Bonded (The Raegan Mason Trilogy) (7 page)

He froze and stared at me.  He started backing out of the water.  “Raegan, please come to shore.  I’ll turn around while you get dressed.”  Distress filled his words.  He waited by the shore until I started moving toward him.

“Turn around.” I ordered him.  He backed out of the water and a few steps away from my clothes.  When I started moving toward the shore, the music faded away.  I was frustrated.  When the water was about waist deep, he finally turned around so I could gather my clothes and get dressed.  I picked up his shirt after I was fully dressed and told him that he could turn around now.  I tossed his shirt to him and admired his body as he pulled the shirt over his sculptured muscles.  I wiped at my face, knowing Julie’s make up had to be ruined.  Hopefully it was waterproof mascara, or I’d look like a drowned raccoon for sure.  He paused, as if on purpose to let me gawk at his perfection before hiding his magnificent body from my sight. 

Guys my age just weren’t made like that.  I couldn’t believe he was my age.  I just shook my head in disbelief.  “So, what are you doing, stalking me?” I teased trying to avoid the awkward tension.

“Ha, you wish.” He smirked. I was glad he really didn’t know how much I did wish that.  He cleared his throat.  “Why are you skinny dipping in the ocean so late at night, by yourself?  Where’s Army boy?”  He flashed a brilliant smile and his eyebrows waggled causing my heart to stop.

I just stared trying to collect my thoughts.  “Jaxon just drove me home.  He wasn’t invited to join me, if it’s any of your business.”  I plopped myself down in the sand and started digging my heels in the moist sand.  I tried to focus on the crashing waves and where the music might have been coming from instead of being hyper aware of his presence.  That static electric sensation got stronger as he approached me and sat down too. 

“Not invited? Huh.  I figured you two were…” he raised an eyebrow not finishing his sentence.

“No, nothing but
friends
.” I emphasized.  What was it with everyone trying to force me on Jaxon?  “He’s always been like a brother to me, until tonight.  That really threw me into the deep end.”  I shook my head in disbelief staring at the sand.

He laughed and the tingles became violent vibrations in my bones. I closed my eyes and relished the pleasing feelings he gave me. “Yeah, I don’t think he feels like you’re his sister, unless there’s something messed up in his head.  That still doesn’t answer my question about you being out here alone.”  I turned my head to face him.  His smile faltered slightly and his eyes narrowed waiting for my answer.

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.  “I like being alone…to think.” I quickly added as a new expression overtook his face.  I didn’t want him to leave.  “I haven’t been in the water since…well a while.  It makes me feel alive somehow and I’m able to work out my problems.”  I paused looking away from his face.  “The skinny dipping part was just so I didn’t have to walk home dripping wet.”  Heat filled my body as I confessed to the angel sitting next to me.  I reclined back and lay down in the sand averting my eyes to the stars above and folding my hands on my stomach.

“Would you like me to leave you alone?” He asked with a touch of sadness in his voice.

“No!” My voice betrayed me hitting an unusual high pitch.  “I mean, I don’t mind company, now that I’m dressed.”  I smiled my best flirtatious smile at him, hoping he’d still want to talk with me.

“What would you like to talk about?” He asked, joining me in my horizontal position on the sand.  He folded his arms behind his head.  I could smell a hint of spicy cologne from him.  “Are we contemplating the cosmos?  Counting stars?”  He kept his gaze toward the heavens, but his nearness was drawing me to him.  I wanted to reach over and touch him to see if that electric sensation was really coming from him, to see if that spark we had earlier was real.

“Oh, I don’t know much about the stars or the cosmos for that matter.” I managed to say.  “I know that’s the Big Dipper.” I pointed with my left hand.  “And that’s the North Star.”  He grabbed my hand and covered it with his, pointing his finger along mine.  The electricity rushed through my body and I gasped. 

He pulled my arm toward him.  “And that’s Princess Andromeda and Queen Cassiopeia.”  My breathing was so fast and loud, I knew he could hear it.   He slowly released my hand and turned to face me.  The look on my face must have been horrible because his smile faded quickly.  “I should go.”  He jumped up and stared toward the lighthouse.  “Do you need a ride home?”  I sat up confused and looked up at him.

“No, I walked.  I’m not ready to go home yet.”  I looked away from him dejectedly and back out to the waves.

“You’re not going back out there.”  He stated it as a fact, not a question.  Tension filled his voice.  “How long do you plan on sitting here?”  He squatted next to me, his arms resting on his knees.

“I have a lot to think about, so it could be a while.”  I stood up and dusted the sand off my body.  I walked toward the water and let the waves crash against my feet.  I could feel his electric force field approach. That’s my best description for what I could feel.

“I’m not kidding, you won’t go back in there.  At least not alone.”  I could hear the challenge in his voice.  “There are creatures in there that do not discriminate against beautiful ladies in their desire for a tasty snack.”  He was getting closer and the encouraging challenge in his voice was causing my heart to race.  How far could I get before he came after me?  I didn’t allow him to get any closer before I took off into the waves.  I dove into the waves once I was deep enough.  When I surfaced, I turned toward shore to see his exasperated face.  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He reprimanded as he threw down his shirt and started walking slowly toward me.

I was too entranced to notice that the music had started again, until Kyler dove into a wave.  The music was getting louder and closer and more intense.  When Kyler surfaced next to me, he greeted me with a heartwarming smile.  His dimples were so deep, I wondered if they could hold water 

The electric current was intensified in the water, more magnetic and alluring.  He was several feet from me and it tempted me to close the gap.  “Do you hear it?”  I asked him looking around for the source?

“Hear what?”  His smile disappeared.

“That beautiful music.”  I turned slowly, treading water, searching for it.

“I don’t hear anything except you splashing around.  What’s it sound like?”  He asked truly interested.

“I’ve never heard anything like it before.  I heard it the other night when I was out here, but I can’t figure out where it’s coming from.”

“I have pretty good hearing, and I can’t hear it.”  He looked at me with concern on his face.

“I’m not crazy.  I hear it.  I heard it then and I heard it the next day at the Aquarium with my Aunt Sarah, and again yesterday when Julie and I were…right before I met you.”  A crazy thought entered my mind.  What if it’s coming from him?

“I didn’t say you were crazy.  Maybe you have developed hyper sensitive ears, you know, like a dog can hear a dog whistle?”  His smile returned and he inched closer to me.

“Now I’m crazy and dog-like?” I bristled at his comment.

“Not even close. I think you’re extremely creative, and you’re very attractive.”  His cobalt blue eyes were striking in the moonlight.  They remained focused on my face until I blushed so feverishly.  I had to be dreaming, because there’s no way this god-like guy could be interested in me.  He was still creeping closer and I was sure I’d hyperventilate before he reached me.  My eyes were locked on his and my breathing was erratic. 

He plunged under the water when he was less than a foot away.  I couldn’t see him, but I could still feel that magnetic pull to him.  He was circling around me like a shark circling his prey.  I felt his stimulating touch as he attempted to tickle me with subtle intentional jabs at my midsection.  I screamed with laughter as he continued to tickle.  He drifted away out of reach before surfacing a short time later.  “Are you okay? I heard screaming.”  A devilish smile shaped his full lips.  “I told you there were creatures out here just waiting for a beautiful girl to ensnare and make her beg for mercy.”  He sunk below a wave again and headed my direction.  I was waiting for his tickling fingers with my hands extended for protection. 

When I felt him draw near, I reached out for his assault and grasped his hand.  The shock that ran through me disabled my muscles and I sank below the waves.  I felt his arms wrap around my waist and pull me toward the surface.  I choked spitting out water, gasping for air from his touch and the lack of cooperation from my muscles.  He started pulling me toward the shore.  The music changed from playful to disturbed.  “I’m sorry, Raegan.  Did I hurt you?”  He questioned me as he helped me to shore.  His touch was energizing.

“No, I’m good.” I coughed up more salt water.  “I’m not sure what happened.  I felt a shock and my muscles quit working for a second.” 

“Let me take you home.  I’m parked right over there.” He pointed toward the light house again.

“No, that’s okay.  I need to dry out anyways.  I’ll go home now.  I promise.” I smiled my oath to him, unsure if I wanted to return to the water anytime soon.

“Then let me walk you home.”  He stood up and held his hand out to help me up.

Apprehensively, I reached for his extended hand fearful of that overwhelming shock again.  He watched me cautiously as I grasped his hand.  The current was still there, but not as intense as before.  He smiled encouragingly as I stood up.  He didn’t release my hand and I was okay with that.  I slipped my shoes on and he grabbed his shirt.  Displeasure filled my thoughts as I realized he’d be covering up his body with a dry shirt.  He turned to me, released my hand and started pulling his shirt over my head.  My body shivered with elation at the warmth that rushed through me.  He smiled, amused, and reached for my hand again as we walked back toward the condos.

He questioned me endlessly about my life the whole way back.  I answered as best I could about trivial things such as favorite color and favorite foods.  Each time I tried to ask him questions, he’d avoid it like he didn’t hear me and continued with his examination.  As I listened to his silky voice rattle off questions, I noticed the electric current between us continued flowing, but it was less intense.  Maybe I was just getting used to the sensation.  The music was also still there.  It was softer, almost a whisper, but it was still here.  I didn’t bother asking him about it anymore.  I was convinced it had something to do with Kyler, but not sure exactly what it was.

I stopped on the beach in front of the condos where I’d need to walk through to get home.  “This is me.  I live on the other side of the condos.  Thanks for walking me home.  Sorry it’s so far away from your car.”  I reluctantly released his hand to start pulling his shirt off.  I heard him suck in air and release it quickly as I returned his shirt to him.  “Thanks for keeping me warm.”  I smiled and felt the mysterious music increase tempo.

“My pleasure.”  He smiled and grabbed my hand again stunning me with sparks as intense as before, and kissed my hand.  The warmth of his lips left behind an invisible scorching imprint on my hand.  My eyes widened in surprise and the desire to feel those lips on mine possessed me.  He chuckled and released my hand.  “I’ll see you soon?” he questioned as he turned to go.

“Uh, yes?”  My head was spinning, my heart was pounding, and I’m sure I was flushed from the feelings I was developing for him.

He stopped, looked at me questioningly, and then smiled a dazzling smile.  “I will see you soon.”  He winked and took off jogging toward the Rock taking my heart with him.

The music faded as he ran.

CHAPTER 6 - TORTURE

The next day, Julie and I spent the day shopping for her trip to California.  Even though we lived on an island and saw beach and sand year round, she still had to add to her beach style wardrobe.  It was a different style and a different ocean after all, she explained.

She wanted to know all about my evening with Jaxon.  At first I was confused.  I had forgotten that I’d even left the party with him.  The highlight of the evening wasn’t Jaxon, but I couldn’t bring myself to spill the details of the semi-nude moonlit swim shared between Kyler and me.  Lying to Julie was becoming a recent habit.  I did tell her how I crushed Jaxon after he practically professed his love for me.  She, of course, thought I was bonkers. 

“Are you insane?” Julie lectured.  “Jaxon is super hot, like Captain America hot, and he likes you!  Who cares that you made sand castles as kids together?  You could have a quick summer fling and let him go fight for our freedom knowing that you’ve served your country in a horizontal manner.”  She smiled devilishly.  “Or a vertical manner, whichever is your preference.”  She winked knowing I had no informed knowledge of a preference.

“Eww, Julie.  Not even. Especially not with Jaxon.  That would be too creepy for any kind of comfort.  He even tried to kiss me last night and I thought I would go up in flames for the incest-like feelings it sent through me.  Yuck!”  I shook my head in disgust and shivered at the thought.

“Incest? You’ve got to be kidding me.  Weren’t you a little bit interested in what he had to offer?  There are a lot of girls that have had his special treatment, if you know what I mean.”  She grinned still trying to convince me what a good choice he would be.

“Even more reason to avoid that scenario.  I know you think I’m a prude for waiting, but I can’t just give that part of me away to just anyone.  I know there’s someone out there for me that has endured as much peer pressure as I still am enduring!”  I glared at her to emphasize the “peer” I was referring to.  “I want someone that will respect me for who I am, not what pleasures I can stir in their loins.”  I held up a silky pale green top and quickly switched it out for the brilliant blue one instead.  I think a certain blue eyed god was influencing my color choices.

“That blue would look amazing on you.  Go try it on.”  Julie started pushing me toward the dressing room.  She grabbed a pair of dark blue skinny jeans along the way and shoved it in my arms.  “Try these on with it.” She insisted.