Sparkle

chapter 6

 Ayame’s POV

I woke up to the sound of pounding on my door.

“Aya! Get your ass up! You have to come see this!” Lilly squealed in excitement, her loud banging waking up the babies. With a grown, I pulled myself out of bed in time for her to bust threw the door like Kool-Aid man.  Jasper jumped and started crying meanwhile Amethyst was now standing and screeching demanding to get out. I shot Lilly a sideways glare. This was not how I wanted to wake up. I guess my wish for an uneventful day went upon deaf ears.

“Oh Jaspy! Aunties sorry!” Lilly swooped him up into her arms trying to calm him while I picked up Amethyst and setting her down on the floor. I watched while she ran out the door into the living room. Lilly tugged on my arm dragging me behind her.

“Lilly, ow!” I complained until I saw why she was so excited, our kitchen table was covered in bouquets large ones of different types; sunflowers, daises, lily’s, roses of different colors too. I turned my head to the door when I heard it close I see Nick caring in aa large basket of muffins and fruit.

“Where did this all come from?” I asked confused.

“I was going to give Nick a ride back to his car but when we went to leave these were blocking the door.” Lilly answered putting a now calm Jasper down. Nick dug into the muffins right away, pulling a blueberry out and shoving as much into his mouth as he could. I walked over to the basket and saw a champagne-colored envelope pinned to the side.

“There’s a note,” I picked it up and read it out loud,

“A flower for every time I thought of you,

-Damian Black” My brows furrowed together

“Who the hell is that?” Nick asked mouth full of muffin.

Black? That sounds familiar….

Then it clicked. I remember back when Cole was telling me about the peace treaty between him and the wolf pack of the area, he said I had to pledge loyalty to the Black county. Is that what his territory is called?

“Shifter-stalker guy from last night!” I gasped. He knew where I lived! He really was a stalker.

“It’s kind of romantic.” Lilly sighed while taking an orange from the basket and started pealing it.

“It’s kind of creepy” I rolled my eyes” Think about it how did he know where I live? And he is a wolf shifter, I heard they're brutes, hot headed and erratic. All of that screams red flags!”

“Only you would take something romantic and turn it into something horrific” Lilly teased but I was unamused by her joke. This was serious a Werewolf found out where I lived. If he's this infatuated what’s stopping him from braking into my house? He chased me like I was some pray yesterday.

“I have to agree with Ayame here, that guy was huge he could easily take what he wants weather I’m here or not.” Nick stifled through his muffin.

“Yeah, but he didn’t he could of broken in but he didn't maybe he wants you in the nice guy way” Lilly wiggled her eyebrows

I scoffed and picked up a chocolate Chip muffin.

“That’s not happening, not with this guy or any other guy. I'm done with guys. I will not be controlled like that again. Never again men are nothing but controlling, violent, and liers!”  I gritted my teeth seething.

“I resent that” Nick glared. I glared back but he was right he wasn’t those things, mostly. My ex-husband, Zach. He really ruined me mentality. My mind flashed to the voice that rang in my head last night

Mate

Is that what he said? There’s no way.

Nick snapped his fingers in front of my face.

“Earth to Aya?” he looked at me with a brow raised.

“Sorry, No, you’re not as bad as Most men.” I sighed.

Nick opened his mouth to say something but closed it remembering that I can hear his thoughts.

“That’s what I thought.” I replied.

“In any case its weird that he knows where you live now. Isn’t Mr. Anders supposed to keep that from happening?” Nick asked inhaling another muffin. “I think you need to fire your body guard.”

“I think I should go talk to him about this actually” I grabbed the keys off the table “Lilly, need a ride to work?”

“Yeah, let me grab my purse.”

“Ok I guess I’ll stay here and watch the babies then!” Nick put his hands in the air in defeat.

“Thanks bro,” I patted him on the shoulder.

“So you’re really going to meet up with your boss in a tank top and Pj shorts?” Lilly asked I stopped in my tracks and looked down at my outfit my shorts where short enough to be mistaken as underwear I wasn’t wearing a bra either. I contemplated on changing, but, he might like the view…. I quickly shook my head and shuttered at the thought.

“Oh yeah... hah let me go change.” I chuckled nervously and went to my room to put on a pair of black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt. I threw my hair into a messy bun, shoved my feet into my combat boots and stomped back to the living room.

Nick had put the babies in their highchairs at this point each happily munching on a muffin and some orange slices.

“There, now let’s go.” I said before garbing the keys off the table and heading out the door Lilly following close behind.

“So, I don’t actually work ‘till noon.” Lilly commented when we got into the jeep. I looked at the clock on my radio and saw that it was 10:30 and then back to her with my eyebrow raised.

“What? I can’t pass up a chance to meet this mysterious vampire you keep talking about.” She defended.

I rolled my eyes “I do not talk about him that much.” I pursed my lips seeing al the past conversations about Cole flash through Lilly’s mind. She looked at me with a skeptical look.

“Ok fine! But its only because I’m grateful for him you now? We’d have to take the bus if it weren’t for him and I wouldn’t have kept a job for this long and you know it.” It was true I really don’t have any real feelings other than the physical attraction. To be honest his cocky attitude is a real turn off. Lilly thought about it for a moment and then gave a hmm sound as if she were deep in thought. But what she was really thinking about last night with Nick. I sighed and turned on the car trying to block out the explicit images forcing their way into my head.

It didn’t take us long to get to Crucifix. We sang along to old 80’s music as we drove, time went by way faster when I was with Lilly, we had fun together no matter what we were doing. We pulled up to the building I had wondered if he’d even be awake when I got a phone call. Speak of the devil or… vampire in this case.

“Good morning sir” I answered trying to sound as sweet as possible. Lilly snickers in the passenger seat.

Cole sighed before responding “How am I supposed to stay mad at you when you sound so delectable already” I glared into the phone “Well you can decide that in a moment I’m coming in.” I say opening the car door.

“Oh? Have you come to apologize?” he asked a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Something like that… are you upstairs?” Lilly and I walked up to the door and I began shuffling my keys I hear wind being blown into the speaker before he answered.

“Not anymore and…” he took a couple of sniffs “Who is that with you?” I hung up the phone at that moment and opened the big metal doors. A loud rusted squeak filled the dark hallway.

Creepy Lilly thought as she cautiously followed me into the building. I lased my fingers in with hers to comfort her she smiled and squeezed my hand in turn we reached the reach entrance. And there was Cole, standing in the middle of the room shirtless waring grey sweats. I stopped in my tracks with my eyes wide. He had bags under his eyes. Again. His skin was so white you would think he was a ghost. His thin lips were cracked and red

I dropped Lilly’s hand and rushed to him.

“Oh, my goddess Cole! What happened to you?” I placed my hand on his cheek it was hot. Like fever hot. Then I realized,

“You were in the sun.” I spoke softly at my realization it seemed he was only out there for a second, but it drained.

“Why?” I asked my voice shaking he put his hand over mine still on his cheek.

“I wasn’t actually in the sun I was looking out the window” he snapped pushing my hand away. I blinked in confusion.

“Why?” I asked again. He looked away from me not wanting to answer. I stared at him we sat in intense silence for a while before Lilly cleared her throat. I blinked away my thoughts.

“Oh right.” I walked over to Lilly and took her hand again Cole lifted his eyebrow at the gesture. Then an idea formed in my head.

“Cole this is my girlfriend Lilly,” I brought her hand up to my lips and pecked it smiling at her. She blinked dumbfoundedly but quickly caught on to the act rolling her eyes.

“oh?” he said curiously.

“yes, it’s nice to meet you, but Babe we have business here remember?” she turned to me with a fake smile on her face.

“Yes, Your right.” I pulled Damian’s note from my pocket and held it out for him.

“Some shifter chased after me last night then sent flowers to my house.” Cole stalked closer and snatched the paper out of my hand to read it.

“Damian Black” he glared at the note then crushed it in his hands

“You know him?” I asked.

“He’s the alpha of the wolf pack we were supposed to sign a treaty with last night.” I raised my brow at his sudden change of demeaner.

“We didn’t finish Because somebody skipped out on work early” he scowled crossing his large arms over his bare chest. I shrugged my shoulders his words not bothering me “So why is he sending me flowers? That’s not part of the treaty, is it?” I questioned.

“No its not” he sighed “I'll look into it.” He ran his trembling hand threw his hair. I looked up at him his eyes weren’t the icy blue the usually were, but black. His hand was balled into a fist. I studied him cautiously and slowly turned to Lilly.

“Hey why don’t you drive yourself to work.” I threw the keys to her, but she missed the catch, the keys dropping to the floor. She scrambled to pick them up and looked at me confused. I nudged my head to Cole. He was trying to control his blood lust. Being caught in the sun completely drained him and if he doesn’t feed soon hell attack the next human he sees. Lilly took one look at his dark eyes, trembling features and understood. Lilly nodded slowly before turning around and running for the door. I quickly grabbed Cole by the arm before he could let his instincts take over and chase her. He snapped his head to me his eyes burning with rage with his jaw clenched using all his strength to control himself. I stepped closer to him and put my free hand to his Chest. He grabbed my arm without braking eye contact

“You need to feed” I said quietly he hesitantly brought my wrist to his lips eyes still fixed on mine. He glanced at the vein on my wrist and then back at me making sure I was ok before licking the spot to numb then sinking his fangs into the tender flesh. I hissed at the sharp stabbing feeling in my wrist, but it dulls quickly. I watch his eyes flash from red to blue as his hunger subsided. My knees became week at the loss of blood but before they gave out Cole snaked his arms around my waist and pulled me close so I wouldn’t fall. His fangs retracted from my skin leaving two pin sized hole wounds in its place.

He licked the wound and I watched it magickly close as if nothing had happened. Cole let out a sigh of relief and started chuckling. Color was brought back to his face and the bags disappeared. I tilted my head at him trying to understand what was so funny.

“so, girlfriend huh?” he said smiling.

“Yeah.” I snatched my arm from his grip and tried to wiggle my way out of his hold but his arm around my waist tightened.

“Easy there I took a lot of blood, its best if you stay with me for a bit” he said enjoying our current situation. I glared at him and pushed his chest with all my strength, but he didn’t budge instead he laughed.

“I have to get Nick’s car back to him plus he’s watching the twins, so I don’t want to leave him for too long” I reasoned pushing my way out of his arms.  I was hit with a wave of dizziness and leaned agents the table behind me.

“You can’t even stand, and you are trying to drive?” he chuckled again amused at my efforts. I Glared at him

“Sit down I'll get you something to eat you can go home after the dizziness stops.”

I didn’t budge instead I crossed my arms with a humph.

He turned to look at me eyebrow raised. He sighed “What's your problem?”

“Why where you waiting for the sun?” I asked bluntly.

“who said I was waiting for it? I was simply lost in thought and didn’t notice the sun came up” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“You mean you were high and didn’t feel the sun burning your skin” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He shrugged again “Call it what you will either way it’s you fault”   I scoffed.

“Nobody told you to drink as much blood as you did it’s not my fault you can’t handle it.” In a flash he was in front of me his ice blue eyes boring into mine  

“Your blood does not make the drug it’s you” his voice was so low I almost didn’t hear it but it immediately caused my cheeks to burn and I turned away so he wouldn’t see how he got to me. I heard him chuckle again.

 “I won’t let anyone take you from me”