Clara Carter

While I wait for Stefan to break the quiet, the structure and design of the floored ground appear to be the ideal thing to look at. After the dizziness of mind-blowing sex, Stefan's magnificent revelation that made the climax even more sexier and significant to experience, it's a given that I won't say anything.

Mae, Stefan's messed up family, and today's unwelcome occurrences are all on my mind.

I lean forward a little from Stefan's car, just a little so that I don't radiate nervousness and awkwardness.

"Where's Mae?" I question, hoping to avoid seeing her again soon when I'm talking with her brother about stuff she doesn't want to hear.

He responds, exhaling, "Either with your parents or in your brother's room."

What have Christopher and Mae been discussing with my parents for such a long time?

"Why is Mae. . .?" I stutter, unable to find the right words.

"The way she is?" Stefan fills in the blanks for me.

Stefan's already irritated voice makes me stifle a laugh. "Yeah."

"It's quite difficult to figure out what she's up to. I've been her brother for more than two decades, and believe me when I say, I have no idea who she really is or why she's so vibrant. It appears that your brother knows more about her than I do." he answers.

This is something I had to agree with him on. Christopher is so into this woman. And anyone can tell just by looking at how they interact with one another. You know how much affection and heart-eyes they both have for one other if the only girl I know this badass is tugging on a guy's sleeve to show him his own childhood pictures and is grinning ear-to-ear just to get his attention.

"Anything else you wanna ask?" Stefan asks.

I nod, reluctant and self-conscious, and carefully plan the following question.

"Do you also. . ." I trail off, need to find phrases that will not upset him. "Do you do what Mae does?" Blackmailing, torturing, killing people. 

He understands what I'm saying. He stiffens and exhales quickly before responding.

"Sometimes. Not necessarily, because Mae is in charge of everything."

I lock my gaze on him. I continue to stare without responding.

I suppress the thoughts that won't let me sleep at night and put on a brave face. When Stefan sees me smiling, he relaxes. 

"Clara, you don't have to worry about anything," he admits as he approaches me. "I would never do anything to let you down."

I believe him. The assurance in his voice, the faith he has in himself not to disappoint me, says it all.

I nod once again and change the subject to something that will not cause us to become tense.

"How many girls have you been with?"

That didn't surprise him even a bit because it was a question he had hoped to be asked. He will likely have a response to it as well.

"The number doesn't matter," he says softly as he approaches my jaw with his smooth touch. "I've only been with those with whom I felt a real connection and bond."

"Am I included in that?"

The smile that drove me insane conveys before his words do. "Always."

Knowingly, the discomfort between us moved to its familiar air. Stefan isn't the type of person who can be easily liked or trusted if it weren't for his good looks. But I'm willing to be the first to praise him for his arrogant and blunt personality.

The crazy moments we shared and encountered perfectly illustrate what it means to be a fucked up team. Apart from that, the night at his house and today have let us discover our other personalities. We had never before disturbed the thoughtful, sensitive, and delicate strings in our hearts.

"What are you thinking about?"

I search his face to see if he has any reaction to what I'm about to say. "Are we moving too fast?"

He grasp what I was saying. But he cleverly disguises it with a smile. "If you believe we are, we can skip the part where we have to  be 'couple-like' and act like in love."

That drum something in my mind.

We don't have to 'act' to be in love. We are. I am.

"But, we are in love?"

As I ask, blush creep across my face. Stefan needed to hear those words in order to turn on his flirty mode.

He places his hands on either side of me, enveloping me in the same way he did when we first met. I bite my lip, awaiting every cheesy sentence to hear from him, as memories of his words and skin on mine erupt.

"Are we?" He mocks me, grinning at my pitiful state as I try to squeeze myself further smaller to make more room for him.

"Yes."

"Then when will I be able to hear you say it?"

I chuckle at how immature we sound. But neither he nor I am going to back down from this innocent flirting.

"Whenever you want to hear it." I continue to tease.

It's surreal that we're having this kind of conversation outside my house in the middle of the night. But hell, who cares if our nosy neighbors cast a judgy eye on us when they should be worrying about their dirty dishes in the sink?

"Well. . ." he pauses, a smile on his face. "It's my birthday tomorrow."

That catches me off guard. After learning how terrible of a stalker I am, my eyes widen.

"Is that all you want for your birthday from me?"

"That's all that will make me truly happy, yes," he admits. "It'll be the best birthday gift I've ever received."

I squint to get a better look at how real he sounds and appears. I place my hand over his chest and subconsciously over his heart. I wonder if it now beats for me and will have a special place for me in it.

"It seems that nothing between us stays playful beyond a few seconds," I say, changing the topic. Though we both knew what his birthday present would be, facing his eager look felt heavy on my shoulders.

"Let's change that," he suggests, picking over.

His hands had slid around my waist and nape, pulling me close to him before I realize it. His alluring lips get closer to mine. His captivating and seductive gaze promised a kiss that would take my breath away.

But suddenly I remember something extremely important.

"How's Ocean?" I beam.

I almost burst out smiling, startling Stefan as he was about to devour my mouth. I'm sorry I couldn't contain myself when I could have felt the most sensual and exquisite lips on my own.

"Seriously?" he exclaims, exasperatedly exhaling. He takes a moment to observe my gleaming face and responds, despite the fact that he has the power to resume what he was doing. "Ocean has created havoc in the house. Charlie just can't get enough of playing with him. And FYI, I still have to deal with Ocean randomly slipping under my sheets hopping to find you."

I believe every word he said. But it was the last line that cracks me up. I picture Stefan's face when he saw Ocean in his bed and how his expression would alter as he tried to shove the poor puppy away.

I miss Ocean. I knew I couldn't just leave him in the backyard of Stefan's house the night I saw him shivering from cold.

"What do you think?" Stefan continues, his tone becoming a little naughty. "Should we give Ocean what he's finding beneath my sheets?"

I picked on it, slipping my hands beneath his jacket to tease him while also seeking warmth. "I'm all for it."

Stefan smiles and seals my lips with his kisses me slowly. His hands tighten around me in a possessive manner that I had instinctively grown to love.

Warmth rises from my stomach to my chest. To keep him and myself steady, I cup his face with both of my hands and deepen the kiss. His lips had such a pure and familiar taste. He tilts my head in such a way that he can easily take my mouth in delicate licks and bites, blurring my ability to think about anything else.

I gasp as he pushes me onto his car, his tongue seizing the opportunity to slide in. It is too late by the time I chose to pull away. Shock engulfs me when I sense water on my fingertips.

My eyes flutter open just enough for me to glimpse a tear rolling down his cheek. His eyes tightly shut. 

The image makes my heart ache. I don't know what to do, so I pour out my heart and kiss him back, hoping that it will make him feel better and that it will show him that I love him no matter what.

His hold on me tightens painfully, and his hands shake as he does so.

When I feel him relax under my touch, my fingertip brushes the tear away.

"I'm not going anywhere, Stefan," I say firmly against his lips. "I'm right by you. It's hard to get rid of me, you know?"

The humor never reached us the way it should have. It's difficult for me to stay strong for Stefan when I see him defenseless and weak like this.

His voice is scratchy with overwhelmed emotions, pleading as he asks, "Really?"

"Yes," I say almost immediately, keeping my tone as light and pleasant as possible. It breaks my heart to see him in this way. "You're stuck with me, stranger."