Dragon Nest

Chapter 4

"Yes Chris, we're going to f**k," Annabel whispered teasingly before bursting into laughter at the shocked look on his face. She stepped back up close to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his firmly. Her tongue slipped just along the edge of his bottom lip, enough to get a little taste of him. Chris responded instantly, returning her kiss for a few seconds before separating, giving her soft lips a parting peck and looking deep into her brown eyes, seeing love reflected back.

"I think I love you, Annabel," Chris suddenly admitted. It was out before he realised he'd said it aloud; her eyes had been his undoing and now he felt vulnerable yet elated.

Annabel saw the searching look in his blue eyes as she squealed in delight and jumped up to cling to him, legs around his waist. He stumbled back from the impact of her weight, then steadied them both and held her tightly as she peppered the side of his face with kisses. Joy flooded her entire body at his words.I love you. I love you. I love you,was repeating over and over frantically in her mind, the heartfelt words expressed through her kisses. Freezing for a second when she realised what she was doing, she calmed herself and pulled back to look at him again, still supported by his strong arms around her waist. "I love you too Chris," she said more seriously.

Chris's heart soared. It felt amazing to declare himself and have it returned so enthusiastically. His ear felt a bit wonky from her close-range squeal but he dismissed the irksome ring, smiling so widely he thought his face might break. He gently kissed her again before setting her back on the ground, mindful of them making a scene. Thankfully there weren't many around to notice. He ran his hands up and down her arm and noticed the chill and goose flesh on her bare skin.Vulnerable. Of course, she's cold, she's human.He flashed to the conversation he had had with Jethry this morning.'You aren't human Chris, even though you appear to be. Who knows what will happen when your dragon comes out? It could be very dangerous for her.'

"You're cold," Chris stated, a little sombre now, his former elation shattered.

"Sure," Annabel replied with a giggle. "But I couldn't care less." He had finally admitted it to her. "You love me," she whispered conspiratorially before laughing giddily.

"Yes. I do," he replied, as if stating a fact, his response lacking an accompanying grin. He pulled his backpack off of his shoulder and retrieved the hoodie for her.

She accepted it gratefully and put it on. It hung baggily around her tallish, slim frame, reaching down to just below her butt, yet she hardly noticed, distracted by the sense that something had cut short his post-admission high.

"Okay babe, let's get going," Chris put an arm around her waist and guiding them toward the auditorium. He needed to find a secluded spot and have a serious talk with his girlfriend.

Something might have dulled Chris's good mood, but Annabel was the happiest she had been in her life. She leant against him as they walked, absolutely content, floating in the clouds. Her heart was happily thumping, recirculating good feelings all through her body. Skin tingled wherever he touched her so she pushed in closer to his side.

As they walked together, Chris pondered how to explain. He had to do something; he couldn't selfishly lead her on without giving her some sort of warning. Sighing, he leaned over as they walked, pressing his lips to the top of her head. He really did love her. Thrills coursed his body as he felt her awkwardly pulling herself tighter to him.She loves me!part of his mind continued to shout gleefully, while another part dreaded what would happen next, all the while rehearsing what he was going to have to say.

***

The auditorium was empty. Chris pulled Annabel up the steps to the second-to-last row, then along it to the seats in the furthest corner. He sat for a minute, collecting his thoughts frantically as she snuggled into him.

He's tense.There was something wrong, but she couldn't understand what could have him this wound up. "What is it, Chris?" she asked as the disquiet seemed to escalate, threatening to envelop them both. Slowly, she sat up in her chair and turned to look up at him.

She knows.Chris panicked, almost reaching the point of chickening out. "Okay, where to begin, ah ... s**t," he said in a flurry of words as he tried to steel himself. Annabel looked at him confused, a slight frown marring her pretty features. "Okay. Ummm, just listen Annabel, please just listen. I have to tell you some stuff. Serious stuff about me but I can't explain it all right now, I'm not allowed to. God this is going to sound so stupid but I don't want you to get hurt – "

Annabel cut him off. "Chris! I know you're not stupid enough to be breaking up with me right now, especially after what we just said; so what the hell is this about?" The unease grew inside her at the pained look she saw plastered across his face as he avoided her gaze.

"No! God no, I don't want to break up with you babe, I love you," Chris assured, meeting her eyes momentarily before dropping them again. "Look.... Just.... Fffsssshhhh," he felt freaking terrified, hands wringing and clammy in his lap.

"Hey," Annabel quietly reassured. "It can't be that bad, just tell me." She reached over and took hold of one of his hands. The strength with which he clasped hers in his now-clammy grip almost made her wince; maybe itwasbad.

Feeling slightly better, Chris forged ahead. "Alright. This will sound strange and stupid but it's the truth. Okay? Well, at least part of the truth, I can't tell you the rest now." He paused to see if he could gauge Annabel's reaction.

She just nodded.

"I'm in hiding," he resumed, focusing on making his explanation as clear as possible. "I didn't do anything wrong, but some ... people might hurt me if they knew who I was."

"Like witness protection?" Annabel interjected, then cast furtive glances around the auditorium, looking around like she feared eavesdroppers. This was more serious than she'd thought.

"Not really," Chris answered. "Please Dee, I can't tell you the whole thing. In a few years something is going to happen to me and I'll stop hiding ... but my life is going to be flipped upside down, it could be very dangerous."

"Why? What's going to change?" Annabel asked, confused. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I can't tell you because if I did and those people found out, you'd be in danger." Chris said it pleadingly, hoping it would be a good enough reason. "Annabel ... believe me, it's very dangerous. My parents were killed for something to do with all this."

"Your parents were killed?! Who by? Wait, Susan isn't your mom?" Annabel was incredulous. It all seemed unbelievable; but the desperation in Chris's voice, and the way he was wound up so tight convinced her he was being sincere. The part about his parents and Susan really threw her, though. Annabel had known Susan for years; they got along great, and she knew they both loved Chris. How could Susan not be Chris's mother?

"Susan is my mom but not my biological mother, she was kind of my nurse till I was four but when my parents were killed she looked after me and we've been in hiding all these years. I can't tell you what happened to my parents, honestly I don't know the whole story anyway," Chris paused to work out Annabel's expression. "I guess ... oh, I don't know. I had to tell you that stuff before we go any further. I love you Annabel, but in a few months you'll go away to college in Denver... I don't want to lead you on."

"You could come with me," she said hopefully.

"No, I need to stay hidden. Besides, you won't want to be with me after this whole thing comes to light," Chris said dejectedly.

"Bullshit, Chris, I love you; so don't turn this around on me. I want to be with you and as long as you still love me, that isn't going to change," Annabel scolded, angry that he was cheapening her feelings for him. "I'm going to Denver in autumn and I want you to come. If you don't that's up to you, but I've got all summer to convince you, and I haven't even started trying." She suddenly shifted in the chair and moved over to face him. Straddling his lap, she leaned up and mashed her lips against his. If this was so serious she would give him something to fight for ... prove she wanted them together. Her tongue demanded entrance to his mouth and she nipped his bottom lip, pulling herself closer when he tried to get away. After a moment Chris relented and opened up to her, lifting his arms up and around to hold her. Annabel slammed her tongue home and they were locked in a slippery duel for a few moments before the kiss mellowed. She moaned quietly and broke for air with a gasp, holding his face in her palms.

"I can't come to Denver," Chris started.

"You will," she countered.

"It'll be dangerous."

"You'll protect me."

"I'll change."

"And I'll still love you."

"Fine," Chris relented, "don't say I didn't warn you." The smile on his face told Annabel he was happy with the outcome. Unable to dissuade her, Chris could do nothing more than appreciate her devotion. Although she by no means knew the whole picture, he didn't feel like he was taking advantage of her anymore.

"I'm sorry about your parents," Annabel said, lowering her hands to play across his chest absently.

"It's okay. Susan is a great mom," Chris said. His own hands on her waist weren't idle either, thumbs stroking her soft tummy through her clothes.

"So ... Susan's your mom now and you're in hiding. Something important is going to happen to you and some people might want to hurt you?" Annabel clarified.

"Pretty much."

"And you can't tell me because it would put me in danger. If this is a joke I'll frickin' kill you, Chris."

"Yes, yes, and no joke. I'm deadly serious. Damnit, sorry, that last was an accident."

"Give me something here, Chris. A clue; what's it all about?"

"Magic," Chris said truthfully, knowing she wouldn't understand. He watched her eyes widen in surprise briefly, before she brushed it off as his way of deflection.

"Whatever. I'll entertain this craziness on the condition that you seriously think about coming to Denver with me. I don't care about all that other stuff." Annabel sighed a little, adding, "And stop petting my tummy, you know it fires me up."

"Okay," Chris replied a little sheepishly, stopping his thumbs yet he still had to touch her, and settled for attempting to encircle her waist with his hands.

"So, here's what's going to happen," Annabel stated more lightly. "You're going to kiss me. We'll stick around here for a while. I'll drive us to your place. We'll have s*x, and you'll be damned pleased about it."

"God I love you," was all Chris could say before they were at each other again, lips locked passionately, only coming apart when people started to enter the auditorium.