Ariella
I stare at the back of Harmony’s bedroom door. I know my mind’s been crazy for a few days now, but surely I didn't just imagine that shit…
Did I?
I touch my lips again and taste the bourbon on my tongue. Nah, I definitely ain't drank no bourbon.
Davonyé kissed me.
He kissed the hell out of me, and we didn’t even say a single word to each other, before or after. It was like an invisible force brought us together where no words were needed, only the ability to feel, touch, and taste.
Oh, God...
I shake my head. Ugh, I sound like my mom.
My lips are on fire and so is my body where he touched, and I’m still trembling now. I've kissed a boy before, so I know that what just happened was very different.
He’s got to be my mate. There’s no doubt in my mind anymore. Even though he didn't say a word, his kiss said everything. He feels some kinda pull to me like I do him.
He's got a girl, though, and I can't do shit with him like that. It's not fair to Carisse.
It felt so good, though, feeling the soft hair of his beard on the edges of my mouth. My heart is still fluttering, and my thong is definitely wet. If he'd tried to go further with me then I would’ve let him. I would've been powerless to even resist.
But now I have to avoid him. It ain't gonna be good for anyone if I find myself alone with him again. I know my urges are only gonna be getting stronger as my birthday gets closer. It's taking everything I have not to give into my anger as it is, let alone the insatiable desire I have to be all up underneath Davonyé.
I use the bathroom and then make my way back downstairs to the party. I can't see Harmony anywhere which means she must still be outside. I grab a bottle of Black Raspberry Ciroc off the side and fill a plastic cup with it before downing it. Warmth spreads down my throat and into my belly. It actually makes me feel a little better; definitely calm enough to face people.
I step out the back and see Harmony straight away, over to the left, so I ignore everyone as I make my way over to her. My arm is pulled when I’m almost there and I look up to see one of Davonyé's boys smiling down at me.
“Hey, beautiful,” Niro says.
I've seen him a few times; always got girls with him. He's cute. He's got long locks and dark brown eyes. He's a little too slim for my tastes, though, but more importantly, he ain't Davonyé.
I don't say anything.
“You're Ariella, right? Harmony’s cousin?” he asks, stepping closer.
“I am.”
His eyes wander down to my cleavage before he quickly looks back up to my face. “I wanna know if I could take you out sometime?”
I frown. “You wanna take me out?”
“Yeah.” He smiles, and I smile back on instinct. He is kinda cute and I do need a distraction from Davonyé…
“When?”
“Tomorrow night?” he replies straight away, sounding way too thirsty.
“Uh, I might be hangin’ tomorrow…”
My vision is flooded by Davonyé's jacket as he hands Niro a blunt. “Don't,” I hear him say. It's barely a whisper and then he disappears again.
“Maybe one day in the week, then?” Niro suggests, upping his efforts.
“Um... I'll let you know? This week is kinda hectic for me,” I say. “It's my birthday and I got a lot of shit I need to do.” I hurriedly walk away from him to go stand with Harmony who's with Carisse and Davonyé, again. I say hello to Carisse this time, but then stay quiet while I listen to them talking about going shopping.
I feel bad anyway, about how I just kissed her man upstairs, so staying quiet is easy. I’m still reeling from Davonyé giving me a warning to stay away from his boy, too. As much as he ain’t got any right to tell me to stay away from next man, I still can’t help but feel good about the fact he’s clearly jealous. As mates, it’s only natural for him to wanna put ownership on me.
I watch everyone around me. Niro gives me the occasional smile, but I just smile weakly and quickly look away. I hear Davonyé say the occasional word when he’s dragged into Carisse’s and Harmony’s conversation and realise how good his voice sounds; rough, and dominant as hell.
But it's the way he smells and his eyes that I feel on me that makes my stomach flutter like mad. He's definitely looking at me.
“Ain’t that right, Ella?” I hear Harmony.
“Sorry, what?” I say and turn my head to her.
“Your birthday is next week.”
“Yeah.” I smile at Carisse.
“You havin’ a party, too?” she asks, genuinely sounding interested.
I shake my head. “Nah, I'm just having a quiet one this year.”
“Aww, we should still do something,” she says excitedly. “Out of your teens and all that.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I say quietly. I think I'm gonna be hiding away for at least a few weeks after my birthday.
“We can do lunch. I'll sort something and let you know. Ignore her,” Harmony fusses to Carisse, pulling her attention back to her.
I sigh with relief and look away, only to catch Davonyé staring at me, making my pulse race. I’m starting to wonder if he stares at me as much as I do him, or maybe he's thinking about what we did upstairs…
‘What?’ I ask him with my eyes, and he only so slightly shows that's he's surprised by that. His dark eyes widen before they narrow back on me.
I look away.
And that's how the rest of the night mostly goes after that. I repeatedly sneak off to the summerhouse to get my fix of meat, and then when I return, I catch his gaze a number of times, right up until everyone has pretty much left except for a few people passed out on the couches and stairs.
I help tidy up the place while Carisse and Harmony continue to chat about nothing. They’re both lit, but they seem to be getting on really well. That makes me feel even worse. Harmony would understand if I told her that Davonyé is my mate, but I haven't told her. I wish I had, maybe she wouldn't be trying so hard to make friends with Carisse knowing that I might end up fucking her relationship up.
I tie up the sack full of cups to take it out front to the trash cans and find Davonyé standing out here smoking a blunt.
He looks me up and down with one swift nod of his head. “You want some?” he asks and holds out his blunt to me.
“Uh...” I look back inside at the girls chatting. I should say no...
“Here,” he insists, stepping closer. I take it hesitantly, letting the door close a little so I can still hear the girls talking.
“Thanks,” I say before I pull it.
He walks back over to the wall a few feet away from me. I keep my spare hand firmly clenched around the trash bag.
“Careful, it's strong shit,” he warns, but then he smiles curiously.
I just nod and blow the smoke out into the dark while trying to act some kinda normal in his presence.
“Why don't you talk?”
I frown before I look back over to him. “I do talk.”
He rolls his eyes. “Hardly.”
“I talk when I got something to say,” I fire back, feeling defensive.
His eyes narrow again. “Is that right, shawty?”
“Yeah.” I feel my cheeks warm and look down at the ground as I take another pull of the joint.
“You should let people see you more.”
I look up and blink at him. “What's that meant to mean?”
“You hidin’. I dunno if you tryin’ to hide yourself, or if you hidin’ something...”
I’m surprised by his comment. “What makes you think I'm hiding something?”
He smirks. “Cuz most people who act like you do, are.”
Oh, so he thinks he knows what’s up?
Okay, then… “You're right, I am hiding somethin’. I'm secretly about to turn into a werewolf on my birthday next week, and I'm gonna be able to do magic. Shhh, don't tell anyone, though.”
He actually smiles when I pass him back his blunt. “Well damn, that's pretty big shit to be hiding,” he replies, shocking me that he’s playing along.
“I know, right. Now you know why I can't let anyone get too close. I might eat them, cuz you know a bitch is hungry right about now.”
He gives me a look and then closes the gap between us with a single step. “You could be a bloodsuckin’ Vampire or a soul snatcha, but that still wouldn't stop me from wantin’ to get close to you.” He steps around me and gets to the door, just as Carisse appears. She looks at me, but I divert my eyes to the trash bag in my hand and soon hear her telling Davonyé she's ready to go home.
I disappear around the side of the house and only appear again once I hear a car drive away.
Harmony finds me picking up more trash by the pool and gives me the side-eye. “Do you like Davonyé?”
I still in my tracks as I look up at her. “What? No!”
She bites her lip. “I think he likes you. You know how many times I caught him staring at you tonight?”
“Uh, no,” I lie.
“He's been with Carisse for almost two years, y’know. He switched colleges so he could come here with her. I like her, Ella, she’s cool as fuck. Don't steal her man.”
I frown as I try to hold back my anger. “What the fuck? Can you not accuse me of bein’ a fuckin’ relationship wrecker?”
“I'm not. I’m just–”
“Well, that ain’t what it sounds like. Fuck this.” I drop the trash bag so I can pull my cell out from my bag to call dad. “I'm ready to come home now, dad,” I tell him when he answers.
“I'll leave right now,” he says. “You alright?”
“I’m good. I’ll wait out front.”
“Alright.”
I hang up. “Y’know, my moods are already up and down at the moment, so I really don't need shit from you, Harmony. Maybe you should think about someone else but yourself for just once. I've done everything you've ever asked me to do. Been there any time you've needed me to, but it's like you're tryin’ to change me into someone else to make yourself feel more comfortable, and I'm fucking done with it.”
I walk inside the house and hear her calling my name, but I ignore her and leave so I can wait for my dad.
