I peeked into the game room to see who the giggling was coming from. It was Jay and Ayla. I was kind of surprised by that.
"What are you two doing?" I asked, raising my brow.
"Oh… We're just talking about… stuff." Jay looked like a kid who just got caught stealing candy.
Ayla smiled at me. "Jay is immune to my powers. It's fascinating to me, because no one ever has been. Not even changers or bodyguards. I also feel around him."
My eyebrows scrunched slightly as I tried to understand her comment. "Feel what?" I asked, somewhat confused.
"I feel something, I feel everything. I've never felt anything but peace and serenity for my entire life. Even as a mortal, before I inherited my powers, I couldn't feel. Never anger, happiness, sadness... nothing besides tranquility and peace. With your brother next to me during the story, I was able to shed my first tear. When my mother and Iris hugged, I felt happiness for the first time. When Jay touched me, I felt butterflies in my stomach."
Jay's eyes lit up when she said that last part. Then she touched her cheeks that were blushing. “For the first time ever, I now know what embarrassment feels like as well. This is so truly amazing." She and Jay giggled slightly at her comment.
I hadn't given much thought to it, but it would be difficult to live life with only one emotion. Tallis smiled at his sister's amusement, her ability to feel happy for the first time. He grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the room, so Jay and Ayla could be alone.
He was still holding my hand when we walked into my room. "So this is where Aria sleeps," he said, plopping down on my bed and taking in the surroundings of my jungle-themed bedroom. "You like the jungle stuff, huh?"
I sat down about a foot away from him, answering his question as I lowered my body to the bed. "Yeah, it reminds me of home."
All day I had wanted to be as close to him as possible, but not now. I'd never had a boy in my room, and certainly not on my bed. I'd never even kissed a guy. I was nervous and insecure all of the sudden.
This was exactly what I'd wanted, and now I was so tense that you would have thought I was sitting on a bed made of needles. He seemed to be as casual and confident as usual. Then he leapt from the bed, startling me a little. He walked over to the window and looked around as if he was studying something.
"What are you looking at?" I asked quizzically. I knew what I was looking at - his lean, perfectly sculpted body leaned up against the edge of window with one arm propped against the top of the frame.
"Just memorizing which one is yours." He flashed a smile and walked over to my suitcases, still unpacked.
"You going somewhere?" He looked concerned. His voice was almost distressed by the thought.
"No. I just haven't unpacked some of my things. They're just some of my sketches and mementos from my old home. There really hasn't been a whole lot of unpacking time."
I was pleased to see that he didn't want me going anywhere.
"Oh. Well, then I can go. You're probably pretty exhausted anyway, and you have to get up early for school."
He started to walk off, but I grabbed his wrist before I even realized it. My body reacted as if it was a reflex to stop him. I couldn't help myself. I couldn't let him leave tonight.
I'd felt so inexplicably compelled to be with him every moment I could. My eyes were restless when he was out of sight. My ears needed to hear his voice. My nose desired to smell his bewitching scent. My body craved his touch, and my lips were desperate to be introduced to his.
He glanced down at my hand on his wrist, and then he looked directly into my eyes. I didn't move as his hand went to my waist. His fingertips started pulling my body toward his in a very slow, simmering motion. The desire to be close to him had overwhelmed me for so long that I was just ready to surrender.
His strong arms laid me gently on the bed. Then he crawled to where his body was elevated above me, staring deeply into my eyes. His lips were so dangerously close to mine. I sat back against the headboard and bit my lip in anticipation. His lips were just inches away and getting closer every second.
I put my hand flat against his chest, and my other one on the back of his neck. Our eyes connected, and I could feel the heat again. My desire was insuppressible, ready to burst free and claim me.
He leaned forward. This was finally it. This was going to be my first kiss. The perfect guy was going to be mine.
"Spoiler Alert!" A loud, obnoxious voice rang out, and Tallis and I both leapt off the bed with haste, dropping our hands guiltily to our sides. It was Taryn, and of course, McKee was with her.
Her eyes playfully narrowed as she smirked. Obviously she had seen the heated entanglement Tallis and I had been engulfed in before she crudely interrupted us.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said insincerely, her eyes taunting me with a teasing endeavor. "We just wanted to apologize for scaring you earlier."
McKee had his hands in his pockets while he leaned up against the doorframe, sulking very noticeably.
Tallis rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. I looked at him, so fascinated by the fact that, despite the interruption, we might still kiss. Then I looked at Taryn. I wanted to apologize for making them flip, but I really wanted them to just leave even more. My hormones won out over my guilt.
"It's fine. I wish I hadn't been so paranoid." In an effort to keep the conversation from continuing, I added an obvious ending. "See you tomorrow at school."