Chapter Six
One week later…
Flick padded into the kitchen, a little startled to find her mother huddled over the stove, absentmindedly humming along to the radio as she stirred a pot of sauce. "Mom," she smiled, greeting her with a hug.
"Well hello stranger," she chuckled, kissing her daughter's crown.
"I feel like I never see you since you started this new job. What's the deal with your new boss? Doesn't he believe in the concept of weekends or a 9-5 work week?" Flick asked, plopping herself down at the kitchen table.
"Coffee honey?" Lucy inquired, waving a pot of freshly brewed coffee in the air.
"Please," Flick nodded, stifling a yawn which seemed to amuse her mother as she poured her a mug of coffee, adding a splash of creamer and two heaped spoons of sugar; just how she liked it.
"You'd see me a lot more regularly if you surfaced from that pit of yours before noon. I feel like my children have all turned into zombies, stumbling home at God knows what hour and sleeping until late afternoon. You'll regret it come time for you to start school after summer vacation," Lucy chimed, returning to her position at the stove.
Flick shuddered, the thought of returning to school popping her little bubble of bliss. She'd been so preoccupied with Paul and everything that he made her feel for the past few weeks that she'd completely lost track of time, in fact, time didn't even seem to exist when they were together. Every time he flashed her his gorgeous smile, every time he touched her in ways she'd never been touched before, every time he kissed her until she couldn't breathe, couldn't think or see straight, she felt a flood of affection for the wild haired blonde warm her from head to toe.
She was falling for him. She was falling in love with the bad boy and despite her previous reservations, nothing else seemed to matter…
"Mike and Sam not up yet?" Flick inquired, taking a sip of the bittersweet warm liquid cupped in her hands.
"No, but I'm expecting them both to shuffle down the stairs looking and smelling like the living dead when they catch on to the scent of spaghetti and meatballs," her mom smiled to herself, removing a plate of freshly rolled meatballs from the fridge. "At least I hope so, I need to speak to you three dirty stop outs before I leave for work this evening."
"Good luck with that," Flick laughed, noticing a sparkle in her mother's eyes that hadn't been there before, in fact, she hadn't looked so perky and upbeat in a long time.
Could Santa Carla really be the murder capital of the world when so far, it seemed to bring people back to life…?
~/~
Flick stared at herself in the closet mirror, fussing with her hair as she scrutinized her appearance, ruminating her choice of outfit. She'd chosen to wear a pair of charcoal grey skinny jeans and a black bat-wing blouse, pairing the ensemble with her grungy white chucks. Flick smoothed her blouse over her hips, twisting her body in the mirror as her brows furrowed, her eyes drifting to the generous curve of her ass. Her bottom lip found its way between her teeth as her cheeks darkened with a flush of heat as she recalled the way Paul drooled over her body, his hands teasingly ghosting her curves as he whispered the most outrageously dirty words of reverence in her ear.
They hadn't slept together yet and Flick wasn't so sure how much longer she could hold back. She adored Paul for wanting to respect her and not rush her into anything but damn… she wanted to feel more than his finger's or tongue inside her…
Shaking off the less than innocent thoughts, she headed back downstairs, following the pungent aroma of oregano, garlic and tangy tomato; the sound of clattering cutlery and clinking glasses resounding from the kitchen. Flick strolled into the kitchen, finding Michael and Sam perched at the table, their eyes leering over the bowl of spaghetti, meatballs and rich pasta sauce Lucy placed in the centre of the table. "Take a seat honey, foods ready," her mom chirped, gesturing to the empty chair beside Sam.
Setting a bowl of salad beside the pasta, Lucy settled in her seat, observing her children with a soft smile on her face as they fought over the garlic bread, deliberately evading the healthier option of leafy greens. "So mom, what did you want to talk to us about?" Flick prompted, chasing a bite of garlic bread with a mouthful of homemade lemonade.
"Oh, yes, there was something that I wanted to speak to you kids about wasn't there," she smiled, setting down her fork.
"We're not moving again are we?" Sam's face dropped.
"No, gosh no sweetie, moving is the last thing on my mind," Lucy shook her head, reaching across the table to pat the back of his hand in a gesture of assurance.
"So what's up?" Mike chimed around a mouthful of spaghetti.
"The thing is, Max-"
"-Whose Max?" Sam frowned suspiciously.
"-Max is my boss, the owner of the video store," Lucy explained and Flick once again noted a glitter of happiness alight in her mother's eyes and she found herself wondering if Max was on his way to becoming more than just her mother's boss. "Anyway, as part of my training package, Max has invited me on a manager's retreat a few towns over and well, it means I'll be gone for a few days…"
"Are you sure it's a manager's retreat and not just a dirty weekend?" Flick smirked and Lucy swatted her arm in warning whilst Sam screwed up his face in distaste.
"Wait, does that mean I'm in charge?" Michael grinned triumphantly, puffing out his chest.
"Yeah, right," Flick scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Actually Michael sweetie, I'd say you're all mature enough to fend for yourself for the few days I'm away. Though I would appreciate if both you and Flick -being the oldest- would make sure Sammy's OK-"
"-Hey I don't need a babysitter," Sam pouted.
"I didn't say you needed a babysitter honey, it was just a general ask," Lucy soothed.
"When do you go?" Flick asked, secretly eager to know her mom wouldn't be around for a few days. It meant she was less likely to get caught sneaking Paul into her room. They'd almost been caught out the other night when her mom came home early as Flick had been in the throes of a rather earth-shattering orgasm.
"Tomorrow," Lucy smiled, spearing a meatball.
"Don't worry mom, we'll be fine, right Sam?" Mike stated, shooting his younger brother a pointed look, obviously as keen as Flick was to have their mother out of the way. They both knew that if Sam were to kick up a fuss that Lucy would refuse to go, ruining their plans and Lucy's future work and perhaps love prospects.
"Yeah," Sam shrugged, seemingly unphazed.
"Great – though I do want to request that you stick to a few rules whilst I'm away."
The trio groaned in exasperation.
"I have to say, I'm flattered by your enthusiasm," Lucy tinkled a laugh. "OK, make sure you're paying attention kids… Mike – no girls. Flick – no boys. Sam, you're free to invite your new friends to stay over if you want but I do ask that you don't wreck the house."
"That's not fair, how come Sam gets to have his friends over and I can't have my girlfriend over?" Michael pouted.
"Sam can't get his friends pregnant," Lucy countered pointedly and Michael grimaced, sinking into his seat. Flick decided not to protest the rules, there wasn't any point, she'd only end up breaking them anyway and besides, sneaking around was a lot more fun. "Do I make myself clear?" the trio's mother eyed them seriously.
"Crystal," they chimed in unison, eliciting a proud smile.
~/~
Dwayne wiped a soot covered hand across his brow, leaving a streak of black in its wake. He stoked the burning coals in the furnace and locked the grate, moving over to the alcove that housed a rusting shower fitting and a drain in the floor which was currently covered with years' worth of grime and dirt. Dwayne twisted the handle of the shower, causing the rusting metal to screech in protest whilst the old pipes creaked and groaned.
He ducked out of the way when a cascade of murky water burst from the shower head, pattering loudly on the stone floor. He held his hand beneath the waterfall of water, grinning when he felt the water start to heat and turn clear. He'd been working on fitting the cave with plumbing for a few weeks now and he'd managed to get the water running pretty quickly but getting hot water had proven a little more difficult. He'd had to refurbish the old decrepit coal furnace, linking it up to the inner plumbing network. The cave didn't have electricity and perhaps never would but they now had hot water, meaning he and the boys wouldn't have to make trips to the boardwalk to use the showers or break into hotel rooms to freshen up.
He wouldn't have worked so hard to do it if it wasn't for the prospect of having a new addition to the cave. He had a feeling it wouldn't be long before Paul's mate would become a fully-fledged member of the pack and he wanted his newly acquired little sister to feel comfortable. He doubted that she'd accept immortality straight off the bat and he couldn't imagine it would be much fun for her having to piss in the forest or wait around for one of them to take her to the shower block.
"I finally cracked it," Dwayne stated smugly, walking into the lobby still rubbing a towel over his damp hair.
"The Da Vinci Code?" Marko smirked.
"The Rubix Cube?" Paul added.
"No you douchebags, I finally set us up with hot water."
"You heard him boys, no excuses, you can quit being such fucking pigs," David stated, picking at the dirt and dried blood beneath his nails with a switchblade.
"Like you can talk Sutherland, I've smelt socks fresher than your musty old ass," Paul scoffed.
David smirked, his eyes still trained on his fingers. "If you did, I doubt that any of them belonged to you, all yours are stiff glorified cum rags."
Marko snickered whilst Paul scowled.
"We were about to head out to hunt, will you be accompanying us Paul? Or are you too eager to drain your balls to drain a corpse?" David mused, arching his brow in Paul's direction.
"I need to feed," Paul grimaced, rubbing his jaw when his gums started to ache. "I'm worth the wait," he grinned.
"Sure you are Romeo," Dwayne scoffed, ruffling Paul's hair with a wolfish smirk.
~/~
Flick couldn't fathom the happiness and calm that she felt sitting by the sparkling moon-lit ocean in the arms of a guy she was pretty sure she loved; the idea was laughable, implausible even, but here she was. She wondered if Paul felt the same inner peace that she felt in that moment, or perhaps it was burning passion and the way their bodies connected that brought him such inner tranquillity? Of course, the passion that burned between them when they were alone was all encompassing, it was something earth shattering and something she'd never experienced before but just being close and affectionate with Paul was enough to make her chest ache with happiness, her heart swelling with affection.
She felt her cheeks heat, glad that Paul didn't have the ability to read her mind or he'd probably find her delusional and sappy, after all, was a guy like Paul even willing to think about the possibility of love let alone feel it? She knew he felt something, but could it really be considered love or was it more of a possession?
"Paul?" she uttered, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.
"Hmmm?"
"Are you happy?" she asked.
"Happy in what way?" he countered, stroking his thumb over her sternum.
"In the way like… me and you… what we are… where we're going… wherever that is…" she murmured shyly.
"I honestly never thought I'd get close enough to a chick to consider being happy in a relationship but…" he sighed, nuzzling the juncture of her neck and shoulder making her shudder.
"But what?"
"You make me feel things I never thought I was capable of feeling. I never thought I could just willingly sit here with a chick, holding them without trying to get in her knickers within the first five minutes. It freaks me out that I feel weak around you…"
"I could never see you as weak Paul," she whispered, twisting her neck to kiss the underside of his jaw.
"Really? 'Cause you make me weak Flick," he breathed, gently pushing her down onto the cool sand. He cradled the back of her head in his hand as he dipped to capture her in a slow, passionate kiss and she hummed against his mouth, feeling herself starting to unravel under his spell. He drew his tongue along the underside of her jaw and she tilted her head, leaving her throat exposed to him. Paul groaned, placing wet, open mouthed kisses to the spot where her pulse thrummed like the wings of a hummingbird. Flick's fingers tangled in Paul's hair, pressing lightly against his scalp, urging him to continue his feast on her flesh.
His fingers teased the buttons of her blouse, leaving her gasping when the cool caress of the ocean breeze mingled with the delicious heat of his mouth on her bare skin. Paul traced delicious, languid patterns on her skin with his warm, wet tongue until he reached her sternum where he softly kissed the part of her breasts exposed by the way her blouse was left gaping. Flick gasped, her back arching when Paul's mouth covered her breast, her stiff bud straining against the now saliva dampened lace of her bra. Flick became so lost in his touch that her mind failed to process the words that danced on the tip of her tongue, tumbling from her lips in a breathless jumble.
"Paul I love you…"
Paul's head snapped up, his grey eyes trained on her face, his features stoic as he regarded her intensely. Flick's heart pounded deafeningly in her ears as she felt her cheeks heat in mortification, she hadn't intended to tell him how she felt, she'd vowed to keep her feelings to herself for fear of rejection and seeming childish, yet here she was, drowning in a sea of shame while Paul remained silent. She'd just been so caught up in the moment that her feelings had overwhelmed her and she'd momentarily lost control of her senses.
"You don't have to say it back-" she murmured, "I- know it's stupid but-"
"-Sshh…" Paul smiled, pressing his finger against her lips. "Come back to my place?" he whispered, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth and her stomach fluttered with the promise of what his invitation meant.
"OK," she nodded, exhaling a shaky breath.
~/~
Paul's bike came to a rumbling, rolling stop at the edge of what considerably like a cliff; the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below them breaking the quiet calm of the night while the cool ocean breeze whipped at her hair, sending shivers down her spine. Paul parked by a flimsy looking chain-link fence. The fence had certainly seen better days that was for sure, the metal links were rusting and large gaping holes left the fence swaying precariously in the damp ocean breeze. In the middle of the busted fence was a gate, its hinges much like every other metallic surface in the near vicinity was rusted and stiff.
Flick frowned as Paul helped her down from the back of his bike, her eyes searching for anything that looked remotely like a habitable place to live but found nothing but the dark horizon, shadow ridden forest and the corroded weather-worn fence. "I thought we were going to your place?" she asked as Paul lead her over to the crooked gate.
"We are," he smiled.
"But I don't see anything?" she countered, confused.
"You're not looking hard enough babe," he chuckled, taking her hand as he pushed open the gate, an ear-splitting screech filling the humid night air when the gates rusting hinges grated against the corroded metal post and with a slight sense of apprehension, Flick followed Paul down a set of dilapidated sun-bleached wooden steps. As they ventured down the rickety steps, she caught sight of the entrance to what looked suspiciously like a cave and rather than just seeing a large, gaping, black hole, a soft, inviting glow bled from somewhere deeper within and she found herself relaxing the further they neared the light.
"Shit," Flick gasped when she slipped on the loose stones littering the sloping incline and Paul quickly pulled her upright with an amused chuckle. Paul hopped down from a short ledge into a dimly lit cavern and offered her his hands to help her the rest of the way down. She stumbled into his arms and rumbling laughter filled her ears. "What's wrong with you tonight babe?" he teased.
"It's all that wild sex, it's got her all disjointed," a familiar voice chimed from somewhere behind them and when Paul stepped out of her line of sight, she found two blondes and one brunette lounging in the middle of the cavern wearing impish grins on their handsome faces.
"How would you know what we did last night?" Paul countered.
"Because he was peering through the window with his dick in his hand," Dwayne smirked and Marko punched his shoulder whilst Paul barked a laugh and Flick giggled, feeling her cheeks heat.
"You've come to know the Lost Boys Felicity and now we'd like to welcome you to the Lost Cave," David spoke up, gesturing to the cavern.
Flick glanced around the cavernous space, it's rocky ceiling seeming to stretch for miles. She could hear the faint sound of waves crashing against rock, the air around her humid. The cavern was crammed with random junk and structural debris with grand pillars and crumbling walls sunken into the stone floor, creating archways and hidden alcoves. Random pieces of tattered furniture were scattered around a dilapidated fountain where the remains of a once extravagant chandelier lay broken, askew, rusted and covered in a thick layer of dirt and dust in its debris littered pit. Random skateboards and surfboards rested against jagged walls covered in posters of various bands and musicians making the space seem less grey and drab.
At the far end of the cavern was an alcove hidden by dusty crimson velvet drapes and cream voile, the make shift privacy curtain shrouding a gold-framed king-size bed. On the opposite side of the cavern was what looked like the decaying opening to a tunnel covered with a royal blue dusty silver-tasselled tapestry. "What is this place?" she gawped incredulously as Paul guided her to sit on one of the old, worn couches.
"Back in the day, it used to be a rather grand hotel, the preferred resting place of the pretentiously rich and famous that flocked to Santa Carla in lavishly dressed droves," David started. "However, whoever was in charge of building the hotel royally messed up by building the place on the Faultline and when the great quake hit, bam-" he drove his fist into the palm of his hand, "-it sank, and crumbled to what you see now. With the place abandoned and forgotten by society, it was up for grabs and well, here we are – home," he smirked.
"It's incredible," she gushed as Paul slumped beside her. She continued to survey the cavern with curiosity whilst the boys partook in a round of teasing banter, observing that the place had a welcoming, cosy vibe rather than the eerie, cold dank-fest you'd expect from a cave. The soft glow she'd noticed on entering was coming from strategically placed oil drums where warm, amber flames crackled and popped from within their rusting exteriors, lighting the cavern in an intimate light.
"Hey Flick, why don't you pick out some music?" Marko grinned, pointing to the large boombox resting in a small alcove alongside a mountain of cassette tapes.
"Is this some kind of test?" she smirked, rising to her feet.
"Maybe," he countered, laying down on the ledge of the broken fountain.
"Got any Wham?" she teased jokingly.
"Maybe in David's collection," Marko snickered.
"Are you trying to be funny Winter?" David rolled his eyes, "because let me tell you, I've heard funnier eulogies."
Flick laughed, padding over to the alcove and begun to sift through the boys music collection, impressed by the repertoire they'd built, her smile widening when she noted she had a lot of the albums in the selection herself. She eventually settled on Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction, popping the cassette into the boombox before pushing play. She jumped, a little startled when music blared deafeningly from the speakers and Dwayne, Marko and Paul burst out with laughter. "Whoops, my bad – shoulda' warned you," Marko smirked.
Flick causally flipped him the middle finger, crossing back to sit beside Paul. "Your girls gotten sassy since the last time we saw her Paul," Marko grinned approvingly.
"Just the way I like it," Paul smirked, his fingers dancing over her thigh.
~/~
"I think we're alone now…" Paul smirked, grazing his hand down the length of her arm.
"The guys didn't clear out because they felt obligated to, did they?" she peered up at Paul, his profile cast in flickering shadow from the light of a nearby fire.
"Nah, but I'm glad they did," he drawled, tilting her chin as he dropped a soft lingering kiss to her lips; the heat of his mouth on hers stoking the fire of desire that burned bright inside her making her apex ache with yearning. Flick pressed her body against him, relishing in the rigid strength of him as she skimmed her hands over his chest, her fingers curling around his shoulders. "I want you," Paul breathed against the outer shell of her ear, his breath hot against her skin and she shuddered.
"Now, right here?" she murmured, her eyes drifting to the old, battered couch beside where they stood as she felt his stiff cock press against her apex, the heat of him bleeding through her jeans.
"Yes now, no not here," he ghosted open mouthed kisses down the length of her neck, exhaling in irritation when he met resistance from the collar of her blouse. "C'mere," he coaxed, taking her hand as he lead her towards the alcove at the far end of the cavern, the gold framed bed seeming luxurious and inviting in the soft glow of the fire light.
"I've wanted this since the day I met you," he murmured as his lips met her mouth in a fierce hungry kiss. The way he took control called to the side of her she hadn't known existed before she met him, the side of her that longed to be taken in a pair of strong arms and ravished until she couldn't see, let alone think straight. His tongue felt so good in her mouth, the feel of his lips smoothing against her mouth in slow, teasing motions turning her legs to jelly. She hadn't realised they were moving until the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed and without overthinking it, whilst Paul was clearly distracted, she turned their bodies, gently pushing him down onto the bed.
He stared up at her in silent question, regarding her with hungry curiosity. She could still feel the ghost of his hardness flush against her apex and lower belly despite the fact that there was now tangible space between them. His body seemed relaxed, yet the straining bulge pressing against the zipper of his jeans told a different story and her skin flushed hot, her lungs seeming to tighten, leaving her short of breath.
She was nervous, giddy, anxious and perhaps a little excited as she slowly lifted her hand to the buttons of her blouse, hooking her fingers around the small, hard plastic. The raging inferno burning her from the inside out told her that this was what she wanted, she wanted him, she wanted whatever it was that was going to happen. Paul's stare was unwavering, his sharp, pale grey eyes watching her every movement, each twitch of her fingers, each sweeping arch of her arms, like a predator tracking its prey. She let her blouse fall to the floor by her feet before slowly unhooking her bra, sliding the straps down the length of her arms before it joined the blouse by her feet. The cool air breezing across her bare chest made her sensitive buds stiffen as her breasts gently bounced against her chest, free from the constraints of her clothes.
A wave of uncertainty washed over her as she stood half-naked before him, she glanced over at Paul and the glimmer of uncertainty was instantly erased. He was staring at her hungrily, the fire of desire burning in his eyes, his back ramrod straight as his fists furled around the edge of the mattress like he was seeking to steady himself. With a giddy confidence, Flick brought her hand to the front of her jeans, unhooking the brass button before tugging down the zipper. She worked the rough denim and lace of her knickers over her hips and thighs until they slid the rest of the way to the floor on their own, leaving her completely bare. Paul exhaled sharply as she stepped from the puddle of fabric pooled at her feet, nudging it aside with the tips of her toes.
Flick stepped between Paul's legs, tugging lightly at the sleeve of his t-shirt. "Your turn," she smirked, biting her bottom lip.
Paul rose to his feet as Flick settled herself on her knees in the middle of the bed, her eyes tracking his every move. She licked her swollen lips as he whipped off his shirt and vest, tossing the wad of cotton to the floor before he turned his attention to the waistband of his jeans. Her breath caught in her throat as he unhooked the brass button, tugging down the zipper to expose the toned landscape of his hips, her eyes following the dusting of dark blonde pubic hair that ran in a straight line from his navel down the length of his abdomen. "Do you want me to go slower?" he smirked and Flick giggled, shaking her head as her bottom lip once again found its way between her teeth when he stepped out of his jeans, leaving himself exposed.
God he was a gorgeous specimen of a man…
Paul wordlessly knelt in front of her, seeming to be waiting for her to make the next move and though she did enjoy the way he took control, she also appreciated how he seemed to be letting her take the lead for now, no matter how brief the switch in roles may be. She moved closer until she was kneeling between his thighs, her hands braced on his shoulders, her breasts pressed flush against his chest. She lowered her head, kissing the width of his chest, feeling his muscles quiver with each gentle flutter of her lips. She trailed hot, wet open mouthed kisses down the length of his neck, sucking the exposed flesh of his throat earning a throaty groan.
"Touch me Paul," she whispered into the crook of his neck, her lips seeking his mouth.
A full body shudder ran full circuit throughout her body when Paul's hands enclosed around her waist, the pads of his thumbs grazing the sensitive strip of skin beneath each breast. She felt so fragile and delicate in his hands, he wasn't even that much bigger than her, nor was he outwardly jacked. He was just so silently intimidating, like he hid his true strength and she felt completely encompassed by him, the feeling close to euphoric. His kisses were gentle yet impassioned, leaving her lips scorched as his hands explored her body, sliding down her back to cup her rear. Paul groaned, pulling her into him, his hardness pressing against her aching mound in the most delicious way.
He slowly pushed her onto her back, the heat of his mouth moving from her lips to her neck then on towards her chest. Her back arched when his mouth covered her breast, his warm wet tongue teasing her peaked bud in lazy circles whilst his fingers teased the other, leaving her skin flushed and hot. He released her breast with a wet pop, trailing his tongue across her sternum, his lips grazing her ribs and the sensitive strip of flesh beneath her breast before he once again covered her with the heat of his mouth.
Flick exhaled a shaky breath as Paul moved lower, sitting back on his knees between her legs, his eyes trained on the spot that ached with need between her thighs. She was so turned on she could feel her own wetness trickle down the crease of her thighs. A strangled moan tumbled from between her lips when Paul's thumb nudged between her slick folds, stroking her sensitive bud in slow, languid circles, sending jolts of electricity rippling through her body in relentless shockwaves of pleasure. Flick palmed the sheets when his mouth replaced his thumb, teasing her aching mound with delicious wet, open mouthed kisses, his tongue stroking her engorged bundle of nerves in torturously slow, purposeful motions. She gasped, liquid pearls of pleasure bursting low in her stomach when she felt Paul slip one finger between her slick folds, teasingly drawing it back before another finger joined the first, slipping back into her wet heat.
Flick's back arched, unable to stifle the constant stream of pleasured moans escaping her lips, he made her feel so damn good, she wanted more. Paul placed lingering kisses to her hips, kissing his way up her body until they finally met her lips. She could taste herself on his lips, it was erotic, seductive and felt perhaps a little naughty. He planted his hands either side of her head, resting his weight on one arm whilst he reached out with the other, the pad of his thumb tracing the arch of her brow, the line of her jaw and the bridge of her nose, his grey eyes soft. "You're so beautiful," he murmured and she felt her cheeks heat. He stroked her flushed skin fondly, catching her off guard by the tenderness behind the action. "I want you Flick," he exhaled an unsteady breath, his throat working as the tip of his cock nudged her entrance, sending shivers racing the length of her spine.
"I'm yours Paul," Flick whispered, combing her fingers through his wild, dirty blonde hair. She frowned when Paul's eyes flickered, his expression changing to one slightly off like he was in some kind of discomfort. "Are you OK?" she asked worriedly, cupping his jaw.
"Yeah babe, I'm fine," he assured her with a gorgeous smile, capturing her lips in a seductively passionate kiss. Paul slowly entered her, growing still when her body tensed in reaction to the heightening feeling of discomfort. "Relax babe," he whispered, kissing the underside of her jaw whilst his hand grazed up and down her waist, the sensation of his fingers tickling her bare skin having the desired effect as she felt her body slowly start to relax. Paul drew her into a slow, lazy kiss and she was soon distracted by the glorious weight of his hot wet tongue in her mouth. As her muscles started to loosen, Paul snapped his hips forward, breaking past her virginal barrier with one forceful thrust. Flick cried out as a flare of burning, stinging heat erupted between her legs, leaving her momentarily breathless. "Sorry babe," Paul murmured, showering her face and neck with soft, tender kisses.
Flick exhaled a shaky breath, feeling her body stretch to accommodate him. He teased her breasts with his fingers and tongue until her back was arching, the stinging heat between her thighs almost forgotten. He rocked his hips against her and the discomfort heightened momentarily before it was forgotten completely, replaced by bursts of liquid pleasure low in her stomach. Flick clung to Paul's shoulders feeling the muscle beneath the surface tense with every slow, roll of his hips. He buried his face against the crook of her neck, lazily sucking and kissing her sensitive skin as he continued to rhythmically roll his hips, leaving Flick not knowing which way was up and which way was down. An intense pressure started to build low in her stomach and she panted, trying to catch her breath as the pressure mounted with each delicious roll of his hips. "Oh God… Paul…." Flick moaned breathlessly as the pressure reached its peak and she tumbled over the edge into the abyss; her body bursting in a fit of liquid fire whilst her muscles trembled, leaving behind a glorious ache.
Paul's strokes quickened, his breath hot against her neck as he gave one last forceful thrust, his fingers furling around the sheets as he groaned against her shoulder, his whole body shaking as he too reached his peak. Flick kissed his temple sweetly, tenderly combing her fingers through his hair as his rapid shallow breaths started to even out. She felt him pull out of her aching heat, and she instantly felt empty. She grimaced when the sensation of something warm and wet trickled down her thighs, leaving her skin damp and sticky, immediately dismissing the icky feelings when Paul drew her against his chest, her head cradled in the crook of his arm. Flick pressed a kiss to the warm skin beneath her lips, smiling when his hold on her waist tightened.
Paul drew the thick, heavy blankets over their naked bodies, kissing her bare shoulder before she felt him rest his head against the pillows. "You're mine Flick, I won't let you go…" he mumbled as his fingers tickled her arm.
"I'm not going anywhere Paul," she assured him.
Honestly, she couldn't think of anywhere else she'd rather be...
~/~
Paul rolled onto his back, smiling when Flick immediately draped herself over his chest, fluttering soft kisses over his pale skin. Paul smiled to himself, brushing his fingers through her thick chocolate curls, his chest and stomach tightening as he thought back to earlier that night and the words she'd said back at the beach. Her declaration had honestly caught him off guard, no chick had ever told him she loved him, then again, they never got the chance but hearing those words from Flick -his mate- had made his core throb almost painfully. He'd been feeling some pretty unfamiliar emotions around her for the past week himself and wondered if what he'd been feeling was love?
He didn't even think he was capable of loving someone, yet here he was, those three terrifying little words dancing on the tip of his tongue, plaguing him to the point of insanity.
"Flick?" he murmured hesitantly.
"Yeah?" she sighed dreamily, the tips of his fingers tracing patterns on his chest.
"I love you," he exhaled, the words and sentiment feeling foreign on his tongue yet his chest flooded with relief.
Flick's head snapped up, her beautiful sea-green eyes peering up at him from beneath thick, dark lashes, her cheeks adorably flushed and rosy pink. "Don't say things you don't mean Paul…" she whispered, her features flashing with hurt.
She didn't believe him… not that he could blame her.
Paul sat up, gently pulling her into his lap, his smile soft if not slightly awkward. "I get why you don't believe me babe, I mean, I didn't believe it myself at first but I don't think there's any other way to describe how I feel about you. I'm not a fucking sappy poet or some Shakespearean wordsmith who can spin you a line and compare you to a warm summers day-"
Flick snorted a laugh and Paul chuckled, kissing the tip of her nose.
"-There's just something in you that breaks past the dumb, horny idiot I've always been and despite my best effort to deny it, I've fallen in love with you."
"I love you too Paul," she smiled shyly as he drew her into a succession of soft, lingering kisses.
Flick shuffled in his lap, her arms draping over his shoulders. "Do I really need to take you home?" Paul drawled, his hands drifting from her hips to the curves of her rear.
"Rather needy tonight aren't you?" she teased.
Paul slapped her ass, her fingers lightly digging into the supple flesh. "Watch it babe," he arched his brow and he felt her grow wet.
"Or else?" she purred, trailing her fingers down his bare chest.
"Or else I'll make you beg for me, then we'll see who's needy," he breathed and Flick audibly moaned, her mind conjuring all the way he could make her body sing. His cock pressed against her apex and his yearning for her intensified despite knowing she currently had a slight sting radiating from between her legs. She coaxed him into a slow, heated kiss, humming in satisfaction against lips. Paul's lips parted with a groan, his hands kneading her ass whilst he drew her against his erection. Out of the blue, Flick's head snapped back, her hands braced on his shoulders as if she'd been startled. "What's wrong?" he frowned, confused.
"We weren't safe," she murmured, clearly panicked.
"Safe?" his frown deepened, his mind clouded by his desire for her body.
Flick's cheeks heated as she met his eye. "I mean we didn't use any protection… I'm not on the pill or anything…"
The cogs in Paul's mind came to a screeching halt as realisation dawned on him. She thought he could get her pregnant… "You don't need to worry about that…" he replied awkwardly.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
He swallowed, his mind whirring with a dozen different excuses he could give her to throw her off the scent of anything being unnatural but each time he tried to get the words out they'd get stuck in his throat. He didn't want to lie to her, he didn't want to deceive her any more than he had so far and though his stomach was coiled in one hard, painful knot, he knew he had to tell her the truth, he was in too deep to hide who he was anymore. "Flick… I haven't been entirely honest with you about who I am…" he started as he sensed her whole demeanour change, her back growing rigid with apprehension.
"I don't understand…" she stared back him clearly bewildered.
He drew his hands down his face, digging the palms of his hands in his eye sockets in an attempt to fight off the throbbing ache building in his forehead. "Babe I can't get you pregnant because I'm not human… I'm immortal…" he grimaced, averting his eyes.
"Fuck off," Flick laughed incredulously, her laughter fading when he didn't share her amusement.
"It's true… the Frog brothers are right about Santa Carla and vampires… I'm one of them," he murmured.
~/~
Flick couldn't believe what she was hearing, the man she'd just slept with, the man she was unrefutably in love with was telling her he wasn't human, he wasn't living, he was dead, he was something she'd never even fathomed could exist. "Paul this isn't funny…" she swallowed, feeling tears of hurt and confusion sting her eyes.
"Flick I'm not joking…" he countered, his eyes flickering from the captivating pale grey she'd fallen in love with to the colour of burning embers. Her blood turned to ice in her veins whilst her chest felt unnaturally tight, leaving her feeling like she couldn't breathe. She sprang back, tumbling off the bed in a jumble of arms and legs as she desperately tried to locate her clothes in the dim light, her fight or flight instincts in full swing with every fibre of her being told her to run and run fast.
"What are you doing?" Paul's voice tore through the buzzing drone in her mind and an errant sob fell from her quivering lips.
"I-I wanna go home," she stammered, haphazardly tugging on her jeans and blouse, uncaring that everything was askew as she shoved her knickers and bra in the back pocket of her jeans.
"Babe please don't do this, let's talk it out…" Paul bargained, grabbing her wrist and when she turned to face him, she noticed he'd somehow managed to pull on his jeans without making a sound.
His grace, his silent intimidation, his agility, incredible balance and disregard for danger, him never being around during the day, it all suddenly made sense.
He really was a vampire...
"Just let me go please, I won't tell anyone, just don't hurt me…" she sobbed and Paul looked as though she'd just punched him in the face.
"I would never hurt you Flick, I fucking love you," Paul argued, his own voice breaking.
"You don't love me, you made a fool out of me – I never want to see you again," she ground out, feeling hot tears of shame, hurt and fear trickling down her cheeks.
"He wanted to tell you Felicity, but he didn't know how…" a familiar voice sounded from behind her and Flick's heart leapt into her throat, her stomach violently lurching as she fought the urge to vomit from the sheer terror she felt as she turned to face the incline where David, Dwayne and Marko stood in formation, their pale features stoic.
She was surrounded by killers…
"If you just hear him out girl, you'll see that everything isn't the way you think it is," Marko chimed and she flinched. She glanced at Paul, his pale grey eyes pleading but she couldn't get the image of those glowing amber orbs out of her mind. Yet, at the same time, she couldn't ignore the comfort that radiated from him nor could she deny the throbbing ache in her core. It was so damn confusing, how could she feel comfort from someone that could rip her throat out in a matter of seconds?
"C'mon Flick, just give him a chance to explain – the guy loves you, he won't hurt you and neither will we," Dwayne was the next to speak and her confusion only seemed to heighten.
"You-" the sour hint of bile coated her tongue as she fought to keep from spewing the contents of her stomach, "-you kill… murder… d-drink blood…" she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Semantics," David waved his hand dismissively. How could he be so nonchalant about something so mind-blowing? "Right now, that's all irrelevant – what's important is that you understand that Paul didn't deceive you by choice but rather he didn't want to scare you off…"
Flick turned away from the three stoic immortals and turned to face the one still gently gripping her wrist, the metal of his rings cool against her over-heated skin. "I swear I didn't have any intention of making a fool out of you Flick, I just didn't want you to look at me the way you're looking at me right now," Paul urged, his expression uncharacteristically strained, his eyes flickering with anxious intensity.
Flick was extremely hurt by his deceit and more than a little shocked to find out that the man she loved and his friends -her friends as she'd come to think of them- were part of the undead army but seeing the pain in Paul's eyes and the stressed expression on his face made her chest ache with affection. She didn't hate him, not even in the slightest. In fact, she didn't think she could hate him, even knowing that he was a killer couldn't extinguish the love that burned for him. However, she couldn't deny that she was terrified - terrified of what this meant for her. Did he want her to be like him? How did that even work? Could she bring herself to live in constant darkness with a relentless craving for blood?
Flick hung her head, unable to look him in the eyes any longer, she wanted nothing more than to hold Paul in her arms and ease his obvious agony. However, her hurt cut deep and though she cared for him deeply, she couldn't forgive his deceit so readily. She really didn't want to lose him and the thought of life without his smile, his honeyed voice, his manic cackling laughter, his exquisite touch and his skin tingling kiss was unbearable. Yet simultaneously, at the same time, she wasn't sure that she could accept his lifestyle, nor could she seem to push past her current bone-chilling fear and nerve numbing shock.
Flick unsteadily lurched forward, closing the space between the two of them, her hand involuntarily reaching out, combing trembling fingers through his wild, dirty blonde hair. She couldn't deny that she loved him. Regardless, could they get passed this unveiling of the truth? Would it make them stronger or would it break them completely? She wanted more than anything for him to tell her that he wasn't a murderer, that he didn't feast on blood, that he didn't relish in psychotic violence but she knew that he never would, she knew that this is what he was and there was no avoiding or going back from it.
"I-" she wanted to tell him that it didn't matter what he was, that she loved him despite it but she couldn't bring herself to say the words out loud, it was all too much. "I want to go home," she stated, her voice cracking before she broke into breathless sobs.
"I'll take her," she heard someone speak before a pale bronzed hand gently took her arm and lead her towards the incline. Flick flinched as Dwayne helped her onto the back of his bike when she heard a deafening roar of anger bleed from within the cave into the night air, the furious cacophony followed by a loud crash and raised voices. "Hold on tight little sister," Dwayne's calm voice brought her back to the present and she robotically wrapped her arms around his solid frame, burying her face in his back, inhaling the scent of leather and cigarettes as the bike slowly rolled forward.
~/~
Flick staggered into the kitchen, flipping on the lights, the prickling sensation on the back of her neck confirming her suspicion that Dwayne had followed her inside. Despite now knowing the truth about what the Lost Boys were and knowing she'd effectively thrown herself to the lions, she still felt somewhat safe, which was of course, completely ridiculous. The house was quiet, showing no signs of life and she was overcome with a wave of loneliness which only served to make her feel worse. "When was the last time Paul killed someone?" Flick found herself asking, shooting a wary side-ways glance at the hulking immortal stood still and silent in the archway.
"Earlier tonight, before he met you," Dwayne answered honestly and her stomach roiled. She ran over to the kitchen sink, making it just in time as a stream of beer-laced vomit spewed from her mouth, splattering noisily against the water-marked aluminium basin. Her stomach constricted violently as the contents of her stomach spewed like an acidic fountain from her mouth. She heaved a breath, coughing and wiping her mouth with a wad of paper towel before running the faucet, rinsing away the unpleasant mess. She cupped her hands beneath the cascade of blissfully cool water and splashed it over her face, swilling her mouth.
She turned, slumping back against the kitchen counter, finding Dwayne still stood in the same spot, running his hands through his hair with a look of concern on his face. "Why me?" she whispered, not expecting an answer but receiving one anyway.
"There's no simple answer to that question but I'll give you an honest one – you were fated for Paul, you're meant for him," Dwayne stated, his hand falling back to his side.
"You mean like some kind of destiny?"
Dwayne nodded. "All of us have a bond, a pack bond-" he stated, "-it was destiny for each of us to meet each other as brothers and it was that same gnawing ache in Paul's core that he felt when he met me and David that lead him to you. He was destined to be our brother in death just as you were destined to be his soulmate Flick…"
Her mind was reeling, she wasn't even sure she believed in such an outlandish idea of destiny and fate. The again, was the pulsing ache in her core whenever she was around Paul the same gnawing ache Dwayne had just referred to. Was that feeling telling her that she and Paul were meant to be together?
God this was all such a mess…
"I need a shower…" she muttered, grimacing when not only could she smell her own vomit but she could feel something wet dampen the crotch of her jeans, knowing it was most likely the aftermath of her and Paul's earlier encounter.
"Then I should leave…" Dwayne stated.
Hearing him say that he was going to leave and knowing she was going to be left alone had Flick overwhelmed with a surge of panic. Every dark corner and every creak of old pipes painting images of hidden monsters and ghouls lying in wait, ready to strike when she least expected it in the forefront of her mind. "No-" she flustered, rubbing her sweat slick palms on her thighs, "-I don't want to be alone…" she swallowed, fighting back a further flood of tears.
Dwayne nodded, his dark eyes flickering with understanding. "Go take a shower, I'll be right here when you're done," he assured her.
~/~
Flick padded into her bedroom, feeling a little less grim and a little more like herself after a long, hot shower. She found Dwayne perched on the window ledge, his brows furrowed as he stared down at his scuffed sneakers, his fingers toying with a battered red Bic lighter. Dwayne raised his head with a wan smile as she perched on the edge of her bed, tucking her knees beneath the over-sized Frankie Says Relax t-shirt she'd changed into. "Better?" he cocked his head, his eyes searching her pale face.
"A little," she nodded, reaching for the pack of Marlboro's on her nightstand, sighing in frustration when she found it empty.
"Here-" Dwayne stated, tossing a full pack of cigarettes in her direction, "-I'd say you need them more than I do."
"Thanks," she smiled awkwardly, immediately lighting one of thin paper sticks, inhaling deeply. She exhaled on a sigh, feeling the calming effects of the nicotine work it's magic on her shattered nerves. "Do you think Paul's OK?" she couldn't help herself from asking. She honestly cared about him, in fact she missed him already, despite the lingering hurt making her stomach twist.
"I'm not gonna lie, he's hurting Flick," Dwayne sighed, running his hand through his hair and her heart sank. "It's not your fault, he knew that this was likely to happen, we all did, but it doesn't mean it's any less difficult to experience it…"
"Do you think it's easy for me?" she retorted, feeling slightly offended.
"No, you misunderstood me, I know it's not easy for you. The look on your face tells me more than any words would."
"Did he really hide the truth because he was scared of the way I'd react or was he just enjoying watching me fall in love with him like the naïve idiot I am?" Flick quizzed, staring at the stained make-shift foil ashtray in her lap.
"I think you already know the answer to that Flick but if you want my side of the story then I'll tell you the truth. He was fucking terrified that he was gonna lose you and Paul isn't the kinda guy that's scared of anything, in fact his arrogance and lack of giving a shit is truly astounding yet when it comes to you, he's a different guy. He honestly loves you."
Flick swallowed around the lump in her throat, nodding in understanding. "Do you enjoy killing people?" she inquired, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"It's not so much the kill but the feeding that's a rush… human blood to us is like the most powerful drug, you can get pretty delirious after a hunt…"
A hunt… Flick recoiled at the description, the image of Paul stalking some innocent bystander sending an ice-cold trickle down her spine. "Would any of you ever kill me?"
Dwayne stared at her incredulously for a minute before he spoke. "No."
"Why?" she pressed.
"Because you're Paul's mate and that in itself makes you part of the pack regardless of your mortal status."
"What if I wasn't Paul's mate?"
"Honestly – I don't know…" Dwayne shrugged and Flick found herself respecting his honesty, at least he wasn't trying to fob her off with bullshit he thought she wanted to here. Well… in a way she did want to hear it, but she found the truth settled easier than what she knew would be an outright lie just to make her feel better.
"Thank you for your honesty," she gave him a small smile, stubbing out the tab of her cigarette. Dwayne returned her smile and Flick exhaled a heavy sigh. "I'm so confused…"
"Understandable-" he nodded, "-but please think about how much Paul loves you. Trust me, right now, he's tearing that cave apart out of sheer frustration and anger at himself. According to David, he's split his knuckles ten times over from punching the same spot on a wall for the past ten minutes…"
Flick's heart raced, the thought of Paul hurting so deeply making her feel uneasy. "Wait-" she frowned, realizing what he'd just said, "-how do you know this?"
"David told me."
"How?" her frowned deepened.
"We can communicate telepathically."
"Hold the phone, are you telling me that you guys can hear each other's thoughts? Can you hear my thoughts?"
"Yes."
"Well shit…"
Dwayne chuckled knowingly.
"You said Paul's split his knuckles ten-times over… how?"
"We heal very quickly."
"Aside from the telepathy and quick healing, what other abilities do you have?" she asked, morbidly curious.
"We can fly."
"Get out – no way," she shook her head incredulously.
"Way."
"What else?"
"Supernatural speed and strength which I'm pretty sure you've noticed and subconsciously brushed off. We have the ability to control minds which we call 'lure' and we can make you see what we want you to see. We can read moods and feelings and we have the ability to track those familiar to us by their scent as well as instinct."
"You mean people smell different to you?"
"Yes."
"What do I smell like?" she asked curiously and Dwayne laughed.
"You know the blue raspberry jolly ranchers?"
Flick nodded.
"That's your scent," he grinned, flashing his teeth.
"I always knew I was sweet," Flick joked, feeling a little delirious, her emotions swinging from one extreme to another like a nauseating pendulum.
"You know this mind-control thing?"
"What about it?"
"Has Paul ever used it on me?"
"I wouldn't know, he's never done it when I've been around the two of you and to be honest, I don't think he'd do it anyway. Paul's a charming guy, he doesn't need to mind-fuck anyone."
"True…" Flick smiled fondly.
Paul had definitely worked his charm on her over the past two weeks…
"Now can I ask you something?" Dwayne arched his brow.
"OK."
"Do you really love Paul?"
"I really do…" she whispered, feeling the all too familiar sting of tears.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Dwayne frowned, rubbing his jaw.
"You didn't… I just… I miss him already and I wish I could have just told him it's OK but-"
"-You need time to process-" Dwayne smiled understandingly, "-if you want, I can call him for you?"
Flick shook her head. "I'm not ready…" she murmured, stifling a yawn, the rapid change in emotions exhausting.
"You should get some sleep little sister, you can decide if you wanna see Paul tomorrow, for now just get some rest, kay?"
"M'kay," she nodded, flopping back against the pillows. "Thanks Dwayne…"
"For what?" he cocked his head.
"For being honest with me… for staying with me… for making tonight a little bit easier…" she explained through a yawn.
"Hey, it's what big brothers are for, right?"
"Not mine," she shook her head ruefully.
"Well you have three new big brothers now and we're here whenever you need us, though maybe avoid David if you're looking for comfort – that cold son of a bitch isn't known for being in touch with his feelings."
Flick huffed a laugh. "Yeah… I kinda get that…"
"Anyway, I'll stay until you fall asleep OK? But I have to leave soon, it's not far off dawn."
"I understand," Flick nodded. "Night Dwayne."
"Night little sister."