. She’s saddened over the fact that she can’t have the man she wants because she was condemned as being a loose woman simply because she fell in love with someone other than the one she was arranged to marry. They’ve branded her, and now no man wants her, so she feels no other alternative than to run away and end her life.” He explained.

I paused, “That’s beautiful but tragic, over a guy? I don’t know about that. Run away but live to
love another day.” I said.

“Good point
, but why not?” He smiled.

“I mean, I understand being in love with someone even though I’ve never made it to that point m
yself, but to have no hope of anything beyond that? I find that kind of pathetic.” I explained.

He nodded, “Desire and need is a powerful co
mbination. Sometimes, love is more mental than physical and if you’ve convinced yourself that only one person exists for you then that’s all you see, all you know and all you want — it becomes consuming,” He then said looking over at me.

             
My hormones were awakening, alive with energy, begging for some direction and release of the kindling heat within. His reply had surprised me and it gave me one more reason — as if I needed anymore, to crave him.

I licked my lips and studied his profile for a m
oment, and then went back at my phone, which I left on vibrate in my lap just in case China or Joel texted me back. I don’t know if he would have, figuring I was still pissed at him, but China hadn’t yet either.

Should I worry? She was probably still talking to and hanging out with that band or something
, but I hoped Steve and the whole gang was with her too though.

             
Finally, my phone buzzed and Cam’s head moved slightly as he glanced over at me, but he didn’t say anything.

China texted back: ‘
Seriously? OMG! Ok, I wn’t scrw w that we’ll be lving shrtly…Joel alrdy left I thnk.’

I felt so relieved. I would call him later to verify, I was sure he probably did leave…hurt and angry
, and I felt bad and guilty. I should have never given him the idea that something beyond friendship was a possibility for us whether we had sex or not.

‘
Ok, rmber 2 call me. Luv u.’,
I texted back
.

‘Luv u 2. Details!’
She replied with a smiley face.

“Everything ok?” Cam suddenly asked.

I supposed it was rude to be sitting her texting rather than speaking. I nodded with a smile, “Yeah, sorry.” I said as I put my cell phone back in my purse.

“It’s ok.” He shrugged a shoulder.

              It remained quiet save for the soft opera music he had playing, and as I listened to it for a while, it began to grow on me, making me think of dying alone, for some strange off the wall reason.

“Why does opera have to be so depressing?” I then asked in a joking way.

“Not all of it is. No more than country or blues anyway,” He replied.

True, “Well, I guess it is relaxing though. Maybe it’s better to not know what they’re saying and just enjoy the melody.” I then said.

He smiled and nodded, “I’ve always thought so. Anything to relax the mind is always a good thing.” He then said.

“So you speak Italian?” I asked.

“I speak several languages actually.” He answered.

I raised both brows in pleasant wonder.

“Really? Which ones?”

“French, Italian, Latin, Mandarin, Arabic, Ge
rman, Spanish to name a few.” He replied.

“Prove it, say something in Italian.” I challenged
playfully.

             
He thought for a moment with a smirk, liking my flirtatious game without a clue as to me baiting him to get the down low. If he could speak all of those languages, I would be impressed…adding more fuel to the growing fire inside of me.

“Sei molto bello e particolare,” He said rolling each ‘r’ so fluently
, that the mere sound of his voice along with his linguistic perfection of each syllable, literally made my nipples stand at attention. I swallowed and bit my lip, “Translation?” I asked.

He looked over at me, “It means, you are very beautiful and special.” He smiled.

Was it getting hot in here now or was it just me?

I smiled almost shyly, “Nice, okay…now Latin.” I said next
, shifting in my seat.

“Nec nocte venturum,” He coolly obliged with perfect pronunciation
, without even having to think about it.

“And that means,” I raised a brow.

              He seemed to pause for a moment, as if thinking about something before he glanced over at me.

“I don’t want this night to end.” He then said sof
tly.

My heart was picking up a rapid cadence in my chest
, and I felt a sudden onslaught of intense passion and lust that brought only one thing to the forefront of my mind.

I know I said I had wanted Joel to be my first
, but that was just talk, I didn’t even think it would happen mainly because it would ruin things and he’d be hurt if something were to…happen to me.

             
But here I was with Cam. I liked him…a lot. He was gorgeous, and I was extremely attracted to him both physically and mentally without a doubt. I was not, nor have I ever been that kind of girl obviously, especially on the first date, but technically this was our third date if you counted that night at his friend Ray’s diner and then the Purple Tomato. Not that it made it any better…it was all too soon, but it was part of my bucket list, number one to be exact.

Damn, I wanted Cam in ways that I’d never wanted a guy in my entire life
, and he provoked erotic thoughts and feelings, lying hidden in the back of my imagination. I wanted to kiss him, to feel his hands and mouth on my naked body, to pleasure him, and even more so to feel him inside of me.

             
I hadn’t even realized I had let out a light breath that sounded like a part wail, part moan. The sensation of smoldering heat snaking through my veins made me tremble ever so slightly at the thoughts that seemed to amplify and manifest physically on their own. My nipples were stiff and sore, rubbing against the material of my bra and silky shirt, and my face burned with erotic heat the more I pondered it all.

I heard him laugh softly, “You okay?” he asked.

Oh, he knew what he was doing to me.

“Mhmm,” I simply nodded
, while crossing my legs.

             
It was silent for a moment, and as we passed rows upon rows of dark trees and not much else all along the stretch of highway. The sky was clear though, and I’d never seen such a smattering of stars that sparkled like sprayed glitter on a black velvet blanket. The moon was round, and hung low in the sky with a soft white luminescence. It was all beautiful, like a perfect painting of nights’ serenity as it was meant to be.

              I was beginning to wonder where we were going until I saw a billboard on the right for the ‘Sky Point Lounge’ up ahead, a mile and a half. It advertised fine cuisine and star gazing on the patio deck beneath its banner logo, along with the address, phone number, and a plate displaying lobster tail and filet mignon.

“Have you had any more incidents?” He asked then
, and it caught me off guard initially, though I wasn’t sure why.

I hesitated.

“No.” I shook my head and answered before I could even understand why I lied.

I think it was because it was easier. Then I didn’t have to explain anything or go into a deep discu
ssion about anything negative, paranormal or religious right now. I didn’t want to.

For one night, this night I didn’t want to have to think about all
of that or talk about me —we were going to discuss him.

He nodded and I already knew he didn’t believe me
, but I didn’t care.

“Really? Well that’s good.” He replied.

Yeah, he didn’t believe me.

“I wanna hear about you? How was work?” I then asked slyly.

He shrugged a shoulder, “Same thing. Driving around, writing tickets, making arrests…the usual.” He looked over at me with a smirk.

I nodded.

“I haven’t seen you around campus yet. What shift are you working?” I asked.

“Late night right now. I’m pretty sure you’re a
lready in bed by the time I roll around,” He then said.

“Oh. I guess that works out then.”

He chuckled a bit, “Why’s that?” He asked looking over at me.

“People talk and I don’t like people knowing my business, especially where I live, gossip and stuff like that travels fast.” I then said.

He nodded, “Oh, got it.” He replied.

             
I thought about what I would ask next. If the movies and certain books were accurate, demons couldn’t stand any kind reciting of religious texts, or the praising of God.

I tried to remember a verse in my limited knowledge of the Bible, mouthing the words in a barely hushed whisper.

“To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God that they may…” I began.

“Receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those that are sanctified by faith in me…Elohim. Acts twenty six verse eighteen,” Cam finished word for word casually
, along with citation of the verse.

I stared at him in shock and disbelief for a long moment. I didn’t even know what to say
, let alone expected that from him. I hadn’t even thought he’d heard me. I was speaking so softly, and with the music playing on top of that — how the hell had he been able to hear me? I could barely hear myself.

“Why are you reciting biblical texts?” he si
mpered curiously, apparently amused.

“You heard me?” I was staggered.

“I’ve got pretty good ears. It’s a cop thing,” He looked over and smiled at me with a wink.

Or a demon thing, I wanted to say.

I licked my lips, “It was something that just came to mind, I don’t know why. I forgot that you study theology and spiritualism in your spare time. You call God Elohim?” I replied
and then asked.

He laughed at my initial shock, “That is his true name.” he then said.

“He has many names.” I said.

“Many names given by man. I’m talking about his one true and original name.” He said.

“Oh.”

I hadn’t wanted the conversation to co
ntinue to take this turn, so I changed the subject quickly. That experiment was no doubt, a fail on my part.

I made small talk about things going on at the University
, and my stomach growled once we arrived at the restaurant.

It had been t
he Sky Point Lounge he took me to, and to my surprise it was a gorgeous building set in seclusion, perched on a hilltop to overlook the city, and a medium sized man-made lake below.

              Cam had already reserved a table for us inside a solarium room, set apart from the main dining room, made completely of windows from the floors to the ceiling. There were several high powered telescopes you had to pay to be able to view in order to stargaze or look into space.

The hostess sat us in the solarium room
. The view over the moonlit lake, along with the reflection of lights from the city skyline beyond, and the twinkling night sky above, was breathtaking, romantic and well thought out…human or not, I was falling love.

“I reserved this entire area
, so we’ll have some privacy,” Cam said, seeing me look around in wonder as to why we were the only ones in here.

“Are you seri
ous?” I smiled in surprise. This couldn’t have been cheap.

“Why not?” he said.

I liked his style.

             
We ordered appetizers of bruschetta, fontina cheese and wine to start, and the waitress didn’t even card me. I was sure it was because Cam turned on the charm and dazzle, and she was too enthralled and in awe of him.

“Now
, how did you hear about this place?” I asked as I scanned the menu.

“I’m a big fan of places off the beaten path.” He answered.