Page 7 of The Boy With The Sharp Teeth
Afterwalking through various trails, some being human-made and some animal-made, theyfinally came to a point in the forest where the tall pine trees thinned outjust enough to allow both of their gazes to pan over the remnants of the past.The sight of the abandoned carnie equipment filled her with giddy excitement:faded reds, yellows, and blues stuck out from the wild ferns and brushlittering the forest floor. Heavily folded canvases of ancient circus tents layrotting, piled heavily on top of one another near dilapidated wooden wagons andrusty cages. Farther back were two rusted carnival rides that Sana could swearhad to be dated from the nineteen-twenties. They were odd and cumbersome intheir design and looked as if they would be positively lethal even in theirprime. With their wood eaten away by time and covered in badly chipping paint,the rides looked more like death machines rather than a source of thrillingentertainment.
Zachariahsaid nothing as she skittered from one object to another with visible excitement.She could feel his heavy, watchful gaze on her back as she focused her lens.The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end at his silent observance,causing her finger to shake as she pressed in on the shutter release.
Notlooking at her as he walked around to an old wooden sign, he stopped to examinethe faded antique. "So, how do you like it?"
"It'swonderful," she answered with a breathless smile. This truly wasmagnificent. "Thank you for-" her words of thanks caught in herthroat as she turned to see him standing directly in front of her."Z-Zachariah," she hated the stutter of fear in her voice, but hissudden presence was truly alarming. One moment he was across the smallclearing, and the next, he was here in front of her with his long black hairgleaming in the dappled sunlight and his sharp smile wide. Her heart felt heavyas if it were beating slower and stronger before, reacting to his presence. Herhands were suddenly clammy, and her feet felt like lead as she tried to turn awayfrom his predatory golden eyes. She may have never had a boyfriend, but everyfeminine cell in her body knew how to label this sudden feeling between them."I don't think this is a good…" she began weakly.
"Probablynot," his voice becoming softer as he stepped closer. She could see hisgaze hop from hers and to her lips before meeting hers again. "But I can'tseem to stop this…pull between us."
Wasthat what this was? This indescribable feeling of magnetism that was drawingher in at every glance of those glowing golden eyes? Was that why she foolishlyfollowed this boy with the sharp smile into the forest alone?
"I…I…"Her words never came out.
Sana'sheart seized in a momentary panic as she felt him push her back against a tree.The panic was quickly replaced by something she could have never prepared for.
Hegave her no time to formulate her thoughts, no time to steel herself before hewas leaning over her and dipping his head to hers. The pressure of his lipsagainst hers was like being pulled in by a riptide; there was nothing she coulddo but hang on and experience the tumult of sensations. From the unexpectedsoftness to his lips to the warmth of his hard chest pressing slightly intohers, each sensation was new and terrifying all at once.
Pullingaway from her, he gave her a slight frown. Gently taking her chin between hisforefinger and thumb, she felt him pull her lips apart slightly. Heat ofembarrassment flooded her face as she realized what he wanted and what she didwrong. With a soft, almost understanding smile that nearly undid her then andthere, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against her parted ones andwhispered, "again."
Thistime his warm lips found hers with an exploratory hunger she did not expect.Slanting over her lips with his, he let his tongue drift against the insideedge of her lips before slipping deeper. Sana jumped against him but his arm,which she realized was wrapped around her back, only pulled her tighter againsthim, pressing her into the hard warmth of his chest. He smelled like the forestand soap, the scent melding into her senses as he taught her without words tomove her tongue against his.
Itwas the light feminine moan she made in the back of her throat that changed thesoft teaching kiss into something that would forever haunt her dreams. Usinghis other arm that he had braced against the tree above her head, Zachariahwrapped it around her along with his other, crushing her fully against him.
"Zachariah,"she began to protest. She could feel every inch of him pressed against her, thesolid muscles in his chest pressing her breasts flat against him while the hardridge in his pants grazed against the apex of her thighs with head-spinningheat.
"God,you make my full name sound so damn good," he groaned so deep it soundedalmost inhuman. Burying his hand in her hair, Sana gasped at the feeling of herhead being tilted back further.
Kissingher again with renewed force, she could feel the graze of his sharp caninesagainst her lips as his tongue danced slowly and deliberately with hers,drawing out more of her moans. A sudden growl ripped through his throat, and hegrabbed at her leg, hooking it over his waist. In this new position, she couldfeel the hard press of his groin grind against her center, sending sparks offorbidden heat rushing through her.
Shehad to stop this. It was going too far, too fast.
Pushingat his chest, she was only able to gain a few inches between them."Zachariah, please," she breathed just before his mouth found hersagain.
Glimpsesof his golden eyes made her breath catch. His eyes—they were glowing—they weresomehow glowing in broad daylight.
"Iwant to stop," she tried again, shoving harder this time.
Hisbody stilled. Pulling his head back, he gave her a hard, silent look. Fear andshame coalesced inside of her at his silent anger.
Shehad no idea what to say. He was disappointed in her, she knew that. She alwaysknew this would happen. She just knew she would end up angering ordisappointing any guy she ever got with. Sana wasn't skilled like some of thegirls in her school. She never knew what to say around guys and even less aboutwhat to do. She wanted to know, but it just felt like this was moving so fast,far beyond her realm of control, and it frightened her.
"I'm…sorry."She looked down at the ground as he let go of her and backed away. Running asmoothing hand down her shirt and shorts, she focused on the clump of leavesbetween their feet. "I don't really know what to do in these typesof…"
"Don'tapologize," Zach's hand came up between them and lifted her chin. His eyesweren't as bright as before, and Sana couldn't help but wonder if she hadimagined their golden glow in the heat of the moment. Tilting his head with asmirk, he leaned one hand on the tree next to her head. "I told you thatyou would be safe with me, and I meant it."
Nodding,she tried to stamp down the urge to cry that stung at her eyes. She felt sochildish and relieved all at once.
"Comeon," backing away from the tree, Zachariah caught her hand. "Let metake you back home."
Thewalk back home was silent, although not at all awkward. He led her through theforest, zigzagging here and there through trails she would have neverdiscovered on her own. Although there were no words shared between them, thesilent language between them was overwhelming and compelling. With each gentletouch as he guided her along the shadowy forest filled her with breathlessexcitement, she hated herself for. His fingers purposely sought for her bareskin as he grabbed her waist, lifting her up and over fallen trees. Theytightened warmly around her hand as he tugged her closer through tight spots.He still wanted her, despite her fear. He was making that plain to see.
Stoppingjust beyond the tree line, they could see her grandparent's house sitting inthe clearing. From the looks of it, her parents were home as well. Turning toher, Zachariah gave her a mischievous smirk. "Go now before I kiss youagain."
Sensingthat he was very serious, Sana rushed past him, breaking through the tree lineinto the bright sun. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know he wasstill watching.
Chapter 5
Buttoningthe last button of her cream-colored blouse, Sana tucked in the tail of theshirt into the waistband of her gray pencil skirt before grabbing the matchinggray jacket hanging on the closet door. Her black pumps clacked with an echoacross the empty house with each of her steps down the wooden stairs. Walkinginto the kitchen, Sana draped the suit jacket across the empty island counterand grabbed a coffee mug from the cabinet. Looking out through the window overthe sink, she scanned the peacefulness of the large green yard surrounded bythe thick wall of pine trees. Worming past her defenses, not for the first timesince she stepped back into Tarki, Sana wondered if she made a mistake. Thehouse felt more like a mausoleum of memories rather than the fresh start shewas hoping for. This house needed to be filled with life. It needed to havelaughter and aromas of family meals breathing life into it, not just the lifeof one lonely woman rattling around inside.
