I am Given

"We're going where?" Mackayla Lane looked astounded after Jericho Barrons announced that they were going away for the weekend.
"Scotland" He stated once again as he began looking over different sets of papers on the desk in his private study.
"Is there something there that your looking for?" I asked, unsure of why of all the questions because as she has learnt over the past 6 months is that everything Mr. Jericho Barrons seems to do has a purpose or reason.
"As always Ms. Lane"
We're back to Ms Lane she noted but yet there was something different in his voice, a hint of humor or a smile at that.
"A relic?"
He nods and i know that's all i would get out of him regarding the subject.
"Pack a bag. We leave first thing tomorrow morning"
He then dismisses me and i head toward my room, wondering what would someone take on a trip away with Jericho Barrons.
A thought or two entered my head but i swiftly shifted them away, shaking my head and putting those thoughts into my little box which i call 'The Jericho files", not even trying to think about the reason that thought even entered my brain because then if i started to think about it, well lets just say it would make me alot more frustrated because normal Mac just does not think like that, especially about him. I reached my second bedroom i have since moving into the bookstore, since the first Barrons had torn it apart when i had been snatched by V'Lane and taken into the land of Faery, trying to forget such things and concentrate on business.

I couldn't put my finger on it but i felt there was something different about Barrons tonight, something about this trip. We've taken a few trips together and never have one of them been a sleep over type trip. We've always came back that same night, so why is this time different? I wondered about many things. I wondered who and who he really is but that thought alone could drive me wild with aggravation, frustration and give me a damn headache so i've decided not to think about it.
He has changed, i decided. Over the past few weeks there has been something different about him, about the way he is when we are together. It's as if he can't stand to be around me which is a change, sure we have never really loved each other's company but he has never seemed disgusted if we were inches or feet apart.
Was there something wrong with me? Did i do something to make him mad?

It all started about a month ago when i woke up back at the bookstore in my own bed, lights ablaze and suddenly feeling all achey and sore all throughout my muscles and bones. Everywhere, even parts i felt embarassed about.
I wondered what happened because i could not remember a thing.
Or at least i couldn't remember anything after hiding that dreadful night, hoping day would break and things would go back to normal.
After i had got out of bed i took a look at the Calender and a week passed since that horrible night. But how can this be? I was asleep for a week without waking up? I was even more confused so i went to ask the one person who might be able to answer these questions i have.

"Barrons"
I called out as i made my way down the stairs and onto the ground floor of the bookstore.
It was clearly night, the only time that i seem to find him here but all the lights in the bookstore were blazing, as its the only way you can make sure you are safe from the shades.
And it turned out i was right, there he was in the corner sitting on one of the couches which was situated for relaxation reading.
For a moment i could have sworn that the moment he looked up at me, he flinched as his eyes locked with mine, but maybe i was seeing things.
"I wanted to ask you something..." Something was happening to me, i was beginning to lose my nerve, as if i was nervous and since when am i nervous around him?
I tried to shake it off but the feeling seemed to want to stay with me for the time being.
He waited for me to continue, i walked close enough to him that i could feel his body heat radiating in the air as if it was reaching for me.
"I.."
I couldn't do it. Couldn't even put my finger on the reason for this hesitation but for some reason, i couldn't get the words out, or even remember what i was going to ask him about.
I dropped his eye contact and stared at the wooden floor, the less i look into those dare forbidden eyes the better.
"Can i bring my own clothes or do you have something laid out for me to take?" It's been known in the past that he doesn't usually prefer my dress sense, even though lately my tastes have changed.
"No. You can bring whatever you feel like"
I nodded and turned to leave, but then he spoke up. "Is that all you wanted to ask?"
His tone of voice sounded something like sincere and concerned, those two words i've never considered would relate to this man.
This was my chance to ask them all the questions that have plaged me for the past month, things i couldn't remember, things i needed to clarify.
This was my chance and i was letting it go down the drain.
"No,that's all." He let it go and let me walk back upstairs.
I would bring it up during our trip. Maybe that way he may be more relaxed and lenient into giving me the truth, rather than lies.

After retrieving a bunch of things and putting them into a backpack, i laid down on the bed and let exhaustion take me away into dreamland.

The next morning i get woken up by a tap at my door. As i open my eyes and check the time, the tapping could only mean one thing: It was Barrons and he was telling me to get up and get ready to leave.
"Yeah, i'm up" I muttered incoherently and try to make my body move to get out of bed.
It felt like i had just gone asleep, i was having this dream of someone kissing me. It seemed familar in some way but i couldn't put my finger on in which way and to top it off i was unable to see who it was.
I found the strength to put two feet on the floor and walk to open the door, where i found a bag i assume would be breakfast and a bottled latte. This combination has become sort of a habit, every morning i wake up to the same thing. Not that i mind, as it's my favourite things, it's just weird how he knows me so well and yet i know nothing about him.

After i had finished eating and drinking the rest of my latte', i headed into the bathroom which is toward the far end of the bedroom to take a shower.
A few of the rooms in the living quarters of the bookstore also have ensuites attached to them, whether for convenience or simply that Barrons didn't want anyone looking around too much in case there were things he didn't want to be found.
Within the next 15 minutes i had showered, gotten dressed and began making sure i had packed everything i needed for this trip.
As i walked downstairs, what i saw i had to hold my breath so to stop myself from laughing or at least smiling too much.

There was Jericho Barrons standing over by the counter, in clothes i had never seen him in before less alone i imagined that he would own.
Black pants that shows off his tight muscles in his legs, a white loose shirt , with three of the buttons up the top of the shirt undone so much that you can see the skin of his smooth, hard chest which i remember so well during our intimate time down in the grotto a few months back. Nothing could ever make me forget that even though i sometimes wish i could, before that day when we bared our souls to each other, ripped skin to skin i had not consciously thought of him that way. Maybe it was my heart and mind blocking what was in front of me, but we fought, we bantered, lips upon lips, skin upon skin i could honesty say i had never experienced anything so intense like that in my entire life and my god i wanted more of it, i still do.
He had a pair of sunglasses on the top of his head with his backpack over his right shoulder.
I couldn't help but stare with my mouth hanging open. If i thought i might have lusted after him for a moment before, this moment proved that theory correct.

My left hand came up to check my mouth, to see if i had been drooling whilst in this so called trance. But luckily i hadn't gotten to that yet.
It's as if he had sensed me looking at him, the moment he turned around i licked my lips at the sight of him and for that one moment which felt like forever i felt his burning desire for her. It knocked me off my feet, emotionally not physically.
"Mac" He whispered as he saw me looking at me and i knew he could sense my desire for him, which matched his own completely.
He stepped forward, with each step he took, my heart felt like it would explode if he didn't touch me.
"I'm..." I started to say something but i wasn't sure what exactly i was trying to say.
He was now inches from me, i could feel the heat and sexual tension coming off his hard body. I inhaled it as i looked up in his deep dark eyes, wondering what was happening.
He ran one strong hand along my left arm, from wrist to shoulder blade which sent shivers down my spine, through my whole body inside and out.
My mouth opened a little and in that moment i was prepared and wanted him to kiss me. To take me in his arms and let his sizzling, hot lips touch my own.

But then the moment was taken away from me when his cell phone rung, interrupting the intense moment.
I cursed under my breath and so did he, but he took a step away from me and flipped open his cell phone.
"Barrons" he growled into the receiver.
What was happening to me? I wanted him to kiss me.
Was i under some kind of trance or spell? I've never felt this alive, this intense in front of him before. Not even down in the grotto. Something was changing between us, i could feel it and i bet he had the same feeling.
A few minutes later, he hung up and he was back to his cold, normal self as if nothing had happened or would have happened between us.
"Get your things, and lets go. We've got a plane to catch"
Same old Barrons.
I was disappointed. I don't know why, but i was and it unnerved me that i was feeling this way.
I sighed, picked up my bag from the floor and walked after him out the front door of the bookstore to his waiting car which would take us to the airport.