There were six other brothers, all of them good looking. Besides, I thought Cindy liked the new guy, Chace. "What about Chace?" I asked, desperate for her to tell me she was joking. Her glossed lips pouted, and her perfectly lined eyes got all dreamy. She looked like one of my stepmother's fairytale figurines."Nah, I'm over him." Cindy headed toward the horror section and started browsing. I followed, studying her too-perfect features as she picked up a movie. I plucked it from her hands and put it back on the shelf. After several movie denials, she crossed her arms. "All the girls like Chace. Besides, I talked to him and - " She didn't finish but shrugged. "He isn't for me."I had a feeling Chace hadn't gushed over her, which was what most guys did, including my guys, my best friends."Besides, Gabe is gorgeous and so sweet."She'd noticed he was sweet. When? How? Had he done something to impress her recently? This was just not good. I had a crush on him. "How about S - " She
"Gatsby, c'mon kitty," I called quietly into the darkness that was my backyard. From my porch, I searched the night, waiting to hear the soft patter of his running feet. After five minutes, he still hadn't come. Obviously, he must still be upset with me over the screaming fiasco. I stepped back inside, shutting the screen door while keeping watch.Cin had left already with a quick hug and a promise to call Sunday afternoon when she returned from the Cape. The guys hadn't ever shown, and Gatsby didn't seem to want my company either. Stifling a shiver, I wrapped my arms around myself. I wasn't cold so much as unsettled. The disturbing dream thing, along with that scary movie, had me all messed up.Instinctively I searched the trees beyond my yard, studying between the low hanging branches that smelled of peppermint, their leaves soft as butterfly kisses. Would he be out there? The man who watched me in the dream.A noise like crunching leaves pulled my head in its direction. My pu
The sun peeked through my sheer purple bedroom curtains, its brightness burning my eyes. I was on my side, facing my alarm clock, which said seven o'clock. Gabe's steady breath tickled my neck. A weight pressed against my hip - Gabe's arm. All that had happened last night came crashing back, and he was still there, in my bed with me. I slowly rolled onto my back. Gabe shifted. A smile curled his lips."It's a bit early for a Saturday, Snowflake." His words were low, heavy with sleep.Sensual, my mind uttered, and my heart responded by beating rapidly. Before I could give him a comeback, my nose registered the sultry smell of bacon. "Someone's cooking," I whispered."Do you think it's the psychotic murderer? He's going to feed us before he slays us?" he asked, mischievous.I punched him in the arm. "You heard me last night?""Snowflake, I think the whole town heard you." He opened his eyes then. Two beautiful pools of green searched my face, lingering on my lips before focusing
I stood beside Professor Pops and took another plate he handed me. It was hot, and I hurriedly dried it. "Not yet. My parents won't be back from St. Bart's for a while, so I'm not sure."He didn't say anything right away. I looked up. His jaw flexed, and his eyes were scrunched as though he had to concentrate on washing the plate.Professor Pops had thick gray hair. He was tall and lean. I figured he'd probably been very handsome when he was younger. As it was, I'd say he was distinguished. He had on a pair of tan slacks, a red and white checkered button-up shirt, and a tan sweater with dark suede patches at the elbows. On his feet were loafers, and in his left breast pocket were silver wire-rimmed reading glasses. He was the epitome of what I believed a Professor of Religion should look like. Well, a professor of any kind, really.After I put away the dried plate, I came back for the next one. "It isn't a big deal. Maybe I'll invite the guys and Cindy over to watch a movie. T
I smacked Dorian in the arm. "I totally had it. Right Salvatore?"He responded by chugging down his soda. "Uh-huh, sure you did." Dorian looked freshly showered too. His sandy hair was still wet and slicked back. He always dressed so nicely, and today was no exception: a light green polo with dark jeans and a brown belt that matched his shoes."You're so pretty, Dorian." I grabbed the can of soda from him and cracked it open.He smirked. "Don't I know it."One by one, the guys sauntered into the kitchen, each handsome in his own way, each dear to me. These guys were my family. I'd do anything for them, and I knew the feeling was mutual. After last night's freak-out, I figured the guys might act weird toward me, but it was the same ol' same ol,' and for that I was grateful.Gabe walked in last. He looked just as he always did - gorgeous brown hair, mischievous green eyes, olive skin, and a body of lean muscle - but everything was different too. Those arms held me last night. He
Heathcliff answered as though he'd been holding his breath. "We'd love to.""Excellent." Kenmei moved inside. "Apologies for the smell. It keeps away the undesirables." "No problem," Heathcliff said.After the four of us were inside, Hiro appeared seemingly out of nowhere and barked, "Take off your shoes," as he closed the door."I'll be right back," Kenmei said when he reached the end of the hall. "Show them into the dining room and get them some tea," he added, speaking to Hiro. Hiro bowed. "Yes, Grandfather."Kenmei disappeared.I rolled up my pant legs because the ends were wet and removed my shoes as I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. It'd been dusk outside, but for some reason, it seemed darker in here. I could barely make out that Gabe and the others were removing their shoes as well. "Follow me, please, and don't touch anything." Hiro shook his pointer finger at us slowly but seemed to be looking directly at me.Did I have "klutzy" stamped across my fore
"Let me show you." Even freaked, I noticed a twinge of regret or remorse in his words. Focusing on that was pointless, though. Escaping. Leaving the room in one piece. That was priority number one. I'd moved from one side of the bed to the other, trying to get out. Without meaning to, I stepped off the edge and between the curtains and the mattress.When my foot hit the floor, a sharp pain zinged my knee, but I barely noticed. Swinging my other leg around, I placed it on the floor, scooted onto all fours, and climbed out of the curtains.Free! I let out a sob of relief but quickly covered my mouth as I stood. If I couldn't see, then maybe he couldn't either. Wiping my eyes, I stuck my hands out in front of me, feeling for the wall, or a chair, or a door, and took a cautious step forward. My knee gave, and I whimpered. "This isn't funny," I said, my teeth chattering. A moment later, I bumped into something. It was pliable yet solid. Apprehensively I touched it, trying to fig
I spent another hour in the chair, hiding my face, barely listening to the conversation between Kenmei, Dorian, Heathcliff, Gabe, and Hiro. Professor Pops finally arrived along with the other four brothers. With his assurance that he'd fill them in later, he sent them home. Then Kenmei led Professor Pops and me into another room. It was small, more like a closet, with just an organized brown desk and three straight back chairs.Professor Pops patted my back kindly. "Tell us what happened, and don't leave anything out."I relayed the events, including the embarrassing fact that I'd found pleasure in the guy biting me, sucking my blood. Professor Pops and Kenmei exchanged a knowing look."Do you understand what happened?" I asked Professor Pops.He cleared his throat and studied his hands. His nervousness scared me worse than anything. "Snow, I've known for some time that you'd been marked. I expected she would wait until after your sixteenth birthday to send him," Pops said. "That'