The Deep Spark by KttySaysRawr (recommended ebook reader .txt) 📕

PROLOGUE

1993

"James!" James turned and little Althea ran towards him. Her dirty blonde strawberry curls bounced around her face. James smiled when she finally made it to him, and laughed a little when she couldn't get out what she wanted to say.
"Spit it out, Althea!" James managed to say between breaths.
Althea held up a finger and stood up straight. "Get down on your right knee." Her voice was firm and James looked utterly confused. Althea huffed and crossed her arms. "Do it." James complied this time and Althea held out her left hand. She told James to take it in his own and he obeyed. "Now, repeat after me: Althea, will you marry me?" James blushed and almost protested, but Althea had that look on her face; the look that promised him a world of pain if he didn't do what she said.
It was funny how an eight year old had so much power over a ten year old. James sighed. "Althea, will you marry me?"
Althea smiled. "Yes." She pulled James to his feet and hugged him. "See, James? Now we can never apart! This promise is forever. Just like our parents. When we grow up, we'll have a huge wedding with all of our friends and families. It'll be great!"
At the time, being the normal ten year old boy he was, James didn't care. But the thought of never being away from his best friend was something he liked.
"Yeah, Althea, great, but couldn't we have waited until we were grown up like our parents?"
Althea frowned. "No way! By then, we probably would have found someone else! I don't want that to happen, James!"
James sighed. Althea always got melodramatic when it came to their friendship. He smiled despite himself. "I guess that's true. Alright, Althea. We will have a huge wedding, I promise." Althea squealed in delight and hugged James.
It was all planned out. It was perfect. It was their promise. They had their lives planned out. It was the perfect fairytale.
Yet life somehow sneaks is way in, ready to ruin what could of been perfect.

CHAPTER 1
2001

Loud music blared through the speakers placed around the living room. Bodies meshed together in a joke of a dance as the alcohol overtook the brain. And in one corner stood a blonde beauty.
She looked calm, slightly impatient and unbelievably sober. Her sparkling blue-green eyes searched the room as she bit her lip. Where is he?
"Excuse me." The low mumble came from a robust boy making his way through the sea of bodies. As he made his way, countless girls paused to look appreciably at his tall form. Yet his eyes never wavered from his target.
"James," she sighed once he stood beside her. He grinned in such a boyish way that she found herself smiling back.
He swept back his bangs and handed her a plastic cup. "Soda for the lady." Giggling, she took the cup with exaggerated elegance.
"Why thank you kind sir," her eyes twinkled with mischief as she took a sip. Making a face at the flat soda, she set the cup down on the floor.
James leaned on the wall and draped his arm around her shoulders. Leaning into his embrace comfortably, she looked up into his face to see a pair of pale blue eyes looking down at her. "Who could of thought Althea?"
A smirk graced her features. "That you'd be such a gentleman?" A low chuckle rumbled through his chest and vibrated to Althea, giving her delicious shivers.
He relaxed his head back and closed his eyes. "I graduated," he whispered.
Althea's face softened when she heard his earnest tone. Senior year was always tough, yet James had faced extra hardships with the death of his mother so soon after his parent's divorce. Smoothing back his hair, she spoke quietly. "I wouldn't have expected any less from you." She paused and rested her hand on his cheek. "Your mom would be proud."
When he opened his eyes, she saw that they were glistening with unshed tears. A smile appeared when he nodded. He took his arm from around her and teasingly pulled on a wayward curl. "What about you?"
She lifted her chin defiantly. "I've done just fine." Again that chuckle that warmed her so.
"Little Miss Early Scholarship did just fine?" She nodded.
"You're wrong." His warm breath fanned her ear and she jerked her eyes open in surprise to find his head so close. His tanned hand closed around her ponytail and she could taste his breath on her lips.
Her breathing became ragged and her eyelids began to close. He tilted his head down and clasped her neck with his other hand. Their lips brushed each other tentatively, cautiously.
"James! Althea!" They jumped apart with a jolt at hearing their names. A lean boy straggled by, drunkenness marking his every move. He made his way to them with an almost empty beer bottle in his hand.
"Hello Kurt." Althea gave the boy a gracious smile. James nodded in his direction, a scowl set on his face.
"You two enjoying the party?"
"Yeah. Having a hellova time." James lips barely moved as he spoke, a sign anybody else would of taken to back off. Kurt, in a sweet drunken oblivion, just nodded his head eagerly.
The pale boy smiled at Althea. "What about you sweetheart?"
She nodded, "It's been," she snuck a glance at her friend, "interesting." His jaw hardened at her choice of words. Kurt opened his mouth to speak, but she intervened. "Excuse guys, I'm going to the patio for some air."
She squeezed past the rest of the teenagers, feeling James gaze burning into her back. Resisting the temptation to look back, she walked out into the cool night breeze. Stepping out of the screened area, she strolled though the backyard.
Althea pasted by garden shrubs and flower beds, finally choosing to lay down on the hammock. She closed her eyes and relaxed, letting her mind catch up with the nights events.
What if James had truly kissed her? Would she kiss him back?
Hell yeah

, she thought. How long had she been waiting for him to make a move? Months? Years? Groaning, she turned on her side.
Suddenly, a firm hand dropped on her hip. Her heart lurched in her chest. It slowly moved up towards her breast, brushing the underside. Biting her lip to hold back a moan, she moved back. "James?" she whispered into the dark.
"That wimp isn't getting near your hot ass," the stranger said on a raspy laugh.
She shot up and pushed his hand away. Focusing her eyes on the shadowed figure, she made out broad shoulders and cold black eyes. "What the hell do you want Guy?" She mentally kicked herself for her unsteady tone.
"Same thing as any other guy," she felt him move closer, "a chick to fuck."
He stifled her scream with his hand and dove his free one under her shirt. Her eyes stinging with tears, she fought to move away. Ignoring her flailing hands, he squeezed her bra clad breast. She whimpered in pain and tears began to fall down her cheeks.
Guy licked them away in a mock gesture of care. "There, there," he mumbled. His hand slipped under the lacy material and painfully pinched her nipple. His breathing became harsher the more she struggled. "Fucking bitch."
He lifted her shirt up and used both hands to grip her breasts. Althea took a deep breath as soon as her mouth was released.
"James!" Her shriek was the last thing she heard before Guy's hand slapped her across the face. And then, darkness.

*****

"Althea."
Who…

"Althea." That anguished voice again. She refused to open her eyes, afraid of what she might see.
"Althea!" Strong, warm hands grabbed at her and pulled her towards a firm barrier. Instead of fear, she felt secured. Her hands shook as her searched for her saviors shoulders. Hiding her face in the crook of their neck, she began to cry.
"Oh God," he whispered. The voice was deep and masculine. As a hand stroked the back of her head, she whimpered. "Althea, no one is ever going to hurt you again." She was brought even closer to his chest.
She sniffled and slowly lifted her head. Curiosity overwhelmed her and she opened her eyes. A gasp escaped her as she looked into his face. "James."
His eyes widened and he cupped her face with his hands. "I'm so glad you're okay."
She opened her mouth and struggled to find her voice again. "D-did he? Was he a-able – " She stopped as she saw his head shake.
"I heard you scream and I ran out." She saw him gulp before continuing. "I saw you without your shirt and," his face hardened, "I pushed the goddamn bastard off of you."
His hand came up and brushed away a few stray tears she hadn't realized were there. "Did he hurt you?" His face was close. Too close.
Althea slowly shook her head. "Not really." A pause ensured where he decided to play with a stray strand of her hair. "James?" He grunted. "Thank you."
An eyebrow raised in question. "What for?" She took a shuddering breath as his face seemed to get closer. "For saving me," she breathed.
"Anytime, Althea." His hand moved to her nape. "Gotta take care of my fiancée." He smirked at her startled expression, but before she could comment his lips brushed against hers. Her entire body stiffened before surrendering completely.
His lips were gentle and extremely careful, mindful of how she responded. At the subtle nudge of her lips, his lips settled more firmly. His tongue slid past her teeth in tender exploration and her lips parted with a shuddering sigh. He tasted the inside of her mouth, brushing by her tongue so softly that she wondered if it was ever there. Yet, his unforgettable taste was imprinted on her senses. Her hands came up to his cheeks and she pressed herself closer to him. Groaning, he moved his head away from hers and pressed his forehead against hers.
"The party's still on."
She brushed her lips on his. "I don't want to go back," she whispered.
"What do you want?" He moved his hand through her hair.
"Home." She looked up at him behind a curtain of lashes. "You."
James picked her up and carried her with him as he walked back to the house. "James!" She clutched his neck for fear of