Page 20 of Ordinary Secrets (Secrets Trilogy #1)

20

TREY

She tenses at first.

I don’t stop. I don’t want to stop. If someone tried to pry me away from her, I’d blast them with a fireball.

My lips massage hers open until she melts into me. Her body relaxes in my arms as her hands circle the back of my neck. I draw her in by her waist, needing every part of her body to be touching mine. At the sound of her breathless moan, my cock hardens.

I kiss her as if I’m starving—because I am—for her.

I’ve been waiting to do this for what feels like months. I told myself I wouldn’t kiss her until she told me she was ready. After seeing her so playful and laughing all adorably, I couldn’t stop myself.

She tastes amazing—like honeyed watermelon on a warm summer day. My tongue explores her mouth as desire pumps inside my jeans. I desperately want to be inside her. Gently, I shove her back against the island, clawing at her dress. I want it gone. Anywhere but on her.

I grip the back of her thighs, lifting her onto the counter. We separate for barely a second before she pulls my face back to hers. I pant as I take her in. All of her. The feel of her tongue between my lips. The sweet way she smells. How she’s making me lose my mind with each little moan she lets out. I draw back a little so I can take a breath, but a forceful tug of my shirt yanks me right back to her.

Fuuuck... Screw breathing. Who needs to do that, anyway? I consume her, taking all I can get. My hands travel everywhere on her, up and down her back and from her head to her thighs. Her fingers splay over my pecs, sending tingles down to my toes. When she pulls on my hair, my dick almost explodes.

I thought I was the one calling the shots.

Nope.

It’s her. She’s destroying me, and I want her to keep doing it.

I’m not sure how long it is before she finally releases me. With our foreheads pressed together, we pant—hard. My heart beats so fast, I’m pretty certain it’s about to give out. My lips feel cold without her. I need to kiss her again.

So I do.

I ease her lips back open with mine, and she lets me. After pulling her hair to one side, I leave her lips to kiss her neck. She arches her head back, giving me full access. I savor her delicious skin, nipping at the tender spot behind her ear as I breathe in her inebriating scent. Sweet lavender, springtime and... Arella. Her scent is familiar to me now. If I could only smell her for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t mind.

“Trey,” she moans in a whisper, and damn if it doesn’t make me weak in the knees. She could tell me to jump off a bridge, and I’d do it. No questions asked.

Finally, I lean back and breathe. If we continue this any longer, I might die from the lack of oxygen.

In a whisper, I say, “You wanna take a shower?”

“No,” she answers sharply.

I laugh, realizing how that sounded. “I didn’t mean together. We’re covered in flour. I figured you’d want to wash off, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Her cheeks turn rosy. “What will I wear?”

“My clothes. They’ll be big on you, but you’ll look great.” I’ve never let anyone wear my clothes before. It feels too intimate. But the idea of Arella in my shirt makes me more eager to get her into the shower.

“We should finish the cookies first.”

Right on cue, the timer beeps.

With some oven mitts on, I pull the baking sheet out and place it onto my new cooling rack. Then I offer Arella my hand. She takes it and allows me to help her hop off the counter. I like that she didn’t hesitate. She took my hand as if we hold hands all the time, except this is the first time. And it feels so... normal.

I don’t let go of her until we reach my bedroom. There, I point at my drawers. “Dig through these ’til you find something that fits. Bathroom is through there.”

After returning to the kitchen, I wave my hands back and forth, making damp towels slide up and down the countertops. The towels erase the evidence of our flour fight. I’ve still got a semi under my belt, and it’s super uncomfortable. Saggy grandmas, foot fungus, math problems ...

“Trey?” Arella calls out.

Shit. My hands fall to my sides, and the towels freeze where they are. I glance up, but she’s not there. I breathe out a sigh of relief. I never know where she is.

I peek my head around the corner. “Yeah?”

Her voice comes from inside my bedroom. “Could you show me how to turn your shower on? I can’t figure it out.”

After instructing her on how to work the nozzles, I go back to cleaning the kitchen. Once that’s done, I grab some clean clothes, then run upstairs to my other shower.

By the time I’m out, Arella’s still showering. It’s no big deal, because I can start on dinner without her. This time, she’s going to sit around while I do all the cooking.

At the fridge, I rummage around for some steaks and a do-it-yourself salad kit. When I close the fridge door, Arella’s standing right there.

I jump back. This time, I don’t drop anything. “Goddammit. You gotta quit doin’ that.”

“You didn’t hear me coming?”

“No.” I’ve always relied on my Empath powers to tell me when someone’s near. Guess I’ll have to start training my ears. It doesn’t help that Arella’s so fucking quiet.

I step back to get a better look at her. Long wet strands of hair drip water down my white T-shirt that dwarfs her. No makeup. Flushed cheeks. And those lips! I want to kiss her again.

Finally, my eyes make it down to her legs, and I laugh. “Are those my boxers?”

“Yeah. It was the only thing that would stay up on my waist. Do you mind?”

I’m about to say “of course not,” then I stop. Instead, I grin like a mischievous little puppy. “Actually, I do mind. You should take my boxers off right now and just lounge in your underwear.”

“I might have... if I was wearing any.”

My dick turns rock solid again. “Say whaaa ? You’re not wearing any underwear?”

“Well, I was, but they got wet.”

“How did they get wet?”

She bites her lip, smirking at me. Finally, I get it.

“Fuck.” I throw the steaks and salad onto the counter, then stomp down the hall.

Arella giggles, and it only makes my cock twitch more. “Where are you going?”

“You’re driving me crazy, babe,” I say over my shoulder. “I can’t stand to be in the same room with you right now.”

Any longer and I’ll lose what little control I have, put her over my shoulder, and strip her naked in my bedroom. She’s not ready for that... yet.

“Okay,” Arella calls after me. “I’ll start seasoning the steaks.”

Half an hour later

“Would you like some wine?” I ask, gesturing toward the three bottles on the shelf behind me. In addition to all the baking supplies, I also purchased these last night, just for her. I hope I got something she’ll like.

“No, thank you,” she says, and I have to keep from frowning. “Water’s fine.”

I’m curious to see how or if alcohol affects her immunity, but I can’t do that if she doesn’t accept the damn wine. If a little alcohol can break down her immunity walls and let me sense her, that might be the breakthrough I need to figure this out. Maybe next time.

I’m about to sit in front of my warm plate when I sense someone approaching my house. Their depressing energy weighs me down like bricks tied to my arms. Heavy emotions like that always come at me stronger. The more the energy seeps into me, the more I’ve got a hunch as to who it is. The curtains in the living room are drawn shut, so I can’t peek outside to confirm, but nobody ever comes over unannounced with emotions like that—except one.

Jess is the last person I want to see right now, especially with Arella here. When the doorbell rings, I make no effort to stand.

“Aren’t you going to get that?” Arella asks.

“Eh. It’s probably just UPS.”

The doorbell rings again.

Arella glances that way. “Maybe they need a signature.”

Groaning, I get up. At least she didn’t barge in this time.

When I open the door, my heart plummets. Liz has puffy eyes, red cheeks, and messy hair. My irritation from five seconds ago instantly melts into concern.

Liz runs her face into my chest, sniffling. I wrap a protective arm around her and slam the door shut. She quietly sobs as I hold her. Usually, crying makes me cringe, but this is Liz. She’s the one who can turn any storm into sunshine. If she’s crying, something is seriously wrong.

My tone comes out rough. “What happened?”

She lifts her head and wipes away some tears with her gloved fingertips. She’s careful, as if not to ruin her makeup, but it’s too late for that.

“I—” Liz catches a glimpse of Arella at the dinner table. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to impose on?—”

“Stop.” I grab her face with both hands, forcing her to look at me. “What happened?”

She breathes in heavily, not answering. Maybe this isn’t a conversation we should have in front of an Ordinary. Taking her hand, I drag her toward my music room.

“I’ll be right back, babe,” I call over my shoulder. No reply comes.

Five guitars, a drum set, and various other instruments are scattered around the perimeter of my music room. Gently, I click the door shut. With a flick of my wrist, the curtains glide open to let some sun in. Liz loves the sunshine. Maybe it’ll help lift her mood.

I sit on my long keyboard bench, then pat the empty space next to me. Liz plants herself at my side as she slips out of her satin gloves and drops them onto the carpet. Then she dabs her face off with the bottom of her shirt. Tenderly, I pull her against me, and her head falls onto my shoulder.

“Did I interrupt something?” Liz’s voice comes out as broken as her energy feels.

“No.” I could be in the middle of getting heart surgery, and Liz would have my full permission to interrupt. Sensing her pain makes me want to hit someone. Preferably the mouth-breathing toe-licker who upset her. “What happened?”

“Rodrigo broke up with me.” Liz sniffles as her sadness rains over my head.

“Why?” I try to keep my voice steady. I need to control my emotions so she doesn’t cry any more.

“He can’t get over that I’m a Hydro and he’s a Pyro. He’s got issues with being with someone who’s got a dominant power over his.”

Having a best friend with the dominant element over mine has never bothered me. Liz has always been the stronger one in more ways than that anyway, and I admire that about her. Why can’t Rodrigo see it that way?

I’m at a loss as to what to say because I suck at pep talks. Instead, I close my eyes and think of my happy place: my little cabin out in the Colorado mountains. I imagine the flowy trees and the scenic flowers. The peace and quiet. The calm of being alone in my own head since there isn’t anyone else around for miles. Being there soothes me.

As soon as my emotions are controlled, I project them into Liz.

She immediately straightens up, breathing easier. “Whatever you’re thinking about, it’s working.”

Growing up, I used to get beat for using my mind power to make Victor feel calmer and happier—two things he never felt after Aunt Jodi left. I thought I was being helpful. Turns out, Victor didn’t want to be helped. Being able to use my gift on Liz, knowing that she wants me to, is freeing.

“You want me to kick his ass?” I’m mostly asking to get her to smile, but if she says yes, I’ll leave right now.

“No.” She doesn’t smile.

“How ’bout I go over there and show him how dominant my Pyro power can be?”

“No.” She still gazes somberly at the floor.

“How ’bout we sit outside his place and I’ll wiggle my fingers around until all his furniture is upside down?” I motion toward a small table in the corner and theatrically circle my wrist. My songwriting notebook on top falls to the carpet as the table rotates and then drops back down with its legs sticking up.

Finally, Liz laughs and I get a sense of relief. “That’d be funny, but no.”

I pull Liz up with me as I stand. Naturally, our hands intertwine. I’m the only person in the world she can hold hands with—bare.

After Liz saw my worst memory for the first time, any time our hands touched, she saw it again: my mother getting shocked with a lightning ball, my father’s bloody face, the explosion, all of it. This went on until last November when I was at her place for Thanksgiving. As we both reached for the plates, our hands touched and she saw nothing. It’s been that way ever since, and neither of us knows how.

Liz doesn’t question it. She embraces it, holding my hand as often as possible. Like when we watch movies together or when we’re just sitting around talking. I let her. Not just for her benefit, but for mine too.

I won’t admit it out loud, but Liz makes me feel like I’m worth something. Like I’m more than just a body taking up space, breathing someone else’s air, using up other people’s precious resources. Sometimes, she even makes me feel like I have a purpose: to be the person who’ll always be there for her because nobody else is.

I just wish that was enough for me. Enough for me to feel like I actually belong in this world. For me to feel like my life isn’t pointless. To make me stop wishing I had died in that explosion too.

Liz tells me that surviving it wasn’t luck. She says that I survived because I was meant to, but I can’t have survived just to be her support person. There has to be something else, something more that I’m meant to do, and I think this mission is it. This is what the universe kept me around for.

“How ’bout we go out with the band after recording tomorrow?” I say, pulling Liz in for a tight hug. “You’ll forget all about what’s-his-nuts by the end of the night.”

“I’d love that.” Liz squeezes me back so hard, the air leaves my lungs. “Thanks, T. I knew coming here would help me feel better.”

She’s starting to get sappy, so I need to counteract it. “My offer to kick his ass still stands.”

Liz leans back, rolling her eyes at me. “Your fists can’t solve every problem, T. In fact, they never solve any problems.”

That’s not true. My fists solved Arella’s Pencil Dick problem in one night. “What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t at least offer?”

“Speaking of being best friends, as your best friend, I gotta talk to you about Ari again.”

I don’t miss a beat. “Uhh, my dinner’s gettin’ cold.” I’m about to open the door when Liz pulls me back.

“Just hear me out, okay?”

With a slump of my shoulders, I remain where I am. “Fine. What?”

“Remember how I said that I think Ari’s perfect for you?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it doesn’t change that she’s an Ordinary. If you get caught doing things with her you shouldn’t be, it’ll affect more than just you. You’re no A-lister, but people still recognize you on the street. I’m not gonna report you, but what if someone else does? If the Enforcers take you away, what happens to the band?”

A chill creeps up my spine at the mention of the Enforcers. Keepers are the ones who make Zordi laws. Enforcers are the ones who, well... enforce them. Together, they make up the Superiors, Supes for short, otherwise known as the zovernment, otherwise known as pieces of shit.

Enforcers are known to be tough and unrelenting. Zordi parents like to use Enforcers as a threat to get their kids to behave. Now Liz is using them to try to get me to behave.

Nonchalantly, I wave a hand through the air. “Don’t worry ’bout it.”

“I can’t not worry. I just read an article on the z-net yesterday about some guy who got arrested for kissing an Ordinary behind a mall. He’s probably gonna get at least ten years, and that’s just for kissing an Ordinary. Imagine how much time you’d get for having an ongoing sexual relationship with one. We can’t hold our band rehearsals from inside a z-prison.”

“And we won’t,” I say reassuringly. “I’m being careful.”

“If you say so. Either way, I’m worried about Ari too.”

“Why?”

“Because when you break things off with her, it’ll break her heart. She’s really sweet, T. I don’t like the idea of you hurting her.”

“We’re just friends hangin’ out,” I say with a shrug. “It’s not serious.”

Liz arches an eyebrow. “You hate cooking, and you cooked dinner for her. When have you ever done that for a girl?”

“I’ve done that for you.”

“I don’t count.”

I fake a gasp. “Liz! Is this how you tell me you’ve got a wiener?”

She backhands my chest so hard, it stings. “You’re not taking this seriously!”

I rub the spot she hit. “Ow! You and Marcus should have an arm-wrestling match. I think you’d win.”

“Trey Andrew Grant!” She scowls at me so hard, I’m afraid her face will stay like that.

I’m still rubbing my chest because, damn, that shit hurt. “All right. I get it. Be careful with the Ordinary. Can we be done now?”

“Fine,” Liz says with a roll of her eyes.

Together, we head to the dining table to find Arella almost finished with her steak. I feel like a dick for leaving her to eat by herself.

“Sorry, babe,” I say. “Thanks for waiting.”

“That’s okay.” Arella shivers, and her teeth clack together.

“I’ll be right back.” I go down the hall to kick up the temp, then set it to stay in the mid-seventies from now on. It won’t affect me, but it’ll make Arella feel more comfortable whenever she’s here.

I hear Liz talking to Arella, but I can’t make out the words as I disappear into my bedroom.

When I return to the table, Liz is sitting in the chair next to Arella’s. I interrupt Arella’s explanation about why she’s wearing my boxers to hand her my black hoodie.

“Thanks.” She slips into it immediately, looking so adorable, I could kiss her. I’ll wait until Liz leaves though.

“You hungry, Liz?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Don’t fuss about me. I’ll grab something on the way home. I just wanted to say hi to Ari before I left, and tell her why I was upset earlier, and apologize for crashing your night.”

“You don’t have to stop anywhere. Here, you can have my steak. I’ll reheat it for you.” I pick up my plate and head toward the kitchen.

“What are you gonna eat?”

“We’ve got more food.”

Liz’s chair slides back as she stands. “No, really. I’ll just?—”

Turning on my heel, I glare at her. “Sit your ass down.” I point at her, then at the empty chair. She just got dumped. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her go home to eat by herself.

Liz raises her hands in surrender. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

A minute later, I return with a warm plate and clean silverware. I set it all in front of Liz with a fresh napkin, then leave to find myself something to eat.

In the freezer, there’s some frozen mac and cheese and a frozen pizza. The mac and cheese won’t take as long, so I choose that. Once it’s heated, I join the girls with it.

“Damn you, T,” Liz says, dropping her fork. “Now I feel bad. Are you sure you don’t want this?”

“I’m sure. Now, you’re gonna eat that piece of cow, and you’re gonna like it.” I take a bite of my highly processed pitiful excuse for nutrition, pretending to love it. “So, what were you ladies talking about?”

“Ari asked what I was doing this weekend. I told her that we’re having an appreciation party on July Fourth for the crew and their families.” Liz turns her attention to Arella. “As I was saying, Trey rents out the park, and the rest of the band brings all the food and drinks. This is our third year hosting an appreciation party, and we’ve decided to make it an annual thing.”

I butt in. “We?”

Liz rolls her eyes. “Okay, I decided to make it an annual thing. Everyone loves it except you.”

“And you know why,” I mutter under my breath.

Liz shrugs nonchalantly as she shovels some mashed potatoes into her mouth. “Come up with a good excuse this year.”

Arella’s face crumples together. “Excuse for what?”

Liz and I glance at each other, then at Arella. I know Liz is gonna hate this, but I do it anyway because I just realized that my excuse this year is sitting right here.

“Hey, babe, you wanna come to the party with me?” If Arella’s there, she can be my reason to leave early that people can’t judge me for.

After Arella happily agrees to attend the party, we finish our meals, and then Liz heads home with a lighter spirit.

For the rest of the evening, Arella and I lounge on my couch and talk. Honestly, we kiss more than we talk, but I’m not complaining. I try asking more questions about her family until she asks me, “Why do you want to know so much about them?”

I give her a long-winded explanation about wanting to know everything about her because I really like her, then I go back to kissing her and stop with the questions.

Eventually, when my lips are numb, I lie back and motion for her to lie with me. Without hesitation, she does, nuzzling her head into the crook of my shoulder. She places a palm over my abs while I drape my arm around her back, resting it over her hip. Our bodies fit together as if they were made to.

It takes me a few minutes before I realize that I’m cuddling. I , of all people, am cuddling . And enjoying it! It feels so natural that it didn’t occur to me that I was even doing it. Maybe this cuddling thing I’ve been avoiding isn’t so bad after all.

Ultimately, our time together ends. Since her clothes haven’t finished washing yet, I tell Arella she can wear my shirt and boxers home. It’ll also be a good excuse to see her again.

When we arrive at her apartment, I walk her to the door like a fucking gentleman. Once our lips meet again, the gentleman in me is lost. Roughly, I shove her back against her door and pin her arms above her head. I kiss her until she’s moaned my name at least three times.

“I can’t get enough of you,” I say. Based on the way she keeps tugging on my shirt to pull me closer, she hasn’t gotten enough of me, either.

“I really should go now,” Arella pants as I pepper kisses down her neck.

“Five more seconds,” I beg. I count to five in my head about twenty times before I finally gather enough willpower to let her go. “When can I see you again?”

“I get off at four tomorrow?” She looks up at me all hopeful. It’s cute.

“We’ve got a recording session from three to seven; then we’re probably going out for dinner afterward.”

“How about the next day?”

I sigh deeply. “We have a video shoot all day. I might be done by seven or eight. Would you wanna hang out for a bit after that?”

“Our schedules don’t match up very well, do they?”

“Nope.” I lean in to kiss her, and she opens her mouth for me willingly. “I’ll text you, okay? We’ll figure somethin’ out.”

With a dazed smile, she says, “Mm-kay.”

I take a step backward toward my car. “Sleep well, angel.” That name fits her perfectly. It embodies all of her innocence and beauty in one word.

“You too, Trey,” she says with a wave. “Goodbye.”

My body freezes in mid-step. I swallow hard as my words come out sharply. “Please don’t say that.”

Arella is just getting her door open when she turns to me. “Say what?”

“Goodbye. I’m not fond of that word.” An understatement.

“Oh. Why’s that?”

Because my mother said it to me the last time I ever saw her. I try to sound as nonchalant as possible, acting like all the chaos from that night isn’t suddenly eating me alive. “There’s just... a kind of finality to it, ya know? It makes me feel like I’ll never see you again. I was taught that goodbye means forever. Bye is just for now.”

Arella must see the distress on my face, because she comes to me, plants her hands on either side of my face, and brings me down to meet her lips. Our kiss is short but still satisfying. “Bye for now, then.”

As she releases me, the pain instantly melts away.