I Can't Breathe

Marrick has the most beautiful coal black eyes! I do not think that I have ever seen eyes this dark and so black before and his dark wavy hair just flows around his face! But I still cannot get over how pale white he looks and I cannot take my eyes off of him! We walk up on to my porch we are now standing in front of my door. He looks down at me and he gently places his index finger under my chin to have me look up at him I do not fight it. There is such a cooling feeling coming from him. He bends his head down so that he can look into my eyes and now he is lowering himself closer to my shoulder. "Renee, I will make you mine" He whispers in my ear with a very soft low voice. I feel his lips dragging on my skin his cool feeling lips! I can feel my blood coursing through my body. I can feel his arms tightening around me so that he can hold me tighter against him all of a sudden I feel a sharp stabbing pain in my neck and I can feel him gently sucking on my skin. I do not know what to do but the pain does distract me of what I was feeling a moment ago! He releases my skin from his mouth and he looks at me once more. "Renee, I am sorry for what I just did I got caught up in the moment. I wanted to taste you" He says to me as he looks into my eyes. I see his eyes they look different somehow they look darker. Then I notice that there is actually blood on his bottom lip his soft pale lips! Is that blood from me?

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I Can't BreatheBy R.L. MankinAuthorHouseCopyright © 2012 R.L. MankinAll right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4772-8402-5Chapter OneI finally arrive home from work this evening it has been such a very long and busy day. All I want to do is take a nice hot shower and just curl up on the couch and watch a movie. The text alert on my phone is beeping so I pick it up and it is from my best friend Sarah. Sarah's text: "Hello Renee! It is Friday night and we need to go out and have some fun!" I really do not want to go, but she is my best friend and I do not want her to go out alone. Well that is my excuse anyway. I say to myself. My reply: "Hello Sarah! Will you please come and pick me up?" Sarah's text: "Yes I will. See you in a few minutes!" My reply: "Awesome! Thank you Sarah." Well my lazy plans are not going to work out like I was hoping for! I am not going to change my clothes because it will not take Sarah very long for her stop by my house to pick me up. I love riding in her car I do not know what kind it is, other than it is a beautiful red sports car and the engine is just so quiet. So walk out of my house and I lock my front door, I will wait for her while I sit on my swing. As soon as I sit down I see her pulling up in front of my house so I walk down my porch steps as I open her car door I notice that she has her radio on and as I am getting into her car I am listening to "Nothing Left to Lose" by Mat Kearney. I close the car door and I buckle myself in and we are now off for a fun filled evening! "Renee, so are you ready for a fantastic evening, happy birthday!" She says to me. I have honestly forgotten that today is my birthday! I will blame it on the fact that I am a year older now and for also having such a very long day! "Sarah, may I ask where are we going?" "Renee, it is a surprise!" I automatically know that we are going to a bar and I give Sarah my "whatever" look. "Renee, there is a new bar that opened a few weeks ago and I have wanted to go and check it out so what better excuse to go and do that because it is your birthday!" She says to me. I just look and I smile at her, she has now said that it is my birthday twice to me! I am hoping that we do not stay long because my bed is calling my name and I want to sleep! I say to myself. We arrive at the bar and it honestly has no name! There is a big beautiful colored sign that just says WELCOME. Sarah is driving around looking for a parking spot and she has finally found one. Is this for real? I say to myself as we both get out of the car and make our way to the bars entrance. I suddenly feel Sarah grab my hand as we walk in the new big welcome sign bar. "Sarah this is crazy!" I say to her. Why am I here? I ask myself. Then I remember my excuse. I did not want Sarah to go out alone! As we walk in to the bar I get a very strange feeling! Maybe, it is because I have never been here before. I say to myself. It is so loud from the music that is playing "Drift & Die" by Puddle of Mudd and the dance floor is just full of people. I listen to the music as we walk inside as my ears are thumping to the beat! I have to struggle to hear what Sarah is saying to me. "Renee hold on to my hand I do not want to lose you!" There are lots of tables and booths to sit at and this place is bigger than it looks from the outside! There are different colored lights dancing all over the people that are on the dance floor and we have to move around everyone as we continue to walk inside the bar. We finally make our way to the bar area and we find two stools for us to sit on and Sarah orders us each a white russian. If they are made right I really do think that they taste almost like a vanilla shake! "Renee Happy Birthday to you!" Sarah yells to me AGAIN! I am amazed that a few people heard her they turn to look at us and smile. "Thank you Sarah." I say to her as I smile back at her. I really do enjoy spending time with Sarah she is the sister that I never had and we have known each other since we were little girls. She means so much to me Sarah is the only family that I have because we had lost both of our parents in a car accident two years ago. When we go out to a bar we do not dance we just talk and have fun watching people but we also like to see who is watching us! The bar is so packed that every now and then we get bumped by people who are walking by us. I finish my drink and she orders us each another one. "Thank you." I say to the bartender as he gives us our drinks. "You are welcome." The bartender replies as he walks away from us. "Renee, I think the bartender is very hot!" She says looking at him. "Sarah, do you know how many women have probably said that about the poor guy?" "Renee, I do not care!" She replies as she laughs. I really do think that Sarah has the coolest laugh that I have ever heard. I cannot describe it but it makes me smile and I do. As we are sitting here at the bar area, Sarah is talking about her ex-boyfriend Mark. I just cannot stand the man, I do not like the way he treats her he is such a jerk! Mark does not respect Sarah or her feelings. She broke up with him, but he is the kind of guy that will say all the right things to her to get her to take him back. But this time she caught him cheating so I feel that I should listen! "Sarah, you need to find someone who deserves everything that you have to offer! You really do need to get your ass-hole radar up and working and that is one big reason why I am still single. I am picky and I do not like men who do not respect us!" I say to her as I take a sip from my drink. "Renee I agree with you!" She replies as she takes a sip from her glass as well. I really do hope that she does not get upset with what I just said to her! I just want to see her happy with someone who will always be there for her and also love and respect her. I say to myself. As we are sitting at the bar she becomes very quiet and I can hear "The Bitch Came Back" by Theory of a Deadman that is now playing over the speakers. Sarah grabs hold of my arm and so I move my eyes from my drink I look to see what has gotten her attention so I turn myself around on the bar stool that I am sitting on; my eyes are now very wide and opened! I see that there are two men standing behind us. I cannot say anything because if I do I will probably trip over my own tongue! Sarah's mouth has dropped just slightly open and I can tell what her eyes are saying "Oh my yumminess!" I cannot help but agree with what she is thinking! These two men are very tall well they are taller than us anyway. "Hello my name is Damon and this is my brother Marrick." He says to us as he introduces himself and his brother. "Hello my name is Sarah and this is my best friend Renee." She replies to him. They hold out their hands and so we place our hands inside theirs. I am thinking that we are going to shake hands but we are now completely shocked because they are now holding our hands to their lips! I honestly have to say that I do not think that any man has ever done this to us before! Damon is holding Sarah's hand and Marrick is holding my hand. I glance over and I can see that Sarah is now melting on the bar stool that she is sitting on but I realized that the hair on my neck is standing straight up as if to say hello themselves! I must say that these two men are the most extraordinary most beautiful handsome men we have ever seen! I had no idea that men can be made like this. Damon has blonde beautiful hair the length is down to his neck it is like a sexy mess-up hair and he has the darkest green eyes that I have ever seen. Marrick has dark wavy hair that comes to his shoulders. We can very well see that they are both very handsome men. But I have to say that they have the palest white skin that I have ever seen! Maybe that is what makes them look so attractive. "Would you ladies like another drink?" Marrick asks us as he releases my hand. "No thank you." We both reply. "We have a limit as to how much we drink when we go out." Sarah says to Marrick as she smiles. "We understand." Damon replies. "Would it be ok if we sit with the both of you?" Marrick asks as he smiles. "Yes." We both reply at the same time. We stay sitting at the bar I do not think that Sarah and I have any plans on going anywhere else inside this place because we like to keep an eye on each other just in case one of us needs help. Damon goes and sits next to Sarah so Marrick comes and he sits next to me and he looks directly into my eyes! I really do not know what to say other than how nervous I am feeling! I can feel myself grabbing on to Sarah's hand and she holds on to mine. Marrick has the most beautiful coal black eyes! I do not think that I have ever seen eyes this dark and so black before and his dark wavy hair just flows around his face! But I still cannot get over how pale white he looks and I cannot take my eyes off of him! I wonder to myself. Is the lighting in the bar is what's making his skin look so pale? But I honestly cannot talk to him! We just sit at the bar in silence and I cannot speak a word! I look over at Sarah to see how she is doing and she seems to be having a conversation with Damon. All I want to do is go home but at the same time I really do want to talk to Marrick but again I just cannot find the words to say to him! I am starting to get upset with myself because I am so shy. "Renee, are you ok?" Marrick asks as he is looking at me. "I am too nervous to talk to you!" I reply as I look at my glass. I cannot believe that I have just said that! I say to myself as I lower my head. I feel so red right now! I look up at him he is still looking at me with such a beautiful smile on his face. He looks so perfect to me but I still do not know what to do or say. Because of how I am feeling for him I really want to leave and NOW! I squeeze Sarah's hand she turns to look at me. "Sarah, is it ok if we leave please?" I ask her. She looks kind of bummed that I have asked her this but she smiles and turns to Damon. "Damon please excuse us, but it is time for us to leave." Sarah says to him. Damon grabs Sarah's hand again and he kisses her skin ever so gently I can see that it has made her so excited because her breathing has changed. I slightly pull on her as to say, "Please, can we go?" I do not plan on saying good-bye to Marrick I just want out of here! Finally she gets up from her bar stool and so I start to follow Sarah out of the bar but I can feel Marrick as he gently grabs my arm and I stop to look at him. "Renee, I would really like to see you again." He says to me as I can feel his hand slide down my arm so he can hold onto my hand. So we can just sit in silence? As I think to myself. I just feel like he can hear what I am thinking! He looks at me and just smiles and my heart starts to race. I can honestly hear my heart thumping in my ears over the loud music that is playing. "Your Decision" by Alice in Chains. What is going on with me? I ask myself. I feel completely weak in the knees as he continues holding onto my hand. I look down at our hands touching but I force myself to look back up into his dark beautiful coal black eyes. At this moment I do NOT want to leave! I look over at Sarah and I see that she is patiently waiting for me then I look back into Marrick's eyes. But why am I feeling this way? I cannot help but ask myself. Right here at this moment I am wishing for him to please kiss my hand again! I want to feel his lips on my skin once more and now it is happening Marrick is raising my hand to his lips and he is now kissing the skin of my hand! I am trying so hard to stay calm because I received what I have just wished for! "Till next time that I am able to see you again Renee." I can hear him speak so softly to me over the loud ear pounding music. "If You Can Only See" is the song now playing by the band Tonic. This song is now my favorite! I say to myself as he is gently holding my hand again he is also rubbing my skin with his thumb. I am unable to say anything back to him but my heart is pounding in my chest all I can do is turn and walk away from him but I can feel him slowly release his hand from mine and I close my eyes as I feel him sliding his fingers away from mine. We make our way out of the bar and I continue to follow Sarah to her red sporty car. Because of Marrick I feel so warm inside I have never had such a strong feeling like this about any man! I feel as if someone is watching me I look around the parking lot but I do not see anyone. Maybe it is just my imagination! I say to myself. We get to Sarah's car she unlocks the doors and we both get in, we close the doors and she starts the car and she turns on her radio we are listening to "Lake of Fire" by Nirvana. On the way home Sarah does not speak of her ex-boyfriend I do think she forgot about him. The only person that Sarah is talking about is Damon how beautiful she thought and how polite he was and how she wants to see him again. "Renee, did you notice how pale white their skin looked?" She asks me as she pulls out of the parking lot. "Sarah YES! Maybe it was the lighting in the bar that made their skin look so pale." I reply to her. I am now thinking about how Marrick looked and his beautiful dark wavy shoulder length hair. But it is his coal black beautiful eyes that I cannot stop thinking about and the way his pale white skin looked. "Renee, Damon gave me his phone number I promised him that I will call him to let him know we get home safely." She says to me as her words pull me out of my thoughts. Oh my stars! I think to myself. "Sarah you promise him that? This is something that you have never done before but I can understand why you did promise Damon that you would call him because they are the most beautiful, extraordinary men we both have ever met!" I reply to her with excitement. "Renee that is why I promised Damon, that I will call him this evening. She says to me as she smiles. I start to think to myself. How soft Marrick's lips felt on the top of my hand and also how it felt when he allowed his fingers to slide down mine as he let go of my hand. Again I cannot help but close my eyes as I think of him. "Renee, I wonder what they do for a living?" Sarah asks. "Sarah, as pale white as their skin is and it is dark outside maybe they are vampires!" I reply to her as I open my eyes. "Ok Renee whatever you say." She replies as she laughs. We are now both quiet and we are listening to "Breakdown" by Tantric playing on the radio. We have finally arrived at my house. "Sarah would you like to come in and watch TV?" I ask her as I open up the car door. "Awe thank you Renee but I have a promise to keep to Damon." She replies to me with her blue eyes glistening. "Sarah, I cannot believe that you are going to call him." I say to her. I feel a little jealous that I do not have Marrick's number. I say to myself. "Sarah thanks, for taking me out for my birthday I had a great time!" I say to her. "You are welcome Renee I am glad that you had a wonderful evening! Good night." She says to me. "Good night Sarah." I reply to her as I get out of her car and I close her door. She sits out front until I am safely in my house then she pulls away and heads to her house which is just right up the street. I finally get to take part in my lazy plans I take my wonderful shower to wash the day away except I must admit to myself as I hold my hand that Marrick gently kissed! I want to keep the beautiful Marrick in my mind he is someone that I will probably never see again and besides I know that he was just being polite to me. I say to myself. Here I am now twenty two years old I am single because I am very picky but I do get my bills paid and I am a happy girl! But from time to time I do get lonely but that is just the way I made my life out to be. I put my favorite pajamas on and I am ready to relax. I turn off the lights in my house and then I curl up on the couch with my favorite purple fuzzy blanket that my mom had made for me before their accident. I find something to watch on TV I am getting very tired I am drifting off to sleep. I am dreaming! I am dreaming of Marrick and how beautiful he looked to me. How I felt when he held my hand so tenderly with his lips pressing down on the top of my hand! How he made the hair on my neck stand straight up. There is a very strong over whelming feeling that is taking me over and right away I wake up! Just dreaming about him makes me warm for his touch. (Continues...) Excerpted from I Can't Breatheby R.L. Mankin Copyright © 2012 by R.L. Mankin. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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