Page 51 of Treasured Secrets
I knew I would have to get up a little earlier to get ready so that Tallis would have time to get ready. I didn't want him to have to use a guest bathroom on another floor.
I slapped my alarm as soon as it went off. He stirred a little, but not much. It was the first time I had been able to really wake up to him. His bare chest and abs were so wonderfully gift wrapped in my new white satin sheets he had bought me.
I watched the motion of his chest, expanding and contracting as he inhaled and exhaled. I shook my head to pull myself out of the hypnotic trance I was in.
I took a shower and began drying off, then I grabbed a second towel to dry my hair. As I raised my hand to open the cabinet for makeup, a light bulb burst, and a piece of it flew to my hand, cutting it open.
Bursting light bulbs were a common occurrence in the Bradbury and Verdan houses. Too much magic under one roof caused currents of energy to surge sometimes. There was literally a walk-in closet full of nothing but light bulbs because of the constant bursting.
Not to mention, Jay was an electric, which made every bulb around burst when he got angry. I had seen that first hand, though at the time I was unaware of who or what he really was. Now, I was just as used to it as all of them.
This time was different though. I gasped as I saw the blood pouring from my hand in a relentless flow. Tallis was suddenly in the bathroom, wrapping a small towel around my hand and applying pressure. I stood up and the towel fell from my hair. My long locks fell into place, still dripping wet. He stared as the water rushed down my chest until it reached the second towel that was locked into place.
His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were locked on mine. He got closer and closer. His shirtless body was so close, and his loose shorts hung low on his waist. Every line on his stomach was defined with such perfection.
Before I knew it, his body was pressed completely against mine. His right hand was tangled in my hair, and his left hand was around my waist, pulling me to him in a slow motion.
I moved as he moved, trying not to spook him. He was leading the moment. We were so close that water from my hair was now dripping down his body. His lips lowered themselves toward mine.
Loud footsteps running through the hallway toward us gathered our attention. No! No! No!
It was McKee. He rushed to where we were and Tallis withdrew from me.
McKee glared at Tallis while speaking softly in a concerned manner. "Aria, are you okay? I felt you in trouble." He continued staring at Tallis as his tone turned bitter. "I guess I was right."
I rolled my eyes and responded with exaggerated annoyance. "I'm perfectly fine. A light bulb burst and cut my hand. Tallis took care of it." I pulled the towel off my hand and raised it up as evidence that I was telling the truth. "See? It's already quit bleeding."
McKee continued to stand there, and now he had noticed I was only wearing a towel. Tallis stepped in front of me, blocking his view. I could tell he was annoyed with McKee's uncomfortable and unnecessary lingering; however, his tone remained soft as he addressed him.
"You heard her, McKee. She's fine. I already handled it. You can go now."
"I don't need you telling me what to do," McKee barked, threatening more in tone than in words.
I stepped in between them. McKee stared at my towel which was barely hanging on to my body as Tallis wrapped his arm around me.
"McKee, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, but I really don't need you. I'm fine."
McKee's gaze cut away for a moment. Then he looked back up with genuine pain in his eyes.
"You wouldn't even be with him right now if I had been there to save you that day. If I had been the one to save you, I would be the one with you every waking second. He was just in the right place at the right time. You shouldn't be with someone because of pure dumb luck."
His voice sounded slightly choked up as he spoke with sincere heartbreak.
I sighed loudly, trying to be sympathetic. I could tell how much this was hurting him, and I didn't want to make it worse. I searched for the best way to deliver my brutal truth.
"McKee, that's not why I'm with him all the time. I really do care about Tallis. I'm sorry, but the fact that he saved me has nothing to do with why I'm with him."
I could see the look of satisfaction mixed with confusion that spread across Tallis's face.
"It is why you're with him. You and he just linked up through the emotions you were feeling for him when he saved you. It's pretty common in our world. You'll see it soon enough. Even if you don't realize it now, things would have gone different without him in the way."
"I'm not in the way. I'm simply keeping her safe. I'll not leave her until she asks me to go." Tallis was a little more stern than earlier, but sincere.
"And that will never happen," I promptly interjected with my still soft-spoken tone.
Tallis showed his approval for my response by kissing my head. McKee didn't say anything else. He left abruptly, dissatisfied by my reaction. I didn't care though because I was back in Tallis's arms, with a small towel being the only thing separating us.
He leaned over and kissed the top of my head again before speaking. "We have to get ready for school"
