Origins (A Black Novel, #1) (12 page)

“I don’t think that’s going to help. Let me make this a bit clearer--

it’s going to be extremely difficult to contain myself with your mouth
anywhere
on me.”

The fire quickly spreads, burning to the very ends of each limb, as my knees go weak. I’m grateful we’re sitting because I’d have more than likely just swooned. My voice shakes slightly as I speak.

“Maybe we should wait then?”

“Wait for what exactly? This isn’t going to get any easier….” He inches even closer, his body heat mingling with mine.

“I think this was a very bad idea.” I say, shuffling sideways down the bench until I feel the armrest biting into my back.

Vraiden follows me, lifting one arm and placing it on the bar behind my back, effectively boxing me in. His head tilts to one side, a lock of honey blond hair falling onto his forehead. “Do I make you nervous?”

“Yes,” I croak, automatically answering honestly. Embarrassment washes through me and I wish I could crawl away and hide.

“I guess you’re really innocent after all,” he whispers with a sexy smirk before settling back on the bench, allowing me room to regain my bearings. I let out a deep breath, unaware I’d been holding one in and flush red as I settle back down on the bench, unable to look at him. Several minutes pass before he speaks again. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

“You’re the one who said it was the only way for me to know what being Immortal was like…” I trail off.

“I know what I said but you just saw how easy it is for my emotions to overtake me- and that was without the blood. You could always do this with someone else.” His eyes flick to mine for a moment before settling on his hands once more.

“Like who, Sera? No thanks.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“We’ll just have to control ourselves…”

“I don’t know if I can,” he whispers, barely loud enough to be heard.

“You better,” I reply sternly causing him to laugh unexpectedly.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, still smiling. “Come on then. Let’s do this before I regain my senses.”

“Talk about romantic,” I retort dryly as I slide up next to him. He pushes the left sleeve of his shirt up past his elbow before passing the blade into his right hand. His eyes meet mine, searching, before he quickly slices across the thickness of his forearm. He flexes his hand a few times before extending his arm in my direction. I hesitate momentarily before grasping his arm with my palms.

Making sure not to look directly at the blood, I lower my head, keeping my gaze fastened on the distant expanse of black ocean.

The taste explodes in my mouth as soon as I make contact and my eyes slip shut in ecstasy. Almost immediately the flavors overwhelm me, consuming me from within and I tighten my grip to deepen the flow. The essence of cinnamon and clove is still there but fainter than the last time- instead it is overshadowed with something cleaner, crisper. The taste reminds me of cold water on a hot day or hot chocolate on a cold night. It’s both soothing and refreshing. I gulp greedily, allowing the feelings, and the blood, to run through me as I lose myself and sigh in pleasure. The underlying spices of cinnamon and clove slowly begin to drown out the others, flooding my senses with need and desire.

Vraiden’s voice cuts through my haze. “Adelin? Adelin, that’s enough.” I tighten my grip further, digging my fingernails in slightly as he gently tries to pull his arm away. “Adelin you have to stop now or I’m not going to be able to control myself.” He gently pries my hands away and quickly moves his wounded arm out of my reach, leaving me panting. My eyes still closed, I lean my head back, heady from the blood. A slow, burning desire courses through me and I bite my lip to stifle a gasp. “Kiss me,” I whisper before I have a chance to think it through.

“You have no idea how much I want to but I can’t. Not right now.”

“Kiss me,” I say with more force.

“Adelin, you don’t mean that- it’s the blood talking- and I don’t want to take advantage of you. When I kiss you again, and I will, I want you to want me to.”

“Believe me, I do. I want you. Please,” I beg unabashedly.

“You’re not making this very easy.” He sighs deeply. “Just take a few minutes to relax. Breathe deeply. In, out. Think about something else. The ocean, home, whatever relaxes you. Good, keep breathing.”

I exhale slowly as my senses become my own again and blot out my desire. Feeling foolish I lower my head, eyes open. “I’m sorry,” I apologize. “I didn’t mean to be so forward.”

“It’s all right.” A ghost of a smile plays across his lips. “I quite enjoyed it. It was very…..erotic.”

I blush deeply, refusing to meet his eyes. “I think I need a few more minutes,” My face darkens further in humiliation.

“Take all the time you need,” he laughs.

The quiet that follows is uncomfortable, heavy with unclaimed desire. I shift several times, uneasy, still wanting to reach out and touch him, taste him. “Close your eyes,” he whispers hypnotically, edging nearer. “Stop thinking. Relax.”

“I can’t,” I complain grumpily.

“Yes you can. Breathe.” I huff, irritated, ready to cuss him out when I feel his fingertips graze across my cheeks, startling me. My eyes fly open in surprise, astounded to see him crouched down directly in front of me. “Close your eyes,” he urges again soothingly. I obey, gasping soundlessly as his thumbs flit across my eyelids and trail down the sides of my face. He gently massages my earlobes before moving his hands up into my hair and kneading my scalp. I lose all sense of myself as his hands persuade my flesh. “There. Better?” I open my eyes and nod, breathless at his proximity, as his hands loosen from my hair. Sensing my unease he rocks back onto his heels and quickly takes his seat beside me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replies gruffly. “Now…what do you see?”

“Huh?”

“Look around and tell me what you see. Does anything look different?”

I comply and glance around, stopping with an audible gulp. Our surroundings are the same yet they’re
different
- crisper. It’s as though I’ve been looking at a photograph and now I was faced with the actual images themselves. I peer around in awe. Even from this distance I can make out each individual white-capped swell of the ocean. Vraiden’s knowing chuckle beside me startles me out of my stupor. “Amazing,” I manage.

“It gets better. Wait here.” He jumps to his feet with a grin then disappears into his bedroom. He returns a few minutes later with a small red china bowl clasped between his hands. He resumes his seat, purposely hiding the contents of the bowl from my view.

“Eyes shut,” he commands.

“Bossy, bossy,” I tease, shutting my eyes.

“What do you smell?” he asks as he slowly waves one hand under my nose.

I sigh pleasantly as the scent invades my nostrils. “Strawberries.”

“And…?” he prompts, still moving his hand in front of my face. My mouth salivates in anticipation as I inhale deeper. Hidden beneath the enticing strawberry aroma is another scent, this one harder to place.

“Dirt,” I grin, satisfied that I identified the smell.

“Correct. Open your mouth. Please,” he adds at my frown.

I part my lips slightly, curious at his request. My eyes fly open as he carefully inserts the strawberry halfway between my waiting lips.

My lips purse together, savoring, as the flavor explodes in my mouth. I gingerly run my tongue across the surface of the fruit, able to feel each individual seed. My eyes slide shut in ecstasy as the sweet tang rolls down my throat.

“More,” I breathe, opening my mouth expectantly. He relents, popping another piece into my mouth with a laugh.

T
he sun is just beginning to crest over the expanse of ocean when Vraiden drops me off in front of my house. After the strawberries, Vraiden had convinced me to go outside and into the woods so that I could fully experience my heightened senses. We had wandered for hours, stopping every few feet so I could make a closer inspection of our surroundings. It was like I was finally seeing the world- everything had so much depth and detail. I was fascinated with everything, from the tree bark to the very dirt beneath our feet, even the sounds were amazing. The ocean had sounded like music- full of various pitches, harmonies and rhythms all its own as it crashed upon itself in the darkness. I could hear the worms burrowing deeper into the earth and the bugs scuttling through fallen leaves. I caught the steady flapping of a birds’ wings far above, each intake of Vraiden’s breath and the hypnotic drumbeat of his heart. For the first time in my life I had felt alive, real. It had been amazing. I was heartbroken when Vraiden had announced that it was time to go. I could have stayed with him forever, lost in our surroundings.

“Have fun shopping with your mom,” Vraiden teases as I climb out of his Jeep.

“I will,” I smile.

“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night at the party,” he calls with a devilish wink as he pulls away.

Sera and I spend most of the rest of the day on the mainland shopping, eating and sight-seeing. She take me to all her favorite places as well as helps me pick out the perfect dress- a long, floor sweeping strapless gown made out of black taffeta with intricate designs of flowers and ivy cut out to show the shimmery gold silk fabric beneath, and then overlaid in a delicate black vintage lace.

The day has been more fun that I had thought and I am finally beginning to feel like Sera and I are getting to know, and like, each other. By the time we finally get back home it is dark and I am so exhausted that I fall asleep in my jeans and pullover on top of the comforter.

When I open my eyes, the light funneling in through the curtains tells me it is near afternoon. I sit up with a groan and check the time. One-ten. In six hours I have to be at a party filled with Immortals, and I feel like crap. I lay back down and a loud groan escapes my lips as I pull the comforter up over my face to block out the too bright sunlight. I am almost asleep again when a knock sounds on my door. “Adelin? Why are you still in bed?” Sera asks as she opens the door a crack and pokes her head in.

“Ugh,” I groan, sitting up.

“Are you all right? You don’t look too good.” She walks over to me, concern clouding her face.

“Thanks,” I reply dryly.

“You know I didn’t mean it like that. Get up and take a shower- it’ll make you feel more lively- but first….I got you something to go with your dress tonight.” She sits on the edge of the bed and produces a medium sized, flat rectangular box wrapped in shiny silver paper from behind her back. She holds it up teasingly a few inches out of reach, tilting it from side to side causing the sun to glint enticing off the surface.

Intrigued, I reach out for it and carefully undo the wrapping to expose a plain white lidded box. Gingerly I lift the lid and fold apart the red tissue paper inside to reveal— “Huh? What’s this?” I glance up at Sera, confused.

“A mask,” she laughs. “The party tonight is a masquerade. I knew you didn’t have a mask and I thought I’d surprise you.” Suddenly the things Vraiden had said about having to find him at the party made sense. Of course. I cautiously pull the mask out to get a better look. It was beautiful, all black and shaped like an oversized bow tie with a faint silvery sparkle glinting across the surface. Two black silk ribbons flutter loosely at the sides- simple but elegant. I love it.

“Thank you!” I squeal with a wide smile.

“You’re welcome. Now…out of bed. Shower first then come down and grab some food,” she replies before standing to leave.

The combination of a shower and food does help to revitalize me somewhat. I am practically bouncing in gleeful anticipation as I pull on my dress and put the finishing touches on my hair and make-up. I opt for a natural look with my make-up, adding just a hint of golden sparkle around my eyes, and leave my hair long and flowing down my back in tumultuous curls. Satisfied, I grab my mask and head downstairs, feeling more like a princess in a game of make-believe than a guest to a party.

In the car I adjust and re-adjust my mask, anxiety getting the better of me. I am fiddling with my dress as we pull up in front of the Blacks’ house, my hands falling idly into my lap when I glance up.

The house is even more breathtaking than the previous times I visited. Almost all of the windows are alit with a soft glow, the front doors wide open, welcoming. Party guests are milling around on the meticulous lawn clad in sequined ball gowns and expensive tuxedos, each face hidden behind an extravagant mask. Soft white twinkle lights are elegantly strewn across the hedges and dangle from nearby trees, along with accenting each of the windows, making the house look ethereal.

We pull up the circular driveway and stop near the front doors. A valet in a classic black and white tuxedo, complete with a white eye mask, opens the car door. “Mademoiselle,” he says with a slight French accent and an offer of his hand. I accept and allow him to help me from the vehicle as an identically dressed valet does the same for Sera before taking her keys to park the car.

As we stroll in through the front doors, I am instantly taken aback at the sheer number of guests. Sera must have noticed my start because she leans in closer, shielding her mouth with her hand as she speaks. “These are only the lucky few who were invited- the richest, most powerful. Mostly only Pure Immortals with a select number of those like me mixed in.” I balk at the word ‘few’- there had to be at least one-hundred guests present, and that was just a guess based on what I could see. More than likely there are more guests out back. “There’s Moira. We better go say hello.” I scan the crowd during the time it takes to walk over to Moira, hoping to catch a glimpse of Vraiden. Everywhere I look there are masks, making it impossible to recognize anyone’s faces- not that I actually really knew anyone here anyway.

“There you are Sera!” Moira chastises when we walk up. “Hello Adelin. Don’t you look lovely? I was beginning to think the two of you weren’t going to show up!”

“Nonsense, we wouldn’t miss one of your parties,” Sera replies with a laugh. “Your dress is gorgeous!”

“Thank you,” Moira replies as she smoothes down the white fabric.