Soul Searcher Book 1

Once I maneuver Cassie into my house, which is not an easy task as I have to strategically get the house key from out of my pocket, and then attempt to put the key into the lock while turning the knob at the same time all the while trying to keep from dropping her, I manage to push the door open and after walking through the threshold, am able to kick the door shut behind me without losing my balance. I carry her to the bedroom where I place her gently upon my bed. I slip her pink Chuck Talyor’s off and set them down in front of the nightstand and then turning back to Cassie, I wiggle the blanket out from underneath her limp form and drape it over her body.

Having every intention of leaving her there and going to sleep out on the sofa, I turn to leave and feel her place her hand around my wrist causing me to jump in surprise having thought she was unconscious. The movement stops me from walking away, “stay with me please,” she says in a voice just above a whisper. Her eyes are cracked just the tiniest bit and she looks at me for a moment before scooting her body over so that I can climb in and lie down next to her.

I hesitate for a split second, but then removing my shirt (leaving my jeans on), I slide in between the blankets as Cassie rolls onto her side and snuggles up against me. Placing my left arm on her left side, I let it drape across her in a loose sort of hug as I pulled her just a little closer to me. And I don’t think I have ever fallen asleep so quickly in my life.

**

Cassie wakes up with a moan, I can’t believe I let myself get so drunk, again! Ugh. As she goes to get out of the bed in search of some water though, she realizes she hadn’t been sleeping in the bed by herself. Gasping at feeling the arm across her waist, she quickly turns her head to see who had shared the bed with her. Seeing Rim resting peacefully next to her, looking as beautiful as an angel. So adorable, she thought as she saw the faint smile resting upon his lips. Noticing he didn’t have a shirt on, Cassie quickly moved the blankets around and sighed, happy to see that she was still fully dressed.

Drinking as much as she did, she needed to find the bathroom fast. Thankfully there was a bathroom attached to what she could only assume to be the master bedroom, granted she didn’t know if there were other bedrooms but still. Cassie shut the bathroom door behind her so that she could use the restroom. While she sat on the toilet, her thoughts began to wander as she tried to remember what had all occurred the night previous when they were at the party and what led to her finding herself waking up in bed with Rim.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t recall anything past being out on the sand dancing and Jimmy wanting her to slow dance with him when all she had wanted to do was sit down because she knew she was super intoxicated. But she couldn’t remember anything beyond that point.

After washing and drying her hands, she crept slowly out of the bathroom to see if she could find her sneakers. Spotting them on the floor by the nightstand, she walked over so she could put them on only to have Rim roll over and smile at her. “Hey, how you feel,” he asked with a tired smile.

Cassie grimaced slightly embarrassed. “Um, surprised to have found myself waking up in your bed,” she says sheepishly.

Rim pushes his body into a sitting position with his head against the grey wooden headboard connected to the bed. Raising his hands quickly he says almost defensively, “Don’t worry, we didn’t do anything. I just put you in the bed and covered you up. You asked me to stay with you and I did but we went right to sleep.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed so she could slip her shoes on, she laughed at him. “Dude, I know we didn’t. Waking up with my clothes still on was a big give away.” He gave a crooked grin which turned into a wide smile as he looked into Cassie’s eyes. “I would like to know how I ended up here though? I only remember everyone dancing and having fun, how did my night end with me in your house?”

“That jackass Jimmy, he was trying to make you slow dance with him when you didn’t want to. I got mad and sort of knocked him out.” It was now Rim’s turn to look at Cassie sheepishly.

“Uh, okay... but that doesn’t explain me waking up in your bed.”

“Well, you were stumbling over your feet as you were trying to walk away and tripped falling in my arms where you passed out. I told Khloe I would bring you back here so you could sleep it off to which she blatantly threatened me that she would hunt me down if I hurt you.” This statement made Cassie burst out laughing.

“Ah, well at least I know how I got here. I can’t believe I got that drunk. I normally only drink like that when I’m at the bar where my apartment is above it. Sorry if I did anything or said anything...” she finished tying her shoe before looking at him, nervous as to what he might say she did.

“No worries. All good. Nothing to have embarrassing thoughts about.” Flinging the covers aside, Rim went to get out of bed. Cassie automatically averted her eyes in case he didn’t have anything more than underwear on. “It’s okay. I slept in my jeans,” he stated as he stood up. Biting her bottom lip, she turned her attention back to him but couldn’t stop herself from admiring his physique. Allowing her eyes to travel from the well-defined V and low positioned jeans, she slowly let her eyes travel upward, admiring his chiseled chest, his muscular arms, the line of his jaw which he happened to be clenching just now, making him look all the sexier until her eyes came to rest upon his.

“What are you thinking right now,” I ask as Cassie gazes up at me. She stands so that we are nearly at eye level.

She looks into my eyes gazing at me for a moment longer before saying, “you’d like to know what I’m thinking at this moment hm...” A Cheshire-like grin spreads across her face before she continues speaking, “I’m thinking about how much I’d like to kiss you right here and now instead of in my dreams...”

“Oh,” is all I manage to utter before her lips are against mine. I don’t think I’ve ever kissed anyone so fiercely yet desperately in my life as I am doing so with her. Maybe it’s a fear that this is a dream, but I don’t want to stop. We find ourselves on my bed and the electricity that courses between us is something unique in of itself. I’m not sure if it’s a one-sided experience or if Cassie can feel it too but I feel as though our souls are trying to break free of our bodies so that they can merge and become one entity. The sensation is nearly overwhelming, and we simultaneously break the kiss, both breathing heavily from the experience.

“Wow,” Cassie exclaims. “I have kissed people before, but I have never experienced such a feeling of electricity coursing through me like that!”

She grins at me, and I smile at her, “me neither,” I manage to say still slightly breathless. Before either of us can say anything else, her phone rings interrupting us.

Cassie grabs her phone from her back pocket (that I didn’t know was there or I would have put on the stand for her) and flipping it open, answers with a “hey Ginny. What’s up?”

I’m not sure if she has the speaker on her phone on or if the volume is just really loud but I can hear the girl on the other end of the call clearly. “Where are you? Have you looked at your messages? I’ve texted you at least a dozen times since 8a.m.” I light my phone screen up to see that it is now 10a.m., oops. “I should arrive at the bus station in about twenty minutes, you’ll be there, right?”

“Shit. Sorry, I went to a beach party and drank way too much. I just woke up a little bit ago. I haven’t looked at my phone yet. But yes, I will be there. See you soon.” Cassie ended the call and looked at me. “You wouldn’t want to take a small road trip with me, would you? The bus station isn’t in the most pleasant part of town, and I really hate driving to that area by myself.”

“Yeah sure, I’m not doing anything today. Let me grab a clean shirt, I’ll be right back.” She nods okay and heads out of my bedroom as I quickly make my way over to the dresser drawer and grab a grey ribbed tank top. I go into the bathroom and go to the restroom before washing my hands, brushing my teeth and running a washcloth over my face. Glancing at the counter, I spot the amulets but decide to leave them there for the time being. Walking out into the living room, I see Cassie sitting on the couch patiently waiting for me. As she stands, I say, “I’m ready if you are.”

She gives a quick ‘yep’ and I open the front door. Stepping out onto the landing of the stairway I see Cassie shiver. “Whew, wasn’t expecting such a dreary, rainy day. Sort of chilly, isn’t it?”

Hesitating for only a second, I open the door and reach around it, grab the hoodie I had hanging on a hook. “Here, you can wear this if you’re cold. The weather doesn’t affect me.”

She looks at me oddly for a moment, “haven’t I spotted you wandering around the boardwalk wearing this? Why do you wear it if the weather doesn’t bother you?”

“I love hoodies. I have probably over a dozen of them. They are typically very soft and comfortable. I don’t wear them because I’m cold. I just feel most comfortable in them.”

“Oh, kay. Well thank you,” she says as she slips it over her head. I can’t help but smile. “What are you smiling about,” she asks curiously.

“You look like you’re drowning in my hoodie.”

Cassie scrunches her nose up and sticks her tongue out at me. “I actually love over-sized hoodies because I can snuggle down into them,’ she says in response as she removes a hair-tie from her wrist and pulls her hair into a messy bun.

“I didn’t say it looked bad on you. You actually look really cute in it.” And she really does. “Oh, since we’re right here,” I add as we reach the bottom of the stairs, “we can take my SUV if you want. You’ll just have to tell me how to get there.” She says okay and we hop into the vehicle.