Beyond (60 page)

After several days Michael took Claudia to see Patty , who was working at Fashion Wear , and her m om in New York City. Claudia wanted to make sure they were fine and to say her goodbyes. They h ad no memories of her , and though it hurt her deeply, she knew in her heart that there was no other way. After what Aliah almost did to Patty, she knew this was the best for her human friends and family. Though she would keep her distance, she swore to herself she would make sure no harm would come to them because of her.

It was clearer now why Gamma had kept this secret life from her.
Gamma was keeping her safe, keeping her away from the darkness that would have hunted her since she was a child. Afterward, Michael took Claudia to her graduation. Though she didn ’
t wear the red cap and gown, she blended in with the crowd , cheering for her friends Kristina, Maggie and the others. She felt sad for missing this part of her human life, but when gaz ing up at Michael, she knew she wanted this new life with him even more.

Alkin and venator friends
had come and gone, but Austin never came. At one point, Michael even brought Alexa Rose. Though she didn ’
t like living in a separate dimensio n from Michael, she understood.
Claudia and Michael promised to visit often.

As expected, Michael showed Claudia beyond the forest of their home. Just like in her dreams , she saw the purple mountains, endless miles of wild flowers , and the gentle waterfalls. How happy the last several weeks had been for both of them as they adjust ed to their new home and to each other.

Claudia added more furniture and bouquets of wild flowers throughout the house.
With plenty of organic , fresh fruit trees surrounding her home, she enjoyed picking them.
Though she needed to eat less, being partly human, and by Gamma ’
s doing, she needed it occasionally. None the less, she enjoyed taking care of Michael and their home.

Finally, Michael and Claudia
were able to have some time alone. Visitor after visitor kept them occupied, but they had a blast partying the night away with the alkins and sometimes the venators , danc ing and eating chips and salsa that Davin brought almost every day.

After their friends finally left, Claudia and Michael said their goodnights and headed to their separate rooms. The routine was the same —Michael would read his books while Claudia would spend her time in her room or sle ep from exhaustion, mostly from entertaining their friends, but tonight was different. Claudia tossed and turned , thinking how ridiculous it was to have Michael under the same roof , but not be ing with him. No one forb a d e them , so why were they apart?

Claudia dropped herself down to the floor below hers and placed her hand on the door as if she could touch him. Thinking perhaps it wasn ’
t a good idea after all , she turned and gauged her distance back to her f l oor. When she looked back down, the door was wide open and Michael stood in front of her. He wore black cotton shorts, but that was all. All muscular and shirtless, Claudia lost her thought s and her tongue. She had seen him that way before, but it had been a while.

“
Did you ring ?
”
He grinned. His eyes were sparkly and playful .

“
I…mmm….I….
was just wondering .
…
”
Battling impure thoughts , she tried to look away.

Michael raked his eyes up and down her skimpy white nightgown and couldn ’
t control his urge. Befor e Claudia could finish, he swept her up .
“
I was waiting for you.
”

Claudia gasped sharply
at the sudden pull , and a feeling of rapture erupted through her entire body.

“
I like what you ’
re wearing. I believe I picked it out .
”
Michael w inked, tingling every single nerve in her body , and she couldn ’
t move.

“
So…you went wind ow shopping. Vivian told me that you two went .
”
She managed to peer up and look ed into his intoxicating eyes, calling out for her.

“
Yes , ”
he said , and release d her.

“
Did you have fun?
”

“
Looking at what you ’
re wearing, I ’
m sure glad I did , and yes , I had tons of fun .
”
He twitched his brows playfully.

Flushed with redness,
Claudia looked away, but ke pt in mind that he was shirtless. Wanting to make him blush too, she said “
Ummm…
I like what you ’
re not wearing .
”
Then she lightly giggled.

“
Do you now?
”
Michael grinned .

It didn
’
t work. Claudia blushed even more and gasped lightly when Michael embraced her again.
“
L
et ’
s not talk anymore.
”

“
What should we do then?
”

“
What I ’
ve been needing to do.
”
He pr essed his lips softly to her s and pulled away .

That one luring kiss was enough to make Claudia breathless and wanting more.
H
e snapped his fingers and their song filled the room. He swayed her to the music with her in his arms.
“
You never did finish telling me why you were here.
”

“
Uhhh…I…
.
”

“
Perhaps I can help you remember, ”
he continued “
Did you come here for this?
”
He twirled her around.

“
No, ”
sh e shook her h ead, smiling shyly .

He nibbled her ears.
“
Then…perhaps this?
”

“
No, ”
she shook again, giggling lightly.

He
ran his tongue down her neck , making her moan with pleasure.
“
Maybe this?
”

“
Maybe , ”
she mumbled, trying to contain herself.

Softly, he brushed his lips from her neck to the base of her breast. She yelped a little pleasurable cry.
“
How about this?
”

Panting, she could hardly speak. Her whole body was about to burst. She wanted and needed him in ways she thought would never be possible. The candlelights glowed around him , making him appea r like a vision in her dream s . This was her Michael standing in front of her, the angel that saved her many times before, the angel that loved her like nothing in this world.

“
I came for you, ”
Claudia said, gazing into his eyes , glow ing with passion and desire.

“
Are you sure?
”

She nodded
her head and ran her hands across the firm ness of his bare chest, so smooth and perfect. Unable to stop, her hand s trembled slightl y, outlin in g his broad shoulders , and molding down to the curves of his biceps .

Michael shivered from her touch and brushed her hair back to expose her shoulder.
“
Then per haps you don ’
t need this.
”
He hooked his finger on to the spaghetti straps of her nightgown and slipped them off her shoulder s . He watched the gown fall, pooling around her feet , leaving her bare besides her necklace.

Claudia
quiver ed nervously and blushe d , for tonight was the first time he had ever seen her this way. Though she was unsure of herself, in Michael ’
s eye s , she was flawless and beautiful in every way. From the color of her hair down to the cuteness of her small feet, he only saw the beauty of h is Claudia.
Tenderly he wrapped his arms around her like a warm blanket and swept her into his hold .
“
I ’
m going to make up for all the time lost, ”
he winked, giving her the sexy, irresistible smile , and whisk ing her to his king size bed.
“
I love the feeling of being in love with you, ”
he muttered.
“
You are completel y, utterly , wholly at last mine , forever and then some.
I ’
m never letting you go.
”

“
Don ’
t ever let me go ,”
Claudia said , looking deeply into his blazing eyes that showed how much he loved and cared for her . She quivered from the blissful feeling that radiated through her body, mind and soul , for she knew unequivocally —he was her home, her sense of security, her soul mate and her forever.

He took his time kissing, nipping, tasting and
caressing every inch of her. His body covering her s was warm and so right.
Gingerly , their fingers intertwine d , m elting into each other. Their bodies moved in unison like the gentle waves in the ocean. Finally and long awaited, their heart s and souls unite d to become one.

She had never known pleasure like she did
that night . It was magi cal, so perfect, like two souls finally finding each other against all odds.
Under the dazzl ing stars , they held each other, bearing no secrets, no pain, no sorrow, but holding onto love, hope, happiness and the blissful future they long ed to have, their own version of happily ever after.

Epilogue

Crying out loud like Tarzan, Davin
sw un g on a rope across to the first leve l.
He plop ped right in front of Claudia, startling her as she held flowers in her hands.
“
I ’
ve always wanted to do that. That was so much fun, ”
Davin sa id with exhilaration.

Claudia
laugh ed and watched Vivi a n and Caleb race across the bridge.

The three of them
g ave Claudia a startl ed look. It had been about a month since they last saw each other. The alkins had been assigned on a nother mission with the venators , to help the small town s get back on their feet after all that had happened.

Davin
focused on Claudia , who was wearing a mid-thigh summer dress with hues of orange and purple.
“
Claudia...you ’
re…kind of…fat, ”
Davin said , arching his brows in confusion .

Vivian
slap ped Davin on the back.
“
You don ’
t ever say that to anyone, especially females.
”

Davin
slap ped his hand over his mouth and g ave Claudia an apologetic look.

“
It ’
s okay. Michael and I are happily surprised, ”
she said , res ting her hands on the line of Davin’s gaze , though it was just a little bump. She couldn ’
t believe it herself. Her faced glowed and she looked happy.

They continue
d to stare in disbelief till Michael snapped them out of it when he entered.
“
Hey…you ’
re back?
”

Davin gave Michael a disapproving look. Michael raked his hair back.
“
Hmmm…we were going to tell you guys…
.
”

“
You don ’
t need to tell us.
We can clearly see, ”
Davin sounded unhappy, his tone almost apprehen sive .
“
You could have waited. We were planning a wedding.
”

Vivian
nudge d Davin.
“
Great…now you ’
ve told them our plan.
”

Claudia gaped between Davin and Vivian.
“
You do know that a wedding requires the man asking the woman before the wedding part happens , right?
”

“
That ’
s what I ’
ve been trying to tell them, ”
Caleb said, throwing up his hands.
“
Thanks for clarifying it , because according to them, it ’
s a group decision.
”
He turned to his friends.
“
Do you believe me now?
”