My Soul Keeper (3 page)

His full lips part, making me gasp. Anticipation and need urge the blood to pump faster in my veins, causing my heart to beat erratically against my chest. His deep, sultry voice breaks the sound of my own heartbeat in my ears. “Simone, are you okay?”

His hands leave my body, taking with them the heat. It leaves me as quick as it came. The voices and surrounding images invade my vision, coming back into focus in a rush that makes me dizzy.

“Oh my God, sorry, I erm I…” I mutter, struggling to sound coherent.

The corners of his lips twitch then lift up into a half grin. I notice how perfect his skin appears,
flawless,
and how in proportion his features are, creating a beauty rarely seen outside a TV screen. Dark hair, ink black, lies in disarray, falling over his forehead. He’s gorgeous. My eyes travel the width of his impressive chest, my thoughts immediately go to picturing him shirtless, images of a sculpted chest, ripped abs, a faint hairline from his belly button running down to his...

“You’re blushing.” He chuckles.

I snap out of my fantasy, mortified that I was just standing here picturing all that in front of him. I feel the creep of a blush paint my cheeks and look up to him. He has a knowing smile, making the heat from my face spread throughout my body.

“I’m sorry,” I stutter again. “I have to go.”

He lets out a small laugh that makes my stomach flip. “See you around, Simone.” He draws my name out, adding a sexy drawl to it. I don’t know how he knows me. I don’t stick around to ask. I’m so confused by the way he made me feel.

I flee down the stairs with haste, nearly tripping when I reach the bottom and run straight into Jacob. His hands come out to grab me; I feel nothing except the comfort of familiarity.

“There you are, baby. I thought you might have left. You ready to get out of here?”

My breathing’s uneven from the encounter with the tall, dark stranger. I embrace him back, pulling him to my lips, covering his mouth with mine, offering him my tongue which he gladly accepts. He kisses me deep, pulling me to him and groaning into my open mouth.

“Get a room,” Amanda, the school bitch spits next to my ear, breaking our contact.

“Wow. Simone, seriously, let’s get out of here.”

I smile and nod. I can feel eyes on me, scorching my neck; darkness emanates around me. I close my eyes then re-open them, trying to focus, risking a quick look behind me to see the stranger from upstairs staring down at me.

He’s wearing slacks and a dress shirt. He looks out of place; too smart, expensive, and handsome to be in the presence of young, drunken high schoolers. I feel my body begin to heat as his eyes burn into me, igniting the flame once again.

“What you looking at?” Jacob asks, bringing my attention back to him.

“Do you know who that-” I don’t finish the sentence. When I turn back to point, he’s not there.

“Who what, what?” Jacob asks, confused, looking over my shoulder to follow my gaze.

“Never mind.”

I smile and follow him to his car.

On the drive back to my house, my mind keeps wandering back to the brown eyes of the stranger. The heat from his touch made my blood boil. Why did he have this effect on me? Who was he?

When we pull up, I get out and rush to open the front door. Mom’s asleep on the sofa. I usher Jacob in and he quietly laughs as he sneaks in and up the stairs, tickling my sides as he passes me. I close the door and lay a comforter over Mom. The weird sensation of being watched prickles the hairs on my neck but it’s different from the guy at the party. It’s weird, soothing maybe. It’s just being home and the night playing tricks on me.

I flick the light out and make my way upstairs to find Jacob lying on my bed, resting back on his elbows.

“Mmmm, come here,” he practically growls.

I go willingly. The lust from the run-in with the guy from the party is still burning like lava in my veins.

She’s back earlier than I would have thought. The party must not have gone well. I just stopped in to check on her mom who had been sleeping, and was about to leave when she came in. She flicks the light out and leaves the room. I shouldn’t and I berate myself in my mind for doing so, but I still follow her upstairs. My stomach knots and my fists clench when I see that boy lying on her bed, summoning her to him.

She goes to him and I know I should leave, but it’s like the rubbernecks who slow down to watch the damage from car wrecks. I can’t not watch.

He reaches for her, stroking her bare legs. She leans down to lie beside him. They start to kiss and I can’t help but imagine it’s my lips touching, caressing hers. It doesn’t help that I feel his lust for her pouring from him. And an energy coming from her that is unsuspecting from the timid girl who had been criticising her own image in the mirror earlier.

Her little moans turn my body on high alert. She’s so perfect and that guy has her; he’s one lucky son of a bitch. He flips her onto her back and his aura is sending off heat waves in colours of brilliant red. I don’t blame him. I’m hard just listening to her. I feel wrong being here. I have had to endure scenes like this in the past and not even acknowledge the act taking place but it’s
her
… I need to relieve some of this pent up frustration wreaking havoc with my body and mind. Why am I here? What am I doing?

“What’s got into you tonight, Simone?” The idiot questions her when he should be worshipping her, bringing me from my internal battle.

“I… I…” she stutters with wide eyes.

As if God has answered my silent prayer, Gabrielle’s voice booms through the room.

“SIMONE!”

Simone and the boy jump up like the bed’s caught fire. Simone puts her head down. “Fuck! Gaby, you scared the shit out of me. What are you doing in here?” The idiot asks.

“I was worried about Simone. I couldn’t find her so I came here to make sure she got home safe. Her front door was open. I got a ride from Liam, but he’s gone back to make sure Leah gets home safe. Can I crash here tonight?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The idiot lets out a deep sigh. “I guess that’s my cue to leave, then.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you,” Simone says, kissing him on the cheek.

I can’t help the smug smile that forms on my face as he stalks out of her room, down the stairs and out of the house. Gabrielle apologises once they’re both back in her room after seeing the idiot out.

“It’s fine. I don’t know what came over me. I... I sort of ran into someone tonight who had a weird effect on me.”

Both my and Gabrielle’s eyebrows go up in question.

“Do tell,” Gabrielle encourages.

Simone lets out a small coy laugh and continues, “I literally ran into him! Coming out the bathroom and this guy was right there. I bumped straight into him. He was… intense. He made me feel...” She bites her bottom lip and shakes her head. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“That’s hard to forget, Simone. He turned you on?”

My eyes shoot a look to Gabrielle. That isn’t something I would expect her to say; clearly neither did Simone. Her pouty mouth forms an o as a beautiful crimson flush decorates her cheeks.

“Oh, come on, Simone. It’s obvious, especially finding you getting all hot and bothered with Jacob. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“I’m not, but you don’t usually talk like that.”

“I’m not Prim all the time.” She grins. “I told you, there are plenty of fish out there. You shouldn’t waste yourself on Jacob; he’s not your soul mate.”

Simone reaches for her zipper and slowly lowers it. Her dress slips down and pools at her feet. I’m solidified, my eyes raking over her body, greedily absorbing her image and storing it safely in my brain. She’s wearing black lace pantie shorts that hug her hips and curve over each ass cheek; her back has little dimples right at the bottom, making my mouth ache to kiss them. Her skin is so smooth it shines almost from the intensity of her aura. Her soul is so bright.

Removing her hair clips makes her hair fall like a waterfall cascading over her body. It settles and covers her two round peaks from view.

“I’m not looking for my soul mate just yet, if he’s even out there. Anyway, Jacob’s been patient. Maybe it’s time I reward him.” Her voice fades as she disappears into the bathroom.

“Shamar, what are you doing in here? A little unprofessional, don’t you think?” Gabrielle whisper shouts.

“I was just going to see her mother and got side-tracked.”

“I bet you did.” Her icy stare makes me feel like the pervert I’m finding myself to be. She’s right, I shouldn’t be in here. Her eyebrows nearly reach her hairline, her dainty hands resting on her hips in a stance of authority.

I can’t help but smile. Her petite frame and fairy-like features can’t pull off aggressive. I’ve known Gabrielle for over a hundred years. Our jobs cross paths now and again and she has to take on various roles in each of hers, which I don’t envy. It’s hard to be in someone’s life but not live one for yourself. Her friendships and relationships are not real.

“Who are you talking to?” Simone’s voice echoes from the bathroom.

“I’m going,” I say, holding up my hands in defeat as she glares at me.

“Hey, Mom.” I come into the kitchen to find her pacing.

“Hey, sweetheart. You ready for school?”

I look down at my jeans and sweater, nodding. She lets out a small whimper and rubs her ever-growing stomach. “What is it, Mom? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, honey. I just wish your father was here already.” She smiles weakly.

“One more day.”

I reach for a granola bar and open the fridge to grab a bottle of water. “Did you see Gabrielle leave?”

“No honey, why? Did she spend the night?”

“Yeah, but she was gone when I woke up. No biggy. I’m off, Mom. See you later.”

I kiss her on the cheek and make my way to my car, sliding onto the soft leather seat. I pull my phone from my bag, noticing a text from Gabrielle.

Sry 4got books c u at scl xx G

Checking the mirrors, I back out of the drive. I’m just about to pull away when the front door opens. Mom waves her hand frantically, while her other arm clutches her stomach. I put the car into park and race to her.

“What is it?”

“I’m in pain and I’m bleeding.”

I’m an only child, and the doctors say this pregnancy was a miracle. Mom has to take it easy, especially since she’s older. The fear in her eyes reverses our roles. I need to be the grown-up. I need to stay calm even though every fibre of my being is panicking on the inside. I smile and capture her face in my hands to bring her eyes to focus on mine. “It’s okay, Mom. Does it feel like labour pains?”

“How would I know?” she cries out.

“Does it feel like when you went into labour with me?”

She inhales sharply. “I can’t remember.”

“Okay, just breathe.”

The journey seems to take forever; everything that could hold us up does. I have never used my horn as much on such a short drive. Eventually we pull right up to the ER doors.

“Help, help!” A nurse runs out and orders for someone to bring a wheelchair. Everything happens in a blur of doctors and nurses running back and forth, talking medical speech I don’t understand. I feel like I’ve left my body and am watching everything unfold from another plane of existence.

Two hours pass. The pale green walls remind me of slime, and the sterile smell makes me think of the janitor’s closet at school where Jacob prefers to spend our lunch break making out.

I try Dad’s cell again. He’s not picking up. I try Leah and manage to get through. She whispers she’s in class so I quickly explain why I’m not in school. She says she will meet me at the hospital once school lets out before disconnecting, leaving me once again alone with the nervous energy, waiting to hear anything from a doctor.

I pace the waiting room, and eventually, a door opens and a woman wearing green scrubs walks toward me.

“We have to take her in for an emergency C-section. She’s asked for you to be there so we need to get you changed for the surgery room.”

I follow her, speechless in the zombie state I’ve been in since pulling off the driveway back at home as she drags me down a corridor.