Celestial Beginnings (Nephilim Series) (21 page)

When he finally pulled back, she gave him a small smile.

“Plus, we have a barbeque to throw this weekend.”

This took her by surprise, but he could feel the happiness flowing from her.
“This weekend? Really?”

Her excitement was contagious.
“Yeah, I was thinking Saturday afternoon. It’s not too soon, is it?”

“No!
Not at all!” Her voice had gone high and she cleared her throat. “I mean…I kinda already threw out the notion that it might be happening soon.” She said this before biting her lip and watching him to gauge his reaction.

All he could do was laugh.
He had already known what she was like. If she wanted to do something, no one could tell her it wasn’t going to happen. Her stubbornness was something he found endearing.

“If there’s a last minute call, the team won’t be able to make it, but I’d still like to meet everyone, if that’s okay?”
At her nod, he continued. “Good, let me plan everything.”

She was about to protest but he stopped her.

“Trinity…” He dragged out her name as a warning. This was something he wouldn’t waver from.

“Okay, fine.”

The small concession made him smile.
Malachi then kissed her on the cheek and turned to leave. Stopping at the bottom of the steps, he turned around to her once again.

“I’m going to be pretty busy all week, but I would like to see you again at least once before Saturday.”
Why did asking her out always make him nervous? It was probably because he just kept waiting for the time she said no.

“I’d like that.”
She smiled back at him and he exhaled slowly.

“Alright, I’ll call you.”
He turned back around and started walking to his motorcycle.

He inwardly cringed at his impromptu date for the barbeque.
Now he only had five days to get ready for it and that included food for everyone. He’d better call Gemariah and make nice.

Chapter
12

Trinity looked around Malachi’s back yard.
The animation in his voice, whenever he talked about where he lived, showed her he really liked his house; now she knew why. It was beautiful here. His fenced in back yard was big and open. The patio had nice comfortable furniture, she thought as she snuggled deeper into her chair.

They were all sitting around the table outside and were talking and laughing at old stories.

“Oh, did she tell you about the time she kicked a boy in High School?
She was on the debate team and he was her opponent.” Renée asked, smiling at Malachi.

Man, she must like Malachi to already to be spilling those stories.
 

Trinity put her head in her hands and groaned.
“You had to bring that one up?” No one paid her any attention.

Nicole sat up in her seat.
“I remember that!” She started laughing as she finished. “It was during his cross-examination. She got frustrated when he started asking her questions so fast that she couldn’t answer them.”

“Well how was I supposed to answer when he wouldn’t shut his big mouth?”
Trinity defended herself. “So I kicked him…and might have called him a geek. It’s all a little fuzzy.” She waved her hand in indifference.

Malachi was laughing and leaned over to squeeze her leg.
“Well played, babe. Well played.”

“Anyway, she ended up losing the round and even got sent home from the tournament.
They called the house and I had to drive and get her. I don’t believe there was any more debate either.” Renée finished up the story with a smile.

Everyone was laughing, Stewart and Mark were playing in the yard, and it felt great to have all the people she cared about in one place.
The only thing that was off was Malachi. He kept looking back and forth between the gate and the back door. None of his friends had shown and she knew that he was waiting for them.

“What about the time she argued with the zookeeper about the cons of captivity?”
Nicci jumped in with another fun story.

Trinity stood up.
“On that note…I’m gonna get something more to drink.” She picked up her empty can. “Does anyone else need anything?”

“Here, let me get it.”
Malachi tried to stand up.

Trinity put her hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“And miss them telling about my lecture on animal depression and lower life expectancy? Not a chance.” She smiled and winked down at him. “Really, I got it, but thanks anyway.”

She made her way inside and went to the fridge, admiring the house as she went.
The atmosphere was co calming that she couldn’t help but feel at ease.

When she got to the fridge, she bent over to look for a cold diet soda.
That was when she heard someone let out a slow whistle, and she couldn’t help but smile. Malachi always had a way of making her feel sexy.

She stood up, shut the fridge and spun around only to bump into a large broad chest.
Only it wasn’t Malachi’s chest.

“Wow, now I know why you were standing in front of the fridge…you are smokin’ hot.”
His voice was calm and smooth.

He was so close that Trinity had to crane her neck backwards just to see his face.
She could admit that he was handsome, but in a different way from Malachi. Where Malachi was hard, this guy let off a calmer vibe. Malachi was the dark mysterious type, and this guy looked like he belonged on a beach, holding a surf board.

One thing was for sure though.
He had an ego to match his build and he was standing way too close. Trinity tried to maneuver around him, but he just moved with her.

“Hi.
I’m Trinity. Are you a friend of Malachi’s?” She pasted on a smile. The last thing she wanted to do was offend one of Malachi’s friends, but if he wasn’t going to back up, she had a straight shot to his groin.

“Maybe I am.”
He put a hand above her head on the fridge and loomed over her.

“I better get out back.
I’ve already been gone longer than expected.” Trinity tried for a graceful way out of this situation.

He then leaned in closer.
“They’re fine. What’s the rush?”

Obviously he wasn’t getting the hint; time to be blunt.
“Listen, I don’t know what Malachi has told you, but we’re sort of an item. Off limits, buddy.”

He then took his finger and ran it down her face. “Come on, Cuteness. You gotta admit that there’s a spark between us. Why don’t we go someplace more private and get to know each other better, maybe a spare room?”

Trinity was appalled that he would even think about that, and in his friends own house.
His smile was perfectly placed and his words were silky smooth. None of that mattered to her; she had finally had enough.

She grabbed the finger that had moved to her shoulder and twisted it backward.
After his yelp of pain, she went off on him. “You are a twisted son of a bitch! I just told you that I am with your friend and you still try to get in my pants? Back up before I do something worse, this time involving your male nether region.”

He stepped back and Trinity walked toward the back door.
She stopped in her tracks when he started to laugh. When he started clapping, the sound made her turn around.

“Damn, you have spunk.
I was worried that you were all wrong for him when I thought you were this meek little thing. I was wrong.” He looked her up and down. “I do believe I like you.”

“Save it.
What the hell are you talking about?” Trinity was so confused by his turn around. “Did you forget to take your medication today?"

“Ouch.
Okay, I deserved that.” He then held out his hand. “Name’s Gemariah. Sorry for the first impression and all, but I wanted to be sure that Malachi wasn’t wasting his time.”

Trinity walked forward and placed her hand in his for a handshake.
“You could have always tried sitting down and talking to me, like the people outside are doing with Malachi.”

Gemariah just shrugged.
“This way’s faster…and more efficient. Now I know you can’t be influenced by anyone with a handsome face.”

Trinity smirked and rolled her eyes.
“You really are full of yourself aren’t you?”

He then flashed that perfectly practiced smile.
“Wouldn’t you be too if you looked like me?”

She couldn’t contain the small burst of laughter that came out.
He really was something.

Gemariah gestured toward the counter.
“Come; help me set out the food.”

“Trinity, will you please help me set out the food?”
She mockingly turned his order into a question but still walked toward the counter. More for the fact that she wanted to find out what was letting off that divine smell. When she started peeling the plastic bags away, she found a fruit tray, a veggie tray, a bean casserole, onions, peppers, and… “Is that what I think it is?” She had to stop herself from drooling.

“You like?”
He was already chopping a yellow pepper and she noticed the smirk on his face.

Trinity was still staring at the dish.
“Is it wrong to be in love with a food?”

He just laughed.
“I hope not. If I believed in love, there would be a couple dishes that would rank that high.”

Just then she heard the back door slide open.
“Trinity, you alright? Did you find what…” Malachi’s words were halted when he saw them in the kitchen together.

“G, I didn’t know you were here yet.”
Malachi sounded strange, as if wary of his friend being alone with her.

“Someone had to bring the food over.
Speaking of…” Gemariah gestured with his chopping knife. “The steaks are over there and ready for you.”

Malachi grabbed some spices from the cabinet and then walked over to where the meat was.
“So you two have met?”

Trinity still had her hands wrapped around the bowl she was holding.
In a serious tone, she spoke to Malachi. “Yes we did, and Malachi…I think you might have some competition.”

Both men stopped what they were doing and spoke in unison.
“What?”

She tried to keep a straight face but half her mouth lifted into a smirk.
“Well Malachi…he brought me au gratin potatoes.”

Malachi got the predatory look on his face that made her insides quiver.
He slowly walked toward her and she felt as if she were prey being stalked. When he was directly in front of her he finally spoke. “It was me that told him to make it.” His voice got even lower. “Don’t you remember when you told me it was your favorite?”

Their old dreams flashed into her head and she felt her face flare up.
Obviously he saw because he flashed a devilish smile. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her flush against him. “I could always jog your memory.” To emphasize his point, he leaned down and ran his tongue across her neck and up to her ear, successfully making her shiver.

Taking a deep breath, she looked directly into his eyes and whispered the one word that would change everything.
“Okay.”

She felt Malachi’s entire body stiffen.
His care free expression disappeared to one of absolute seriousness. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

She didn’t remember the last time she was this nervous.
The last thing she wanted was for him to turn her down…again. Trinity bit the corner of her lip and gave a small nod.

He immediately straightened and looked down at the steaks and then at his watch.
His gaze then went in the direction of his hallway. From the tour he gave earlier, she knew that the hallway led to the bedrooms. Finally understanding what he was thinking, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Placing her hands lightly on his biceps, she clarified. “Not right this minute.”

 
He relaxed and leaned down to gently kiss her. When he pulled back, he smiled and whispered, “Stay with me tonight?”

The butterflies were already there.
It was a combination of nerves, but excitement at the same time. “Alright.”

He then kissed her again.
They both kept it short and sweet, remembering that they were not alone in the room. Trinity stepped back. “Well, I’ll leave you two to do your thing.”

She reached over and grabbed her can of soda before pulling on Malachi’s arm to make him lean down.
After giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she turned to go back outside.

“Wait a minute, Cuteness.
What about me over here?” Gemariah’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

Recognizing his nickname for her as the same one from earlier, she decided to throw it back at him.
“Sorry, I’m not into the whole pretty boy thing, but you can always test that charm of yours on my friend outside.”

With that last parting shot, she walked outside.
Before the door shut, she heard Gemariah’s roar. “Pretty Boy?”

Once the door shut, the sound was muffled, but she could swear she heard Malachi laughing.

When she reached the patio, she noticed that more people had shown up when she was in the house. There were two women standing near the table talking with Renée and a man was leaning against the house smoking a cigarette.

Glancing at the women, she realized that she recognized one of them.
It was Terah, the one that had found her and the girls in the river. When she started making her way over to her, Terah looked up. Her gaze felt more quizzical than friendly. Finally getting in front of her, Trinity held out her hand. “Hi Terah. Do you remember me?”

“Of course.
How are you doing?” Terah took her hand for the handshake and held onto it long enough for Trinity to feel a little uncomfortable.

“Really well.
I never got a chance to thank you for everything that day.” Trinity said gratefully.

Terah waved it off.
“Don’t sweat it. It’s all part of the job.”

“So I take it you guys are more than just bodyguards at this protection agency?”
Trinity asked, but she knew there was so much more to Malachi’s job that she didn’t know.

Before Terah could answer her, a sharp pain slashed through her thumb.
“Ouch!” She quickly looked at her hand, but saw nothing that would make it hurt. Trinity gripped her thumb in her hand, hoping the pressure would alleviate the pain. It came on suddenly, but was also fading rather quickly as well.

Terah grabbed her hand and started flipping it every which way.
“What? What happened?”

“I don’t know.
I couldn’t see anything.” Trinity just shrugged. “It was probably a bee sting or a bug bite. No big thing.”

Terah let go of her hand, but didn’t say anything else.
All she did was stare at her rather quizzically. When she cocked her head to the side, Trinity believed she now knew what a science project felt like. She was about to excuse herself when a hand moved around Terah’s shoulders.