When Ava pulled into the long driveway that led to Cayde's house, the first thing Belicia saw was Koya, leaning against his sleek black Audi.

He pushed off and walked over, opening Ava's door for her and then he trotted over and opened Belicia's door, taking her hand and helping her out.

"Wow Bel, you look great! I don't think I've ever seen you in street clothes," he bent and brushed his lips against her hair.

She shivered with his touch.

The front door opened and DJ came trotting out with Lindy on his heels.

Lindy came up to them and gasped. "Whoa Bel, is that you? Love the hair!" She gushed. "Come on you guys!" She grabbed Ava and Belicia. "There's food!" She said with a sing-song voice.

As she went to walk off with her arms linked in theirs Koya grabbed her. "Not so fast Lindy, I want to talk to Bel, for a minute." He smiled.

"Oh, sorry Koya, well okay but geesh hurry up we want to start the movie."

She and Ava scuttled off with DJ, and Koya led Belicia back over to his car. Her nerves were already bouncing off the walls of her mind and Koya's Kitsune lit up within him.

"You know you were supposed to be staying at my house while your parents are in Japan-,"

"And I decided not to," she butt in to his light reprimand, but nevertheless a reprimand.

"No worries," he touched her lips with his finger tips. "I already took care of it. No one will be the wiser, but I don't want you staying there alone. It isn't safe."

Belicia pushed his hand down. "That's why Ava is staying with me." She replied.

"Make sure she is Bel, or I will change things back to the way they were supposed to be," he gave her a side eye.

"Really Koya? What control do you have over anything?"

"Enough to make things go the way I want them to, Bel, and there is no need to get prickly about it, I only want to make sure you are protected," he added softly.

"And that is chivalrous of you but I can take care of myself thank you."

"Just make sure, that's all I'm asking."

"She is staying, Koya. We already told her mom and she's fine with it."

Koya nodded. "Good enough for me, now what ya say we get some food?"

Belicia's brow rose but she nodded and took a step when Koya embraced her.

"You look really enchanting tonight."

Belicia smiled slightly but he lifted her chin with his fingertips and gave her the tiniest kiss on the lips. A thousand prickles of static electricity traced along her arms and shot up her neck.

She noticed his hand rested lightly behind her hair at her neck where all the prickles gathered. He had an effect on her she couldn't explain but there was no time for her to give it any thought as Ava burst out the front door and hollered for them to hurry up.

Koya took her hand and they ran together meeting Ava on the huge, Victorian front porch.

Koya liked Ava a lot but she could be as overprotective as him sometimes. He smiled at the thought. Belicia was well thought of and loved very much by her friends and well hated by those who despised her.

He knew there was no reason to hate on her, but jealousy was a strong emotion.

He knew how he felt toward Tuto, but his feelings were justified in that Tuto's family desired to usurp his lineage any way they could and getting control of Belicia would be their prime ticket to extend their power for ages to come.

And also to dip into realms that would be affected forever if they were ever able to gain their intent. Even though Tuto had an air of indifference it would not be long Koya knew, before he tried to turn the tables in a big way. Koya reminded himself to be on constant alert.

The girls all went into the kitchen to finish gathering snacks while Cayde pulled out the hideabed from the sofa. They often piled on there to watch movies at his house but Bel had never joined them before now and she hesitated when she walked in and saw it, but both Ava and Lindy jumped on and sat cross legged arranging the bowls of popcorn and other snacks for everyone.

DJ crawled over next to Lindy and lay on his side popping popcorn into his mouth before he threw one in the air catching it with his mouth. He smiled a goofy smile and Lindy smacked his shoulder.

"Hey," he grabbed her and tickled her until she cried.

Belicia couldn't help but smile at their cuteness. Koya watched her reactions with a smile of his own. When she looked over at him he hid the grin and patted the space next to him. She handed him the big bowl of flavored little fish crackers she had and he moved over to give her room to climb on.

Koya pulled her against him and slid his arms around her waist. "We're watching a scary movie Bel," he whispered in her ear and those static goose pimples he caused immediately rose up on her arms. "Put some crackers in my mouth," he grinned. She scooped up a few and he opened his mouth letting her pour them in.

Ava handed them each a bottled cola.

Cayde put the movie in the CD player and ran and jumped on the huge sofa bed with everyone upsetting the popcorn bowls and popcorn rolled everywhere. He laughed like a kid, and DJ and Koya laughed too.

"Oh my God, Cayde," Ava groaned. "You're such a clutz!"

"Really?" He growled rolling on top of her. "I think you spilled it and you're gonna clean it up," he joked, tickling her relentlessly until she bucked him off. "Okay guys I'm gonna hit play so make sure you're comfortable," he announced. "Here comes Chucky oooooooH!"

Koya leaned back against the cushions and pulled Belicia back with him.

Cayde hit the lights and hit play.

"It's not Chucky you goober, it's Jason."

DJ laughed. "It's neither, you goobers, it's Final Destination now be quiet!"

Belicia settled against Koya but her heart was turning flips in her chest.

She had never experienced the intimacy she was feeling right now. Koya's fingers grazed her bare shoulders and his other arm nestled her against the hard frame of his body. His hand brushed against her as he reached for the cracker bowl in her lap.

Chills of ecstasy sliced through her legs.

He grabbed the bowl and placed it on the bed beside them and he slid his hand under her shirt and rubbed the soft skin on her belly, relishing in the raised skin his touch was provoking. His fingertips traced in little swirls along her side.

Belicia was almost squirming with the feelings that landed somewhere between a tickle and red hot burning. Like he had some magic power over her she wanted him to take her and kiss her until she couldn't breathe. Her body was desperate for any part of it he might touch. He felt her breath deeply and a long sigh left her.

His eyes turned dark and brooding though no one could see them and he was glad because he was boiling with the heat of desire. He forced himself not to overwhelm her and tried to watch the movie but it was hard with her so close, the smell of her hair intoxicating his senses.

He looked over and saw Ava watching him but he pretended not to notice. She was wrapped in Cayde's arms as they lay next to each other to watch the movie and Koya saw Cayde place little kisses all along her arm.

She turned her head toward him and he bent down to kiss her lips.

Then Lindy screamed from a jump scare and the moments fled from him.

He wished he were as close to Bel as Cayde was to Ava. He would love to lay beside her and kiss her senseless. But it was way too soon for that.

For now he would pamper her with just enough to keep her curious. Hopefully one day he could lay beside her as he dreamed.