Enchant Me (28 page)

“Even if he is still a threat to us?” he
asked, tilting his head down to try to see my face in the
dark. “He is no match for either of us,” I answered looking up
at him, his brown eyes looking black in the darkness. “I feel sorry
for him. We have each other and he’s all alone and will probably
stay that way if he can’t let go of his hurt and anger.”

“Lex,” he said cupping my chin in his hand.
“Don’t feel sorry for him. He was going to kill me--and possibly
you too.”

Brushing a kiss across his lips I
acknowledged that and let it go. What had been done was done. I lay
back down on his chest and tried to get comfortable; he was almost
a little too fit to be truly comfy. “Christian, do you think you
can gain some weight and stop working out?” I asked, trying not to
giggle.

“Why?” he queried. I could hear the smile in
his voice as both of his arms wrapped around me. 

I poked his hard chest with my finger, “you
are a little too hard to be comfortable.”

He laughed and grabbed one of my throw
pillows and stuffed it under my head. “Better?”

“Sure,” I said and laughed. “I love
you,” I whispered. “I love you too.”

With a last squeeze of his body to mine, I
let my hand drift down to cover Cody’s fuzzy little body and went
into a blissfully happy sleep. 

CHAPTER 15

A week had gone by since that night at
Farrell’s Marsh. Nicolas had still not woken up from his coma. It
was impossible to not feel some guilt about that, although I didn’t
mention it to Christian. Considering Nicolas was about to suffocate
him, he understandably had no regrets about defending himself-- and
me. From the rumors around town, it seemed the Devereux’s planned
on taking my advice and moving as soon as Nicolas came out of his
coma. Which I honestly hoped he would. He had been a decent guy
before he had started to change, and I had really cared for him
once.

The feel of Cody’s downy little head bumping
my hand for attention jerked me out of my reverie. I stared at him
for a moment, still way off in space, and he meowed at me in
annoyance. Looking down at my watch I saw what my half cat-half
alarm clock was trying to tell me. I had fifteen minutes to finish
getting ready for Christian’s graduation before he and his
grandparents were due to pick me up. Lifting Cody up, I placed
little kisses all over his head until he started to mew in
irritation. Putting him down, I started to run around my room like
a girl crazed as I tried to find my phone, shoes, jewelry, the
perfect purse for my very proper little black dress, and
Christian’s graduation gift.

Even my mom peeked in on her way to the
kitchen to see if I had lost my mind. I was literally shoving my
feet into my black heels when my mom yelled from the kitchen that
they were here. Grabbing my stuff, I made a dash for the front
door, and slammed to a halt upon seeing Christian in the
doorway. I would have thought it would be impossible for him
to be more gorgeous than he already was, but I was wrong.

Apparently in deference to his grandparents
he had worn a black suit and tie with a sharp white shirt. He had
trimmed his dark brown hair to a slightly shorter, more mature
look, but with those sensual brown eyes and wicked smile he was
still more sinfully beautiful than anything else. Entranced, I
actually walked around him, taking him in from every angle.
Laughing at my obvious captivation, he gave a nod to my mom,
grasped my arm and pulled me out of the house to his grandparents’
white Lincoln Continental and sat us both in the back. 

“You are really beautiful you know that,” I
breathed. He smirked at my use of the word beautiful. “Sorry, you
really are,” I said defiantly.

 His grandmother Antonia glanced back at
me, amused. “Hi Alexis, how are you?”

That idiotic grin started to cross my face
again. “Good, and you?”

“Excellent. We are so happy to see Christian
graduate,” she said, smiling back at me, and then turning back
around.

 Leaning my head back against the arm
Christian had around my shoulders, I immersed myself in his eyes.
“I wish I could say the same. I am going to miss him next
year.”

I could tell he wanted to kiss me, but was
holding back because of his grandparents being barely a foot away.
“How about I bring you lunch everyday?”

“Really? You’re on!” I agreed. I turned to
face Grandma Tony. “You have taught him well, he is an amazing
cook.”

“I know,” she answered, taking a brief look
back at us.

Laughing I snuggled deeper into his embrace
as we drove the thirty minutes to Pacific Lutheran University where
his graduation would be held. Once there, he had to leave us to
meet up with his class. Spying Tina and Jim saying their
goodbyes too, I gave them a moment. Once Jim ran off I introduced
Christian’s grandparents to Tina and she introduced us to Jim’s
parents, and as a group we went into the hall and found our
seats. 

“I can’t believe they’re going to be gone
next year.” Tina said softly.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “Is Jim excited about going
to UW?”

“Yes and he’s decided he’ll stay at his
parents’ house and commute instead of moving up there.” She grinned
hugely at this.

I snapped my fingers at her and smiled. “I
told you he had it bad.” 

“I still am going to miss seeing him during
class and at lunch.”

“I know what you mean,” I said, pulling my
camera out in preparation, and then trying to spot Christian
amongst all the other capped and gowned students near the
stage. 

“Where is Christian going?”

“He’s not, actually.” I said, glancing at her
and noticing how big her eyes had gotten. “I know, I know--” I
started, only to be gently shushed by Jim’s mom since the ceremony
was about to start.

Guiltily Tina and I smiled at each other and
settled in to watch our men graduate. I rolled my eyes when
Tina actually cried when Jim went up. I could wish my thoughts were
as innocent when Christian went up, but even in the cap and gown,
he was just too sexy. I leaned over to speak in Tina’s ear. “He’s
hot,” I whispered which got me an elbow in the ribs for not taking
the moment more seriously. 

When it was Michelle’s turn to take the
stage, I looked over at Tina conspiratorially and we both got up
and started cheering loudly. Michelle actually whirled around to
stare into the audience and we waved and blew her kisses; I had
finally gotten my revenge for all her interference in my life, no
matter how well-meaning. At a yank on my dress from Grandma Tony I
sat back down and behaved myself for the rest of the night.
Although, I did have to fight the urge to clap when Jenny Slater
and Tanya Brown got their diplomas because it meant I wouldn’t have
to deal with them next year. After graduation Christian and I
went with his grandparents to their house for a celebratory dinner.
It was excellent of course. I inwardly smiled at the idea of eating
this way for lunch all next year. Knowing Christian’s grandparents
wanted him alone tonight, I left early and promised Christian I
would see him first thing tomorrow. 

It was barely past sunrise when my feline
alarm jumped on my chest and started making paws on me. “Alright,
I’m up,” I complained to him. Sluggish I rolled out of bed and
glared at him. “This better not become a habit,” I warned.

Stumbling to my closet, I found a pair of
dark jeans and a snug black button up shirt and threw them on, then
tugged on some little black flats. Plunking down on my vanity stool
I kept my look simple with some vanilla flavored gloss and black
mascara. Going into the kitchen to grab an apple on my way
out, I noticed not even my grumpy but early riser mom was up yet. I
gave another glare to Cody, who was too busy munching his kitten
chow to notice. Before I went out the door I gave him a pat on his
back. Just like Christian, there wasn’t any hope I could ever stay
irritated with him. 

Arriving at Christian’s house, I went around
to his private door so as not to disturb his grandparents. He of
course was already awake and opening the door as I walked up,
having seen me through his window. 

“What are you doing up at this hour?” he
asked me, his surprise evident. His eyes almost seemed a lighter
brown today, but maybe it was just a reflection of his lighter
mood. 

“Oh, you can thank Cody for getting me up at
this ridiculous hour.”

“I will,” he said, closing his front door
behind me and then lifted me up into a big bear hug. 

After he put me back down, he walked us over
to his bed and sitting down with his back against the wall, he
maneuvered me to where I was sitting between his legs so both of us
could face the water view out of his windows. With his arms wrapped
around my waist, I covered his hands with my own and relaxed back
against him. It was really weird how at peace I felt with him. It
was as if a part of me was missing, and I hadn’t known it until I
met him and became complete. 

“Christian…what are you going to do now that
you are graduated?” I asked, not able to completely hide my
anxiety. I lifted his hand up in both of mine, smiling as I noticed
the paint stains already on his fingers. 

He bent his head down closer to mine as he
spoke. “I do have to go for a couple weeks to Italy with my
grandparents but after that I am pretty much open. What about
you?”

“I promised my grandmother I would go to
Ireland this summer,” I murmured, hoping that he wanted to go
too. 

“You know, I’m half Irish.”

“Yes,” I prompted.

“I should probably learn about having these
powers too,” he seemed to muse. 

I smiled. “That would probably be wise.”

“Do you think the grove would allow me to
come too?” he whispered into my ear, sending tingles all through
me. 

“They said they would be offended if you
didn’t,” I exclaimed, ripping out of his arms and turning around.
His dark bangs were still so long they fell into his eyes, and I
pushed them away with my hand. Catching it, he pulled me until I
was straddling his lap which was all kinds of distracting.

“What did you say?” he demanded. 

Without answering I pulled an envelope out of
my back pocket and handed it to him. He looked at me in an adorably
confused way and ripped it open to reveal a plane ticket to
Ireland. I smiled at his stunned expression.

“My grandmother arranged it with yours. Of
course, Grandma Tony doesn’t know the particular reasons we’re
going, but she wanted to give you a graduation present.”

He kept looking from me to the ticket, a
glint developing in his eyes. “How long have you known about
this?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Can’t remember
exactly,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. He wasn’t buying
my innocent act, he flipped us over so that I was lying on my back
and he was hovering over me with one hand buried in my hair and the
other one toying with the first button on my shirt.

His smile as he looked down on me was
completely untrustworthy and totally delicious. “I guess I
will just have to tease the truth out of you,” he breathed and then
nipped my lower lip with his teeth. 

“Yes please,” I said and nodded my head
vigorously.

He was still laughing softly as he pressed
his lips against mine, and inwardly I smiled, pleased that I was
living up to my promise to make him happy. With a flick of one hand
I closed all the curtains, and with another flick I locked both
doors to his room, finally a worthy purpose for my
powers.  

THE END

Facebook Link

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-VioletVelvet/136000833173090

You Tube book Trailer link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NF-OsgmckMw