DESIRE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

WINTER BRAY

After hundreds of tries, of running back and forth. I still hadn't mastered the running technique. It was one thing or another. Either, I fell with my head landing in the snow or I couldn't stop running, so I rushed into a tree.

"I give up!" I groaned while panting as I retreated my head from the snow once again. Theo looked down at me knowingly with a small smirk.

"I did tell you to stop an hour ago, didn't I?" Theo was looking all cocky as he kept on smirking. I gave him a glare as it really irritated me. Without thinking, I took a handful of snow and threw it with all force, hoping to hit Theo's face. To my luck, it did. I grinned in victory at Theo who had closed his mouth in a thin line.

"You shouldn't have done that, Winter Bray," Theo said dangerously calm, which made me more nervous. Even though his voice sounded calm, Theo's facial expression told me something else. I quickly got to my feet and ran. I didn't dare to use the technique which Theo had tried to teach me. This caused me to be slow, and I knew Theo would catch me sooner or later.

Hearing the snow getting crushed under my feet, I kept running. Slowly, I paused as I realised the only sound was coming from my feet. Glancing around the area, my brows furrowed as I was alone.

Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair, but I screamed because someone threw me to the ground. Landing onto my back I groaned. Theo was on top, straddling me while holding my hands above my head. He was still wearing that stupid smirk, and right now, I wanted to smack it right off.

"We need to work on your reflexes as well, Winter Bray," Theo whispered as he lowered himself down to my lips. I felt helpless in this situation; I could only lay completely still. Theo's lips hovered over my own, I wasn't going to give in. Not this time.

His lips moved over to my ear, and I shivered immediately "Don't you want to kiss me, Winter Bray?" Theo muttered huskily in my ear, and my breath suddenly became slower. I turned petrified. The feeling of Theo's breath on my skin drove me insane. I groaned in frustration. I tried to wriggle free, but Theo's grip on my wrists only got tighter "Tell me what you want." I had completely forgotten that we basically were laying in the snow, but I didn't care.

"Please, kiss me." I breathed in desperation. I didn't know what was happening. All I knew, was I needed Theo's lips on mine. I craved him and his lips. Theo chuckled in response as he retreated his head.

"Why didn't you just say so?" Theo asked so innocently, tilting his head to the side. However, he didn't lean down to kiss me. He just kept looking at me with his eyes darkening. At this point, my lips felt like they were burning. Burning to be touched. I groaned again while closing my eyes "Open your eyes, Winter." It was not a request, but a demand.

Feeling Theo's breath suddenly lingering on my face, I opened my eyes. His lips were brushing against my own once more, but this time I didn't hesitate. Leaning forward, I captured Theo's lips with my own. I felt him smirk into the kiss as if he had won some sort of price. I felt him remove one of his hands, but he still had one to keep me in place.

Theo's fingers burned as they touched my face while he deepened the kiss. The desire which streamed through me got satisfied. I continued to kiss with all the hunger I felt. Theo suddenly pulled back leaving me wanting more.

"Since when have you been this eager for my kisses, Winter Bray?" Theo's voice was raspy as he spoke, and I blushed at my sudden eagerness.

"I-Uhm-I." I stammered in embarrassment. I had to look away at this point. He became so intimidating, so fast.

"Look at me." I heard Theo whisper. I hesitantly looked up to meet his gaze. My eyes widened when I saw the mass of snow which was collected in his hand. My eyes darted from the snow to Theo's face. It held mischief, and just as I was about to protest. He ran his hand over my face, and I caught the snow in my mouth.

Theo laughed at my probably disgusted expression as I spat out the snow. He removed himself from me and stood up straight. Removing the snow from my face, Theo's hand came into my sight. My eyes narrowed by his gesture, but I quickly recovered. I took Theo's hand in mine, only to pull him down in the snow with me. I quickly rolled over so Theo's body wouldn't crush me. I heard a groan, and I smirked. Theo let out a chuckle as he rolled over onto his back.

"I guess, I deserved that," Theo said looking up at the sky. I let out a small laugh as I straddled him. Theo's eyes widened by my actions, and a shy smirk covered my lips "Where did you get this sudden confidence?" Theo asked as he grasped me by the hips harshly. I gasped at the way he took me by the hips, no one had ever done anything like that.

"As I said before, Theo Cohen, it has always been there," I answered, but where did it come from? I knew the lust I felt was the reason I had all this confidence. Lust gave me some sort of power and I actually liked it.

"And as I said, Winter Bray, I don't think so," Theo replied while his eyes got a shade darker. He then moved, so he was sitting straight up, and I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck as I didn't want to fall backwards "I like this position." Theo muttered in my ear as his arms found their way to my waist. I flushed, burying my head into his neck.

"There's something I have been wanting to talk to you about," Theo muttered, and I immediately got nervous. Did he regret kissing me? Did he think we should stop whatever we had going on? I felt my palms getting sweatier and my heart beating faster. Right now, I didn't want to be here, I just wanted to go back to the safe house.

"What is it?" I sought, my voice getting smaller for each word I spoke. I dreaded his answer, and I had a sudden pain in my chest.

"Who's Rowan?" I felt myself stiffen. Where did he know about him? I had never mentioned him in some way. Had he been spying on me before I even moved to Grimmwood?

"I-How?" I asked. I couldn't force myself to look at him. I had no idea what he wanted with this conversation. Nor did I know what he felt, angry? I had no idea.

"When I first got you to the safe house, you were in a weird state," Theo started "You were awake, but then you weren't. Suddenly, you started to whimper and cry, and you mentioned Rowan," Theo's voice was somewhat pained.

"He was my best and only friend," I stated, glancing up a Theo "I-Uhm, was bullied as you know. Well, Rowan was always there for me when no one was. He was not popular, but everyone could talk to him, and he was kind to everyone. Rowan was that kind of person who didn't take no for an answer, and he was stubborn," A small laugh escaped my lips "Long story short, Rowan and I got into a fight, because I had to move away, and I haven't heard from him since..."

"So, you were together then?" Theo asked dryly, showing no emotion. I peered up at him in surprise. His eyes were narrow, and his jaw was clenched.

"Theo, didn't you hear what I said? He was my best friend." I explained carefully as I reached to touch his face. Theo leaned into my touch with his eyes closed while sighing deeply "Are you jealous?" I grinned, and Theo glanced at me through his closed eyes.

Instead of saying anything, Theo leaned forward, kissing me hard. I moaned by his sudden force. His tongue invaded my mouth and fought for dominance. I fought back with just as much force but failed as Theo won.

"Theo..." I breathed quietly "We should get back" Theo hummed into my neck, and he retreated.

"You. Are. Mine." He murmured against my lips while capturing my bottom lip between his teeth "And yes, I'm f*****g jealous." His eyes were dark and lustful at this point.

"You should trust me," I said, my fingers brushing against his jaw "We have no kind of contact, and we probably never will see each other again,"

"I do trust you, Sweetheart." I smiled as I stood up from the ground, with Theo following suit. We walked through the snowy woods as the sky was getting darker. Theo suddenly took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze, and the rest of the walk home was suddenly much more delightful as warmth spread through me.

"Do you ever think I'll be able to do it?" I asked gently. I didn't look up at Theo, but straight ahead. I got afraid that his expression gave something away. Whatever something was.

"Of course," Theo spoke in a soft manner "This world is still completely new to you. You still need to adjust to your own body and its senses. It takes time, but you'll learn everything, eventually,"

"How long did it take for you to do everything perfectly?" Maybe that was a stupid question, but I needed to know.

Theo let out a laugh before answering, and that laugh made me regret my question slightly "I haven't," I glanced up at him in confusion "I haven't learned everything to perfection. Sure, I have been a vampire since I was eighteen, but no one can do everything to perfection. There are some techniques that you'll be better at learning than others. The running technique, for example, that one is extremely difficult for you. However, some other techniques might be easier for you to learn," I smiled at his words, that somehow gave me hope. I wasn't completely useless.

"That sounds somewhat promising," I said with a smile. Theo's posture suddenly tensed, and I instantly stopped everything I was doing. He stood completely still, not moving an inch. I wanted to ask what he was doing. Why he suddenly acted this way? But I didn't. Something told me to shut up and keep quiet. I didn't know what to do with myself. I quickly became useless. Theo just stood there with me by his side, and I looked like an i***t. He turned his head to the side a little, closing his eyes. He stood like that for a few seconds before his eyes snapped back open. His expression held pure panic, a side I had never gotten to see from him before now.

"They found us,"