King 02 - Breathless (22 page)

I smiled and turned my face to kiss his jaw. “I’ll send one of my shirts with you this time. How would that be?”

Michael ran his free hand down my side, over my ribs to the hem of my t-shirt. “This one?” he asked, his voice husky as his fingers toyed with the shirt.

I giggled. “Don’t you think it would be a little awkward for me to go home without a shirt? My parents would probably notice.”

He skimmed the tips of his fingers just under the edge of my shirt above the waistband of my shorts. I sucked in a sharp breath and felt goose bumps spread over my skin.

“They might,” he answered. “But it would be worth it, I think.”

“Definitely,” I agreed. And then his lips were over mine again, and it was a long time before we spoke aloud.

If I could have traded my gifts that weekend for the ability to slow down time, I would have done it in a heartbeat.

Michael and I walked toward the cabin in the fading light late Saturday afternoon. Our hands were linked, and we were quiet, although I was listening to Michael’s thoughts, soaking up the intimacy that I missed so much.

I purposely bumped my shoulder into his arm. “I’m glad you’ve forgiven me,” I said softly.

He squeezed my hand briefly and smiled. “I’m glad you told me everything. And I’m sorry if I made you feel like I thought you couldn’t handle stuff on your own. I know you can. Just…” He hesitated. “Just please be careful, both with Ms. Lacusta and with that Brooks guy. If anything happened to you, Tas, I couldn’t live. Remember that. Take care of yourself for me, if you won’t do it for you.”

“Got it.” I leaned my cheek against his shoulder. “And I’ll give you a daily report on my activities. It’ll be a relief not to hide anything.”

We reached the cabin and unloaded the picnic basket. I started dinner, and by the time Luke and Marly arrived, everything was on the table, ready to eat.

“This is heaven!” Marly announced. “Michael, you know your dad and I really miss you, but I think we miss Tasmyn’s cooking, too.”

“Hey, I’ve cooked since he left!” I protested.

“That’s true. I guess we miss the combination of her cooking and both of your company. Plus I have to say that Tas just seems to sparkle when you’re around. She’s much quieter when you’re away.”

“No need to blush, Tasmyn,” Luke said, ruffling my hair. “He’s no better. Michael is very glum when he’s not with you.”

It was an evening when I could almost forget that Michael had ever gone to school and that he was going away again the next day. We laughed and chatted with Michael’s parents until I reluctantly announced that I had to go home before my parents began to worry.

The night was warm and close, and we kept the top down on the Mustang. I watched the trees fly past us and thought of the animals lurking amongst them.

“You know, I never have seen a bear out here,” I remarked, remembering the first time I’d visited the nursery and seen the warning signs.

“You almost sound disappointed about that,” Michael said. “I’m sure we could find one if we pull off here and walk around...” He slowed the car and veered to the side of the road.

I could feel humor in his mood and hear his teasing thoughts, so I stuck out my tongue. “What would you do if I said, sure, let’s stroll in the dark woods?” I demanded.

He slanted me a mock-leering look. “Then I’d have the fun of protecting you from all the wild things out there. You know, I’d have to hold you very close...”

My breath caught even as the car picked up speed again. “I’m almost tempted,” I sighed, fanning myself, and Michael laughed.

We drove a few more miles in silence before I asked, “What time do you have to go tomorrow?” I dreaded the answer that I heard before he spoke.

Four hours to make the drive, and I can’t get back too late. But if I left by three… or maybe even four…

“Don’t push it. I don’t want you driving too late and be tired.”

“I’ll be fine. We can spend tomorrow morning together. Maybe we could go out to the lake. I’ll bring my reading for class Monday, and you can bring your homework, and we’ll have a study date. If you come out and pick me up, we can leave Mustang here so my dad can change the oil. It should be about due.”

And that’s exactly what happened. It was another beautiful day, and we spread a blanket on the sand by edge of the lake.

“Aren’t you going to tell me that you’ve never seen a gator here, after all the times we’ve talked about it—you know, like the bears?” Michael teased me.

“No, because I know I saw one in the water that day when we were here with Anne and Brea and everyone—remember? You all swore it was a log.”

“It
was
a log, Tas.”

“Yeah, well, you all would have been sorry when that
log
crawled out of the lake and ate us.”

“But luckily for us, you insisted that we leave right away—actually, I think you shouted it to us from the safety of the car back in the lot.”

“No thanks are necessary,” I replied loftily.

I had brought my English homework, and Michael had several notebooks. We spread out and worked diligently… for the first hour at least.

I was absorbed in reading the next chapter of Dreiser’s
An American Tragedy
when I heard Michael thinking more loudly than usual.

If my boyfriend was home for the weekend and only had a few more hours here, I’d be lying much closer to him.

I smirked a little, but pretended to ignore him. Watching out of the corner of my eye, I shifted slightly and brought my book closer.

And I think I’d pay less attention to a book and more to the boyfriend who drove a long way to see me...

I might have ignored him a few moments more, but the matter was taken out of my hands literally when my book suddenly disappeared and I found myself flipped onto my back.

“Hey!” I began to scold. “That’s my…” My voice trailed off when I saw the look in Michael’s eye. It was yearning, and loving, and I was lost. He covered my lips with his, and with one hand began to work through the braid in my hair. When it was completely unraveled, he plunged both hands into the snarls and held my head tenderly.

Tasmyn, you have no idea how much I want you.

My heart pounded in perfect rhythm with his; with my fingers on his neck, I could feel the racing pulse there. When one hand moved down my side, over my ribs to my waist, I pulled away long enough to catch a breath.

“Michael, what… I thought we… what are you thinking?”

He buried his face in my neck, rubbing his lips along my collarbone. “Don’t you already know that?” he answered me, his voice muffled.

I pulled his face up to mine. “I meant, do you want to talk about this?”

He collapsed on top of me, somehow still holding most of his weight. “I’m not changing any rules here, Tas. I know the decisions we made, and I’m not suggesting we change them. But I
do
want you. I want to have more time with you. I miss this so much. All of it.” He swept his hand out to encompass me, the blanket, our books. “And I’m not going to see you again until the beginning of November.”

I reached up and tenderly brushed the hair out of his eyes. Those eyes were so stormy right now, with a reckless edge I rarely saw.

“Hey,” I murmured. “I know. I feel the same way. If I could do something to freeze time and keep us both right here, I’d do it. But we’ve got to be strong, right? And at least we can look forward to homecoming.” I lifted my head and kissed him lightly. The corner of his mouth lifted the tiniest bit as he leaned his forehead against mine.

“Wish we could make time stand still,” he whispered. “Or speed it forward, to the time when we don’t have to say goodbye anymore.”

When the sun climbed high in the sky, we reluctantly gathered our books, folded the blanket and drove back to the nursery. There was a single unfamiliar car in the lot as we drove through it on the way to the cabin, and I looked inquiringly at Michael. He shrugged.

“I don’t know. Maybe someone came out to talk landscaping?”

As we climbed out of the car, the front door of the house opened and a man walked out, followed by Luke. They both turned at the sound of the car doors slamming, and with a start I recognized Rev. Pryce.

I felt Michael shift to a defensive mode, and I lagged behind him as the two men approached us.

“Michael.” Rev. Pryce extended his hand. “I heard you were home for the weekend.”

“Sir.” Gravely Michael shook his hand. “Yes, I came down to celebrate Tasmyn’s birthday.”

Luke caught my eye. “Reverend Pryce just came by to pick up those stones he’d ordered a few weeks ago. Said he had a free afternoon and wanted to get them in today.” I nodded; I had already gathered that information from Luke’s mind. And from Reverend Pryce’s mind I was hearing the usual friendly thoughts.

I can sense the evil within her. And yet these people have no idea, and they continue to encourage her. What can I do to make her repent? That’s the key, repentance… and I’ve got to get her away from this poor family. They’re completely taken in by her.

I frowned, wondering again what I could do to change his opinion of me.

“How’s college?” The minister ignored me completely and kept his eyes on Michael’s face.

“I’m enjoying it so far,” Michael answered. He reached back and pulled me up to stand in front of him. “Of course, I miss home. And… everyone here.” With a smug, almost challenging smile, he drew me back against his chest and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head.

Rev. Pryce’s eyes narrowed as they flickered down to me. A few more distasteful thoughts ran through his head as I tried to block and ignore them.

“I’m sure,” he replied shortly. “Cara has certainly mentioned that you’re missed at school.”

“Guess it’s lucky she has Tas,” Michael remarked.

“Yes… Cara and I have discussed her need to be a little more discerning in her friends. The people with whom you surround yourself can affect everything in your life, you know.” He was gazing intently at Michael.

The air was fairly crackling with tension, and I was feeling every nuance. I cast a pleading look at Luke. I didn’t want anything to ruin this perfect weekend.

“Well, Reverend—Matt, that is—thanks for your business. Hope the stepping stones work out for you. Michael here has to hit the road pretty soon, I’m sure you understand—”

Rev. Pryce forced a strained smile as he nodded at Luke. “Sure. Thanks for letting me come by today.” He began walking down the path back toward the nursery, and then turned to cast one last look back at us. “Michael, safe travels. I’ll be praying for you.”

We all stood in silence as his footsteps faded away. A few moments later we heard a car start. Michael drew me even closer and kissed the top of my head. I sagged back against him, as always exhausted by the negativity of Rev. Pryce’s presence.

“I’m sorry,” Luke apologized. “He called and asked if he could pick up those stones, and I thought he would come and go before you two got home.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t get him. He was really grilling us about you, Tas.”

“Well, his thoughts weren’t what I would call warm and friendly,” I said shakily. “He just sucks the life right out of me.”

Michael rubbed my arms consolingly. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”

It turned out watching him leave again wasn’t much easier than it had been the first time. The only difference was that I knew now that I could survive it.

His parents said goodbye in the house, allowing us a private moment by the car. Michael hugged me tightly and kissed me tenderly. Brushing my hair back from my eyes, he managed a smile.

“I’ll see you at homecoming. Be careful. Please. I love you.”

I clung to his hand. “I love you, too. Call me when you get in tonight, okay?”

“Will do.” He touched my face and brushed one more kiss across my lips before he climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled away.