Authors: Michelle Love
Her cries are quiet, and her body shakes as I approach her. I take her in my arms, pulling her close to me. She buries her face in my chest, and clings to me. “I love you, Laura,” I say without knowing I was going to do it.
I guess that’s how you know sometimes. If the thought of losing them makes you weak, then it must be love. My mother’s right. Laura is wonderful, and patient with a foolish boy who pines after one he can never have.
I have to get over Ally and be happy with who I have right in front of me.
The tears have streaked her pink cheeks as she looks up at me. “Really, Kyle?” she asks. “You aren’t just saying that?”
I kiss the top of her head “No, I’m not just saying that. I love you, Laura. When you said we were over, and walked out, something in me broke wide open. I see what, and who is important to me now.”
Her bottom lip quivers as she says, “I love you too, Kyle. I have for a while.”
She’s loved me!
Slowly I lean to touch her lips with mine. Her arms reach up around my neck, and she pulls me to her. It’s been so long since our lips have touched, and when they do I fall apart inside. She makes heat fill my body.
She pulls away from me a little. “Kyle, I don’t want you to go to New Orleans.”
I press my forehead to hers. She thinks I only want to go see Ally, and that’s not it at all. Maybe a form of the truth would make her agree to come with me.
“Baby doll, I didn’t tell you why we’ve been invited,” I say. “A man may be trying to hurt Ally. The father of an old girlfriend of Eden’s. The guy’s crazy, he raped his daughter, and left her for dead, now it seems he may be after Ally.”
She pulls out of my arms and turns away. “Are you serious?”
“I am. You can call her if you want to.”
She runs her hands up and down her arms as if she’s cold but it’s nowhere near cold. She turns back, and says, “I’m being a jealous ass, and I’m done being that. You were right about one thing. What kind of friend am I? I love her too, and I should put that at the top of my priorities. Tell her I’m coming too.”
I smile at her as my heart fills with a new feeling for her. “You’re pretty fantastic, baby.”
She takes my hand in hers and pulls me into her house. “Mom and Dad won’t be back for hours. Why don’t you come in for a while? I want to show you how much I love you, then you can show me how much you love me,” she says, and I find I’m happy to hear her words.
ALYSSA
I notice I’ve missed a call when I pick the phone up, off my night stand. I hit the button to listen to my voice mail. A man’s voice comes out of the phone’s speaker.
“So they think that by moving you it will stop me from getting you. I will get you, Alyssa Fontaine. You took my daughter’s place in that family. She should be living that life not you. I should be living in that house not you. I can’t wait to get my hands on you, bitch,” a man’s voice says. I realize right away it’s Darren Stiles voice on the recording.
I drop the phone, staring at it helplessly. I can’t believe what I’ve just heard. I find I’m shaking uncontrollably. That man did terrible things to his own daughter, what in the hell would he do to me?
Tears begin to fall out of my eyes without me even realizing it. I have to let them know. I pick the phone back up and take it with me. I find my father sitting with Lyle in the living room.
My voice is shaky as I call out to him, “Daddy.”
“Yes, sweetie?”
I hold my phone out to him. “He wants me.”
Lyle stands up quickly, coming to wrap his arm around me, pulling me to sit down on the sofa with him. He holds me tightly to his side. I sink into his chest, feeling very drained. The reality I could end up dead, and very soon, has hit me like a brick wall.
“Alyssa, you’re white as a ghost. Who wants you?” Lyle asks me.
“Press the voice mail button, Daddy.”
My father pushes the button. He and Lyle listen to the man’s message. My father’s face pales, then he stands up.
“I’ll call the police, I’m getting your mother Alyssa, stay with Lyle,” Dad tells me, then leaves the room hastily.
I find I’m suddenly sobbing. Eden’s father holds me close to him as he says, “Alyssa, we won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe. You have to believe me, you are safe.”
I feel a tug on my shoulder. “Alyssa,” I hear my mother’s voice say.
I turn away from Lyle to grab onto my mother. “Oh, Mom, what’s happening?”
Mom has me in a protective hold. “I’m taking her to her room.”
She sits me down on the bed, then walks over to the one window in the bedroom, making sure it’s locked, pulling the curtains together, and closing them. “Things change so fast around here, don’t they Darling?”
She goes into the bathroom, coming out with a wet wash cloth, blotting my face with it. The coolness of it makes me feel better and I start to calm down.
“Mom, why are there such bad people in the world?” I ask as if I’m a child.
Her arm slides around my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess only God knows that. You’ll be fine, Alyssa. That man can’t get to you. There are too many people here to protect you for him to be able to get to you. He’s just trying to upset you. Don’t let him do that to you. You’re not a victim, Ally.”
The bedroom door flies open, as Eden rushes to me, grabbing me up into his arms, wrapping himself around me. “I’m so sorry, Alyssa, I can’t believe I brought this down on you. I was a fool.”
I hear the door close as my mother leaves the room. I hate that Eden thinks this is his fault. I can’t stand it. I pull back from him, wiping my eyes.
“Eden, nothing is your fault, the man is crazy. You didn’t make him that way. You just did a nice thing for his poor daughter. I’ll be fine. I just got freaked out. I’m okay now. I have faith all the people around me will make sure I stay safe. I’m done crying about it.”
His hands go to either side of my face, holding it gently. “Alyssa, it is my fault. I should’ve had our people do a background check on her, and her family before I agreed to do anything with her. I didn’t do that and now look where we are.”
“Eden, if you would’ve done that, then you would have never taken her to the prom,” I say as I run my hands over his arms. “Or let her come over to your house and given her a few moments of happiness. Her life must have been horrible. I’m happy she got to go to her prom. I’m happy you did that for her. Don’t second guess it now, it doesn’t help the situation any.”
He looks away from me, then sits down on the edge of the bed. He drops his head down, looking at the floor, shaking his head back and forth slowly, then stops. “I’ll try harder not to blame myself for this. You’re right, I suppose. If anything happens to you though, I’ll never forgive myself for all of eternity.”
I move his hands from my face, and hold them in my lap as I giggle. “Eden, don’t say that. I have to spend eternity with you. I can’t spend it with a spirit who resents itself.”
I see a weak smile begin to form on his face, and he says, “You giggled. I love it when you giggle.”
“I know you do, my prince. Now show me some of that faith you have so much of, and I sorely lack. You’re supposed to be the strong one who never shows fear.”
The touch of his hand running through my hair makes chills run through me. “Princess, I’m weak as a kitten when it comes to you.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I feel his fear for me. It takes everything in me to stop myself from freaking out.
If he’s this afraid for me, then I’m really in a lot of danger!
‘Take my mind off this,’ I send to my mate.
His strong hands move over my neck and back, massaging them as he sends back, ‘Your wish is my command, Princess.’
Lips as soft as downy feathers cover my shoulder as he moves the thin strap of my sundress off. I stretch my neck, and he moves his mouth to it. A quick nip at the nape of my neck then softly he sucks at it. My body flashes with a fire which runs from the tip of my toes to the top of my head.
I want him now!
I stand and drop my dress, then pull his shirt over his head. His tattoos are beautiful and I run my hands over them. All have meaning and the cross in the middle of his chest shows exactly who it is he works for.
Though he’s made fun of me for it. I say my prayer in hopes of staying us for a while longer rather than, an us with a child, and kiss the cross on his chest.
Lifting me by my chin, he looks into my eyes. Putting his arms around me, he unhooks my bra, then pulls it off. My stomach flutters as he bends down, and places his warm mouth over my breast.
I hear the button on his shorts pop and feel them drop past my legs to the floor. His mouth travels between my breasts up to my neck, then finally to my mouth.
The sweet taste of cinnamon fills my mouth as Eden’s tongue roves over mine in a tangle of wet desire. My hands flow over his shoulders and down his back until they find his muscular butt where I hold him, pressing him to me.
He picks me up, and tosses me onto the bed. I smile at him as he leans over me to rid me of my panties. Kissing my leg as he moves back up. ‘I’m about to make you forget everything, but me, Princess,’ he sends me.
I close my eyes and prepare to think only about my mate, and how he makes me glow inside. My body shakes as his lips touch the little pearl which pulses with desire. His tongue runs over it, and my hands tangle up in his luscious locks as I hold him to me, and groan in ecstasy.
‘You taste like Heaven, precious,’ he sends me.
My tongue flows over my lips as I send him what I want, ‘Let me taste you while you taste me.’
His mouth leaves me as he looks up. “Really?” he asks with a smile on his face.
I smile and nod, and he moves so I can get on top of him. When my mouth slides over his hard erection, his moan vibrates my clit as his tongue runs over it. I shudder with exhilaration.
The touch of his mouth on me spurs me on to slide my mouth over his hot, silky, throbbing member. My hand strokes as I run my tongue over the tip, and down the shaft.
With no indication Eden rolls me over, I end up on my knees as he pulls me back by my waist. One hand grabs a fistful of my hair as he fills me from behind, jerking me back to him. He pounds into me, and I quiver with how hard he’s breathing, and how wild I feel with him. “You like it, Princess?”
I moan my answer, as I quake inside, about to lose it. An orgasm rips through me, sending me into a loud shriek. I drop my face into the mattress to stifle the noise, and Eden pounds me harder, and faster.
My legs shake with weakness but he doesn’t ease up. And I feel it welling up in me again.
How the hell can it happen again so quick!
Eden pulls at my hair as he hammers me, my face is pulled away from the mattress. My insides erupt, and I scream Eden’s name as I come undone.
He stiffens behind me, and groans loudly, “Alyssa!”
Slowly he falls on my back, and I lay out on the bed, barely able to draw air into my lungs.
Yep, that worked. I can’t think about anything but him!
Once we’re able to catch our breath, Eden pulls me to spoon with him as he runs his hands along my side. I no time I find I’m falling asleep and just before I do I find Eden must’ve fallen asleep and his dream starts in my head and I shudder as I watch myself die in his arms again.
Will we be able to stop this from happening?
ALYSSA
I wait, semi- patiently in the living room, for their arrival. Laura texted me nearly twenty minutes ago, letting me know they were in the car, and on the way here. I just hope our secret doesn’t show itself in front of her somehow.
The doorbell finally rings. I jump and run to the door, flinging it open. There stand my two best friends, in the world. They both have beaming smiles on their faces. Their presence makes me realize I missed them even more than I thought I had.
“Ahhh,” I scream and jump up and down.
Laura does the same as Kyle shakes his head. “Girls….. They’re so over the top. It’s only been a month.”
Laura and I grab each other up into a hug as we hop around. “Well hello, Kyle, I’m glad to see you again,” the ever polite and eloquent Eden greets Kyle.
I stop jumping, trying to act more like a lady. I hold Laura close to me though, not ready to let her go. Her shoulder-length blonde hair is so shiny and soft. I have to touch it. Her sparkling blue eyes are lit up with excitement.
I see Eden shake Kyle’s hand and think to myself he needs to stop being so freaking formal. I let go of Laura so Eden can shake her hand or whatever he’s going to do to welcome her and then turn to Kyle.
Crap! My heart’s beating so damn hard, and he and Eden both know it.
“You better get over here and hug me boy,” I say with a smile.
He smiles sheepishly at me and holds his arms out for me. I almost jump into them, hugging him tight. The urge to wrap my legs around his waist as he holds me off the ground I have to fight. I release my grip on him, standing back to take a look at him. His blonde curls fall across his forehead almost touching his eyes.
‘I missed you too, Ally,’ Kyle sends to me.
My heart aches as I just want to cuddle up with him and let him make me feel safe and secure. “God, am I glad to see the two of you!” I say as I move away from him, going to hang on my husband’s arm.
Remember who it is you’re made for, girl!
Laura smiles, as she looks around the room. “This place, Ally! It’s beyond anything I could’ve imagined your parents living in.”
“Our guests might like to freshen up after their long ride, Alyssa,” Eden says. “You should show them to their rooms and give them a chance to do that before lunch is served. I hope you both like alligator and shrimp as our chef and his staff came to prepare that for us this afternoon. In honor of your visit. We know you had a light breakfast on the jet, you have to be famished.”
Kyle looks at Eden and surprises the complete hell out of me. “Hell yeah guy, that’s completely cool, thanks Eden,” Kyle tells him, then holds his fist up, and again to my surprise Eden holds his fist up, and they bump their fists together.
I try to hide the surprise, but Eden catches it and smiles at me. He’s so full of surprises. My heart skips a beat as I feel so much love for him at this moment. This can’t be easy for him to have Kyle here.
Gesturing for them to follow me, I lead them upstairs. “Come on guys. Follow me.”
I hold Laura’s hand as Kyle follows close behind us. “Al, this place is beautiful. I can’t believe any of this. It’s like a dream. Your mom must be over the moon with this.”
I smile at her. “She sure is.”
We walk down the hall and then come to the bedroom door I picked for her. It’s at the end of the hallway, and Kyle’s is right across from it. I open her door, showing her to her room first. The room is beautiful with a large bed in the middle of it. The bedspread is her favorite shade of dark green as are the curtains.
“Go ahead, check it all out, and don’t forget to look in the dressers and the closet. Those are all yours, Laura,” I tell her.
She turns to look at me in astonishment, “You know you didn’t have to do all this, Ally.” I just smile at her. Then I turn to Kyle.
I hope he likes his room as much as Laura seems to like hers.
“Right across the hall is you. Just like I told Laura, Kyle, check it all out, everything is yours,” I tell him, as I walk the short distance to open the door to his room.
He walks past me into the room, then turns around to look at me. “This feels right, doesn’t it, Al?”
I smile at him. “Right as rain, Kyle. Now once you’ve done whatever you need to do, grab Laura and make your way back downstairs, so we can start eating. I’ll be waiting in the living room for you two,” I tell him, as I turn to walk away, trying my best to lighten up what flows between us.
I turn back to look at him as he sends me, ‘We’ll get through this, Al.’
I send back, ‘We have to, don’t we?’
I find Eden waiting in the living room as well as my little brother, Scotty. “Come, Alyssa,” Eden tells me, as he pats the open space on the sofa, next to him.
I smile as I walk down the stairs, still feeling uneasy with Kyle’s presence. I sit down next to my husband. Eden puts his arm around my shoulders, then kisses my cheek. I look up at him to see he’s smiling widely at me. His emerald eyes have a sparkle to them they only get when he’s happy about something.
“Laura looks happy, Princess. They must be getting along well,” he says.
My wedding ring catches my eye as a light in the chandelier makes it sparkle. “You think?” I ask, not really wanting to talk about how my Kyle and my best friend are getting on.
Kyle and Laura come down the staircase, hand in hand. My heart thumps hard against my chest, and Eden gives me a squeeze, and a kiss on the side of my head. Scotty jumps up, almost running over to Kyle. Scotty is still such a little kid at fifteen.
I suddenly realize he’s had to leave all of his friends. He’s been thrown into this completely different life just like I have. Only I have Eden and Kyle. Scotty has no one. The thought makes me a little sad.
“Hey creep,” Scotty teases Kyle as he mock-punches him in the arm.
Kyle mock punches him, back, and says, “Hey there, small fry. I’ve been told you have your own game room.”
Scotty is pumped with Kyle here to play with him, and nearly yells, “You wanna see it?”
I stand up quickly. “Not yet, Scotty. We need to eat, first.”
“What a party pooper!” My brother mopes as he heads off to the dining room.
I immediately feel sorry for him. “After dinner we’ll see about it, Scotty,” I say, and see his face light up again.
We follow Scotty’s lead, going to the dining room. Terri, the head maid from our home, has outdone herself on glamorizing it. The dining room looked good before, but now it looks grand. Large bouquets of fresh flowers are everywhere. The table is set with gorgeous crystal glasses and beautiful china.
Laura lets out a gasp. “Ally, this is beautiful, so elegant.”
“Sit here, right across from us,” I tell them.
Kyle pulls the chair out for Laura. I smile at her as I follow Eden to the other side of the enormous table. He pulls out a chair for me, and I sit down. I notice Scotty has taken the chair next to Kyle. I can tell he’s glad Kyle’s here.
He and Eden get along well, but I’m pretty stingy with Eden’s attention. We’ve seen very little of my brother since we came here. I’ll have to make sure we change that.
My parents enter the dining room, and Eden stands up, as is the custom when a lady enters the room, I found out. Kyle surprises me yet again, as he stands up too, and taps Scotty on the shoulder to get him to stand as well.
Laura looks over at me. “How formal,” she mouths to me.
My father walks to Kyle and shakes his hand. “It’s good to see you again, son.”
Kyle smiles. “Good to see you too, sir.”
Dad leans down to give Laura a hug, and says, “Nice to see you too, Laura. We’ve missed seeing you.”
“Your new home is beyond gorgeous, Mr. Devlin,” she says.
My mother approaches Kyle, and he takes her hand to shake it, but she pulls him into a hug instead. “It’s so good to see you, Kyle.”
Kyle hugs her back, and says, “You too, Mrs. Devlin.”
Mom kisses Laura on top of the head. “We’ve missed you both, so much. It’s been a month since the wedding.”
My parents go to the end of the table, taking their seats. The boys sit back down, but are forced to stand back up as Eden’s parents come in. Lyle walks up to Kyle and shakes his hand, beginning the lengthy hellos between my friends and Eden’s parents.
They go to take their seats at the other end of the table. Everything is going so well. Terri comes in with a bottle of white wine, pouring everyone a glass. After she leaves, Scotty holds up his glass.
“So, we’re sophisticated again, Dad?” Scotty asks our father.
Dad looks at him. “If it’s in front of you, drink it, boy. No need for comments.”
We all laugh a little, and I look at Laura. “It’s not always this formal, but I wanted to give you guys the five-star treatment. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Laura smiles back. “This is really nice of you, Ally. Nice of all of you,” she says as she looks at Eden, and then our parents. “Thank you all so much for inviting us.”
Eden looks at her and smiles. “We love having you here.”
Terri arrives again with our salads, placing them in front of us. Laura leans in a bit. “Ally, the clothes are to die for. I can’t thank you enough. I’m so lucky to have you as my best friend.”
“Having a personal shopper is the best.”
“So after dinner, Al, can Kyle and Eden play games?” Scotty asks.
“I’m not their boss, Scotty. They can do whatever they want to,” I answer him.
“So, do you want to?” he asks, looking back and forth between Kyle and Eden.
“If Kyle wants to, then yeah,” Eden answers him.
“Of course I do, Scott,” Kyle tells him, then leans close to him to whisper something in his ear I can’t make out, and then they both laugh.
“I don’t know about that Kyle. I’ve been playing like nonstop since we got here,” Scotty informs him.
Kyle looks over at Eden. “Should I be afraid, Eden, is he that good?”
“He kicks my ass,” Eden replies.
I look at Eden. “Your mouth, Eden,” I whisper.
“It’s quite alright, Ally,” my father tells me. “Scotty kicks my ass at those games too.”
Everyone laughs, and then Terri brings us the main course. Fried alligator and shrimp with beans, coleslaw and hushpuppies. I’m surprised by the taste of the alligator. It’s not at all what I expected.
“You know I was expecting this to taste very different,” I comment.
Then Laura and Kyle look at each other. “It tastes like chicken,” they say at the same time, making us all erupt into laughter again.
Later, Terri brings in the dessert. It’s the most gorgeous pineapple upside down cake I’ve ever seen. I wonder how in the world our chefs can make such a simple cake look like a million dollars. They never cease to amaze me.
“Everything was so delicious,” Laura says, as she sets her dessert fork down next to her half-eaten piece of cake. “I’m so full, I can’t even finish this phenomenal piece of cake.”
Scotty clanks his fork down, loudly. “Dad, I’m done. Can I be excused?”
“Okay Scotty, but I don’t want you to stay up all night, playing games,” Dad orders.
“I won’t. Well, you guys coming or what?” he asks Eden and Kyle.
Eden looks at me, and Kyle looks at Laura for approval. “Just go,” I say, as I wave my hand at Eden.
He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, then jets out of the room, following Kyle and Scotty. “Looks like it’s just you and me. We should go for a swim. I think I’d love swimming at night,” I tell Laura
“That sounds good to me,” Laura says, in agreement.
We run upstairs to change into our bathing suits. “Come to my room as soon as you’re ready,” I tell her.
She’s at my door before I know it, and we take off out to the pool. I turn on the outside lights. A light inside the pool comes on as well, making it look pretty. The usually humid and hot air is a bit cooler, making the night more pleasant.
“I just can’t believe this, Al. Like when did your parents get rich?” Laura asks me.
That question has caught me off guard. So I make something up. “Dad sold some stocks or something like that. You know they don’t talk to me about their finances.”
We slip into the warm water. “This is a lot warmer than I thought it would be,” I say.
“It feels fantastic. It’s so nice out here. You were right, swimming at night is cool,” Laura says.
We sit on the large steps that lead into the pool, leaning back on the edge. Stretching my legs out, I kick them back and forth slowly. Stars sparkle in the night sky as I gaze up at them. An image of Eden and me flying in the dark sky flitters through my mind.
“So what’s your plan for the fall, Laura?”
“I’m up in the air about it right now. You know how I’d planned on going to a local community college and staying at home? Well Kyle wants me to go to Austin with him now. There are small colleges there too, and many more part-time jobs for me to choose from,” she tells me, making my stomach clench. “I’m really happy we can still be close, Ally. You know you’re like the sister I never had.”