Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Eight

Alec

I was like Nat's shadow. Even when she didn't realize it—I was watching her. Right, that sounded way better in my head than out loud.

Worry was my constant companion. I was worried about Demetri and worried about Nat and to top it all off I was worried about me—worried my secret was already out.

Funny, because up until now I always thought I was really good at keeping my shit on lockdown.

Nat had been at my house every night that week—I kept making up excuses to see her… what if she got sick again? What if she fell?

Yeah, sounded like something Demetri would say.

I missed my brother.

He was coming back in a day—so that meant I had one more day where I hung out with Nat and didn't maul her—or kiss her—or yell at her.

Speaking of yelling at her.

Where the hell was she? We were supposed to hang out. I ran over to her house and knocked on the door. No answer.

I called her cell.

And no answer.

Which really made me worry because Nat KNEW how I felt about answering phones. It was number one on a very long list of pet peeves.

Irritated, I started walking down the prom thinking she may have gone for a late run. When I looked to my left, I saw two legs sticking out from underneath a very sexy, and familiar body.

There was Nat, lying in the sand, eyes closed, looking all kinds of peaceful.

While I was having a heart attack.

When my blood pressure decided to finally return to a normal number—allowing me to adequately walk in her direction without shaking her to death—I made my way across the sand.

The mist from the ocean combined with the bite in the air should have woken her up. Nat's teeth chattered as she tugged her sweatshirt tighter.

I nudged her with my foot. “So are you suicidal or merely stupid?” Yeah, I could have said that way better…

Nat yawned, “Hello to you too, friend.”

“I didn't know where you were.” I huffed, licking my lips to keep me distracted from physically shaking her where she sat.

“Well, you found me.”

“I swear you're aging me, Nat.” I grumbled, taking a seat down next to her.

“Sorry?”

“Not much of an apology but I'll take it.” I moved my hands to her shoulders and pulled her close to me to keep her warm, then slowly started massaging her arms, moving up her neck, and down again.

After a few minutes Nat tensed, “Alec?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you trust me yet?”

Trusting her meant telling her—so I guess that was my answer.

Sighing, I answered, “Getting there, Nat. Getting there.”

“Okay.”

“So,” I changed the subject, “Do you have plans tonight?” Technically every night was with me, but I still felt the need to ask her to come over, not assume she wanted to be with me.

Nat laughed. “You mean besides my failed suicide attempt.”

My hands stilled. “Yes, besides that.”

“Nope.”

“Okay.” I helped her to her feet then dusted the sand off my jeans. “Let's go watch a movie.”

We walked arm in arm back to the house. Once we were inside, Nat made quick work with the popcorn while I filled some glasses with crushed ice and soda.

Funny how we didn't even really need to talk to one another. We just knew, that was the drill, popcorn, soda, movie, done.

I grabbed Twilight and winced. Demetri would have me by the balls if he knew I was actually watching that shit. But I knew Nat would love it.

See? And there go the stalker tendencies again.

“Twilight?” Nat laughed, “Really?”

“I'm hoping it will earn me points.” I grinned, pressing Play and moving towards the couch.

“For being an ass half the time?” she asked in a syrupy sweet voice.

“Of course not.” I smirked. “For being an ass three quarters of the time.”

“Aw, you're sweet.”

“Agreed.” I winked and put my arm around her, tucking her body into mine. It was the usual way we sat… it didn't have to mean anything. Friends could… cuddle. Hell, was that what I was doing with her?

Then again she had been chilled to the bone when I found her.

Near death.

Hardly breathing.

Turning blue.

I mean, first aid demands that in order to restore body heat you needed to strip and—

The movie flashed on.

Yeah, maybe Twilight was good. At least the ridiculousness of it would distract me from kissing her.

Two hours later, and I realized something, really, really unfortunate. The whole love triangle thing? Not so fun to watch when you're actually living it. Shit.

“Probably a poor choice considering…” My voice trailed off.

Nat nodded mutely.

“But I'm curious.” I turned down the TV and twisted my body to face her. “Would I be more of a Jacob or an Edward?”

Nat's eyes watered with amusement as she covered her mouth and laughed.

“Forget it.” I cursed and tried to get up so she wouldn't see that my face was probably red.

“I'm sorry, no, stay!” She laughed and tugged me down next to her. “You have to understand that guys don't just go walking around asking things like that.”

“I know.” I clenched my jaw.

Nat let out a little gasp.

My eyes narrowed. “What?”

Red tinged her cheeks, “You're kind of both.”

“As in a hybrid?” I asked, feeling cocky as hell. Did she say what I think she just said? That I was the best of both worlds?

My grin grew the more I thought about it.

“Yes, Alec. A hybrid, you're like a vampwolf.” She burst out laughing and turned away like she was trying to escape. I pounced on her, tackling her against the couch so we were chest to chest.

“Is my man card gone now?” My lips almost grazed hers.

Nat's eyes followed the line of my jaw before returning my gaze. “No.” She reached up and trailed her hand down my arm.

I shuddered, unable to keep it locked in anymore. Her touch did not make me want to be in control. It made me want to lose it. “Damn it.” I snapped, my mouth was on hers within seconds.

Damn, she tasted the same. I'd missed that taste, dreamt about it, wanted it so bad that even food wasn't the same.

Nat groaned as my body pressed harder against her, covering her, suffocating her with my presence. She gripped chaotically at my back, her fingers digging into my shirt.

I broke the kiss off, turning my head to the right, so I could taste her neck. Nat wanted none of that; she wanted my mouth. On her.

She said as much when she grabbed my head and forced my lips against hers so hard that a jolt of pain shot through me. Yeah, my control was shot to hell.

I wedged my leg between her thighs and reached for her hips, grinding her against me. She let out a little gasp.

Everything about that moment was frantic. Nat reached for my shirt, meeting my hands as I was already trying to take it off. It flew to the floor.

“Nat, you drive me crazy.” I hissed when those same hands moved to my jeans, pulling me harder against her.

“Good crazy?” she asked breathlessly, her chest heaving.

I leaned over, my forehead touching hers, then tilted her chin towards me, kissing the corner of her mouth, and then sealing the kiss with my tongue, “Crazy, crazy.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.” I laughed against her neck then began sucking below her ear before returning to her lips. She reached for the buttons of my jeans, but I stopped her.

She tried again. Damn, was she trying to kill me? I slapped away her hands playfully, and then pinned them to her side.

“Seriously?” She sounded as sexually frustrated as I felt.

Sighing, she tilted her head, giving me perfect access to her neck. “Right now, I kind of wish you were.”

My hands stilled, blood pounded in all the wrong places, “You can't say things like that to me, Nat.

“Okay.”

“Nat,” I warned, my arms flexing so painfully hard that I wasn't sure if I was causing physical damage to the upholstery.

Her eyes raked me over like she was imagining me without clothes. I loved it so much that I almost stripped for her right there.

Her eyes were dilated, hair mussed, she was so aroused she couldn't think straight—which meant I had to be the voice of reason. Oh joy.

“I know what you're thinking,” I said. Maybe if I talked I wouldn't be thinking about letting her unbutton my jeans.

“No, you don't.”

“But I do.” I kissed her lips, softly tugging on the bottom one, then biting down causing pain I knew she'd find pleasurable. “You think it would be worth it, but I promise you, that's not the case.”

“Why?”

“Because you don't know what kind of guy I am.” And things just got serious.

“But I do!” she whined.

I couldn't look at her, if I looked at her she'd see the guilt, the pain, she'd see it all. “Nat, you don't.”

“Then tell me, and let me make my choice.”

“What if by telling you, I lose you?”

“Do you really think I'm that kind of person?”

“Yes and no.” I wrapped my hands around her head. I was done talking.

She pressed a palm flat against my chest and then the fight, the fun cat and mouse game we'd had going? Totally left her. It was as if she was me letting me in despite my warnings.

It was something my soul needed, something my body craved. With a growl I lifted her into the air so that I could press myself against her, so I could do what I'd been wanting to do for weeks.

It was one of those moments that if she reached for me again, I'd let her. I wouldn't stop her. Because I'd told her I was bad news—and she still wanted to kiss me.

I would have pressed her further.

But I didn't have the chance. Because Demetri chose that exact moment to come home.

He tapped my shoulder.

I turned around and swore. Out of anger and disappointment in myself I said, “Second again, brother. Don't you have a little starlet to go screw?”

Nat's hand hit my cheek so hard my teeth hurt.

Tears streamed down Nat's face as I held her against the couch. She couldn't leave, I didn't mean it; she had to know. What the hell was wrong with me!