A Demon Made Me Do It(73)

“Wanna go fishing again?” His eyes light up. “You don’t have to actually fish if you don’t want…just keep me company. This time I promise there’s plenty of gas in the tank, and we’ll leave way before dark.”

I scrunch my nose, remembering. “Sure. Sounds great…let me just go tell Tatiana…”

Just over an hour later, we unload the gear from Kieron’s truck and head toward the river. Birds are out in full force, singing and enjoying the sunny day. The grass sparkles with dew, looking like a blanket of crushed emeralds. We set up camp by the water, just like last time.

Nearby are wide stretches of velvety moss, and as Kieron baits his line, I give into temptation and take off my boots. The soft coolness beneath my feet brings back a memory—one of me as a child, playing outside on a warm summer’s day with Kayla and Michael. The thought of them brings a small smile to my face. As I wander closer to the cliff’s peak, I glance over my shoulder to see Kieron watching me. He also has a smile of contentment on his face.

I inhale deeply and let the fresh mountain air flow through me. In with the good, out with the bad…I tell myself silently as I take several, long deep breaths. For several minutes I stare out over the valley, at peace with myself and the world below. Funny how being up here makes all my problems seem so small and far away.

I turn and see Kieron still watching me. He has his pole in one hand, but his focus is squarely on me. He’s not smiling now; he’s just looking. The several yards between us could have been mere inches. I see strength in his eyes…and safety. Like I belong there. Slowly, his soft mouth curves into a half-smile. He reaches out his hand and beckons me to him.

There is nothing holding me back. Nothing is telling me to stop. Every fiber of my being, every ounce of my soul, is telling me to go to him.

As I sit down, he shifts over slightly so that our bodies touch. My heart is racing, yet I’m strangely calm. With the tips of his fingers he gently guides my chin toward his as he slowly brings his face down, closer. His eyelashes tickle my cheek as he presses his soft lips against mine.

A few minutes later, we both reluctantly sit back. He smiles, and chuckles to himself. Dizzy with happiness, I stand up on wobbly legs and take a few steps down to the water’s edge. I need a moment to process this new version of myself. I’m the girl who’s just been kissed and held by the most amazingly sexy, beautiful, and caring man on the face of the earth. I’m that girl. That just happened to me, Liora Greyson.

I meet Kieron’s gaze, and in that split second, our connection is sealed. Everything is changed. We’re no longer the same two people who sat side by side in the truck driving up here. Now we’re something else entirely… something new, beautiful, and miraculous.

He lounges back on the blanket and fiddles with his pole before casting his line into the water. “How are you feeling?” he asks. I love the way his mouth moves when he talks…the way his lips form their shape around the different words. And especially, the way they feel when they’re on mine…

“I feel good. A bit warm maybe. Didn’t realize the sun was actually going to work today,” I say and laugh. “But I feel good. Very good. How about you?”

His gaze lingers on me. “I feel good, too. I feel too good.” His voice is strained, his eyes look almost…sad.

I sit back down beside him. His hand reaches for mine, but his words have made me wary. And the haunted expression on his face. Something is bothering him.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, softly.

His eyes search mine for the longest time before he answers. “Nothing. Everything will be fine…it is fine.” He smiles again, and any traces of his earlier concern disappear.

I don’t press it. Even though I’m dying to know what he’s thinking, I don’t want to ruin our nice moment. Maybe it’s because of what I saw at the mall…maybe he has something going on with Drusilla, too.

I don’t want to know…but I have to know.

I gather up the courage to find out. “Kieron, can I ask you something?”

“Sure. ‘Sup?” He flashes me a quick grin, unhooks a squirming trout and places it beside him.

“I thought maybe I saw you at the mall. But I’m not sure...”

He lets out a small chuckle. “You saw me talkin’ to Dru, huh?”

Hearing him call her by her nickname is like fingernails scratching a chalkboard. “Yeah, well, it’s no big deal…you can talk to whoever you want,” I mumble, turning my eyes away from him.

“Yes, but I don’t want to talk to her. I want to talk to you.”