Illicit (14 page)

I’d been so wrapped up in Thorn the last few days since I’d been ill, that I hadn’t been paying too much attention to much else.

But now that my mind was clearing up some, there was definitely something strange going on, and I was doubly sure it had something to do with the man in my life.

I can’t exactly accuse him of manipulating the weather though, or causing those strange noises that sound like the house is about to break apart around dad and I.

“Are you okay Jasmine?” his voice calling my name jolted me out of my reverie. He didn’t usually call me by my name, but on the rare occasions that he did, it was always a shock; the sense that I’d heard him say it in just that way before.

I started to ask him about it, but in the end thought better of it. Besides, he would only evade the question anyway.

“I’m fine Thorn, just waking up.” He didn’t say anything right away, which got me worrying that he was reading my mind again, and I found myself throwing up shields in my mind. When had I learned to do that?

“You’re a fast learner aren’t you baby? But I’m the only one you can’t keep out.” There was a chuckle in his voice as he made this confusing statement before ordering me to get up and get ready.

After he hung up I sat on my bed for a little while longer, taking stock. There was most definitely something going on and it was more than my hormones.

I could no longer deny the fact that I felt strangely different in this place and it went deeper than settling into a new home.

I headed for the shower with my mind a million miles away. Some things could be ignored, or heck, even easily explained but there were others that were a little more puzzling.

Apart from the strange elements in the wind and the skies, there was the issue of my body.

I’m not sure if it was because of my impending eighteenth birthday, but my body is going through some sort of metamorphosis.

I feel hot and tingly, especially between my thighs and as washed my breasts, the slightest touch of the washcloth seems too much.

I was red as a cherry by the time I left the shower. I’d just spent the last fifteen minutes fighting not to touch myself.

The feeling had been so strong my hands had wandered to my secret places before I caught myself. Maybe it was a side effect from my illness, though I’ve never heard of any sickness that leaves you feeling horny.

I knew something was really wrong when I could barely stand to put my clothes on. The feel of cotton against my hot flesh set my body trembling.

Downstairs I got breakfast ready for dad and I only because if it was left to him we’d both be having some kind of sugary cereal.

“How did you sleep pumpkin? Did that crazy wind keep you up last night?”

“Crazy wind?”

“Yeah, didn’t you hear it howling out there, it reminded me of the night...” he cleared his throat and reached for the cinnamon for his oatmeal.

“What night dad?” somehow I felt that his answer was important, and I also knew that he wasn’t going to answer before he evaded the question.

“It’s nothing sweetheart just...is Azarov coming to get you? I think he’s right, that truck is no good for a young girl, I don’t know what I was thinking, you’re sure he’s coming to take you to school this morning?”

He was staring at the window and acting mighty peculiar if you ask me. “Dad, are you okay?”

He brought his attention back around to me as the wind picked up outside.

“Sure honey, it just feels like there’s a storm brewing that’s all. Eat your breakfast before you’re late for school.” He changed the subject and we finished our breakfast on a lighter note.

***

I was a bundle of nerves when he came to get me an hour later. I always felt that way whenever we’d been apart, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had something to do with my past.

As the days go by, and I can’t believe it’s just been a measly few weeks, but I’ve grown so attached to Thorn in that short space of time, that it’s beginning to get harder and harder to be away from him.

I couldn’t help but think he knew why that was, that he knew a heck of a lot more than he was saying.

There was so much I wanted to ask him, but by the time he sat me in the car, I had forgotten everything but the joy of being with him. It was another one of those strange occurrences, his ability to make me forget.

He kept my hand in his for one thing, which was very distracting and then, “I won’t ever have to leave you again malenkaya, so there’s no more need for worry.”

“Who says I was? Can’t let him get a swelled head now can I? he squeezed my hand and grinned before lifting it to his lips.

“Are you ever going to tell me where you went all those days when you disappeared?”

“Soon, I promise you that one day soon you will have all the answers. For now I just want you to enjoy, and Jasmine, we’re going to be stupidly happy together so no matter what, never worry about me deserting you.”

And just like that the worry was gone, and so was the knot in the pit of my stomach that I had been ignoring all morning.

I will say today was the first day of the rest of our lives, a mite dramatic yes, but I could feel the difference in the air.

Everything seemed lighter somehow, even the air was different, and the sun shone brighter than at any other time since I’d been here.

I got to experience Thorn Azarov, the high school sweetheart as well; which was amazing.

He was attentive and kind, and so very sweet. Carrying my books, holding my hand, or putting one of his protectively around my shoulders as we walked from class to class.

It was almost as if he’d taken a peek into my mind and reenacted one of my better fantasies about high school.

The looks of envy, if I’m being honest, were a nice little bonus as well. And my hormones were working overtime.

Thorn was in most of my classes that day and the more time we spent together, the more my body reacted.

I needed to know if it was normal to have these hot flashes, or to have visions of sex almost every minute. It had to be because I was a virgin with my first real prospect as a candidate for cherry plucking.

See, I’ve also grown very crass; but I can’t seem to help it. In our last class before lunch, I thought I would go out of my mind.

His scent was driving me insane and all I wanted was to run my tongue all over his body. That place between my legs felt hot and achy and my breasts felt like they were full.

My mind was screaming at me to drag him off somewhere to a dark corner and scratch the itch that was about to drive me mad.

He seemed to sense something, from the looks of concern he kept sending me, but there was no way I was discussing this with him.

He seemed to have come to some sort of conclusion just as the bell rang and leaned over to whisper in my ear.

“Soon, just hang in there a little while longer and I’ll take care of you.” His words would’ve been comforting and maybe a little calming to my system, had he not licked my ear and nibbled on my neck.

The wind screeched outside just as a cloud passed by the window but I had no interest. I was in a world of my own, my mind full of the wonders of me and Thorn rolling around on a huge bed with candlelight all around and...

“Geez what was that?”

Outside it sounded like something had crashed into the ground, but there was nothing to see out there, and the others barely spared it a glance.

Thorn’s reaction though was a little concerning. He gritted his jaw and glared out the window and I could’ve sworn he said something under his breath.

I started to ask him what he’d murmured but just then the sky cleared up completely and there was actually sunlight now.

I looked from him to the window but in the end I shook it off, what was I going to do, accuse him of controlling the wind?

***

In the noisy cafeteria at lunch I fielded stares and glares and behind the hand whispering from my peers.

I could only imagine what was being said. I’d already heard through the grapevine how some didn’t think I was worthy of his attentions.

Somebody should’ve made sure he got the memo, because I don’t think there was ever a guy anywhere that had been more caring and attentive to his girl; though I could’ve done without the audience and their two cents.

I felt like I was on a stage for all to see, until Thorn took my mind off of it by doing some whispering of his own that took me away from what was going on around me.

He acted as if we’d known each other forever. There was such ease in his manner towards me, and silly though it maybe, I felt the warm glow of love envelope me whenever we touched.

“I do love you Lyubov moya.” I stared at him with my mouth hanging to my chin. “What, you must’ve known?” I shook my head in the negative as I tried to breathe.

“You...” I couldn’t get the words out, but even stranger, was the feeling of knowing that came over me. Something inside me knew he was telling the truth, I felt it in every pore.

For a few seconds I saw us, not as we are now but, another Jasmine and Thorn. It was just a quick flash and then it was gone but it did leave a lasting impression.

His siblings joined us and helped to take my mind off of my surroundings with their antics, and trying to one up each other for my attention.

Things seemed to be going really well, I was beginning to relax and not feel overly self-conscious about being the center of everyone’s attention, when out of nowhere, this blonde bombshell showed up; and I'm not using the term loosely.

One minute it was just the four of us at the table, teasing and joking with each other.

It was the lightest I can ever remember being in his presence and he too seemed relaxed and not his usual serious, stoic self. And the next she was just there.

The air changed immediately, I wouldn’t say arctic freeze but there was a sudden chill. Thorn was up and out of his seat, sending it flying back into the wall behind us and I felt glued to my chair.

She was gorgeous, both in face and form, but something about her made me uneasy and not just the usual uneasy.

You know that feeling you get when you've eaten something bad and your body gets cold sweats as it tries to purge it out of your system? That's the kind of nauseous, head spinning feeling I got when she sauntered up to our table.

And the way Thorn reacted only scared me more. He stood himself in front of me, blocking me from her view protectively.

The knockout laughed at this move and my skin prickled. I had the sudden urge to stand in front of him, not so much to protect, but to keep her away.

His hand reached back and took mine as if he had heard my thoughts and was seeking to reassure me, because yes, I was jealous as all heck.

She had a sugary sweet laugh that was sickening, and sent chills down my spine. I felt as though something was reaching out to touch me, but could see nothing but the back of Thorn.

He started speaking angrily to her in what I guess was Russian, and then his brother and sister were there next to us, well in front of me really, and I realized they were protecting me.

I had no idea of what was being said obviously, but the animosity was pouring off of the Azarovs in waves.

Her words reminded me of the wind in the dark clouds for some reason and something was now beating at the edges of my mind, but all I saw was darkness when I tried to see.

There was stillness all around and an eerie darkness on the walls that hadn’t been there before. I felt cocooned and hidden away from view.

It was as if the rest of the cafeteria ceased to exist, and it was just us four facing this woman, whoever she was.

She reached out a hand to touch Thorn who pulled back with a curse before looking back at me.

Something weird thumped in my chest. It was one of those fight or flight moments I guess you’d call it. But I didn’t feel like fleeing this time.

I was on my feet before I knew it, anger blurring my vision. Before I could do anything one way or the other, Thorn pushed me back behind him.

I didn’t know who this person was, but I knew I wanted her gone and when she reached out to touch Thorn again, I think I growled at her.

She said something to me with a smirk on her face that would’ve been enough to make me go into hiding a week ago. Only now it sounded like a challenge to me.

I was actually flexing my body to go after her, nails drawn and all. I felt a calm that was foreign to me but somehow felt right, like it had been a part of me forever.

Suddenly Thorn's fist came down on the table, breaking it in two and making everyone, including the blonde jump. Outside, the sky grew dark again and thunder rolled in.

"Mina you will die." That was Thorn's voice, but I don't think I'd ever heard anything so sinister in my life.

The girl, Mina, jumped back and said something else before glaring my way, and sauntering back, the way she’d come.

The feelings of darkness and cold that she’d brought with her dissipated a little, but I still had that sense of impending doom.

“Come, I will take you home.” He reached for my hand and it was only then that I realized I was shaking.

“But I have classes.” I tried to keep up with his hurried pace as he dragged me across the room with his siblings following behind.

“Not to worry, Natalia will collect your lessons for the day.”

The noise of the cafeteria flooded back in as if someone had turned a switch. No one seemed disturbed, leading me to believe that they hadn’t seen any of what had transpired. But how can that be?

“Thorn what’s going on, who was she?” it was hard to keep the green fangs of jealousy at bay. I mean he obviously knew her and she was gorgeous and the way she spoke to him...

My thoughts were cut short when I found myself pushed up against the nearest wall and his lips were on mine, his body pressing me into it hard.

This kiss blew all the others out of the water. He sucked on my tongue in a way that told me he never wanted to let go.

It was hotter than hell, making me forget for those few precious moments, just where we were.

When he lifted his head from mine and looked down at me with all that heat I had no control over my actions.

I pulled his head back down to mine and bit his lip hungrily. Now why did I do that? The growl he made reverberated through my body and warmed me between my thighs.

“We have to stop love; b’lyad’, fuck.” He rested his forehead against mine. “She’s not prettier than you lyubov moya, no one is. Don’t cry.”

He dried my suddenly appearing tears before turning and continuing down the hall, with my hand gripped firmly in his. His brother and sister were standing at the door, waiting for us, on full alert.

I wasn’t dumb enough not to know that there was something very serious going on here. They checked even the sky as they rushed me to Thorn’s car.

“I’m taking her home with me, you may follow after you’ve collected her things.”

He didn’t give them a chance to answer, just threw the car in drive and sped out of the lot.

We drove in the opposite direction from my home, but I didn’t question him. That dark menacing cloud followed behind us once again, and the wind howled and screeched against the windows.

Thorn kept a tight hold of my hand and that’s the only thing that kept me calm. The more he drove the more afraid I became.

I had the feeling that I was moving towards something that was going to change my whole life. But he’d promised that nothing would hurt me, and I so wanted to believe him.