Chapter 14

I opened my mouth to ask questions but, in the end, I only stared at him slightly taken aback by his offer. I glanced at Rufus and Kate; they were watching us intensely. Quentin was fully committed to me and now he wanted to make me feel better, so instead of worrying and analysing if this was a good idea, I smiled.
“I'd love to go to Brighton with you."
Quentin beamed. Kate was smiling when we said our goodbyes and left. I called Mum on my way to the apartment telling her that we wouldn’t be coming for Sunday dinner.
"Have fun, hon. Quentin is a very handsome young man," she said before hanging up. I packed whatever I thought was necessary for a two-day trip and jumped into Quentin’s car.
"Thank you, darling. I think this is exactly what I need; a short break away from everything." I leaned over and kissed him. He gave me a wide smile and switched on the engine.
"There’s an Art and Food Festival, so we’ll have plenty to do," he said keeping his eyes on the road.
"As long we spend time together and you won’t be thinking about work."
Surprisingly, I’d never been to Brighton and I’d lived in London all my life. My parents were more settled in Cornwall and holidays abroad. I sat back and closed my eyes knowing that this weekend away was going to be paradise. I had a lot of crap on my shoulders, but I was determined to enjoy myself. I liked that Quentin was spontaneous. My stomach made a small jolt because I remembered Paris and how happy I was with Nathaniel. I seriously needed to stop thinking about Mr. Bastard and focus on my relationship with Quentin.
The journey to Brighton would’ve normally taken an hour and a half, but we left on Friday afternoon when the weekend was just about to begin. By the time we reached our hotel, it was dark outside. I smiled when I realised that Quentin booked our blissful break in a hotel looking out on the coastline. My magic was more active tonight, but I didn't want to think about blackouts.
I dragged Quentin to the shower and after getting rid of all his clothes, we showered together.
"My turn now," he muttered, lifting me up and carrying to the bed. My fingertips started sparkling and I giggled with excitement. Quentin was tall and well-built; he was also a very skilled lover. He moved on top of me, kissing my breast. I stroked his back as desire blossomed throughout my body. His mouth was on mine and his fingers started moving inside me. I groaned with pleasure ready for a long lovemaking session when we heard a knock at the door.
"Who’s that?"
"I ordered some room service to have a little nibble before dinner," he breathed out gliding his fingers up and down my stomach before he got up and put a dressing robe on.
After I had a bit to eat my energy settled down and the tingling stopped. We enjoyed our small canapés and made love straight after that. When he was inside me, kissing me throughout and touching my body with his skilled hands, I was melting away. Sometimes I compared him to Nathaniel and the way we both exploded when we were together, but right now, Nathaniel cherished another creature and I didn't matter to him anymore—unless he was drunk, which pissed me off even further.
I knew I shouldn’t make such comparisons, but I couldn’t help where my thoughts drifted. It was as if Nathaniel had ruined me completely. I thought I was okay and finally moving on, then he had to show his face back in London with a new fiancé crushing every bit of progress I’d made. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and wished he would just leave me alone and stop showing up in random places, so I could live my life without him.
Later that night, when we were in a restaurant that looked out over the sea that was shaded with darkness, we had more food and drinks. I couldn’t remember what time we went back to our room; I was completely wasted. When I fell into a blissful sleep my problems no longer existed.
The sun was pouring into the room, blinding me. The hangover hit me hard, but I stayed cuddled up to my boyfriend and listened to his slow breathing. After a few minutes, I slipped from beneath the covers and went to the balcony. It was late morning and the sky was cloudless. I inhaled, mesmerised by the sea, the view was incredible.
All of a sudden, I felt a burning sensation and had to hold onto the barrier for a brief second. My magic was back, but the wave of heat hit me hard, charging my skin with clean energy. Something wasn’t right. Since my last session I could maintain my excess magic in shields, but right now my energy was too much too bear.
My nighty stuck to my back as I took long pulls of air, concentrating, just how Tron had advised me. Breathing in through my nose helped a little but then my fingertips were on fire, melting the metal I was holding on to.
I went back inside, and the energy decreased slightly.
"Hey, baby, come back to bed," Quentin growled, obviously awake now. I felt a little lightheaded.
When he kissed me, energy rolled over my spine and then his phone started vibrating on the bedside table. For some reason I felt relieved when he turned to the other side and answered it. My breathing was shallow, and this outburst was odd. It was as if someone had tricked my magic, deliberately causing an alteration of my entire body.
"Hello, Mr. Van Rooyen," Quentin answered the phone with an abrupt tone of voice. He was annoyed.
My pulse was racing, so I rushed to the bathroom hoping that if I splashed some water on my face, it would settle my energy. When I looked at my reflection in the mirror and held my breath, my eyes began to shimmer. I was seeing small dots everywhere.
Quentin opened the door to the bathroom still holding his phone. He looked pissed off about something.
"My partner just called, he was on the way here, but he crashed his car half an hour into the drive. I need to deal with this," he said giving me an apologetic look.
"Is he okay?" I asked ignoring the tingling sensation all over my body.
"He was taken to the hospital, but the most expensive art is lying everywhere, and someone has to deal with it. I'm so sorry, Julia, I’ll be back as soon as I can."
I faked a smile.
"I'm fine, go."
Five minutes later he was gone, and I felt a little better, although my head was still pounding.
When I left the bathroom, I stared putting some clothes on wondering if I should go down for breakfast. Quentin wasn't going to be back for a couple of hours, so I needed to keep myself entertained one way or another.
Then I heard a knock at my door thinking that maybe Quentin ordered breakfast for me, so I opened it up without worrying about my appearance. When I realised who was standing at the door, I thought I was hallucinating.
He can't be here, he wouldn’t know. This is impossible.
Out of nowhere, wind ruffled my hair and my skin sparkled. Nathaniel La Caz was in front of me and my world came crashing down.
"So, you are with the giant now?" he asked and when I failed to respond he continued. "We both know he isn't for you."
I was so shocked that I couldn't move. He walked in, pushing me away from the entrance and closed the door.
"I want you to leave right now," I demanded after a moment, ready to speak again but my voice cracked.
Nathaniel ignored me, glancing at the bed on which I made love to Quentin last night. His hair was a little longer and he was dressed casually wearing a grey jumper and jeans. My heart started to gallop out of my chest and a sudden rush of heat was circling all over me.
"Julia, please, I made mistake and I know you don’t want to hear it again, but I came to tell you that I love you!" he said approaching me.
I always thought I’d be the happiest person on the planet if Nathaniel told me he loved me, but instead pure rage and anger consumed me. My pores opened, and magic burned deep down to my core. I bared my teeth and slapped him hard, making my hand burn.
"Fuck you!" I roared levitating above the floor just an inch.
Nathaniel widened his eyes and the smile that was spread across his face disappeared. His eyes burned with heat and desire whereas I pushed away any warmth and lust that embraced my heart out of nowhere.
"I love you and I won’t stop staying this to you until you get it," he repeated with a much more softer voice, moving even closer. I took another intake of breath and slapped him again this time, much harder leaving a red mark on his cheek.
"Fuck you, Nathaniel La Caz!" I yelled but he caught my hands before I could push him away.
"I love you!" he repeated again causing an eruption of desire. Then he kissed me, and I inhaled the intense smell of cedar notes and lemons. My body fought hard, but my heart and soul urged for more. He finally let go of himself and revealed his true feelings for me. His touch brought me back to life, and in the end, I didn't have the strength to fight with him. I kissed him back, slamming into his chest. The wind inside the hotel room picked up, things started to circle around us. Nathaniel pressed his lips to my neck and I moaned as pleasure replaced the guilt. Then he sucked on my lower lip, pulling me closer to his lean body.
We were like two lost souls in the dessert who’d found each other and wouldn’t let go. His hands moved over my body, his soft lips parted, and his tongue filled me up, swirling inside my mouth.
The air around was charged with magic so pure and white it compressed the oxygen. He lifted me above the floor not pulling away, kissing me until I was breathless and filled with surging heat. His hands found my bare skin when he slammed me back on the bed. The sheets smelled of Quentin, but I pushed that thought away and started stripping down. Nathaniel got rid of his jumper and trousers, his fangs extended as his eyes lingered over my naked body. I was pulsing between my legs, then he grabbed my ankles and pushed my legs up over his shoulders, ready to enter me. He pulled his boxers down and with gleaming eyes, stared at me for a long moment, drinking me in. The voices in my head screamed at me, but my heart had never beat so fast and felt so alive. My excess magic rolled over my skin and when I was looking at him, I watched as the small dots of light began to disappear.
This felt so wrong but so right at the same time when he thrust into me, breathing hard. I cried out shutting my eyes, forgetting about what I was doing.
"I missed you, my firecracker, so much," he said in his usual lusty voice. My energy rocked through me as he continued to push in and out, squeezing my ankles and kissing my legs.
Clouds of energy and surging waves of heat collided within me; trinkets and papers were flying around us. Glasses began exploding as he picked up the pace filling me up throughout. I felt a sharp pain that was gone within a second. Nathaniel bit into my ankle and sucked in. Pure ecstasy and warmth kept passing and I cried out as my orgasm approached.
He didn't drink from me for long, but he continued to move inside me. My entire body convulsed as I roared, climaxing.
"Come for me, baby," I heard him say as he came a moment after.


***

Waves of vibrations filled my mind as we lie naked in the bed taking long pulls of air. I didn't dare look at him yet, but my heart still pounded furiously in my chest. Quentin left the hotel room at least half an hour ago. There was a possibility he could come back at any second.
Goose bumps appeared on my skin and my energy was empty, just like every other time we’d made love. These past minutes that I’d spent with Nathaniel were surreal but right now I was feeling that I’d betrayed everyone that I loved. I betrayed myself.
He turned to face me, and I swallowed hard not moving trying not to touch him, even if my body was pulling towards him. Nothing had changed.
"Julia, I always knew you were the one," he said at a near whisper. My heart melted, and although this was the happiest moment of my life, I sat up on the bed, swallowing tears.
"This can’t happen again," I hissed not caring to feel his wonderful lips on mine again.
This was wrong, and you’re a good person. How could you do that to Quentin!
Nathaniel also sat up looking at me with his deep gaze analysing my body. He reached for my face and moved my hair behind my ear.
"We’re adults and I'm going to tell Meredith about us," he said with his normal tone not taking his eyes off me.
"No, no, no. This is not going to happen again. I'm in a relationship and was happy until you came back," I added clenching my fists. This was my rational side talking, my heart bled because I refused to admit that Nathaniel took me to heaven a couple of minutes ago. His touch gave me strength and pure joy, but I couldn’t allow myself to fall for his charms once again. I’d just made a huge mistake and the guilt of it all was going to eat me alive. I’d never been one to cheat. Although I loved Nathaniel, I knew I couldn’t be with him; he was engaged to another. It didn’t matter if he said he would break things off. I couldn’t be the cause of someone else’s pain.
"Julia, stop lying to yourself. We both know that we’re destined to be together.”
"How did you even know that I was here, in Brighton?"
Nathaniel exhaled and ran his hand through his hair. His magnificent chest was exposed, and I swallowed hard, thinking about what he was doing to me couple of minutes ago. My pulse started racing faster but I pushed those thoughts away. I was a cheater, a woman who I hated.
"My mate, he’s a wizard. I asked him to track you down, so I followed you here in the morning. Then I took the room next to yours."
My throat was suddenly dry, and I wished that I could be stronger and slap him again.
"Oh, my God, it was you who I felt on the balcony. My magic made me aware that you were close!"
"I felt stronger and turned on when I saw you half naked on that balcony," he said sounding angry. "Why him? Why are you with someone who you don’t love?"
I laughed because this was the only reaction that came to me.
"That’s none of your business and I want you out of this room, out of my life. It was one moment of weakness, but that’s it!" I shouted, jumping off the bed.
What came next was unexpected but predictable. Nathaniel used his vampire speed to pin me against the wall. His naked body pressed closely to mine. I stopped breathing looking deep into his eyes feeling his hard length pressed against my thigh.
"You’re mine and you always will be, so stop pretending that you didn't want this," he whispered, sucking on my neck. Lust curled my toes and I was ready and turned on again. My mind screamed no but I was melting.
"Go back to your fiancé. You only want me because you can't have me."
He stroked my chin and kissed me. My heart leapt in my chest and I fought with my beliefs and morals because I knew that this was wrong. I became one of those other women; the kind who cheated on their boyfriends and ruined someone else’s life.
"I want you and I love you."
"Too little, too late, Nathaniel. Like I said," I paused, "We’re over, so go. I can’t take this anymore."
He was hard, even harder than before and I held my breath imaging what he could do to me if I asked him to stay. He smiled and pulled away. He was gone within minutes leaving me an emotional wreck. What have I done?