"You can drop me off by here, Grandpa" Sammy said lightly, shifting in his seat, "if it's OK for you, I mean..."
Elizabeth watched as the seatbelt moved with him, tugging forward jerkily.
"Good a spot as any, I guess" the old man agreed quite amicably, flicking his indicator and pulling up to the curb.
As the car came to an idling stop, Elizabeth reached out to steady the pile of shopping bags piled up on the seat beside her.
Grandpa had wanted to do some shopping - most of it had been food but there had been a questionable stop at an army supply store - and the two siblings didn't have much else going on and so they'd tagged along. Sammy had yelled, well, loudly said, "shotgun" when they had left the old and kind of creepy supermarket with its sticky floors and butcher section that displayed its stock with fur, feathers and features still intact.
She hadn't cared enough to fight him on it.
She had been pretty content to just relax in the back seat, thinking to herself and waiting for the chance to either sneak out - not a problem since Sammy had plans, their mother had left quite early and Grandpa had another date - or for Dwayne to come and get her.
She didn't mind wasting the day away because she knew her night would be a good one.
Better than the previous one, anyway.
She had slept really well but at some point in the night, she'd descended into a Dracula fuelled nightmare. In her dreams, she had been haunted by children calling out for the "bloofer lady" and she didn't know where the hell it had come from.
Still, she'd woken feeling quite rested and despite the weird shopping trip, she'd been perfectly at ease, enjoying the warm day and looking forward to her night.
Grandpa had even bought her a bunch of snacks, insisted on buying her hamburger patties with the promise of a grill session in the future.
All in all, it had been a nice day and thankfully there wasn't much left of it.
Honestly, if Sammy hadn't been in such a weird mood, she would have been able to totally forget the idiocy of the Frog Brothers from the previous night.
She wouldn't ever forgive them and if she saw them again, she told herself she would be an Ice Queen; cool and detached but right then, it wasn't something she cared about.
In the light of day, it all felt so stupid and she didn't want to think about it.
They were stupid, their prank was stupid but she wasn't going to lose sleep over it.
Really, she wanted to forget about it but Sammy was still feeling guilt over his continued friendship with them and so she'd been forced to think about it every time he mumbled or made a comment.
The seatbelt clicked free and Sammy coughed, "I'm gonna tell them off again" he assured the car at large.
Elizabeth groaned, letting her head flop against the headrest.
All day.
He had been talking about it all day.
Well.
When he had decided to speak, anyway.
Last night, Elizabeth had assumed that he'd gotten over it because he went to bed so easily.
Then, seeing how off kilter he was, she'd assumed that he would be fine again once he'd actually interacted with them. He'd never really had fights with his friends back in Arizona...and none of his buddies had played a prank like that in his home. It was new territory for him and Elizabeth wondered if maybe he was nervous about having to tell them off.
She just wished he would hurry up and get over it.
She wasn't being unkind but God, it was dragging on.
She supposed he would feel better tomorrow.
Lucy had called them down for breakfast and the three of them had enjoyed a feast of cereal. Without Grandpa at the table there was no tussle or race for the good stuff and they'd been able to eat quite leisurely. The atmosphere had been a little tense to begin with because both kids were waiting for their mother to talk, to express her hurt and disappointment at the previous evening but she had been in remarkable spirits.
She'd spoken to Max in the evening, long after everyone had gone to bed, she'd told them, cradling her coffee in her endearing and familiar way.
She had looked tired but happy and Elizabeth knew it was down to Max. If they hadn't spoken, perhaps she would have been a different woman that morning - tired, worried, stressed...but no.
She had looked happy.
Apparently, he'd assured her that he thought she was a wonderful mother and that she had handled the situation with grace. Lucy had laughed when she relayed his comments, saying she'd felt flustered and embarrassed by the compliment but she seemed pleased all the same.
Elizabeth had understood where Max was coming from and she really thought it wasn't just mindless platitudes.
After all, Lucy had handled the situation well. There was no shouting, no cries, nothing but patience even if it was a little strained.
"He said he thought you two were very good kids" Lucy smiled at her children, nudging Sammy who was sat beside her.
"..but..." he muttered as Elizabeth gave a wry smile, "yeah? What did he say about the Frog Brothers?"
"No comment" Lucy said diplomatically, "I'm sorry if I was snappish-"
"-Mom! You were amazing" Elizabeth assured, shaking her head, "you don't owe anyone an apology. If anything, those Toads owe you-"
"-I told them off" Sammy interrupted, speaking sincerely but quietly, looking small in his seat, "I swear I did"
"Well, you didn't know. It's OK, Sammy"
"I'm sorry"
"It's not a problem, my love" she replied, giving him another nudge, "it wasn't you"
Sammy hadn't looked happy. He just looked guilty.
"Pass the milk?" Elizabeth asked her brother, going for another bowl full of chocolate rocks.
"I'm gonna see them again and tell them they should come and say sorry"
Lucy laughed, "no! Please, no. I don't need them back here"
Sammy looked torn and Lucy smiled at him, "Oh, sweetie. I'm fine, OK? Max and I spoke, the situation...well, it was what it was, OK? Nobody blames you. I don't blame you"
"...you can still be friends with them" Elizabeth told her brother, hand outstretched.
He passed the milk to her and glanced at his mother who suddenly seemed to understand, "oh gosh, Sammy I don't want you to lose your friends...it's fine! But uh, maybe we don't have them over for Thanksgiving, huh?"
Both women had laughed but Sammy had just nodded sullenly.
Elizabeth looked down as something stung her knee.
She blinked as Grandpa asked her, "you coming in the front, Gagarin?"
He turned his body back around and she realized that he'd flicked her.
She must have been really lost in her thoughts. How long had he been trying to get her attention?
"Gagarin?"
"You know, the cosmonaut?"
"Huh?"
"You're out to space, kiddo! You hopping in the front or not?"
"Oh...yeah, OK.." she smiled, not even hearing Sammy as he left the car, "I was in my own head there, sorry"
"I promise-"
"-Sammy!" she laughed, shutting the back door, "Mom told you she didn't want you to lose your friends. I told you I don't care! Nobody is going to tell you off or shout at you or tell you not to see them, if that's still what you were hoping for?"
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, sliding into the front seat, "you feel bad because they ruined the night but you still want to be their friend. For the thousandth time, it's OK"
Hadn't they covered this already? Sammy was beating himself up on it and honestly, it was kind of going beyond annoyance.
"Don't fret on it, kid" Grandpa advised, "it was a joke gone wrong, it happens"
Surprised that she wasn't still tasting garlic, Elizabeth silently disagreed but she didn't want her brother to feel even worse about it.
"...you sure you don't wanna come?" Sammy offered and Elizabeth snorted, "yeah, right"
"Your mother give you a curfew?" Grandpa asked and Sammy shook his head, "no"
"Well, get home safe, alright? Be smart. You know The Widow's number?"
Sammy patted his pocket, silently affirming that he had the little piece of scrap paper with the number hastily scribbled down.
"Alright. Call if you need anything, OK? Now get. Go have fun"
"I'm gonna-"
"-tell them off!" Elizabeth finished with him, grinning at the quip of his lips.
The small smile was promising. Maybe he was beginning to see the humor in his long-lasting feelings of guilt?
Without a fuss or more prolonged goodbyes, Grandpa pulled out and gave the horn a honk.
Jumping, Sammy waved his hand once as they drove off, leaving him a speck in the distance.
"Ahhhh I hate those kids" Grandpa told Elizabeth as they navigated through the traffic coming up to the boardwalk. It was cooling off a little and families in their packed cars were making their way back to their hotels or rentals and the traffic was a little thick because of it, "knew there'd be trouble if they came for dinner. Weren't raised right..."
Elizabeth knew people would be walking to the boardwalk soon, ready to drink and party or enjoy the rides, go on dates, scope out what was on offer.
The wholesome people were leaving and the rabble was ready to descend and, grinning to herself, she found that she was quite eager to be a part of it.
The whole vibe and atmosphere was going to change and, as a freckled little boy dropped his inflatable arm-bands, she smiled at her grandfather, "me too but I didn't think they'd pull a prank like that...pretty damn ballsy for guests"
"Your Mom said they gave you garlic?"
"Yeah, they brought it instead of parm"
Grandpa grunted with a nod, "she made it sound like you were the target of the prank"
Elizabeth took a breath and nodded.
Thinking on it, she could see why her mother would have said that. After all, they hadn't offered it to any of the other guests and hadn't they been watching her load it on her plate?
She couldn't be sure but, with another nod, she said, "yeah, I guess"
"Garlic, huh?"
She laughed once but without humor, "weird, right?"
"Specific" Grandpa agreed with a causal air.
"Sammy spoke to them, or at least he said he did" Elizabeth told him, watching as they passed by a couple kissing quite passionately in front of a souvenir shop, "and they said they only planned the garlic but everything else was just unfortunate"
"The water?"
"Mhmm"
"Your Mom said she was worried you got burned"
"Nah, it was cold" Elizabeth said with a shake of her head.
"But didn't they ask if it burned you?"
"Huh...yeah?" she nodded again, glancing at him, "yeah they did. I forgot...Mom told you that?"
"I got the rundown" he replied, "just strange, don't you think? Asking if you were burned...they must have known it wasn't hot...wonder what their goal was with the, uh, the prank?"
For a second, it sounded like he wasn't going to use the word prank and she laughed.
Those kids were idiots, "I think we're giving them too much credit Grandpa"
"In what way?"
She grinned, "trying to understand the thought process of the Frog Brothers. It's quite clear they're messed up"
She tapped her head twice, giving the old man a rue little grin.
Grandpa smiled, "they're something all right"
"I hope Sammy ditches them when school starts"
"I'm sure he will, but let's just keep this conversation between us friends for now, OK?"
She mimed zipping her lips, knowing full well that he knew her thoughts on the matter.
"So, where can I drop you of Lizzie?"
"Me?"
He nodded, smiling conspiratorially, "you're a young kid with no curfew. Live a little"
"Grandpa..."
He smiled, "I don't like you holed up in the house. Now I'd invite you to come and spend time with me and Ms Johnson but spending the night with two fuddy duddies like us isn't much fun either and honestly, I don't want you there" she laughed at that brutal honesty, "go and have a little fun"
"...really?"
He nodded with a little conspiratorial grin, "really. I don't like the boardwalk so much-" he glanced away from her as the car crawled along. The traffic lights ahead were turning red but when he passed them, the road opened up and Elizabeth knew he'd be off without a look back, "-but I figure there's a lot for you to do here"
She smiled and nodded brightly, "Grandpa, thank you!"
"You're welcome. Almost feels like everyone but you has a life here" he mused, "I don't want you to miss out"
She laughed. If only he knew, "I'll try not to"
As the car came to a stop, just two others in front of them, she released her seatbelt.
"You know the Widow's number? If you need me, you know where you can reach me?"
"Uh-huh" she lied with a nod.
She'd forgotten the Widow's phone number and she hadn't learned the house phone, either.
She knew that Dwayne would always see her safe so she'd never really needed to.
"I'll be fine-"
"-I ain't gonna give you a curfew but be smart, OK?"
"I promise"
"You have money?"
She paused, hand on the door, "uh-yeah, yeah"
It was another lie.
She'd left her bag in the house because she was fully expecting to return home after their trip out and honestly, she had known she wouldn't want to buy anything when shopping with Grandpa because she knew the kind of places he liked to shop.
She had left her coat in the house, too, slipping on a very light jacket over her dress.
"Here" he said, easily pulling a somewhat crumpled twenty from the pocket of his very old work shirt, "but don't tell anyone, OK?"
"Grandpa..." she protested as her hands wrapped around the note.
He was too good to her.
"Hey, hey" he insisted with a grin, "you just have a good night, OK?"
"Thank you!" she said, meaning it fully.
The light turned amber and he gave her a wink, "have fun, kid"
She opened the door and slid out of the car, shutting the door in perfect time.
As the car before his pulled away, Grandpa put his hand in the air and gave the horn a honk but this time it played a loud melody. As heads turned to the source of the noise, Elizabeth laughed and blushed, shaking her head in mild embarrassment.
She was sure she caught a glimpse of the old man's smile as the car turned the corner and was out of sight.
As she was left alone, she resisted the urge to squeal and jump on the spot.
Could she have orchestrated anything more perfect?
Definitely not.
She grinned and hopped onto the sidewalk, heading towards the beach.
She was tempted to have a look at the attractions but she knew they would be more fun with Dwayne.
Why not surprise him?
Why not go to the cave?
She bypassed a family with a frazzled looking mother and oblivious looking father and looked left and right quickly before crossing the road.
The beach was close to emptying and she skipped a little, knowing it would be totally empty soon.
The air was cool and the while Elizabeth was still warm and comfortable in her dress, she knew she would be needing a jacket later on in the night. There was the promise of chill in the air. It didn't bother her, though.
What was better than being wrapped up in Dwayne's jacket, nestled in his arms? Maybe they could have a bonfire on the beach?
She smiled at the image and the thought.
She wondered if she would ever stop smiling at such thoughts.
Probably not.
She'd never felt luckier.
The beach was beginning to thin out for real and even without a watch on her wrist she knew that darkness was on its way. She doubted she'd make it to the cave before night fell and honestly, she wasn't sure how far she had left to walk. It felt like no distance at all on the back of their bikes and the last time she had walked there she had been angry, fuelled by rage. In the light of day and with a clear head, she couldn't really say how much further was left to go.
It didn't matter though.
The walk was nice, the weather fine and even if she didn't get there before dark, she had absolutely no doubt at all that Dwayne would intercept her.
"Watch out!"
She blinked, broken from her thoughts and taking a step back as a football flew through the air, close enough to hitting her head that she actually took a sharp intake of breath. Hunching her shoulders, she exhaled as it landed and skidded hard in the sand. Two guys, both with mild looks of panic on their faces, were running towards their errant ball and she waved her hand up once to signal that she was alright. The ball had skidded a little way past her and since they were running towards it, she decided against picking it up.
Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, she continued her path.
"Sorry about that" came a somewhat breathless apology from one of the guys as he ran past her, scooping up the ball.
"No problem" she assured, not breaking her pace.
"Wow, that came like, this close to hitting you!"
The second runner stopped in front of Elizabeth, blocking her path.
He smiled brightly revealing perfectly straight and white teeth.
"Are you OK?"
"Yeah, it didn't hit me. It didn't come that close" she said with a polite smile.
"We're heading back to the car and we were just goofing around" he continued, his bright blue eyes crinkling in the corner as he smiled, "it wasn't intentional or anything"
"Of course, it's OK"
"I'm-"
"-Zach, they already left" his friend spoke, interrupting.
Elizabeth turned to the speaker, following his thumb jerk towards a group of kids - barely visible in the distance - heading far up the beach towards the car park.
"I'll catch up"
"You're our ride, man"
Zach gave Elizabeth an embarrassed little smile when she turned to him with a small, questioning frown. He gave a small sort of shrug as he rummaged in the pocket of his surf shorts and tossed a set of car keys to his friend, "just gimmie a second"
Elizabeth tilted her head once observing him, hoping that she wasn't the reason for his delay.
Both guys were shirtless and tan, quite good looking in a very wholesome, healthy sort of way and Elizabeth realized how unimpressed by them she was.
Dwayne really had corrupted her.
Before, she probably would have found herself blushing, perhaps subtly checking the guys out. They were cute, definitely the sort of guys you could imagine playing a sport, being surrounded by friends, being liked by teachers and students alike.
The thing was, just looking at them now...she found them boring.
She didn't even know them and she found them plain and uninspiring.
Compared to the wildness, the freedom of the pack, the stormy dark eyes of her mate, the strong, stoic but passionate mannerisms he exuded...the two boys were just that: boys.
"Don't be long, man. I'm hungry"
"Whatever" Zach said with a dismissive wave before focusing his eyes and bright smile on Elizabeth, "I'm Zach"
"Yeah, I heard" she replied with a smile, pointing out the obvious, her tone light.
"What's your name?"
She smiled and shook her head, "sorry, I'm really not-"
"-oh your name's Sorry? That's unique!"
He must have known she was going to tell him she wasn't interested in dating or making friends and she could help but laugh at his quick response.
Yeah, he was definitely the popular kid in his group.
"I was going to say 'not interested'" she said with a grin.
"Sorry Not Interested" he nodded, "I like it. Is it Scottish or...?"
"No. It's me telling you I'm not really interested in this conversation?" she offered with another smile and raised eyebrows, her voice light and kind.
He grimaced in an overdramatic way and again, Elizabeth laughed at the kind of pathetic effort to pick her up.
She shook her head in bemused rejection.
She wasn't being cruel but the whole thing was quite pathetic in a sweet way and the guy looked a lot cooler than his words were.
She couldn't imagine what would have tripped him up like that, he looked like he shouldn't have much trouble with girls. He looked like he should be a lot smoother. He took it in good stead though and laughed himself, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, "shit that was lame, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was pretty bad"
"I swear I'm usually cooler than this?"
"If you say so.."
He laughed again, "oouch..." with a smile, a wide smile that once again showed his perfect teeth, he asked, "so there's really no chance of getting your name?"
She shook her head.
"Number?"
"What would you do with my number? Who would ask for when the phone was answered?"
"I'd ask for the most beautiful girl I've ever met?"
She laughed in embarrassment and again shook her head.
She'd never had anyone come onto her like that before.
She was flattered, admittedly, but still not even slightly interested.
"That was good. Better than before, at least" she smiled at him, "but I have a boyfriend. Not being coquettish, genuinely not interested"
"Is he big?" the question came out as a half joke and Elizabeth smiled kindly but this time she didn't laugh and she hoped he would take the hint.
She wasn't flirting, she was being polite but serious.
She'd told him she wasn't single; she didn't know what else to say.
She didn't want to encourage him.
"It was nice to meet you though" she offered, moving to step forward.
He let her, taking a step back to accommodate her, "OK, OK, that's cool.." he nodded, "...well, you know, you could take my number? That way if you two ever split-"
She frowned at him.
His flirting, the way he had asked her out had been endearing and kind of sweet.
He'd handled the rejection gracefully, too.
If he'd just ended it there, he really could have left with dignity and respect but now he was toeing the line, "-no, that won't happen"
"No?" he blinked at her tone, surprised by her steadfast answer.
He glanced behind her but his friends weren't even a speck in the distance anymore and he crossed his arms over his chest, looking a little out of place in just his trunks in the now darkening sky.
He looked almost amused as Elizabeth repeated her answer, adding a "goodbye" for good measure.
She didn't want to be rude but she'd been nice and the conversation was still going on, so she figured cutting it off was the best way to end it but Zach took a step at the same time as she did, blocking her path.
"I said no" she told him, frowning deeply.
"Not even your number?" he asked with a laugh, "come on, what's the harm?"
"I'm not interested" she repeated, looking behind him, "I told you"
There was nobody there. No families or surfers or lone stragglers in the darkened sand behind him.
She knew the group he had come with had long since left the beach, his friend having ran to catch up to them.
She didn't want to look behind her because she didn't want him to know just how uncomfortable he was making her. She didn't want to give him any power but she wished she knew that there were people nearby.
She didn't want to be alone with him.
"I'm not being rude here" he said, looking her up and down once, "but you're wearing a pretty dress and you're alone on the beach...kinda looks like you wanted to get picked up"
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying" he said, holding his hands up. His smile was a little less friendly, "it'd take you a second to give me your number. I want your number"
"No"
She moved to walk forward but this time he didn't take a step back and she stopped, jerking her body to prevent herself from walking straight into him.
"What's your pro-" Elizabeth stopped.
She felt her mark tingle, almost jolt and she frowned as she looked up into the dark sky.
She didn't even realize the sun had set.
"Look, I just think you're cute. I just want your number" Zach said, his voice reasonable and matter of fact, "I don't get why you won't let me ask you out"
"I told you I have a boyfriend"
"Elizabeth?"
Her heart jolted as Dwayne's voice met her ears and she couldn't stop the huge smile from spreading over her face as she saw him. He was walking casually and easily but she saw right away that he was angry. The set of his shoulders, the glint in his eyes, the light purse of his lips.
She knew he was pissed.
She moved forward and this time Zach stepped aside, turning his body as he watched her go.
She held Dwayne, smiling up at him. The brief sense of fear that had been creeping up on her was well and truly forgotten. Zach was forgotten, "I was coming to see you"
"I know. Are you OK?"
She nodded, holding onto his jacket as she beamed up at him, "absolutely"
"Are you sure?"
She nodded, "it's nothing. I'm so happy to see you, I was waiting last night but-"
"-I'm still waiting on your number"
Elizabeth froze before turning her head to glance at Zach once more.
She didn't understand.
She thought he would leave the second Dwayne had appeared. Hell, she would have run if she was in his shoes. Dwayne was big, he was stacked, he was obviously strong. Why the hell would this boy bait him?
Marko had said that sometimes macho guys liked to try and square up to them, sometimes guys wanted to be like them but she couldn't see Zach fitting into either of those categories.
She turned to look up at Dwayne and, seeing the darkness in his eyes, she shook her head and murmured, "please, don't"
He glanced down at her and nodded at her request, cupping her cheek and running his thumb over her lip.
She smiled up at him.
"Jealous, bro? Your girl wanted to be picked up"
Dwayne, Elizabeth knew, could have easily flattened the boy.
She knew that even if he had been mortal, he would have come out on top and a nervous pit began to grow in her stomach.
She wasn't ready to see it, not yet. She wasn't ready to see what he could do; she wasn't ready to see blood or fights or violence or anything of the sort.
She tightened her hold on Dwayne's arm and he glanced down at her with a reassuring half-smile and she relaxed a little, glad that he respected her. Glad that he loved her. She had asked him not to and even though she knew it would give him an unmeasurable amount of satisfaction to destroy the guy, Dwayne was going to let him leave.
His half-smile turned into a lilting smirk as Dwayne glanced derisively at the boy behind her.
Under his stare, Zach seemed to wilt a little, the cocky attitude changing noticeably, his shoulders sagging and he shifted on the spot, shrugging once.
"Whatever. She's not worth it"
His voice was reluctant and petulant and again, Elizabeth just didn't understand.
He didn't fit into the categories that Marko had listed.
Dwayne's eyes flashed and she smiled up at him, running her hand over his chest.
Thankfully and finally, Zach had already turned away.
Elizabeth held onto her mate even tighter, keeping him close to her.
Just to be sure.
She knew that Dwayne loved her and would do anything she said, but she wasn't sure if he would let a comment like that slide, despite her pleas for a non-violent night. She knew that he was letting her hold him still and she loved him for his consideration, his respect for her thoughts and needs.
She knew he wanted to kill the guy but he wasn't going to.
"I love you, Dwayne" she told him, standing up on her toes to kiss his forehead, lowering herself to kiss his lips, "come on, let's go? I've been waiting to see you for too long, I'm not letting an asshole like him spoil my night"
"Are you sure? You could close your eyes?" his voice was light but there was a hardness to it and she shook her head, "no. No violence. Let's go"
"He was rude to you, Liz"
He was frowning and she smiled softly. He usually called her by her full name. He really was pissed.
"I don't care if he was rude"
"I care"
"Of course you do. I know you do and I love you for it" she replied, holding onto his arm and tugging him in the direction of the woods that lay far in the distance, "it's not about that. It's me. I don't want to see what you can do, Dwayne. I don't think I'm ready for that" she told him honestly, "he was a dead man walking right there and he didn't even know it...Jesus, he turned his back to you? I don't...I mean, you could...you wouldn't even need to exert any effort to kill him and he...he didn't even know..."
"He knew"
She looked up at him, feeling a sudden rush of warmth flood through her.
The self-assured certainty in his voice, the rumbling way he spoke...
Of course, she knew that Dwayne was strong.
Physically, he was the biggest of the guys. It didn't take a genius to know that he could take care of himself but his personality was so self-assured, he didn't really project the image of a fighter.
Looking at him, one would know not to cross him but it was clear that he didn't go looking for fights.
Hearing the sort of gravelly, threatening tone of voice, seeing the way his eyes had narrowed with painful accuracy and promise of pain for the guy...it was undeniably sexy.
"Elizabeth?"
Back to her full name?
She swallowed, smiling tightly as she felt herself flush.
"Yeah. Yeah.." she swallowed, blinking, realizing that she had stopped walking. She tried to smile up at him, feeling herself heat up and began to walk again, her grip on his arm a little tighter as she pulled him along.
She couldn't stop thinking about Dwayne's body, his power.
She couldn't stop thinking about how sexy it was, having a man who would fight - and win - on her behalf.
"Are you ok?"
The sly little smile on his face told her that he knew exactly what she was thinking, exactly why she had paused.
Suddenly, she desired nothing more than to go somewhere secluded.
All thoughts of fear, worry or offence were gone.
"Um.." the mark on her neck seemed to throb in time with her pulse and she could feel herself becoming wet. Her reaction to him was almost instantaneous, "..do we have plans or..."
"The guys are going to meet us at the beach" he told her seriously, his dark eyes trained on hers, "a little further out from here"
She knew he knew exactly what she was feeling but he was giving nothing away.
It was slow torture.
"Now?"
He stepped forward, running his hand over her cheek, "no"
"So, we can.."
"...can...?"
"Dwayne"
"Elizabeth"
He had pulled her closer and was looking down at her, his eyes shouldering.
Holy. Shit.
A fire had been lit inside him, too and she could feel something else throbbing in time with her pulse.
Was he going to make her beg him?
She bit her lip, "...take me somewhere quiet.."
"Secluded?"
She nodded as his hand trailed lower, down from her cheek, past her neck and tantalizingly close to her breast.
She swallowed, "where it's just the two of us"
"You trust me?" he offered his hand, taking a step back.
The threat was gone from his face, from his voice but the lightness she had come to expect hadn't returned, either.
She immediately missed the contact, the heat from his touch but couldn't help but shiver a little at the tone of his voice.
Serious, brooding, knowing.
She hadn't really seen this side of him. He was in the strangest, darkest and most compelling of moods and she nodded, accepting his hand.
Giving out a gasp of shock as he pulled her into him, his body absorbing the impact of her weight, she wrapped her hands around his neck desperately as she was torn from the ground. She knew that she was safe with him but it was instinct, something she just couldn't help as she felt herself suddenly soaring through the air. She wasn't floating, she wasn't flying. He wasn't being soft or gentle, he was really showing her just how intense it was to be in the grasp of a vampire and she shivered in delight.
It felt dangerous.
In that moment, he felt dangerous.
Knowing about that danger, knowing the absolute truth about it and still knowing that she was exempt from it...she squeezed him tightly, already feeling the promise of heat low down in her stomach.
She opened her eyes for a moment as she felt the wind move her skirt and hair at a more natural speed and gave a little murmur of surprised discomfort before closing them again and burying her head against his neck.
They were floating, suspended in the dark sky and far from land.
Directly above the sea, not far from the cave but far from everything else.
Certainly quiet, no doubt about it being just the two of them.
She had asked and like always, he had delivered.
She wasn't usually bothered by heights but the cliff was so tall, the fall so impossibly high and the jagged rocks below promised nothing but pain.
She knew that she was safe with Dwayne, she knew implicitly that nothing would harm her so long as she was his but the threat of danger was so real and tangible, it was overall just overwhelming.
"You trust me?"
"Of course," she said, squeezing her eyes shut as the wind seemed to surround her once more.
She felt his hands wrapped around her waist and gave a little whimper of worry as they moved upwards. Her arms around his neck were all that was keeping her from the waves below.
"Elizabeth?"
She could feel his cheek against her head, the way her dress was dancing with the wind.
"Open your eyes"
She took a breath.
"Trust me"
There was a hint of warning in his voice and she felt her stomach turn, jolting in excitement.
That tone, that rumbling sort of murmur.
It was almost reassuring, almost comforting but there was no mistaking that it was a command.
She could feel his strength, feel his love for her, feel his desire, feel his sheer power.
He was telling her to trust him, commanding her to trust him and she found herself responding to him despite the inherent, low burning fear of their height.
As she opened her eyes, she blinked in shock.
He kissed her and she felt herself loosening her grip around his neck, responding to him.
Her feet met the surprisingly chipped concrete of the narrow lighthouse balcony.
She was grounded but still felt like she was floating.
The mark on her neck began to tingle and she leaned into him.
"Elizabeth...do you know why I wasn't jealous of that guy?"
"Huh?"
"He asked if I was jealous"
"..ok?"
She blinked up at Dwayne as he pushed her away from his body, his fingers dancing over her neck while his other hand ran down her pink, wind slapped cheek.
She peered up at him, her back pressed against the old wall of the lighthouse.
His fingers skimmed her mark and her breath caught.
"Do you know why I wasn't jealous?"
"No?" she replied honestly, feeling a little breathless, "to be honest with you, I'm not thinking about him at all"
She was so painfully wet; she could feel how damp her underwear was. The last thing she was thinking about was the guy from earlier though she supposed she should be thankful she'd bumped into him.
This angry, affronted Dwayne was sexier than she could ever have imagined.
But still. That guy already felt a million years in the past.
She was thinking about Dwayne and only Dwayne, all the things she wanted him to do to her.
He smiled, observing her, his eyes raking down the length of her body.
She thought she was going to crumble under his gaze.
She swallowed.
It was colder up here. The wind, paired with the chilled, peeling white concrete of the lighthouse pressing against her back threatened to overpower her but she was well aware that the tight, tingling of her nipples had nothing to do with the weather. The waves crashed loudly below and she glanced at the thin and short railings that would do a poor job of preventing someone from going over the side.
They were ornate but old and she knew they were for decoration.
The light itself wasn't working that evening, it was just the two of them in the darkness.
She took a shuddering breath and looked up at him.
He was piercing her with his eyes and she made to step towards him, pausing when his hand curled up and into her hair. He tilted her head back, his lips brushing over her neck, taking care to avoid her mark.
She curled her hand around the collar of his jacket, breathing fast, desperate to feel him inside of her.
She didn't know what game he was playing but it was killing her.
"I wasn't jealous, Elizabeth" he whispered against her neck, his low voice almost lost in the wind.
She wanted to kiss him, she wanted him to kiss her, but his grip on her hair was relentless.
Not painful, not rough but strong enough that she was only able to move on his terms, "because I know you're mine. I know there's no possible chance anyone would ever be able to take you from me"
"Oh my God" she groaned at his words, unable to stop herself from pressing her crotch against his, tightening her hand against his coat.
He kissed her mark gently and while she felt his grip loosen in her hair, the way their lips met was anything but soft.
Their kiss was hard, fast and punishing. It was filled with a passion, a fire that was new to her and she thought she would die, right then and there.
She could feel his hand move lower, almost desperately moving to tug at the sleeves of her jacket but she moaned, her own desperation not in question, pulling away from his lips.
They didn't have time for that, "no, no, now-"
Elizabeth cried out as he lifted her swiftly, his lips crashing to hers once more.
She needed him at that moment and he was listening to her pleas.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling his hardness and she almost lost her mind as it pressed against her.
"You're so wet" he growled, pressing her back into the cold wall of the light house.
She felt her body shift for a second before the sound of his zipper met her ears. She moved her hips and cried out, loudly and desperately, as she felt him slide into her.
Her underwear was bunched uncomfortably to the side, the wind was howling, the night was cold, her legs were exposed to the elements but she had never felt more fulfilled, more content.
She was in heaven and, as he moved, his thrusts deep and fast, she cried into the night.
His fingers curled in her hair again and she whimpered in delight.
He was so strong, so powerful and he wasn't holding back in showing her.
He was lighting a fire inside of her like never before and she couldn't contain her moans.
"Dwayne" she whimpered, feeling her jacket slip down and expose her upper arms to the elements, too.
She arched her back as best she could, feeling him plunge even deeper inside her and cried out a breathless moan. The rough and cold concrete of the lighthouse was wonderfully uncomfortable against her head and hair and she could feel the material of his jeans against her legs and thighs, the fabric of his jacket against her arms and his hair tangled in her fingers.
Raw, powerful, intense.
The wind was strong, but he was unmovable, his pace constant and hard, his body firm against hers.
She was getting lost in it, getting lost in him.
"Look at me" he growled huskily, his voice commanding.
His body was powerful, unrelenting and his movements, the way he kept her close, supported her while taking control, taking her exactly as he wanted her almost made her come undone there and then.
His power, his strength.
His control.
It was a new side of him, a side she had known existed but had yet to experience fully and she didn't know how she had lived without it.
She cried out as he growled, "look at me, Elizabeth"
She could feel herself tighten at the command and heard him groan in response.
It was too much.
She loved him, she loved seeing the sweet and tender side that belied his appearance but this? God, how could she ever want anything but this?
She closed her eyes in bliss, her eyebrows furrowed as he relentlessly took her. There was nothing romantic, nothing sweet in their actions and it was overwhelming in its sheer perfection. Even when he had been dominant and in control before, there was a gentleness in his actions, a comforting element but in that moment, there was none to be found.
She was his and he was taking her.
She could feel the muscles in her legs begin to quiver.
She gasped, her breath catching as she felt herself pushed up against the wall once more, his hand gripping her chin and forcing him to face her. He was making her look at him, making her answer his command. The action was so dominant and as her eyes snapped open, meeting his, she felt herself lose the little control she had.
She felt reality break, her body shatter.
She cried out desperately, her fingers tightening around his hair. It was hard to breath, hard to think.
His jaw clenched as he watched her intently, drinking in every inch of her as her orgasm washed over her, as it drowned her, but he didn't stop in his movements.
"Elizabeth-"
She cried out, unable to pull herself away from his gaze, unable to breath as the pleasure numbed her to everything.
"-fuck-I can't-"
"-yes" she whimpered, nodding desperately as he kissed her.
Whatever he needed; she would give it to him.
As his lips found hers in a kiss that was desperate and panting, there was a hardness behind it, a hardness in his actions and she understood.
He needed her and he couldn't hold it in.
He couldn't be gentle.
She felt her second orgasm building.
He pulled her away from the wall, turning their bodies as he stepped backwards. He released her and she stumbled, lost and confused as her body slackened without his support, longing to feel him inside her still.
She looked up at him, not understanding.
"Dwayne? Wh-" her question, her gasping and breathless words were lost as he silently turned her body, his eyes dark. He stepped forward, pushing her forward in turn and she gasped an, "oh" as she took in the threatening view, the low railings pressing into her thighs. She didn't have time to think as she felt him carelessly and roughly lift her dress, his fingers grazing tantalizingly up her thighs as he did.
She felt the wind and cold air on the sweaty, hot skin of her legs.
"Tell me you belong to me"
She could feel him pressing against her entrance and her heart skipped a beat.
She nodded desperately, "I do, I belong to you-"
"Always"
The cold metal railings dug painfully against her thighs as it sank through the fabric of her dress and, as she looked down at the crashing waves and jagged rocks below, she felt his arm wrap around her stomach, keeping him against her.
"Always" she whispered, her voice almost breaking with lust.
Dangerous, rough, needful.
She needn't fear the height, she knew nothing would take her from his arms.
She whimpered into the wind as his other hand wrapped around her neck, tilting her head back and up towards him. His hand was so broad, so wide she felt so small compared to him, so completely covered. It would take nothing at all, barely even a twinge of his fingers and he could break her neck. He was so powerful, so strong but she was his and he would never hurt her. It was intoxicating, addicting knowing the strength he possessed, knowing what he could do to her, knowing that he never would.
He was danger and she was lost in him.
He entered her in one fluid motion and as she cried out in shattering shock, he captured her lips.
She wanted to bend forward, to curl into herself and against him as he claimed her, but he kept her pinned tightly to him, controlling her body as he slammed into her.
Her dress was bunched up behind her and with every thrust she could feel his jeans.
It was so raw and she whimpered another moan, another cry, feeling tears of lust and need sting her eyes.
Her eyebrows collapsed together and already she could feel the pressure within her close to exploding.
It was so primal.
He was so primal.
She tried to reach for the railings, something to hold, but he had her body pinned against his so tightly, so completely and without even the smallest hint of freedom, she found she couldn't reach them. It was his strength and power alone that was preventing her from falling and she didn't know what would happen when her next orgasm came. She didn't know if she would have the power to stand, she was completely at his mercy.
He knew it.
"Mine"
With a sobbing moan, she nodded frantically.
She was so close and, as he hissed in her ear another growl, claiming her as his own, his hand moved up from her stomach and reached for her breast.
Against the cold night, the biting wind, the heat from the man behind her, her nipples were painfully taught and as he rolled it tightly against the palm of his hand, she tried to move her body, to meet his thrusts.
She needed more.
His hand tightened around her neck and she found herself crying out, "oh God, please, yes-yes-Dwayne"
"Elizabeth"
Her name was like a prayer and a curse all at once and she cried out loudly as he increased his pace, unable to focus on anything other than the building pleasure, the pressure threatening to implode her. She reached up desperately and wrapped her arms around his neck, in his hair and she felt the tightness of her chest, her breasts straining against the dress and his hand.
"Yes-yes-" she could barely find it in herself to breath, so overwhelmed, "please-harder-oh!"
He didn't deny her.
She didn't think it was possible, she had wanted it and begged for it but as he answered her pleas, as he slammed into her, she didn't know how it could be possible.
How such pleasure could be possible.
Her eyes clenched shut as his hand moved up from her neck to her jawline, turning her head taught to side, her ear and hair pushed against his shoulder. She tried to cry out, to call his name, to beg him and plead but she couldn't.
As his lips and teeth sunk into her mark, she felt pleasure like never before douse her.
Surround her.
Smother her, suffocate her and as she gasped into the night, her eyebrows furrowed, her hands tangled in his hair and her mouth forming a perfect, breathless circle of bliss, they came together, their silent cries lost in the night.