Free In Chains by Michelle Abbott Page A

Kayden’s head snaps up and I hear him gasp as Trent and I start moving to the music. I can feel tears pricking at my eyes but I’m not going to make a fool of myself by crying in front of him. I lose myself in the music, the hooch is certainly helping, I’m beginning to feel better and am starting to enjoy myself. The song ends but I don’t want to stop, so I keep swaying with Trent till the next song begins. I’m not in the mood for conversation but he starts talking and I can’t ignore him. “Thanks for the food Miss.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “I hope Clay didn’t upset you Miss. It’s not you, he doesn’t like any humans.”
    “Is Clay the guy with the collar,” I whisper. He nods and I glance across at Clay. He’s wrapped himself around Kaci and he’s actually smiling.
    The song ends and I bend down to pick up my mug of hooch. I’m still holding Trent with my other hand; I’m not ready to stop dancing yet. I take a big gulp of the hooch and put my arms around Trent as the next song begins.
    “TRENT!” We both jump and look towards Kayden who is now standing up, his fists clenched and glaring murderously at Trent. He snarls at him, “Trent, sit the fuck down.”
    Trent looks at me. “I’d better not dance with you because…,” he nods towards Kayden.
    Sitting down I knock back the remainder of my hooch. I should be feeling drunk. I wish I were, but I’m not. Trent throws more logs on the fire. He doesn’t seem bothered by the way Kayden spoke to him. He’s laughing and joking with Clay. Kayden is staring into the fire, his face sullen.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
    Savannah
     
    I hear the opening bars to ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ by Roberta Flack. Kayden moves to kneel in front of me. He looks sad. “Please will you dance with me Savannah? Just this one time. Please.”
    I may as well enjoy one last dance with him. I wish he liked me as much as I like him. He wraps his arms around my waist and I rest mine on his shoulders. His arms tighten around me, crushing me to him and he buries his face in my neck. We slowly sway to the music, under the stars. And then he sings to me, his voice smooth and deep. No one has ever sung to me before. I pull back a little to look at his face and he continues to serenade me, his eyes locked with mine. When he gets to the words about ‘kissing’, his eyes fall briefly to my lips. My hand moves to stroke his cheek, feeling his bristles beneath my fingertips. My lips part as his head slowly dips down, his soft lips brush against mine. He sucks on my bottom lip, still holding my gaze; his eyes are almost seeking permission. “Yes,” I breathe and he closes his beautiful eyes, parts his lips and kisses me. Slowly his tongue thoroughly probes every inch of my mouth while his hands run up and down my back. Pausing, he rests his forehead against mine. “You’re so beautiful baby.” He kisses my nose, my eyelids, my cheeks. “I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you.”
    “As much as you want Kaci?”
    He cups my face in his big hands. “I only want you Savannah.”
    “But the way you hugged her earlier, if she wasn’t with Clay, would you…?”
    He closes his eyes and presses his forehead against mine. “I want you. Only you. You’re all I think about and it drives me crazy. I only want you.” He kisses me again and I forget all about Kaci. I forget about Simon, Ben, Dan, everyone. All I can think about is how much I want him.
     
    We’ve joined the others back around the fire. Kayden is lying on his side on the grass, his head resting in my lap. His eyes are half closed as I’m tracing little circles across his jaw and his neck with my finger. I’ve acquired another mug of hooch and I’m beginning to feel warm and mellow. I lean down, kiss Kayden’s ear and whisper to him, “How come Clay doesn’t get shocked when he touches Kaci? Doesn’t he have a chip?”
    He opens his eyes and smiles lazily up at me.