Part 5 (1/2)
”Well?”
”Yes. I did.”
Well, that wasn't what I was expecting. I pushed my chair out from under myself and stood up slowly, my arms trembling. Rage boiled inside my heart, and I clenched my hands into tight fists at my side, nails digging into my skin. Hunter rose from his chair and took a step towards me. I could feel my blood pounding in my ears.
”But I didn't send it. I withdrew it. Ruby, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, I couldn't.” He stroked my arm and I recoiled away from him.
”You must have, he was sent away! I lost my guardian angel, someone who has saved my life numerous times, all because of your jealousy. He was right - I shouldn't have trusted you.” I pushed past Hunter and stormed out the front door. I didn't go to the car; there was no way I was going to breathe the same air as that snake.
I thundered off down the footpath. My heels made fast clicks as they echoed through the quite town center.
”Ruby, wait! Please, I didn't do it.”
I kept walking ignoring his plea, his lie.
”Take the car,” I heard Eli order Hunter.
”I'm not leaving her.”
”There's a SS garage two blocks east, get a guardian to take you back to Sage.”
I didn't turn around to see if he did what he was told.
”Ruby, stop,” Eli called after me.
I slowed, giving him time to catch up. I leaned against the inner wall of an alleyway.
”What happened?” he asked, coming to a stop in front of me.
”I get the feeling you already know.”
”You found out ...”
”Why didn't you tell me?”
”I planned to tell you about Hunter. I was so mad at him, but when I saw you again ... I just couldn't bring myself to break your heart.”
I scoffed. Hunter couldn't break my heart. He never had a piece of my heart to begin with.
”It doesn't matter, it's over now. I'm back.”
It was over and Eli was back, but I didn't feel as forgiving about this as he was. As far as I was concerned, Hunter was dead to me.
The small alleyway forced Eli and I to be close to each other. The atmosphere between us changed, charging with a voltaic, exciting antic.i.p.ation. His scent alone was enough to jumble my train of thought. I dropped my eyes to my hands and fiddled with my fingers. I hate feeling nervous.
”When you were gone ... Did you miss me?” I uttered, taking the conversation in a completely different direction. I didn't mean to say it, it just came out. Still, it was a question that had been eating at me since Eli's return. His long index finger slid smoothly across my chin, tilting my face to look up at him.
”Immensely.”
My breathing altered as my heart raced. His words unleashed b.u.t.terflies in my stomach. He tucked a long, dark lock of hair behind my ear. In movies, the hair tucking is so cliche and you cringe, because it looks cheesy, but when it happens in real life, it's perfect. We stared into each other's eyes l.u.s.tfully as he put his hand on my waist, pulling me closer.
Is this really happening?
His smell was intoxicating. His crisp ocean breeze cologne mixed with clean sweat filled my nostrils and I inhaled, appreciating it.
”I missed you,” I whispered.
The corners of his mouth twitched as he bit his bottom lip in an attempt to hide his smile. My knees grew weak and he noticed. A small laugh escaped him and he slowly bent toward me, his lips grazing mine softly, like he was testing my boundaries. With him, I didn't have any.
”Are you sure?” I asked him.
Eli had a habit of immediately regretting our kiss when it was over, so I gave him an opportunity to get out of this one before it happened.
His hand met the side of my cheek, urging my lips harder against his. An electrical feeling rolled over my skin as his hands traced the contour of my body. I pulled away ever so slightly to breathe, trying not to show just how vulnerable I was.
My gaze moved from his eyes to his lips and once more his mouth was against mine. Instinctually, I wrapped my hands around his neck and entwined my fingers in his short hair. Each intake of breath was another reminder of what was really happening, his cologne, the way his hands entangled in my hair, the press of his lips against mine in an urgent pace.
I knew this was wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. My thoughts didn't last as I was consumed in our forbidden pa.s.sion.
The kiss slowed and then came to a stop, much to my disappointment.
”We should go,” he said, our foreheads resting against each other's.
I nodded.
As we stepped out from the alleyway, I dared to peek at him. His face had a.s.sumed its usual serious expression but his eyes were different. His eyes reflected the joy he felt deep down, something I'd never seen before. My face reflected my own joy, the grin that was spread across it was impossible to hide.
”The long road between the school and the town is unprotected by charms; it's too dangerous to walk at night. We're going to have to walk the two blocks to the SS garage and get a car.”
”Oh G.o.d, in these heels?”
Eli laughed and I swooned at the sound. ”At least they aren't as tall as your other ones, but if they're that uncomfortable, I can carry you.”
I pictured Eli's strong arms wrapped around me, my face close to his. I would take him up on his offer, but only to feel him touch me again, not because I couldn't physically walk.
”Nah, I'll tough it out.”
We began walking east. There weren't many other people on the streets. There was the occasional old lady walking her dog and a drunken guy who wolf whistled at me, after that, nothing.
”Ruby, I -”
”Is this the part where you tell me the kiss was a mistake and that it won't happen again?” I interrupted.
”What? No. What we did was wrong, yes, but I refuse to regret something that has made me the happiest I've been in a long time, even if it is against our laws. The thing is, we can never be together ...”
”I'm sure we can figure something out.”
”There are no loop holes for us; being your guardian angel is the closest I'll be able to get. That's the next best thing.”
”You become my guardian angel and then what? That makes matters more complicated. Let's just be together. Who cares if you get banished? I'll come with you. We can be together amongst the humans.”