Chapter 15: Chapter 15

It’s Friday night, Darius and I just arrived at the beach party. I brought him here with me against my better judgment.

I started having my doubts the moment he stepped out of his room. He looked hot in his dark Bermuda shorts and a black t-shirt that fit him like a glove. The t-shirt was snug and didn’t hide much of his glorious body. Even his feet looked sexy in a pair of sandals. It’s crazy and very very annoying.

In the car, on the way over, I joked about how he could be my wingman so that I could get with the guys I like. He didn’t even crack a smile at the joke. I was only just half kidding.

Darius parked the car and he comes to my side and opens the door for me. For a moment, it looks like he wanted to take my hand in his, but then he lets his hand falls on his side. We walk leisurely to the beach where the party is in full swing together.

The temperature is warm despite it being fall, but the wind from the sea is nice. I’m glad to be wearing my jeans shorts and a small black tank top that shows off a bit of my toned abs.

Wild by Troye Sivan ft. Alessia Cara is playing and a tall bonfire is blazing in the middle of the gathering.

“Hey, Penny!” Amanda is rapidly approaching, waving

enthusiastically with her friends trailing behind her.

“So happy to see you here,” she says with a big smile, but her eyes are on Darius. “Who’s your friend?”

Darius smiles, showing his straight white teeth. His canines are slightly prominent. They make him look even more

dangerously attractive. I can see the girls swooning. Some are just staring at his gorgeous face, while some others are checking out his glorious body. I can’t blame them. He sticks out, with his taller than average height and his impressive body and stunning face. He also radiates that power and sex appeal.

“Darius, this is Amanda….”

“Hey, Darius. I love your name,” says Amanda with a flirty smile, cutting me off. “We met the other day, but Penny never introduced us.”

“Hi, I’m Josie,” purrs one of the girls, literally pushing me out of the way. She takes my place beside him and places her hands on his muscled arm, pushing her chest up against him.

Amanda grabs his arm on the other side. Pretty soon girls are swarming around him.

A pang of jealousy is clawing inside me, making me feel like clawing all their eyes out. I try to remind myself that he’s not mine. It’s near impossible when every fiber of my being claims him to be mine. MINE!!!

All the skimpily dressed girls are now crowding around him.

Competing for his attention. It’s too hard for me to watch without wanting to hurt somebody. I want to sucker punch that woman Loosie or Goosie, or whatever her name is as she runs

her hand over his hard muscled pecs and plasters her almost naked body up against his. I want so badly to scratch Amanda’s eyeballs out as she bats her eyelashes and grips his bicep like a vice. So I turn quickly and force my feet to walk away. Gah!!!

This part of the beach is now swarmed with people. Mostly college students. Some are dancing near the fire, while some others are just standing around talking. A few are playing beach volleyball. A lot of girls are in their bikini top and shorts.

Not many are in the water right now. Judging by their looks, some of them have been here the whole day.

A couple of guys are carrying a big cooler from the back of a car walk pass me and I recognize one of them.

“Hey, Cooper!” I yell.

“Penny!” he grins, slowing down. Cooper is one of Daniel’s friends. “Mason and Daniel were by Jay’s truck last time I saw them,” he indicates his friend. “I’m heading there right now.”

“I’ll come with you then,” I say, walking next to them.

Mason called earlier today and offered to pick me up, but I told him that I would see him here. I don’t really want humans to come anywhere near where we live. Our home is our private sanctuary where we can be ourselves. We can phase anywhere and anytime we want to. We can talk freely without worrying about exposing ourselves to humans. So no, I don’t want any of my human friends to know where we live.

I spot Lily, Daniel, Mason and some other familiar faces by a black Dodge truck parked on the beach. Some are sitting on

lawn chairs and some are standing. Lily is sitting on Daniel’s lap.

“Hi, guys!” I give everybody a wave.

Everybody returns my greeting and Lily comes up to give me a brief hug. Cooper hands me a bottle of beer from the cooler before he and the other guy place it by the side of the truck.

“What’s up, Penny?” says Daniel, as he pulls Lily down on his lap and wraps his arms around her once again. They look cute together.

“Sorry, not enough chairs, but you can sit on my lap,” offers Mason.

“There you are,” a big strong arm comes up to sling around my shoulders from behind and I look up to see Darius. He slides another arm around my waist and pulls me close so that I’m leaning against his hard chest. He’s smiling, but his eyes are hard. I take a quick peek behind us, wondering where his group of admirers went.

“Everybody, this is my friend Darius,” I start to introduce him to my group of human friends. Mason doesn’t look too pleased, but the rest of them are staring at him in awe, even the men.

“Were you trying to lose me?” he asks, leaning in close to my ear after I’m done introducing him. His warm breath caresses my cheek and my ear. I’m enveloped by his warmth and

mouthwatering male scent. Standing here like this, it feels like we’re in our own personal bubble. It feels safe and thrilling.

Everything and everyone ceases to exist.

“I thought you’d enjoy the company of beautiful girls?” I whisper back. My lips almost grazing the corner of his mouth.

“So, you two are totally just friends, right?” asks one of the girls there. I think her name is Ashley…or Lassie. She’s staring at him like she’s starving. I could practically see drools coming out from the corners of her mouth.

“Yeah, totally,” I nod my head.

“You look like a couple, though,” says another girl who’s sitting on her boyfriend’s lap. I think her name is Jade.

“She said they’re just friends,” Mason snaps. He’s not looking like his usual cheerful self.

Amanda and her friends chose this time to show up. “Darius!!!

You just disappeared on us,” she says, grasping at one of his arms. He only tightens his hold on me in response. I can feel his annoyance. She’s moving in too close into my personal space for my liking. I can smell her fruity perfume and sweat.

Not a pleasant smell to my nose. The other girl, Suzy or Jodie, or something moves in close too, competing for a space with Amanda.

More girls crowded my space and I’m feeling claustrophobic.

Too close. The smell is overwhelming. It makes me feeling pissy. Arrghhh…anytime soon, I’ll sucker punch somebody in the face.

I try to step away, but his arms are like steel bands, holding me possessively closer. He pulls us back and buries his nose in my shoulder, breathing in my scent as if he needs it and suddenly I

understand. They’re too close. Their scent is bothering him as much as it’s bothering me.

This is something I always try to avoid when I’m out partying. I always run out for fresh air or get as drunk as possible to tolerate close encounters like this.

“I need to go. I need to get away for a bit,” I inform him, handing him my drink. He nods his head in understanding and reluctantly let me go.

“Come on, girls! Let’s dance,” I grab Lily’s and another girl’s hands. I think her name is Hannah…or Lola, or Anna…or

something like that.

The three of us make our way to the tall bonfire where people are dancing, and start moving our bodies to the music. I don’t know if we look sexy or like retarded monkeys, but we’re having fun. We bump and grind against each other and we giggle a lot. I force myself not to look in Darius’s direction.

“He’s so into you, Penny,” says Lily into my ear.

“Who?”

“Who else. Darius! That yummy sex god. He’s staring at you the whole time like he wants to eat you up,” she answers.

“He is yummy, isn’t he?” giggles Hanna…or Wanda.

I don’t bother to argue with Lily. I don’t have to see him, to know that he has his eyes on me. I could feel it.

My eyes involuntarily seek him out. He’s standing where I left him earlier with the girls fighting for his attention. His eyes are glued to me while his face is cold and aloof. Right now Rosie or Floosie or whatever her name is, has her front plastered to his side, while her arms are like vines around his arm. In one clever move, he disentangles himself. That doesn’t seem to deter her.

Daniel joins us and after the song ends, he and Lily go back to sit by the truck. Soon, the other girl also disappears into the crowd.

I look across the fire see his intense eyes fixed on me. Even when I’m not facing him I could feel his burning gaze sweeping over me. I sway my body seductively. Am I seducing him? Oh, Penny, you shouldn’t be doing this.

I know I’m playing with fire, but I can’t seem to stop myself.

It’s thrilling to be dancing like this, knowing that he’s watching.

I’m dancing for him even when I’m trying to look like I’m ignoring him. My whole body moves only for him. When I feel two hands land on my waist, I grind into the stranger’s body behind me like I was grinding into him. I raise my hand up and reach over to bury my fingers in his hair, pulling his face into the crook of my shoulder.

“Boy, you’re hot,” he murmurs into my ear. He sounds all wrong, and he smells all wrong, but I push that thought aside.

His hands start to roam over my exposed stomach and my thigh as I rub my body against his. I feel his excitement growing. I tilt my head to the side as he starts kissing my neck.

The next instant the guy is gone. I stumble backward and almost landed on my behind if it’s not for a strong arm around my waist holding me up. Darius had peeled my dance partner away from me with a firm grip on his shoulder.

“Okay, buddy?” he says to the guy. His voice sounds casual and deceptively friendly, but his lips stretch over his teeth and canines into a grin that looks menacing. The grip he has on the other guy’s shoulder must be very strong too judging by the way the guy winces and squirms. There’s a wild and deadly look in his eyes that makes me worried if he’s going to lose control right here in front of all these humans.

“Yeah, okay man,” says the guy, his face contorts while his hands are trying to pry Darius’s hold of his shoulder.

“Darius,” I whisper urgently clutching his hand, trying to get him to release the man. He could do a lot of damage to the man’s shoulder. “Darius, let go. Please.”

“I didn’t know she’s with you,” he stumbles backward as soon as Darius let go of his shoulder. “What are you, man?” he yells before he disappears into the crowd. He looks scared enough to pee in his pants.

Darius turns his hard glittering eyes on me. His jaw is set and his nose is flaring. To say that he’s furious is an

understatement. He’s on the verge of losing control. His eyes are a lot darker than usual. My stomach clenched. I’m terrified, yet I’m turned on. Something is seriously wrong with me.

Without a word, he spins me around till my back is facing him.

He grabs my waist and roughly slams my back against his

front. I feel him leaning down until his warm breath is teasing my neck and his nose is touching my earlobe. “Dance with me,”

he orders. His voice is gruff. “Dance with me like you danced with him.”

You’ve gone and did it this time, Penny! I know I’m

stupid…most of the time, but I know enough not to disobey him when his lycan is in danger of taking control like this.

Slide by Calvin Harris ft Frank Ocean and Migos starts playing and I sway my body slowly against his. He grips my hips and pulls me closer till my back is rubbing against his front. The heat of his hard body grinding against my back ignites a flame in me, ready to consume us both. Everything around us

disappears. Nothing else matters. Just us.

His grip on my hips tightens before he runs his big strong hand up the side of my breast then travels down the front of my bare thigh and another one brushes over my stomach. He dips his head down till his cheek is brushing against mine.

With our bodies still swaying together, his hand slides underneath the bottom of my tank top to spread over my heated skin. I clench my teeth together to stop from moaning.

Waves of pleasure rippled through my entire body.

I can feel his hardness pushing against my back as I grind into him. I can hear our hearts thundering in our chests. We are both breathing hard and fast.

I run my hand down the side of his thigh as I move my body down then up again and he moans softly in my ear. His warm breath teasing my skin. I raise my hand up and bury my fingers

in his thick silky hair like I always wanted to do and bring his face close down to my neck. I let out a soft moan when his warm lips touch my skin. Darius…Mmm..that feels so good.

My grip on his hair tightens as he kisses, nibbles, and sucks on my neck. I feel his canines sharpen and elongated against my skin and I’m ready. The thought suddenly jolts me back to reality. Ready? Ready for what?

I tug at his hair and lean forward to create a space between us.

His lips automatically seek my neck again and his hands seeking my waist, but I push him back by tugging at his hair harder. There’s a dazed expression on his face as he looks up at me in confusion and annoyance. I can see the exact moment when he comes to his senses. His eyes grow wide and the cloud of passion clears from his eyes. We stare at each other with wide eyes for a few seconds, both breathing hard. My legs feel shaky.

“Persephone. I’m sorry,” he says after taking a deep shuddering breath. “I’ll be back,” he mutters before he disappears into the crowd.

I walk back to my group of friends, which is not a very good idea at the moment judging by the looks on their faces. I guess they saw that. Too late for me to turn and walk away now.

Most of the girls are glaring at me now, especially Amanda.

Mason is looking at me accusingly like I just betrayed him.

Lily has a teasing smile on her face. She walks up to me and grabs my arm. “Friends huh?” she whispers giggling. “I’m

feeling hot all over just watching you two. I’m that close to dragging Daniel to somewhere private.”

I try to smile to that, but I’m still feeling too shaky and confused. I think compared to some couples out here, what we did was still pretty decent. Yeah, sure Penny.

No matter what I tell myself, it still feels like we just did something very private in the middle of the crowd. What we did felt almost as intimate as making love. Maybe because he almost marked me? He almost marked me! Oh, Goddess what have we done? What we almost did. We haven’t really done anything, have we?

Daniel hands my another bottle of beer before Lily drags him away. My gaze follows them as they slink away into the darkness, out of sight.

I turn my eyes back to Mason who sits staring at the crowd and the fire in front of us sullenly. I should feel guilty, but I don’t.

Not really. I never thought of him as more than just a friend.

I’m not interested in him that way. He’s a good guy and a friend, though, so I don’t want to hurt him either.

“Hey Mase,” I say, nudging his foot with mine.

His eyes flicker up to look at me before he tips his head up, drinking his beer in silence. So…awkward. I guess we’re not talking now?

Amanda snickers loudly and some of her friends giggle. I narrow my eyes at her. What are we? Middle school? This bitch better not start with me.

I’m feeling all alone with all the animosity coming at me but I refuse to cower away. I’ve done nothing wrong to these bitches.

Juno has long claimed him to be mine. What I did felt so right deep inside, though my brain is telling me otherwise. I have to keep reminding myself that he’s in love with someone else

“You okay?” asks Darius, wrapping his arm around my

shoulders, not long after. I wonder where he went off to. He looks in control again, though there’s a slight flush to his cheeks and his hair is still sexily messy. That just reminds me of how I ran my fingers through it not that long ago. I feel a slight flush creeping up my face. Get a grip, Penny! I don’t do blushing…usually.

I just nod and he sighs into my shoulder.

“I thought you said you were just friends,” says that girl Ashley or Dolly…or something.

“Yeah, I thought you were here with me,” says Mason scowling moodily. “Why don’t you sit with me?” he challenges, lifting his hands up, inviting me to sit on his lap.

Darius’s arm tightens around my shoulders. His lips form a thin grim line, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he takes my hand that’s holding the beer bottle in his and guides it up to his lips. Taking a swig of my beer.

This seems to irritate Mason more. “Why don’t you get your own beer, bruh? Cooper, give him one.”

“I don’t mind sharing a bottle with Persephone. What’s sharing a beer when we’re sharing a bed every night?”

Huh? What? I can feel eyes shooting daggers at me in every direction.

“We don’t…I mean, we do, but we don’t…” Gah!!!! What????