Unraveling Sarah Cresley by Marisa Maichel (best summer books .txt) 📕

"Hush, Reese. None of this is your fault. The girl in the hospital is in a coma because I targeted her."

"I should not have bitten her. She was only seventeen!"

"She'll survive, Reese. I will send her family a large sum of money from an anonymous source to cover the bills. Actually, her family is under investigation for letting things get out of control. It was their fault she was on the streets selling herself."

He nudged me with his nose. I hissed at him. He hissed back, and buried his face in my shoulder. He pecked my temple.

"Sarah..." I whispered. "I have to go see her. Where is she?" I looked up at Father, who was in a vision. When he came out moments later, he spoke.

"She is in her bedroom. She is moaning about her lack of money. She's thinking about getting a job again."

"I thought she was part of our-"

"She is, but we've yet to give her anything. If she continues down the path she's going, she will not be a part of our family anymore. And she will die if she's not careful."

"Die?! Father, I can't lose her! I love her!"

"I know, son. Go, get her back."

~~~~~~~~~

Ten minutes later, I was climbing up the ivy to her window. There was a dull ache in my chest. She had her head on her knees, and she looked sad. I started to open the window. When I was halfway through, she finally saw me. She ran toward me and pulled me in. She was awfully strong for her size. She kissed me furiously.

When she finally pulled away, she took in a breath and kissed me again. And I kissed back. She tasted like mint.

"I was hoping you'd come back," she said, tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Reese. I was dumb and stupid and afraid. And Alexander's mad at me, and I only have a hundred bucks in my checking account, which I know is a lot for my age, but it's been so long since it was that low, and I was used to having at least five hundred, and I know I've had lower, but it still feels crappy, and I missed you, and I'm sorry, and I can't stop throwing up, and the baby hates me, and none of my jeans fit, so I have to wear sweatpants and athletic shorts, and I'm fat and miserable!"

Her rambling ceased and she buried her face in my chest.

"I missed you too, and you're not fat," I said. "I will go shopping with you again if you need me to."

"I thought you hated shopping?"

"I do, I loathe shopping, but I know how happy it will make you. And I brought you something." I held up the flower. She looked amazed.

"Oh, Reese, I love gardenias, even more than I love roses and daisies and carnations! And they smell so yummy." She took the white flower and sniffed it. "Where did you find it?"

"I have my ways," I said, grinning. Actually, I'd bought at the supermarket, but she didn't need to know that. She burst into tears and started sobbing. I held her, rubbing her back. I pulled her to the bed. When she stopped crying, she held onto me for a long time.

"Why did you have a seizure?" I asked.

"Stress," she said. "That's what the doctor said. My brain activity is too high."

"Oh, Sarah, I'm so sorry," I said.

"Don't be. It happened, and there's nothing that can change it. I'm just an overthinker." I pulled her close to me and pushed her onto the bed.

"Will you allow me to take your shirt off?" I asked. She looked at me as if I were crazy.

"Of course," she said. "But first, close the window and the curtains. It's cold, and I get the feeling that we're being watched." I did as she asked.

I slowly slid her purple shirt off of her. Her bra was lacy and black. I purred at the sight.

"Will you allow me to take off your shorts?" I asked.

"Do, it, Reese." I took off my own shirt, then slid off her shorts. I undid the button and zipper on my jeans. My stomach tensed and contracted as our bodies made contact. Her abdomen was warm, yet her chest felt cold. I kissed her. She kissed back. I ran my tongue over her lips, asking for permission. She granted it. I noticed how small she was compared to me, and that made a bit of pleasure roll through me. I only felt protective of her. I was her shield. Her guardian.

She started to slide off my jeans, and I kicked off my boots and socks. Soon, I was only in my boxers. It only seemed fair, considering that she was also only wearing underwear.

"Do you want me to stay where I am, or will you allow me to add more pressure?" I asked.

"More pressure," she said, and I lowered myself so that I was covering her completely. My belly tied itself into a knot.

"I love you," I said.

"I love you more."

"Oh, sweet one, that is simply not possible. I love you far more." I took off my boxers. She slid off her underwear, and we made love. It was incredible. The universe opened up, babies were born (ha), kittens made friends with dogs, and so on and so forth.

I tried to be gentle with her. I went slowly at first, then she asked me go to harder and faster, and so I granted her wish. We lay sated an hour later, covered in Sarah's sweat. I wished I could go longer, but in her condition, I dared not.

She pulled me into her bathroom, where we showered together. I let her hog most of the water, and remained gentle as I ran shampoo through her long tresses. She rinsed off, then I ran conditioner through her hair. She seemed slightly embarassed, and I wondered why. We had seen each other naked before, and even had sex. Twice. Then I noticed that she had a bit of fuzz on her legs. I didn't care, and I didn't say anything about it.

She turned the water off, and I grabbed towels for both of us. She turned the fan on and grabbed her blowdryer. Minutes later, we were both dried completely and our hair tangle-free. She had lent me a comb that she never used.

"You can keep that comb," she said as I ran it through my hair one last time. "I've never used it, and probably never will."

"Did you...did you steal this comb?" I asked, and she bit her lip and turned pink.

"I might have," she admitted. "I've taken so many combs and brushes that I've lost track of them." Then she turned back to the mirror and slathered moisturizer all over herself. "Reese, can you give me a couple minutes?" she asked.

"Certainly," I said, and went back to her room.

"Reese?" I paused, and turned around slowly.

"Hey, Sabine. Hello, Alicia."

"I didn't see you come in," Alicia said.

"Mom, you were at the grocery store for two hours," Sabine said. "Why are you naked, anyway, except for a towel?"

"I...um...Sarah and I..." A look of understanding crossed Alicia's face.

"In that case, we'll leave you alone. Come, Sabine."

Sabine threw me one last curious look before leaving. How humiliating.

~~~~~~~~~

Sarah came out of the bathroom ten minutes later, her legs shaved.

"Your mother and sister saw me," I said. She cursed.

"Did they say anything?"

I recounted our brief conversation.

"I'm screwed," she moaned.

"What do you mean? Will you get in trouble?"

"Not with my mother, but Sabine will ask endless questions." I chuckled at her dramatics. She changed into sweatpants and a tank top. Then sat on my lap. She did leave the door open, however, so in a moment we were greeted by Spunk. He jumped on the bed and started licking my face.

"Have you ever had a dog?" Sarah asked.

"No, I haven't. My mom had a dog, though, before she left."

"Interesting. Spunk, leave him alone." Spunk ceased licking me and started sniffing me instead, pushing his nose into my crotch. "He thinks you're part of the pack now," Sarah said.

"What does Coffee think of me?"

"I doubt she cares, to be honest. She spends half her time napping and the other half chewing on Sabine's clothes."

"Is she your dog?"

"She was supposed to be mine, but she seems to like Sabine more."

"How? You're much sweeter than Sabine, no offense meant to your sister."

"None taken, and that's exactly right. Coffee's not that sweet, and her personality clashes with mine."

"Who does Spunk belong to?"

"He's technically Sabine's dog, but he prefers Mom. I named him, though, and Sabine named Coffee."

"So everything worked out."

"You could say that again. Spunk, that's enough. Where's your stuffed alligator?" Spunk wagged his tail and jumped down. He started exploring the room.

Sarah shooed him out and closed the door. We laid on her bed and cuddled.

"Sarah," I said, sitting up. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" She sat up as well.

"I...I'm....you could say that I'm on a special diet. I drink..." I trailed off as someone appeared at the window. He opened the window and stepped into the room. Sarah looked back, and seemed unfazed by his appearance.

"Alexander," I said, stomach tightening.

CHAPTER 18- WARMTH & COLDNESS

Alexander closed the window and the curtains.

"Reese," he said, turning around. He smelled the air. "Did you harm her?"

"No, I didn't," I said nervously. I kept one arm around Sarah. Alexander frowned, grabbed Sarah by the shoulders, and began smelling her, checking her for injuries. He paid special attention to her middle.

"The fetus is unharmed," he decided. He eyed me suspiciously. "You fucked her."

"Please don't kill me," I whimpered like a coward. He stared at me, then threw his head back and laughed.

"If she wasn't pregnant, I would have fucked her as well," he said proudly. "I would have been less gentle with her." I had him by the throat in a split second.

"I would've said no," Sarah said, crossing her arms over her stomach protectively.

"I would've hypnotized her," Alexander said, smirking like a fool. "Trust me, Reese, you don't protect your mate very well."

"She's mine," I growled. "And I would happily father her baby if she wanted to keep it."

"The baby is mine," Alexander rumbled.

"Alexander, I think it's time for you to leave," Sarah said. Alexander still grinned.

"As you wish, my little pepper. I will leave you alone for a while. I expect to be contacted before the next ultrasound, however, and I wish to be there. You have my number, Sarah. Goodbye for now."

"Pepper?" I said to Sarah when he left.

"That's the first time anyone's called me that."

We cuddled for a bit longer before I had to go, or Father would be out of his mind with worry. Besides, I had to report what Alexander had done anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To say that Father was upset would be an understatement. He agreed to start giving her money. She was part of the family now, and officially had our assets as well. Her mother and sister would be included or excluded according to her wishes. Father hacked into the bank and sent money to her account.

He asked me if I knew how to hotwire a car. I shook my head, and he asked Uncle Soren to teach me. As soon as my uncle had finished teaching me, Father insisted that return to my studies.

School was dull. Sarah and I both stopped sitting at Mason's table for similar reasons. People constantly asked her about the baby, or they made assumptions abou it, which were usually wrong. Ariella was not speaking to me, and I was confused as to why.

When I asked Uncle Soren about it, he changed the subject, then broke down and admitted that he and Ariella were no longer together. He admitted that he missed her terribly. I became angry and told him that she only saw him as a good fuck. I barely missed his fist heading for my nose, and ran up to my bedroom where I hid for