*I don't own any of the characters from the Covenant. I only own the original characters in this story.

Chapter 10

"Okay, I have to ask," I said to Reid, "what is up the fingerless gloves?" After dinner Tyler, Caleb, Reid and I came into the play room while the parents were in the fancy living room. Caleb and I finished our game of foosball. Which he won, but in my defense I was wearing a dress. We were watching Tyler and Reid play pool.

"Do you really want to know?" he asked. He was lining up a shot. Tyler only had one solid left besides the eight ball. Reid had three stripes plus the eight.

"Yes, I'm curious." I was leaning against the bar. Reid took his shot and made a combination. Tyler shook his head. They were playing for money.

"Don't do it Reid," Caleb was shaking his head.

"Do what? The lady asked a question," he said with a devilish smirk. He made his next shot. I went behind the bar to get a bottle of water. I walked back around and stood by Caleb. Reid won the game after making the eight ball. "Sam lets play a game of pool." I looked at him skeptically. "You win and I will tell you why I wear gloves." I walked over to Tyler and he handed me the pool stick.

"Okay," I said. "What do you want if you win?" I gave him an innocent smile.

"That's a loaded a question," he said tapping his chin.

"Keep it clean Reid," Tyler said with his arms crossed over his chest. He sounded irritated. Caleb was looking at Reid with his arms crossed over his chest. I noticed when the guys didn't like something this was their signature stance.

"Fine Baby Boy," Reid didn't sound happy. "You sure know how to kill a guy's fantasy." He walked over to me and pulled me close. Our bodies were pressed together. "I win, I get to pick my nickname."

"Hmmm…." I preferred Bubba for Reid. The main reason was I know he doesn't like it. "Okay, deal." We shook hands. Tyler racked the balls for us. Reid walked to the other side of the pool table.

"You can break. You do know how to play?" Reid asked. His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

"A little," I answered. Actually my dad use to hustle pool for extra money in college. I've played since I was old enough to hold a stick.

"I just don't want to take advantage of the situation," he said innocently.

"Since when?" Caleb asked scoffing.

"Hey, I am very honest when I play. I like to play on an even level playing field." Reid was getting upset. I snickered. Even I knew he was lying.

"Reid, you are so full of it," Tyler said laughing. I chalked up my stick.

"Let's just play," I said. The brake was beautiful. All the balls moved every where. I made two solids. Caleb and Tyler had huge grins on their faces.

"That's my cousin," Tyler said with pride. I gave him a smile. Caleb squeezed my shoulder. I was lining up my next shot when Reid came over.

"Maybe we should have a new bet," He whispered in my ear. His voice was husky and I could feel his breath in my ear and on my neck. I had a little smile on my lips. I hiked up my dress a little to show my thigh. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Reid tilt his head and smile. If he was distracted by a simple glimpse of my thigh, than this was going to be easy. I took my shot and made it. I turned towards him. We were so close our noses were barely touching.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked. I made sure my voice was low and sweet. We stood up smiling. I could see Tyler and Caleb leaning towards us trying to hear our conversation.

"If I win I get to change my nickname and I get to kiss you," he said with a smirk. Hell no. If I win I only get to know why he wears gloves. Forget that, I want something. I placed my hand on his chest. I let my fingers walk up his chest to his neck and then rest in his hair. I lightly grabbed a hand full of hair and gently tugged it.

"If you win, you get to kiss me or you get to choose your nickname. Either way I get to know why you wear gloves. If I win you owe me a favor to be collected at a later date and you have to tell me about the gloves," I said as I lightly rubbed my body against his and bit my bottom lip. I made sure he a good view of my breasts.

He licked his lips. "Deal." I smiled and let my hand take the same path from his hair to his chest. I walked around the table to line up my next shot.

"Hey what were you two talking about?" Tyler asked as I walked past him. Caleb was standing next to him.

"Just making a new bet, nothing bad cousin, either way I win," I lined up my shot. Four ball corner pocket was the easiest one. I hit the cue ball and watched it roll. It tapped the four ball like it was supposed to but for some reason it barely wobbled. I felt something. I closed my eyes and could feel Reid using. What a damn cheat. I opened my eyes to see Reid with big smirk on his face. I wanted to smack it off him but I couldn't.

"Nice try Princess, but let me show you how to clear a table," Reid made a combo shot. He didn't waste time making another shot. Reid moved to his next shot. The only way to make it was to jump the cue ball over my ball. He took his time on this shot. He looked at it from every angle before he decided. He took the shot and was able to hit his ball in and have the cue ball land perfectly for the next shot. I was slightly pissed but also a little flattered that he would go to all this trouble for a kiss. Caleb was pissed. I walked over to him.

"How was the dance? I haven't gotten a chance to ask Sarah," I asked. I looked back at Reid to see what he was doing, but he was looking at Tyler. Tyler was looking at Caleb.

"Oh, the dance was a okay I guess," He said reluctantly. "Um, Sarah got sick so we a didn't go. But it's okay, we can go to the next dance. Excuse me I need to check on my mom." He walked out of the room before I got a chance to ask how Sarah was doing. I looked at Tyler. He was blushing and the tips of his ears were red.

"Did I say something wrong?" I felt bad if I did something to upset Caleb.

"Don't worry about Caleb, he's probably worried about his mom or something," Tyler said. He gave me a smile.

"Thanks Ty," I said. I still felt bad. I looked back at the table and Reid only had the eight ball. "Hey, I didn't see your last short."

"You need to pay attention to the table, babe. Like now," he said with that damn smirk. He tapped the corner pocket. He winked at me as he hit the cue ball. That stupid ball hit the eight ball knocking it into the corner pocket.

"Crap," I said. I shook my head. I can't believe I lost. This sucks.

"Well, let me see if I remember the new bet," Reid said. He put the pool stick back on the rack. He strolled towards me with that smirk of his, tapping his chin.

"Sam, what did you guys bet?" asked Tyler. He had his arms crossed over his chest. He's not happy and he doesn't even know the bet.

"Win or lose he has to tell me about the gloves. If I win he owes me a favor to be used at a later date," I said. I put the pool stick away and took a couple of steps away from Reid and Tyler. They were both walking towards me from either side of the pool table. "If he wins he gets to pick a new nickname." I put my hands behind me looking for the door knob. I finally found it.

"There is more to the bet than that Princess," Reid said with that damn smirk of his.

"Oh yeah I forgot," I said with a giggle. "It was either a new nickname or he gets to kiss me." I opened the door after I said the last part. I closed it behind me before either one of them could reach me. I walked down the hall as fast as I could. I turned the corner to cut across the kitchen to the living room when I hit something solid. I almost fell backwards but someone caught me. I looked up to see Uncle Joseph.

"Where are you off to in a hurry?" He asked smiling. He let go when I was balanced.

"Oh Reid and I made a bet," I smiled. "I lost. Tyler just found out about the terms of the bet and isn't particularly happy right now."

"Sam, get back here," I could hear Tyler getting closer.

"Yeah Princess you have to settle all bets at the end of the night," Reid said. He sounded overjoyed. I heard a smack. "That hurt Baby Boy."

"Yikes," I squeaked. I hid behind Uncle Joseph.

"What bet needs to be settled son?" Uncle Joseph asked as Reid came around the corner.

"Dad," Reid's ears were red. "It's just a friendly bet." I could see him trying to compose himself.

"Really," Uncle Joseph asked. "Then why is Tyler mad?"

"Well Sam and I made an innocent bet.." Uncle Joseph cut Reid off.

"Tyler?" Uncle Joseph asked. He had his arms crossed over his chest. I had to hold in my laughter. I wonder if it's a guy thing.

"If Reid won, he gets to kiss Sam," Tyler was pointing between me and Reid. "But Reid cheated." Tyler emphasized the word cheated. I looked at my Uncle and he raised an eyebrow to Reid.

"I knew it. You did cheat," I said. I knew I didn't hear the shot before he made the eight ball. "Where you that desperate to win a kiss?" I knew he used. Which is still cheating, but to just swipe the ball from the table was just bad.

"Reid did you," Uncle Joseph was staring at Reid giving him a look that I couldn't quite read. "Did you u.." he looked at me and stopped speaking. "Did you cheat?" He looked upset but there was something else going on that I wasn't sure about.

"Sam what's on your arm?" Reid asked. I looked at my arm. Damn it, the concealer I put on to cover the bruises was coming off. It must've happen when I ran into Uncle Joseph.

"It's a bruise," I said. "And don't change the subject." I covered my arm with my hand. It wasn't as bad as it was a couple of days ago.

"Sam the bruises look like fingerprints? What happen?" Uncle Joseph moved my hand to look at my arm, Reid and his big mouth.

"Someone was trying to get my attention and grabbed my arm a little too tightly. It was an accident," I tried to shrug it off. I looked at Tyler trying to let him know to be quiet.

"The next time someone grabs you," Uncle Joseph didn't look convinced. "I want you to tell one of the boys or an adult. Okay?"

"I promise Uncle Joseph," I replied. He smiled and kissed the top of my head.

"Reid, no more betting with Sam," he lightly tapped Reid in the back of the head. "You kids behave yourself."

"What did I miss?" Caleb asked as he walked around the corner.

"Sam has a bruise on her arm, shaped like a hand print," Reid said. He had his arms crossed over his chest. Caleb looked at my arm.

"Sam," he started to say.

"Please Caleb don't go all big brother on me. Uncle Joseph already talked to me about it. I promise I will tell someone if I get a mark on me. I swear, cross my heart and hope to die if I break my promise." I looked at all three of them. Tyler just mouthed 'you better'. "Oh I almost forgot, Reid isn't allowed to bet me anymore." Caleb raised an eyebrow at Reid.

"By the way, thanks Baby Boy for ratting me out to my dad," Reid punched Tyler.

"Aaawww, that hurt," Tyler rubbed his arm. Caleb looked from Reid to Tyler.

"The bet was if Reid won he got a kiss," I stated. "I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed. Night." I walked through the kitchen and past the living room. I said good night to the parents, I was half way up the stairs when Reid caught me.

"Hey, what's going on? You still owe me kiss" he said with a smirk.

"Your dad said no betting. Besides I'm tired. It's been a long day and I haven't been sleeping well," I gave him a smile. I was walking to my room. Reid was right behind me. "Quit looking at my ass Reid."

"I can't help it, you have a great ass and don't get me started on your.." I turned around and put my hand over his mouth.

"Do not finish that sentence," I tried not to smile. "If I give you that kiss you so desperately had to cheat for to secure a win," I said with a raised eyebrow, "will you stop commenting on my body parts?" I could feel his smug smirk against my hand. He nodded yes.

Reid pushed my hand away from his mouth so fast, I barely had time to register him grabbing my face and kissing me. His lips were soft and gentle. He gently bit my bottom lip. I opened my mouth to protest but he took this as an invite. His tongue slowly caressed my tongue. My treacherous tongue caressed his tongue back. Reid released my face. He placed one hand in my hair and the other was on my lower back. He pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his waist. He gave me small gentle kisses as he slowly pulled away. Damn he is good but for some reason a part of my brain was comparing it the dream kiss I had with Pogue. I rested my forehead against his chest. Here I am with a great looking guy and all I can think of is Pogue. Who by the way has a girlfriend, you idiot.

Reid had his face next to my ear. I could hear him trying to catch his breath. My breathing wasn't much better. Boy could he kiss. "I wear the gloves because it adds to the mystery and I think they look cool," his shallow breath brushed against my ear.

"I hope I'm interrupting," I could tell it was Tyler. Reid kissed my forehead.

"Night Princess, I'll see you tomorrow." He winked at me and nodded towards Tyler as he walked by. I turned around and went into my room. I didn't get a chance to close my door before Tyler walked in.

"Listen Sam, Reid is my best friend and there are just certain things that can't happen," he was pacing around my room. I was pulling out my pajamas from the dresser when it registered in my brain what he just said.

"Are you trying to say I'm not good enough for your best friend?" I was facing him with my hands on my hips. I like Reid but he's not boyfriend material. He's not ready for that type of commitment. If I wanted a friend with benefits than Reid would definitely be that guy.

"No, he's not good enough for you," he replied. "Reid is a great guy. He is a loyal friend and I trust him with my car." I laughed. "Honestly he really is great but he doesn't know how to be a boyfriend. I just don't want you getting hurt." I walked over to him and gave him a hug.

"Ty, it was just a kiss. I lost a bet and now it's done," I looked at him with a smile. "Besides, I bet you tomorrow he will flirt with all the girls including me." I grabbed my pajamas and went to the bathroom to change. I did my normal routine of washing my face and brushing my teeth. I threw my dirty clothes in the hamper. I changed into my pajamas. I opened the door to find Tyler sitting on my bed in sweat pants and a shirt.

"I wanted to say good night and be ready. I think the parents want us to stick around the house all week. I heard my dad telling Rosa, the cook, that dinner was so good he can't wait to see what she has in store for us the rest of the week."

"What does that have to do with us? Maybe he really is looking forward to her cooking," I said shrugging my shoulders. I pulled my hair into a ponytail.

"Please tell me Reid didn't do that to your neck?" he asked pointing. Crap, today is not my day to hide things.

"No, it's not from Reid." I could feel my face getting hot. "It's hard to explain, when I figure it out I will tell you." He looked at me for a long time.

"Promise?" he asked. I stuck out my pinkie and he hooked his pinkie with mine.

"Promise." We said good night and I climbed into bed.

I turned the light off and watched the shadows move across the ceiling. How the hell am I going to explain the hickey to him when I can't even explain it to myself? I looked at my cell. I still haven't heard from Chase. I don't understand him. He wanted me here so bad but yet he completely ignores me. So much has happen and yet I feel like I am missing something. I closed my eyes and every dream I had of Chase, Sarah, Kate and the guys was playing. The last one from the barn played over and over. I know the voice was familiar. It was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't quite grasp it.

I opened my eyes. I was walking down a partial lite hallway. My feet were cold. I looked down and noticed I was in my pajama pants and tank top. I rubbed my hands against my arms trying to warm up. At the end of the hall I could see a guy walking towards me but he entered a room. I looked around and noticed signs pointing to different rooms. I was in a hospital. I got closer to the room the guy walked into. I heard mumbling but the closer I got the clearer the mumbling was. My eyes shot open wide. Chase was talking to Kate. I could see her through the door.

"I thought they were releasing you today?" Chase asked. He was holding her hand and caressing her face.

"They decided to keep me a day longer," Kate had her hand in his hair. "I missed you." Chase gave her a kiss and smiled. "I'm still confused about how I feel about you. I've been with him for so long that I don't know if I'm with him out of habit or if I still love him."

"Kate, I don't want to pressure you into making a decision," he gave her a sad look. "Caleb and I had a huge fight and of course the guys are taking his side. I think it would be best if I left for a while," he said. She sat up pulling his hands away from her.

"Why? I thought you wanted to be with me," she said hurt. She had tears in her eyes.

"Kate I do want to be with you, but it hurts to see you and him together. I won't be gone long. I have some stuff I need to take care of first," he wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm sorry Chase. I know it's wrong to put you in this position but I can't decide overnight. I just need a little more time."

"I know and I don't want you to make a rash decision. If you choose me I want it to be because that is what you truly want and not something you feel pressured to do." He looked where I was standing. I looked at him and he smiled. Kate looked in my direction. I waved but she didn't acknowledge me. Maybe I imagined the smile.

"What's wrong Chase?"

"My sister found out she is related to Tyler." Kate gave him a look. "His dad and her mom are brother and sister. Now she is with them and I know they are going to fill her head with a bunch of lies about me," he took her hand and kissed it. "Please don't let them turn you against me. I couldn't bare it if I lost you because of them" She placed her hands on his face.

"I won't let them. I can make my own decisions," she said smiling.

I heard my name being called. I looked around to find the person calling me. The hallway was empty. I turned back to Kate and Chase but they were gone. Instead I was looking at Pogue. He was moving around kicking his legs. He was saying my name as I walked into his room. I shook him lightly.

"Pogue wake up," I whispered. He opened his eyes. I moved the hair from his face so I could see his hazel eyes. "I think you were dreaming."

"No, it felt like a nightmare," he said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. I fall on top of him. He scooted over and pulled me under the covers. "I was thinking about you all day." I was on my side looking at him. My head was on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" I tried to move to give him more room on the bed, but he held me close.

"I'm doing better now that you're here," he said kissing my forehead. "How was dinner?" he was playing with my ponytail.

"It was fine. Everyone loves me," I said. We laughed. It felt good being in his arms.

"Do you mind?" he asked pulling on my hair tie. I shook my head no. He gently pulled the tie off. "I love when your hair is down. I like running my fingers through it." I smiled.

"Pogue," I said. "Do you think this dream is weird?"

"If it's dream I don't want to wake up," he was caressing my face. He always says the right thing. Of course it's a dream that's why he is saying the things I want to hear.

"What about your girlfriend?" I asked in a small voice. I really didn't know what I wanted him to say.

"That's the weird thing. She was all I thought about until the accident. I heard she was in the hospital so I took off to be with her. But when I was lying on the road, all I could think about was you. Then out of nowhere you appeared. If you hadn't called 911, I don't know how long I would have been out there on the road." I remember that dream. I was so scared for him.

"Let's talk about something else. I don't want to think about you that way," I scooted closer to him as a chill went down my spine. He pulled me tighter towards him.

"Finish telling me about dinner," he lifted my chin and kissed my lips lightly.

I smiled at him. "Dinner was great. Everyone was talking and I loved it. I always wanted a big family. After dinner I played Caleb in foosball. He won, but only because I was wearing a dress." He laughed and kissed the top of my head.

"Normally I don't want details about a dress but I'm curious," he said.

"It was strapless and went to my knees. It was white and had purple flowers on it. It wasn't tight but it did hug my curves," I said. He moaned into my hair. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Did I hurt you by lying here?" I tried to push away from him, but he just held me tight.

"No, I'm fine. I was just imagining you in the dress. These curves," he said running a hand down the side of breast to my waist and resting on my hip, "would look good in anything." I hate that this is a dream. "Okay, let me get my mind out of the gutter for a moment." I shook my head.

"I played Reid in pool," I said. "He doesn't like his nickname and I wanted to know why he wears those fingerless gloves."

"What's his nickname?"

"Bubba," I said. Pogue was laughing so hard the bed was shaking. "If you keep laughing the nurse is going to come in and then the dream will be over."

"Okay, I'll stop," he said still laughing. "So who won?"

"Well I was winning so we changed the bet," I said.

"What was the bet?" the laughter was gone from his voice.

"Win or lose he tells me about the gloves. If I won he owes me a favor to be collected on at a later date. If Reid won he could change his nickname or he wanted a kiss."

"So you kissed him?" Pogue sounded upset.

"What makes you think he won? Ye of little faith," I said hurt.

"Sorry I just figured, sorry," he said. "So you won?"

"No, I lost," I said still hurt.

"So you did kiss him." He sounded mad. He didn't let me go but I could feel the tension.

"It was part of the bet," I said looking up at him. He was looking at the ceiling. "You can't be mad."

"Why not?" he asked. He was still looking at the ceiling.

"We are not a couple. You have a girlfriend and this is a dream," I said wiggling out of his arms. I turned his face towards me. "Please look at me," I begged. He slowly lowered his eyes. I could see the hurt and anger in his eyes. "If it's any consolation I thought of you." He wrapped his arms around me and pulled down to him. His hands were in my hair and his lips were slowly kissing mine.

He nibbled on my bottom lip and his tongue was in my mouth caressing my tongue so gently I couldn't help the moan that escaped my mouth. I could feel him smile when I moaned. I felt his hands move to my hips. He picked me up and had me straddling him. I pulled away from his mouth.

"No, I'm too heavy to be on you. Your still injured," I was touching his chest. His hard muscles under my hands sent chills all over my body.

"If it's a dream it doesn't matter," he said. He pulled me back into a kiss. His hot breath was in my mouth, on my skin and in my hair. His lips tasted musky yet slightly sweet. His tongue was exploring my mouth and neck. "I can't get enough of you. You taste so good." His hands were in my hair, down my back, or making slow circles on my hip bone.

His hair felt good in my hands. I kissed along his jaw line. I got just below his ear where his neck and jaw line meet and he froze. I gently licked and sucked on that spot. I could hear a rumble in his chest. It was slowing making its way up his throat. The noise that escaped his mouth was almost a growl. I gave a throaty laugh against his skin. He kissed my lips long and slow.

"We have to stop," he said as my forehead rested on his. "If we don't one of us is going to be hurting later." I nodded laughing. I slowly slid off him and went back to lying next to him with my head on his shoulder. We were both trying to catch our breath. "If this really is a dream, it's lasted longer than any of the other ones."

"I noticed that too," I tried to hold in my yawn, but I couldn't. He kissed my head. I felt myself slowly drifting off. "I hope this isn't a dream."

"Me too," he said. He pulled me closer to him.