True Intention

Ch 19- Halloween fun...

Naomi POV

Ren and the girls told me we were attending a Halloween party this weekend, which had me pretty damn nervous.

Right now though?

It's Halloween Day, and we're carving pumpkins. Heidi and Ren had surprised me with an awesome costume that I honestly planned to wear for dates or special occasions later. It may have been a costume, but the quality was awesome, and when I saw the black and purple Chinese hairsticks with what looked like carved violets and dangling purple charms? I had died and gone to heaven, I swear. I'd hugged Heidi crying tears of joy. She knew me so well! She'd even included a cool black hand fan with a tassel.

I'd probably have just pulled out random s**t from my closet and called myself a vampire. Maybe gotten some of those teeth you can use like caps and look real as hell. I still might do that, they looked awesome. I wasn't big into modern vampire stuff, no. I liked your classic Bram Stoker's Dracula and Interview with a Vampire. Twilight... I don't know. It kinda feels more like romance with fantasy thrown in than horror. And while I love me a nice romantic fantasy novel... I don't know, I worry kids will over-romanticize things and do weird s**t.

Of course, I'm barely past the definition of a kid as it is, so it's not like I have any sort of experience to back such an opinion. My own parents struggled with determining the age-appropriateness of what I watched. They'd do that thing where they remembered some movie from when they were younger that they loved, only to find it was more mature than I should be really be watching.

Like Poltergeist when I was five. Sure it's campy when you're older, but at that age? Terrifying.

I fully blame that movie for my fear of clowns.

All of us were having fun making a mess on the table, at this point. We'd ordered pizza after class and laid newspaper of the little-used dining room table before setting up our pumpkins. Where they'd found newspaper, I had no idea. I'd chosen one of the slightly flat Cinderella pumpkins. We had three big bowls in the middle of the table, as Steph said, "for pumpkin guts!" There were a bunch of knives and large spoons scattered around as well. Ren had showed me how to cut my pumpkin's "top" out, and now we were all in the process of scooping out said guts. It was slimy but incredibly fun.

I'm not one that loves messes, but as an artist, there are few mediums that aren't messy. Even pencils and ink leave marks on your hands if you're truly spending some time on a piece. Steoh had mentioned she might toast the pumpkin seeds too. I was intrigued. Of course, my parents weren't big on home cooking or baking. Almost everything came from some sort f meal service, if not from a restaurant. We were also making no-bake cookies, something that was cooling off to the side and I was ridiculously excited to try.

It just highlighted that I'd missed a lot. I didn't blame my parents, I doubt they'd ever carved a pumpkin either. It made me a little sad for them. Sure they'd grown up with privilege, but much like me, their parents loved them from a distance. They didn't know how to be more involved, really. I didn't have the heart to tell them, either. I just understood that there was a lot I was going to have to deal with on my own.

Until I met Ren. The man took care of me before I knew I needed it. Always watching me like a f*****g hawk. I had to admit I found it pretty damn sexy. My impression was that not a lot of guys enjoyed being caretakers. They were out there, but you were incredibly lucky when you found one. Probably sucked into difficult relationships most of the time with people that didn't appreciate them.

As I looked at Soren laughing at Archer throwing pumpkin at Enzo and hitting him square in the forehead, I swore right then. I would never, ever take him for granted. I would always remember to tell him thank you, to tell him he was amazing, and of course, the sexiest man alive. For me, y'all. I'm sure you have your own sexy person that just, totally tops everyone else. The one that you walk past and find it difficult to not kiss their toes. The one you just can't keep your hands off of. I picked up a knife to start my design.

Now was not the time to give him heated and probably inappropriate glances, even if our friends knew everything. They knew he slept with me, even if we weren't having s*x. They knew we were automatically a package deal, no matter what we were doing. They knew that Ren would never accept anyone else taking his place beside me, even for events or dances. Nobody but him. Not that I was complaining. He had quickly become my safe harbor, of sorts.

He caught me looking and tilted his head in question. I knew he could sense my introspective mood, so I just shook my head and went back to my pumpkin, my cheeks flushed a bright pink. Moments later, his hands settled on my waist as he leaned his chin on my shoulder from behind. Damn he smelled amazing. He ran his nose lightly along my ear, and I trembled. Did he forget I had a knife in my hand?

"Everything alright?" His deep, raspy voice vibrated through me. I nodded. "Words, babe."

"Yeah, Ren, I'm okay. Just thinking, is all." I said shyly. I wasn't ready to tell him about the swell of emotions I had just from a look, a touch. He probably felt the same, honestly. I was still hesitating to trust myself fully. Not him. Never him.

"Mmm well, on a lighter note, my spicy Nao... You excited for the costume party?" He queried, then grinned.

"Yeah, I am. A little nervous, but hoping it all goes smoothly." He nodded, kissing my cheek, and went back to his pumpkin. By the end of the night, Enzo and Archer had both gone with basic faces, Heidi carved a rose, and Steph carved a witch profile on a broom. Ren had carved a dragon with a ridiculous amount of detail, given the medium, and I had carved an oak tree with a moon. We put them on the porch, complete with candles lit from inside. Of course, it went to our shared social. We ate pizza, roasted pumpkin seeds, no-bake cookies, and watched Hocus Pocus before everyone went home.

The next few days were blissfully uneventful. No crazy assholes trying to bother us.

It was four PM on Saturday, and I stood in my costume staring at my shoes. I was wearing these sexy sheer black stockings with a nice seam up the back, but I couldn't decide between platform Mary Janes with sexy ankle straps, or a simple black stiletto pump. My hair was already up in two messy space buns, hairsticks in place, with a chunk on each side pulled out, kind of like bangs. I wore an almost pearlescent face powder that gave my skin a luminous quality, light blush, and shiny nude lip gloss. On my eyes was champagne and rose-gold shadow with a black cat-eye liner. Simple to reflect the costume. Giving up, I sent a picture of both pairs of shoes to Heidi.

N: Which ones, girl? I'm lost!

H: Definitely the Mary Janes. Ren's gonna go bananas over that little ankle strap.

N: Perfect ;)

I put on the shoes, and looked at my overall result. I looked, well, hot! I hoped that Ren would think the same, though let's be honest, I know for sure he will. Why am I even doubting? I took a deep breath, shaking off my nerves, then sent a selfie to Heidi.

H: Girrrrrrrllll.

H: He is coming after you tonight, you know that, right?

I shivered. In a good way, y'all.

N: A girl can only hope, right? Thanks again for helping me >.<

H: You're my friend, of course I will help you! Good luck!

I gathered the small black wristlet I was wearing and slid it over my left hand before opening my door to go downstairs, fan in hand. I could hear the guys downstairs in the kitchen. They didn't notice my approach, and I looked over their costumes. Enzo went simple and had a Superman t-shirt under a button up, half opened, with fake Clark Kent-style glasses. Archer was wearing what looked like legit leather Viking armor with studs. My Ren was wearing an elegant and sexy Chinese- style black long coat with red trim. It gracefully highlighted his slim, muscular build. His hair was tousled back in yet another "just got laid" look.

Holy s**t. I think I just experienced my panties getting soaked. Gosh, how unnerving.

Good thing this is reality and he's not a werewolf or he'd smell me.

Their heads turned simultaneously, as did their jaws as they dropped. Go me! Enzo recovered first. If he thought for one minute I didn't notice he had the hots for Steph, he was crazy. He smiled and gave a thumbs up. Archer was next, probably wondering when Heidi was getting here. Those two were also on my radar. He also gave a thumbs up. Ren simply moved around the kitchen island and took my hands as he grinned and nodded. My body was on fire as he looked me up and down.

"You'll do." He said smokily with a wink as he pulled my hand through his elbow to leave, just as the girls knocked on the door.

Steph squealed and hugged me, clearly pleased, and Heidi just smiled. I narrowed my eyes at them and they squirmed. Heidi looked like a Valkyrie straight out of Valhalla, and Steph wore a Wonder Woman costume, complete with whip. I don't want to know. I really don't. We all loaded into Archer's Durango and headed off to the party.

I danced, I drank spiked punch, I ate more Milky Way bars than was probably healthy. Ren never left my side, keeping me from feeling anxious about the rowdy people floating around. Mostly science and art majors, they were relatively relaxed, but there were at least sixty people in one house, and it was just a lot to take. Nobody gave us a hard time except one drunk girl, who'd asked why I was hogging all the handsome men. Apparently, she saw three of Ren rather than one. As Heidi and Steph got pretty damn drunk, the boys decided collectively it was time to call it a night, safely delivering them to their apartment before we rolled back to our house.

Best. Halloween. Ever.

I showered and got comfortable, but I was missing Ren all of a sudden. I finally understood why Ren called women hungry. I was definitely hungry, and not for food. My face heated in embarrassment. I wondered if he was planing to come sleep in my room tonight. He had every night, so I don't know why I was feeling so restless. I got out my phone and shot him a text, knowing this invitation was for more than just sleeping, given our heated looks throughout the night.

N: Hey, wondering if you wanted to come to my room tonight.

There. I sounded nonchalant, right? Ugh.

S: Wouldn't miss a night with you for the world, babe ;)