The Fire and the Phoenix

EIGHT | JOHN

"Hey Gregg."

"Alpha. Nolan told me the good news. Congratulations."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks, Gregg. Can you pick me up at her place?" I gave him the address.

"Sandy Springs? Sure. I can be there in 45."

"Ok, meet you there in 45 minutes." I hung up and looked up at Rosie. She had finished scooping the leftovers into the to-go boxes and put them into a plastic sack the server had provided. She glanced up and grinned.

"Yep. Can you carry the to-go? It's pretty heavy."

I grabbed the bag easily and held my other hand out to Rosie. "My lady," I prodded.

She blinked shyly and took my hand. Sparks erupted up my arm as her fingers curled around my palm, and my breath hitched in my throat.

Pretty awesome, isn't it, Tenebris crowed.

I led her through the crowded bar outside into the chilly night air. When we reached Old Bessie, she reached up and unhooked the steering wheel lock and climbed up into the driver's seat. I put the leftovers on the back floorboard and turned towards her. With the height of the Jeep, her face was nearly level with mine. I stared at her, taking in the curve of her cheek, her full lips, and the light spray of freckles that covered her nose. Curly strands of blond hair that had come loose from her messy bun blew around her face in the light breeze. Her bright blue eyes held mine for what seemed like an eternity before she looked away and patted the seat next to her.

"C'mon, Mr. Firefighter. Let's get this show on the road."

I swallowed and moved around the Jeep to the other side and hopped in. She had popped her phone into the holder and opened the same Pandora station we had been listening to on the ride to the Vortex. Old Bessie roared to life and she pulled out of the lot and onto the crowded city streets.

We rode in companionable silence for a few minutes as she drove towards the Connector. She deftly navigated the heavy traffic before settling into the lane that would lead us to 400 north through Buckhead and into Sandy Springs.

I looked over at her as she relaxed in her seat and reached for the Play button. "In the End" began pumping out of the speakers and we both began singing, with her taking on Chester Bennington's vocals while I rapped to Mike Shindoa. The song ended as we pulled off the highway onto the road that would take us into the residential section of Sandy Springs. As we drove, she pointed out the hospital where her mother worked as a nurse and she worked as an orderly.

"How do you like working there?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I don't have any plans to become a nurse, if that's what you're asking," she answered. "The job's fine. It gives me enough spending cash to support my hobby," she said, waving her hand around the Jeep's cabin.

I looked at her. "What are your plans after you graduate?"

I saw her press her lips together and realized I hit a sore spot. "I'm sorry," I murmured.

She shook her head quickly. "No, it's good," she said as the side of her mouth spread in a small smile. She made a quick turn onto a side street. The change between the busy street and the tree-lined boulevard was striking. Even after living here my entire life, experiencing the change from a busy commercial district to a quiet oasis of homes like this was remarkable. Atlanta was known as the city of trees, and this street did not disappoint. Majestic oaks spread their canopy high above, blocking out the city lights, and the yellowed leaves rustled in the light fall breeze. Huge magnolias and junipers grew in the large, manicured front yards. The houses were older, but well maintained. I heard a dog barking from one of the houses further ahead.  Tenebris growled quietly in response, and the dog fell silent. After a few turns, she pulled into the driveway of a brick Cape Cod with a sprawling front yard and turned off the engine.

"Nice," I said.

"It was my grandparents before they died," she said. She sighed quietly. "Anyway, you asked about my plans after graduation, right?"

I nodded. "We don't have to talk about it," I said gently.

"It's good," she said again. She looked at me and sighed again. "Truth is, I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up."

I laughed quietly and took her hand again. "And that's a problem?"

She stared at me. "Well, duh, yes it's a problem," she griped. "At least for everyone else it is." She huffed and pulled her hand out of my grasp before crossing her arms. "I'm nineteen, John. I shouldn't have to decide what I want to do yet," she complained.

"Nineteen?" I asked. I c****d my head.

"And there comes the other question. 'Why are you still in high school?' Right?" she retorted. Her brows furrowed angrily, and she threw her hands up.

"I wasn't planning on it, no," I said quietly. "Things happen."

Her head whipped around. "You don't care?" she asked.

"Care, no. Curious, yes," I acknowledged. I shrugged helplessly. "I can tell it bothers you. We don't have to talk about it right now if you don't want to."

She let out an explosive breath and relaxed in her seat. "Thank God," she muttered.

I reached for her hand again and smiled as her long fingers curled around mine again. "What I would like to talk about is getting to see you again."

A wide smile spread across her face as she turned to face me. "I can't tomorrow, but how about Sunday?"

I grinned. "Sunday works. Any requests?"

She tapped her chin with her finger. "What about the Aquarium? I can get the tickets," she responded.

I pressed my lips together and shook my head. Her face fell in disappointment.

I smiled. "No, no. The Aquarium sounds great, but I'll get the tickets." I took her other hand. "I'd like to woo you just a bit, if you are amicable to that."

She nodded shyly. "That sounds great," she said quietly.

My smile widened, and we sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes as I rubbed circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. She sighed quietly and leaned her head on my shoulder.

"Rosie?!" her mother's voice called from the porch. She sighed in exasperation and turned her head. "Yeah, momma, I'm home. I'll be in in a minute!" she shouted.

"Ok! I'll keep the door unlocked." We heard the door slam shut, and Rosie sighed.

"The pitfalls of living with your parents," she griped.

I chuckled and grasped her other hand. "I guess we should say goodnight anyway since you have to work in the morning," I said.

She shuddered. "Yeah, 5 am comes awfully early."

Grimacing in acknowledgement, I rubbed my finger down her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. " Rosalie," I whispered. Her eyes opened and she turned towards me. I swallowed nervously and touched her cheek again, staring into her blue orbs. "May I kiss you?"

She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. "I was wondering when you were going to ask me that," she murmured.

I shook my head and laughed. "You're amazing, you know that?" I asked.

I leaned in and touched her lips tenderly with mine and gasped as a feeling of total euphoria engulfed me. I began to run my tongue gently over her lips, probing but not insistent. She ran her fingers down my arm and pulled me closer, opening her mouth as our kiss deepened, and I groaned as her tongue flicked into my mouth hesitantly.

"Rosie," I whispered, breaking our kiss and trailing my lips down her chin to her throat. "You are so beautiful." I pulled the chopsticks holding her hair, releasing it to fall around her shoulders and my mouth met hers again. I pushed her head towards mine and shoved my tongue into her mouth possessively as I nipped her lips gently. Her hands grasped the sides of my face and she whimpered as she pushed her tongue into my mouth and sucked my tongue with her lips.

Breathing heavily, I trailed my fingers down her neck and found her marking spot as we continued to kiss and pinched it gently. She jumped. "God," she whispered, and pulled me even closer. My nerves were on fire as I began to lower her down onto the seat.

Suddenly, I was fighting Tenebris for control. He moved my hand towards her breast and squeezed it softly through the thick fabric of her sweatshirt and growled possessively.

I felt her stir uncomfortably at that. I quickly fought for and regained control, shoving Tenebris into the back of my mind, and sat up. "I'm sorry," I murmured as I put my lips on her cheek and kissed it gently. "Did I go too far?"

"Mmmm…maybe a little," she said quietly. "But it's ok." She sat up and straightened her sweatshirt and chastely kissed my lips. "Let's leave some for next time."

Tenebris was howling in ecstasy in my mind and was fighting to come forward again.

No, I barked at him in my mind. Enough.

He growled angrily but pulled back.

I sighed. "Are we good?" I asked hesitantly.

She looked at me, perplexed. "Why wouldn't we be?" she replied. She began pulling her hair back up into a bun as she studied me. "Aquarium Sunday, right?" she said, and smiled. "You're wooing me if I remember correctly."

I grinned. "Absolutely," I murmured. I heard a car roll up behind us and turned around to see one of the pack Land Rover's pull in behind Rosie's Jeep. "My ride is here."

Rosie nodded and pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for dinner," she said. I sighed and squeezed back gently. "Don't forget your leftovers," she whispered into my ear.

I laughed and pulled the bag to the front seat. "Is there anything you want?"

Her lips pressed together. "That bacon blue cheeseburger was amaze-balls," she groaned quietly. "Are you ok if I take some of that?"

I rummaged through the bag and handed her two boxes. "Fries, too," I said.

She grinned as she hopped out of the Jeep and put the boxes on the hood. She walked around behind it, meeting me in front of the Land Rover. Reaching up, she touched her lips to mine again in a gentle kiss. "Until Sunday," she whispered. I grasped the side of her face gently and stared into her eyes. "Sunday," I murmured.

"Oh!" she exclaimed and laughed, pulling away. "I don't have your number."

I laughed and gave it to her. She typed furiously, and I heard my phone chime as I received a text message.

Racing around to the front of her Jeep, she picked up the boxes and trotted towards the front door of her house. "Safe trip," she called, and waved.

I waved back and watched as she pushed open the door. She turned around and grinned. "See you Sunday!" she called, and I waved again. She stepped inside the threshold and closed the door, and I heard the deadbolt click.

"Alpha," Gregg intoned as I climbed into the back seat of the Rover. He put the car in reverse and looked back, smiling broadly. "She's lovely. She will make a beautiful Luna."

I glanced back at the house to see Rosie standing at the bay window with a huge smile on her face. I rolled the window down and waved again. She put her hand to her lips and blew a kiss, waving as we drove away. I grimaced and put my head in my hands as he pulled out of the driveway onto the street. What was I getting myself into? My phone chimed again as it reminded me of Rosie's text message.

Until Sunday, Alpha xoxo

I was in trouble.