Chapter Nine
Two weeks later and several dates later things between Adrian and I are amazing she's perfect and we have so much fun together. On our date last Friday I took her to dinner in Forks then we watched a movie at her place the second I get in my car to head home my phone starts ringing and when I look at the read out I see her name. I smile to myself before pressing the phone to my ear. "What's wrong you miss me already?" I joke.
"Are you still outside my house?" she asks
"Yeah. Why?" I ask
"I kind of don't want you to leave" she says
"Kind of?"
"Ok I don't want you to leave" she says emphasising the 'Don't' "I want you to stay with me tonight"
"Sleepover?" I ask and she laughs
"Something like that. It's just..." she trails off
"Just what?" I ask
"Just when you left I felt really alone and crap, will you stay with me?" she asks, as if I could ever refuse my imprint anything.
I heard the buzzer unlock the door just as I got to the path and sure enough it's open when I push against it, I head up stairs and she opens the door in her pyjamas pretty much the same as what she was wearing the night she met my wolf in her back yard, except this time the little top she was wearing was a deep cobalt colour I loved the colour against her skin she always looked so good in blue. She smiled at me not saying anything then after shutting and locking the door she lead me by the hand to her bedroom her scent was so strong here her signature scent of Oranges and ginger flooded my senses and also notes of wild vanilla I'd never noticed before.
I kicked off my shoes by the door and she reached for my belt, instantly my mind jumped there but I soon realised that wasn't what she wanted tonight, she peeled the too tight t-shirt I was wearing off until I was stood in front of her in just my boxers and then she pulled me in the direction of the bed. Once under the covers i pulled her against my chest and placed a kiss in her hair, Adrian sighed into me and ran her finger tips up and down my back. After a little while she reaches over and flicks the bedside lamp off. "Thank you for coming back tonight" She says on a yawn.
"It's ok, trust me I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be right now" I tell her.
"Really?" she asks and I nod
"Good, me either" she says then pushes herself up and kisses me
That was the first night thatI slept with Adrian in my arms and it was perfect.
It was while I was picking her up for a date that her Dad finally called, he hadn't been in touch since that day I found her crying at the surf shack. I knew she'd been terribly worried about him but had done a really good job at hiding it sometimes I'd try to ask her about her Dad but she'd answer me in single words then quickly change the subject I guess she was used to it and this was how she'd learnt to deal with it. But the second she realised who her caller was she burst into tears and I could see the relief on her face. "Daddy I'm so glad you're ok I heard explosions and gunfire and then we got cut off" she said and without the noise of the bustling restaurant I was able to hear his response. Mr. Fox's voice was deep and gravely the man sounded like he chewed broken glass for breakfast. To be completely honest he sounded like one tough son of a bitch and I instantly saw where Adrian got her fiery and spunky attitude from.
"Hey there Princess Peach how's my best girl?" he said and I silently chuckled at the video game reference, I could hear in his voice how much he loved his daughter. He spoke to Adrian the same way my Father did Willow like she was the most precious thing in the world like she was the apple of his eye.
"Please tell me you're coming home soon?" she begs.
"Soon Peach soon" he says
"When is soon?" she asks
"Things will be taken care of here soon then I'll be heading back to the US" he tells her
"What do you mean back to the US, that means hear right Daddy, you're still coming to Washington right?" she says her voice trembling.
"Peach?"
"No Daddy please" she cries
"I'm sorry, I'll be at Cherry point for a little while, then we'll be together in Washington I promise"
"How long is a little while?"
"Maybe six months?" he says and Adrian just cries harder "Princess please don't cry it won't be so bad, Listen we're shipping out in a minuet and Leo's here he wants to talk to you if that's ok" he asks
"Yeah I guess" Adrian sniffles "I love you Daddy"
"Love you two Princess Peach, I'll be seeing you" he says then I hear fumbling on the other end of the line.
"Adrian?" a male voice asks, I can only assume it must belong to this Leo. But who the hell is he and what business does he have talking to my girl.
"Hey Leo" she says
"God it's good to hear your voice" he breathes. I see Adrian stiffen and glance at me but she obviously decides I can't hear him and looks away again.
"I'm glad you're ok, you better be looking after my Dad out there?" she says and I hear him laugh
"I promised didn't I?" He says and I hate how cocky he sounds "So tell me how's my baby?" he asks and I have to grip the sofa cushions to keep my temper in check.
"Fine, misses you though" she says. What! Is there something between the two of them?
"Yeah" he says and he sounds sort of sad, there sounds like a commotion on the other end of the line and the man called Leo sighs "Adrian I have to go, I love you and give Marina a kiss from me ok" he calls. He loves her who the fuck is he!
"I will both of you be careful" she says
"Always" Leo replies then the line goes dead. Adrian drops the phone onto the side and sobs I see her knees buckling and I'm up and have her in my arms before she can fall to the floor she cries into my chest and I comfort her.
My rage about the mystery man on the telephone subsides and I forget all about him, I pick Adrian up and carry her over to the sofa I settle her in my lap and hold her till she falls asleep in my arms.
The next morning I softly rouse Adrian from her sleep I'd taken her to her bed when I'd awoke in the dead of the night on her sofa with her still in my arms. She rolled over and slowly opened her eyes "Riddoc?" she murmurs still half asleep.
"I'm sorry to wake you but I have to go to work" I tell her
"Oh ok" she says
"Adrian I'm sorry about your Dad" I tell her and she smiles with a shrug
"It's ok he'll be home soon" she smiles. I kiss her goodbye then make my way to the garage in La Push. I spend the day obsessing over my imprint and the man she spoke to on the phone, I'm pretty sure by the time my patrol came up I'd driven my pack brothers half mad. My Dad was there when I phased and I felt reassured not just by my alpha's presence but because he was my Dad. He hadn't aged since he phased at sixteen although he'd always looked to be in his early twenty's he was still technically young so in a way my Dad was my best friend as much as Shila was.
Me: hey Dad
Jake: why the long face Riddoc?
I showed him everything, the phone call my imprint crying how scared and helpless I felt. Dad pondered what I'd shown him for a moment.
Jake: I'm sure it's not how it seems, Adrian doesn't seem like that type of girl and who is this Marina?
Me: I've no idea, I wasn't even supposed to be able to hear that end of the conversation. I'd have some serious explaining to do if I asked her.
Jake: she's your imprint Riddoc sooner or later you're gonna have some serious explaining to do either way.
I knew he was right and as much as I love Adrian and as much as she loved my wolf I don't think I'm ready to tell her my secret.