Luminescence Trilogy: Complete Collection Read online

  I grinned back at him. I didn’t want any awkwardness or guilt lying between us.

  “Are you busy tomorrow?” he asked.

  I silently groaned and wished more than anything that I wasn’t busy. Relishing in the few moments we had alone together, I stalled. “Sorry, it’s movie night with Tori and Austin.”

  His face fell slightly, but I was sure it was all in my imagination. He reached around me to open my door, brushing my body in the process. My belly jumped on contact, and I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the near-death experiences. Maybe it was because he never let me down, and no matter what might lurk inside of him, he made me feel incredible, like no one else ever had.

  I leaned into him before he had a chance to pull away and put my hand on his waist, steadying myself. He smelled like the woods at night, and I wanted time to cease. I didn’t know if it was him or me who made the move, but if I had to guess, it was me.

  His lips melted to mine in a searing kiss that whisked my head to the clouds. Both his hands went on either side of the car, boxing me in. His hands never touched me, but I swore they were everywhere.

  Our lips rushed over each other, caught in a pleasure like I felt never before. The silver hoop from his lip danced with my tongue, and I loved the coolness against the heat in my mouth. Toying with his mouth, I tempted him to take the plunge.

  His lips broke from mine to trail down my throat and over the pulse that hammered there. “You taste like strawberries,” he murmured against my neck, causing a shudder to rack through my body. Our mouths met again. My nails dug into his silky hair, his name tumbling from my lips, and with the moonlight overhead, I gave into him. Where Gavin was concerned, I had no control.

  We were so wrapped up in each other that at first neither of us noticed the beam of headlights. They came out of nowhere, shooting across his driveway and putting a spotlight directly on us. Gavin and I sprang from each other’s arms. Shaken, Gavin ran a hand through his messy hair and jammed both hands in his pockets. I sunk back against the car, hugging my arms over my chest.

  Jared walked up, dimples on display. “That was hot,” he said as he passed us on his way into the house.

  The moment was broken, even while my insides were still humming.

  “See you Monday,” Gavin said huskily as I got into the car.

  I gave a little wave and he shut the door.

  My heart pounded the whole way home, and it wasn’t until I got in the driveway that I realized I’d missed my chance to ask Jared what his ability was. My mind had been too muddled with the addicting taste of Gavin.

  Chapter 21

  Movie night with my best friends was never without its drama. I really wanted to get our friendship back on track. It was never my plan to suddenly get boy crazy. We hardly did any of the things we used to, and it was eating at me. So I was on my way to Tori’s, where she and Austin were no doubt picking some horrid slasher movie. We’d been doing this exact thing since we were in grade school.

  Tori had a theatre room on the first floor of her big house. It was seriously large. Her Tudor-style brick home was on the other side of Holly Ridge, and the driveway was like a mile long, equipped with a gated entrance. I let myself in through the double front doors. The house echoed as my shoes clattered over the tile. Tori’s stepmother was probably at some outrageously priced spa, and her dad lived at work.

  I could hear bickering coming from down the vast hall, and I smiled. Just like old times, arguing over which movie. I kicked off my shoes and headed down the hallway. The smells hit me the closer I got. Popcorn. Butter. Brownies. They were our signature snacks, and we were creatures of habit. She had one of those old-fashioned popcorn makers; I could hear the pop-pop-pop noise as I pushed open the door.

  The two of them were standing in front of the towering shelf that housed movies of every genre lining the back wall. “What did I miss?” I said, drawing their gazes toward the doorway. Tori had lit the pillar candles around the room. Their sweet aroma mixed with the savory smell of buttery popcorn.

  “Good, you’re just in time,” Tori replied, the bangs of her light brown hair hanging over her chocolate eyes.

  “So, what are we watching?” I asked, dropping into one of the huge leather recliners.

  “It’s a toss-up between the new Saw or Final Destination. Tori’s being a diva,” Austin answered, giving Tori the side eye, hand on his hip.

  They were always on each other. They enjoyed squabbling, like an old married couple.

  “I am seriously not the only diva in this room,” Tori retorted, pushing the hair from her face.

  “How about I pick the movie this time?” I suggested, thinking I could end this before it got out of hand.

  “No,” they unanimously bellowed.

  “Final Destination is fine,” Tori conceded, pulling out the case.

  Predictable. If there was one thing Tori and Austin could agree on, it was that my taste in films sucked. Whatever. As long as we got to hang out, that was all I cared about.

  Tori popped in the movie as Austin and I grabbed the snacks and settled in our preferred seats. When the movie began to play, Tori hit the lights.

  Austin reclined his seat beside me, and handed me a bowl of popcorn with a brownie on top. I settled in, grabbing a handful of popcorn as the credits rolled.

  “You better not jump in my lap,” Austin warned. It was a known fact that I tended to flinch during scary films.

  “Funny, just remember you sat next to me. It’s not my fault if you lose an arm.” I couldn’t help it, scary movies made me skittish.

  “Sometimes you’re more fun than the movie,” he teased, but I’m sure there was truth to it.

  I threw a piece of popcorn at his head and then shoved a handful in my mouth.

  “You’re going to regret that later,” he threatened. It was only a matter of time before he got me back. “Where’s dark and sexy tonight? You should have brought him along. He could have been dessert.” Austin practically drooled at the prospect, and I was right there with him. I hated to admit it, but I missed him. A ton.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t think about it.” Not completely true. I always thought of him.

  “Does he taste as good as he looks?” Austin purred.

  “Better,” I assured, both of us grinning wickedly. I refocused my attention back into the movie, which was difficult now that I’d pictured Gavin.

  Halfway through the film, I had managed to only attack Austin once, and his arm survived. But he started to lean out of my reach. It was around then that I began to get a chill. Not the kind where I was cold, but the creeping, hair-raising kind. I tried to convince myself that it was just the movie, but my body wouldn’t listen. My concentration was blown, and I couldn’t shake the ghostly feeling that someone was watching me, like those moving eyes in a painting. The images on the projection screen long forgotten, I scanned the candle-lit room, trying to find the source of my discomfort. I made a mental note to ask Gavin about ghosts. In the meantime, I was going to pretend this paranormal activity was a hoax.

  “Austin, knock it off,” I whispered, even though I knew he wasn’t the responsible party.

  “What?” he asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.

  “Nothing,” I grumbled, incapable of shaking the negative vibes that had started to crawled over my skin like centipedes. It was like being trapped on my own horror set. Even scarier, no one else knew it. Real evil existed, and it made me more on edge.

  The vibe permeated the air and slithered along the floor, insinuating itself between the recliners. There wasn’t anything visible to be seen, but I could picture it all the same. My eyes ran over the row of recliners behind us, and I tucked my feet underneath me. No way was that creepy thing tugging on my toes.

  “What are you staring at?” Austin whispered, eyeballing me in the dark.

  He rattled me out of my trance. I had to pull my eyes from the floor. “Nothing,” I mumbled, not wanting h
im to think I was off my rocker, a valid consideration.

  “Are you sure? No offense, but you look pale and your eyes are weird.” He was watching me oddly.

  Tori leaned out over her chair. “What is going on?”

  A sweeping wind came barreling across the room. I studied both of their faces, waiting for the astonished look. It never came. Conclusion: only I could sense the voodoo that was happening in this room. The breeze had given me goose bumps, and the instinct to run. It prickled at the back of my neck, making the room cold. Moments later the room was engulfed in darkness, the flames from the candles extinguishing.

  That got their attention.

  Tori gasped.

  “What the hell,” Austin complained.

  “That was bizarre,” Tori added, pausing the movie.

  An understatement and she took the words from my mouth. Movie night was over for me. I needed to get out of here before I did something completely irrational and stupid, like tell Tori that her house was haunted by ghosts, or that we were being hunted by some supernatural being. My mind could come up with about ten other crazy concoctions, none good.

  Instinct told me it was time for me to leave. Never mess with instinct. I sat up. “I’m sorry, guys, but need to go home. I’m not feeling well.” My excuse wasn’t totally bogus, if you factored in my mental health.

  “You need to get home before your ass faints on us,” Austin proclaimed. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  A hysteric laugh escaped my lips.

  “Are you sure you can drive?” Tori put on her mother hat.

  “I’ll be fine.” I got up to grab my things. “I’ll text you when I get home.”

  As soon as I shut the front door, I raced down her driveway and slammed myself into my car. Quickly locking the doors, I turned the key and shifted in reverse. The need to escape was wild inside me. I needed distance from whatever that thing in Tori’s house had been. I was convinced it was definitely a thing.

  The moment my wheels came to stop outside my house, I shoved my free into my purse, digging for my phone.

  He answered on the second ring, “Are you okay?” It was as if he could sense my panic. No hello or what’s up.

  “Are there ghosts?” My voice pitched even as I tried to keep the psychotic from leaking out.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know. I mean, I do know. It’s just…” And here came the crazy rambling. Get a hold of yourself. I took a deep breath and started again. “I was wondering if there are ghosts here…with us?”

  He was silent on the other end, not a good sign. “There are some spirits that walk this plane. Where are you? I’m coming to get you,” he demanded.

  “I’m at home, sitting in my driveway,” I told him.

  “I’m on my way over.” He hung up, never giving me the chance to object. Typical.

  The dial tone rang in my ear. I looked at the clock. It was late and by the look of the house, my aunt was likely asleep. I never snuck a boy into my house before, but there was a first time for everything. “Great,” I mumbled, gripping the steering wheel.

  Killing the lights, I grabbed my phone and purse from the passenger seat, and made a mad dash across the yard.

  Ugh. My house key. I should have had it ready, instead of sitting somewhere at the bottom of my bag with loose Tic Tacks and gum wrappers. I rummaged for my house key, turning toward the house and bumped into something solid.

  “Shit!” I yelped, looking up into to Gavin’s shadowy face. “You scared the hell out of me.” My hand flew to my chest as my heart stuttered.

  He put a finger to his mouth and hushed me. “You’re going to wake up the whole block.”

  “Me,” I said. Glancing at the rear of my car where a little white Jetta parked behind it. “That’s not your car.”

  He raised the eyebrow with the silver bar. “I know. I borrowed my mom’s. My car would wake the dead, and I figured that wasn’t such a good idea this late.”

  He was killing me here. I ran a hand through my hair and leaned back against the door. “How did you get here so fast?” He didn’t live far, but it had been a minute since we got off the phone.

  “Have you seen me drive? Though the Jetta doesn’t have the greatest pick-up.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Let’s get inside.” I was still freaked out, but I was feeling better with Gavin here.

  Cracking the front door, I peered inside, checking to make sure my aunt was indeed sleeping. The coast looked clear. All the lights were turned off except for the one above the kitchen sink. I weaved my fingers with his and slowly walked through the hall and up the stairs to my room.

  I closed the door carefully behind us and turned the lock with a tiny click. He’d been in my room before, but never in the middle of the night.

  My clothes smelled like popcorn and probably had butter stains smeared on them. “I need to get out to these clothes. I’ll be right back,” I whispered. “Don’t move.”

  He grinned devilishly at me.

  This was going to be a long night.

  A small bathroom was connected to my room. Convenient, especially in times like this. I rushed to change into the first thing I found, a tank and shorts, and ran a comb over my hair before I brushed my teeth. For the final touch, I applied a coat of strawberry lip gloss.

  He was sitting on my bed when I emerged, looking sinful and a bit impatient. I stood at the door for a moment, feeling nervous, jittery, and energized all at once. His gaze flew to my face as I walked across the room and sat cross-legged on the bed beside to him.

  “Tell me what happened?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

  The room was dimly lit by an ornate desk lamp. “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.”

  “I can tell you’re upset. If it was nothing, you wouldn’t have called me,” he reasoned.

  He was right. All true. I sighed. “I was at Tori’s, and we were watching a movie in her theatre room. I started to feel this… presence, I guess. It was as if we weren’t alone. The room got cold, and a gust of wind blew through. It’s hard to describe.” I bite my lip. “I couldn’t see anything, but I felt it. Does that make any sense?”

  He nodded, his eyes glowing in the lamplight. “Yeah, it makes perfect sense. You’re a magnet for trouble.”

  I grabbed the nearest thing I could find and chucked it at his head. He caught the pillow midair and grinned at me. “So not funny. I thought you would take this seriously.”

  “I am. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Go on. I swear I’ll behave.”

  I gave him a sideways glance before I continued. “And then, I started thinking about ghosts. Tori had a lit a bunch of candles earlier, and they all went out at the same time. It was so strange.” What I didn’t say was, how bad whatever it was had made me feel.

  “I leave you for one night and you start hanging out with the wrong crowd.” He was making light of the situation to ease my nervous, but I caught the tone of caution under the teasing. “I’m sure it was a spirit. What I don’t know is if they were seeking you specifically or something in Tori’s house.”

  My fingers tugged on the bedding. “It felt personal,” I grudgingly admitted.

  “That’s what I’m worried about.” There were lines of apprehension lining his forehead.

  “I don’t understand,” I groaned, lying down on the bed.

  He followed, lying next to me, our faces no more than a breath away. We both stared up at the ceiling. He swirled his hand in the air. “You should get some sleep. We can worry about it another day.”

  I watched as sparkling stars shot and danced over the ceiling. Their tails left stardust trailing behind them, scattering above our heads. He knew just how to distract me.

  “Don’t leave,” I said softly. The idea was wild and reckless, but I couldn’t let him go. For reasons beyond my control, I needed him. My safety depended on it. My sanity depended on it. My heart depended on it.

  He twined our fingers
together. “I won’t leave you, Bri,” he promised, opening up his other arm.

  I moved into his embrace, laying my head on his chest, and listened to the even, rapid beat of his heart. His free hand played with the strands of my hair, sending a different kind of shooting stars down each tendril. There was nothing in my world that came close to the experience of being in Gavin’s arms. I doubted there ever would be.

  Chapter 22

  I cornered him first thing in the morning at school. “Hey, what happened? You were gone when I got up this morning.” I leaned my shoulder up against his car, trying too not sound irritated. But I was. I was looking for a fight when I woke alone, and by God, he wasn’t going to disappointment me.

  He shut the door to his Charger. “Calm down, Bri.” His controlled tone only increased my annoyance. I was anything but calm.

  The sky was sunless and gray when I’d left my house, and those dark clouds seem to grow with my anger. Teeth clenched together, a surge of fury rushed me. “Don’t tell me to calm down.” Each word layered the streaming heat pumping in my veins. It was slipping out of my control again, and there was nothing I could do about it.

  People began to take notice of us in the parking lot, but they were the least of my concerns.

  “Okay. I won’t,” he answered to composed for my liking.

  “Don’t patronize me,” I hissed. The sky darkened and clouds rolled in turmoil above.

  A small crowd had stopped and glanced our way. “I think we should go somewhere else to finish this,” he advised, lowering his voice.

  Throwing my arms in the air the, wind started to howl, picking the ends of my hair. “I don’t care about them,” I barked.

  He took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to best handle me. “Look Bri, I had a good reason for leaving. I was looking out for you.”

  “How was that looking out for me?” I yelled at the same time the sky opened up and crackled with lightning, then exploding with thunder. The oncoming storm fed the anger I was feeling, feeding it with its electrifying currents.