Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) Page 11

  “And this teacher of yours was trying to help you control the power?”

  “Yeah, she’s been trying to help me out with a lot of things.”

  “You really like this Ms. Kraft, don’t you?”

  “She’s one of my favorite teachers. I would love for you to meet her.” He just smiled and softly caressed my cheek. I closed my eyes, enveloped in the feel of his fingers on my skin. He started to place gentle kisses on my forehead, nose, and then lips. “I think I know what you mean about putting this feeling into words. I feel like I’m in a dream,” I said and then I remembered something. I never really put much thought into it at first, mostly because I thought Tristan was talking gibberish.

  “Tristan?”

  “Yes,” he mumbled, as he continued to place his lips tenderly along my neck.

  “Earlier tonight, when you said you envision me in white when you dream about me, what did you mean?”

  “Just that,” he stopped. “Every time I dreamed about you were wearing white.”

  “Tell me about them, the dreams,” I said, needing to know more.

  “Seriously?” I nodded. “Well they started shortly after I left, but I remember them as if I had them yesterday. There was one where we were on the beach and I was rubbing suntan lotion on you,” he said, smiling at the memory. I recalled having a similar dream. “Then there was one where we were in my grandmother’s garden. You had on this white strapless dress and were looking so incredibly beautiful. I was telling you the legend of the fairies.”

  “They can hear the bluebells chiming,” I said, sitting up.

  “You know the legend?”

  “No,” I shook my head confused. “Tristan, was one of these dreams on a cliff?” He nodded, unsure of where I was going with this. “And the last one, we were back at the hotel in Vermont?”

  He sat up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I placed a violet right here, behind your ear. But you already know that, don’t you,” he smiled.

  “Tristan, how is that possible?”

  “When I bit you, you were able to see inside my head. That’s how you know about the dreams.”

  “No, I only felt your emotions. I didn’t see anything.”

  “What are you saying Ella?”

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense, but I had the same dreams.”

  “Maybe something similar, but not the same?” he said, looking at me funny.

  “No Tristan, the same. When you said you envisioned me in white it triggered something. Every dream I was wearing white and I never understood why? Or how I was dreaming about being in your grandmother’s garden when I was never there before? And the last dream…when I said goodbye…” I looked down not wanting to think about it.

  “The dream when you came to me and told me you had to leave…you had to move on. I thought you meant your next life, that you couldn’t stay and it was your time to go. It broke my heart to let you go, but I thought I had to,” he said.

  I watched a tear fall down his cheek. I swiped it away with my thumb. “No Tristan. I thought I needed to let go of you, of this fantasy that I created. I thought it was the only way I could get on with my life, but I was wrong. I never wanted to leave you, but I thought I had to.” He pressed his forehead to mine and I inhaled his sweet minty scent. “What does this mean? How are we able to have the exact same dream?” I asked puzzled.

  “Maybe it’s another power of yours.” I pulled back and looked at him not understanding. “I didn’t think it existed anymore, but it’s the only explanation.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Dream walking, it’s the ability to get inside another’s dreams. It’s an old, ancient power that hasn’t existed for years, and even back then very few were gifted with the power. I never knew anyone who possessed the power or even if it still exist.”

  “Then how do you know for sure? You said so yourself it doesn’t exist anymore.”

  “It’s the only other explanation. I wouldn’t have believed it possible if you didn’t already possess so much power, more than anyone. But you, it doesn’t surprise me.” He kissed my hand as if this was the greatest thing in the world.

  “Do you have that power?” He shook his head. “Then how would we have the same dream?”

  He tapped the side of my head with his finger. “Because you created it. It’s what your mind wanted to see.”

  “That doesn’t explain about your grandmother’s garden. I would have not been able to create that and I would not have worn white,” I said, eyeing him.

  “You raise a good question,” he said, scratching his chin.

  “You’re sure you’re not a dream…whatever?”

  “Walker…and no, I’m not.”

  “Then how do we know for sure I am one?”

  “It’s the only reasonable explanation,” he said, scratching his head, not quite convinced himself. “Or… it’s possible that we have that strong of a connection that we can visit each other in our dreams.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  “Ella, haven’t you learned by now anything is possible, especially when it comes to us.”

  “You’re right, but why? How come it only started after you were gone?”

  He sighed frustrated and scrubbed his hands down his face. “You’re not going to let this go are you?”

  “Hello, it’s me you’re talking to.”

  “Right, okay. This is what I believe. I think that when you healed me it created this connection, but we both thought we were dead so we had no idea.”

  “That would explain a lot. I mean I always had this feeling you were still here, but I just thought I was holding on to wishful thinking.”

  “I know what you mean. I felt it too,” he said and that was it. Knowing we had this soulful connection only brought us closer together. We made love for the second time that night and it was just as wonderful as the first.

  Afterwards, I lay across his chest while he gently stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

  I knew I was dreaming when I saw I was wearing the small black leather dress I wore earlier tonight. I was in the same bar we found Tristan and I was alone. I looked around the room and found him sitting at the bar, smiling back at me in the mirror. “Okay, now I know this was all you,” I said, pointing to the dress.

  He turned around and gave me the once over. “It is a really great dress,” he smiled cockily. I just rolled my eyes. “You don’t like it, change it.”

  “How?”

  He got up and walked over to me and held my hands tightly. “Close your eyes and just envision it.” So that’s what I did. I closed my eyes and imagined myself wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt.

  When I opened up my eyes that’s exactly what I was wearing. “That’s much better.” He pouted. “What?” I asked.

  He closed his eyes and then opened them with a smile. I was now wearing a nice, white spring dress. When he saw my expression he changed it. “Would you prefer this?” I looked down to see I was wearing a barely there, white bikini. I let him know I wasn’t happy with his choice of outfit. “Okay, how about this?” Now he had me in some cheap, swanky, black lingerie.

  “You’re really loving this, aren’t you?”

  “Just a little,” he said, pinching his fingers slightly.

  “Okay, you wanna play? Have it your way.” I took a step back. I closed my eyes and envisioned Tristan wearing the same black lingerie he had put me in. When I opened my eyes I started to bust up laughing.

  “Very funny Ella,” he said, not amused.

  “What, you can dress me in trashy lingerie but when I do it to you?” He pulled me closer and kissed me. I pushed him back. “Sorry, but I’m not into guys who dress in drag.”

  “You were the one who dressed me. Should I be worried?”

  I rolled my eyes and imagined him wearing a nice pair of slacks and a blue button down shirt. Then I changed myself back into the dress but made it pink. He looked at me funny. �
��What, you don’t like it? I know it’s not what you rather have me wear, but it’s more comfortable.”

  “Not that, here,” he said, touching my dress, and turning it white.

  “What is it with you and white?”

  “When I think of you I think of you as an angel. Someone who is pure and full of life. Your very essence is what –”

  “Okay seriously,” I said, stopping him there. “That sounds like one of your cheesy lines.”

  “Ella I am serious, dead serious. You have any idea what you mean to me?”

  “Tristan, I wish you would stop putting me up on this pedestal. I’m not that girl.”

  “To me you are,” he said, bending down to kiss me. “What do I have to do to convince you?”

  “First, let’s get out of here.”

  “We can go anywhere you want to go.”

  “I want to go back.” He creased his brows confused. “I mean I want to wake up. I don’t want to be with you in a dream when I can have the real thing.”

  “Then all you have to do is wake up,” he whispered softly in my ear.

  I blinked a few times and waited for my eyes to adjust. I was lying on my stomach and when I turned my head Tristan was lying on his side propped on his elbow, watching me. “Welcome back,” he said.

  “Why the dream?”

  “I was just testing it to see if we were right.”

  “How’d you know how to do all that?”

  “I’m a quick study,” he winked. He slid his hand over my back, sending tingles up and down my spine. The sheet was barely covering me. Most of my upper back was exposed, giving Tristan free reign to tease me. His hand slowly made it’s way down to my lower back, lightly pushing the sheet a little further and giving me goose bumps. His hand stopped short, just above my behind, teasing me. “What do I have to do to convince you of my undying affection?”

  “You can keep doing what you’re doing for starters,” I smiled. He slid his hand down a little more and then a little more, smiling. Then he smacked me really hard on my behind. “Hey,” I said, pushing him. He laughed thinking he was funny. I narrowed my eyes at him letting him know he wasn’t. To make up for it, he wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me closer to him, placing lingering kisses on my shoulder and neck.

  “You know, you could always bite me. If you wanted to?” he suggested.

  “I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

  “It’s the best way to convince you my feelings for you are real. If you bite me, you can get inside my head and see what I see, feel what I feel.”

  “Tristan, I have no doubt that your feelings for me are real. I just wish you wouldn’t hold me so high. Make me out to be this person I’m not.

  “Ella, when are you going to get it?” I shrugged. “I see I have no other choice. Okay, bite,” he said, titling his head and exposing his neck.

  “Tristan,” I said a little annoyed. “One, don’t act like you’re not dying for me to do it. When you were explaining things to me you seemed to leave out a lot of the effects it has on us.” I narrowed my eyes. “And two, I don’t think it’s a good idea considering you’re still weak from the lack of blood. You haven’t fed in a while and taking any from you would not be a good idea.”

  “You didn’t think I was too weak to rock your world…twice.”

  “Rock my world? O-Kay,” I said, trying to hide my smile.

  “Well, you know, I am kind of a legend. I even heard some say god.”

  I couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. “Oh Tristan, how I’ve missed you.”

  “You know you can still bite without taking anything,” he said.

  “How?”

  “It takes a lot of concentration.”

  “I don’t think I can do that. You tend to be very distracting.”

  “Is it the gorgeous flowing locks?” he said, flipping his hair back. I had to stifle a laugh. “Or maybe my manly physique?” He flexed his bicep and winked. I covered my mouth to hide my giggle. “My charming personality…hey there,” he said, wagging his eyebrows at me. “No? I know what it is…” his eyes traveled down the sheet.

  “Well…it doesn’t hurt,” I said. He smiled and pounced on me making me squeal.

  “Really Ella, what is it? Besides my devastatingly handsome good looks,” he said, his cocky smile returning.

  “Yes Tristan, we all know you’re good looking.”

  “Just good looking…or an Adonis?” he teased, knowing full well how I thought of him. I knew he said it just to embarrass me.

  “Tristan stop,” I blushed. He smiled and pulled me over on top of him. “You know you could always bite me again?”

  He pulled away. “Ella, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “You’re stronger now. Can’t I still get into your mind even though you’re biting me?”

  “It’s possible but not easy.”

  “Maybe with our connection it might be easier?”

  “Possibly but I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “You also said you could bite without taking anything.”

  “You’re not going to let this go.”

  “Nope,” I shook my head.

  “Fine, but if I kill you, it’s your fault.”

  “You won’t kill me. Just try not to take anything and if you can’t resist than just drink.” He sighed and wiped his hand across his forehead. “Don’t act like you don’t want to.”

  He eyed me wearily as I guided his lips to my neck. He hesitated at first, but then gave in. It was gentler this time. He bit down slowly and tried really hard not to drink. It took too much concentration for him not to drink and he wasn’t able to open up his mind and relax. Plus this bite was not like the sensual feeling I was used to. I felt his frustration which was just causing discomfort. “Tristan, just drink.” I could feel him resisting. “Tristan please, just do it.”

  His teeth slid in deeper and I knew he gave in to the temptation. I had to remind him to open up his mind and when he did it hit me like a ton of bricks. I saw everything he saw. I felt everything he did and it was so overwhelming I thought I was going to explode. Tristan pulled back all too soon. “Ella?”

  My eyes glazed over and my body was tingling everywhere. Before I lost the feeling I pulled Tristan down on top of me and kissed him with a fiery passion. I knew he could feel it too. He kissed me back with just as much intensity. I always knew how Tristan felt about me, but to see and feel it first hand was an eye opening experience. I felt at peace.

  Chapter Nine

  *

  Dean

  In the morning, Dean had all intention of barging in and checking on Ella, but Josie had convinced him not to. “Dean, I already checked on them last night and trust me she’s more than fine,” Josie winked.

  “Didn’t know you were into voyeurism?” Dean said, giving Josie a look that said he was all about it.

  Josie glared at Dean. She was not in the mood to deal with him this early in the morning. “Look perv, it’s not what you think. I popped in late last night to make sure everything was okay. As soon as I figured out what was going on I popped right back out. And let me tell you there was a lot going on,” she sang.

  “Please, spare me the details,” Dean complained. “I do not need the ins and outs of my li’l sis’s sex life.” He shivered at the thought and Josie giggled.

  “I still think we should let the love birds sleep. Now that our mission is accomplished how about we go out and enjoy Ireland?” Josie suggested.

  Billy jumped on the idea of spending some quality time with Josie. It would be the first time they would be able to actually spend time together since she got back. Yes they took advantage of any available time they had alone, but most of their time was spent preparing for Jack’s attack and then the search for Tristan. They never actually got the chance to relax and just ‘hangout’. So he was more than happy to take the day and follow Josie around and do whatever she wanted to do.

 
Dean, on the other hand, was not ready to go sightseeing. Not until he saw and spoke with his sister. Despite what Josie said, he needed to see for himself. He needed to know his little sister was okay. Plus he wasn’t looking forward to spending the day with Josie and Billy when he didn’t have to. If he could he would suggest doing separate things, like, Billy and Josie go out on their own while him and Cameron took their own private tour of the town. But that would be too obvious. They would suspect something and he couldn’t have that when he wasn’t sure himself.

  Over the past month, forced to spend so much time with her, Dean started to see Cameron differently. He saw her more than a friend. He got to know her, the real her. That was something he discovered she didn’t show people often. If he could he would take her to all the places he’s been when he came to visit Uncle Bobby. Take her to one of the nicest and finest restaurants in town and show her what a date with Dean McCallister was like. Yep, that’s what he’d do. He never really thought of Cameron in the romantic type of way. She was always just one of the guys. But after last night, when they were forced to share a bed, he knew he was in trouble. Dean knew these feelings he was having was more than lust, which was hard to decipher from the lack of ‘entertainment’ he was getting here in Ireland.

  He tried his hardest to be a gentleman and stay on his side of the bed – only because he knew Cameron wouldn’t fall for his crap and probably kick him in the nuts if he tried anything. But after not being able to rest and watching her sleep, he just couldn’t help himself. He had to know what she felt like. What it would be like to have her in his arms. He needed comfort. So he slowly inched his way closer, sliding his arm through hers and gently wrapping his arm around her. She only flinched slightly at first, but then she relaxed back into him which I think surprised him more.

  A lot of things have surprised him lately. For instance – liking Cameron. Dean more than liked her, but he wouldn’t admit it. He never felt this way about a girl and it scared him. He was Dean McCallister for Christ sake. No woman would ever tie him down. He wasn’t capable of being with just one woman, it wasn’t him. Sure he had girlfriends in the past, but they never lasted, partially because he couldn’t be faithful. It wasn’t his fault though. Girls were always flirting with him and enticing him, making it hard to resist the temptation.