Dreamlike State (The Magic of Black Forest Book 1) (22 page)

“Are you going to be alright back there with her Brad?” This time it's Colleen who sounded concerned.

“Knock it off both of you. I would never hurt her.” When he climbed into the back seat next to me, I looked at him with total disgust and disappointment then crossed my arms over my chest while sliding far over to the other side.

“Would you prefer I sat outside in the back?” He asked. By then Jesse already started driving, heading towards my house.

“Honestly, Brad, I don’t care what you do. Just go back to your vampire girlfriend and set yourself free,” my arms flying through the air gesturing I didn’t give a shit. My words came out cold and mean just like a woman scorned. No one said another word. We all just stared out a window.

When we got to my house, we all started to go in but just before Bradley entered, I blocked him with my bloody arm and said, “No vamps allowed. Have a Merry Christmas with your vamp girlfriend,
Brad
,” I turned and shut the door. It really irritated me when I heard him let out a booming laugh and enter my house anyway. Ignoring the fact that he was being rude, I went to the kitchen to put a real bandage on my wound.

Jesse stayed in the living room with Bradley. I heard them whispering but couldn’t make out what they were saying. It sounded like Jesse was scolding Bradley while he tried to explain what actually happened.

They stopped whispering and came running in when they heard Colleen say, “Oh, Natty, I think we need to take you to the hospital. You need a few stitches. You cut yourself real bad this time.”

“Let me see.” Bradley took my arm to see the wound. I rip my arm from his grip and slammed it into the counter. I winced from the pain but held my chin up when I saw him smiling at me.

“I think you’re right, Coll, she needs stitches. Especially if she is going to continue banging it into things and reopening the wound. It’s bleeding again,” he said as he shook his head back and forth, disappointedly. “Jess, do you think you can stitch it up?”

I turned back to them with fear in my eyes. “Oh now you’re scared?” Bradley said sarcastically.

With a scowling look I shouted, “What are you doing here anyway? There are no female vampires here and Colleen’s already spoken for.” I turned to face Jesse, my tone softer, “Stitches? Have you ever done that before, Jess?” Apparently, my anger pleased Bradley because he started laughing again.

“Nat, he’s right I need to stitch it up. I’ve done it several times on animals. It’s me or the hospital, you decide.” Jesse held and twisted my arm examining the cut. “I think it’ll need at least ten stitches. I have some alcohol in the truck that you can drink to help ease the pain. What do you want to do, Nat?”

“I don’t want to spend Christmas Eve in the hospital, will you please do it, Jess?” The pain terrified me more than anything else. I don’t like pain. Call me a wimp. I don’t care, I don’t like it. It hurts. Let’s not forget that you need a needle to sew the stitches.

While Jesse and Colleen gathered the necessities, I get directly in Bradley’s face with my eyes narrowed and angrily asked, “What are you still doing here? Didn’t I tell you to leave?” I was too close to him. I couldn’t stop myself from looking at his lips. He took advantage of my weakness and kissed me. Never taking his lips from mine, he lifted me up and carried me to the living room. He put me down but didn’t let go or stop kissing me. When he finally let me up for air, he started explaining what really happened.

“Natalia, I did not kiss her back nor did I touch her with exception to pushing her away from me. Had you waited a second longer you would have witnessed that moment for yourself. Please believe me. I would never do something like that to you.”

Tears filled my eyes as my mind registered his words. I replayed the moment in my head. From what little I did see, she had made the advancement, not him. He wasn’t even looking in her direction. When she did kiss him, his hands balled up into fists and that’s when I ran out. From what little I saw, he never lifted his hands to touch her. Now why couldn’t I see
that
earlier? Now look at what I did. I was going to get drunk so that I can get stitches. So much for decorating.

Jesse came in and handed Bradley a bottle. Before going out onto the porch, he told him to give him a shout when I was ready.

“How could you think I would do such a thing? Here drink this.” I sniffed it and it took my breath away. “It would be better if you drank it like a shot and chased it with this.” He held up a cup of soda. I held my own, up until about the fourth shot and that’s when I became belligerent.

“I really wanted to decorate a tree. Christmas was always our favorite holiday. My parents made it special. Our tree would have ornaments from every year of my life. And an angel on top.” I nodded my head. “Tomorrow will be the first Christmas without my parents and now a tree. Did you know I brought all my parents decorations just so I could share my experience with all of you?” I pointed to no one in the room. I poured myself another shot as he told me to take it easy or I’d regret it later. I slammed it back anyway. He yelled for Jesse and took the bottle from me.

Laughing he said, “I don’t want you to ruin your entire Holiday.”

“I just said it was already ruined,” I slurred. Mental note, whiskey is no good. I get drunk too easily.

As Jesse performed surgery, I continued to embarrass myself. “Nothing sucks more than when you try to surprise your boyfriend by showing up for the holidays and find him kissing another chick.”

Bradley chuckled. “I thought I explained that situation already. Thank you for the surprise and let’s not forget the dress. You look beautiful.” He kissed the top of my head.

I could barely hold myself up but it had its advantages. Mental note - whiskey is good to hide the pain. You don’t feel a thing. Jesse has sewn six stitches already and I’ve felt nothing.

With my head leaning against Bradley’s chest, I continued with my jealous ranting. “Just because I said I believed you, doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you. You could have pushed her away sooner.” I drifted in and out of dreamland.

“You’re right, my beautiful drunk Natalia. I promise to never let another female put her lips on mine.”

I nod my head and slur, “That’s right… you better not! They belong to me.”

With his lips pressed against the top of my head he laughed, “You’re even more beautiful when you’re angry and jealous. I love you, please sleep.”

Unable to stay awake, I gave in to the alcohol and drifted off to dreamland. I heard all three of them laughing at my final response.

I woke to the sound of Christmas music and the smell of bacon. Feeling sluggish, my head pounded to the beat of my pulse. I waited a few minutes before I strolled into the bathroom. I did my normal morning routine before going out into the living room. I was pleasantly surprised to see a decorated tree. Reaching up, Bradley put the angel on top just as I walked in. Seeing his perfect butt instantly brought a smile to my face. That’s when I had a flashback of last night. Boy, did I jump to conclusions. I should have known better and waited to see how he reacted. But no, instead I ruined a wonderful evening. Well, I wasn’t going to ruin their Christmas Day.

I went into the kitchen where Jesse and Colleen were. I stood in the doorway so that I could see them all and called out, “Merry Christmas.” Colleen and Jesse returned the wishes and gave me hugs and kisses.

“Breakfast will be up soon, Nat.” Jesse said as he shoved a piece of bacon in his mouth. “We’ll call you when it’s done.”

“Okay.” I took my coffee to the living room. Bradley stood staring at the tree when I walked up behind him. “Merry Christmas, Bradley.” He slowly turned around and wished me one as well. I put down my coffee, stood on my tippy toes and kissed him good morning.

Confused by my actions he said, “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Really? I thought we worked everything out last night.” I giggled at the memory and said, “The last thing I remember is we agreed your lips were mine. Was that not what happened? Was it just a dream?”

With relief in his eyes he said, “I thought you’d be too drunk to remember and I’d have to explain everything again. I don’t want to ruin your Christmas day, love. Are you okay with me being here?”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, wincing as I rub my bad wrist against his belt, “I’m sorry I let my jealousy get the best of me. You know I want you here always. If you left,
that
would ruin my Christmas…” His lips were on mine before I could even finish. Breathless, I said appreciatively, “Thank you for decorating the tree. It looks beautiful.”

After eating and cleaning up breakfast, we passed around gifts. They liked their gifts. I could tell the moment they opened them. Bradley’s reaction, however, had me confused. I gave him a framed picture of us and a white gold Rolex. I had the back engraved:
My love for you will last all of eternity. Always, Natalia.
I sat down beside him as he stared at the engraved words. He stood up and reached into his pocket. As if on cue, Colleen and Jesse announce that they were taking a long walk.

He handed me a gift. Excited, I practically ripped open the box. It was a beautiful white gold ring with a heart shaped blue topaz stone in it with a matching bracelet. “Oh, it’s beautiful, Bradley, thank you.”

“The bracelet is engraved,” Bradley said.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The engraving read:
My love for you will last all of eternity. Always, Bradley.

He took the ring from my hand and placed it on my ring finger. “With this ring I promise to be yours and only yours… to give myself completely to you.”

Straddling his legs, I jumped onto his lap and hugged him, “Thank you. I love it. The fact that we had the same words engraved on each other’s gift just showed we’re meant to be together.” I hugged him one more time and kissed his neck.

I heard him sigh. “Are you sure you want to do this, Natalia? I don’t want you to think you have to take any chances just because of last night.”

His mood swings really confused me at times. I replayed the last few minutes. “Oh.” I was in the position we usually start in and I kissed him on his neck.

“Hmm… That wasn’t at all what I meant when I kissed your neck but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to. I would love it if we could do something, anything. I am very happy right now. But I don’t think it’s something you want to do. So how about we catch up with Jesse, Colleen, and Seager, and go for a walk with them?”

“Have you always been so gullible? They left to give us some privacy. I wanted to try something new, if it’s okay with you?” His eyes full of hunger, his lips with a devilish grin.

“Okay, like what?”  I responded happily, figuring out I wouldn’t be waiting until the New Year.

The next thing I knew we were in my room, both standing there completely naked. His naked body took my breath away. As I checked him out, I smiled saying, “Bradley, you’re gorgeous.” When I made my way back up to his face, his devilish grin vanished. He actually looked embarrassed, as if he wanted to cover himself up. I felt the need to reassure him that he had nothing to hide so I walked up and press my naked body against his, and kissed him flirtatiously.

“Easy, Natalia, we’re not doing anything.” He laid us in the bed with my back to his front. He said, “I thought maybe we could take a nap together. You looked tired. And you mentioned that you wanted to do something like this.” I really couldn’t hear him because I was busy focusing on the fact that I could feel his naked body pressed up against my back and his shaft rested along the crevice of my ass. It was an incredible feeling and I instantly became aroused. I began to imagine what he would feel like inside me when Bradley interrupted my fantasy.

“Natalia, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing. I’m trying to take a nap, shhh.” I pressed my body closer to his, continuing my fantasy. I wiggled and snuggled my rear against his long, hard erection. “
Oh god,
” I thought to myself, imagining our having sex, “
Just a little longer and…
”

With his lips to my ear, he chuckled and whispered, “It doesn’t sound like your trying to take a nap. Your breathing is too accelerated for sleeping.”

“Please, Bradley. I’m trying to take a nap,” I repeated and smacked his leg. My heart raced from my fantasy.

“I don’t think so, Natalia. If anyone's going to pleasure you, it’ll be me. There’s no need to fantasize when I’m right here.” He sounded hungry. I felt him reach down to lift my leg and place it above his. He put his hand between my legs and began to fondle me. I could feel him growing as he started to grind against my thigh. With his other arm under my neck, he gently squeezed my breast while he kissed my shoulder and the back of my neck.

He never spun me around, he fondled me until I climaxed and slowly ground against me until he did. Once again, he went for my throat, biting me lightly and causing me to experience another explosion. Nothing aroused me more except for the way he said my name when he erupted. There were a few times he came close to accidently sliding himself into me. Only then did he stop, so as to reposition himself. I wanted to turn around to kiss him but he said, “No, go to sleep.” To relax me even more, he started singing my song. I was tired, more than I thought because I slipped into dreamland pretty quickly.