Chapter 30 #2
“I don’t sulk, and it isn’t so bad here,” I tell him honestly.
I could think of worse things than boredom, but today isn’t that boring because I am actually busy and tormented by my thoughts.
“If that is true, why do you feel guilty?” he asks, stepping closer, his chest pressing into my back.
I look at Cyrus, who is watching us, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The oven alarm goes off, and I turn around to grab the potato bake.
Eli blocks me, his hand going on the counter beside me.
“Whatever you are hiding, we will figure it out,” he says, and my heart skips a beat, which doesn’t go unnoticed as he cocks his head to the side.
“Leave her, Eli. She is still here, isn’t she? Obviously, she can be trusted. She had all day to run,” Cyrus tells him.
Eli grips my chin, tipping my face up and making me meet his gaze.
I am expecting him to say something when he brushes his lips against mine.
My lips tingle and part before kissing him back.
His tongue fights mine for dominance, and I let him have it as he pulls me closer, his arm snaking around my waist as he pulls me flush against him.
Eli steps away, breaking the kiss, and I turn to grab the oven mitts.
Turning around, I see Eli reach in and grab the potato bake out.
“Gloves!” I shriek as I watch in horror as he grabs it with his bare hand.
He places it on the top of the stove before reaching above his head and grabbing some plates while I stare dumbfounded. Still, he seems completely unfazed by it.
“We don’t heal like humans, Addie. Why so shocked? I would have thought you would have noticed. Eli does most of the cooking,” Cyrus says, and I close my mouth.
“I never really paid attention. Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Used to it. It just feels hot but not painful,” Eli says with a shrug, grabbing some wine glasses.
He grabs a bottle of wine from the rack, holding it up.
“Drink?” he asks, and I shrug.
I used to have a few wines with mom after Maya went to sleep, but I haven’t had a drop since meeting them.
Eli fills the glasses before handing me one. I take a sip, the fruity flavors dancing on my tongue before I start dishing out dinner. Eli sets the table, and Cyrus helps me carry the plates out.
“How come you guys were late today?” I ask, sitting down.
“The company is under investigation. The meeting went longer than I thought it would,” Eli replies.
“Why are you under investigation?”
“Someone hacked into a government database using one of our servers,” Eli says, not looking all that bothered.
“Do you know who?”
He shakes his head. “Nope, but we will figure it out.”
I nod, digging into my dinner.
* * *
The next few days pass by quickly. Each day, they leave before I wake up, and each day, Sam comes over. He stops harassing me about leaving them, and I fall into a comfortable routine of them leaving and Sam keeping me company.
Having Sam around, I realize how much I’ve actually missed his company. I can tell him anything and know he won’t judge… well, except when it comes to them.
Getting out of bed just in time to hear a knock on the door, I quickly throw my jeans on and a singlet before racing down and ripping the door open.
My heart skips a beat, the excited smile vanishing from my face when I see it is Cyrus.
“Bloody left my phone here,” he says before looking at me. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I look nervously out the door, praying Sam won’t show up. Cyrus retrieves his phone before coming back down. He kisses my head before walking out the door, and I let out the breath I haven’t realized I’ve been holding.
About ten minutes later, I hear another knock on the door and open it to find Sam standing there.
“I swear I just drove past Cyrus,” he says, looking at the road.
“You did? Did he see you?” I ask nervously.
“Don’t think so, but I doubt he would have been looking out for me anyhow,” he says, and I nod.
I walk into the kitchen, turning the kettle on and making coffee.
“So, what do you want to do today?” he asks.
“Don’t you get bored sitting around the house with me? What about work?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “I get to spend time with you. That’s all that matters.”
“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”
“We can go for a walk. This property is huge, beats staying inside,” he suggests, and I nod.
We drink our coffees, and then I go and grab my joggers.
Sam is right; the place is huge. I have never walked it, and by the time we get back, it is lunchtime. Just before we head back in, Sam grabs my hand, making me look at him.
I try to pull my hand from his grip when he uses his other hand to tug on my waist, pulling me closer.
“Sam, don’t. You will get your scent on me.”
“I don’t care. I want you, Addie. Come home with me.”
I shake my head, moving away when he grips the back of my neck and kisses me. I shove him on his shoulders, pushing away, but he doesn’t let go. So, instead, I remain immobile, waiting for him to finish. As soon as he does, I slap him, the sound loud in the silence. He rubs his cheek.
“I want you to leave. We spoke about this. I am happy being friends, but that’s it, Sam,” I tell him.
He takes a step forward, and I step back.
“No, Sam, just leave,” I tell him.
“Ada, just listen. We can go somewhere. They won’t find us. I can make you happy,” he pleads.
“I am happy. You are just ruining everything. And they will find us,” I tell him, jerking my hair aside and showing him my neck and Eli’s mark.
“This will ensure they do. Now, just leave before you make things worse,” I tell him.
I turn my back on him and hear his car door slam before he starts it. I am about to walk inside when I remember he hasn’t sprayed that stuff through the house. I turn around, but he is already tearing out of the driveway, leaving a cloud of dust up the road. Fuck!
I go inside, stripping my clothes off as I walk to the laundry, leaving me in only my bra and undies. I stuff them in the washer and turn it on. Walking out, I head for the stairs, intending to shower and brush my teeth. I walk out into the foyer only to stop dead in my tracks.
Cyrus is leaning on the living-room doorway, and he is livid, his eyes a demonic red, and I can see the points of his fangs peeking out from under his top lip.
Hearing footsteps behind me, my stomach drops further, plunging somewhere bottomless inside me. I swallow nervously, turning around, and Eli stops next to the stairs.
“Funny, I could have sworn I just saw Sam here,” Eli says to Cyrus.
Cyrus growls, taking a step toward me, and I step back closer to the stairs. My eyes dart toward the front door.
“I told you I would find out what you were hiding, though I am shocked you would be stupid enough to bring a fucking hunter into my house!” Eli yells at me.
“Did you fuck him?” Cyrus growls, his voice making goosebumps rise on my arms.
I shake my head, stepping up the first step as he moves toward me. Cyrus stalks me and makes my blood run cold.
“I asked you a question, Adeline. Did you fuck him in our house?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that. You would be able to smell him on me if I had.”
“Do you want to?” Cyrus asks.
“No, he is just a friend,” I tell them, and Eli walks up the side of the stairs stopping on the bottom one.
I step back, nearly stumbling over the step as I walk back up them.
“A friend? Are we talking about the same friend I just saw you kissing?” Cyrus says, his eyes flickering to a darker shade.
I shake my head, but the noise that leaves the back of his throat terrifies me, and I run.
I race up the steps only to be ripped backward as his arms wrap around my waist. I throw my head back, headbutting him.