Insight (18 page)

I could feel all the warmth of his skin as if I were awake. Each temperate movement of his hands across my gown left me breathless. I wanted to doubt it was a dream when I heard the subtle sounds, the breaths, but I didn’t have the chance to. I was intensely aware of him, every part of him.

His kiss gained power as his tongue danced with mine. His long arms reached down, far below where my gown fell, he grasped my thighs then moved his hands forward at a slow calculated pace. My heart was beating deep and slow. The sensation of his touch was so powerful that my knees felt weak. I grasped his chest for balance, and began to bring him the same sweet agony he was bestowing upon me, as I moved my hands across his powerful chest then traced the rim of his pants. I could have sworn I heard him moan.

A heartbeat later he gracefully picked me up and carried me through the doors to our bed. I could feel the white sheets and smell the flowers at our bedside.

He laid me down across the duvet. His eyes slowly traveled over every inch of me; his passion and love were saturating his emotions, spilling into the room and swimming with mine.

His hands reached for my knees, and his thumbs moved in slow sensual circles. I closed my eyes devouring that simple sensation. I felt his lips there next. I let out at gasp and dared to arch my back. His lips slid across my body as his hands paved a path, easing my gown away.

I reached for his face wanting to feel his lips against mine. A subtle movement of his hands would cause me to gasp. He would break away from my kiss and let his lips trail down to my neck to that sweet spot that made every part of me hum. It was like he knew, he knew exactly how to touch me, where to touch me. We were not new lovers in this moment. We were old lovers welcoming the other home after a long absence.

I was using my insight to seduce him; his emotions let me know exactly how to hold him. This dance of taking each other to new levels went on for hours. We were both in an euphoric state, high on the presence of each other. I pulled him into the cradle of my body, he hovered just above me, staring somewhere deep in my soul. He held that stare as we became one, for the first time.

An insane tingling sensation encased my soul as my body felt a mixture of pain and bliss. It was a good pain, not the agony I went through when he left me. The fleeting thought of that caused me to pull him closer, for me to find the courage to be more assertive than I knew I had the nerve to be in this sensual moment.

Every movement of his body against mine sent a surge of energy through my veins. A euphoric high came over me. I wanted to be close to him, to stay there with him in that dream, feeling only his emotion and his strength. I found myself losing my breath. I couldn’t believe how real it all seemed to be.

Landen then whispered, “I love you,” just beneath my ear.

I knew then that it wasn’t a dream. It was real. We were home. We were together, both embracing this sacred, breathless first. The unimaginable high only intensified from that moment on.

Chapter Nine

The sunlight filling the room brought me out of a peaceful sleep. I glanced to my side and saw Landen sleeping soundly. I watched his chest rise and fall, assuring myself that he was real. Smiling, I let my memory flow over the night that we’d shared, but then the day that we’d lived before came crashing through my thoughts.

I had so many questions? Is everyone safe now? Is Drake only a bad memory? I couldn’t bring myself to wake him; he looked too serene. I decided to get up and explore my new surroundings. There was a long dresser on the opposite wall of our bed. I saw the bag that I’d packed in Franklin sitting on top of it.

My photo album was open to the picture of graduation night. Monica was the valedictorian, and Olivia and I were kissing her cheeks as she smiled widely. An uneasy breath escaped me, I wanted them all to be safe and wished only for a moment that they’d never known me. I reasoned that, if that were true, they’d be safe. I continued to turn the pages, missing all of them more and more—even Chase.

With my purple top, white shorts, and all my toiletries, I found my way to the bathroom next to our bed. A beautiful bathtub sat in the middle of the room, there were large mirrors hanging on the walls, and a vanity lined the back wall. I smiled, imagining Landen and his family putting in all the details of this home together. I then bathed and dressed for what was sure to be a beautiful day.

When I finished, I tiptoed past Landen’s sleeping body and went down the stairs. The house was even more perfect in reality. It reminded me of the home in which I’d been raised: the floors were a cherry wood, the light cream walls were all divided with a cherry wood rail, and paintings and candle holders framed the path down the wide staircase. Until that thought, I’d forgotten that, on top of everything else, my home had caught fire yesterday. I hoped that they’d managed to save it. Even though I wouldn’t live there anymore, someone deserved to have the same peace that my family had there. I was sure my mother’s heart was shattered at this point. She loved that house.

The first room I wanted to see was the living room so I could see the willow tree that I had danced to with Landen. Rainbows danced across the walls as the sun touched the crystals. While I was standing star struck, I heard something. It sounded like a car door closing. Odd…cars.

I walked to the front window and saw a little white car, just like the little ones we had at home. The only difference was that the top of the car had a gray panel. Someone was pulling things out of the back seat. She was young, her hair was long and blonde—almost white—and her skin was the color of honey. I walked to the front door and opened it slowly. She turned as I stepped on the front porch, a smile filling her beautiful face. There was no doubt she was pregnant. I assumed she was Felicity, Brady’s soul mate.

“Did I wake you?” the young girl said.

“No, I was just exploring,” I answered shyly.

She had reached the porch. She was holding a large basket, and I could smell the baked goods coming from it. My stomach adamantly reminded me that my last meal had been breakfast yesterday.

“My name is Felicity,” she said as she smiled at me.

“I’m Willow,” I said under my breath.

She grinned, and I instantly felt foolish. She knew who I was. “Here, let me take that,” I stated as I freed her hands.

“Is Landen still asleep?” she asked.

I nodded and watched her walk into the house. A bit confused, I followed her through the entry hall to the kitchen.

“This is my favorite room. It was the only one I got to help with,” she said over her shoulder.

The kitchen was one of the rooms I hadn’t been in yet, but I found it perfect, just like the others. The counters were made of a beautiful gray stone, the cabinets were a dark wood that matched the table and chairs, and there were beautiful bouquets of flowers set in the center of the table and counter. The room was extremely large. It had a long window across one wall and a wide doorway on the back wall that led to the porch. She walked over to the cupboard and pulled out two glasses and plates. I sat down at the large kitchen table and just watched her. She had a beautiful glow about her.

“I don’t remember anything. Is my family okay? Do you know where they are?” I asked.

“Their house is just over that hill,” she said, looking out the back door. “Libby is the best little girl. I played with her for hours after you all came home. I love her energy. I’m sure they’re still asleep. It was well into the night before they went home. Brady was sleeping like a baby when I left.”

“Do you live close, too?”

“We all live within a mile of each other. It’s still very private, though. The hills seem to give each home a sense of solitude.”

I wanted to ask her so many questions. I knew she’d understand me, how fascinating all this was, living here, knowing how to survive in another world.

“Is it as amazing as I think it is here? I mean, how does it all work—people living in peace?”

Felicity smiled at me. She seemed to be fascinated with me as well. I felt so naïve, like a child learning to balance her surroundings.

“The most amazing thing that you’ll find here is that each person does what they’re meant to do. Everyone has a gift.”

“What do you mean? Everyone has insight? Landen made it seem rarer,” I questioned.

“Your insight is rare. What I mean is that we all have a purpose, something that was put in our soul that’s meant to bring not only us joy, but also those who surround us. You can see it in everyone if you really look, it’s almost as beautiful as love.”

“Sometimes finding what you’re supposed to do with that joy can be difficult where I come from,” I said, seeing no purpose in any of my natural gifts.

“Those that are born here are taught from the very beginning to find their purpose,” Felicity said with a glance, not surprised by my point of view.

“How can you teach something like that?”

She looked at me, tilted her head, and said, “Well, okay, Libby is six. So what they’ll do is look at her birth chart and find her characteristics, teach her math, science, everything in the way she learns best. Brady’s sun sign was Aquarius, and along with his other planets they decided to teach him through music. Every subject was related back to music, which made learning fun and helped him to grasp subjects that may have been more difficult for him if he were taught like a Pisces, which is what Landen is. When the children get older, it’s easy for them to choose what makes them happy.”

I laughed at myself. The most I’d ever done as far as the Zodiac was concerned was looked at my horoscope, which was always wrong. To think that an education system was balanced on the stars in the sky seemed insane to me.

“What? How do they do it in your dimension?” Felicity asked, baffled at my humor.

“We all just go to school and learn the same subjects,” I answered.

“But how do they make sure that the kids grasp what they’re being taught?”

“Teachers. Parents.”

“But what if the teacher or parent doesn’t relate to the chart? You can’t group so many different characteristics together and expect positive results.”

“Umm…I…I don’t know.” How was I supposed to answer a question like that? It had always been done that way.

“What dimension did you come from again?” Felicity asked, raising one brow.

“Um…Infante,” I said, hoping I’d remembered the name correctly.

She nodded as if my thought process matched my home dimension. “I still find it intriguing to meet the people they bring home. You would not believe how differently we come to conclusions on the way life should be lived,” she said, grinning at me.

“I guess that goes back to that chart thing, huh?” I said, tilting my head and taking her energy in.

Felicity nodded, snickering again. “Traveling is a dominant purpose in our family,” she explained. I could feel the pride coming her. “Travelers are vital to Chara, they guide us. If they see something in another dimension that has brought harm to the people, they guide us away from that tragedy. If they see something that has brought peace and bliss to a dimension, they teach us so we can grow more peaceful. Traveling is one of the most respected gifts. Without travel, our children would never find the love that we have.”

Felicity caressed her stomach as she spoke. She was a very happy person, and I felt reassured that if anyone could find my friends, it was Landen.

“Everyone in this family travels?”

Felicity nodded. “We are well known throughout Chara,” she said, her smile widening, “and Landen is the youngest and most admired traveler of all.” I raised my brows to question her. “Landen’s insight of truth is not what he is known for. Instead, he is known across Chara as ‘the one who can see all’,” she explained.

I tilted my head and smiled shyly. Perodine told me in my dream that ‘the one who sees must have my heart,’ and Landen had always had my heart. I wondered if she meant the string. The reality I was in came back to me. “Do you know what happened before we got here? I mean, did Landen find my friends?”

Her smile lessened, and I could feel her guarding her emotions. “I think Landen wants to talk to you about it,” she said as her smile faded. I gave her a look of understanding, but I knew it couldn’t all be good news that Landen wanted tell me.

She sighed, then said, “I felt so bad for him. He was so worried about you. Jason must have told him a hundred times that you just needed to rest.”

I remembered how worried he looked when I’d found him on the porch last night. I felt awful that I’d caused him such anguish. I blushed as I remembered what happened after I found him on the porch. It was so odd, my entire body was aching when I walked out on that porch, but right now I feel like I could run a marathon.

Felicity could see the look on my face and reached for my hand to comfort me. “I’m so happy for you two. I knew he would find you. When Brady told me the names of your family, all I could think about was that music box on the mantel. I did not say anything to Landen. I was afraid if I was wrong, his heart would be broken.”

A sinful grin emerged on the corner of my lips as I thought of the night I found that willow tree.

“Everyone is coming to your celebration,” she said as she cleaned away the plates.

“They have a lot to celebrate. Three couples have come home,” I said, reminding her of my mother and Clarissa. Not really wanting the attention of any party.

“I really can’t see it fitting all in one night. The news has spread across Chara. Jason Haywood home at last, Clarissa’s soul mate being able to see the string, and, of course, the youngest couple—the ones who need no words!” Felicity exclaimed.

I had already forgotten that Dane could see the string. It must really be rare to cause so much excitement. Realizing that the celebration was some sort of rite of passage here I wondered what waited for me outside those doors. I had to change the subject, though, I was never one for being the center of attention, and the thought of it was giving me wicked anxiety.

“Which dimension did you come from?” I asked.

“Neime. Just next door, so to speak.”

“Is Neime a good one? I mean, is it peaceful?”

“It is. We live a lot like they do here. I think Neime is the smallest.”

“How else is it different?”

“Well, the biggest difference is that we do not acknowledge time.”

I gave her a curious look.

“We do not mark hours or days or even years. It’s a good place for Gemini signs.”

I had to smile…a world where you could never be late. I could think of a few people who would enjoy that. I felt a burst of energy. Looking to the source, the baby, I saw it move a little. Felicity smiled and rubbed her belly.

“Jason said the baby is perfect.”

“I don’t know how you lasted so many days without Brady. I’m sorry he had to leave you.”

“Don’t be. It’s his calling. I have a little insight of my own; it’s called a woman’s intuition. I knew that he would be helping to bring home someone very special.”

I had instantly fallen in love with her, and I hoped I could be just as close to Clarissa and Aubrey. I felt foolish thinking of my behavior yesterday. Felicity walked to where I sat and gave me a big hug.

“I need to go. I want to help Aubrey get ready for tonight.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, a feeling of dread coming over me.

“Tonight it is just going to be family and close friends. This whole week will be filled with several celebrations. People are coming from everywhere,” she said, walking softly toward the front room, beckoning me to follow her. When we reached the porch, she said, “I have some clothes for you. I wanted you to have something nice to wear. I remember how I felt when I got here, not having more than a satchel of things from my world.” I knew she was just being nice, but the truth was, I couldn’t care less about a single thing I had owned in Franklin.

I followed her to the car, and she handed me a handful of clothes. They were all dresses; some long, others short, and the colors were vibrant and balanced all at the same time. They felt so smooth, like the gown I found myself in last night…I wondered who had put that on me.