Fate Fixed (11 page)

presence was a welcomed solace to his usual turmoil.

As they moved closer to the sandy beach, Cian realized where Torin’s eyes were fixed. “I’ve never seen you like this,”

his friend didn’t accuse or even joke. “What is it about her?”

Torin broke his trance for a moment, “She makes me feel alive for the first time in my life… Before her, I didn’t have a purpose – I was just waiting for everything to end.” He looked at Cian and tried to explain, “I just thought I would destroy myself by giving in to the curse…”

“Now you have a reason to fight it,” Cian nodded with

understanding.

Torin looked intently over to where Lexie sat, “She’s worth
living for.”

Cian descended the few remaining granite steps to the

smal beach. Brooke hopped up as soon as she spotted

him. As

they embraced, she jumped in his arms with her legs

around his waist and planted a big kiss firmly on his lips– their passion showed.

Torin focused his gaze on Lexie, waiting for the moment when the two of them would connect. A light breeze made her long hair dance around her shoulders.
She’s stunning.

They al turned when Cian pointed to where Torin stood at the bottom of the steps. As Lexie’s eyes greeted his own, a soft smile spread across her enchanting face. Torin could feel his body hum in response. Every neuron within him awakened, spurring him to move closer to her. She arose to her feet and brushed the sand from her bottom, never taking her eyes off him.

Torin closed the distance between them, once again struck by the power her nearness had over him. His senses were already overactive because of what he was, but her

physical proximity set off a chemical reaction within him. He couldn’t help but notice Lexie’s every detail. Her petite body moved graceful y and although she seemed unsure of

herself at that moment, he could tel she was usual y determined and strong.

“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she sighed. A bashful glow resonated across her skin.

He knew his intense scrutiny made her self-conscious, but he couldn’t control the captivated spel she held over him. “I

hope you don’t mind. I heard you might be here and I

wanted to see you.”

Craving her touch, his eyes swept from her heart shaped face, down her graceful neck to her bare shoulder. He

wanted to press his lips against the hol ow of her col arbone and taste her skin.

“I’m happy to see you,” she seemed relieved. “I didn’t want to leave on Friday – but my brother was acting kind of crazy, so….”

Cian and Brooke nestled beside Theo in the sand. Torin could tel they were enjoying the novelty of him fal ing for Lexie. In the past, he chose to be like Braden and not seek out the comfort of females. Braden was too responsible.

For Torin, it was because he didn’t feel worthy of finding anyone.

His gaze swept over her, but fixed back on Lexie’s face, “I didn’t get your number before you left.”

Tilting her chin, she looked out over the lake. “I just lost the use of my cel phone. I’m not sure if I’l be getting it back.”

He could hear unhappiness in her tone despite her smile.

“You can cal my house phone though.”

Stepping closer, he slid his hand into hers. “Wil it upset your brother if I come by your house?” He didn’t want to cause problems for her at home, just wanted to be with her as often as possible. Just the caress of her skin pleased him.

Pul ing him along, she hurried down the boating dock that stretched thirty feet out over the water so the two could be alone. He would have fol owed her anywhere. She sat down at the end, dangling her feet over the side into the cool lake.

She beckoned for him to sit, “I want you to be able to come and see me….but my family is complicated. My mom just

got remarried and we are al trying to learn to live together.

They aren’t always welcoming. My step dad and brothers
are….” She shook her head, unsure of how to describe them.

Torin pondered her expression. If she thought her family was complicated, he wondered what her reaction would be once she learned about his.

As they sat under the sun, the bare skin on their arms and legs brushed against one another. He took ahold of her soft hand

– the sensation of her touch stirred him. Her innocence was rare; she shivered when he caressed the inside of her wrist.

“But, you do want to see me?” he hoped.

Her gentle laughter sounded like music. “Of course I want to see you.” She turned to face him and sighed contently, “Who are you anyway? You do realize we hardly even know each other.”

He tipped his face towards hers and brushed his lips over her shoulder. “You know me,” he assured her. He wanted her to believe it too, “I’m the one you’ve been waiting for.”

She gave him a teasing nudge with her shoulder, “Sure – Does that line usual y work with girls?”

He chuckled. Her playful expression was endearing. “I don’t know – I have never used it before. Let me know.”

“Okay then – I’l do that as soon as I decide,” she countered with a grin. “Why don’t you tel me a little about yourself in the meanwhile?”

He appreciated her humor. She wasn’t painful y serious like him. She helped him lighten up. “My name is Torin and I real y like this girl named Lexie and I can’t stop thinking of her,” he teased. “Now it’s your turn.”

Her cheeks flushed as she confessed, “I can’t stop thinking of you too. It’s kind of disconcerting – I’m not the kind of girl who just loses herself in some strange guy.” She laughed at herself.

“I
am
strange,” he agreed. Torin reached over and ran his hands through a silken lock of her hair. Her scent reminded him of his mother’s garden – a cross between lilacs and sunshine.

“How has it been for you moving here?”

“It’s hard leaving everything behind – like my best friend and my school. But, moving here was important to my mom
and I want to make her happy.” Torin noticed the strain just behind her eyes when she mentioned her mother.
Family is
important
to her.

Lexie cupped her hand and dipped it into the cool water.

She rubbed it across her legs, making her skin glisten in the sunlight. “But,” she continued. “There have been some wonderful things about coming here that I didn’t imagine.”

Torin knew she didn’t expect to meet him. “Changes can be a good thing.”

Lexie gave him a sidelong look, “At risk of sounding like a complete fool, I do have to admit, I like being you. You seem so familiar, yet you’re unlike anyone else.”

Leaning in, he brushed his lips across her ear. “You aren’t a fool.”

He touched the side of her face and angled her chin so he could kiss her lips. His own blood sang in his veins,

heightened by their closeness. There was so much he stil wanted to learn about her. Would he have enough time? He kissed her lightly, al owing himself the moment of intimacy.

Her body trembled against his. He didn’t want to scare her away, but struggled to contain himself. It was more than the dream; Lexie had her own power over him. With reluctance, he pul ed his mouth from hers and met her surprised

expression.

“Listen, I know we just met and you’re unsure about this thing between us…but I am not going to hurt you.” Now he felt like the one at risk of sounding foolish. “I just want to be with you.”

Her demure smile was cute. “Okay,” she said simply.

The gentle breeze blew in the direction of the lake. Torin could smel something pungent. Before even glancing back to the parking area, he knew that one of Lexie’s brothers had arrived. Turning his head, Torin spotted the smal er one from Friday night climbing out of a black Prius, his blond head scanning the area to locate his sister.

Torin rubbed Lexie’s back in a circular motion, “So, do you think your family wil like me?”

Lexie lifted her head from its resting place on Torin’s shoulder, “I think so, why do you ask?”

Torin smiled down at her, his bril iant blue eyes captivating.

“Your brother is here,” he stated in a calm tone.

Startled, Lexie whipped around expecting to see Maxim

trudging towards her. Relief settled through her when she saw Alik approaching with his usual outgoing grin in place.

She let out the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. She wasn’t ready to explain Maxim and his

charming attitude.

She needed more time alone with Torin so she could

decipher why he had this startling impact on her. Like Friday night, she felt lured to him. He dominated her senses with his presence and charm. Fascination to know

everything about him fil ed her, but she kept losing herself in his caresses.

With a thump, Alik dropped down beside them. “I heard

about this place and thought you might be here.” He

extended his hand to Torin, “Hey, I’m Alik.”

Torin was polite as he studied her brother. “I’m Torin.”

Alik pul ed his polo shirt off, revealing a wel -built torso.

“So what are you kids up to, have you gone swimming yet?”

“Kids?” Lexie probed, “We’re older than you.”

Alik grinned, “Yeah, your boyfriend here looks like he’s pushing thirty.”

Lexie considered Torin. He was leaner than Alik, but his muscles were more defined. It was his face that was

special, it showed maturity. She knew from Brooke that he was eighteen, but he did look older.
Early twenties maybe,
but not thirty...

She smiled with approval. Torin was hot, she didn’t care what Alik thought.

Alik and Torin both turned to where the others were on the beach. A heavy set woman in a brown uniform was pointing at the parking lot. Lexie couldn’t hear what was being said, but Torin’s expression revealed concern as he helped her stand.

Taking her elbow, he whispered, “Looks like we have to go.”

As Lexie joined her friends, the woman’s shril voice

continued to bark orders, using her clout to order them out of the area. Torin wasted no time addressing the situation, “Officer Barry, is there an issue concerning the beach today?”

The woman was in her late forties with shoulder length stringy blond hair. Thrusting her fists on her plump hips, she barked, “Yes Mr. O’Connor and if you could please escort your friends from the area, it would save me the effort of cal ing Sheriff Timmons to do it himself.” Lexie doubted the animal patrol officer’s beauty improved when she wasn’t angry – her cold hazel eyes were almost as intimidating as Maxims.

Her skin bristled with the officer’s continued rude tone.

“Over the last week, there’s been a great deal of mutilated animals found in the woods al along the lake, possibly due to rabies. The mayor and I agreed this afternoon that we would close off the recreational areas until the matter is resolved. We don’t need minors partying down here and

getting hurt. ”

Lexie wondered what it meant when Cian and Torin

exchanged knowing glances. Perhaps this was a common

occurrence in Erris – or from Officer Barry. Brooke and
Theo gathered their things as Cian and Torin walked the animal control officer back to the parking area.

Lexie scanned the woods along the waterline as far down the lake as she could see. How long would it take to locate an il animal like that? She remembered her private joke about a moose with rabies – it wasn’t amusing now.

Alik paced back and forth, watching the three as they stood talking next to the patrol car. He approached Lexie clearly

troubled. “Listen, if Dad hears about us being down here by that woman – we wil be restricted from leaving the house until the end of the year.” The sun was so bright, he

squinted his eyes to focus on her. “Seriously, I found you easy enough and I’m sure Maxim wil be looking for us

soon. What do you say we just head home and avoid any

more issues for today? Besides, if there is some animal around here, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Lexie glanced as Theo and Brooke climbed the steps of

the trail to the parking area where Cian and Torin

conversed by their cars. Were they al going home or

maybe heading to Big Wal y’s? Having Alik with her made things awkward, she wanted to spend time alone with Torin.

Exploring what was happening between them was her new

favorite past time.

Having Maxim show up would be a buzz kil . She didn’t

want to ruin a wonderful afternoon with another argument.

A delightful sensation swept over her skin. She couldn’t distinguish Torin’s expression but she could feel him eyeing her as he leaned against his Camaro. A warm flutter fil ed her bel y

– she wanted to go to him.

Alik’s hand clamped down on her wrist, “Wil you stop being like that with him? What’s the deal anyway?”

Lexie yanked from his grip. “Being like what Alik?”

Darn, that hurt.
She rubbed the now tender spot. “He’s real y sweet – I like him.”

Alik cocked his head to the side. “Lexie, you weren’t the one in school hearing what a mutant he is. He’s dangerous anyway – I heard he was responsible for some kid’s death,”

he insisted, his tone exasperated.

Confusion flooded Lexie, “You just met him when you got
here. How would you know anything about him?” She didn’t want to even look at her brother, he was crossing a line.

“Like I said, I heard about it in school al day. It’s a smal town and everyone saw you sucking his face Friday night – lots of people wanted me to warn you.”

Torin was gentle and considerate. So why was Alik

flaunting this now? Although she didn’t know a lot about her new boyfriend, she had faith in her instincts about him.
Or
do
I?
What did she real y know about him?

As she headed to the Prius, Lexie was livid with Alik for planting seeds of doubt in her conscious.

As she ran down the trail, Lexie realized for the first time
that her familiar dreamscape was an actual place. She
was on
the small trail behind her new home and on her
way to him. The
intense smell of cedar and the rich
vegetation held no sway - she
only desired his embrace.