The Hidden (Heartfire) (3 page)

That wasn't what spooked me though.

I hadn't noticed him at first. I was staring at the dark stone walls, wondering if I'd jumped to Rome or someplace farther than I'd ever been.

The room was more or less a stone cavern. It took me a moment to notice the table at the center of the room. Dylan was strapped to it.

No, not strapped.

He was chained.

I had been shocked. He was struggling against the chains, clearly in pain. My first instinct was to help him, set him loose, to do something.

Anything.

But as I'd crossed the room it became apparent that he was chained for a reason.

Dylan was thicker, bigger, more feral looking than a human should be. He was in his other state- not himself- a powerful creature with a heavy brow and thick jaws.

But his eyes- his glowing red eyes- had been full of pain and fear.

I remembered how slowly I'd walked over to him. How tentatively I had reached out and touched him, laying my hand on his chest. A shock went through me at that moment that I could still feel.

The moment I'd touched, his eyes had changed to a softer yellow. He'd stilled, his breathing slowing until he seemed almost calm. Peaceful. His eyes were gentle when he stared at me. The look in those eyes took my breath away.

They were full of love.

That's when I felt it. Behind me. My perception shifted until I could feel it.

Someone else was in the room with us.

I turned in time to see a beast come tearing out of the shadows. Like Dylan, but larger, more ferocious.

And not chained.

That's when I catapulted back to my body, leaving Dylan behind to face the creature alone. I'd nearly screamed from the jarring sensation of landing on the bed. Thankfully I'd covered my mouth. There was no reason to freak out my roommate.

Charise was pretty much the only 'normal' friend I had.

So now I was awake, wondering what the hell I was going to do.

I sighed and turned over, pulling my special quilt around me. I sniffed it, catching a whiff of the homemade detergent my grandma made at home. I had a ziplock baggie of it here to do my wash in the dorm laundry room.

Gran didn't believe in store bought. Or waste. I wished I was back home right now... I wished I could talk to my mother.

But she wasn't here. No one knew where she was. Or if she was even alive.

I gave up on falling back to sleep and reached for my sketch pad. I started to draw the room we'd been in. The table. Even the beast.

Who else had been there? Were there more people- creatures- like Dylan?

The idea that this was bigger than the two of us was terrifying. If there was another man who was cursed like Dylan- well, I understood just about nothing about the world I lived in- awake
or
asleep.

Whatever else might be happening I knew one thing. I wasn't going to let Dylan face this alone. I felt an almost urgent need to see him, touch him, to know he was okay.

For the next two hours I sketched the dream. The odd chamber, the chains, Dylan's transformed visage. And him- the other that had been there. A distinct white streak of fur had run up the side of the creature's face from it's muzzle.

I traced the fur with my finger, pulling it back sharply. As if the image could burn me. Or see me.

Or bite.

I scooped up my phone the minute that Charise's clock turned to 7:00 am. I tapped in a few letters and hit send, before laying back on my bed.

A feeling of relief flooded my body as I glanced at the message on my phone. Of giving into the inevitable.

'You win'

Dylan

Chapter Four

≣

I clutched my phone, willing her to answer it. We'd been exchanging texts all day. It had all started this morning when I got her text.

'You win'

I knew what it meant. I knew she was going to be mine, fully and completely. I knew, but I had to make sure. I needed to hear it. I'd written back immediately, sleep still heavy in my eyes.

'Does that mean what I think it means? You'll be my girlfriend for real? Don't tease me Kaylia'

She'd written back one word.

'Yes'

The heavy chains of the dream fell away. I felt free. Kaylia was mine.

My face felt warm as I thought of all the things that entailed. Touching her. Kissing her. Sex.

Lots and lots of sex.

Lord knows I was pent up enough.

Oh yeah, I had ideas. I was going to treat her so good, I'd make her forget all about the rough stuff she'd been through. Losing her mom. The hardships of growing up poor. I'd make it all go away.

I'd keep her safe.

But most of all, I'd keep her close.

That created a problem though. I couldn't bring her here, and she had a roommate. I wasn't sure Kaylia would go with me to a hotel or not. She might feel uncomfortable doing that, or worry about the money.

Then inspiration struck.

We didn't have a game this weekend.

That meant I could take her away somewhere. Just the two of us. To cement our relationship.

I closed my eyes, imagining a whole weekend to be with her. It wasn't just the sex I was looking forward to. I just wanted to be near her. To pamper her.

To wake up with her in my arms.

I texted her back.

'I need to see you tonight. Meet me after your shift.'

'Okay. I get off at 9.'

'Good. I cant wait to kiss you Kaylia.'

Her reply made me laugh.

'I hope you like the smell of french fries.'

I hadn't missed a beat. I was grinning like a kid on Christmas morning when I wrote back.

'I love french fries.'

And I love you.

I didn't say it. But it was there, in everything I did. I loved her.

I would tell her this weekend.

I went online and started looking for places to go.

The day flew by. I was spaced out in classes. The first time I wasn't thinking about my plans for the weekend was on the field at practice, and that's because I was slamming into things.

After, in the showers, I realized what had been different last night in the dream. It was in the back of my mind all day, but I'd been distracted by more pleasant thoughts.

I'd been chained to the table again, the metal somehow tearing into me as I changed. The other had laughed at me, hiding in the shadows. It was hell, torture, until I saw her.
 

Kaylia had been there.

Kaylia

≣

I tossed my apron into the basket by the kitchen door. It had been a long shift and I was hot and sweaty. I wasn't psyched about how I looked but there wasn't much I could do about it.

I shook my head and thought about it. Maybe I should make an effort to be less grungy. Tonight was kind of a big deal. And Dylan had mentioned something about kissing...

That did it.

I grabbed my bag and ducked into the tiny employee bathroom with the flickering light.

I splashed cold water on my face and applied a thin layer on lipgloss. I combed my hair and spritzed myself with vanilla body spray- a new gift from Charise. I looked at myself in the dingy mirror and shrugged.

That was the best I could do.

Dylan was outside, waiting. I knew it without a doubt. Techincally he'd already
been
waiting. For almost three hours at this point. He hadn't come until the second half of meal time. He'd gotten his tray and gone straight to my station. Then he'd just sat in the back, watching me.

It was a little disconcerting.

But also kinda sweet.

I stepped outside and blinked in the darkness. There was a bright light over the trash and recycling but there were shadows everywhere else. It was after 9 pm and most of the staff were still inside eating their free meal that came with the shift. I had skipped it, though usually it was one of the best meals I had all week.

Almost as good as Gran's home cooking.

I didn't want to keep Dylan waiting.

"Kaylia."

I stepped forward tentatively, immediately swallowed up by the darkness. I looked around, letting my eyes adjust. I could barely see a thing in the dim light.

"Dylan?"

"Over here."

I turned and there he was, just a few feet away. He was perfectly still, staring at me. I couldn't see his expression clearly, but I had a strange feeling
he
could see
me
perfectly.

I knew that his physical agility and strength were part natural, part unnatural. He'd told me so himself. He had been frightened of his new abilities at first, but now he reveled in them.

Maybe a little too much.

As if he could hear my thoughts he did something that a normal guy shouldn't be able to do. He moved so fast it was a blur. He was over there and then he was behind me, lifting me into his arms.

He lowered his head and kissed my startled lips.

Then he grinned, his bright white teeth flashing.

"Let's get out of here."

I felt shy but I felt a thrill at the feeling of his strong arms around me. He'd lifted me like I was nothing but a feather.

"Okay. Where?"

"To the woods. I want to be alone with you."

I swallowed and nodded.

"Not too far this time, Dylan. Okay?"

He squeezed me and took off at a run. It was almost frightening, how fast he went. But his stride was smooth and he was careful not to jostle me.

I had no idea how far we went but it was quiet and even darker when he stopped, setting me gently on my feet. Then he brushed his fingers over my cheek and kissed me softly.

I still had my eyes closed when he pulled away. My eyes were adjusting to the darkness and out here the stars seemed brighter. I watched as he rolled out a blanket. He'd come prepared. I rubbed my shoulders, chewing my lip nervously. He obviously had more than kissing in mind.

"It's chilly."

"I'll keep you warm."

He smiled at me, a warm promise in his eyes. I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach. But they were of excitement, not fear.

Well, maybe a little bit of fear.

Not of him. Fear that I would let him down. I didn't really have a clue what I was doing with boys. And he wasn't just a boy.

He was something else, something special.

And I was pretty sure I was in love with him.

He held out his hand and I took it, sitting on the blanket beside him. He brushed my hair back and kissed my neck. He smiled at me, pretending to mull something over.

"Apple turnover."

He kissed the other side, his breath fanning my ear.

"Cinnammon."

Then he kissed my forehead.

"Vanilla."

He smiled at me.

"I don't smell a whiff of french fries."

I laughed nervously.

"I was on dessert duty this time."

He scooted closer, angling his body so that it pressed against mine. He put his hand on my back and guided me down until I was laying on the blanket, with him poised above me.

"Kaylia... you're
always
on dessert duty."

He kissed me then, his mouth open and hungry. His hands ran over my body, seeking and finding sensitive spots. My wrists. My sides. His hands skimmed my breasts and he moaned, rolling so he was on top of me.

I could feel his erection pushing against me. He was sliding his hand underneath my shirt, reaching for my breasts. I lifted my hands, placing them on his shoulders. He stopped immediately, breathing heavily.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just-"

He stared at me, his eyes worried.

"You said you wanted me."

"I do."

I sat up, pulling my shirt back down.

"Just not here okay? It's my first time, remember?"

He nodded solemly.

"Okay. We don't have to do anything."

Then he kissed me again. It was less urgent this time. But still more passionate than any kisses we'd shared before. He touched my body but steered clear of anything too intimate.

I found myself regretting my words. I was arching against him, wanting more. But I did not want to lose my virginity in the woods.

He undertood that and respected it.

It was an hour later when he carried me back through the woods to campus. He set me on my feet when we reached civilization. I walked beside him the rest of the way to my dorm.

He stared down at me, that look of awe on his face again.

"Come away with me this weekend."

His hand cupped my cheek and I turned my face towards it, pressing a kiss into his palm.

"Yes."

Dylan

Chapter Five

☽

"You alright?"

I glanced at Kaylia then shifted my eyes back to the road. It was raining and the roads were extra slick with wet leaves. I could protect her from almost anything. Except a car crash.

Actually I'd probably just throw myself in front of her then too.

"I'm fine Dyl."

"I can turn the heat up."

I reached for the knob and adjusted it, sending warm air streaming into the SUV's interior.

I smiled and reached for her hand. Her fingers were cold as my hand enveloped hers. She wasn't saying much but that was alright. I could read my girl like a book.

My girl.

That's what she was now. Now that she'd finally stopped fighting. Stopped running. I could feel it down to my bones. I wasn't alone anymore. I never would be again.

And tonight I would make it real.
 

I had rented a cabin for a couple of days. It had been almost a week since she'd sent the text, a week that had gone by torturously slow for me. She was mine now, but there was no place for us to be together with any degree of privacy.

I couldn't bring her back to the suite without my roommates embarrassing her. Thankfully, I'd been able to convince her to take a few days off from her work study. And since my parents had brought my car up the month before, we were finally going to be alone.

I felt my groin tighten at the thought of finally taking her. Having free reign to
 
thoroughly explore her sweet little body. I knew she would feel incredible in my arms. Even more so, I knew it would feel right.