From Gods (4 page)

Chapter 6

Mason’s whole body glowed brightly like a shooting star as he blasted through the darkness, and plummeted into the murky, dark water so he could locate Skylar. The creature that held her captive in its vine-like tentacles had wrapped her up like a mummy and pulled her deeper into the ocean. Clutching one of its vines, Mason squeezed it forcefully and the intensity of heat from his electric like power scorched it. When it unwrapped itself from Skylar’s body, more vines came slashing through from below.

Bolts that looked like lightning darted out from the palms of Mason’s hands, but they didn’t scare the beast away. It retaliated by extending more vines. One wrapped around Mason’s waist when he dodged one that was trying to spiral around his ankles. He gripped it, sending blistering sensations through it. Sizzling, it uncoiled, but there were more around him.

Being a demigod, he could stay under the water as long as he liked, but Skylar could not. Knowing he needed to get her up for air, he shot multiple bolts as fast as he could. Finally, the beast disappeared into the abyss.

With incredible speed, Mason swam to shore with Skylar in his arms and laid her down on the sand to begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Getting no response, he pushed onto her chest. With Skylar still unresponsive, he did it again…and again…and again. “Come on…!” Finally, water shot out from her mouth with relentless coughs. Looking drained, her body went limp.

“Dou…g. Maccc….e,” she mumbled, desperately trying to open her eyes.

Doug? Mace? Letting out a short chuckle, he realized she was recalling the name-tag on the cop’s uniform he had worn when he pulled her over, and by Mace, she must have meant Mason. Though Nick habitually liked to call him Mace, he couldn’t recall him saying that name in front of her. But he was most surprised to hear the name Doug. Mason was sure he’d told her that he wasn’t the cop.

It was a good thing he had been taking a stroll on the pier. When he spotted Skylar, he watched her in fascination, but hid behind the wooden pole when he thought she had spotted him. He hid for a short period, but when he turned to find her again, she had disappeared. Frantically he had looked for her, but when there was no sign of her, he dove in.

He knew there was something different, something special about her the night he first looked into her eyes, but he couldn’t determine what it was. Whatever it was, he liked the way she made him feel by her mere presence. Every cell in his body came alive and his heart burst with elation. Though he liked the feeling, at the same time it terrified him. Knowing she would be trouble…mostly for his heart…he had to dismiss her in every way, if he could. He had to. There was no room for her in his heart…no room to care, and especially no room for love. He wouldn’t let her in.

Skylar started to turn as her body shivered from the cold. Just before she did, he placed his hands on her forehead, willing the power within him to give her his warmth…one of his many powers. He knew the heat would travel down her spine and immediately spread out to the rest of her, as if she had been wrapped with a heated blanket.

“Mmmm….” Skylar said, falling asleep, welcoming the heat.

Mason watched her as she lay, gazing at her innocent, beautiful face, from her closed eyes and high cheekbones, to her supple lips. Seeing a strand of hair flutter across her face from a sudden breeze, he brushed her face to put it back in place. In accord, a small jolt from his finger sparked her.
What was that?
His eyes darted to his finger. This was the second time he’d ever lost control of his power…first when he touched her at the diner, and now here. Was it his doing or hers? He couldn’t be sure. But one thing was definite—something warm and pleasant ignited within him when he touched her skin. At that moment he knew for sure he was in trouble.

Gazing back to her, one question remained. Who was she? The monster wouldn’t go after a human; not only that, he had compelled her to forget when he pulled her over, but it didn’t work. He would have to look into this, but for now, he’d keep it to himself. He didn’t want to put her life in danger if he was wrong.

Trying to decide what to do with Skylar, he thought of two options; one…stay with her and wait for her cousin to find her, or two…walk away. He decided on the latter when he saw his brother and Kayla coming out of the water. Mason hid behind a boulder by the pier and watched them run toward her. Knowing she was safe, he swam away.

***

“Skylar! Skylar!” Kayla shouted, running with a beach dress pulled over her bikini and her bag over her shoulder. Plunking herself down next to her cousin, she placed her hands on Skylar’s cheeks, then her chest, making sure she was breathing. Skylar being wet from head to toe was evidence that she’d been under water, and her laying there almost lifeless indicated she had almost drowned. Oddly, Skylar’s body felt warm given the circumstances. Unable to comprehend the contrast between them, Kayla brushed it off, thanking God Skylar was alive.

Skylar groaned, laying stiffly, trying to peel her eyes open. “Dou…g.”

“Who the heck is Doug?” Nick asked, kneeling beside Kayla.

“I don’t know.” Worriedly, she refocused on Skylar. “Shh…shh…don’t talk. Thank God you’re okay.”

“Let’s take her home,” Nick mumbled.

“Should I take her to the hospital instead?”

Before he could answer, Skylar mumbled. “No…no…Mom...go home.”

Kayla understood. Skylar was right. Skylar’s mom would insist on her going home. Their summer would be ruined for sure. “Okay…okay, but don’t go in the water again. Why were you in the water? You don’t like to go in that deep.” Kayla was so mad at Skylar, but now was not the time to scold her, so she softened her tone.

“Let’s help her up. I’ll help you take her home,” Nick said, already standing.

Kayla’s eyes teared up, wiping them away before peering up to Nick. “Thanks.” What she wanted to do was bawl. If anything happened to Skylar, she didn’t know what she would do. She was more than her cousin…she was her best friend.

Effortlessly, Nick pulled Skylar up, and Kayla threw her beach towel around her. With her arms around Kayla’s and Nick’s shoulders, she looked like a rag doll being dragged.

“Mon…sss…er,” Skylar managed to say.

“Skylar, don’t talk. You almost drowned.” Kayla was disturbed. She couldn’t understand how this could’ve happened. Skylar was always careful…almost too careful. There were a few sports Skylar didn’t like, and swimming was one of them, especially in the ocean. What the heck was she doing? Kayla blamed herself, and swore she would never bring her cousin to the ocean again.

“Dou…g,” Skylar mumbled.

“Is Doug her boyfriend?” Nick asked, chuckling.

Kayla flashed a “be quiet” look to Nick. “We’re almost there,” she said to Skylar. “Rest. Don’t talk.”

The bonfire was out, and Nick’s brothers and their company had gone. Smoke from the fire lingered, and a few empty bottles were buried in the sand. Nick grabbed his bag, slipped into his T-shirt, wrapped a beach towel around his waist for privacy, and quickly changed from his trunks into shorts. After they settled into Kayla’s car, they drove to her house.

Not bothering to rinse the salt water off Skylar, Kayla helped her change out of her swimsuit into the shorts and tank top she always wore to bed, and tucked her in. Then she went to her bedroom where Nick waited for her.

He had spread himself across her bed, looking irresistible with his arms behind his neck to support his head. Kayla inhaled sharply, wondering if she should kick him out or ask him to stay until her mother came home. Being that it was past midnight, her mom was surely on her way and her decision was made.

Nick patted the bed, beckoning her to lie next to him. She did as told, but she suddenly became shy, realizing she was still in her bikini. She had taken off her beach dress, meaning to change into something comfortable after she had taken care of Skylar, but she had forgotten. Being shy rarely happened to her. She didn’t know if it was Nick being in her room, or her mom on her way home, or if it was her cousin almost drowning tonight. Whatever the reason, she wasn’t in the same mood he was in.

“Umm…I think we should call it a night. My mom is on her way home.” Kayla pulled in her lips, giving him half a smile, not wanting to disappoint him.

Nick frowned and pouted. “Okay…how about a kiss good-bye?” His fingers trailed from her cheeks, to the side of her neck, over the curve of her shoulder, and finally down her arm.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” Kayla moaned softly, taking in the pleasurable sensation, trying to suppress the heat that rushed through her body.

“You’re still in your bikini. Easy access, you know. How am I to contain myself with a beautiful, half naked girl lying next to me?”

Kayla blushed. He’d called her beautiful. “You’re containing yourself pretty well.”

“You spoke too soon.” Nick reached in, kissing the pulsating veins down her neck. At the same time, he positioned her right leg over his hips and ran his hand up her legs to the curve of her behind.

Maybe I won’t be able to contain myself, she thought. Wanting more of him, she had to break away before things got out of hand. “Nick,” she said, pulling away reluctantly. Still dazed from his caresses, she had to clear her thoughts. “Ummm…we need to figure out how you’re getting home.”

“I’m not going home. I’m sleeping here with you.”

“What?” Kayla’s pitch went up a notch.

“Relax…I’m just joking. I’ve already called my brother. He’ll be here shortly.”

“Which brother?”

“Mason, the reliable one; Mr. Goodboy.”

“The reliable one? Then your older brothers are not reliable?”

“Sometimes.”

“What about you?”

“I’m the bad boy kind.” He pulled her in so fast she didn’t have time to react. He conquered her lips passionately, letting her know he wanted her. His tongue danced with hers, tasting and sucking her deep within him. Kayla found herself on top of him again as his hand ran smoothly over every inch of her curves. For a while she forgot where she was, and the fact that her mom was coming home. Lost in his kisses, lost in his sensual embrace, she wanted to stop time.

Heat whizzed through from the tips of her toes to the depths of her mind as she vividly envisioned both of them naked. With that thought, every nerve in her body had awakened. Panting, wanting more of him, she knew she shouldn’t, especially not right now; and more so, she didn’t really know him that well. But no matter how hard she fought with her own free will, she couldn’t pull away. He knew all too well how to get her high with ecstasy, pulling her into his world. He was experienced all right, that she knew for sure, and she knew from that moment that he would be hard to resist.

Just when she felt her top loosening, they were interrupted by the sound of the garage door opening. Still out of breath, Kayla unstraddled him and rehooked her top. “My mom is home…and…and you can’t be here.” She paced around, looking for a place for him to hide.

“Relax.” Gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder. “Go downstairs and get her away from the door. I’ll sneak out.” He winked.

“Um…okay.” Kayla took a deep breath.
No biggy. I can do this
. “Will I see you again, bad boy?”

“Of course. This Friday night at a restaurant-club called Starla. I’ll text you.”

“But I didn’t give you my cell number.”

“Don’t worry. I have it.” He twitched his brows. “Now go before I show myself to your mother.”

Kayla slipped into her beach dress and ran downstairs. When she noted her mom was in the kitchen, she ran back upstairs, but Nick was gone. Strange…she didn’t see him leave, and the front door was locked. He couldn’t have gone through the window. She brushed it off, checked on her cousin, and went downstairs again to greet her mom. But she couldn’t shake the hot sensation that still lingered from Nick’s touch.