Forty-Three

“I don’t want to sleep.” I said when I couldn’t help my eyes from fluttering closed.

He temporally halted. “You’re tired.” He said. “You need to sleep.”

“I want to stay with you.”

“Why?” his voice was generally confused.

“My reality is far better than my dreams could ever be.”

“Sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up.” He promised.

“You’re a sick old man, Bradley Carter.” I teased. “You want to listen to me snore.”

He chuckled. “As a matter of fact I do.”

“That’s just embarrassing.”

He laughed.

I exhaled boisterously.

He froze.

“Did I do something wrong?"

“No.” he slowly relaxed, “it’s just that I wasn’t expecting you to be so close and I gulped your scent. You smell lovely; an exotic mixer of coffee, coconut and mint – truly refreshing.”

"I’ll take that as a compliment with how daring your smell is." I told him.

He was humming again, his velvet voice pulling me to unconsciousness.　　

"Did you fall asleep?" he whispered after a few minutes. “Beth?”

“Almost,” I mumbled. I fell asleep in his strong arms, with his intoxicating scent lingering on my throat. It reminded me of wild flowers, the forest after a storm and the sea breeze - so unique.

It was just beginning to drizzle when the muffled illumination of the now cloudy day eventually woke me. I lay with my pillow across my eyes, sleepy and confused. I rolled on my back and groaned, trying to get back to unconsciousness. I couldn’t remember what I’d dreamed about. I threw away the pillow giving up on trying to fall back to sleep and then last night unfolded into my now fully awake state. My head spun with the memories.

“No!” it was hard to believe that was now my life in Margate. I sat up fast.

“You behaved yourself today. No snoring at all.” The amused voice came from the west wing. His body was aliened towards me but his eyes were staring out at the sky overcast and pouring rain.

I'd had no doubt whatsoever that he'd be staying with me while I spent a few diminutive hours in dreamland but I was still overly surprised to see him looking dreamlike and godly in my dull and chaotic bedroom.

"Bradley! You’re here!" I cheered staring at him like he was something out of Greek mythology. He was a mythical creature after all. Without thought I threw my white and black quilt on the floor and flung myself into his surprised arms and I kissed him on his frozen shocked lips.

It was a simultaneously thoughtless and stupid act.

Thoughtless because it might be too much for him to have me so close, he had to be careful with me, he could accidently hurt me and stupid because I hadn’t prepared my heart for his closeness. I reacted like I always did when he was close to me – I lost my will to breathe.

Dangerous on both ends.

“Beth.” He said, his low voice frantic, carrying me back to the bed.

I wanted to reach out to touch his angelic face, to sooth his worries but a dark fog hung over my eyes and for some unknown reason my body couldn’t listen to my mind.

“Elizabeth, sweetheart, breath,” He whispered the words into my ear.

My heart hyperventilated.

He sighed in relief.

I inhaled sharply, it was only then that I could break through the fog.

“I love you more and more.” He said shaking his head.

It was the first time he’d outright told me he loved me and my heart reacted automatically to his deep dark voice – it stuttered, stopped and started again racing.

“I know there’ll never be a time you’ll ever feel the same way.” He mumbled.

“You’re right.” I sighed. “What I feel for you is far beyond love. It’s unconditional.”

His hands pushed back my hair. And kissed my forehead, it was absolutely ridiculous for my heart to react the way it did. My exposed skin felt like tiny inserts crawling against it- it was surprisingly pleasant. I moisture my dry lips and gulped nervously.

“You’re only human, Beth.” He scoffed.

“And yet I’m the one who can never get enough of you.” I mumbled. "Aren't humans supposed to get bored easily?"

He gently, but swiftly lay next to me and I cautiously laid my head on his firm chest, taking in his intoxicating scent, committing it to memory.

“What time is it?” I asked hastily sitting up, ready to run downstairs remembering my mother.

“She’ll be here in an hour and a half – she’ll have to meet up with your neighbour first. She’d asked Mr. Barker to keep an eye on you.” he added when I raised my eyebrow. “He’d been sitting on the porch all day, guarding the house. The poor kid.”

“The poor kid?” I asked. “You do know that Mr. Barker is fifty years older than me, right?”

He grinned. “Oh, I know.”

“Jennie thinks I stayed home to spend time with a boy?” I asked.

He nodded.

I would’ve been angry at her lack of trust if it wasn’t so true.

“You look so irresistibly stunning with your bed hair.” He said. “Come here.” He held his arms open for me. My chest walloped erratically. And Goosebumps rose up my spine, igniting an electrical shiver down my spine.

He untangled the impossible knots in my hair.

“There, that’s my girl.” He said; he’d pulled my hair in a braid at the back of my head.

“Thanks.”

We were silent for a long moment, breathing in sync, our hearts dancing to the same tune, watching the light slowly fade.

“We need to get started on dinner," he said eventually, offhandedly — reminding me that, as much as I needed him, I had some human needs as well.

I pouted. “I just want to stay here with you.”

“Want me to help you cook?”

I nodded.

He sat up with me still in his arms; my protests fell on deaf ears as he carried me easily down the stairs. He sat me on the kitchen counter and pulled a chair from the lounge for himself while I slid down and flick the light on. The kitchen glowed in his presence.

“What’s for dinner?” I asked coming to a stand next to him.

He pulled me by my waist, crushing my body against his. I gasped. “Pickled fish.” He mumbled.

I frowned. “I’ve never heard of it.”

He watched me as I untangled his arms around me and washed my hands at the sink.

“I don’t know if we have the ingredients for puckered fish.”

“Pickled fish, Beth.” he mumbled grinning. “Yes you do.”

“How would you know that?” I raised my eyebrows. “You know what? I don’t even want to know.”

He laughed.

“Can I help with anything?”

He looked at me warily.

“Oh come on Bradley.” I said. “It’s not like I’ll fall in a pot or something.”

“With you I can never be too careful.”

“Seriously?” I glared at him to see if he was joking but his face was hard with seriousness.

“I’m not that hopeless.” I grumbled.

“I didn't say you were clumsy, you're just a magnet to danger.” He was laughing now.

I rolled my eyes.

“What are we doing tonight?” I asked him.

"Hmmm…" it looked like I had pulled him from a deep and faraway thought. “You’re sleeping and I’m going hunting.” He said.

I grimaced. “But I don’t want to sleep. I want to go with you.”

“Hunting or home?” he smirked. “My mother won’t stop nagging.”

“Is that an invitation?”

He smiled. “Do you want it in writing?”

“Do I need a written invitation to get past security?”

We laughed.

“I’ll go hunting after I bring you home, yes?”

“Will you come back after hunting?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Of course,” I blushed. “I want you always.”

I tried not to let my anxiety show on my face but nothing escaped him of course. He was always observant.

“But…?”

“Well I was hoping to introduce you to my mother tonight.” I gulped.

I watched him carefully as his expression changed from cheerful to horror. He might have chuckled nervously but I wouldn’t be sure. The sound was too low for my less sensitive ears to hear.

“Are you nervous?” I asked confused.

“Yes.” He admitted as he sliced the onions. His movements were too fast, too flawless. He was done cutting three onions in one second. I stared awed.

“But why?”

He shrugged ignoring me.

“You’re the demon.” I mumbled. “Mom is only human. You’re the Great White.”

“I’m afraid she won’t like me, that she’ll think I’m not good enough for you.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “What’s there not to like? You’re considerate, passionate, witty, and smart and of course you make me happy. She understands that.” I grimaced when the thought of this morning came to mind. Jennie didn't understand at all.

“I don’t think introducing me as your life-mate is ideal.” He smirked. “Although I’d love to see the expression on her face when you tell her.” he teased. “Can you pass the vinegar?”

I frowned. How did he know it was in the cupboard next to me? “White or…”

“Brown,” He interrupted.

“Should I introduce you as my friend then?”

He grinned. “I was thinking more in the lines of boyfriend.”

“You are my boyfriend?” I asked. The word seemed strangely insulting to what we really were.

“The last thing we need is to introduce your mother to this dark dangerous world.” He grimaced. “So should I stay for dinner?”

“Um…no. I need to tell her first.” I gulped. “I guess you can disappear for a short time while I prepare her to meet her doom.” I joked.

“Tell her no horns or tail and definitely no dungeon for lost souls.” He teased.

“Yes sir.” I inhaled. “It smells awfully delicious.” I complimented.

“Really?” He seemed confused. “Human food doesn’t look appetising at all.”