All my previous doubts were starting to seem insignificant. Was I allowing him to wear me down? I had no one else; was I supposed to be with him? Was his importance in my life part of what my parents wanted to tell me? Could I trust him and all his vows of love as being sincere?
“
I can carry you.” I snapped my head up, pulled from my daydreaming. I was about to respond when he removed my arm brace and then gently lifted me from the ground. He was cautious not to touch any bruised areas.
He didn’t have any difficulties wading through the waist-deep water as we neared the falls. He placed me on a section of rocks and stood in front of me. The water pressure was perfect; I didn’t feel like I was about to get washed away. I leaned back further into the water. It was cold, but invigorating. It ran over my face and hair, and I lifted my neck to ensure my hair was saturated while my hands remained planted on the rock. I tilted my chin down, and met Colt’s eyes. The look I found startled me. I wasn’t expecting to see such yearning.
I turned away.
“
Shampoo?” he asked over the sound of the falls.
I took a shaky breath and leaned forward. His gaze locked on mine as he began washing my hair. His fingers massaged the shampoo into my scalp, and my heart raced. It was weird; uncomfortable and dreamy all at the same time. I closed my eyes, and enjoyed the sensation of getting clean, fighting to remain calm.
Gently, he pushed my head back into the water, rinsing out the soap. He drew me closer and wiped the water from my face. He left his hands on the side of my neck, and the heat from his chest washed over me. My eyes remained closed as his lips caressed my cheek, jaw, and then moved to my lips. He lingered for a long time, planting soft wet kisses before he sighed and drew back. I sighed too.
I reached out and touched his arm.
“
Thank you.” He was close enough to hear and gave a contented smile.
“
You’re welcome.”
Staring in to his eyes, losing myself in them, I allowed my good hand to move slowly up to his shoulder. My fingers traced the outline of his chest, and then moved down to the ripples of his stomach. They were trembling…I was trembling.
I glanced down. He was so perfect, like a flawless marble statue crafted by a master. I attempted to raise my right hand to his shoulder, but sharp pain caused me to lower it again. He lowered his left hand and placed it on the small of my back, and pulled me forward, sliding my legs to the side until I was fully resting against him. My open palm was on his muscular peck as his lips took mine.
It wasn’t gentle, but firm and assured. He pressed harder, forcing my lips apart. There was a longing; it was as if he wanted every part of me right now. I had been so careful over the last few months, not allowing more than simple kisses. The only exception was on my birthday. It was as if he was making up for lost time, letting me know he wanted me in so many more ways than I could imagine. He wasn’t giving up or giving in—and I didn’t want anyone else. My desire was for him as well. I had been holding back, searching my heart.
I loved him. As much as I’d tried to deny it, I loved him as he loved me. I didn’t want this moment, this kiss, to end. But the pain in my side was aching something awful. I had to pull away.
I attempted to draw my face back, but he held it in place firmly with his hand. I pushed on his chest with little effect. My left ribs were starting to really pinch, and it was becoming harder to catch my breath. He withdrew and began kissing my neck as I took smaller breaths, trying to relieve the building pain. His velvety lips moved to my jaw and traced my neck; tilting my head back they followed my collarbone. His fingers drifted from my neck to my side and pressed against the broken ribs.
“
Ouch!”
“
Oh, Cheyenne,” he said with sympathy as he immediately drew back. “I’m so sorry.”
I dropped my head to his shoulder, trying to catch my breath, knowing the kiss was worth the pain. “I know. I’m okay.”
His fingers brushed my neck. “We should get you back. You need to eat, and it’ll be getting dark soon.”
“
Just hold me,” I whispered as I leaned forward again. He pulled me into his arms; the warmth from his touch filled me. I wrapped my left arm around his shoulder and neck as I nuzzled closer. His steamy lips placed kisses on my neck and shoulder as he waited for me to say I was ready to leave.
I didn’t want to ever leave. At long last, my doubts were gone. I’d trust him with my life.
“
We need to go.” He lifted me in his arms and crossed the river. He set me on my feet, wrapped the towel around me and gently began drying me. I managed to slide my shorts on while he held my arm and assisted with the shirt. I sat on his knee and he placed my boots on.
Carefully he reattached the brace, and I watched as he placed his shirt back on, leaving it open, the water glistening on his chest. I blinked. I knew he could see my reaction, and he was making himself extra sexy on purpose.
Taking my hand in his, he led us back. The return trip seemed short, maybe because I wasn’t done having time alone with him. I could have sat and stared at him for hours without getting bored. Let him hold me in his arms forever…
I sighed. I needed to let him know how I felt. He needed to hear those words from me. He needed to hear me say, “I love you.”
I was so distracted that by the time we neared camp, I hadn’t noticed Mandi closing the distance. She snorted in my ear, and I screamed.
Colt burst out laughing and Daniel joined in as he saw what happened. All I could do was smile and shake my head. Crazy Mandi. Even she thought it was funny to tease me.
Colt left me at my tent while I changed into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. I purposely left the bandages off, it made it more comfortable to breathe. I was sure Callon would wrap me up again later, but he wasn’t here now.
I zipped the tent and turned to find them sitting around the fire. Colt had changed into jeans, but his shirt was still unbuttoned. It was a distraction, and he knew it. He gave me a sly wink, and I blushed.
Fish was cooking over the flames; Callon and Daniel had been busy while we were gone. I wasn’t much of a fish eater, but I was hungry, and it smelled good. Colt patted the log between him and Daniel, and I sat. Callon glanced up. “You hungry?”
“
Famished,” I replied eagerly and grinned.
“
Good.” He flipped a trout on a plate and handed it over. I willingly accepted. He was cooking quite a few. I ate faster than normal, picking bones out along the way. All in all, it was good, considering I typically hid the taste of fish with tartar sauce.
“
Thanks,” I said as Callon took my plate.
“
Did you want another?”
“
No, I’m good.” Callon took the plates to the stream and washed them. Colt gently rubbed my back. As I waited for Callon to return, my mind mulled over the lights. I had some questions I wanted to ask. Callon came back and squatted near the fire, stoking it. My thumb passed over the etched ring on my index finger. Now was as good a time as any.
“
Callon,” I began. He didn’t look up, but nodded once. “After my accident I told you about the lights I saw. What are they?”
Callon poked his stick a little too hard, and a stack of ash fell close to his foot.
“
You need to stay away from them.”
“
Why?”
“
Because they’re dangerous.” He added another log to the fire. It was growing dark.
“
Why? I don’t understand.” Mr. Evasive had returned from his absence.
“
You need to stay away from them, don’t look at them.”
“
Don’t look at them?”
He didn’t reply.
Oh, no.
He who must be obeyed
was back in full swing too. My lip curled. Why couldn’t he just tell me what they were? Annoyance rang through my response loud and clear, “Why do you do this to me?” My voice was beginning to rise. “Do you think I’m stupid? That my little brain can’t handle it? You think I’d willingly run to danger because you said I shouldn’t?”
He sighed, looking up at me. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and eyes were slightly narrowed, showing his annoyance. “I never said that, Cheyenne.”
“
You imply it,” I hissed.
“
If I don’t tell you things,” Callon replied calmly, “it’s because you don’t need to know right now. There’s a lot going on in the background that you aren’t even aware of.”
“
Then tell me so I’ll be aware!”
“
It’ll frighten you.”
I didn’t know if I was more vexed that he wasn’t telling me, or the fact that he was so calm when he was doing so.
“
When
will I need to know, Callon?” I stood up. “When I accidentally run into the lights and find out what they really are?” My hands flayed in the air about me and a sharp pain rose, but I pushed it aside.
Colt reached out, but I jerked my arm away. I stormed over to the field where the horses were. I just needed to get away from Callon. I didn’t understand his reasoning. I wasn’t a child. He was acting like a bossy parent again.
If only I could figure out what the journal said. I bet my parents would have put warnings in there for me. They would have told me everything instead of the tiny bits of information I managed to scrounge from the trio.
I found a narrow section of the stream, and jumped across. Mandi saw and headed for me. She lowered her head, and I began scratching it, moving to her neck and brushing her mane back and forth. The rhythm was soothing, relaxing.
I knew I flew off the handle too easily with Callon. He was trying to protect me. He and the others had proved it after my attack. Like Callon said, there probably was a lot going on in the background that I wasn’t even aware of. My fingers traced my ring again. I just wanted to understand. It was unfair. Everyone knew what was going on. It was hard being the only one who truly knew nothing. I didn’t like relying on them for everything. It made me feel like such a burden.
“
Cheyenne,” a soft voice called out.
I didn’t reply as I continued petting Mandi. I was still calming down; coming to grips with what I had to do. It was best if I didn’t speak yet.
Callon stopped behind me.
“
I know you’re angry. I’m sorry. Look, I don’t always tell you things because I don’t want to scare you. I grew up knowing I was Timeless and even then it was overwhelming. I don’t want you to run from us.” He stepped closer, his words gentle. “I don’t think you’re stupid, never have. You figured out more than I thought you would. That’s why I have to protect you, sometimes from yourself.”
His fingers raked my hair, causing goose bumps to rise on my arms. “The last thing I would ever want to do is cause you more hurt. You’ve already been through so much in your short life.”
He reached out and took my hand, turning me around. I couldn’t look him in the eye. There were too many complicated feelings. I had no choice but to accept his explanations. Would my parents have hidden these things from me also? They had in essence—but would they still? Again I wondered how much they had been planning to reveal to me on the camping trip we never got to take.
I inhaled, composing myself once again.
“
No, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I haven’t been very pleasant tonight. You’ve cared for me, protected me, and watched over me, and I’ve been nothing but ungrateful.” I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”
I felt like such a basket case. He drew me closer, looking me in the eyes briefly as an understanding seemed to pass between us. He knew I was letting go, trusting them. His arms wrapped around me tightly, but not snug enough to cause me pain. I rested my head into his chest as his fingers rubbed my back. This was his way to comfort me, to show me he could be gentle and understanding.
“
There’s so much I want to tell you, so much I want to share with you. In time you’ll see; in time I’ll keep no secrets from you. But I need you to trust me.”
“
I just want to understand. If I could just read the journal I’m sure I’d be better.”
He kissed my head and warmth spread all the way down to my toes. “Just trust me right now,” he asked. “We’re going to get help on the journal, I promise.”
I shivered. He felt it, and eyed me with concern. “We need to get you by the fire. You’re cold.”
If only he knew that the chill wasn’t from the cold.
“
Callon?”
“
Yes?”
“
I know we’re running right now. Are we heading someplace special? Are we going to find your friend you talked about?”
“
Yes.”
“
How long?”
“
A couple days’ ride.”
“
Are we being followed?”
He sighed.
“
We were, but we’ve lost them for now. I need you to stay real close at all times.”
“
Is it the Sarac?” I whispered.
Callon didn’t say anything, but his eyes told me I was right. We’d left quickly because we were being followed, but they could still find us. I didn’t like it one bit.
Callon helped me back across the stream to the fire. Colt’s jaw was tight as he rose, his cool blue eyes stressed. He glanced at Callon and nodded. Colt’s face relaxed slightly as I neared. I rolled my eyes. They were going to drive me nuts with the telepathy.