15. Amethyst
Fifteen
Amethyst
S kyler’s earthy scent envelops me. Strong arms reassuring me as the last of the fear ebbs away.
Just after I gave him my location, my phone had died.
Of course I didn’t have the charging cord for my car.
It’s still in the bag sitting on my kitchen counter.
Alone in the darkness, I was afraid. With only my anxious thoughts and fears as company, I broke.
Every whisper of wind, every scurrying critter, was Enzo. Tree branches morphed into arms, grabbing and pulling me down. Leaves became pointed fangs, ripping into my flesh. My tears, blood dripping down my body.
I was lost in that nightmare. Transported back to that night. Waking up covered in blood. My thoughts spiraled and I couldn’t break free from the chains of my mind. I wanted to make myself smaller. To disappear. Tears soaked my sleeve as I curled into myself.
Suddenly, the darkness fled. Cast out by the warmth blooming in my chest from Skyler’s touch. His hazel eyes study me, seeing straight through to my soul. Reaching up, I brush my fingers across his stubbled cheek. His eyes close as he breathes a sigh of relief.
I settle my head against his chest, wrapping my arms tightly around him. His grip on me tightens, pulling me closer. It’s the middle of a cold, dark night in my broken-down car. My boss — a shifter is holding me in his arms, and I am not afraid.
We should get out of here, but my heart cries out. The thought of leaving Skyler’s arms is agonizing. The reasons why we shouldn’t be more matter less and less every moment I spend with him. I want to be in his life. I want this to be our reality. Just he and I in this haven we’ve created.
“Thank you,” I whisper into his chest. Skyler’s head dips. Close enough to feel his breath against my hair. “Anytime you call, I will come.” His words hold devotion I’ve never known. There is no doubt. Somehow, I have been blessed with the gift of Skyler caring for me.
I pull back, searching his eyes. Contentment and longing stare back at me. I imagine my own eyes mirror his. I break the silence, relaying, “I tried looking under the hood. I couldn’t notice anything out of place…”
Skyler drapes the blanket over my shoulders before sliding out of the trunk.
“Let’s get you to my car and I’ll try to check it.
” He scratches at the stubble along his chin, “Although, I’m no mechanic.
” I nod, scooping up the edges of the blanket in one hand, and taking his outstretched hand with the other.
Once my feet hit the pavement, he wraps an arm around my waist. I swear I smell Nitasha’s signature strawberry spray. I shrug. It must be on my clothes from earlier. Instead, I focus on how my body hums as he guides me to the passenger side of his car.
This feeling of being protected, cared for. I could easily get used to it. Skyler opens the door for me, taking my hand as I ease down into the seat. It’s much lower than Delilah.
“I’ll be just a moment, Sunlight.” He murmurs, brushing a soft kiss across my knuckles. He gently closes the door, and I melt as he walks away. If Skyler kissing my hand affects me like this… I shift in the seat, crossing one leg over the other.
The thoughts persist despite my best efforts to tamp them down. I dangerously give in to them. Skyler’s lips on mine. Trailing down my neck. His hands slipping between my thighs. A low, satisfied hum slipping out as he feels my arousal.
The driver side door cracking open jolts me from my reverie.
Skyler dips inside, settling in his seat.
He places my keys, wallet, and phone into the center console.
“Grabbed these for you.” The corners of his mouth curve down as he catches my eye.
“I’m sorry. I can’t tell what the problem is either.
Let me get you home and we can take care of it in the morning. ”
I nod, hoping wolves can’t read minds as I try to cool myself down from my less than holy thoughts.
“I live just about ten minutes out. On Creekside Circle.” I sink deeper into the heated seat, relaxing my head against it.
Perhaps I do need an upgraded vehicle. I’m not sure I can go without a seat warmer now. I’ll miss Delilah like hell, though.
“Are you comfortable?” Skyler asks, reaching for the gear shift. “I’m wondering how I'm ever going to leave this seat, it’s wonderful.” I pat the edges as he chuckles, pulling the car onto the highway.
A shaky breath escapes as we pass by Delilah. For a moment, I’m back in the trunk — haunted by my past. The memories are quickly pushed away by a warm, comforting hand on my thigh. “Talk to me.” Skyler tilts his head in my direction. His concerned gaze sweeping over me.
My mouth opens, then closes. Opening up to someone is something I’ve never done before.
Not truly. Blowing out a breath, I let him in the darkest parts of my mind.
“It was like he was here,” I say flatly.
I lazily glide my fingers across the top of his hand.
“It’s like that often. The memories, they haunt me. ”
His grip on me tightens slightly. Glancing at him, his jaw is clenched tightly enough to shatter his teeth. “I was trapped there, in the car. Alone and in the dark. It sent me into a panic.”
Threading my fingers through his before I lose my confidence, I add, “But you made it stop.” His shoulders relax on a soft sigh. “I can’t explain it, Skyler. Your presence just... you save me. The noise all fades away. And there’s just you.”
Skyler turns toward me, ready to respond, but I’m not done yet.
“Which is confusing as hell,” I blurt. “Because I vowed to not become involved with anyone paranormal again.” My grip on his hand tightens, “But with you... I’ve never felt safer.
I want to be with you. It feels like our souls are already entwined. ”
In the dim lights from the dash, I can make out the upwards curve of his lips. The warm, relieved gleam in his eyes. “I understand your fear of us, Amethyst.” He says, shocking me. Of everything he could have said, I wasn’t expecting that. “Allow me to alleviate your fears of the paranormal.
“There are monsters of every species. My own father is living proof.” His tone holds sorrow I can’t fathom.
My past has left me with fear, but his has left grief.
My lips part, my eyes locked on him. “I was only born because my sister came first. And well, that just wouldn’t do for our father.
He needed a son.” The last words come out on a snarl, Skyler’s shoulders regaining their tenseness.
“August, my sister, was just a week old when...” He looks my way, as if that gives him the strength to continue. “He forced himself on our mother. Effectively creating me.
“I fucking hate him, Amethyst. I left the pack when I was eighteen. He wanted, hell, still wants me to come back and take over his business of committing hundreds of crimes a day. I fucking refuse. The right is my sister’s by birth. But why she would even want it... I can’t understand.”
He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, voice just above a whisper. “Our souls are entwined, Sunlight.”
A tangle of emotions rushes over me. Each one battling to be felt first. Disgust, for what his father had done to his mother. Sorrow, for how he feels like it’s his fault. Rage, wanting to seek vengeance for Skyler, his mother, and sister. Love…
Skyler’s car turns onto Creekside Circle.
Still unsure how to respond, I rest a hand on his shoulder and say the first thing that comes to mind.
“I’m so sorry, Skyler. That’s horrible; fathers are pieces of shit in any species it would seem.
My human one abandoned me and my mother.
All I have of him is a fucking necklace. ”
His eyebrows knit together as if he can’t quite believe what I’m saying.
Seeing my house come into the light of the headlights, I point, “That’s me.
” He pulls into the gravel drive as I add, “You know. None of that is your fault, Skyler.” Crinkling my nose like I’ve smelled a skunk, I declare, “I also hate your dad. Maybe we can skip the family dinner stage.”
The clouds have cleared, allowing light from the moon and stars to leak through the sunroof.
I steal a glance at Skyler, and his beautiful smile is brighter than both.
He cuts the headlights, turning to face me fully.
“The only family I’d like you to meet is my sister.
” His free hand moves to the back of his neck.
“She can be quite a lot, though. You’ll have to mentally prepare. ”
“I’m sure she’s great.” I laugh warmly, leaning my head back against the seat and tilting it toward Skyler. My heart is begging me to ask him to stay. Truly, I don’t want to be alone after the anxiety attack earlier. My brain, however, says it’s too soon.
So instead, I try to make this moment, here in the car, last forever.
I glance to my left to find Skyler’s longing gaze on me. Moving my eyes up to watch the stars, I feel my cheeks heat. He shuffles and my breath catches in my throat as he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. Without resistance, I settle against him.
He rests his head atop mine and neither of us speak for several long moments.
Here with him under the stars is peaceful.
Intimate. Taking a mental photograph, I store it away to look back on and cherish.
If only I had a real photograph of this moment.
I bite my lower lip, creating a new, secret list in my mind of all the pictures I want to take of Skyler.
Breaking the silence, Skyler points up. “Those stars look like a bow and arrow.” Following his line of sight, he’s right; I see it.
I nod, flitting my eyes around looking for my own constellation to show.
“There!” I point animatedly, “A rose.” With a chuckle, adding, “That’s my favorite flower.
Well, I think it is. I’ve never been able to decide between roses and sunflowers. ”
“Beautiful.” He squeezes my shoulder as he says the word, making me feel as beautiful as the rose. “You might think I’m crazy for this one. I swear that looks just like the register at Burrow’s.” He huffs out with a laugh.
The laughter that escapes me is inhuman. “No, it really does!” I scan the sky again and the stars pull at my heartstrings as I find a wolf’s face. Its eyes stare straight into my soul, and that warm feeling licks through my veins.
“I found you.” My voice holds every ounce of longing I feel for him, “The wolf you.” Skyler pulls back just enough to look in my eyes. “I think that’s —”
A phone rings with the same basic tone as mine, and I fumble around trying to find it. I swear I will never let whoever it is know peace ever again. It’s not mine, though. Skyler looks like he’d rather snap his phone in half than answer it, which is fine with me.
He makes no move to pick up the phone, leaving our bodies tangled together. The gap between our lips could easily be bridged. My lips part slightly as my eyes drift between his hazel gaze and his lips. His eyes seem brighter as he leans in and takes my cheek in his hand. Creators, yes .
The phone rings again, and worry settles in my stomach, effectively dissipating the desire that had pooled there. Placing a hand on his chest in defeat, I mutter, “Maybe you should check it. Just in case it’s important.”
“Nothing is more important than you.” His reply is instant and summons an entire flock of butterflies. Sighing, he places a soft kiss on my cheek. Then he pulls back to check his phone.
I don’t mean to, but my eyes fall on the screen and read. It’s... Nitasha. She’s apparently trying to get him to cover her shift in the morning. She’s unbelievable.
I will give her hell for this.
I bite the inside of my cheek. Scratch that. I will most definitely not be telling her how she interrupted the almost-kiss between me and our boss.
Skyler unceremoniously tosses his phone back into its spot and rubs his temples.
“Just Nitasha and her bullshit,” he sighs.
He looks exhausted. "I can cover it.” I say without thinking, revealing that I was reading his messages.
That fact doesn’t faze him as he gives me his full attention once again.
“No, you need to rest and figure out what happened to the Jeep. I’ll just work a double unless I can move some shifts around to where I won’t have to close. ”
“Again?” I question with raised brows. “Just a normal day for me, Sunlight.” He grins, but I can see the fatigue in his eyes. Shit. It’s the middle of the night after he’s already worked a double. Now he’ll have to do it again tomorrow.
“Thank you for tonight, my Angel.” I wink, gathering my things. “I better let you go get some rest or you’ll be dead on your feet tomorrow. Today... Shit.” He just chuckles. Assuring me with a warm tone, “I’ll be fine, Amethyst, I promise. Let me walk you in?”
I deeply consider his offer. How much I’d love to invite him inside. To stay with me. All the things that could entail. A part of me begs to do just that. To take him inside and finish what we almost started.
With regret plastered on my face, I manage to mutter, “Next time. I promise.” Reaching across the car, I squeeze Skyler’s hand.
“We both need some rest, especially you.” He returns the gesture, not trying to persuade me otherwise.
“Goodnight, Sunlight. Rest up so you can grace the world with your warmth again in the morning.”
My heart melts. Then my entire body melts as he raises my hand to his lips. I stop breathing as the kiss ripples through my whole body. With the last bit of my strength, I reach to open the door of the car. Stepping out, I whisper, “Goodnight, Skyler, I’ll see you soon.”
I hope with all my heart that he reads the longing in that promise. The need in my eyes.
Once inside, the door is cool against my back as I press against it. I’m left in the dark as Skyler’s headlights back out of my driveway. Instead of my thoughts, Skyler’s words replay in my head. My body heats, remembering how his lips felt against my skin.
I am utterly fucked.
I have fallen for my boss — for a shifter. That isn’t what scares me, though. It scares me because it’s real. Where Enzo broke my spirit; Skyler could break my heart .