Desire, Fate, & Love

Chapter 5

"RHYS!" I heard a male voice call from the parking lot. Rhys's eyes went wide.

"Father." He whispered the word and his gaze jumped at me immediately. "Lily. Go. Now! He can't see you. Hide." Hide? Hide where? He was supposed to be my ride home. It seemed I hesitated too long and Rhys growled as a man who looked like he could be Rhys's brother jogged up to us. He couldn't really be his father, right? The man seemed shocked to see me but as his eyes traveled over to Rhys they widened sharply. He regained his composure a second later and cleared his throat.

"Rhys, your mother and I were worried when you didn't call. If you were busy.." He looked over at me and looked me up and down with the softest frown. "You should still have told us." The man's gaze lingered on me even as he spoke to Rhys. Suddenly Rhys growled loudly and rushed forward, placing himself in front of me blocking the man's view. I peeked around him to see the utter shock on the man's face at that.

"I'm not a child, father." Though his voice was even, I glanced down to see his hands shaking lightly. He was struggling so close to me.

"Rhys, your mother just had this feeling and she wanted me to check on you." He said a few of the words slowly and I knew there had to be a double meaning behind it. Rhys's hands began to shake more and deciding I had to do something I reached forward and laced my fingers into his. He flinched but the shaking stopped. He looked back at me over his shoulder in wonder. Something in his eyes I couldn't place sparkled as he stared at me. Then he turned back to his father.

"I'll be home late. Don't wait up." Then he started to walk away, pulling me gently with him. He kept me at his side so he was blocking my body as much as he could from view. He walked me all the way to the student parking lot. His car was the only one left. As we reached it he pushed my back up against the side of it. He closed the distance between us and rested his forehead on my shoulder.

"Rhys?" He didn't even flinch this time and he laughed darkly.

"Direct contact with you without feeding on you relaxes my body and my need. I crave the touch of your skin, Lily. So much that I might go insane." He stayed like that for a few more minutes and I allowed it. Finally, with a soft sigh, he raised his head. He lifted his left hand to cradle my cheek softly. "Don't ever let a desire demon look at you that way."

"What about you?" My voice was soft. With him so close, I couldn't bring myself to be any louder. He smirked with that boyish charm that drove all the girls wild.

"Especially me, little flower." He leaned forward and placed a feather-light kiss on my temple. Then he took a step back. Without touching me, he looked down at his hands and waited a moment. He sighed softly and clenched his hands lightly into fists. "Get in. I'll drive you home as promised." As I climbed into the passenger side I looked around the very nice car in slight wonder. I could only dream I got a car this nice as my first car. When we were both settled I turned to Rhys.

"What did he mean?" Rhys glanced at me a few times while keeping his main focus on the road. He sighed softly.

"My parents can sense things from me. My mother more than my father, of course. Until I awaken as a full demon I am linked to them." He gripped the steering wheel. "She would have felt how much I was struggling to control my hunger and lust."

"Are you not a full demon?" He shook his head lightly. "Is lust different than desire?"

"Very much so. Lust is the animal need in my body. Desire demons can feel lust with no problem. Otherwise, we couldn't..." He trailed off but he didn't need to finish for me to blush madly. He cleared his throat lightly. "In order to be a full demon I have to awaken. Every demon is different. When I am ready, it'll happen. I'll have access to my full power and..." He suddenly trailed off as his eyes slowly went wide. Suddenly, he pulled over on the side of the road. He stared off into space.

"Rhys?" I asked in worry and he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose with a hard sigh.

"I'll have access to my full power, which means my hunger will grow." I understood now, he was worried. "I already feel like you are gonna kill me, Lily." His words only confirmed what I had figured he meant. He sat in silence for a minute. Then he let out a string of curses under his breath. Without another word, he started to drive again.

He didn't say anything more as he drove me home or when he dropped me off. He gave me a half-hearted wave as he pulled out of the driveway and then he was gone.

The next day, he was nowhere to be seen at lunch and fifth period. There were whispers throughout the school. The star track team member was gone on practice day. That wasn't like him. So, after class, I ran over to the track to check. Sure enough, I saw him running laps. Faster than a human should be able to run. Luckily, I was the only one there. As I approached, he suddenly froze in his tracks and his eyes met mine. He frowned deeply and he ran over to me, hopping the fence between us. He reached out, running his fingers very lightly over my arm, and I watched his body relax.

"I can sense you now," he said with another deep frown.

"Is that not normal either?" He shook his head lightly.

"Not unless I marked you as my prey or in some other way. My desire for you must be strong enough now." He looked over my head and I glanced back to see the rest of the team heading over. He patted my arm lightly and smiled so fast it was just for me. "Go catch your bus little flower." He said and turned to join his team. I thought about staying but I didn't want to push my luck with all of this. It was still so new to both of us.

Soon after that, we settled into a new routine. Rhys would join me for lunch and he would touch my skin softly before he left. He had figured out that touching me at least once a day was enough to keep himself in check. But he also didn't talk to me much. He certainly didn't answer my questions anymore. I ate in silence while he sat on the swings lazily drifting back and forth. It was the next Monday when the first problem occurred.

I made my way to my tree as normal and saw Rhys waiting as usual. Except he wasn't on the swing. He was leaning against the tree bent over, panting heavily. He looked like he was about to be violently ill. I picked up my pace and as I got near, his head shot up. A moment later I felt the tree against my back as Rhys pressed his full body against me. He was gasping in my ear like he couldn't breathe until he lightly nipped the skin of my neck. I felt a soft shock through me and then his body relaxed all at once. He took a step back from me and tipped back. He landed flat on his back on the ground. He shut his eyes as he slowly regained his breathing. I crouched next to him.

"Rhys? You ok?" He shook his head lightly.

"I thought I was gonna die this time, Lily." When he opened his eyes they were fully demon. I frowned lightly and he chuckled softly. "Not even scared of it anymore, huh?" I sat cross-legged on the ground next to him with a soft sigh.

"They are just your eyes, Rhys. Not normally colored but they aren't that weird from a costume or something." He smirked slightly and nodded as his eyes slowly shifted back to the green everyone else knew. As I chewed on my sandwich a sudden thought came to me. "Do you have a full demon form?" He flinched lightly at the question. He scrunched his nose up and that was enough for me to know I was right. As I nodded softly, he groaned.

"That's far more scary though. Besides, as a desire demon, I can technically look however I choose." I raised an eyebrow softly as I was mid-bite. He chuckled lightly and held out his hand to cover my eyes. "Think of a famous person you find attractive." He said, blocking my view completely. I gave it some thought and settled on a woman, surprisingly. I heard a musical high laugh and then the hand over my eyes disappeared. The woman I was picturing was now sitting before me laughing. I almost dropped my sandwich.

"Rhys?!" The woman nodded quickly despite her laughs. She reached forward to cover my eyes again and I heard a deep tremorous laugh a few moments later. When he dropped his hand Rhys was back to the boy I knew him as. Still laughing at me. "It's not funny. She's just the first one I thought of." I said, puffing out my cheeks softly. Finally, he stopped laughing.

"I just didn't know you swung both ways, Lily." I blushed fiercely at his words.

"I don't," I mumbled out. Rhys raised an eyebrow slowly in disbelief. "I don't, I just..." I looked away quickly. "When I thought of attractive men you were the only one who came to mind," I said quickly and under my breath. I heard Rhys growl lightly and he took hold of my chin, turning my face back to him.

"Lily, are you saying you find me attractive?" His face was surprisingly serious. He must be toying with me. I frowned and rolled my eyes dramatically.

"I don't know. Do I find one of the most attractive boys in the school attractive? Tough question." The sarcasm was practically dripping from my mouth but Rhys froze in shock. He dropped his hand suddenly and he gripped the grass hard.

"Lily, move away from me or I am gonna kiss you." He said through clenched teeth. I stood quickly and walked over to the swing. As I sat down I heard Rhys curse loudly and then he was gone. I sighed softly to myself. Was it really such a surprise that he was handsome? He had to know, right? On my way to fifth period, I got stopped by an arm in my way. Rhys waited for the hall to be almost clear before he leaned down to me.

"Lily, the reason the other girls like me is because of my charm spells. I haven't used any on you though." He whispered that over his shoulder and then continued to walk to class as if the exchange had never happened. I stood there shocked for a moment more before hurrying into the classroom before the bell. Rhys watched me for almost all of the class with a look I couldn't place.