Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Elaina POV Thunder boomed through the air, shaking the walls and windows with each explosive bang. It was soon followed by a bright flash of lightning. I sat on the little sofa in my windowsill leaning against the cool glass, watching as the water rushed across it. It was a peaceful moment, if you could believe it with all the banging from the thunder. But the sound of thunder and rain has always been soothing to me. My parents always tell me that I was born during a freak storm, and that that was probably why they appealed to me so much. My phone buzzed from across the room and I reluctantly moved from my cosy spot to check it. It was my mum. ‘Hi sweetie, your father and I just want to make sure you’re safe. We’re sure you’re enjoying the forecasted thunderstorm right now. um and Dad’ I texted them back letting them know I was fine and chucked my phone on the desk next to the window. They were away on a business trip and would be missing my birthday, but I understood. They did important work. At least... I think they did. They always dodged my questions when I asked about their jobs. A crack of thunder ripped through the silence and I jumped as at the same time the doorbell rang. I peered out my window to see my best friend since diapers, Lucian standing on my front doorstep, getting drenched by the rain. What is he doing here? I asked myself as I checked my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed a text or call from him telling me that he would be coming up early for our birthday tradition. He was eighteen today. I ran down the stairs to the front door after finding no messages. I pull the door open and he rushes in. He is soaked, water running in rivulets down from his hair and clothes. “Lucian! You’re soaked!” He just stared at me, his deep blue eyes swimming with something I couldn’t put my finger on. His hand reached out to stroke my cheek and I felt tingles where he touched me. His hands were freezing. I grabbed his hand and yanked him up the stairs to get him dry and warm. The last thing we needed was him getting sick. When I got to my room, I dropped his hand and walked straight into my bathroom, throwing a towel on the bench as I opened up the taps, letting the hot water heat up. I walked back out into my bedroom to see him standing where I’d left him. He looked so lost. I just wanted to take him in my arms and… woah hormones. He is a taken man! Shaking my head to clear it I grab his hand again and pull him into the bathroom. I make sure the temperature is ok and then turn to him. “Have a hot shower and warm up, Luce. I’ll go grab you some clothes.” I headed out leaving him to do what he needed and went to the spare room that used to be my brothers’ old room. He still had clothes stored in there on the off chance that he needed them whilst visiting. Grabbing some track pants and a long sleeve shirt I made my way back to my room. The water was still running in the shower. “Luc, I’ve got some clothes for you to wear.” I called through the door. “I’ll put them on the bed for you. Just leave your wet clothes in the hamper and I’ll dry them for you.” No answer. “I’m going to run downstairs and get you a hot drink, ok?” Taking his silence as an answer I’m on my way down the stairs and to the kitchen. I boil the kettle and while I wait, I stare out the window. The rain is pelting against the side of the house, and there was no sign it wasn’t going to stop any time soon. There definitely would be flooding in parts of the town, of that I had no doubt. When the kettle had boiled, I made him a hot cup of tea and ran back up the stairs, careful not to spill any of the hot water on myself. I had closed my door before I went down to the kitchen so that Lucian would have some privacy to get dressed. I knocked softly, no answer. I shrugged and opened the door. ‘He’s probably still in the shower.’ I thought to myself. Oh, how wrong I was. Standing beside my bed with nothing but a towel around his waist and water dripping down his chest was Lucian. His dark brown hair, usually bouncy with wavy untamed hair, was dripping with water. The water travelled down past his deep blue eyes that swam with something, something dangerous. Its journey continued down past his refined nose, his delectably plump lips, his chiselled jaw and then down his neck. My mouth went dry as I watched the water trail down his muscular stomach and disappearing into his towel. When did he get so muscular? A big clap of thunder pulled me from my pervy reverie. Coughing, I shook my head to clear the fog and went to place his mug on my desk. My mind was foggy and all I could think about was how jealous I was of those damn water droplets crawling down his skin. Placing the mug on the table a bit too harshly, some of the freshly boiled hot water spilled out of the cup and on to my hand. I gasped in pain and pulled my hand to my chest. “s**t!” I exclaimed. And then he was there. Next to me. His hand took my burned one and inspected it. It was just a bit red, nothing to worry about. My heart jumped into my throat as he drew my hand up to his lips and kissed the tender skin. I froze. Tingles shot up and down my arm making my heart dance the mamba in my throat. His eyes held mine and he kissed another spot that had been burnt and I felt my chest constrict making it hard to breathe. “Are you ok?” He asked. The first thing he’d said to me since I pulled him inside from the rain. When did his voice make me feel like a giddy school child? His voice had never sounded so sexy to me. I nod. No words would come to me. My brain was no longer the functioning organ it used to be. I was now a vegetable. “Are you parents here?” The mention of my parents snapped me out of my temporary paralysis, and I withdrew my hand from his. “Um, no. No, they had a really important business trip to go to.” I told him as I walked over to bed and grabbed the clothes that I had set out for him and stood in front of the closed door of my bathroom. I held out the clothes to him and he stared. “You better get dressed you know, before you catch your death.” I sound like a concerned mother I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes inwardly. He slowly walked towards me. No. He didn’t walk. He prowled. Like he was a predator who found his delicious prey. And he was looking at me as if I was that prey. More heart gymnastics ensued as his slow prowl led him to stand in front of me. I held out the clothes to him and he reached out to grab them from me. Our fingers brushed against each other and again tingles shot up my arm. The clothes fell to the floor as he softly pushed me back into the bathroom door, his hands on either side of my face. I couldn’t breathe. He was so close I could smell him. Peppermint, cool and refreshing. That was new. Did he get a new body wash? He smelt yummy. My eyes found his lips and they looked as delicious as he smelt. I wonder if he would taste as good as he smells.  His head dipped and he rested his head in the crook of my shoulder. Did he just smell me?! His breath brushed against my neck, sending tingles and sparks running down my spine and stomach. A dull ache coursed through my abdomen and down to my special spot. His lips brushed softly just above my collarbone and I moaned. My face flushed red as I felt him smile against my neck. “Ell.” His voice was no louder than a whisper, but it sent a shock through my body as if he had pressed a megaphone into my stomach and shouted it. “Can I kiss you? Please?” The last word was like a plea for his life. It sounded like if he didn’t kiss me, he would die. And I think I would too if I didn’t feel his lips on mine. I couldn’t speak. My mouth was dry, my throat occupied with keeping my heart from leaping out. So, I nodded. He lifted his head, his eyes staring into mine like I was oxygen and he needed me to breathe. No one, especially not my best friend had ever looked at me that way before. Not even my current boyfriend. I was shocked out of my fog by my phone ringing. Lucian steps back from me, knowing I had to answer it if it was my parents or if have hell to pay. He followed close behind me though. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me close to him, dipping his head into my neck. Soft kisses ran up and down my neck, causing me to shiver. I didn’t even have a functioning brain right now, but I clicked the green button on my phone to answer and held it to my ear. “Geez, it’s about time sweet cheeks, I’ve been trying to call you for 10 minutes.” I never realised until that moment that my boyfriend, Liam, had such a whiny voice. “Helloooo?! Earth to Sweet Cheeks!” I cringed at the nickname he’d given to me after our first date. “Hi Liam, sorry. I was in the bathroom.” Lucians arms tightened around me, pushing his body closer into my back. Heat was pouring off of him. He felt like he was on fire. His lips skimmed from one side of my neck to the other and I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning. “Are you even paying attention to me?” Liam’s shrill voice brought my attention back to the call and I rolled my eyes at his attitude. If he wasn’t the centre of attention, he wasn’t happy. Prince Liam loved the spotlight. Being the mayor’s son guaranteed that he always got the attention he craved. “Sorry, I’m just lying in bed listening to the rain. It distracts me.” Lucian started nibbling softly at my neck between kisses and I threw my head back, trying to concentrate on the phone call. “What are you wearing while lying in bed? I hope you’re naked and thinking of me.” Lucian growled into my neck as if he’d heard what Liam said. I turned my head to look at him and he replied with a harder bite on my neck. I gasped in pleasure and nearly lost my legs. He held me tight, easily supporting my weight. Liam seemed to think this gasp of pleasure was for him and continued his conversation. “Are you playing with your hot p***y right now? Thinking of me?” I cringed at his attempt at phone s*x. We’d only done it once before and he was the only one that liked it. Lucians hands crawled up my shirt and brushed the sensitive skin under my bra wire. I was probably panting. And I didn’t care. He was making me feel so good. Fire ran through my veins at his very touch. His lips set my skin on fire. And his c**k was pressed into my ass. “Look Liam. I really don’t think we’re working out. I’m breaking up with you. Sorry it’s over the phone. Bye!” I hung up and threw my phone away from me. Spinning in Lucians tight grip I threw my arms around his neck and our lips collided. A loud bang ripped through the night and then there was a pop of electricity, everything went black.