Page 34 of White Charms and Dark Secrets

“Maybe.” I grin at him, enjoying our banter.

Darren breaks, not even waiting to watch where the balls go before turning back to me. He holds the cue out, as if handing it to me. I go to take it, but the second my hand grips it, he uses the cue to pull me towards him. I crash into his chest, and he wraps an arm around me, lifting me up and sitting me on the edge of the pool table with little effort. Exactly how I’d been sitting that night.

I glance over at the bar, nervous someone may give us shit for me sitting on the table, but they don't seem to pay us any attention. Darren's finger taps my cheek, directing my gaze back towards him, making sure I’m watching as he leans down and presses his lips against mine. His kiss is hesitant, but only for a second, until I return it, my hands sliding up to rest on his chest. I feel him relax under my hands at the contact as he continues his gentle kisses. Frustration begins to build inside me, and my hands clench, clutching his shirt as if to pull him closer.Why does he have to kiss me so sweetly?

As if reading my mind, he curves an arm possessively around my waist, dragging me tighter against him and turning the heat as his lips begin to dominate mine. His other hand traces its way up my spine and back down again, his light strokes searing through my thin clothes. My hands drift up to rest on his shoulders, my nails digging in when he nips my bottom lip with his teeth.

My phone rings, the irritating tone a cold rush of water over the both of us. He steps back enough for me to slide down off the table to go answer it. The ringing cuts off just as I pull it from my coat pocket and swipe to answer the call.

Unknown number.I frown, debating whether to call it back.

“Who is it?” Darren asks, resting a hand at my waist and looking over my shoulder at my phone's screen.

“I don't know.” A voicemail alert pops up. “Well, I guess I'll find out now,” I mutter, stepping away from him as I click to check my voice messages so I can find out who called. I bite my lip as I listen to the robotic voice telling me that I have one new message received today.

Kier's voice comes through the line. “Hi, Kayla. It's me, Kier. I'm sorry for bothering you, but someone said something strange to me today, and I just wanted to call and make sure you're okay. When you get this, give me a call.” The message ends and returns to the automated voice telling me I can either delete or save the message. I hang up, cutting it off. It’ll delete itself after ten days anyway.

“What's wrong?” Darren questions, as he steps closer to me.

“I can’t do this,” I mumble, grabbing my coat before pushing past him and heading for the exit.

“Can’t dowhat, Kayla?” he demands, his tone tense from irritation and bewilderment, as he catches up and follows me out of the bar and onto the street.

I take a deep breath to compose myself before turning around to face him. “I can’t be here having fun with you right now, I’m sorry.”

“If you’re enjoying yourself, why do you want to leave?” His forehead furrows in confusion, and I feel yet another stab of guilt in my gut.

I was having fun, but I feel guilty for it. I can't let this change anything, right?Biting my bottom lip, I try to figure out how to respond. I can already sense a change in myself just from this short time together, but I’m not sure what to do with these feelings.

“Well?” he prompts, the annoyance clear in his expression. He's at the end of his tether, that much is obvious. I'm starting to think this one last date thing was for him rather than for me.

Maybe he's had enough of me pushing him away?

“Because there’s somewhere I have to be, something I need to do. I’m sorry. This was great, though. Really. Thank you, I had fun. I'll call you, and we can talk later,” I try to compromise with myself. Stepping forward, on impulse I go to kiss him, but freeze, feeling a whole different kind of twisting in my stomach when he turns his face away from me a little.

“You can only yank me around so much, Kayla.” He sighs, confirming my fear. He's already pulling out his phone and turning away from me when he adds, “I'll speak to you later, I guess.”

I swallow, my tongue seeming to grow thicker in my dry mouth, as I debate whether I should try and talk to him. I exhale a frustrated sigh, slumping against the side of the building and instead just watch him walk off, heading to his car and away from me.

Once he's out of sight, I drag myself upright and turn in the opposite direction. There's no point in going after him when I can't give him honest answers right now. I look down at my phone clutched tightly in my hand.

Plus, I have a bigger issue to deal with right now.

Seventeen

Guilty Conscience

Despite my heart pounding in my ears and my hands shaking, I rap my knuckles against the door a few times and wait for an answer, though a small part of me hopes I receive none.

“Go away, I'm busy,” Kier's voice yells without opening the door. Biting my lip, I knock again. “I said I'm busy!” he all but roars. I flinch, even through the door his raised voice makes me jumpy.

“It's me, uh, Kayla. The receptionist said you weren't accepting visitors, but I told her you called me, and you’d want to see me as it’s important.” I hope that he hears me through the door, despite my low volume and timid tone. I really don’t feel like shouting and drawing any more attention this way than necessary.

The door swings open, slamming into the wall behind it, and I’m stuck staring into Kier's wild eyes. His hair is tussled, and he appears ready to take a bite out of someone, his fangs showing. My newfound fear of vampires causes me to cringe and step back on instinct.

He notices, taking a deep breath before retracting his fangs. “Sorry.”

“What's going on?” I hesitate to ask, moving to step into the office now that his teeth don’t look ready to sink into my neck, but he blocks me from entering, stepping in front of me.

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