The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (122 page)

             
“Dean.”

             
“Did he steal it?”

             
“No,” I glared, although I couldn’t blame him for coming to that assumption. I had thought the same thing when Dean first presented the watch to me. “He asked your parents if I could have something of yours and this is what your stepmother gave him.”

             
He ran his thumb over the face of the watch. “Figures that bitch would give up my grandfather’s watch.”

             
“You can have it back.” I went to take it off.

             
“No, you keep it.” I looked at him confused. Clearly this was something that meant a lot to him. “I’m sorry. I’m glad she gave you this. I want you to have it,” he smiled, holding my hand.

             
He was still sitting on my legs and I needed to get up. With him this close it was harder to resist and I was running out of excuses to keep pulling away. “You can let me go now,” I said softly.

             
His face turned serious and he placed his hand softly on my cheek. “I don’t ever want to let you go.” My breath caught as I let the words sink in. Before I had the chance to protest he was pressing his lips to mine. I no longer had the strength to stop him. I no longer wanted to. When he was kissing me the only thing on my mind was how much I wanted him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my fingers in his hair deepening the kiss. He didn’t hesitate when I parted my lips and welcomed his tongue inside my mouth.

             
I didn’t care about anything else at the moment. All I cared about was that I was with Tristan. His lips started to trail down my neck, collarbone, and across my chest. “Tristan,” I said breathlessly. “I want you.” I could feel the smile on his lips as they traveled back up my neck.

             
“Are you sure?” he asked as he softly brushed his lips against mine.

             
“Yes,” I said a little too excitedly. I heard him chuckle under his breath, but I didn’t care. I pushed him to floor and sat on top of him attacking his lips with mine. My hands were groping every inch of his body, needing to feel him, to touch him. I tugged at his shirt trying to pull it off, but only succeeded halfway.

             
“Ella,” he said, holding me back. “I know you know I was thinking about tearing each other’s clothes off, but –”

             
“You can’t tell me you don’t want to?” I interrupted, not giving him the chance to finish. I was really confused, because yes I knew what he was thinking earlier, but his mind was a mix of emotion and everything was jumbled together.

             
“Oh no I do, but I prefer we move this to the bed,” he smiled. I smiled back as I pushed myself off of him and then held out my hand to help him. He threw me a wicked smile before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I giggled and squealed when he smacked me on my behind.

             
He threw me down on the bed and I laughed. “Come here you,” I purred and beckoned with my finger.

             
He gave me his cocky smile before he took off his shirt and climbed on top of me. I placed my hands on his chest and felt his heart racing. He gently brushed back a piece of my hair and caressed my face. “I love you la mia bella stella,” he whispered.

             
“I love you too, Tristan,” I said, pulling his lips to mine. Wasting no time, his hands moved down to my waist. He tugged at my shirt and swiftly pulled it off over my head.

             
His eyes widened at the sight of all my body art. “You were very busy I see,” he said with a quirky smile.

             
“Too much?” I asked nervously. I never cared before what anyone thought about my tattoos, but for some reason it mattered to me what Tristan thought – maybe because he was part of the reason behind them.

             
“No, I just never expected you to do something like this?”

             
“Why, because I’m a prude?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

             
“Are you really going to start a fight with me now?”

             
“You started it,” I said childishly.

             
“Ella, you are beautiful inside and out. Everything about you is everything I could want in a girl. I love all of you, including your new body art,” he said. “I love your smile. I love the way you look at me when you’re annoyed with me…like now,” he laughed. I couldn’t help but smile. “I love your sense of humor and the kindness in your heart,” he placed his hand on my chest. “I love your big, beautiful…” he paused, hand moving slowly, cocky smile on his face. I was about to pinch him when he said, “Green eyes and the way they sparkle when I do this.” He pressed his lips tenderly to mine making me want to melt.

             
“What else?”

             
“I love your long beautiful hair,” he gripped one of the blue streaks and stopped.

             
“It’s a side effect from my powers,” I said sourly.

             
“It gives you an edge,” he winked. “Although I always knew you had a darker side to you.”

             
“Tristan,” I giggled.

             
“I love your lips,” he said, kissing me again, lingering a little longer this time. “And the way your skin feels.” He started to work his way down my neck, stopping at my chest. He looked up and smiled. I just laughed and rolled my eyes. “I love every inch of your beautiful body, including your tattoos.” He traced his fingers lightly across the tattoos on my stomach, sending shivers through my entire body.

             
“The tattoos are exotically beautiful just like you are. They’re a perfect touch to an already perfect girl.”

             
“Tristan, I am far from perfect.”

             
“To me you are the picture of perfection. My beautiful star,” he whispered, caressing my cheek. His eyes met mine and I could no longer hold back. I slid my hand behind his neck and pulled him down on top of me. I kissed him so hard I thought I might lose my breath. It felt so right. I never felt like I belonged anywhere, but there, with Tristan.

             
His hands slid up my slides, slowly. It felt like the caress of a warm summer breeze tickling my skin. He glided his fingertips tenderly across my stomach, making me ache for more. The slow descend of my pants was a torturous play on his part and I knew he was doing it on purpose too. He wanted me to beg. I held my breath as he slid them off at a painstakingly slow rate.

             
He started at the tips of my toes. His lips trailed up my legs, leaving tiny echoes of ecstasy in their wake. I pulled him up to my lips needing to feel him. Then I pushed him down and rolled over on top. I tore off his pants in one swift slip. I ran my hands up his chest and around his neck pulling him closer to me. I never wanted anybody more than I wanted him at that moment.

             
He sat up and I wrapped my legs around him. He slipped his fingers in my hair, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss, his other hand pressing into my lower back. I could feel his emotions and how badly he wanted me as much as I wanted him. His hands started to roam up and down my back leaving the hairs on my skin to stand straight up. He unhooked my bra and softly pulled it forward, his eyes never leaving mine. Before I even heard the bra hit the floor he was pushing me down and climbing on top of me. I allowed him to explore every inch of my body and with every gentle caress I let out a tiny moan.

             
He pulled the sheets back inviting me to join him. I brushed my hand across his check and he held it there, closing his eyes. I knew he was nervous, I could feel him shaking. “Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered, encouraging him to keep going.

             
“I promise I’ll be gentle.” He kissed me then, taking away any pain I might have felt. His hips pressed against mine, I gripped the sheets, gasping. He moved slowly, steady, while his hand caressed my arms, sides, and face. I never thought I could ever feel something as powerful as this. He tangled his hand in my hair and pressed himself closer. I gripped his shoulders, feeling an explosion of pleasure. I was on a high and I never wanted to come down.

             
I ran my hands through his hair and down his back, pressing him close to me, wanting to feel his skin against mine. It was like nothing I have ever experienced and I never wanted it to stop. I kissed him hard and I kissed him fierce. He shook and quivered and paused to catch his breath. When I thought I couldn’t take anymore my whole body exploded with a light from within. So bright it lit up the whole room and just as fast as it came it was gone.

             
Tristan’s eyes fell upon me and he smiled. “You are the most amazing thing in my world.” I smiled as he laid his head on my chest to catch his breath. I couldn’t stop shivering. My whole body was quaking from the desire. “Are you cold?”

             
“No,” I said breathless. I slid down so I was face to face with him. “This is what you do to me.” I placed his hand over my racing heart. He took mine and placed it over his. I smiled and rested my weak head against the pillow.

Chapter 8

“How do you feel?”

             
“Amazing. I feel like I’m floating on air.”

             
He smiled and lay back on the bed. I wrapped my arm around him and laid my head on his chest so I could listen to the beautiful sound of his heartbeat while he ran his fingers up and down my back as he sent me into a state of pure bliss. “Thanks for the shag, but I think I should be leaving now,” Tristan said, getting up.

             
I smacked him and he laid back down laughing. “Ha-ha very funny.”

             
“I’m scared to fall asleep,” he confessed.

             
“Why?”

             
“Because I’m afraid this is all a dream and when I wake up you’ll be gone.”

             
I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You’re not going to go crazy again are you? You need more blood?”

             
“No Ella,” he said, pulling me back to him. “The only thing I’m crazy about is you. I just…I don’t know how to explain it.”

             
“I think I might have something that will help.” I got up and walked over to my suitcase and then returned to the bed handing Tristan my grandmother’s cross. “You should have this back.”

             
“Ella that’s your –”

             
“I want you to have it. A little something to remind you that this is real and I will still be here when you wake up.” I helped him put the necklace on and then I snuggled up next to him.

             
“I wish I could describe the way you make me feel, but I don’t how to word it that you would understand.”

             
“Your actions speak louder than words,” I smiled.

             
“Can you read my mind?”

             
“I can’t.”

             
“Is something wrong?”

             
“No. I just can’t get a good read. Your emotions are so overrun I can’t get a clear look. It’s like they’re all jumbled together. Plus the power is still new to me and I haven’t quite got a handle on it. This is the first time I actually allowed myself to use it.”

             
“What do you mean?”

             
“When I first received that power, it was so overwhelming I couldn’t handle it. Ms. Kraft bound my power by using a spell to block out everyone’s thoughts until I could control it. The spell just started to wear off when I arrived in Ireland.”

             
“How exactly does it work?” he asked, curious.

             
I thought for a moment. “I hear thoughts. It’s not like I hear everything, just what’s bothering the person at the moment.”

             
“And this teacher of yours was trying to help you control the power?”

             
“Yeah, she’s been trying to help me out with a lot of things.”

             
“You really like this Ms. Kraft, don’t you?”

             
“She’s one of my favorite teachers. I would love for you to meet her.” He just smiled and softly caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes, enveloped in the feel of his fingers on my skin. He started to place gentle kisses on my forehead, nose, and then lips. “I think I know what you mean about putting this feeling into words. I feel like I’m in a dream,” I said and then I remembered something. I never really put much thought into it at first, mostly because I thought Tristan was talking gibberish.

             
“Tristan?”

             
“Yes,” he mumbled, as he continued to place his lips tenderly along my neck.

             
“Earlier tonight, when you said you envision me in white when you dream about me, what did you mean?”

             
“Just that,” he stopped. “Every time I dreamed about you were wearing white.”

             
“Tell me about them, the dreams,” I said, needing to know more.

             
“Seriously?” I nodded. “Well they started shortly after I left, but I remember them as if I had them yesterday. There was one where we were on the beach and I was rubbing suntan lotion on you,” he said, smiling at the memory. I recalled having a similar dream. “Then there was one where we were in my grandmother’s garden. You had on this white strapless dress and were looking so incredibly beautiful. I was telling you the legend of the fairies.”

             
“They can hear the bluebells chiming,” I said, sitting up.

             
“You know the legend?”

             
“No,” I shook my head confused. “Tristan, was one of these dreams on a cliff?” He nodded, unsure of where I was going with this. “And the last one, we were back at the hotel in Vermont?”

             
He sat up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I placed a violet right here, behind your ear. But you already know that, don’t you,” he smiled.

             
“Tristan, how is that possible?”

             
“When I bit you, you were able to see inside my head. That’s how you know about the dreams.”

             
“No, I only felt your emotions. I didn’t see anything.”

             
“What are you saying Ella?”

             
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense, but I had the same dreams.”

             
“Maybe something similar, but not the same?” he said, looking at me funny.

             
“No Tristan, the same. When you said you envisioned me in white it triggered something. Every dream I was wearing white and I never understood why? Or how I was dreaming about being in your grandmother’s garden when I was never there before? And the last dream…when I said goodbye…” I looked down not wanting to think about it.

             
“The dream when you came to me and told me you had to leave…you had to move on. I thought you meant your next life, that you couldn’t stay and it was your time to go. It broke my heart to let you go, but I thought I had to,” he said.

             
I watched a tear fall down his cheek. I swiped it away with my thumb. “No Tristan. I thought I needed to let go of you, of this fantasy that I created. I thought it was the only way I could get on with my life, but I was wrong. I never wanted to leave you, but I thought I had to.” He pressed his forehead to mine and I inhaled his sweet minty scent. “What does this mean? How are we able to have the exact same dream?” I asked puzzled.

             
“Maybe it’s another power of yours.” I pulled back and looked at him not understanding. “I didn’t think it existed anymore, but it’s the only explanation.”

             
“What are you talking about?”

             
“Dream walking, it’s the ability to get inside another’s dreams. It’s an old, ancient power that hasn’t existed for years, and even back then very few were gifted with the power. I never knew anyone who possessed the power or even if it still exist.”

             
“Then how do you know for sure? You said so yourself it doesn’t exist anymore.”

             
“It’s the only other explanation. I wouldn’t have believed it possible if you didn’t already possess so much power, more than anyone. But you, it doesn’t surprise me.” He kissed my hand as if this was the greatest thing in the world.

             
“Do you have that power?” He shook his head. “Then how would we have the same dream?”

             
He tapped the side of my head with his finger. “Because you created it. It’s what your mind wanted to see.”

             
“That doesn’t explain about your grandmother’s garden. I would have not been able to create that and I would not have worn white,” I said, eyeing him.

             
“You raise a good question,” he said, scratching his chin.

             
“You’re sure you’re not a dream…whatever?”

             
“Walker…and no, I’m not.”

             
“Then how do we know for sure I am one?”

             
“It’s the only reasonable explanation,” he said, scratching his head, not quite convinced himself. “Or… it’s possible that we have that strong of a connection that we can visit each other in our dreams.”

             
“Is that even possible?”

             
“Ella, haven’t you learned by now anything is possible, especially when it comes to us.”

             
“You’re right, but why? How come it only started after you were gone?”

             
He sighed frustrated and scrubbed his hands down his face. “You’re not going to let this go are you?”

             
“Hello, it’s me you’re talking to.”

             
“Right, okay. This is what I believe. I think that when you healed me it created this connection, but we both thought we were dead so we had no idea.”

             
“That would explain a lot. I mean I always had this feeling you were still here, but I just thought I was holding on to wishful thinking.”

             
“I know what you mean. I felt it too,” he said and that was it. Knowing we had this soulful connection only brought us closer together. We made love for the second time that night and it was just as wonderful as the first.

             
Afterwards, I lay across his chest while he gently stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

             
I knew I was dreaming when I saw I was wearing the small black leather dress I wore earlier tonight. I was in the same bar we found Tristan and I was alone. I looked around the room and found him sitting at the bar, smiling back at me in the mirror. “Okay, now I know this was all you,” I said, pointing to the dress.

             
He turned around and gave me the once over. “It is a really great dress,” he smiled cockily. I just rolled my eyes. “You don’t like it, change it.”

             
“How?”

             
He got up and walked over to me and held my hands tightly. “Close your eyes and just envision it.” So that’s what I did. I closed my eyes and imagined myself wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt.

             
When I opened up my eyes that’s exactly what I was wearing. “That’s much better.” He pouted. “What?” I asked.

             
He closed his eyes and then opened them with a smile. I was now wearing a nice, white spring dress. When he saw my expression he changed it. “Would you prefer this?” I looked down to see I was wearing a barely there, white bikini. I let him know I wasn’t happy with his choice of outfit. “Okay, how about this?” Now he had me in some cheap, swanky, black lingerie.

             
“You’re really loving this, aren’t you?”

             
“Just a little,” he said, pinching his fingers slightly.

             
“Okay, you wanna play? Have it your way.” I took a step back. I closed my eyes and envisioned Tristan wearing the same black lingerie he had put me in. When I opened my eyes I started to bust up laughing.

             
“Very funny Ella,” he said, not amused.

             
“What, you can dress me in trashy lingerie but when I do it to you?” He pulled me closer and kissed me. I pushed him back. “Sorry, but I’m not into guys who dress in drag.”

             
“You were the one who dressed me. Should I be worried?”

             
I rolled my eyes and imagined him wearing a nice pair of slacks and a blue button down shirt. Then I changed myself back into the dress but made it pink. He looked at me funny. “What, you don’t like it? I know it’s not what you rather have me wear, but it’s more comfortable.”

             
“Not that, here,” he said, touching my dress, and turning it white.

             
“What is it with you and white?”

             
“When I think of you I think of you as an angel. Someone who is pure and full of life. Your very essence is what –”

             
“Okay seriously,” I said, stopping him there. “That sounds like one of your cheesy lines.”

             
“Ella I am serious, dead serious. You have any idea what you mean to me?”

             
“Tristan, I wish you would stop putting me up on this pedestal. I’m not that girl.”