Page 23 of Frost Bitten
I walk out just when Mom walks in the door. “Hey, how was work?” I greet her with a smile, and she smirks at me, knowing something’s up, for sure.
“I’m good… And how are you?” I chuckle to myself at her round-about way of inquiring what I’m up to.
“I’m good. I’m going out tonight, any minute, actually.”
“Oh really? With Corey?” Uh… I cringe slightly, worried about telling her about my dating situation. I guess I might as well get it over with, she’ll eventually find out anyway.
“Actually, no. I’m going out with one of his best friends, Sebastien. And, before you can say anything, they know. They were the ones that actually suggested this… situation.” I don’t know how else to say it, so I explain the bare minimum as I walk over to grab my purse by the front door.
I turn to the mirror on the wall to check my lipstick and glance up to catch Mom’s worried reflection. “Honey…” she begins, but I don’t let her continue. I turn swiftly to reassure her.
“Mom, it’s ok. I promise. I’m taking things slow, and we are keeping communication open. I don’t think these men will hurt me. They may be flirty, but I don’t think they’d purposefully break my heart.” I turn and cross the room to her, quickly embracing her in a warm hug.
“I trust you, but I still worry,” she replies with a weary tone. “I just know what you’ve been through, and I know that trauma can affect a person’s choices.”
“Mom, I’m ok. I promise. I’m still working with Dr. F, and I’m taking control of my situation. I’m not rushing into anything with anyone, andanythingI do will be by my suggestion. No one will force me into anything.”Shit, shut UP, Cait! Mom doesn’t know about Halloween. Fuck.
“Ok, dear. If the doctor knows about your relationships and is okay with it, then I will be too. I just want to protect you as much as I can.”
“I know, Mom. I get it.”
A soft knock on the door interrupts us, and I rush to the door. When the door opens wide enough, I find Bast standing on the doorstep, a bouquet of flowers in hand. The smile he wears is contagious, and I can’t help but return it. I pull him inside and give him a quick hug.
“Angel, you look incredible. Here, these are for you,” he whispers into my ear. I pull back and look up at him, trying to read the emotions in his eyes. Happiness is overwhelming, but there is something there lying beneath the surface. Nervousness, maybe?
“Ahem.”Gah. Damn it, Mom.
“Bast,” I begin, turning and pulling him inside by a hand I link with mine. “This is my mom, Sarah Sanders. Mom, this is Sebastien St Clair.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, ma’am,” Bast says, greeting my mom as he places the flower bouquet on the dining room table. “Cait is always raving about how close you all are.”
“That’s very nice to hear, Sebastien. It’s nice to meet you, too. Please take care of my girl. While she’s an adult, I don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s my rock, and I’m hers.”
That last bit she says makes me cringe with guilt since I haven’t told her about Jason. I push it aside, though, and turn to head out the door.
“Ok, Mom, we’ll be out for a bit. I’ll text if I’m going to be late.”
“Ok. Bye, hun!” Mom calls, as I practically drag Bast out the door.
As we make it down the stairs, Bast pulls me up, wrapping me in his arms. “Are you ok?”
I take a deep breath to settle my nerves, and as I place my hands on his strong chest, I look up into his sapphire eyes that sparkle in the streetlights. “Yes, she just overwhelmed me with the whole ‘let me meet the boyfriend’ bit.”
“So I’m the boyfriend, huh?” he asks, a smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. His very kissable mouth that draws my attention.
“Well,” I begin, matching his smirk. “Maybe. Or I could say one of them.” The temptation to flirt is so strong when I’m around him, and now, I don’t have to hold back. I move my hands up and over his shoulders, tucking them under his hoodie. “I guess it all depends.”
He cocks an eyebrow up, inquiring about my stipulation. Sneakily, I pull my hands around, swipe the beanie from his head, and duck under his arms as I start backing away toward his Land Rover. I plop the beanie on my head and continue to say, “It depends on if I can wear your beanie. I left the one you and Corey bought me upstairs, and no way am I going back up and risk getting delayed by Mom.”
The smirk he was wearing only intensifies, and with his mussed-up hair, my thong is now completely destroyed.Fuck, going on a date and keeping my hands off him is going to be harder than I thought.
He walks me to his SUV and opens the door; but as I walk around him to take the seat, he leans in and whispers, “Just so you know, I can't believe I get to be with you. Take you out, wrap you in my arms. I’ve waited weeks to be able to lean down and take your lips with mine. You, Angel, have been worth the wait.” With those last few words ghosting across my jaw, his lips brush my own, before he rests his forehead against mine. We stay there for a brief moment, before he takes a step back, and holds a hand out to help me into the seat. Once I have my seatbelt buckled, he gently shuts the door and proceeds to walk around the front. I have to fan myself for a moment, but I definitely don’t miss him adjusting himself when he thinks I can’t see.
Damn, I’m so glad he’s bringing me straight home after our date. If we were going somewhere we could get comfortable, I may not have the restraint to hold back. As soon as I think that, thoughts of Jason flood my mind, and how he’d call me a slut and a whore, and how he said I’d be his. It’s been a few days since I’d thought of him, and of course, it’s triggered by my sexual thoughts. Well,fuck him.I’m not any of those things. I’m not a slut or a whore, or even his to claim.
The mood swing I had must have been evident, because as soon as Bast opens the door, and takes his seat, he asks, “Is everything ok? Should I not have said or done that? I’m ok with taking things slow, for you.”
Sighing, I reassure him. “No, I’m fine. Well, as fine as I can be. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did everything right. I just wish I wasn’t so damaged sometimes.”
