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“Oh,” she whispered, gripping her neck.
Trucker curled his fingers around her hand causing her to lose her
grasp.

“Baby, it’s not scary it’s kind of sweet,” he
breathed each word into her ear.

“Have you ever bonded with anyone?”
Please
say no. Please say no.

“I’m here with you.” He itched his fingers
through her hair.
That’s still not a no.

“So, why does that matter?” she asked, unable
to move.

“Angel, a bonding is for life. When we bond
it’s forever.” He held her head back, his eyes smoldered, causing
her legs to clench together.
Oh, that’s deep.

“Like a marriage?”

“No, it’s more, you can get out of a
marriage. A bond is unbreakable; the only way out is death. When we
bond we can sense our mate’s mood, their fears from miles away. We
can even sense where they are at all times.” His eyes blazed. He
swept her hair up, leaving her neck bare.

“Do you hope to bond with somebody one day?”
she asked. The depth of the emotions rushing out of him made her
shudder. There was an aching hurt, but more, there was a pull in
him that called to her deepest level. For a brief moment, they were
one.

“Yes, we all hope that. I can’t wait till the
day that special someone offers me their neck.” He started lightly
stroking her shoulder with his fingers. “I can taste her, see my
mark on her, and know that she’s mine forever.” He ran his nose
across the base of her neck. The thought made her body tingle. She
craved the feel of his mouth on her. He snatched her hair, making
her look up, and slowly nodded his head.

What would it feel like to have him bite
me? Feel his teeth buried into my skin.
She wondered.

“You’re my siren and your call is all
consuming.” His mood was unreadable.

“Do you want to bond with me?”

His eyes closed and she feared what his next
move would be. His eyes popped open and he smiled, stealing her
heart again. “I’m hoping one day, but not until you’re ready.” He
curled her hair around his finger and lightly kissed along her
collarbone. “I’ll never force you into anything. My dad forced his
mark on my mom. She had no choice in the matter. Now she has no
choice but to stay. I don’t want that. I want you to want me.”

“The odd scar on your mom’s neck. I saw your
dad rubbing it.” The heat rose to Julie’s face.

“Yes, it’s his mark.” Trucker’s mouth curved
into a tantalizing smirk. His striking blue eyes singed, sending
waves of pleasure throughout her body. His fingertips drifted over
her hips as he gave her a kiss that lingered with longing. She
moaned. “Tell me, baby. Tell me what you need?”

I need you. I need security. Right now, I
need to clear my mind. I need my comfy pjs, my pile of pillows, and
clarity before I let my body overrule my thinking.

“This is all too much.” She shoved him back
hard, but he didn’t budge. He gripped her waist pulling her tightly
against him. “Can you take me home? I need to think.” Julie was at
her wits ends. Her mind was at a loss at everything around her.

“Let’s go . . . Baby, take your time, ask me
anything, but realize I’m not going anywhere. I can’t.”

The car ride home was long. Trucker let her
muddle through the emotional roller coaster in silence. She would
watch him out of the corner of her eye. Yes, he was a demon, but he
was her angel too. His mom described it as great rage in him. Yes,
she had seen his temper but not rage. He always treated her with
the upmost of tenderness. Well, except for when he shattered her
wrist with the sheer force of his will.

“Trucker, what are you thinking?”

“That I hope I’m not losing you.” His face
held firm, his expression never changed as he looked out the car
windshield.

“You’re not. It’s too much. You’ve had a
lifetime to adjust. I’ve had twenty-four hours.”

When they pulled into her driveway, Julie
sighed. She was glad to be back in her normal world, but was also
sad to leave his too. They got out of the car and Trucker rested
against the side door.

“I’m not ready for you to leave,” she
said.

“Hasn’t your mom told you it’s not safe to
sleep with the devil?” He chuckled. Julie could hear the
nervousness in his voice. She didn’t want to cause him any more
discomfort. Her sweet monster had been through enough for one
lifetime.

She plastered a smile on her face before
laughingly saying, “The devil maybe
,
but not a demon.”

“I can always come through your window
later,” he teased.

“Promise?” Julie said.

He leaned down to kiss her bye. “I love you.
I hope you believe that.”

“I do.” She gave him a quick peck on the
lips. “Truck, I’m not leaving. I just need a good night sleep and
time to think. Will you come see me tomorrow?”

“I’ll be here at 8 as usual.”

“I have church tomorrow.” It felt bizarre
standing there talking about church with him. She prayed he
wouldn’t ask her not to go. She needed to be there more than
ever.

“I’ll meet you at Priddy’s after.”

Without a goodbye, she watched Trucker get in
the car and drive away.

She hated rehashing things but she knew her
mom would want a play by play. She couldn’t help but imagine her
face if she told her all the gory details. She decided for her
mom’s sake and hers, she would leave it family friendly. Ellen was
enthralled about Julie’s description of Sea and Catherine. She
tried to describe the house but Julie was too tired to elaborate.
After a game of a hundred questions, she finally went upstairs to
spend time alone with her thoughts. She thought about a bath, but
really wanted to keep Trucker’s smell on her a little longer.

Dear Diary,

I have the TV blaring, but not because I’m
watching it. It silences the thoughts in my head. Maybe it’s wrong
but I can’t help it. I love a demon!!! That was as hard to write as
it is to think. But it’s not true. I love a wonderful, sweet,
caring, loving man that happens to share a body with a demon. I’m
not sure if I should be scared, terrified, disgusted, or just
happy. I know one thing for sure I can no more deny how I feel
about him than I could deny what he is, and I’m not ashamed of
those feelings. I just hope that it will turn out all right and I’m
not making the biggest mistake of my life. But he has my heart and
that above all else is all that matters at this point.

Julie

She shoved her diary deep under her mattress.
Her parents had never once snooped around, but she couldn’t take a
chance. After all, she held secrets now that were not hers to tell.
She laid down and put her shirt up to her nose to smell him one
more time when she heard her cellphone go off.

Just wanted to let you

Know, I made

It back to Mom’s.

Angel, I’ve never been

Good with words. Never

Had too, but I’m still the

Guy who loves to read

Poetry with you.

Who likes to watch

sports with your dad. Likes to watch

old movies with you.

I’m still the guy who

loves you more

than life and

forever <3

See ya at the Diner

I’m still the girl

who loves you and

hopes to never spend

a day without you.

I’ll be the girl at the Diner

waiting for you always.

Truck’s Girl<3

I’ll always come

for you.

XOXOXOXOX

Chapter 14

Dear Diary,

After his sweet text, I don’t know why but I
was still scared he wouldn’t show. But after church, my Truck was
waiting for me at The Diner. He was so cute today. He was more
nervous than I’ve ever seen him. I hardly got him to go home
tonight. I know he’s nervous about me leaving, but I’m ready for
the long haul. I’m thankful we are out of school this week for fall
break because I don’t know how either one of us could get through a
full week of pretending. I also can’t put a finger on it but I know
it’s more to this coming weekend then just an average family get
together. I know Trucker is uneasy about it all, and I’m petrified.
I’ll take it one day at a time. No matter what his dad has planned,
Trucker and I will see it to the end. I have no choice.

Julie Emison

*******

Trucker sat in his bedroom at his dad’s
apartment, and shuddered thinking about ever bringing Julie there.
At that moment, his dad was in the next room scheming with such
evil it turned even Trucker’s stomach. It was not only dangerous
but also wrong to ask Julie into his life. But how could he live
without her now that he had held her. He slipped his journal out of
the desk drawer, needing to clear his head.

The last few days have been hell. Every time
I hold her hand, I panic. I envision it being the last time I get
to touch her. I’ve wanted to bubble wrap her and keep her safe in
my room. I guess Jake is right, I wish I could just kidnap her, but
I would never do that. I only wish she could feel what I feel. She
couldn’t envision how I dread this weekend. How I’ve fought for
her. I can’t stand the fact that she might get hurt. But if we can
get through it, they promised me a forever with her. Loyalty and
honor is big with them, so maybe they won’t go back on their pledge
now. I’m willing to do it, if it’s the only way I can truly have
her. Tomorrow will be great. Her parents are both off work, so I’m
spending the day with my favorite family, hers. I hope one day to
truly be part of it myself, but first we have to get through this
weekend. Truck

******

Julie woke up hearing laughter coming from
downstairs. She rubbed her eyes and sat straight up in the bed.
After another round of laughter, she jerked the alarm clock off her
bedside table.
Shoot, it’s ten o’clock
. Hearing what could
have only been Trucker’s robust laughter, she threw the covers to
the floor, and rushed down stairs to find her parents and Trucker
watching the game.

“Hey baby girl, we thought you were going to
sleep forever,” Dan said as Julie rounded the corner to the living
room.

Julie rolled her eyes before Trucker walked
up behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

“Good morning, my Angel, glad you finally
decided to join us.” He flashed a small, shy smile.

“Hey, babe,” Julie said.

Trucker really was perfect. It was easy to
see why everybody including Ellen was crazy about him. The last few
days had been hard on him. He always had to play a part. He had
never been able to be himself. Since he let Julie in, he lived in
fear of losing her. Julie didn’t know how to convince him she
wasn’t going anywhere.

Oh, my tenderhearted man, I will do anything
for you. There is nothing your dad or anyone could do this weekend
or any other weekend to keep me from loving you.

“Julie, Julie, woohoo,” Trucker said with a
small chuckle, however, his brow crinkled together showing his
nerves.

“Oh, I was daydreaming I guess,” she
responded and dropped down on the couch, pulling him with her.

“About who?” Trucker lowered his head to
Julie’s forehead and let out a long sigh. Julie cut her eyes up at
him to catch a look that was quickly turning into something
resembling pain.

“How long have you been here?” Julie asked, a
little confused.

“Since about eight, as always,” he said and
winked.

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay, I’ve enjoyed your parent’s
company.”

Julie started to yank on her shirt when it
dawned on her she was still in her old, ratty pajamas, her hair
surely resembled a bird nest, and a toothbrush had not touched her
teeth.

“I need to go change and brush these gnarly
teeth. Are you sure you’re okay?”

He smiled but it seemed forced. “Great,
Angel.” Trucker crook his pointer finger, motioning for Julie to
come closer. He leaned into Julie as if he was going to kiss her,
but when he was inches from her face, he whispered, “Those teeth
are gnarly and that morning breath . . .” He paused and scrunched
up his nose. “Stinks.”

She slammed a throw pillow in his chest and
relished in his laughter.

After a quick bath, she went back down
stairs. The noise of the baseball game blared over the banging of
pots and pans as Trucker and Dan prepared lunch.

“I didn’t know you cooked, too,” Julie said
to Trucker before grabbing a stack of plates off the kitchen
counter to help her mom set the table.

“Another one of my dirty little secrets.”
Trucker glanced over his shoulder and smiled.

“How many secrets can a nineteen year old
have?” Ellen asked. She sat down on a nearby bar stool and placed
her elbows on the bar, letting her chin rest in her hands.

Trucker’s mouth dropped open, slightly, and
Julie let out a long breath.

“Do you really want to know that answer?” Dan
asked.

“Not really.” Ellen picked a towel up off the
bar and threw it in the direction of Dan.

Dan dodged it, then picked up a tray of
hotdogs. “Lunch is served, my lovelies.”

Trucker looked at Julie and winked. Julie,
however, couldn’t shake the feeling that beneath his happy exterior
he was brewing with fear.

As they sat around the small table, Trucker
took Julie’s hand.

“So, Dan, did you see that double play Molina
made in the game last night?” Trucker asked.

******

After lunch, Trucker set about the task of
washing the dishes. Julie sat at the bar and watched him as he
moved effortlessly around the kitchen. She was in awe at the level
of comfort in which he worked. Hell, it was the kitchen Julie had
grown up in, but Trucker acted more at home than she did at that
moment.