17 years old
Septem

Neema was sick, we weren't too sure what was wrong with her body but she was definitely sick.

Her cells were shifting and her body was physically weak. She could barely walk about let alone lift her arm to breast feed Micah. She was missing out on one of the most important parts of motherhood and we couldn't even explain why.

For the past month we'd had doctors in and out of this room, testing her pulse. Scanning her organs, all sorts but she was only getting weaker. They tried new technologies, natural remedies and old medicines but she was only deteriorating.

So they had sought the help of Carson. I wasn't fond of him still being around the compound but he had been useful in the past month. He had found some medicines that had helped lessen the pain for Neema. The throbbing in her veins was lessening but my heart was worsening. It was the price I paid for healing the only sister I had ever known.

No one knew the reason he had started picking up his books again. All I knew was that one day I had gone inside the library to take out a book called 'Taxonomy and Toxins' and he had been there. He was always there, he was like the library ghost and so I tried to avoid that place even though that was where I often took the twins to learn. Or where I liked to study the natural world and all the plants I had ever encountered.

My interest in the natural benefits and poisons/side effects of the natural world had led me to the library often. Every time I entered he was there.

Even now, when it was way after the normal hours of sleep he was here. At first I hadn't noticed him, I thought I had finally been free of his presence. Then I saw a figure shift in the corner of my eye, his arms stretching as he moved position.

Kissing my teeth, I took my seat and refused to leave, I wouldn't let him chase me out of my home. Burying my head in the book I pretended as if he were not here, even though I could feel his eyes on me every now and then.

"How are you doing Vanya?" He cleared his throat, his voice and wavering with nervousness.

"Don't talk to me" I spat, my eyes still glued to the book in front of me. The words blurring into big blobs of black as my mind wondered somewhere else.

"I know you don't like me, Vanya but I really am sorry" I could hear him heaving and sighing as he moved closer to me, his body looming over my table.

"I messed up but I still Lo-"

"Carson, what are you doing here and with her?" My head shot up to the sight of Nelly, her body stuck between the doorway.

Her hair was tied in a bun and her eyes were spitting fire as she glared at me and Carson. She looked a little worse for wear, her dark skin was loosing its glow. There was an almost grey tinge to her colour but I put it down to lack of sleep and her oncoming labour.

"What are you doing out of bed Nelly? You know you're not meant to." He murmured as she stepped further into the room, her burgeoning belly poking out before her.

"Well it's a good thing I did because she seems to be everywhere you are."

It was almost laughable that she was accusing me, considering Nelly was the intruder in this messed up relationship between me and Carson. I would let her have her moment, I really didn't care. It's not like I wanted to be around him anymore, it was him who miraculously seemed to be everywhere I was.

"It's a bit embarrassing. Have some self respect." She sneered at me. At me!

I couldn't help it, tears trailed down my face in laughter. My hand covering my mouth as I tried to trap the loud noise but I couldn't stop it from escaping. I probably looked crazy but Nelly was hilarious. Deranged but hilarious. She genuinely thought I wanted her mate. Gods no. I couldn't wait to be done with this ugly part of my life.

I was over this crap.

"Seriously Nelly, don't interfere in things you have no idea about." Carson was getting annoyed, I could see it in the way his nostrils flared and his jaw was clenched.

"Well I just think it's ridiculous that you are still seeing her now that I'm pregnant." Her neck rolling and hands pushing at him, making him stumble back a few steps.

Then she turned her attention to me "You do know I'm pregnant right." Her voice was unbearably snarky, her face smug as she smiled at me.

This female was such a bitch, I almost felt sorry for Carson. Almost, but then I remembered he had brought this upon himself. He was getting what he deserved and that only made me want to laugh so much harder.

"Yep, your big ass belly is a bit hard to miss" I snorted, my smile wavering under the urge of wanting to laugh. This female was entertaining.

She hadn't realised that her trying to get a rise out of me only made me smile harder. She was trying to hurt me but she should have known that this couldn't hurt me anymore. The grief over my situation had hit me a long time ago and though I still had phantom pain every now and then, I was healing.

"Nelly go back to sleep, nothing is going on here."

"And I'm just meant to believe that your besotted mate isn't trying to lure you back to her." She scoffed, cutting her eyes at me.

My smile didn't fall it only climbed higher, gods this woman was making my night.

"Let's not pretend our relationship is more than it is. I see you with Niko and don't say anything so don't be a hypocrite."

"What?" She screeched incredulously, Shock plastered all over her face at being caught.

"Yes, you heard me correctly. Now go back to bed and stop risking my child's life." His arms were folded as he stared her down, demanding she leave but his words made her fight harder.

I took that as my queue to leave. Picking up my books and skirting around them I left. Throwing some last minute words out before going.

"Have a good night guys," I called in a sing song voice, I didn't wait for their response.

Walking down the corridors, my free hand trailing along the walls I breathed heavily.

Sucking in air through my lips and releasing it through my nose. I kept doing this even as I stepped outside the compound, the muggy late night air making it harder for me.

I kept doing my breathing exercise as my feet crunched across the gravel and then grass. In, out. My hand trailed against some of the new houses that had been erected by Ryan.

I kept going until I reached my destination, pushing the door open and making my way up the stairs.

The pale moonlight casting an eerie glow over his body. Milky skin and blonde hair revealed for my eyes only. There was a trail of hair leading down to his low rise shorts. I smiled at his twitching half mast state, he was clearly dreaming about something good.

Stripping out of my clothes I got on the bed with him, grabbing the discarded blanket along the way. Even when it was unbearably hot I always had to have my feet covered by blankets. It was a habit I couldn't shake.

My head met his chest as I inhaled his tangy scent, it was green and musky from sweat. He smelt like nature and man.

"You took your time" his eyes still closed as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Mm, I'm here now." I whispered, peppering kisses along his closed lids.

"Are you sure this is what you want babe" he murmured, his hands stroking along my back as he finally gifted me with his beautiful orbs. Those orbs that always saw deep into my soul.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that." I murmured, alluding to the rough week he had been having with his god awful mate.

"You're the only female I would want to do this with." He murmured, his lips ghosting along mine. Tempting me.

"Good" I gasped, his mouth swallowing the sound as his tongue wrapped around mine.

Twisting as he kissed me senseless. My eyes fluttered closed as I felt his power over me.

His hands were everywhere, stroking fire throughout my body. My tongue sucked on his, tasting hints of mint. Moans choked in my throat as he swallowed me whole. We panted for breath. Gripping his head, I pushed him where I needed him most. His fingers met mine, untwining my digits as he took control.

His lips glided down my neck, sucking and biting along the slope of my skin. My legs spreading wide as he reached my breast, his teeth sinking into one before lathing it better.

My fingers scraped down his back, eyes rolled in the back of my head as my hands delved beneath the line of his boxers. My nails sinking into his bare ass, my hips grinding against him as I forced him against me.

His mouth making slurping noises against my breasts caused an unbearable ache in-between my legs. My body becoming slick in preparation of his entrance.

I didn't want anymore foreplay, in just needed him.

"Cobie," I cried, my hands moving around to the front and gripping his growing thickness. His groans prompted me to grip him tighter, working him faster.

His hips making small rotating moves as he continued feasting on my chest. My body was clenching against air, crying for the heaviness he would bring me.

"Cobie," I begged, a choked chuckle buried into my skin as he moved down my body. Words ghosting across my stomach as he called me greedy. A smile on my face even as my eyes rolled to the back of my head. My belly button was an erogenous zone of mine and he knew that.

My hands ripped at his hair as his tongue sweeped inside the small nub of skin. His teeth biting along the outside as his hands moved in between my legs.

My legs were splayed wide, my wetness dripping along my body. His arms gripped my thighs, stopping me from shifting away as he buried his face between my legs.

My heart thudded out of my chest, at the feel of his rough lips against my much softer ones. Sucking and pulling at my small nub as his fingers stretched me. I was gushing, his fingers making squishing noises inside me. I should have felt embarrassed but all I could feel was sublime pleasure.

"Ahh," my hands gripped his head but my body tried to rock away from his mouth. His fingers curled around that spot inside me again and I went crazy.

The world went black. It was blurry and then my sight came into focus. The erotic sight of his blue eyes peering up at me as I grinded against his face. I couldn't take more. As if reading my thoughts, he moved from between my legs. His lips gliding back up my body before we were face to face.

"You ready?" He breathed along my face, his eyes peering into my soul. At the slight nod of my head, he moved his boxers the rest of the way down his legs.

His hands moved between us, the tip of him gliding around my centre. He tapped against my nub bringing tears to my eyes at the pleasure. He was still playing with me and I couldn't take anymore.

"Cobie" this time my voice a growl as I gripped his manhood.

His eyes widened as I placed the tip of him at my entrance. My hand sinking into the flesh off his behind and forcing him in me. There was a slight stretch as the tip entered but it was nothing I couldn't bear.

"Oh gods" he cried, his eyes fluttering in pleasure. "Oh gods," he moaned again before burying his head in my neck and sucking.

My hips twitching at the sharp feel of his teeth. He sunk deeper into me and the stretch became a burn and then a sharp prick that left me gasping.

Chest to chest, mouth to mouth, he was inside me. The feeling was so awkward but euphoric. I wanted to push him out but pull him in deeper. He took the choice from me as he pulled out, his blue eyes meeting mine as he sunk back in.

A quivering moan escaping my mouth as tears trailed down my eyes. His head came close, kissing away my tears.

My arms wrapped around his neck as I pulled him in closer. My legs draped around his hips as I urged him on. His name slipping from my mouth as I begged him to move and he did.

His hips twisting as he delved deeper. my body clenched around him, sucking him in, clenching around him. Begging him to give me more. He gave me everything, his eyes connected to mine as our bodies connected in the purist way.

His tongue twisted with mine and my body became slicker. I was becoming wetter and wetter as he slid in and out. I was on fire, burning higher and higher. Then I exploded, air leaving my lungs as I lost sight of the world around me.

Body clenching as I gushed a stream of wetness around him, I was dying. Black in my vision, no air in my lungs and my heart sliding to a halt.

Then I saw blue. Rich blue full of awe.

Cobalt eyes guided me back to the present. Hands stroking along my sensitive skin until the rest of my senses picked up. My ears hearing the sound of his voice soothing me, thanking me.

"Gods Vanya, what did I ever do to deserve a female like you," his warm breath tingling against my already heated skin.

"I'm lucky to have you Cobalt" my finger smoothing the damp hair away from his brow.

No matter where this life took us, he would always remain my friend and the first man to ever make me see my worth. He forced me to see my beauty and for that I would give him everything.

We would never be without each other because we had given each other this moment. What was left of our innocence was lost in the sweltering clasp of each other's body. I was his first and he would always be mine. My cobalt.

His blue eyes soothed me like the swaying blue of the ocean rocking across the sand.

//--//

The next morning, I sneaked back into the compound, showering before I made my way into Neema's room. Instead of finding her asleep like I assumed her to be. I found an enraged Neema verbally attacking Carson.

"Neema, be calm." Were the first words I heard. Khan standing by in mild amusement and shock as he tried to calm the tempest that was Neema. Even in her sick state she was still ferocious when angry.

"No, Khan don't get involved. This is between me and him" she thundered, her back leaning against the headboard of their massive bed.

Her hair was bedraggled and knotted from sleep, her skin was pasty and she seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

None of these things stopped her from attacking Carson. I swear I loved her.

"I understand that he is helping me and I will forever be grateful for that but I don't want her here."

"Me and you are not friends any longer and so I do not have to entertain your bed-followers."

His face shuttered in hurt, the impact of her words wounding him in places he never though he could hurt. He had though that she would stay by his side when he tormented me this way. She never would.

"I'm just trying to help!" He cried, his face pink with embarrassment. Tears pooling in his eyes at this loss. Carson was only taking losses.

"By parading your tramp around my compound? I don't want her around my children and I don't want her in my presence."

She didn't mention my name in front of Khan but all three of us knew that I was her main reason for this. She didn't want Carson around us. Though he wasn't intentionally trying to torment me, every time I saw them together I felt it. He was making it difficult to heal.

"Neema, she is his mate. She will be family!" Khan refuted, he still hadn't picked up on the connection between me and Carson and I had sworn Neema not to mention it. I didn't want to cause a rift between brothers.

"She will never be my family and you CARSON. Are this close to being disowned by me."

"This close." She spat, hand rising to make a gesture of how close he was from loosing her for good. Her index finger and thumb were so close, a hairsbreadth away.

"The only reason I tolerate your presence is because you are helping me. That. Is. It!"

"Now leave" her hand thundered down on her bed before she collapsed against the headboard.

Carson automatically looked to Khan and at his nod scurried out of the room. His eyes met mine but I turned away before he could open his lips and give me his words.

"Neema, you can't chase him away like that, this is his home." He murmured stroking the hair from her face and wiping her tears.

"Well its mine too and I don't feel comfortable here."

I didn't. I hadn't felt comfortable for a while now. The more I saw of them the more I contemplated leaving with Eliza. Things were getting rocky between her and Samyuri. She needed a clean break.

At first I hadn't been sure but now, with last night's drama and this mornings saga, the thought of getting away was becoming an option. An enticing option.