The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (40 page)

  
              Both boys were perfect gentleman and pulled our chairs out for us. Before we ordered Dixon had mentioned seeing Tristan sitting at a table by himself. “Maybe we should invite him to join us?” Dixon offered.

  
              Josie looked to me for an answer and I believe my face said it all. “Dixon, I don't think that's such a great idea,” she said. He took one look at me and understood.

  
              Somehow Dixon had managed to get us champagne. Billy was the only one old enough to drink so I was surprised they still served us. I think the waiter had a crush on Dixon so his flirtatious smile won him over. I had finished my second glass before the food even arrived and thought I should slow down, but it was kind of hard because I liked the way the bubbles tickled my nose. I managed to resist the best I could.

  
              After dinner we ordered dessert. I had about two bites before I had to push the plate away. I was so full from dinner I couldn't even look at my delicious dessert without my stomach grumbling at me. Not to mention I still wanted to be able to fit in my bathing suit later tonight. We sat around the table digesting, but it wasn't long before Josie dragged Billy out on to the dance floor. From the look on Billy's face I could tell he wasn't one for dancing and from Josie's angered expression I knew he had two left feet. I even think I heard her say she would kick him if he didn't stop stepping on her toes.

  
              “Come on, let's show'em how it's done,” Dixon said, pulling me out of my chair and onto the dance floor.

  
              With my arm on his shoulder, his on my hips, and our hands clasped together, we glided gracefully across the floor. “Wow you're pretty good, Dixon,” I said, amazed by his agility and grace.

  
              “You're not so bad yourself,” he winked, dipping me back. I giggled as he brought me back up. That's when I caught a glimpse of Tristan over Dixon's shoulder. I sighed at the sight of him sitting by himself at the bar and drinking alone. Dixon noticed the sudden shift in my mood. “Why don't you go talk to him?”

  
              “It's not that easy, Dixon.”

  
              “Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. I'm sure you can work it out.”

  
              “Considering I basically called him a murderer earlier I highly doubt he wants anything to do with me.”

  
              “I'm sure he's been called worse,” he replied. I gazed over at Tristan. Wondering what I could possibly say to him that would make everything okay. I told him I wanted nothing to do with him. I told him I felt nothing for him. I told him I suspected him of a heinous crime when really it was just my paranoia feeding my brain lies. Lies that Jack planted into my head. Jack, who was the only person who recently made me feel sick in the stomach being around him. I knew I couldn't fight my feelings anymore. Being away from him hurt more than I ever could have imagined. I wasn't as strong as I thought, but in this case giving in would not be considered a weakness.

  
              “Ella?” I turned back to Dixon. “He's crazy about you. Trust me, I know,” he said, rolling his eyes. “And I know you're crazy about him, too. I can see it written all over your face. Whatever doubts you have, you don't need to worry. He's one of the good guys.” I knew Dixon was right. I also knew Tristan was right when he said I needed to be honest with myself. “Go get him,” Dixon said, nudging me in the direction of Tristan.

  
              I thanked Dixon for the dance, gave him a slight curtsy, and made my way over To Tristan. I prepared myself for rejection. I placed a hand on the chair next to his. “Is this seat taken?” He gestured for me to take it without so much as a glance my way. “Tristan look, this isn't easy for me. I don't blame you if you don't want to talk or even forgive me for the way I've been acting. I just wanted you to know...” I stopped, not able to say the words I so longed to admit. “I just wanted you to know –”

  
              “Dance with me,” he interrupted, finally facing me.

  
              “What?”

  
              He finished his drink and stood up. “Dance with me,” he repeated.

  
              “Tristan I –”

  
              “Humor me, please,” he said, holding out his hand. I took it and followed him to the dance floor. I draped my arms over his shoulders and he wrapped his around my waist. I stared softly into his eyes and he stared back into mine. Neither of us spoke. We didn't have to. We had an unspoken bond that let our bodies and hearts do all the talking for us.

  
              I moved a little closer and he just held me a little tighter. We hadn't even noticed the song had ended. We just kept dancing until they started to play another. I lay my head on his shoulder feeling so relaxed, so comfortable in his arms, and at that moment I knew. I knew this is where I belonged. Where I’d always belonged, but was just too stubborn too admit it.

  
              “Ella?” I lifted my head to gaze into his beautiful blue eyes. He brushed a piece of hair off my cheek and gently cupped the sides of my face with his hands. His eyes were burning with a fiery passion as he stared back into mine. “I love you,” he whispered.

  
              I closed my eyes and took him in, took all of him in. His scent, his touch, and the way he made me feel when I was around him. His eyes, his passion, his love for me, I took it all in and held it there. When I finally opened my eyes and looked up at him, I was ready to tell him how I felt until he stopped me. “You don't have to say it back. That's not what I want. I just want you to know I love you and only you. It will always be you Ella, it always was,” he said, leaning down to kiss my lips before I could protest.

  
              I melted under the embrace. My whole body tingled from his touch. I pulled him closer to me wanting more. He pulled back, smiled and placed a sweet kiss on my forehead. I rested my head on his chest and held him tight, never wanting to let go.

  
              “Should we tell them the music stopped?” I heard Billy say to Josie. And then Josie smacked him and told him to be quiet.

  
              I laughed and found the courage to tear myself away from Tristan. He gave me a loving look, ready to walk away, when I pulled him back to the table with me. “It's the dress, I knew it,” I overheard Dixon whisper to Josie. I just smiled, happy that I could finally accept Tristan for whom he was and finally able to let myself go.

  
              The restaurant was closing so we paid our bill and headed back to our rooms. When we reached our floor, we stepped off the elevator, and I turned back to Tristan. “I'm the next floor up,” he said.

  
              Just before the door closed, I jumped back in the elevator. He looked at me unsure. I just smiled and pressed the key to go up.

Chapter twenty

Tristan took me to the penthouse suite. I shouldn't have expected anything less, of course. The room was massive. It had a full size living room, with three private bedrooms, and an enormous Jacuzzi. Once inside I led Tristan to one of the bedrooms that had a king size bed. He took off his coat and tie and draped them over the chair. I sat down at the table and he surprised me by kneeling down to take off my shoes for me. I gave him a thankful smile as he stood back up and stared at me.

  
              “What?” I asked bashfully. The way he was looking at me, the look in his eyes, made me blush.

  
              “You look absolutely amazing in that dress, as I knew you would,” he smiled. It wasn't his normal cocky smile that I grew to love. This was a smile that said,
‘I'm the luckiest guy in the world and
don't deserve you’
. I turned my head away feeling my cheeks get hot. He walked over to the stereo and pressed play. Then walked back over and held out his hand to help me up and proceeded to dance with me again.

  
              Finally alone with him and not able to hold back anymore, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his lips to mine. My hands started to slowly move down his chest. I untucked his shirt and he tried to pull back but I wouldn't let him. I started to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time. Then I slid my hands over his chest and up his shoulders removing his shirt and letting it drop to the floor.

  
              He grabbed my hands to stop me from proceeding any further. “Ella,” he said, his voice pained. He held my hands close to his chest. He dropped his forehead down to mine and closed his eyes. “We need to stop.”

  
              “Why?”

  
              “Because if we go any further I won't be able to stop myself,” he said afraid.

  
              “I don't want you to.”

  
              “You say that now, but I've been down this road before. No offense, but how do I know you won't turn into the Ella who hates me tomorrow?”

  
              “Tristan, I don't hate you. I never did. I just never cared about someone the way I do you. I didn't understand it. The way I feel when I'm around you. The things you make me feel when you touch me.” I put his hand on my cheek. “It's like nothing I can describe. I was scared and you were right. I was hiding from the truth and I don't want to anymore. I want you Tristan and only you,” I said, standing on my tiptoes. I kissed his lips.

  
              “Ella,” he said a little breathless.

  
              “Shh,” I said, pressing my finger to his lips. I drew him to the bed and he sat down in front of me. I could feel his hands start to tremble. I pulled my hair to the side and untied my dress letting it fall to the floor. I directed his shaky hands to my hips inviting him to touch me. He placed soft kisses across my stomach sending tiny shivers up and down my body. I tilted my head back basking in the pleasure of his lips on me. He slid his hands up my sides, his lips trailing in the wake of his touch. I grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him up to me wanting to taste those wonderful lips. He pulled me closer to him and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he turned me around and lowered me onto the bed.

  
              I ran my hand up his back and behind his neck, tugging him closer, wanting to feel his body against mine. I parted my lips, inviting him to kiss me deeper. He obeyed, thrusting himself down on top of me making me want to crumble under his incredible touch. He took a moment to catch his breath and pulled back to look into my eyes. I lifted my hand to graze his cheek. He placed his hand on top of mine, holding it there. He closed eyes taking in the moment as if it were a dream. Afraid that when he opened them he would wake up and this would all be over.

  
              He let out a breath and opened his eyes, peering into mine. It was like I could see into his soul. I could feel how much he wanted me, how much he loved me, and how much it pained him to be away from me. I pulled him down on top of me, devouring those luscious lips. I slid my hands down his chest and started to unbutton his pants, sliding them down as far as I could.

  
              His hips pushed into mine.

  
              My heart started to race with anticipation.

  
              Both of us were panting from the intensity of longing to be together.

  
              I parted my lips and welcomed his kiss. He moaned at the gesture and reached up to tangle his hand in my hair. Our bodies were now intertwined. Our skin melting into each other’s, burning at the touch. With his other hand he pulled my knee up, rolled over, and lifted me on top of him. I tore his pants off the rest of the way and covered his chest with my kisses coming back up to meet his lips again just before he rolled back over on top of me.

  
              His hands were roaming every inch of my body making me quiver.

  
              His lips trail down my jaw, chin and neck, nibbling lightly. I had a sudden flash, a memory. My head started to hurt and then I got another flash. I tensed up and closed my eyes tight trying to get a better view of the visions that were flashing in my head.

  
              Tristan notices my tension and stopped. “Ella, what is it?”

  
              I didn't answer him. Instead I concentrated harder until I saw it, all of it.

  
              I gasped and opened my eyes in shock. I looked at Tristan, and he knew. The look on his face said it all. “You remember,” he sighed.

  
              I pulled myself back. “Tristan...what the hell is going on?”

  
              “I can explain,” he said, trying to calm me down.

  
              “I saw you...and Jack...Jack was trying to kill me?” I shook my head not understanding any of it. “This doesn't make any sense.”

  
              “I know it doesn't but, Ella, you have to listen to me.”

  
              “You did something, so I'd forget...you gave me something and it erased my memory. Why?”

  
              “I didn't give you anything,” he said, sitting back.

  
              “Yes you did, I remember I woke up the next morning with a headache because of what you gave me.”

   
              “No, Ella. I didn't give you anything to erase your memory. I did it...myself.”

    
              I looked at him like this was some kind of joke, but his expression was dead serious. “No,” I shook my head. “This is crazy... this isn't possible.” I stood up from the bed. “Do you understand what you're telling me? That you have some kind of weird mind control over me?”

  
              “Ella, please listen to me.”

  
              “No, I think I heard enough,” I said, searching for my dress.

  
              He was off the bed and in front of me within seconds. I stared at him in disbelief. “Ella, you don't understand.”

  
              “You're right, I don't. Are you on drugs?” I asked, thinking of the only other possible explanation for his behavior. He laughed. “This isn't funny Tristan.”

  
              “You're right it's not, but just please hear me out for a second, please.” I stood and crossed my arms waiting for his next crazy excuse. “I never said anything before because I knew you weren't ready and that's why I had to erase your memory, so you would forget. You're not ready.”

  
              “Ready for what?” I asked annoyed.

  
              “To understand what's happening,” he said, dropping his hands by his side.

  
              “You're right I don't understand. None of this makes sense,” I said picking up my dress from the floor and putting it back on. I searched the room for my shoes and when I found them I picked them up and took off for the door.

  
              “Ella, wait!” Tristan called. “You said you would hear me out so please let me explain.”

  
              I spun around, angry. “Yes, please explain to me how you somehow magically erased my memory,” I mocked, not believing his insane explanation.

  
              “Huh, you know I'd thought you'd be more pissed at the fact that Jack tried to kill you then me erasing your memory.” I crossed my arms and huffed, letting him know I wasn't in the mood. “Okay...okay...maybe if I show you, you'll believe me.”

  
              I was ready to walk out when he took a step back and closed his eyes. I have no idea why I decided to stay this long, but I figured I might as well see this through. I couldn't imagine it could get any worse than it was. Well, that's what I thought, until Tristan opened his eyes. I dropped my shoes and took a step back. He moved closer and exposed two sharp, razor point teeth. I bolted for the door, but he was behind me within seconds. “This is a joke, right? This can't be real. You can't be real.”

  
              “Ella,” he said softly. “Look at me.” I shook my head ‘no’. “Look at me.” He gently turned me around to face him. I stood there staring into a pair of glowing, deep, dark, iridescent blue eyes. I was mesmerized by them, unable to look away. They were more beautiful than anything I had ever seen before. “Ella this is not a joke. This is real, and so is the danger you're in if don't listen to me.”

  
              “How do I know you're not the one who's dangerous,” I said, a little breathless, still not able to take my eyes away from his.

  
              “Ella, look at me. I mean really look at me.” I couldn't stop looking. I slowly reached up with my hand and gently touched his face. I dragged my thumb down over his lip exposing his teeth. I was amazed at how unafraid of him I was. I knew everything about this was unnatural, unheard of, but I couldn't seem to pull myself away. I was intrigued by him. “We're no different.”

  
              I pulled back, slightly spooked by his words. “You and I are the same,” he said, reaching up to caress my face and giving me the same shiver he always did when he touched me. “I know you know I won't hurt you...I can feel it.”

  
              “Oh yeah, can you feel this?” I said, smacking him across the face.

  
              “Ow! What the hell was that for?” he complained, rubbing his cheek.

  
              “That was for lying to me and erasing my memory,” I said, crossing my arms again.

  
              “I'm sorry, but it was for your own protection.”

  
              “What really annoys me is that people think I can't take care of myself.”

  
              “Look Ella, this is so much bigger than you know.”

  
              “I need some air,” I said, feeling cramped with him so close to me. He didn't move. “Are you going to move or do you want to get hit again?” I said, raising my hand.

  
              He grabbed my wrist stopping me mid swing even though I wasn't really going to hit him. “No,” he said. “I'll move.” He backed up, giving me space.

  
              I walked out into the living room and ran my hands through my hair trying to organize my thoughts. “Okay, so let me get this straight. What you're telling me is that you're a...vampire?”

  
              “Yes...and so are you,” he replied calmly.

  
              “You know how crazy that sounds,” I said, completely oblivious to the fact that he just said I was a vampire.

  
              “Yes, but if you please come and sit down, I promise I will explain everything.”

  
              I let out a long breath. “Okay, but I think I could really use a drink right now.”

  
              Tristan chuckled and gestured for me to take a seat on the couch. “Okay, let's see, where should I start?”

  
              He looked at me and then made a beeline for the bar. He made himself a drink and then one for me. He handed me the drink and then sat down on the coffee table in front of me. “Okay, your family and my family come from a long line of vampires.”

  
              There it was again, Tristan including me in this little demented story of things that were impossible. “Wait a minute. What are you talking about, my family?”

  
              “Ella, your entire family is vampires.”

  
              “Then that would mean...”