Her Forever
Chapter 16

Sadie

Seth led me outside. The sun had long gone, and the stars were finally out over the lake. The moon was still rising, its crescent still ascending above the water. I couldn’t tell you if it was waxing or waning.

I could tell you, however, how gorgeous the man that was standing beside me was. Seth looked like he was made for the night, not to cover him up but to let him shine. The way the moonlight hit his perfectly chiseled cheeks made me think the moon was made just for him.

“You don’t live around here, do you?” I finally spoke. Seth looked nothing like around here. His tattoos almost had a metallic sheen to them, and not a speck of his ink had color. It was all black and white, with several wolves howling at the moon. There were a few wolf skulls and tribal tattoos that trailed up his arms and neck.

There was not one part of his body that didn’t have some decoration, well, except one part of his shoulder that was left blank that I saw earlier, which was strange. Maybe he had a special one he wanted to put there.

He looked at me and put his hand over mine, that was sitting on the railing. I wonder if he feels these sparks, these tingles I get when he touches me. Maria used to tell me how her Jeremy used to give her tingles because that was her “soul mate.” She often called him ‘mate’ for short as she wrote her brief notes to me about him.

I remember Maria typing on our 10-year-old laptop when I was a young teenager, right before she took a turn for the worst. She typed her and Jeremy’s love story, and I have it saved on a thumb drive I keep in my photo album full of different pressed flowers.

“No, I don’t, but I do not live far from here with Rebecca.” He smiles at me. Right to the point, not much information from that. He kept staring at me like I was going to disappear. Heck, I wasn’t going anywhere. He might chase me again. Then again, his stare wasn’t an uncomfortable one. I wanted to know more about him; he was so mysterious in every way. Those eyes were just so deep, and it drew me closer into his.

“How long are you visiting for?” my voice wavered. I knew this wasn’t a permanent home for Rebecca. I never did when she was going to head back, but now I felt panic. What if he was leaving tomorrow? I should cut this off right now if he is leaving. I can’t get attached to something that may not have the same feelings. How awful would that be?

“Until I get what I came here for.” His husky voice was low and direct. Eyes were never leaving mine. Seth’s finger trailed down the side of my face and traveled down to my neck and finally landing on my shoulder. A slight chill ran through me as I felt him touch a particular spot. Seth cracked his stoic face, and the sides of his lips twitched.

Tingles tingle everywhere. I hope he feels it too.

I could feel my breath hitch as he pinched my chin and adjusted my head. With slow steps to close the gap between us, he takes his other hand and caresses the side of my face.

This was better than any romance novel I ever read or movie I had ever watched. This felt so real, raw, and I was the actress that was swooning way too fast. He just chased me into the lake not two hours ago and watched me climb up a tree! This was too fast; this is crazy.

My body couldn’t help but lean into his touch as I closed my eyes and let out a small sigh. Yeah, it was fast, but my body was in control now. I was losing my mind and following my heart. I swear I hope this isn’t lusting for him because I felt something more than that.

This man is going to be the death of me.

Seth stood there, taking me all in. My eyes fluttered back open only to see him putting his hand behind my lower back, which sparked a whole unfamiliar sensation. He was a man of very few words, but I felt like I could understand him. He looks like he has seen and heard things I would never want to. A broken man. He was once broken, and he wanted to be fixed desperately. He wanted to be loved. He wanted to feel the affection he was deprived of in his life.

This is crazy; I think about it again and again. I’ve only been with him for a few hours, and he can make my heart, my mind, and my body weak. I’m feeling emotions I’ve never felt. I’m just putty in his hands, and I would do anything to stay near him.

I know nothing of where he comes from, who his parents are, what he really does for a living, and I just know I need to be there for him, always. This feeling needs to go away, I need to…

Before I could finish my thoughts and revealing how close our lips were becoming, several people burst through the doors, heading out to the balcony being obnoxious. They were obviously intoxicated, but they looked like they were having a fun time.

Seth whipped his head quickly at the loud noises and promptly gave a thundering growl from his chest. I don’t know how he did that, but that was the sexiest thing I’ve heard. It was like gravel rumbling in his body. It was animalistic; heck, it was even sexy.

The drunk couple looked up and snapped out of their drunken stupor when they met Seth’s eyes. They were ablaze, and if looks could kill, they would have been blown away to ash.

Seth was shaking, upset that we were broken from our trance. Was it our moment? Were we having a moment? I’m not sure; I’m still too naïve to all this.

When I felt like the tension couldn’t be any thicker, I stood in front of Seth’s face and put my hand on his chest. A spark within me let me know I needed to step in to comfort him. My body seemed to do all the reading of his actions and following every muscle in his body.

Seth glanced down at me once my hand reached his face. The stern look on his face faded; his eyes softened when he looked at me. The calloused hands that were balled into fists were now loose and holding my hand closer to his face. Seth took a large breath as his lips dipped closer to the palm of my hand. I swear I felt him k**s it, or maybe hopefully thinking.

“They were just having fun; we can go talk somewhere else,” I said soothingly. It did the trick; he wasn’t mad anymore. I know people fear him; he’s a big guy, tattoos, piercings, handsome, sexy, wait a second. Yes, he is intimidating to other people, but not to me.

Before we walk off to the stairs to find another spot to talk, Lela runs up to me and pulls on my arm. Seth growls and puts me into his arms. “Mine!!” He growled loudly. Several people stopped their conversations to look over at Seth and me as Lela backed away.

Mine?

Seth moves my hair to the side and sniffs my neck. As weird as this was, I didn’t move. It was comforting him, and strangely enough, it was comforting me, too.

As he is smelling, I am hoping I used the soap well enough. Goodness, I must be drunk. My thoughts are all over the place. Did he just say I was his??

I giggle because it starts to tickle with the tingles I am feeling and the warm breath on my neck. Seth chuckles into my neck, and it only makes it worse. I’m a completely hot mess.

Lela smiles as she puts her hands up in mock surrender. “I’m here with a word from Rebecca. She says to meet at the enormous bonfire they are going to read the semi-annual werewolf story.” She smiles gleefully.

“Werewolf?” I left my head up while Seth eyed Lela carefully from the crook of my neck.

“Yeah, don’t you know the legends of werewolves came from this area? Anytime there is a mixer at the lake house, we read the legend, around 11, before the real party starts.” Lela says flatly. “It’s fun! Come on! Grab a jacket, though!” With that, she was gone.

~

By the time I grabbed a sweatshirt, Seth and I made our way to the bonfire. It was a bit of a walk into the woods. We were surrounded by darkness, and it was hard to see the moon with the branches trying to touch the tops of our heads.

I wasn’t a massive fan of the dark. While we walked down the path, I heard owls making noises, and maybe some rabbits running around. Crossing my arms, I rubbed my arms together, and Seth put his arm around me. Instantly, I felt safer with him as he pulled me in close to his body. Several partygoers stared, which made me self-conscious.

The fire was obviously large; it must have taken hours of prep work to bring the firewood to set it. Some of the late-teen kids were roasting marshmallows I’m guessing they were seniors in high school.

There were logs in the large clearing, not nearly enough to seat everyone. Many stayed on the outskirts of the clearing with their arms crossed, waiting for everyone to settle down.

When we approached, I would sit on the ground seeing there were no seats left available, but Seth tugged on my sweatshirt, pulled me to his lap, and had me sit with him next to Lela on a log someone just left.

Sitting on someone’s lap seemed so intimate; he is probably doing it so that we don’t have to stand or sit in the dirt. I was a bit ridged while I sat there, but he rubbed my back, and I instantly melted into his arms.

Pulling my legs around, he parted his, so I fit perfectly in his lap. His arm wrapped around me, almost shielding me from unwanted eyes. Seth was tall enough that my head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck. His natural scent was unique, or maybe it was the soap. The soap they have here been great because it got him to sniff into my own neck.

He curled his arms around me to keep me warm, still not completely dressed for the weather. I was still in this dark pink dress, so my legs were exposed.

Mayor Adrien finally walked closer to the fire and spoke.

“Good evening everyone, I wanted to officially say thank you for coming to our 78th semi-annual Mixer. It’s great to see all of you, and it will be great not to see you next year as well.”

Everyone laughed. I didn’t get the joke.

“Anyway, I am Alph- Mayor Adrien. As a tradition, Lu- my wife- will read the legend of werewolves and their mates. I give to you, Ms. Sammi.”

The Mayor’s wife was beautiful, just like everyone else here. Everyone here was so young, tall, beautiful, handsome, strong. This place has a wicked strong gene pool.

Sammi’s hair is a golden wheat blonde, her eyes blue as the Caribbean sea. Her lightly golden complexion may mean she was actually there shooting some supermodel magazine cover.

“Thank you, Adrien.” She grabs his hand and squeezes it. “We are grateful for all of you to be here to celebrate. However, tonight seems to be a momentous day.” She smiles and looks in Seth’s and I’s direction.

Confused is an understatement.

Alcohol, it’s the alcohol.

“Tonight, I will read to you the legend of Pineville Creek, a legend of despair, war, and love.”