"Don't move. Just lay here with me. Nothing more," it whispered in Tarrin's voice. "What?! Mr. Stormway?" Tarrin's body moved to the side of her, pulling her into a hug, "Lay with me. Let me feel you." Josey was starting to freak out, but then she remembered what happened last time and Tarrin's supposed health condition. Was this another episode? "Mr. Stormway, you should let me go. This really isn't appropriate. Why don't I go downstairs and get Linux, hmm?" She tried prying his hands from her waist, but he was so strong. Then, suddenly, he pulled her to her side to face him. Laying face to face now, Josey squeezed her eyes shut. She was scared but tried not moving again, fearing setting him off. "Please let me go, Mr. Stormway. You'll remember this and then be mad at me for it." Tarrins voice came out, whispering, "Never, you are mine. Not his, mine." "But," she started to say before his lips were suddenly on hers. Tarrin was the backseat driver. The mutation had taken ove
"Mara, are you hungry? I can make you something," Cece asked, hiding behind the fridge door and feeling a bit nervous being alone with her crush. Mara responded, trying to act cool, "Nah, I'm good. I ate some pizza earlier. Thanks, though." "Oh, pizza, okay, sure. Do you want something to drink instead?" Mara shook her head, "I'm good, really." Cece nodded, "Okay, well, I'll be over here cooking." She kept her back to Mara and scolded herself, wondering if she sounded too pushy or eager. Josey's friend quickly washed some celery and got a knife out to slice it for soup. But, not paying attention as she was lost in thought about Mara, the knife slipped and cut Cece's finger. "Oweee," she yelped, and before she could blink, Mara was next to her. "You cut yourself... here," Mara said, grabbing a paper towel and wrapping it around Cece’s finger. "When Josey gets out of the bathroom, we should put some antiseptic on it," Mara continued to say, holding Cece's hand. "I'm so stupi
Tarrin had trouble sleeping. So after Linux left him alone upstairs, he again got on his laptop to check the cameras outside Josey’s home. He barely could see movement in the house but felt assured they had made it. Finally, after what seemed like a few hours, he closed the laptop and tried sleeping. The incident with the mutation ran circles around his mind, and for the first time in a while, he had a dream. The woods were cool, and a dense fog surrounded him. Only when he looked up could he see tall pines surrounding him. “Well, this is interesting,” he said aloud as he started wandering around. Suddenly as he was walking, he heard a growl and stopped. An irritated deep voice came from behind him. “About time you showed up. We gotta talk.” Tarrin, not one to get scared quickly, turned around and noticed a wolf sitting on his haunches behind him. The black fur glistened silver from the misty fog hitting its coat. Its eyes, the same color as his, blinked several times, almost
“Okay, hold on, so you’re saying my father must have taken your blood and used it in a serum on me, and that’s why you are here, in my head?” The wolf turned and nodded, “Yes, to put it simply.” Tarrin stood and started pacing. “I mean, if this was some fairytale, sure, I could believe it. But the science says you are a disease, a mutation constantly fighting to take over.” If wolves could shrug, this one would have. “Maybe that is what I am, a mutation, but it’s straightforward. Who do you think would win if you and I were stuck in a box, fighting to get out?” Tarrin eyed him before stomping and heading back the way they came. “We are done here. You won’t be getting out of anything or taking it over. That’s a fact,” he snapped and then stopped, looking back at the wolf, “and another thing, don’t you ever, EVER, lay my hands on Josey again. She’s scared of me now because of you!” The wolf suddenly fell back, rolling with laughter. “Ha, you think you can stop me? Good luck. The
“Yes, reservation for two, private. Thank you,’ hanging up the call with the restaurant he booked for after the recital. Tarrin felt a bit sure of himself now. “Yeah, throwing money around is great, but that’s not how you’re going to win her heart. She isn’t like the rest of them, Tarrin Stormway. I hope you come to realize her worth,” the wolf said, getting nervous Tarrin was making a mistake, that he may make Josey distance herself further. “Hush, what do you know? You lived before there was indoor plumbing!” The wolf scoffed, “That is a lie, and you know it!” Tarrin shook his head, “Doesn’t matter. I am not doing this to impress her.” “Lie.” “I mean, she should be impressed naturally, but I’m doing this as an apology for getting her involved in my problems,” Tarrin said out loud in response. “Lie again.” “Uhg, just shut up and leave me alone.” He yelled, turning to stomp down the rest of the stairs. Linux was standing there at the bottom, staring at him. “Lab, now!” Tarri
They stood outside in the cold midmorning air after Mara dropped them off in front of HighFlowers. “I’m not sure what you’re up to, but I don’t want to go in there,” Josey said finally, turning to leave. Tarrin turned her back around and gently pushed her forward, “You will go in there, like it or not.” Finally walking through the silver and etched glass door, Josey stopped fighting against his insisting and looked around. The brand store was huge, and being high-end, Tarrin and Josey were immediately greeted. “Hello! Welcome to HighFlowers, right this way, Mr. Stormway,” a female attendant said, ignoring Josey and gesturing Tarrin to a lavish seating area. “I won’t be staying. Ms. Parks here is to be cared for in every aspect. We will attend a recital tonight, so please see that she is well-dressed. I will need a driver to bring her to Hydelos in an hour.” The woman nodded and looked at Josey a minute before saying, “An hour? No problem!” She then clapped her hands as sever
Tarrin watched as Josey hesitated, looking at the many dishes in front of her. “Look, if you want to apologize for yesterday, apology accepted. You don’t have to go through all this for me. I’m just your employee,” she said, looking at him confused and glancing at the tulip bouquet on the table’s edge. Tarrin cleared his throat, “I... I know. This isn’t an apology. I’m in the public eye, so having you dressed properly is strictly for my benefit. Eating is just a necessity, and I was craving the food here, which you also benefit from. I didn’t want you, I mean us, going and sitting through the recital with our stomachs growling.” Tarrin glanced at her, trying to read her response, but she simply nodded and gently grabbed a bite of food. In the background, the sound of the violin played in tune with the waterfall while they ate in peace. Now and then, Tarrin caught himself stealing glances at Josey. He was still enamored by how beautiful she looked. “Say something. You’re blowing
Tarrin and Josey were ushered to the VIP seating, where they could see the concert hall’s stage. It was a perk of Tarrin’s company funding the upgrades of the hall and supporting the students. “I’m impressed. Who knew I would end up inside someone with such pull,” the wolf commented in Tarrin’s head. Grinning in a cocky manner, Tarrin sat next to Josey, secretly glancing at her. “Wow, I can’t believe the number of people here for the recitals. I bet Emily’s nervous,” Josey said, looking over the seated crowd below. Tarrin nodded, “The recital is a good start for many students planning their musical future. Scouts and certain company exec’s come looking for a promising start to represent.” “Speaking of company executives, do you smell that? I think it’s, damn, we have company,” the wolf whispered in Tarrin’s mind. Tarrin rolled his eyes and looked around. He didn’t know what he was smelling, but then the familiar cologne of Jared Hunter hit his nose before he spotted the CEO