I smile, feeling pleased with the way she can’t look away. Again, one of her friends says something but this time she ignores her. My own heart rate picks up and I feel my temperature rising. Just when I am about to descend upon her, she chooses her next move, and that’s toward me.
Shifting through the last few people that separate us, she steps up to my side and leans into the bar. “Have we met before?”
Lying to her isn’t possible, but somehow telling her now in the middle of a nightclub that I led her back to her cabin as a child feels like bad timing. I lean in a little closer and quietly inhale her scent in the process. “I think I would remember meeting you.” Whispering near her ear I don’t pull back right away, needing that last few seconds of closeness. I’ve never in my life felt the intense desire I feel now, my hands shake, and I grip my tumbler tighter to hide my reaction. Her scent is intoxicating, a lightheaded feeling leaves me momentarily feeling dizzy.
“I think it’s the eyes.” Taryn turns her face, bringing her lips closer to my own. I don’t move away, I couldn’t if I wanted to. She glances at me, her throat bobbing as she swallows hard. “It’s definitely the eyes, there is no way anyone could forget them.”
“I’m Merick,” I look between her lips and her eyes, doing my best to hold back my urges. “And you are?”
“Taryn.” My mind and her saying it at the same time. Taryn. Her voice a breathy whisper, only further proves the way I affect her.
Still standing close together, neither of us willing to move. I can feel her breath on my lips, and I lean in a little closer, feeling her hair tickle my nose. "Well, Taryn,” I love the way her name falls from my lips, “it’s lovely to meet you.” As I pull back, I make sure my lips skim over her jaw and find satisfaction in the way her breath hitches. This time I create a little more distance than I prefer and motion toward the bartender.
Pointing to my drink and also to Taryn’s I order us a refill and sit back on the stool behind me, reconnecting with her. Her gaze remains locked on me as if she is in a trance, caught up in the feelings I know without a doubt are creating a storm inside of her. I can feel her, sense her arousal and its overwhelming to have her so close but not touch her.
Our time will come, and it will be soon.
Taryn
Merick. His name bounces around in my head the whole ride back to my apartment. After he bought me a drink earlier, we held each other’s gaze as we drank them down. I’m not sure what was happening, but a sense of peace and calmness flowed through me as well as overwhelming desire. All I know is that he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
There is something so familiar about his eyes, but I have no clue where I might have seen them before. I reach up touching my jaw, the spot where his lips skimmed, and I swear it causes an ache between my legs.
“Miss? We’re here.” Suddenly I realize we’ve stopped moving and feel embarrassed due to the fact that I have no idea how long I sat there in a daze.
I grab my purse and slide toward the door. “Sorry, thanks.” Passing the cabbie a twenty, I climb out of the car and make my way inside my building. After I rode the elevator up to my floor, I let myself into my little studio apartment still feeling completely out of sorts. I stop in front of my wardrobe and slip my heels off, placing them inside. My mind is still trapped in that one intense moment with Merick. I can’t seem to clear my thoughts of him.
As I walk toward the bathroom, I reach behind me and quickly unzip my dress. I step out of it and grab the hanger it was on earlier and rehang it. In my bra and panties, I brush out my hair and quickly braid it, getting it out of the way while I wash my face and brush my teeth.
Normally I’d take a shower after going dancing, but I can still smell Merick’s scent all over me and he barely touched me. I kind of don’t want it to go away, it is somehow soothing, and that alone is puzzling. I shake my head, driving thoughts of him out. Throwing on a t-shirt I make my way into the kitchenette. “Hmm...old pizza or old Chinese.”
To be honest, I don’t want either one, but I haven’t been to the store, so my options are limited. After deciding on the Chinese, I warm it up in the microwave and then eat it right out of the container in bed. I try to watch TV, but nothing catches my interest so instead I shut it off and sit in the silence of my bedroom.
Staring blindly out of the window, an emptiness fills me suddenly and my eyes begin to burn. What the fuck is wrong with me? Where is this all coming from? I’m a mixture of emotions that I have no explanation for. Maybe I need to lay off the cocktails for a while, I am now a sappy drunk it seems.
Without finishing my food, I climb out of bed and throw my container in the trash. I return to my room and climb back into bed.
The twinkle lights strung up across my ceiling cast a soft yellowish glow around my room. I stare up at them, getting lost in the soothing pattern they display. My mind wanders and I can’t help but become hopeful I’ll see Merick again.
“Taryn,” I whisper my name in the darkness, “stop thinking about him. He’s just a guy, an attractive one, but one that you’ll probably never see again.” I throw my hands up. “Great, and now I’m talking to myself.”
I am a mess, a ridiculous cliché of a girl that seems to have grown love struck after one encounter with a total stranger.
Choosing to ignore my scrambled mind and the fact that I’ve been carrying on a conversation with myself I sink into my bed and snuggle up under the down comforter. A steal I found online a few weeks ago and couldn’t resist. I’m feeling thankful now that I decided to spoil myself because it seriously feels like being wrapped in a cloud. I sleep so much better with it, my own personal cocoon of happiness.
Luckily it takes me no time at all before I start to fall asleep.
Twigs snap beneath my bare feet as I run through the trees. My hair whips around me, my heart beats wildly in my chest. I feel the presence behind me get closer and I pump my legs harder.
There’s a cave up ahead and I run towards it, knowing that it’s the first place he’ll look but knowing that I can’t continue on like this. My calves burn already from the exertion. Once I’m inside, I take a deep breath and rest my back against the cold stone wall. I can’t stay out long because my parents will worry.
A rustling of branches and then there he is, my wolf. “Hey boy. I’ve missed you.” He stands in the mouth of the cave, waiting for me. Climbing to my feet, I walk toward him and see that his brown eyes are so vibrant today--like pools of melting chocolate.
He starts running toward me and I’m about to pee my pants out of fear because though I know he’s kind to me, I am also unsure of his triggers and well aware he’s still a wild animal. I remain alert and cautious, fully understanding he could be fierce if he chooses to be. Then out of nowhere he skids to a stop and carefully bumps me playfully knocking me down before he begins licking my face. I laugh and try to push him off. “Stop you big goof.” I hug him and kiss his nose.
Suddenly there’s a flash of light and the wolf is now Merick...wait, what? I’m startled by this shift. I’m no longer twelve-year-old me, but an adult, the current version of myself. He smiles down at me and my pulse quickens. I reach up, touching his face. “Are you real?”