Flutter (The Discover Series) (36 page)

“A deal’s a deal
,
right?” I said and smiled at him.

I knew that Scott was okay, something told me he was. Deal or no deal, I
wanted
to go with Adan. Plain and simple. This wasn’t to get back at Scott; I wasn’t interested in playing those games. I just wanted a little more time with Adan.

He returned the smile with an enthusiasm so sexy only he could create. “Whew,” he said wiping his hand over his forehead, “I was completely prepared to do a little arm twisting.” He said playfully. “Why don’t you get the lights and we’ll go?”

“I’ll just be a second.” I said disappearing into the back.

I was suddenly very anxious and nervous. Part of it was because this felt very much like a date when I was trying hard to convince myself that we could just be friends. The other part of me was vehemently denying the outrageous idea that Adan and I could just be friends.

I pushed aside those feelings, grabbed my things from the back and hit the lights before returning to the now darkened store front.

“All set.” I said to Adan as I walked past him to unlock the front door.

He grabbed my arm, sending those intense fluttering sparks down my arm and I wondered if I would ever get use to the reaction in his touch. I looked at him questioningly as his warm fingers lingered on my arm just above his elbow. I could feel his finger tips tracing patterns on the sensitive skin in the nook of my elbow. His eyes looked like they were answering my silent question,
I hope not,
they said and I blinked and it was gone.

I’m imagining things
, I thought to myself.
Get a hold of yourself Sara
.

“It’s cold outside,” He finally said and shrugged out of his jacket. “I don’t think I could live with myself if I got you sick.” He thought about that for a minute. “Actually, it might be fun to play doctor with you.” He suggested seductively and I swallowed hard.

I didn’t have time to dwell on his provocative innuendo when memories of the last time I had been sick flashed inside my head. They were the same images as last time, but there was something different about them and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I tried to bring the visions in clearer, but they remained somewhat blurry and I gave up reminding myself to come to them later.

I rolled my eyes. “If you want to play doctor with someone I can point you in the direction of the nearest hospital.” I said slipping my arms into his jacket.

There was something very familiar about the warmth that engulfed me and the mix between leather and the lingering sweet sent that belonged to only him. It was playing havoc on my senses and memories. There was something familiar about it, not because I had smelled it on anyone else, or the last time he had been close enough for me the inhale the intoxicating sent. It was something else that I couldn’t place.

“Nope,” he said distracting me, “I’m only interested if
you’re
my patient.” He whispered pulling me closer to him by curling his fingers into the edges of his jacket. “What do you say, you interested?”

My breath caught and I was captivated by the sparks that were flowing inside his eyes and I swore I could feel those same sparks circulating through his body, melting into mine.

“I hate when you do that.” I said.

He smiled. “Do what?”

“Unleash those sparks on me.” I was suddenly breathless and the spark deepened and sizzled right before me. “I can’t be imagining that…can I? I’ve been seeing a lot of things lately so I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Sara…” It sounded like a mix between a groan and a growl and he moved closer to me, like that was possible.

I could feel the energy flowing between and around us like static that filled the air making it crackle and fizz. Invisible streamers of energy flowed around us until the pressure built so was too much it strained for release. It was just like in the photo booth and I knew if I didn’t move away from him the whole store was going to explode. I felt like I was being consumed by the blue sparks Adan’s eyes had let loose and even though I was more then willing to go up in the flames he created, I knew I couldn’t destroy Maggie’s store.

The dim light above us surged brightly, almost blinding us, pulsating and glowing brightly again. I could hear the hum of the lights as they were pushed to their limits over and over again. They hissed in protest and I knew it would be anytime now before they exploded showering us in glass and sparks.

There was a tremble in the air that rattled the front window, threatening to shatter into a million pieces any second now. I heard the whispered sound of splitting glass and my eyes flashed briefly toward the noise. I half expected to see a crack right down the center of the glass, but was relived to see nothing noticeable to the eye.

“What are you doing to me?” I asked stepping away from him until I could concentrate fully. I could feel the sputter of the energy as it faded around us.

Adan looked around and then back at me, I thought he looked concerned, but that quickly faded into a deadly smile.

“Interesting,” He drawled, “I’m going to need specific details on what exactly it is that I am doing to you.”

I could feel my cheeks flame at my own admission and wondered what had possessed me to say that out loud. “Can we please go?” I asked turning away.

Once again he caught my arm bringing me back around to face him. Even through the leather jacket I could still feel the intense flutter. “If we’re admitting guilty pleasures Sara, you do something dangerous to me too.” He said quietly.

Without giving me enough time to catch my breath at his confession he turned me and steered me toward the door so we could leave.

             
The minute we stepped outside, I shivered uncontrollably from the cold air that whirled around me. I could smell the difference in the air, but I was tired of over thinking everything so I didn’t pay much attention to the change I could sense coming. People could smell the weather changing all the time right? I’m not a freak, I told myself.

             
“It smells like its going to rain or something.” Adan said confirming my thoughts as he came to stand beside me. His shoulders were hunched up, touching the ends of his ears.

“I’m sorry,” I said when I thought I saw him shiver. I ignored the frown and confusion on his face, fully prepared to give him back his jacket. I should have brought my own, “I should have brought a jacket.” I said repeating my thoughts out loud and pulling his jacket off. I tried not to flinch as I was pulled away from his warmth, his sent, the pieces that lingered from him on his jacket. “Here you take yours and I’ll be fine until we reach-”

“Stop,” he said putting his hand over mine. “You have three seconds to put that back on before I…” he trailed off trying to be convincing in his threat, but I could see the teasing in his eyes.

“But you’re cold and it’s not fair-”

He laughed. “Believe me, I’m fine.” And that was all he said before he cursed silently looking around.

“What?” I asked looking around too.

“I don’t have my car with me,” He confessed. “I didn’t expect it to be so cold out tonight and I thought we could walk.” He looked at the sky and muttered. “Although
,
I should have seen it coming.” He sighed.

“How?” I asked confused and intrigued. “How should you have seen it coming?”

He didn’t look away from the sky and it took him a minute to answer me. “The news
,
” He said simply.

“’You thought we could walk?’” I said clueing in on the first part of his statement. “You planned this?”

Of course he planned this Sara, what a stupid question,
I thought to myself.

He smiled unashamed and I was quickly becoming a fan of that smile. “Guilty as charged.” And I should have expected his shameless confession.

“I don’t know why I’m surprised.”

“Because you’re a sucker for a lost cause.” He smiled innocently.

I laughed. “Probably. I have my car.” I announced. “It’s just parked over there.” I gestured
toward
the empty parking lot except for my lone Jetta and searched for my keys as I took a step, completely forgetting about the curb.

I felt myself falling forward.

I was assaulted by the vicious memories of falling
toward
my death as I tumbled down the side of the mountain. Only this time I was headed for the black depths of the slick gravel that paved the street. I let out a gasp as I felt myself going down and when my face should have smashed into the pavement I was suddenly flipped around being held up inches from the ground.

I looked up into Adan’s face and frowned feeling a déjà vu swarm my senses as I stared into his face. This was feeling all too familiar and for an entirely different reason than just being embraced by Adan. I tried to search inside my brain, flipping through memories of the few times Adan and I had been together, but nothing seemed to match. I was about to give up when I found it, pulling out the memory I relived the last few moments I had been conscious after being saved by my wolf as I plummeted down the mountain.

A smell, a touch, a single word led to a sensation or memory that evoked another forgotten reflection.

A chain of reaction was happening.

It was like this was the first time I was seeing this memory. I had been on the edge of my limits that night and I could feel myself slipping as I relived the forgotten scene. I could only see the memory inside my head, but I could feel myself fading, falling before being caught up by someone… Andres maybe? I couldn’t see their face, but the arms around me didn’t feel like Andres. They felt…like Adan’s, but that was impossible. I squinted trying to see the face above me and just when I thought I was going to get a clear picture. It faded away and all I could see was Adan here and now.