"Who is it?" I called.
"My name is Daniel. I'm from Deadhorse. I'm a friend of your fathers. May I come in?" said a voice I recognized but couldn't believe I was hearing again. I pinched myself to make sure I was still awake and when it hurt I walked to the door and peeked through the hole to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I wasn't. It was the breathtaking man from my dreams. I opened the door and invited him in.
"My father never said anything about someone coming to visit me. I talked to him just the other day. How do you know him?"
"Well I guess I've known him my whole life. My parents and him have been friends for a long time. You probably don't remember me though. Unless your father came over to our place I never saw him and as far as I remember he never had a little girl with him."
"No of course he wouldn't." I said and scowled. My father had never taken me anywhere to visit friends. I only knew people if I saw them at school which brought another question to mind. Why hadn't I seen him at school?
"Did you go to the schools in Deadhorse? Shouldn't I have seen you there?"
"No I was home schooled by a tutor my parents paid for. Maybe you remember my parents, Paul and Gianna?"
"YES! I never knew they had a son. Then again I never really visited with them much. I usually had ettiquete classes while they were around."
"That's what I've been told. My parents just told me he had a daughter about 2 months ago. I don't understand our parents secrecy issues but someday I'll make them explain."
"Why don't you come sit down in the living room and tell me why you're here. I was going to make lasagna tonight but I think I'll order pizza instead. What do you like?"
"I'm a man I like everything." For a second I thought he looked me up and down with his deep brown eyes but I shook it off as nothing and went to the kitchen to dial Dominoes. I ordered one supreme pizza for Daniel and Hawaiian for myself. When I went back to the living room Jasmine was curled up in Daniels lap purring away.
"Wow someone likes you. I guess that's a good sign. Pizza should be here in half an hour. Are you in town for long? What brought you here?"
"I'll be in town for as long as I need to be. I don't like to stay away from Deadhorse for long. I'm here because I've learned somethings from reading that disturb me and I need to get things sorted out."
"Huh … sounds … odd. What sort of things?"
"Well do you first mind if I ask why you left Deadhorse?"
"I was ordered to leave on my 18th birthday. I thought for sure your parents would have told you that. My father was at the base of the stares with a cab waiting and a large suitcase packed and a plane ticket. He told me never to come home; that I didn't belong there. I just always figured he never forgave me for my mother dying."
"He SENT you away?"
"Yeah. He told me just the other day too not to go back to Deadhorse so I don't plan on it. I've sort of become established here in the last 4 years. Jasmine and I like it here."
"What would you say if I asked you to come back to Deadhorse with me?" This question sounded redundant to me since I'd dreamed the pleas from this man to go home. Still somehow it sounded tempting. Something about this man drew me in and captured me.
"I'd say that if I had something to go there for maybe but I don't so it's not worth the heartache."
The doorbell rang then and I got up to pay for the pizza and serve it to my guest, Daniel. When I got back to my seat it had occurred to me that he'd never told me where he was staying let alone why exactly he was here. A friend of my fathers shows up, I've never seen him before other than in my head and he's suddenly a friend? I must be going nuts, usually I would show a little discretion but he was so easy to relax around. I'd seen him in my head so he didn't feel like a stranger. Still I hadn't explained why I thought he was able to be in my head before I'd ever met him but I had a feeling I'd never understand that.
"So you never told me where you're staying in town."
"Oh, well I figured I'd come visit an old friends daughter first and then go get a room downtown somewhere. I didn't exactly have the chance to plan that far ahead before I drove down here."
"Wow that must have cost a fortune in gas! No wonder you're staying in one of those crappy places downtown. You know, if you'd like, my couch is open. I'm sure it's more comfortable than the beds in one of those places and definetly much cleaner. Jasmine and I could use the company anyway."
"You know I think I'll take you up on that. It'll save me on gas money for the way home."
"When you finish with your dinner you should bring your bags up and I'll find somewhere for you to store your clothes. I don't know how long you'll be here but I'll make it comfortable I promise."
"I didn't pack a whole lot. I'll do it tomorrow though if you have a clean shirt my size I'll gladly borrow it and grab a shower. I haven't had one in a week now I think."
"Yeah I think I might have something your size. Bigger is more comfortable I think. I'll be right back."
I headed to my bedroom and looked in my dresser in the middle drawer where I kept my pajamas. Large shirts were such good pajama tops. I pulled out a big red one and also saw a pair of sweats that didn't really fit me anyway I headed back into the main room.
"I found a shirt and some sweats that really don't fit me. Towels are in the linen closet just inside the bathroom and you're welcome to any of my soaps and shampoos. If you're looking for something a little less perfume filled I might have stored something plainer under the sink."
"I don't mind a little perfume but I think its more attractive on a woman than a man. I'll see what I can find, I'm sure you have a variety for me to choose from.
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Cara was totally naïve to her past and her legacy. Why had she been kept secret? Why hadn't she been told about herself? All my research had shown that exactly on the 25th birthday was when it was supposed to happen but she was to be left to her own? How could she understand let alone survive alone? What was her father thinking?! He had to know, he had had 18 years to find what I had found in the month after I discovered her existence. She'd never be able to last here in Atlanta and neither could I. She had to leave and go back to Deadhorse, Alaska. The problem was how to get her there.
She seemed to have no fond memories there and her own father had exiled her. Obviously her father would never ask her to return home but if I were to form some kind of problem that he'd never have told her about maybe she would. I couldn't tell her the truth she'd completely lose it. If lying about something her father would never tell her about like if he had cancer or something and was dying didn't work maybe I could try to get her to attach herself to me.
She of course had no man, that much was obvious. Her bathroom had absolutely no indication of masculinity. No man had ever stepped in this bathroom before myself as far as I could tell. The clothes she'd offered were a perfect fit though how that was possible before her birthday was confusing. From what I'd read about her condition was that she'd have no desire for a human companion, hardly even as friends. Her wanting me to stay and ordering pizza was only because I am not human, I am her kind. Of course though she has no idea what kind that is, nor why she feels drawn to me in the first place.
I had decided to go with getting her to become attached to me by the time I was out of the shower. I'd found some shampoo under her sink that wouldn't completely obliterate my own natural scent and left the bathroom before I even put the shirt on again.
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After cleaning up the dishes and putting the rest of the pizza in the fridge I went to my room and found my nicest pajama's and got dressed for bed. This would have to become natural until he left and somehow it felt comfortable. Besides his comforting presence which somehow always seemed alert he was gorgeous and something about him had me spilling information to him I'd never even told Brent whom for 3 years now has always been my sometimes friend.
When I went into the living room again he was just walking out of the bathroom, shirt in hand and not on his solid, muscular chest. His skin was pale and gorgeous and I wanted to walk right up to him and touch his chest just to feel how hard and smooth it was. I couldn't do it though, he was a stranger still. I had to look away but when I did something else caught my attention. A scent that was … intoxicating. My head began to spin and I closed my eyes and put my hand out to steady myself just briefly.
"Is, um, is the shirt too small?" I asked trying to clear my head.
"No I'm just a little warm from the shower. I found some good shampoo under the sink like you said, thanks. I hope me staying here isn't too much of an inconvenience. If I get to be a problem please let me know and I'll leave."
"Oh it's ok, I just am glad I can go to bed later tonight and tomorrow night since it's the weekend. That way we can get to know each other. I never really used to have a social life before I left home so it's nice to have someone I feel I can talk to."
"No friends here in Atlanta?"
"Not really. I have one, well I guess you could call him a 'sometimes' friend from work. We've never really been very close. He knows I was kicked out and is overly protective about that fact. He definetly doesn't want me to go home. For some reason he wants to go out and start a more serious relationship with me but I'm just not into something serious right now. I'm hardly into friendships right now."
"Really? I wonder why you're not into friendships let alone something serious."
He moved to go sit down and it caused a new wave of that magnificent smell to float off of him. I became so light headed my knees buckled and suddenly he was holding me. His tight muscular arms around me were warm and buttery in texture. It felt like … home and I'd never seen the man before in my life!
"You alright? You didn't get hurt did you?"
"No but I think I'd like to sit down on the couch if you don't mind."
"Let me help you there." Then he picked me up and carried me the whole way across the room. When he let me go he put the shirt on right away for which I was thankful.
"Might want to go easy on the cologne Daniel. Smells so good I nearly passed out over there."
"Always trying to smell good for the ladies!""I thought you left the perfume to the ladies though. What happened to trying to smell normal for us weak hearted women?"
"Oh well what can I say? If it works flaunt it?"
"Oh it works all right, too well if I might say so myself. Just go a little lighter next time k?"
"I'll do my best. Now would you like me to get you anything? If so where can I find it?"
"I'm not an invalid over your overuse of cologne Daniel. I'm fine now. I'll just head to bed a little earlier than I was planning. I do want to talk more tomorrow though. There are blankets in the closet near the front door and I'll grab you a pillow off of my bed. If you are hungry or you want to watch tv go ahead. Make this like your home."
"Will do. See you tomorrow morning Cara."
"Goodnight"
After calling for Jasmine and finding she'd rather stay with Daniel tonight and grabbing him a pillow I went to my room to relax and fall asleep. The smell still deep in my nose I fell asleep and dreamed of Daniel all night.
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Cara slept soundly and I watched her with her cat in my arms. She really was very beautiful and I could only imagine how she'd look after … well after what she had to go through. I can't imagine that it will be pleasant for her but she'd live through it if someone was there for her. I had only 1 more month to get her home to Alaska and it wasn't going to be easy.
Seeing her sleep so peacefully I was jealous of her. I wished I could sleep, feel that peace of unconsciousness. I reached out and touched her face with my hand and felt the curve of her beautiful jaw and the gentle curves of her cheeks and brow. Her complexion was pale but still a beautiful peach more deep than my own and her soft features with her silky caramel colored hair made her look delicate and beautiful though I knew she was strong.
I felt the need to comfort her and protect her. Her life was about to change drastically and she had no idea. She had never been given any clue to her future and she was bound to be scared.
As I thought about her being frightened I wanted to hold her and touch her and comfort her with my body. She wouldn't understand why I was different. Why she felt the pull to be near me. It felt unfair to lure her to Alaska this way but at the same time I knew I could never leave her alone for this change. Something had happened to me when I saw her, something just worked right inside me for the first time ever.
Something I had read was that in our past we used to be so many that we would imprint or bond so deeply with a member of the opposite sex of our race that you could almost hear them in your head all the time. Like they became a part of you psychically. It hadn't happened in centuries though from what I'd heard and read. Maybe this was the start of that … who knows maybe we were meant for each other so the race could recover.
I wondered if she'd wake up if I were to undress her. Her shirt was button down so that would be easy enough to take off. I put Jasmine down so I could reach out and do what my mind was compelling me to do and she jumped up right on top of Cara's slender stomach causing her to roll over. That cat had it in for me I was sure of it. Her and I would have to work on our relationship.
Cara's scent was that of a human but it was tinged with something very sweet and for me arousing. I knew what this smell was, the smell of her true nature. Someday soon I would have to tell her but it wasn't going to be easy.
Tonight I would lay with my eyes closed to allow Cara to rest. The bond that was between us prevented her from getting any real sleep in her still frail form. Laying on the couch away from her was harder than I had expected. That beautiful smell permeated the room when she slept and my instincts told me to be with her but I couldn't yet, not without her knowing about herself and me.
Slowly the hours ticked by and I could feel the fatigue lift off of Cara. When she woke up I knew it and she came out of her room with her hair falling perfectly around her face as though she never moved as she slept. She was slender, pale but not too pale, deep blue eyes and caramel hair halfway down her back in silken waves. She was perfectly proportioned with beautiful perfect C cup breasts and a flat stomach and slender limbs with a very nicely rounded behind. I knew I wanted her but I couldn't have her … not yet at least.