Chapter 4 – Lost Teenager

(Brielle’s POV)

My eyes squinted as I stared at the Kirkwood Residence. The baroque architecture mansion stood magnificent but silent under the starry night. Unlike my grandmother’s house, lampposts were everywhere, brightening the lawn. The mansion was seldom opened to the public because most of the time, the family never really stayed here, except for a few days for business, or maybe the owner wanted some peace of mind when escaping the city.

Dad has mentioned this place before in passing when rumors spread that there were ghosts seen in this place, while Mom shared about the Kirkwood being vampires. Still, she brushed off the idea when she and Grandma got invited to the party and personally talked to Nicolai and his wife. She saw how the couple ate at the party, appreciating the drinks and food while conversing with the locals.

No one could prove whether there were ghosts or the Kirkwood as vampires because even the locals hired to maintain the place did not see anything unusual at the mansion.

Except me.

“Interesting,” I muttered, slowly opening the gate.

I already expected dogs to bark or maybe some traps for those who enter the area uninvited, but nothing of those things I thought happened. I walked the long pavement as if wandering in a park at night, thinking this place must be really beautiful in the morning.

For an estate this big and probably has old or antique stuff inside, the tall metal gate was slightly open, and no one was guarding the place. Studying the area, there was one thing I noticed, though. It was quiet.

Really quiet.

My eyes narrowed, hoping to see something, but there was nothing unusual in this place. I was not surprised when the main door was left open, but the hands that grabbed me when I pushed the door caught me off-guard.

With the light flickering from the fireplace and his intoxicating scent, I recognized Cole immediately, not needing to use my strength and skills to attack him.

“What’s a princess doing here alone?” He asked sternly, pressing my body to the wall.

A wicked smile curved my lips. “You left me in the cold, Cole,” I said, pouting and talking seductively at him as I touched the collar of his polo shirt.

I raised my eyes, meeting his beautiful blue eyes. Squinting my eyes, I raised my hand and let my index finger trace his cheeks, moving up toward his eyebrows. “There’s something intriguing about you, Cole,” I whispered. “Your eyes -”

Before I could finish what I was about to say, he lowered his head and crushed his lips to mine. My heart pounded at the stirring emotions while kissing Cole. Giles would think I was out of my mind going here, and I wondered what the best excuse would be.

The thought of what the guys would say vanished when Cole plunged his tongue deeper and explored the inside of my mouth. I had kissed a guy before, but not as delicious and pleasurable as Cole’s. I moaned in his mouth, raising my hands and curling my fingers to his hair as desire spiraled in my body down to my core.

He caressed my face, and I felt his hand slowly gliding down to my neck as if to strangle me, but instead of fearing him, I arched my body to him as if needing more of him. His hand slid slowly to my chest, feeling my heart erratically thumping inside my body.

When Cole moved away from my mouth, I whimpered but moaned when he tilted my head, getting more access to my neck to nip and lick my skin. I shuddered, wanting to ask him if I should take my clothes off or if he wanted to do it himself. Should it be right here? Or should we at least go to his bedroom?

The sound of a high-heels click-clack on the steps of the stairs stiffened my body, waking up my senses and making me realize why we never advanced to the couch and stayed hidden at the back of the door.

Cole has company.

I felt Cole biting my neck with his soft lips, his teeth barely touching my skin. Then he sighed as he straightened up and turned around, blocking me.

“Nick?” It was a woman’s voice.

Nick? My eyebrows raised as I peeked at his side, wanting to see the woman behind the melodic voice.

A goddess probably decided to roam the Kirkwood residence tonight as I saw the gorgeous woman in a sexy red haltered dress. She flipped her long black hair to her back as she tilted her head, trying to see who the woman behind him was.

“I’m coming,” he answered.

“Who’s that?” She asked curiously, but maybe not curious enough to see and know me.

“Lost teenager,” he answered briefly. “I’ll just bring her home. She’s Mrs. Writingham’s granddaughter.”

She rolled her eyes. “Teenagers!” She turned her back. “Don’t be long, Nick. I’ll be waiting for you in the bedroom.”

Teenager? Waiting for him? Bedroom?

I opened my mouth, wanting to rant at him because I felt cheated, but before I could utter a word, I closed and tightened my lips as he opened the door and grabbed my hand, tugging me outside toward his car and opening the door for me.

“I’m not a teenager!” I hissed as I plopped inside his car and fastened the seatbelt.

“Good, then!” He smirked as he walked toward the driver’s seat.

“You have a girlfriend?” My eyes widened, horrified as I asked him.

He didn’t answer me. Instead, he started the engine and drove the car. His silence was screaming to me that I only get frustrated but do not get an answer. When he stopped the car, I peeked outside the tinted window and realized we were already in front of the house. Using his Jeep, it only took fifteen minutes to return to my grandmother’s place.

“How did you know my place?” he asked when I didn’t move from my seat. “Did Thomas give the address to you? Did Gertrude know you're coming to my place at this hour?”

My eyes narrowed. “You know my grandmother?”

“This is a small town, Brielle. Only a few lived here, so it’s easier to get to know people,” he explained to me, ending my curiosity. He heaved a deep sigh. “Now, please, get out of my car because I have to go back. I’m in a hurry.”

I sneered at him. “Of course,” I unfastened the seatbelt and pushed the door open. “Thanks for the ride back!”

“No, thank you. It was a fun night, Brielle,” he smirked. I was about to get out when he grabbed my hand. “Don’t do this again. Don’t come to my place without me knowing it.”

I scoffed at him. “Why do you make it sound like San Rafael is a dangerous town, Cole?” I raised my eyebrows. “Or Nick?” I said, copying how the woman said his name.

He pressed his lips, suppressing a smile, but the emotions on his face changed as he saw Giles and Bryce walking back to the house. The two saw me but didn’t bother to stop to check on me.

“This may be a rural town, Brielle, but this is as dangerous as the city. Perhaps more dangerous,” he said, releasing my hand.

“Noted,” I said briefly but in a sarcastic tone, showing annoyance at him. “Can I at least have your number?” The truth? I didn’t know what to do with his number. Monty might have decided to go to the next town; if that happens, we will get rolling again.

“I’ll call you, Brielle. I promised,” he said, starting the car again. “This won’t be the last time we’d meet, but I really hope it is.”

I walked to the side, watching his car leave and thinking where he would get my number to call me and what he meant by hoping this would be the last.