Page 42 of Clouded by Envy

“That wasnotthe best food I’ve had in my entire life,” he said as horror crossed her face. But he couldn’t help but smile at her reaction.

Rana pulled something out of her purse. “Gum?” she asked and handed him a stick.

Despite not wanting another thing in his mouth right then, Brenik reached for the silver wrapper, unfolded it, and stuck the gum in his mouth. “Thanks.” As long as he didn’t swallow it, he would be more than fine.

Rana apologized several times on the way back to his house. It wasn’t her fault, and he told her that. She assured him he could choose a place the next time they went out to eat.

Brenik just nodded and tried to look excited. When he turned his head to gaze out the window, he shut his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his head. Too many dark thoughts swirled in there, and he didn’t want any of them.

“Do you want to come inside?” Brenik asked when he reached for the door handle after Rana parked the car.

“I would, but I have to finish grading a whole stack of papers I neglected over the weekend.”

Disappointment hit Brenik, but he understood. “Maybe another day?”

“How about Friday? I can leave work straight away if you want to catch a movie.”

A movie sounded nice. It would be another way to feel normal.

“I can meet you at your work,” he said. “The school is close by here, anyway.”

“If you really feel like walking.” She grinned. He didn’t mind it one bit, especially if it was to see her.

Opening the door to step out of the car, Brenik instead pulled back and closed it. He leaned toward Rana, and fiercely pushed his mouth against hers. There was no way he was going to leave this car without a kiss from those red lips that he had been craving to touch.

Rana stilled for a moment and Brenik wasn’t going to force her lips to move, but then she slid hers against his. Her lips searched and explored, and then her tongue entered his mouth, meeting his.

Brenik reached down and pushed the button to unlock her seat belt. She was too far away. His hand lightly entwined in her hair as the other pressed on her back to draw her closer. As he leaned back, she came with him, keeping her mouth against his while she crawled on top of him.

He wanted her. He wanted her so damn bad as her lips left his and trailed down his neck. Brenik’s skin was filled with triggers and nerve endings on edge. Pushing her waist down, he ground his hips against her, feeling her, wanting her, needing her to get closer.

But Brenik knew she had to leave and he reluctantly moved her face away. Then he pulled her back to kiss her slowly once again, and not so needy this time. Even though he craved more, it felt good nonetheless.

Rana moved back and rested her forehead on his. “So, Friday?”

“Friday,” he whispered as he angled down to the crook of her neck to kiss her there for a moment, not feeling any urge to feed off her.

With swollen lips, Rana settled back in her seat, looking shyly at him.

“I knew you could be an animal if you wanted to,” he purred, not able to take his gaze off her.

“Whatever, just leave.” She laughed and rolled her eyes at him, but he could see yearning there, too.

Brenik headed inside the cabin, where he would need to take care of himself on his bed.

Brenik would be seeing Rana in a couple days, and he had an idea he wanted to try. It was something he should have attempted earlier, and he needed to find an animal. There were plenty of those all around the forested area of his cabin.

He remembered the raccoons living underneath the house, and he debated crawling beneath the cabin. But those creatures were intelligent, and it smelled of feces down there, so he tossed that idea away.

The damn squirrel was too fast as he dodged for it, and the furry animal darted straight up the tall tree. Another idea stirred in Brenik’s mind as he watched the squirrel scurry past a bird’s nest. The tiny chirping struck his ears, and he let out a small sigh for what he was about to do. Why he felt worse about killing a baby bird over a human being, he wasn’t sure. Maybe because humans had choices. The homeless man didn’t have to be a drunk. Jeremy, on the other hand, was a regret that continued to fester inside his head.

Swallowing his dread, Brenik effortlessly climbed up the thin pine branches that somehow managed to hold his weight. When he reached the next limb, he quietly peered over the edge of the nest and saw two small baby sparrows. He didn’t know whether to separate them or take them both, but he decided to leave one for the mother bird.

Tenderly, he lifted the little sparrow as it squeaked and writhed its tiny head, smacking its beak open and closed.

Climbing back down was more of a struggle with the bird in his hand. He didn’t want to perform the deed outdoors, so he walked the little bird inside the cabin, stroking its gray and pink back each step of the way.

When Brenik reached the kitchen, the creature ceased making any noise as it looked up at him trustingly. It wasn’t trust he was trying to provide, but a comfort for what he was about to do.

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