Hope this makes up for the Sarah Hart bashing a few chapters back. Although, do not be led astray by the this chapter...Gemma
Chapter Nineteen – S is for Sarah
I sat at the fuel station for longer than I planned. The idea of going back to Paradise gave me such mixed feelings. Yes, it was where I could reunite with Sarah but it also meant dealing with things that I had chosen to ignore. I knew I hadn't truly moved past Henri's death – I'd simply decided not to think about it.
I wasn't sure how I would feel seeing our home again but I was certain how it would feel to hold Sarah in my arms. Above me the night was glowing with stars. Maybe Sarah was looking out her bedroom window at the same sky and thinking of me.
I hoped so.
The Ducati's engine vibrated between my legs, ready to take me to Paradise.
The ride to your destination always seems longer than the ride back. I think this is because of the anticipation you feel when you think about all the exciting things that await you. This is probably why I was so impatient to get to Sarah.
Her beautiful smile.
Her sweet kisses.
With about twenty miles left I was stopped at a red light in a residential area. There was no one around and I could have easily run it – but I was so close to Paradise there was no way I was going to take the risk.
Idly I gazed up at the stars. A small cloud system was moving past blocking them from my view. It was weird seeing clouds at night – I wondered if that happened a lot and I had just never noticed before. The clouds drifted apart thinning into small strips letting light stream through.
Then I stared at the world above me as I recognized the pattern being made by the starlight. It was nearly identical to the Loric writing on Six's pendant.
"What the fuck!" I muttered aloud, squeezing my eyes closed. It wasn't bad enough that I was dreaming about her – now I was starting to hallucinate Loric charms!
My pocket vibrated. I removed my phone and didn't bother to look at the display. A strange six(th) sense had already given the caller away.
"What?" I answered hoping that the damn light would hurry up and change.
"You took my bike."
"No I didn't." So much for me not getting caught.
"Mack has surveillance cameras."
Before I could say anything in my defense she launched into a tirade. I hung up on her and then threw the phone as hard as I could into the asphalt. It shattered into thousands of pieces. The color overhead shifted from red to green and I took off up the road.
It was daybreak when I reached the stretch of road where Henri spent his last moments. Leaving the bike behind me I stood over the place where my protector took his last breath. My hands were shoved deep in my pockets as I shifted my weight from side to side. I chastised myself for not bringing flowers or at least something to mark his grave.
I bowed my head and closed my eyes.
"I don't even know where to begin. I finally met another Garde. Number Six. We kicked some major Mogadorian ass here in Paradise – and at a concert. Between us we've racked up quite a head count. I think you'd be impressed. I've been getting stronger. But now there's crazy shit going on with my Legacies. I'm pretty sure it's because of Six and I don't know what to do about it. I know I never wanted your advice before but I could really use it now. So Henri, if you're out there right now."
I waited a minute almost thinking that I would get a response. But there was nothing aside from the normal sounds of the morning; birds, people, and cars. Maybe that was Henri's message. I was on my own now. I needed to trust my instincts.
A looming heaviness set in my chest as I rode away. That feeling lifted as I neared the Hart residence. Leaving the Ducati parked in the street I walked down the block, stopping to pick a handful of flowers from a neighbor's house before reaching my destination.
It was exactly how I remembered it.
A smile crossed my face as I recalled the first time Sarah and I kissed. The grin widened as I knew the likelihood of more kisses was only moments away.
I strode up to the front door and rang the bell. Then realizing I must look like hell, I quickly combed my fingers through my hair and prayed my breath wasn't too awful.
I heard her coming and held my breath as the door opened.
"Good Morning, Beautiful," I greeted her holding out the flowers.
"JOHN!" Tears of joy ran down her face.
Instantly we were in each other's arms, embracing each other tightly. "You have no idea how much I missed you," I told her as I pulled back to look into her eyes.
"I can't believe this," she sniffed wiping at her nose.
"Believe it," I told her lowering my mouth to hers for a very long overdue kiss. But before our lips touched I smelled something burning. Quickly I pulled away and looked at my hands.
They were perfectly normal.
"Is everything alright?" Sarah asked tenderly as she placed her hands over mine.
"Yeah." I suddenly felt like a big idiot. "I thought I smelled something burning…"
"The pancakes!" Sarah darted back into the house leaving me to follow her into the kitchen. There was smoke coming from a pan on the stove. Sarah took the handle and moved it to away from the heat.
"I hope that's not your Home Ec final," I joked looking at the charred mess in the pan.
"No," Sarah bumped her hip against mine. "But it was supposed to be breakfast. Hungry?"
"I'm starving," I replied.
"Then help yourself," she gestured to a large platter of pancakes already made. "Plates are on the counter. Forks are in the top drawer by the dishwasher."
"And syrup?" I asked making myself at home.
"Down by the toaster." She dumped the burnt food in the trashcan and turned on an exhaust fan.
I took a seat at the small kitchen table after loading a plate full of pancakes. Slapping pats of butter all over the warm griddled breakfast I poured a very generous amount of syrup on top. Sarah delivered a tall glass of milk before she returned to the stove.
"Should I make a plate for Bernie Kosar?"
"I left him with Sam. I imagine they're eating at McDonald's right about now."
We continued to make small talk. Sarah asked some general questions about how everyone was doing. Her back was to me while she cooked, giving me a great view of her ass. She was still in her pajamas, light flannel pants with the word PINK across the back and a skinny black tank top. Every so often she would glance over at me as she talked. I couldn't stop smiling. Here I was back in Paradise with my girlfriend.
"Want me to…?" I offered when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Sarah said as she headed for the doorway.
I continued eating my breakfast. Everything tasted so good. Warm sticky pancakes. Cool fresh milk.
Everything seemed perfect.
Until Mark James walked into the kitchen.
Making his way to the table he slid the back pack from his shoulder. "Hey man," he said with a hint of discord. "Didn't expect to see you again. Ever."
"Funny how things work out," I replied eyeing him up. It seems in my absence Mark had forgotten that I could pick him up and throw him through the wall if I really wanted to.
Sarah set down a plate of pancakes in front of Mark. The plate hit the table with a clink. I didn't see the dirty look she gave him but I saw his sulky reaction.
"So where's your friend?" he continued sitting in the seat across from me. "I saw her bike down the block."
"I rode solo," I told him, partly to show him up and partly to make sure Sarah knew I was alone.
Mark got the point and didn't ask any other questions. He sat there glaring at me as he pushed his pancakes around the plate. I guess he must have lost his appetite.
It's not like Mark was even close to a threat, yet I felt proud that I'd shut him down.
"I guess this means you won't be going to school today?" he said to Sarah in obvious annoyance as she joined us at the table.
"Since when do you have school on Saturday?" I asked.
"Since aliens blew up our school," Mark scowled at me.
"The school is closed while they get estimates for the repairs needed," Sarah explained. "They're holding classes in the church basement so we can finish the school year."
"Otherwise we'd have to get bussed to Madison High School all summer to make up the time," the jock sitting across from me said disdainfully.
"Mark!" Sarah barked at his tone. He got to his feet and with a loud scrape of his chair across the kitchen floor as he pushed it back into place she fell silent.
"Thanks for the pancakes," he snapped at Sarah, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he stormed across the room.
Sarah and I watched him go. Then the door slammed and I saw Sarah flinch at sudden noise.
"You alright?" I asked her.
She nodded and reached out her hand. "I'm much better now that you're back."
"What's going on with you and Mark?"
She let out a long sigh. "Since the attack, we've been spending a lot of time together."
I stiffened, not entirely sure where this conversation was heading.
"I mean, there's no one else we can talk to about what really happened. All we have is each other."
"Are you and Mark…?"
"We're friends," Sarah replied. "That's all. He knows that you and I are together. It's just sometimes I think he chooses to forget that."
Her fingers touched the skin on the back of my hand. I pushed my plate aside and came over the table, capturing her in my arms. She cupped my face in her hands and placed a soft kiss on the end of my nose. "I'm so happy you're here," she whispered. Before I could answer her lips were on mine.
I pulled her as close to me as I could as I kissed her back. Everything felt so right with Sarah. It always had. Even from the very first moment that I saw her.
This had to be love.
What else could it possibly be?
After a long moment she pulled away and took my hand, leading me to the stairs. I didn't have to be told that we were heading to her bedroom. I knew with certainty what was going to happen next.
Sex.
She closed the door behind us and locked it. "My parents took my brother camping for the weekend."
"Oh," my brows rose in anticipation as she approached. Then with a sly smile and confident hands she took the hem of my shirt and began to lift it over my head.
"Wait," I smiled as a stepped back and out of her grasp. Then I used my telekinesis to slip the straps of her tank top over shoulders. As they fell down her arms, she watched with wonder. "I hope you're ready for this," I teased sweeping her up in my arms as I lifted us both onto the bed.
We kissed again, this time I was on top of her. Her hands slid under my shirt rubbing my back and shoulders. My hands stayed still, nestled safely under her back. It was then I realized, despite watching all that pornography – I still didn't know exactly what I was doing.
Sarah slid my shirt over my head. Then I had to fight it to get it past my arms. We laughed at my attempt but the shirt finally made its way to the floor. I fought Sarah's tank top next and a few strands of her hair ended up as casualties.
But then we kissed again, letting our bodies feel each other. Within no time we were between the sheets completely naked.
"I love you, John," she whispered in my ear.
"I love you, Sarah," I whispered back.
She rolled from beneath me and leaned across the bed to her nightstand. Pulling open the top drawer, she reached all the way to the very back and groped blindly. I was surprised to see her remove an open box of condoms. If the two left were any indication – she'd already gone through most of the box.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as Mark James entered my mind.
I knew they'd been together. Sam had said as much. I guess I just chose to think that Sarah wasn't like that. That she didn't have a past. That she was all mine.
There was no time to dwell on those thoughts as I sat back on my heels with a condom in my hand. I attempted to put it on but it didn't feel right. Sarah tried to help me but I think we both knew what the problem was.
I wasn't 'big' enough to fill it.
From the corner of my eye, I glanced over at the package with its special markings indicating it was a larger size. I bit my lip in embarrassment wishing I had a Legacy that would make things bigger.
Then Sarah, in an attempt to ease the tension, removed it from my deflating cock saying, "Maybe you could just pull out this time."
I'd been through enough high school health classes to know that guys who used that method of birth control were usually those with pregnant girlfriends. Not that having a baby with Sarah was a bad thing, but it wasn't a responsibility I could handle right now.
Not to mention I didn't even want to imagine Six's reaction to an unplanned pregnancy.
And why the hell did I care what Six thought? I could make my own decisions.
Before I could object to Sarah's suggestion and offer to make a quick run down to the local pharmacy, she had taken my cock in her hands bringing it back to arousal. At that point I was barely able to speak let alone form a sentence. She reclined beneath me and I positioned myself to enter her, all thoughts of babies and Six had vanished from my mind. All I saw was Sarah. My Sarah. Her delicate body beneath me and the act of love that we were about to experience together.
As I pushed my hips forward, pressing the tip of my cock between her legs, she tensed up and blurted pleadingly, "John, wait."
I stopped and she scooted from beneath me.
"I can't do it without one. I'm sorry," she mumbled.
In that moment of clarity, I felt a wave of relief.
"I love you. I do. So very much," she pledged kissing me.
"I love you too," I told her. "Forever."
Then we broke apart and I suggested, "Want to go on a condom run? We could take the Ducati."
"The motorcycle?" she asked incredulously.
"The motorcycle," I repeated smiling.
We dressed and went outside into the bright sunshine. I got on the bike and watched as Sarah mounted behind me.
"No helmets?" she asked.
"You don't trust me?" I kidded with her. "That's the last time I'm almost having unprotected sex with you."
"John," she punched my shoulder.
"Hold on," I warned before speeding off down the residential street. I took the long way to pharmacy, using the back roads. I figured it was safer since I was still technically a 'fugitive' by Paradise, Ohio standards. I even parked the bike around the far side of the building so it wasn't as easily seen. Then walking hand in hand, Sarah and I entered the store and proceeded to the "family planning" aisle to select condoms.
Now, even though I'd walked down this aisle before I'd never stopped to browse – in hindsight I probably should have because – there was one hell of selection. I stood there dumbfounded looking at all the different manufacturers and styles while Sarah immediately selected two boxes.
"Latex allergy?" she asked me.
"Uh, no," I answered.
"Okay then," she placed one of the boxes back on its hook and led me up to the register. The cashier scanned the box and threw it in a bag without a second glance. I guess teenagers buying condoms wasn't a big deal. I paid for the purchase and Sarah took the change, winking at me as she pocketed the excess.
I didn't complain. I'd seen other guy's girlfriends do the same thing.
We rode back to Sarah's house and this time I parked the bike right out front. Without hesitation, we raced upstairs to her room and frantically undressed each other through a flurry of kisses. My pendant tangled in my shirt and I removed them both. They fell to the ground amidst the other articles of clothing.
Naked, we retuned to the bed, our bodies entangling between kisses. Sarah opened the box and handed me a wrapper, which I ripped open with my teeth. Sitting back on my heels again, I slid it over my hardened dick. The rubber sheath felt strange but at least this time it fit. I got down on top of Sarah again, her legs splayed sideways beneath me. I think we were both feeling more relaxed now that we had gotten the right kind of protection.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Definitely," she smiled.
I pushed forward into her but somehow I missed and my cock slipped upward. "Sorry," I said propping myself on one elbow while reaching my other hand between my legs to re-aim my cock. I slid it up and down Sarah's clit, watching her eyes half close as she exhaled. Then I centered it and thrust my hips again. This time it went down into the bed.
I was getting frustrated.
It's not like sex was difficult.
"Here." Sarah's hand snaked between our bodies. She took my erection in her hand and aligned our bodies. Her hips tilted and I felt myself sink inside her.
I held myself there for a second, waiting to see if my Legacies would react.
But nothing happened.
I couldn't help thinking that I had been right and Six had been wrong. It had been Six causing all the malfunctions with my powers. Then she had the balls to lie and say it was because I was scared. She didn't know what the hell she was talking about.
Although why I was thinking all that while having sex with Sarah for the first time was a topic of discussion for another time.
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