“Devon on his way?” Chris asked quietly.
“Yeah.”
He nodded as his blue eyes scanned the crowd. Though he still wasn’t completely relaxed around Devon, they seemed to have forged a strange friendship. They watched TV together every night when Devon came over to see her. They commented on this and that, laughing or groaning depending on what was on. They were both obsessed with The Deadliest Catch and Cassie found it highly amusing to watch and listen to them. She had grown accustomed to Devon’s visits after school, looked forward to the time they spent together in her room before she had to go back to the grind of her nightlife. She was still not used to having Devon in her room, in her life even, but she had grown to like having him there.
A loud shout drew her attention to Jack Wells. The quarterback was standing on one of the picnic tables, throwing French fries at anyone unfortunate enough to be close to him. Cassie rolled her eyes as Melissa heaved a large sigh. “What an idiot,” Chris muttered.
“Boys will be boys,” Cassie said softly.
“Shoot me if I ever act like that.”
“Oh, it’s a guarantee, and don’t forget I know how to use a crossbow.”
He grinned at her. “Yeah you do.”
Cassie scanned the crowd again; impatient to see Devon. Since she had made the decision not to fight her feelings, things had leveled out inside her, become more peaceful. She could concentrate on her training again; she was more settled, and more alive, than she had been in years. She was still a tumult of feeling and sensation when it came to him, and she was beginning to believe that that feeling would never change.
There was a ripple in the crowd, a slight shifting amongst the students. She knew instantly that he had arrived as his presence always caused a stir. The boys were still slightly wary of him, and the girl’s eagerly followed his every move. The girl’s had also started to give her angry, hate filled looks that she had not gotten used to receiving, and was perplexed by. She had done nothing to them; in fact she had considered most of them her friends. Until now. She knew it was jealousy over her relationship with Devon that fueled their anger, knew that they wanted him, but that fact didn’t make the resentment from them any easier.
He walked gracefully through the crowd, not acknowledging the strange or lustful stares that followed him. Jack stopped tossing french-fries as Devon moved past, not even he was crazy enough to throw a fry at Devon. Though, Cassie thought it might be entertaining to see. Devon didn’t even acknowledge the winning quarterbacks presence as he moved swiftly past. Until Devon had arrived, Jack had been the most sought after boy in school. Now Jack’s all American good looks couldn’t hold a candle to Devon’s dark splendor.
Cassie bristled slightly as Marcy stepped in front of Devon, halting his progress. It was not jealousy that broke through her, for he did not look at other girls that way. In fact, Cassie knew that she was often the only person he saw. He conveyed that to her with every one of his searing looks and gentle touches, for even now as he spoke with Marcy, his gaze was focused upon her. The smile on his lips was for her only. No, it was not jealousy that tore through her, but aggravation that Marcy had stopped him from coming straight to her. She needed him to ease the aching tension clinging to her.
He spoke with Marcy for a few moments, but his gaze remained firm upon her, his eyes warm and caring. Some of the anxiety eased from her, a small smile curved her mouth as she watched him. The bond between them was fierce, and they still hadn’t even kissed yet. In fact, they had done nothing more than hold hands and sit with each other. She ached for his kiss she just didn’t know what would happen when he finally did kiss her. His touch was enough to drive her crazy, she couldn’t imagine what his kiss would do to her, but she was dying to find out.
Yet, she did not rush it, did not try and make the first move. She knew it would happen eventually, and that it would be as thrilling as everything else with him was. For now, it was simply enough to be with him every day.
He nodded to Marcy, giving her a brief smile before stepping casually around her. Excitement tingled through Cassie as he came to her; her body instinctively leaned closer to his as his hand slid easily into hers. The burn and itch in her skin eased, allowing her to experience the bliss that he brought her. He was the only balm that could ease her discomfort.
He stood close beside her, his chest pressed lightly against her shoulder. The hand not holding hers wrapped possessively around her waist, and rested lightly upon her hip. A small shiver worked its way down her spine, her eyes closed briefly as she relished in the pleasure that his touch brought her. His scent engulfed her, filling her nostrils with the smell of fresh air tinted with the crisp hint of spices. It was a scent she had grown used to, and she welcomed it with every fiber of her being.
His hand lightly stroked her hip, his fingers set up a firestorm within her that only he could start, and put out. “You look beautiful tonight.”
His soft words and gentle breath blew against her hair, ruffling it slightly. She shivered again, leaning closer to him as he gently nuzzled her neck. His lips brushed over her skin, briefly caressing the nape of her neck. For a moment Cassie feared that her knees would buckle as her legs began to tremble fiercely.
He chuckled lightly, his hand tightened on her waist. Pulling her closer against him, he gently supported her suddenly weak legs. Cassie’s hand tightened around his. “Oh!” A loud shout echoed through the air, reverberating beneath the metal overhang of B’s and S’s.
Cassie looked up as Jack did a back flip off the table, landing perfectly on his feet. “What an idiot,” Chris said, tossing his empty shake into the trashcan.
“He throws you the ball,” Melissa reminded him.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he has a brain cell. The guy relishes in being the stereotypical jerk jock, one of these days I’m going to punch him.”
Cassie grinned as she shook her head. “You’d be kicked off the team.”
“Would be worth it.”
Chants began as Mike Daniels jumped onto the table, preparing to do his own jump off. Cassie sighed heavily. “This isn’t going to end well.”
Melissa was already grinning brightly, a knowing twinkle in her dark eyes. Mike jumped off the table, spinning through the air. His feet hit the ground, the left one skidded out from under him as he slipped on one of Jack’s discarded fries. He landed hard on his butt, a loud whoomph issuing from him as his breath rushed out.
Laughter filled the air; Cassie nearly choked on her shake as a satisfied gleam lit Melissa’s onyx eyes. Then she glanced past Cassie, her forehead furrowed as her eyes narrowed sharply. Cassie stiffened, turning slightly to follow Melissa’s gaze. Surprise riveted her to the spot.
Luther stood on the other side of B’s and S’s, his eyebrows raised disdainfully as he watched Jason climb onto the table. His glasses slid down to the edge of his nose to perch precariously upon the tip. The loose fitting jacket he wore hung off of his slender shoulders, making him appear even thinner than he was.
“What is he doing here?” Chris asked softly.
“I don’t know. I’ll go find out.”
Melissa slipped past them, skirting the group gathered around the picnic tables. “Who is that?” Devon inquired softly.
Cassie shifted slightly, not at all sure how to answer that question. “It’s Melissa’s dad,” Chris told him.
“I thought Melissa’s parents were dead,” Devon said.
“Adopted father,” Chris amended, glancing briefly at Devon. “But he’s raised her since she was a baby, so it’s her dad.”
“I see,” Devon said softly, his eyes coming swiftly back to Cassie.
Cassie swallowed heavily, barely managing a slow nod. It was not entirely a lie. She should not feel bad, but she did. Tearing her gaze away from his, she tried to keep her breathing, and her heart rate, under control. “Were Melissa’s parents with yours in the car accident?”
Cassie’s mind fumbled with an answer for that, she knew what she was supposed to say, what they had been told to say, but her tongue could not get the lies out. “No, Melissa’s family was in Egypt at the time. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father was killed in the line of duty.”
Again, it was not entirely a lie, but it was Chris who uttered the words, not her. “Line of duty?”
“Yeah,” Chris answered his gaze intent upon Devon’s. “He was in the British armed forces, stationed in Egypt, where he met Melissa’s mom. Luther and he were good friends, so Luther adopted Melissa when she was orphaned. There was no other family.”
“I see.” Devon nodded slowly, his eyes slightly distant as he gazed down at Cassie. “How sad for you all.”
“My mother is still alive,” Chris reminded him, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
“Chris…”
Chris’s anguished eyes swung toward her. She knew Chris loved his mother, but there was so much pain and anger between them that Cassie feared their relationship could never be repaired. Her words trailed off; there was nothing that she could say. Though he was grateful that his mother had been spared the massacre of that awful night, she knew he would give anything to be free of her, and his household. He was eager to flee town as soon as they graduated.
A gentle breeze wafted over them, tickling the hairs at the nape of her neck, blowing strands of it across her face. Devon stiffened beside her, his hand stilled on her waist as he turned slowly toward the woods behind them. Nostrils flaring slightly, his eyes narrowed as he studied the shadowed forest. His jaw clenched fiercely, a muscle jumped in his cheek. The hand upon her waist tightened as he moved protectively closer to her.
Confusion swirled through Cassie. She turned toward the woods, her gaze intently searching the darkened interior for some hint of what had caught his attention and upset him so. She glanced back at him; his eyes had turned a dark leaf green color, the tight clench of his jaw looked painful. She frowned, not understanding what had him so tense, and focused upon the forest.
Cassie’s attention was torn from him as Melissa came back toward them; she looked grim as she weaved gracefully through the crowd. A chill of foreboding traveled down Cassie’s spine. Melissa’s dark eyes met hers briefly, a strange hollowness radiated from her usually bright gaze. “Is everything ok?” Chris asked quietly.
Melissa shook her head, her attention turned briefly to Devon. He had turned away from the woods, but he was still wound as tight as a bowstring. “No, Luther just received some bad news. I’m afraid I have to go.”
Cassie shifted, pressing briefly against Devon in the hopes of easing some of his rigidity, but he did not relax. He was so tense that he was not even breathing, she realized with a start. “Do you want us to come with you?” Chris asked.
Melissa sighed heavily. “Yeah, he’s pretty upset. It would be nice of you.” She glanced back at Devon. “You know he thinks of you as family and I think he needs all the comfort he can get right now,” she added for his benefit.
A cold shiver ran down Cassie’s spine again, it turned the blood in her veins to ice as her heart lumbered to pump it through. Swallowing heavily, she managed a small nod. “Of course.” She turned slowly toward Devon, trying hard to keep the panic from her face as she met his fierce, dark gaze. “I have to go.”
He nodded, but she could tell that his thoughts were elsewhere, and that he was still unsettled. Though he had started to breathe again, he was still as solid, and unbending, as a rock. His hand moved over her back, clenching briefly against her. “I will see you later.”
Cassie blinked in surprise; the words had come out almost as a growl. The fierceness in his hard gaze and the intensity of his words caused goose bumps to break out on her skin. She did not know what was going on tonight with Luther, or with Devon, but her sense of foreboding kicked up another notch.
“Yes.” She agreed simply because she didn’t know what else to say. His eyes burned into hers, his hand was firm against her. For a moment he seemed to have no intention of letting her go, and then his hands slid away.
“Be safe.”
She frowned in confusion, puzzled as to why he would say that. “Of course.”
The intensity of his gaze did not lessen as she took a small step away. She thought he was going to grab hold of her again as he made a small motion toward her, but then he stopped. The quiet desperation in him tore at her, keeping her riveted. “Come on Cassie, we have to go,” Chris said gently.
She nodded to him, swallowing heavily as she turned slowly away from Devon. She could feel his gaze boring into her back as they moved through the crowd. Another gentle breeze wafted over them, but this one carried the strange sense of wrongness that had been present at the beach the other day. Cassie halted; she turned slowly as the evil washed over her, and rooted her feet in place.