Bonded (The Raegan Mason Trilogy) (12 page)

“No, you stopped him just in time.  But no hospitals.  I’m sick of hospitals.  They just want to stick needles in me and poke around my body.  I’ve had enough of that tonight.”  I stumbled as he led me back toward the bonfire.  “I can’t go back that way.”  I hissed and stopped.  He sighed and turned me away from the bonfire.

“I can take you home but I really think you should go to the hospital and get that rib checked out.” His music sounded persuasive.  I was glad I couldn’t see his hypnotic eyes clearly.  I’m sure I would have just agreed with him and let him take me to the hospital. 

“I can’t go home right now either.  My Aunt Sarah would force me to the hospital too.  She can’t see me like this.  She would lose her mind if she knew that I almost got…”  I shuddered again and the tears started falling.  Kyler’s music got angry again.  “It’s okay.” I tried to comfort him, feeling his emotions in the music. 

“What?” Kyler asked incredulously.  “What’s okay?  That animal almost raped you.  It is definitely not okay!”  The anger was still there, but it was different.  He was angry that I was dismissing the situation.

“No, not that.  It’s okay now.  You don’t need to feel…” I couldn’t find the words to describe what I was feeling from him.  “Don’t be angry anymore.  I, I can feel your anger.” There I said it, out loud in the dark so he couldn’t see my face.  Embarrassment swept over me as I acknowledged the indescribable music emotions I felt and heard from him.

He was staring at me, not breathing.  “What do you mean?” He asked cautiously. 

“I don’t know what I mean.  I just know that you are angry, and now I hear panic or is it fear?  When you’re near me…I know.”  He was breathing again, but not talking.  He didn’t move for a long time.  His music started to calm down, but it was still the panicky beat.  Uncertainty flowed from him.  “Right now you are feeling uncertain about something.  Now shock.”  I felt stupid right now.  I shouldn’t have told him.  He’ll think I’m a nut.

He exhaled quickly.  “You’re not a nut.”  Now it was my turn for stunned silence.  Could he read my mind?  “I feel… very connected to you.” 

Feel what? My emotions too? I wanted to say it out loud, but I didn’t want to know the answer.  If he could, he knew how he made me feel.  Sympathy was flowing from him now.

“What is going on?  Why can I feel every emotion you feel when you’re near me?” I asked him point blank.

“I don’t know.” He answered flatly.  I could feel the tension in his words and his body.

“Why are you so tense now?”  He stepped away from me letting my arms drop by my side.  He was keeping something from me.  I knew it and so did he.

“Let’s get you off this beach.” Changing the subject he turned toward the strip.  He reached back to grab my hand and I instantly took hold of his.  I relished in the pleasure as he led me stumbling through the dunes back to the parking lot.

CHAPTER 10 – THE LIGHTHOUSE

He stopped at a motorcycle and sat down.  The motorcycle roared to life and he motioned for me to get on.  Between the vibrations of the motorcycle and the vibrations I felt pressed up against his bare back, I wasn’t sure how long I could hold on to him flying down the road.  My legs were shaking and my ribs were burning with pain.  The internal flames burned more in places where I touched Kyler, but it wasn’t a painful burn anymore, it was pure pleasure.  He rode away from the bonfire toward the low hills of the island.  Several of the University’s research labs were out this way.  A few houses were scattered along the hillside, and a lighthouse was situated near the ship channel.

We stopped at the lighthouse.  I reluctantly let go of him and tried to dismount the motorcycle.  My legs were unsteady and I was light headed.  He chuckled and wrapped his arm around me for support.  I groaned again feeling his arm around me and his energy flow through my whole body.  The heat was building inside my body. 

He led me to the lighthouse entrance and I could feel an excited energy from him now.  He was not feeling the anxiousness I felt earlier.  The happiness confused me and I began to doubt my connection to his emotions.  He kept his hand on my back as he took keys from his pocket.  I caught a glimpse of his bare chest and his strong arms as he opened the door and ushered me inside.  The heat in my face was smoldering.  I couldn’t hide my desire for him.  I hated feeling controlled by this internal inferno.  But I craved his touch.  I felt as if his touch alone energized me like a battery.  As soon as his touch left me, I could feel the energy drop. 

We were inside the lighthouse now.  This part of the lighthouse was where the keeper must stay.  There was a couch to the right and a small television set.  Behind the couch was a small kitchenette with a refrigerator, stove and sink.  There was another door that was closed toward the stairwell on the left, winding up to the top of the light house.  Kyler pointed to the closed door and said, “That’s the restroom if you’d like to wash up.  I’ll get you some more clothes to change into, and an ice pack.” 

He headed for the stairs and left me standing in the middle of the room.  I looked around the small space looking for any indication that Kyler lived here.  Everything was in order, nothing lying around.  I opened the door to the restroom to find a shower stall, toilet, and sink.  I looked in the mirror at my face.  Tear streaks mixed with mascara ran down my face and my auburn hair was a mess.  Dried blood was caked on my neck and on Kyler’s shirt.  My right eye was swollen and my cheek was bruised.  My other green eye stared back brightly.  That didn’t match the rest of my face or body.  I looked in the hutch next to the shower to find clean folded towels and other toiletries.  I turned on the water to the shower and grabbed the shampoo and soap from the cabinet. 

I heard Kyler’s music approach and a knock at the bathroom door.  When I opened the door, Kyler had a clean shirt and some pull on shorts with a drawstring.  His electric blue eyes locked on mine and he smiled.  “These should fit you.  The shorts will need to be cinched up, but should work for now.”  My heart flipped as his voice trembled through my soul.  He looked at my chest at the same time my heart fluttered.  His music intensified and he looked in my eyes again.  His crooked smile faltered and he blinked looking away from mine.  He handed the clothes to me and looked to the door to grab the doorknob.  “I’ll let you clean up.  Take as much time as you need.”  He shut the door and his music flowed endlessly through me.  I felt safe here.  Kyler made me feel extremely safe.

The hot water from the shower helped loosen the tense muscles in my body, but the burning adrenaline still coursed through me.  My ribs still ached and I looked down to see a faint area of purple near my lower rib cage.  I ran my hand over the area to see if any were jutting out of my skin.  Nothing was poking out, just tender.  I washed my hair and body and tried to relax the tension in my shoulders.  I rubbed along my neck feeling for any kind of puncture wound but couldn’t find anything.  Maybe I just imagined the whole thing?  I could hear Kyler’s calm music now.  It was the same music I remember hearing when I woke up at the Rock.  It was relaxing and soothing.  I knew it had to have been him that night.  I still couldn’t understand the connection or the reason.  We were connected somehow and I needed some answers.

The hot water was energizing, not as much as Kyler’s touch, but enough that I wasn’t about to fall on my face with fatigue.  I toweled off and put on the clothes he gave me.  The shorts were big, but the drawstring helped.  They were warm like they just came out of the dryer.  The shirt was big too.  It was another of his t-shirts.  This one was pale green with white lines depicting a monster wave.  I couldn’t find a brush in the cabinet so I dried my hair as best I could.  I looked at myself again in the mirror after wiping away the fog to see the mascara trails gone.  My face was flushed still, whether from the heat of the shower or the heat of his presence, I couldn’t tell.  My eye would be black by tomorrow and I hoped my cheek bone wasn’t broken.  He was seeing me at my worst, so no way of salvaging my appearance now.  I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

Kyler had set up a table and chairs and set out two plates of spaghetti.  He looked up when I opened the door and flashed a big smile.  “You look amazing.” His voice sang.  He must be delusional too.  His eyes never left mine.  “Have a seat.” His voice commanded my movements again, and he pulled out the chair nearest to me and I sat down.  “Here, hold that on your face for at least 15 minutes.  It’ll be cold, but we need to see if we can get the swelling down.”  He sat across from me and watched as I obediently held the ice pack to my face.  I winced from the pain but tried to control my reaction so he wouldn’t force me to the hospital.

“Eat.”  He directed me again.  My wide eyes wouldn’t leave his until he picked up his fork and looked down at his food.  I could blink again and breathe.  I looked down to find my fork and lifted it to twirl the spaghetti and shove it in my mouth.  I was hungry, despite the trauma.  The shock of everything that happened was taxing my energy level.  I didn’t want to look up at him again and lose my concentration and control, so I kept my eyes low.  He had put on a clean shirt too.  His hands were strong and he ate quietly.  I shoveled bite after bite into my mouth.  This was the best spaghetti I had ever eaten.  He had stopped eating and put his fork down.  He crossed his arms across his chest and I could tell he was staring at me again.  He chuckled again and picked up his napkin.  He reached across to my face and wiped at the corner of my mouth.  Even through the napkin, I felt his charge.  I closed my eyes feeling the pulse of energy and the heat that briefly touched my face.  When I opened my eyes again, his sapphire blue eyes were gazing warmly at me.  “What do you feel?” He questioned me sincerely.

“I’m not sure how to explain it.” I sighed.  “Right now, I feel safe and protected.  When you touch me…” I looked down as the heat soared through my body.  He stiffened and sucked in air.  I looked up to find his eyes closed.  His face was beautiful.  I knew he was feeling what I was feeling.  His music increased tempo and my heart began to race again in sync with his music.  His eyes opened suddenly and he leaned closer to me staring deep into my eyes.  I closed my eyes expecting his lips when my cell phone went off.  We both froze and he backed off jumping out of his chair to recover my cell phone from the restroom.  “It’s Julie.” He called from the restroom.

The phone was still ringing as he handed it to me.  “She’ll be so worried if I don’t answer.” I looked back up at him for his permission.

“Answer her then.” He stated simply.

“Hello. Hey Jewels.” I said flatly.

“No, I’m fine.  I left the bonfire a little while ago.  No, um I’m not going home tonight.” I looked back at Kyler and he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled a devious crooked smile.  My breath caught in my throat and I forced myself to look away.

“You heard what?” I paused to listen to Julie tell her tale.  “Yeah, Nate did hurt me when he dragged me off.”  Kyler’s tension increased at my mention of Nate.  “Nothing happened because someone took care of him.”  I wasn’t sure if Kyler wanted his name involved.  I couldn’t tell from his emotions if the anger was solely about Nate or if he wanted the credit.  I wasn’t sure what was actually going on between us to speak honestly.  “I didn’t stick around to find out what happened.”  Julie was hysterical on the other end of the line. 

“We heard that Nate dragged you away and that Jaxon tried to stop him.  Jaxon’s face is pretty messed up.  He’s at the hospital right now.  I was afraid Nate might do something stupid to you.” Julie rattled off.

“Well he didn’t, thankfully.” I looked back at Kyler.  He had turned away taking the empty plates with him.  “Is Jaxon okay?  There was a lot of blood.”

“I think it’s a broken nose.  I’m sure he’ll be okay, but he’s there for now.  Where are you?” Julie asked.

“I’m safe.  Can you do me a favor and tell my Aunt Sarah I’m staying with you tonight?  I need some time, some air tonight.  I’ll call you tomorrow, ‘kay?”  I knew this wouldn’t sit well with her not knowing the details, but I didn’t have the details to give.

“Raegan, where are you??  Are you alone? Where did you go?  Are you sure you’re okay?” She interrogated.

“Julie, I’m fine.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I ended the call and turned off the phone.  I knew she’d call back and I didn’t want to continue the conversation. 

Kyler was washing the dishes at the sink and his emotions were puzzling.  I felt anguish and frustration, and relief.  He was concentrating, trying to hide his emotions.  I got up from my chair, leaving the ice pack, and walked over to him at the sink.  He didn’t turn toward me as I approached but kept washing a plate.  I placed my arms around him leaving my face on his back.  His energy pulsed strong through me and I inhaled with the pleasure I received from touching him.  The flames were licking inside again everywhere our bodies touched.

He stopped washing and inhaled to speak but held his breath for a moment then exhaled.  “I don’t want you to have to lie to Julie, but thank you for not mentioning my name.” He stayed focused on the sink in front of him.  That was the relief emotion I guessed.  “You’re welcome to stay here tonight, but you’ll need to go home tomorrow morning.  I’m not supposed to have anyone up here especially…” he stopped, “not a girl.”

I loosened my embrace on him and asked, “Do you live here?” curiosity getting the best of me.  He turned to face me in my loose bear hug and wrapped his arms around me lightly.  “I stay here from time to time, but no, this isn’t my home.”

I left my head on his chest listening to his heart beat calmly and strong.  “Where are your parents?”  I knew he was probably eighteen or nineteen years old and most likely not on his own, but you never know.  Julie said he was Valedictorian for our class, which meant he was somewhere around my age.

“My mother is away on University business and will be back soon.  My father is… not around.”  He stalled on the last part.  Something told me he wasn’t being truthful, but I let it go.