Back by popular demand!

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Chapter Two

The wind caressed me softly, offering welcome relief from the heat caused by the blood rushing through my veins. The only thing breaking the serenity of the night was the subtle crunching of leaves as I strode through the forest, and I revelled in the tranquility. There was no one to snap at me, no annoying bickering over food supplies or bathroom privileges... Just to have this time alone calmed my nerves and put me in a thoughtful state.

My mind strayed to its favourite subject of late; my overprotective boyfriend Derek. I thought about the night we first let out attractions known, and evidently the embarrassing scene that followed the next morning when Simon and Tori walked in on us together. Granted, we were only sleeping, but the endless teasing both Derek and I had to endure almost made me regret our actions. Almost...

"Looks like we missed a hell of a night." Came a voice, female this time. He looked over to the door to see his brother and the Tori standing there, staring at the sight before them. He looked over to the now smouldering fire, his cloths still hanging.

"Don't get too excited." He snapped, pulling off the blanket to reveal his fully dressed body. I finally woke up and started looking groggily around.

"Hey guys." I mumbled, not yet cluing in to what was going on.

"So what did we miss?" asked Simon with a huge grin on his face.

"Nothing much." he answered simply. "Just enjoying our last night alone together."

"Which entails what, exactly?" Smirked Tori with a raised brow. She held a glint in her eye that suggested things far beyond what had transpired the previous night.

He growled deeply, his protective instincts of me spinning out of control. His grip on her tightened as he bared his teeth. "Not that I'm not glad to see you alive, dear brother," He spat. "But might I ask exactly what that look is all about?"

"Derek..." I whispered, finally grasping the situation. "Please calm down."

He loosened his hold on me, but only slightly. Taking a deep breath, I attempted to deter the conversation. "So what took you two? Get lost or something?"

"No, but Ms. Shopaholic here refused to go another day without a fresh set of clothes. She took too long in the changing room and the bus left without us and we had to hitchhike our way out here."

"And not a moment too soon" Added Tori, putting her two sense in. "If we came in any earlier, who knows what we might have walked in on."

"And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" He snarled, losing my composer. He looked down to see me sitting myself up in his lap. The movement caused me to brush against a very sensitive part of his anatomy, and I noticed him stifled a groan, temporarily forgetting his anger.

"Please stay calm." I said so softly only Derek with his acute senses could pick it up, a knowing smile on my lips. God, he might be over the top, but damn he was sexy when he got defensive over me. "So now that we're all here," I continued, "I guess we should tell you that Andrew is off on a camping trip and won't be back for a few days."

"Which will likely turn into at least a week, knowing him." Derek added, knowing Andrew's horrible scheduling habits.

I sighed and rose from the couch. I clutched his hand and led him away. "The bathroom's to the left of the kitchen if you guys want a shower or a snack." Derek started to turn towards the kitchen at the mention of food, but the suggestive look in my eyes kept me trailing after me.

"Are you frigging serious? A week?!" Shouted Tori. "I have to stay crammed in this house with the sarcastic artist and two horny teenagers for a week?! Shoot me now!"

"Would you settle for being torn to shreds? I'm afraid I forgot to bring a gun." Derek snorted as we began ascending the stairs.

"Bite me wolf boy."

Now at the top of the stairs he opened his mouth to shout back, when a warm set of lips crashing into his stopped him. I kissed him fiercely, and he couldn't help but to press me up against the wall.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and shivered at the friction caused by my moving so urgently against him. He began a slow decent down my neck, feeling my heart pound against his chest. He growled against me, the vibrations from his mouth causing me to whimper slightly.

With great effort I pulled away from his enticing body. My face was flushed and my eyes were at half mast; a small mark now decorated the side of my neck.

"Any particular reason you brought me up here?" He panted, forcing himself not to morph his body to mine once more.

"I just can't resist you when you get all possessive." I confessed with a shy smile. "It's kind of hot."

"Good thing." He whispered, moving in closer. "Because I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

...

Ever since, we had found every possible opportunity to be alone together. Often, we would just sit and talk over a game of chess or an old movie on TV, but sometimes our instincts would just take us over. At those times Derek had to fight to keep control of himself, often pulling himself from me in order to calm down. We hadn't gone very far and short of him 'copping a feel' as he called it, through my shirt, our relationship was considered far from extreme compared to most teens our age.

Shaking my head to clear my mind, I continued deeper into the woods. I came across a space where the trees thinned, revealing the dark sky and the tiny specks of light spattered across it. I found a large tree and lowering myself, curled up between its roots. I craned back my neck and sighed, smiling slightly. The night felt like a night for magic or for lovers. The thought sent a pang through my chest, reminding me of how I had ran out on Derek. Sure he was overprotective and sometimes crude, but that was just who he was, and I couldn't deny the part of me that was attracted to that very part of him. I had known what to expect when I sought him out, and if he felt the same way for me what I felt for him, he would surely be willing to talk about our problems. Protective but not overbearing; surly he could manage that.

With a new resolve, I picked myself up and began slowly making my way back to the house, still picking over roots and caressing tree trunks as I went. I was almost clear of the woods when I heard a branch snap behind me. I whirled around to see who if anyone was there, but only the forest greeted me.

I turned back in the direction of the house and fell back with a large "Oof" as I hit something hard, but was caught by a pair of particularly hairy arms.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Asked a deep-throated voice smelling of rotted meat. I looked up to see the outline of a face I'd hoped never to see again. "Did you miss me, my little bitch?"

....

My lungs felt as though they were on fire as I was forced to stop and catch my bearings. Chloe's path wound back and around itself, making it near impossible to trace. I sunk to the ground with a strangled groan; she was out there somewhere, and I had no idea how to find her. I fought between panicking and breaking down, both of which I knew would serve no useful purpose. Forcing myself up, I continued on, raising my nose and trying to find where her scent was strongest.

From far off I heard a very familiar voice scream. Chloe... I thought urgently, breaking into a frantic run. My nose picked up a scent that hadn't been there before.

Liam!

So what does everybody think? I'm not sure if I should keep this as a high 'T' fic or move it up to an 'M'. Let me know which rout you all would like me to go! The next update may be a little late, as I'll be off and on vacations for the next month, but don't worry, I still plan on finishing. If you want me too... (cue cliff-hanger music)