Oh my Maker you guys! I had such technical difficulties with my Word 2010 program! It just wouldn't work and didn't respond and then it was outright loosing files and wouldn't let me work offline. To put it simply, it was a big major pain in the ass so I got rid of it. It is now replaced with a new and improved shiny Word 2013. I love it so much you have no idea. It is godly compared with what I had to deal with. So anyways, enough excuses keeping me from getting this chapter done. Enjoy!
~Tori~
Getting past my father was nerve wracking to say the least but I was glad we managed. I couldn't believe how natural it was to be with Jade. I felt free and closer to her than ever. I wondered if the Magic between us increased because we were both under its power now but I wasn't sure. This hadn't happened before. Or, maybe it had and it was just wiped out because it was viewed as wrong? I pushed the negative train of thought away and walked up to the counter. The scent of coffee beans, tea, honey, chocolate, mocha, cream, nuts, cinnamon, and a variety of other things floated in the air, temporarily easing my mind with all the pleasant aromas. I took the order and waited for them to make it.
As I waited, my searching gaze sought out Jade. I had to keep her under my watchful guard. I spotted her reaching to open the door of her car. A figure blurred up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Beck. I clenched my fists and held back a possessive growl. I watched her tense up uncomfortably before turning around to face him. They exchanged words I desperately wanted to hear. Jade's expression went from shocked to pissed, while Beck looked laid back and calm as ever. I was just about to march out there when my order was called. I grabbed the two cups and hurried out the door. I forced my expression into a happy one, to avoid showing just how angry I was too early, and walked in their direction.
"Beck, just go away! I told you I don't have feeling for you anymore! You're like my best friend. Nothing else," Jade told him sternly. He frowned, an expression no one saw much of.
"That's it? You just drop me 'cause you don't 'have feeling for me' anymore? I love you, Jade! Can't you see that?" he demanded, the way he spoke revealing small, but noticeable to me, points to his teeth. They weren't nearly as sharp or long as a purebred's but they were definitely not human. His hand gripped Jade's shoulder, his thumb brushing exactly where she was bitten. I knew for a fact it was scarred now. It was barely noticeable against her pale skin though. She flinched at the touch but stood her ground.
"No, Beck," she responded, her face stoic. Her hand came up to smack his away. An expression in his eyes made my pace increase until I was slamming our cups on the hood of Jade's car and then pushing between them, my plan to lay low thrown out the window. I shoved him away from her with open palms to his chest. I counted him lucky for that. I could have done worse. I didn't like his hands on my mate. She was mine. I was the only one who could touch her. Beck shot daggers at me but smoothly remained calm.
"Tori, nice seeing you here. But what are you doing here by the way?" he questioned, faux casualness in his words.
"She's with me," Jade spoke up, gently pushing me aside. I eased out of her way so that half my body still blocked her from him. Beck raised a brow.
"When have you two ever gotten along?" he inquired, his mask slipping again.
"Oh, you'd be surprised what happens in life. Sometimes it hits you like, I don't know, a traumatic accident. Then you meet someone who understands you, takes care of you, and ultimately you bond," Jade retaliated, her voice acidic and full of sarcasm. Beck looked at her with narrowed eyes, anger and confusion mixed, until realization hit. He growled, lunging at me, but Jade intervened. She slammed into him, pinning him forcefully to the ground. Her snarl instantly shut him up. Her long fangs were easily hidden when she talked carefully and refrained from big smiles, but they could also be easily put on display with just a twitch of her lip. She snapped at him in warning, her now claw-like nails digging into his shoulder.
"I know you have some kind of hand in what happened to me, Beck! Don't play dumb. You were never good at it. Now remember this, if you ever lay even a finger on Tori I'll tear you to shreds. You got that?" she demanded. He nodded hastily. Jade got to her feet, dragging him up with her by his shirt. She shoved him away and he stumbled before running off. He looked back once, probably to make sure we weren't chasing him. When he was gone I whooped cheerfully. Jade looked back at me with a raised brow and a smirk. I threw myself at her and held her close.
"That was awesome!" I told her. She chuckled and pulled away to look at me.
"You are my Bond mate. I felt I needed to stake a claim. Heh, stake, that's funny," she replied lazily, but I could tell she was embarrassed for the high praise. I cupped her face in my hands and pulled her in for a kiss. Her arms went around my waist, pressing me into her. I pulled away for air, chuckling.
"You can be just as much of a dork as me," I told her, slightly teasing.
"What? Hell no, why would you say that?" she said indignantly, seemingly offended.
"That was a lame joke," I pointed out, proving my statement.
"No, it was witty. Now, where's my coffee?" she said dismissively. I rolled my eyes and grabbed her hand to tug her back to the car. She inhaled then picked up the right one and took a big gulp, sighing.
"Still how I remembered," she said, happily relieved. I giggled and picked up my caramel infested cup. I loved sweet things and sugar way too much. It was a wonder Jade could chug black coffee with only two sugars. It was a wonder how I ended up Bonded to a not so sweet person. What am I saying? Jade is sweet in her own way. People just choose not to see it.
"So, let's get going before we waste too much time. I mean, I'm literally dying to fast forward to a time without sun, but hey, can't complain," Jade rambled, still irritated at the big ball of bright light in the sky. I smiled and nodded, walking around the car to get in the passenger side. She plopped in her seat and started up the car. She pulled out in an acute backwards turn, switched into drive, and then tore out of the parking lot. I held tight to my seat, eyes wide. I was pretty sure I would be okay if we got in a car crash but I still didn't want to have to explain why we were okay to the authorities. That and my father would kill me for recklessness.
"Jade, slow down. Are you always this crazy of a driver?" I demanded. She laughed and nodded.
"Pretty much but I have way better reflexes now. Relax Vega and let loose! This is the perfect time to race through the streets. I've done it before!" she replied, a happy note in her voice I hadn't really heard before. She had to yell over the roaring of the engine and the wind. I looked at her incredulously.
"You've done this before? What made you take such death defying risks?" I demanded, my protective alarm going off.
"I made friends with some street racers at one point; raced with them some nights and then snuck into clubs with their help other nights!" she answered. I was only getting more worried the more she told me about her destructive lifestyle.
"Jade!" I yelled, clearly upset. She laughed.
"Live a little!" she advised, swinging the wheel into a turn that made us drift off the road and onto a beaten path. We passed the outskirts of town and up to the hills. Jade slowed down now, easing the car up a slope and then turning the wheel so it parked sideways, insuring that it wouldn't roll away. She shut off the car and then turned to look at me. I was pretty sure I was a panting mess. By the wide grin she had on, I knew I was. She reached over, her cool hands brushing back my hair and fixing it.
"You ok there pup?" she teased, a soft smile replacing the crazed one. I nodded and unlocked my claws from the seat. The sound of tearing fabric made her look down.
"Dude, you tore the upholstery," she reprimanded half-heartedly.
"Sorry, I'll pay to fix it," I offered, taking in a deep breath and then letting it out.
"Nah, I can do it. Ha, you look like you're going to have a stroke. I would think a wolf lives for such excitement. Don't you run faster than this car can go?" she inquired, laying a comforting hand on my leg despite her words. I nodded and laid my hand over hers.
"I've never done anything like that before. Excuse me if logic flies out the window," I replied with a frown. She only laughed, turning to pop open the door and get out. I opened my door too and stepped out. Jade pulled on the hood of the jacket and tucked in her hands. She shoved them in the big pocket in front for good measure. I slipped my hand in the pocket to hold hers. She smiled and tilted her head at the hill. We walked up together and stood at the top. In this direction, we saw only the tops of trees and another town in the distance. Our town may have been small to a city goer, but that one looked like a pit stop compared to ours. Jade commented the same thing out loud, making me crack up.
"That's what I thought," I told her when I could stop laughing.
"Maybe we do have the same humor," she suggested with a shrug. I nodded and began leading her under a big tree that branched out, providing far reaching shade. The shadow fell over us and Jade visibly relaxed. Her shoulders had been hunched and her posture stiff. The sun was rising as we climbed the hill and our small conversation out in it was enough for her. She pulled down the hood and then pulled out her hands to rub them over her arms and back.
"I feel like I have a fucking sunburn already," she groaned irately.
"Here, sit down and relax. Let your body heal," I suggested, guiding her to sit down by the tree. She did so and I sat behind her. I leaned on the tree and then pulled her closer between my legs. She rested against me with a sigh. My nose automatically sought out her neck and inhaled. She tilted her head back, a smile on her face.
"Did you know; vampires can give off a certain pheromone that the brain interprets as whatever it thinks smells the most enticing to it?" I mumbled against her skin. She hummed at the movement but managed an answer right after.
"No, I did not know that smarty ass pants. Tell me, what do you smell?" Jade questioned; her voice low and calm.
"Umm, hold on," I replied, dipping back down to skim my nose along her jaw. I trailed down, and then came back up with my tongue against her cold flesh. She moaned, her hands gripping my own around her middle.
"I never said taste, I said smell, you tease," she growled. I laughed, kissing her neck instead. She grumbled at my obvious attempt to agitate her.
"Did you mean biting then?" I whispered breathily in her ear, continuing despite what she said. She shuddered, clearly affected by it.
"Hell," she groaned, turning to straddle me and sit on my lap. Her lips attacked my own neck. I let her lick and suck at my skin before dragging her face back up so I could press my lips to hers. I pulled away and rested my forehead on hers. She smirked, her eyes searching mine. Her hands were pressed against the tree on either side of my head. Mine still ran over her smooth face.
"The scent that I smell isn't a precise one. It's unique, but it reminds me of the open air and running through the woods mixed with comfortable relaxation at home with a good book and hot chocolate. Two of my favorite things to do," I informed her. She grinned, her hands coming down to rest on my shoulders. Her enchanting eyes closed and she sighed heavily.
"Too bad you smell like wherever you've been. It's so normal. I wish you had a certain smell to you. But then again, it would be awfully tempting…" Jade said thoughtfully. I nodded.
"Yeah, maybe that's why we don't. You have it to attract prey for lack of a better word. If you wanted the same experience…well…every person has their own unique…flavor, I guess," I explained awkwardly. I was trying to hint to her the process of feeding but the thought always made me uncomfortable. Jade seemed to understand though.
"Yeah, it figures," she whispered. Her eyes were still closed as she moved to sit next to me and lean against the tree. We stayed there in silence until I had an idea. I looked at Jade, silent and still like a statue. I pushed her over, her eyes shooting open in shock. She caught herself so that she rested on the grass propped back on her elbows. She opened her mouth to retaliate but I was already on top on her. I smashed my lips against hers, deepening the kiss quickly. She accepted my tongue in her mouth and I ran it over hers. Her hands held me closer while mine gripped her shoulders, forcing her flat on the ground. I slid my tongue away from hers and ran it over her top set of fangs. I felt her body shudder and a moan break free. I pressed my tongue into the tips, instantly cutting into my flesh without much pressure. I watched her as I did this, seeing the way her eyes shot open.
Her tongue wrapped around mine to taste the freshly spilled blood before I healed. Her eyes turned the icy blue I was familiar with when vampires sensed blood, losing the leafy green that normally resided with the blue. It was almost like watching winter frost spread through a usually sunny and vibrant forest. She pushed my tongue back into my mouth and then pulled away with a snarl. Her hands shoved me on my back where she pinned me to the ground. Her grip tightened but she remained leaning over me. Her eyes were closed, her expression full of hunger but at the same time curiosity. She slowly relaxed when she finally got a hold of herself. I knew she could do it or I wouldn't have tried it. She licked her lips and then lightly bit her bottom lip, thinking now. My eyes focused on her fangs, deadly but beautiful.
"Sinfully sweet; like hazelnut coffee with caramel and a hint of cinnamon, but sliding down like warm honey or smooth melted chocolate," Jade whispered, reveling in the taste. Her breath wavered when she spoke. Her eyes opened, greeting me with her returned blue-greens burning in desire.
"Tell me next time you do that. I wanted to tear you apart. Anything to get more," she told me honestly, her voice dipping huskily at the end. I nodded, and she smiled softly.
"But thank you. I couldn't help wanting to get a proper taste of you since that time I bit you," she said, her voice humorous. I laughed and she got up. She offered me a hand, which I took, and she hauled me off the floor with ease. I pulled her into an embrace and we stood together, our chins resting on each other's shoulders, our arms holding each other close. I would have stayed like that for hours and I was pretty sure Jade could, but I would get tired and Jade still needed a good pair of shades to spend long hours in the sun. I pulled away and took her by the hand. I tilted my head to the bottom of the hill where the car sat. She nodded, and we both made our way down.