Free Origins (A Black Novel, #1) by Jessa L. Gilbert Page A

calls from the other side.
    Vraiden pushes open the door and steps into the entranceway.
    “Mother, Sera,” he starts, nodding to each of them in. “If it’s acceptable I would like to take Adelin home tonight. I have a few things I would like to show her.”
    Sera’s mouth springs open, a look of alarm evident on her face.
    “Absolutely no----”
    “That would be fine, Vraiden,” Moira cuts in, silencing Sera with a sharp look. “Do try to behave yourselves though.”
    “Yes, mother. Sera, don’t worry, I promise nothing will happen to Adelin tonight,” Vraiden interjects smoothly before shutting the door and grabbing my hand once more. “Come on.”
    “Where are we going?” I ask confused as he begins towing me outside. We stop beside an oversized black jeep. He opens the passenger side door and proceeds to help me in, even going so far as to buckle my seat belt for me.
    “No more questions,” he says after he climbs in and starts the engine. “Just trust me. I promised nothing would happen to you and I take my promises very seriously.”
    The drive is short, filled with silence, and before long we stop near a darkened tree line. As I climb out I can make out the sounds of the ocean crashing against the rocky shoreline but the sound is distant enough I can’t make out how close we are to the actual water.
    Vraiden takes off immediately, stopping just on the outskirts of the thicket of trees and turns back to face me. “Are you coming or not?” he asks, eyebrows raised, a wicked grin accentuating his handsome face. He spins and saunters off into the woods without waiting for any acknowledgement from me, leaving me with no choice but to follow.
    “Wait!” I yell as I stumble after him. I stop fifteen feet into the tree line, my feet throbbing. Hobbling over to the nearest tree I lean back into it and close my eyes briefly. When I look up I notice Vraiden lounging against a tree a little ways in front of me, watching me with an amused expression.
    “What?! Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk through the woods in a dress and heels?!”
    “So take them off…..”
    “What?” I question him, confused.
    “Well, not the dress obviously….unless you want to. I won’t object,” he smirks. “The shoes. Take off your shoes.”
    “I’m not going to walk through the woods barefoot.”
    “Why not?” He walks over towards me, his expression playful. “It’s not like you’re going to get tetanus. Take off your shoes,” he demands gently as he stops in front of me.
    “Uh-uh,” I reply, unable to make an intelligent statement with him this close. I shake my head for added emphasis.
    “Fine,” he responds as he kneels down in front of me, shocking me mute.
    Looking up at me through his thick golden lashes, his bright blue eyes twinkling, he slowly reaches out a hand towards my leg. His hand is warm on my skin as he gentle grips my ankle and props my foot on his bent knee, his eyes never once wavering from mine. My breath catches in my throat as his hand slides from my ankle up my leg, the warmth and smoothness of his skin making me shiver. He pauses halfway to my knee, his hand gently clasping the back of my calf and simultaneously brings his other hand up to grip the bottom my shoe. A small smile curves the corners of his lips upward as he tugs my shoe off and sets my foot gently on the ground before patting his knee in encouragement. “Now, give me your other foot,” his voice comes out slightly husky, making my heart thunder in my chest.
    I hesitate, dumbfounded, before conceding and slowly lift my left foot to rest on his knee. Dizzy from holding my breath, I reach out a hand to steady myself, blushing when I realize I’ve put my hand on his shoulder. My eyes quickly flit back to his as his hand begins to slide from my ankle to my knee. His hand moves slower this time, the gesture seeming worn out, exaggerated.
    His eyes are no longer their characteristic bright blue but a dark,