Dark Realms(63)
There were a few cops wandering around but I hadn’t seen Caleb around either.
“Okay, bye, mom,” I said.
“Don’t stay up too late,” said Nathan.
“Same goes for you, dad,” she replied.
We purchased some carnival tickets and then spent the next couple of hours screaming on the rides. I watched in amusement as Nathan pretended to be frightened and hugged Susan for comfort.
“They seem to be hitting it off,” said Duncan as we got on the Ferris wheel by ourselves.
“Yeah.”
Duncan’s face darkened. “So, what exactly happened between you and Ethan?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Not much,” I lied.
His eyes narrowed. “Nathan mentioned he was in your bedroom?”
“Yes. He knocked on the door and I opened it. I’m not even sure why I did. He has this way of manipulating people. You heard Susan.”
“He’d better leave you alone or I’ll manipulate his face,” he said. He then put his arms around me and drew me close.
I smiled in pleasure as his lips closed in on mine. Within a matter of seconds, I’d forgotten all about Ethan and was kissing Duncan back as hungrily as he was kissing me. Then the ride was ending, and we were forced to pull apart
“What are you doing to me?” he murmured.
I’d certainly felt his excitement brush against me and decided it was probably better that the ride had ended when it did.
“So, Duncan, how many girls have you been with?’
He looked at me in surprise. “Is it important?”
“No, not really.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ve only been with one other girl. We went out for a few months when I was living with my mom, in Minnesota.”
“Do you miss her?”
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You’re all I care about, Nikki. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”
I smiled and kissed him.
“What about you?” he asked, when I pulled away.
I blushed. “Actually, I’m a virgin.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“What?”
“You are?”
I scowled. “Yeah, why? Do I seem easy to you or something.”
He burst out laughing. “No! I’m sorry. You just know how to…”
I smiled wickedly. “Excite you? You’re a guy. It’s not too difficult to figure out.”
“So, you’re really a virgin?” he said, rubbing the bottom of his chin. “Hmm…I’d better be careful then. You’re like a delicate flower that needs to be handled with kid gloves.”
I snorted. “Yeah right!”
“Okay, maybe I should tell you to be careful with me.”
“Maybe, you should.”
He smiled as the Ferris wheel stopped at the ground and then helped me down.
“There’s Nathan and Susan,” I said, pointing towards the ticket booth. They were apparently going on more rides.
“Would you like to go on more rides?” he asked, pulling out his wallet.
“Actually, I have to use the ladies’ room,” I said, looking around.
He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”
We walked towards the beach where there was a public restroom open for the festival, which was good because I hated using the satellites.
“Do you want to take a walk by the beach?” he asked when I was finished.
I looked towards the beach. It was dusk and now deserted. “Sure.”
We walked towards the lake and I took off my sandals so I could dig my toes in the sand.
“Now that I’ve got you alone…” he grinned, grabbing my arm and pulling me close.
Duncan was almost a foot taller than me and I stood on my tippy toes to meet his lips. We started kissing and then I remembered.
“Wait,” I said. “It’s getting dark. We shouldn’t be out here alone.”
He snorted. “Listen, if Ethan shows up, I’ll knock his lights out.”
Duncan would have been a formidable adversary for anyone, but not for whatever kind of creature Ethan was. There was no question in my mind about that.
“Duncan, he’s not normal. Remember how he grabbed me and ran through the woods? Even you can’t compete with that.”
He sighed. “Fine. Just one more kiss and we’ll head back.”
I slid my arms around his neck and we began kissing, again. Just when my legs began to feel like jelly, he released me.
“Hey,” I pouted as I opened my eyes.
“Well, well, well,” chuckled Ethan. “You’re a naughty little vixen, aren’t you?”
Duncan lay on the ground, obviously unconscious. I rushed to his side and looked up at Ethan. “What did you do to him?!” I yelled.