Chapter 35 Jericho
JERICHO
The following day, Evan and I arrive at the Clearwater house at a little past four in the afternoon. Almost everyone is on the porch waiting, despite the heavy snow coming down.
“I didn’t think this place could get any more beautiful,” Evan remarks, staring at the glistening trees in awe. “But wow. It really can.”
“It’s incredible.” The fluffy blanket of snow makes everything so fresh and clean. Like a new beginning. A fresh page.
Almost. We tried to defeat Foxx and failed. Now we are at an even greater loss, since we don’t know where he is.
But someday… someday, I’ll turn him into ash and start my life free with Evan.
“You ready?” I ask.
Evan chuckles and looks over at me. “You know, I think you asked me that very same question the first time we ever came here. Only, you followed it up with stay close to me.” He says the last part in a ridiculously overprotective voice.
I laugh. “Hey, I had every reason not to trust them.”
“Oh, I know. I remember that very clearly,” he says, squeezing my hand. “Rowen sure knows how to make an entrance, doesn’t he?” Evan opens the door. “Come on.”
Only Evelyn and Sage brave the snow to greet us, and Evelyn hugs each of us fiercely, eyes brimming with tears. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
When we reach the porch, Aster jumps up and down, clapping in his red mittens. “Jer-ko! Jer-ko!”
“Hey, little man,” I say, ruffling his hair. He wraps his little arms around my leg, squeezing tight.
We venture inside, and when I see the crackling fire in the hearth, I pause.
I smelled the burning wood outside, of course, but for once, the scent hadn’t bothered me.
Now, all I smell is the stew and roasted vegetables that Jasmine must have thrown together before we got here.
It makes my mouth water, even if I won’t be able to eat it.
Evan follows the scent of food into the kitchen, and everyone gathers around the table to eat.
I notice one person missing.
“Where’s Red?”
Sage clears his throat. “Upstairs talking to our guest. Or trying to talk anyway. Tobias hasn’t been very communicative, other than his name, and Red is the only one he allows in the room without freaking out.”
Evan furrows his brows. “Who’s Tobias?”
Sage and Forest exchange a look, while Grant leans forward to explain. “Did Jericho tell you about the man he found at the club? With the mark on his shoulder?”
Evan hesitates. “Oh, yeah. He mentioned him.”
“Well, he’s here with us. For the time being, anyway.”
Evan seems confused, so Grant explains. “We think he’s bound to one of the vampires from the coven. Only, we don’t know who or why. He’s not telling us anything. To keep him safe, we brought him here.”
Evan swallows hard. “What about the other humans?”
“We can’t protect them all. But he was the only one with a mark, so we felt it was a target on his life.”
Evan chews slowly before saying, “Maybe if I tried talking to him? Human to human, I mean? Maybe he’s just freaked out by all this paranormal shit?”
Forest nods. “We can try, but not tonight. Red wants to give him a few more days to settle down before anyone else visits again.”
“Well, let me know. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
A few people chuckle.
By some unspoken agreement, the conversation steers away from the coven, the club, that night, or anything else to do with Evan’s near-death experience.
It stays light and free, full of laughter and good feelings.
Jasmine pulls out a five-layer chocolate cake she baked for Evan, and after nearly melting from his first bite, he coaxes me to try some.
“Come on. Just a little bite?” he says, holding a fork out. “It’s delicious.”
I take the bite, barely containing a grimace as the sweetness overpowers my mouth. Someday, I’ll be able to enjoy it with them, but not yet.
Right now, my only dessert will come from his veins when we’re alone.
We wander to the living room and visit for a few more hours. Forest eventually goes upstairs, yawning. Jasmine and Taren follow. One by one, the pack retreats to bed.
Rowen offers to watch a movie with us, but Evan shakes his head. “Actually, I think we should head to bed too.”
Warmth blooms in my chest as he pulls me to my feet, kissing me once. We say our goodnights and head upstairs.
Evan closes the door then turns to face me, pulling me forward with a fistful of my shirt. He crushes my lips in a sweet, claiming kiss that I feel all the way to my toes. Holding him tight, I rest my forehead against his. I can smell his arousal, and it’s making both my gums and my dick ache.
Pulling his shirt off, I kiss a line down his throat. He reaches for my pants, undoing the button and sliding a hand in. I do the same to him, shoving his pants down to palm his hardening cock.
Evan tugs my shirt off, then pulls me close, wrapping his arms around my waist. The warmth of his solid body is something I hope to never take for granted. It’s something I never believed I’d ever really have. Not like this.
“I want you,” he whispers.
I lift him easily, carrying him to the bed and straddling his hips as we make out. He moans as I roll my hips, grinding our cocks together. His nails dig into my back as I rock.
“Fuck, I love this,” he murmurs. “You feel amazing.”
I smile against his neck, kissing him fiercely, then sit back to spread his legs around mine. Evan tucks one arm behind his head, watching me as I coat my fingers with lube to stretch his hole. He strokes himself as I ease one finger in.
When I add a second, Evan goes up on his elbows, as if trying to watch.
“What?”
He shrugs. “Just curious what it’s like.”
I grin. “You can always find out.”
“Oh yeah?”
The amount of desire in his voice makes my pulse quicken. “Do you want to?”
He doesn’t answer, so I lean over to kiss him, grinning wider. “Do you want to fuck me, Evan?”
He kisses me back. “Can I?”
I withdraw my fingers, gliding a hand up his thigh to his waist, still kissing him.
Evan pauses, cupping my face. “Are you sure? I know you’ve only—”
“I’m sure. I really want you to.”
“Yeah?”
Truth is, I’ve thought about Evan fucking me more times than I’ve thought about me fucking him. I want his dick inside me more than anything.
Snagging the bottle of lube again, I coat my fingers again and begin to stretch myself.
Evan sits up to watch me, legs still spread around me. “That’s so fucking hot,” he says, stroking me. He scoots closer and kisses down my neck to my chest.
Slowly, curiously, he reaches behind me, feeling my hand as it works. He eases one finger in, watching my face as he fucks my ass.
I kiss him hard, my fangs descending. After a moment, he gets to his knees and goes behind me, replacing my hand with his while adding more lube. He kisses along my shoulders, my neck, behind my ear, all while working his hand deeper, wider.
“Fuck, Evan,” I murmur. “Feels amazing.”
He kneels behind me, teasing me with the blunt head of his cock between strokes. “Lie down, babe. I know what to do.”
I do as he says, laying on my stomach with my ass up. Evan presses himself against my back, arms under me. I moan as his shaft slides between my ass.
“Ev.”
He reaches between us and lines himself up, then presses in. I feel him tense as he reaches the outer ring of muscles, but I bear down on him, groaning as he slides in.
“Oh my God. That’s intense,” Evan says. He supports his weight by my shoulders and rocks slowly. Every so often he kisses me. “Love you, Jer.”
So many emotions flood my mind, so many fears and dreams. I never believed Evan could want me, least of all like this.
Never believed he could love me. But as he moves his hips, kisses me, makes love to me, I know without a doubt that I was wrong.
Evan loves me. He loves me just as much as I love him. He’s my life mate, my soul mate.
Heat builds under my skin as my orgasm gets closer, his thick cock thrusting in and out. Without warning, he nips my neck so hard it draws blood.
I jerk away, surprised. “Ouch!”
He chuckles. “Sorry. Just trying to mark you, too.”
I laugh and shove him off me to lie on my back. Evan seems confused until I shove a pillow under my hips. “Can’t bite you back if you’re behind me,” I say. “Come here.”
He grins and slides inside me again, then leans forward to kiss me. He fucks me hard, slow, deep. When he buries himself to the hilt and slides his arms under me, I know he’s right on the edge. I sink my teeth into his neck and drink.
Evan cries out as his hot cum floods my insides. I drink deep, letting his essence fill me and carry me over the edge. His hold slowly becomes tender, his breathing soft. When I pull my fangs out, he quickly turns for a kiss, shoving his tongue in to share the blood.
We clean up then lie in bed, arms wrapped tightly around each other. There’s no telling how long our future is, but at least for now, we have this. We have each other. And we have our family. I’ll fight until my very last breath to keep everyone safe, then find a way to turn him.
Evan will be mine for the rest of my days, and the next. I’ll find a way to make it happen, even if it’s the last thing I do.
“I love you,” I whisper, not knowing if he’s awake.
He snuggles close. “Love you more. Now and always.”
THE END