The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (123 page)

             
“To me you are,” he said, bending down to kiss me. “What do I have to do to convince you?”

             
“First, let’s get out of here.”

             
“We can go anywhere you want to go.”

             
“I want to go back.” He creased his brows confused. “I mean I want to wake up. I don’t want to be with you in a dream when I can have the real thing.”

             
“Then all you have to do is wake up,” he whispered softly in my ear.

             
I blinked a few times and waited for my eyes to adjust. I was lying on my stomach and when I turned my head Tristan was lying on his side propped on his elbow, watching me. “Welcome back,” he said.

             
“Why the dream?”

             
“I was just testing it to see if we were right.”

             
“How’d you know how to do all that?”

             
“I’m a quick study,” he winked. He slid his hand over my back, sending tingles up and down my spine. The sheet was barely covering me. Most of my upper back was exposed, giving Tristan free reign to tease me. His hand slowly made it’s way down to my lower back, lightly pushing the sheet a little further and giving me goose bumps. His hand stopped short, just above my behind, teasing me. “What do I have to do to convince you of my undying affection?”

             
“You can keep doing what you’re doing for starters,” I smiled. He slid his hand down a little more and then a little more, smiling. Then he smacked me really hard on my behind. “Hey,” I said, pushing him. He laughed thinking he was funny. I narrowed my eyes at him letting him know he wasn’t. To make up for it, he wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me closer to him, placing lingering kisses on my shoulder and neck.

             
“You know, you could always bite me. If you wanted to?” he suggested.

             
“I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

             
“It’s the best way to convince you my feelings for you are real. If you bite me, you can get inside my head and see what I see, feel what I feel.”

             
“Tristan, I have no doubt that your feelings for me are real. I just wish you wouldn’t hold me so high. Make me out to be this person I’m not.

             
“Ella, when are you going to get it?” I shrugged. “I see I have no other choice. Okay, bite,” he said, titling his head and exposing his neck.

             
“Tristan,” I said a little annoyed. “One, don’t act like you’re not dying for me to do it. When you were explaining things to me you seemed to leave out a lot of the effects it has on us.” I narrowed my eyes. “And two, I don’t think it’s a good idea considering you’re still weak from the lack of blood. You haven’t fed in a while and taking any from you would not be a good idea.”

             
“You didn’t think I was too weak to rock your world…twice.”

             
“Rock my world? O-Kay,” I said, trying to hide my smile.

             
“Well, you know, I am kind of a legend. I even heard some say god.”

             
I couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. “Oh Tristan, how I’ve missed you.”

             
“You know you can still bite without taking anything,” he said.

             
“How?”

             
“It takes a lot of concentration.”

             
“I don’t think I can do that. You tend to be very distracting.”

             
“Is it the gorgeous flowing locks?” he said, flipping his hair back. I had to stifle a laugh. “Or maybe my manly physique?” He flexed his bicep and winked. I covered my mouth to hide my giggle. “My charming personality…hey there,” he said, wagging his eyebrows at me. “No? I know what it is…” his eyes traveled down the sheet.

             
“Well…it doesn’t hurt,” I said. He smiled and pounced on me making me squeal.

             
“Really Ella, what is it? Besides my devastatingly handsome good looks,” he said, his cocky smile returning.

             
“Yes Tristan, we all know you’re good looking.”

             
“Just good looking…or an Adonis?” he teased, knowing full well how I thought of him. I knew he said it just to embarrass me.

             
“Tristan stop,” I blushed. He smiled and pulled me over on top of him. “You know you could always bite me again?”

             
He pulled away. “Ella, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

             
“You’re stronger now. Can’t I still get into your mind even though you’re biting me?”

             
“It’s possible but not easy.”

             
“Maybe with our connection it might be easier?”

             
“Possibly but I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

             
“You also said you could bite without taking anything.”

             
“You’re not going to let this go.”

             
“Nope,” I shook my head.

             
“Fine, but if I kill you, it’s your fault.”

             
“You won’t kill me. Just try not to take anything and if you can’t resist than just drink.” He sighed and wiped his hand across his forehead. “Don’t act like you don’t want to.”

             
He eyed me wearily as I guided his lips to my neck. He hesitated at first, but then gave in. It was gentler this time. He bit down slowly and tried really hard not to drink. It took too much concentration for him not to drink and he wasn’t able to open up his mind and relax. Plus this bite was not like the sensual feeling I was used to. I felt his frustration which was just causing discomfort. “Tristan, just drink.” I could feel him resisting. “Tristan please, just do it.”

             
His teeth slid in deeper and I knew he gave in to the temptation. I had to remind him to open up his mind and when he did it hit me like a ton of bricks. I saw everything he saw. I felt everything he did and it was so overwhelming I thought I was going to explode. Tristan pulled back all too soon. “Ella?”

             
My eyes glazed over and my body was tingling everywhere. Before I lost the feeling I pulled Tristan down on top of me and kissed him with a fiery passion. I knew he could feel it too. He kissed me back with just as much intensity. I always knew how Tristan felt about me, but to see and feel it first hand was an eye opening experience. I felt at peace.

Chapter Nine

*

Dean

In the morning, Dean had all intention of barging in and checking on Ella, but Josie had convinced him not to. “Dean, I already checked on them last night and trust me she’s more than fine,” Josie winked.

             
“Didn’t know you were into voyeurism?” Dean said, giving Josie a look that said he was all about it.

             
Josie glared at Dean. She was not in the mood to deal with him this early in the morning. “Look perv, it’s not what you think. I popped in late last night to make sure everything was okay. As soon as I figured out what was going on I popped right back out. And let me tell you there was a lot going on,” she sang.

             
“Please, spare me the details,” Dean complained. “I do not need the ins and outs of my li’l sis’s sex life.” He shivered at the thought and Josie giggled.

             
“I still think we should let the love birds sleep. Now that our mission is accomplished how about we go out and enjoy Ireland?” Josie suggested.

             
Billy jumped on the idea of spending some quality time with Josie. It would be the first time they would be able to actually spend time together since she got back. Yes they took advantage of any available time they had alone, but most of their time was spent preparing for Jack’s attack and then the search for Tristan. They never actually got the chance to relax and just
‘hangout’
. So he was more than happy to take the day and follow Josie around and do whatever she wanted to do.

             
Dean, on the other hand, was not ready to go sightseeing. Not until he saw and spoke with his sister. Despite what Josie said, he needed to see for himself. He needed to know his little sister was okay. Plus he wasn’t looking forward to spending the day with Josie and Billy when he didn’t have to. If he could he would suggest doing separate things, like, Billy and Josie go out on their own while him and Cameron took their own private tour of the town. But that would be too obvious. They would suspect something and he couldn’t have that when he wasn’t sure himself.

             
Over the past month, forced to spend so much time with her, Dean started to see Cameron differently. He saw her more than a friend. He got to know her, the real her. That was something he discovered she didn’t show people often. If he could he would take her to all the places he’s been when he came to visit Uncle Bobby. Take her to one of the nicest and finest restaurants in town and show her what a date with Dean McCallister was like. Yep, that’s what he’d do. He never really thought of Cameron in the romantic type of way. She was always just one of the guys. But after last night, when they were forced to share a bed, he knew he was in trouble. Dean knew these feelings he was having was more than lust, which was hard to decipher from the lack of
‘entertainment’
he was getting here in Ireland.

             
He tried his hardest to be a gentleman and stay on his side of the bed – only because he knew Cameron wouldn’t fall for his crap and probably kick him in the nuts if he tried anything. But after not being able to rest and watching her sleep, he just couldn’t help himself. He had to know what she felt like. What it would be like to have her in his arms. He needed comfort. So he slowly inched his way closer, sliding his arm through hers and gently wrapping his arm around her. She only flinched slightly at first, but then she relaxed back into him which I think surprised him more.

             
A lot of things have surprised him lately. For instance – liking Cameron. Dean more than liked her, but he wouldn’t admit it. He never felt this way about a girl and it scared him. He was Dean McCallister for Christ sake. No woman would ever tie him down. He wasn’t capable of being with just one woman, it wasn’t him. Sure he had girlfriends in the past, but they never lasted, partially because he couldn’t be faithful. It wasn’t his fault though. Girls were always flirting with him and enticing him, making it hard to resist the temptation.

             
There was just something about Cameron though. Something that made him want to change, but it didn’t matter. Being with her wasn’t an option he had. He was sure Cameron didn’t feel that way about him. He knew the tall tale signs when a girl was interested and from what he gathered she was not. Dean was the heartbreaker not the one who got his heartbroken and he had a feeling if he pursued her she would turn him down and he didn’t take rejection well. Not to mention she was also dating one of his good friends, Austin. Dean was many things, but stealing another guy’s girl was not in his repertoire. So for the time being, all he could do was sit back, and admire from a distance.

             
“Sightseeing sounds like a great idea. What do you say?” Cameron asked Dean, plopping down on the couch next to him. He loved the way she looked first thing in the morning. The way her hair was just slightly tousled, the warm color on her cheeks, and the casual way she carried herself, as if she could care less what she looked like. Not to mention the short shorts and tight tank top she wears to bed make her –

             
“Thinking impure thoughts again?” Cameron teased, breaking Dean from his daze. His cheeks flushed slightly. “I was kidding, relax. Why so tense?”

             
“Don’t mind him. He always makes that face when he’s constipated,” Josie laughed, making Dean narrow his eyes at her. “I got some Miralax or maybe an enema if you prefer?”

             
“Are you volunteering?” he retorted and Josie wrinkled her nose at him.

             
“You know what, it is too early to be talking about bowel movements so how about we move on to a different subject?” Cameron suggested, not wanting to go down this road knowing full well Josie and Dean could go at it for hours.

             
“Sorry and yes. Sightseeing sounds good, but after I check on Ella,” Dean said, moving so fast that Josie barely had any time to react.

             
She blinked and was able to make it to the front door before Dean barged in. “Dean, if you insist on seeing Ella then at least have the common courtesy to knock,” she warned, prepared to do what she had to keep him from knocking down the door.

             
Dean took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock, but before he even had the chance Ella swung the door wide open. “Thanks for attempting to knock. And yes I’m fine so you don’t have to worry,” she said, with her arms crossed, showing her annoyance at the disturbance.

             
“How’d you?” Dean asked.

             
“One, you’re my brother, I know better. And two, I could hear you. Not talking, in your head,” she clarified when Dean looked at her confused.

             
“We were just coming to invite you to breakfast,” Dean offered, quickly closing off his mind.

             
Ella narrowed her eyes at him not believing him for a second. It didn’t matter if she could read his mind or not he knew she could always tell when he was lying. “No you weren’t. Nice try. But since you brought it up I’ll take eggs, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and some O.J.”

             
“All that for you two?” Cameron asked, stepping behind Dean.

             
“Oh right, I guess I should ask Tristan what he wants, oops.”

             
Josie and Cameron giggled. Dean was still on edge and not ready to just let this go. “Great, meet us in the Café in thirty minutes. They have a great breakfast buffet,” Dean said, vanishing again before Ella had a chance to say no.

Dean hopped in the shower quickly before he had to meet them downstairs. He’d rather go back to bed. Back to where he had his arms around Cameron and the dreams he had about her. So vivid and so dirty that when he woke up he had to quickly turn the other way. He had hoped she didn’t notice, but if she did she didn’t seemed to be bothered by it. To ease his mind he flashed back to the dreams with Cameron, going over every little nasty detail. Envisioning all the naughty little outfits she was wearing until this no longer made him at ease. “Crap,” he said looking down. “Down boy.” That was not something he had time for. So as most guys do in these situations he thought of the one thing that is a guarantee mood killer, his grandma and her bunions.

             
Yep, that did the trick. He finished up in the shower and got dressed to meet everyone downstairs.

*

Ella

“Is everything okay?” Tristan asked as I joined him back on the bed.

              “Yes,” I sighed. “Just Dean being Dean.” I snuggled up close to him, laying my head on his chest. “We have to meet everyone downstairs for breakfast in thirty minutes.”

             
“I was kind of hoping to have breakfast in bed,” Tristan said, nibbling on my neck.

             
We heard Josie clear her throat. I turned around to scowl at her. “Josie!” I yelled.

             
“Sorry but Dean’s hogging all the hot water and all my stuff is in here.”

             
“You still could have knocked,” I scolded, annoyed at the interruption.

             
“What fun would that have been?” she giggled. “Morin’ Tristan,” she winked and skipped over to the bathroom. “I won’t take long I promise,” she sang, closing the door.

             
I rolled my eyes and got up out of bed. “Hey, where are you going?” Tristan asked, pulling me back down.

             
“We have to get ready,” I said, pulling away.

             
“What’s the rush?” He smiled, running his hands under my shirt. Before I could stop him there was a knock at the door. I groaned and walked over to answer it.

             
“Hey Billy, what’s up?”

             
“Is Josie in here?”

             
“Shower,” I said, pointing over my shoulder.

             
“Is Tristan…” he paused, unsure how to word it, but I knew what he was thinking.

             
“He’s fine. Good as new, well he could use a shave and a haircut, but besides that he’s pretty much back to his old self. You can come in and talk to him if you want?”

             
“I don’t want to intrude,” he said sheepishly.

             
“Nonsense, join the party.” I waved him in.

             
Tristan was now up and out of bed and when he saw Billy he froze. Billy stood there not sure how to react. “Tristan,” he nodded and Tristan did the same. “How are you?”

             
“Better now, thanks.” They stood still for a moment, not saying anything. “Ella told me what you did, how you helped her. Thank you, for everything.”

             
Billy took a step closer to Tristan and then another, slowly, until they were face to face. Billy looked Tristan dead in the eye and for a second I thought he was going to hit him, but then Billy smiled. “Welcome back Brother,” he said, picking Tristan up in a giant bear hug. Tristan hugged him back, grinning. I couldn’t help but smile myself.

             
“We have a lot to talk about,” Tristan said after Billy put him down.

             
“Yes, we do.”

             
Josie popped her head out of the bathroom. “Hey Ella can I borrow your…Billy,” she squealed. “Hey babe, how about you come in here and help me wash my back,” she smiled.

             
“Josie, we don’t have time for that,” I argued.

             
“Actually we will be saving time by us showering together…unless you want to join me?”

             
“I think I like that image,” Tristan said, pushing me toward the bathroom.

             
I smacked him. “Nice try.”

             
“Billy,” Josie whined. “I’m waiting.”

             
He turned to us. “Sorry guys,” and with that he was gone, making Josie giggle and squeal.

             
“I so don’t want to be in here for this. Let’s just get dressed and we can shower later,” I said, grabbing my clothes.

             
“I think I like the sound of that,” Tristan said, kissing my nose.

             
Tristan and I arrived at the Café to find Cameron sitting by herself. “Where’s Dean?” I asked.

             
“Still getting ready,” she said.

             
“I should have known better,” I moaned. Cameron’s eyes darted to Tristan and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Oh yeah, Tristan this is Cameron.”

             
He extended his hand to hers, but she hesitated. “I promise I won’t bite,” he winked. Her expression clearly said that did not make her feel any better.