Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Noah
The house is too quiet. I sit at the dining table, my foot tapping away beneath me as I watch the clock tick by.
The sun has long since set, and Xander still isn’t back. He said he was right behind me, but did he get lost?
I shake my head at the thought. No, of course he didn’t get lost; he’s been patrolling the forest every day since Tyler’s premonition. Since well before I came to town.
So why is it taking him so long?
My knee bounces with anxiety, and I bite the quicks of my nails, wincing as I rip open the skin and watch a little bubble of blood pool at the corner of my finger.
Something isn’t right.
But who do I call? I have Xander’s number, but each time I ring, it’s gone straight to voicemail. Do I call the police? What would they do? Open a missing persons case on a century-old vampire?
I nearly chuckle.
But my heart pounds heavily in my chest, and it shakes my entire diaphragm as I breathe out a worried sigh.
My untouched sandwich sits before me. I would have made something nice for dinner, but I’m glued to my seat where I face the back door.
Every minute that goes by, I half expect Xander to wander in with a smile on his lips and a cheerful explanation for why he’s been at the cabin all day.
For the most part of the day, Nyx hadn’t left my side. Even when I went to the bathroom, she sat at my feet watching me without an ounce of embarrassment. But now she’s gone too.
Pumpkin is just as worried as I am as he paces the space before the door, his tail flicking with agitation, giving me an odd, frustrated meow. He hasn’t touched his dinner either.
“Where the hell are you, Xan?” I groan, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants.
The world beyond the house is quiet, with just a gentle breeze blowing through the nearby trees and distant chirps from crickets in the garden. If I wasn’t buzzing like a vibrator, I might have enjoyed the serenity.
It isn't until a quiet shuffle at the back door has me perking up in my seat, a smile spreading across my lips.
“Finally! Took you long enough!” I call out.
More shuffling.
“Xander?”
Nyx’s growly meow echoes back at me, and I’m quickly on my feet and reaching for the door.
Pulling it open, I’m met with a scene my brain simply can’t comprehend.
My vampire boyfriend lies splayed out on his back. Blood covers every inch of his body, including his face, which is lax and unresponsive.
Pumpkin is quick to reach Nyx’s side as she watches Xander closely before looking up at me.
“What happened?!” I cry out, sinking to my knees at Xander’s head and cupping his face, feeling his sticky blood between my fingers. It’s cold. He’s cold.
Why is he cold!?
“No, no, no. Shit!” I panic and shake him. His shirt is torn in all directions, and I'm sure I can catch a glimpse of his organs poking out from a huge gash in his flank.
“Xander! Wake up! You said you couldn’t die!
” Tears blur my vision, and I'm now grateful I hadn't eaten my sandwich, as my stomach clenches, threatening to revolt whatever is in it. Beneath my palms, Xander’s body seems to grow colder by the second. His chest doesn’t move and, besides my strained sobs, his breath is so faint I have to lean down to listen properly.
“Come on, breathe,” I whisper. “You can’t die on me. You said you were going to protect me. So, you can’t die, you old man.”
I nearly think it’s a fragment of my imagination as his Adam's apple bobs ever so slightly. “Xander, breathe!”
Hope explodes in my chest as I feel the warmth of his breath fan my cheek. “Come on, you can do better than that.”
His breaths come out stronger, but a small puddle of dark blood pools beneath his side as his chest faintly rises and falls.
“B-blo…”
It’s barely a whisper against the rush of my heartbeat in my ringing ears. “Shh, you’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”
I’m not sure if I'm saying it to Xander or myself. Hell, I could be talking to Nyx, who prowls slowly behind me, Pumpkin matching her strides.
“B…”
“What?” My brows furrow, and I lean in closer, the shell of my ear sweeping across his lips.
“Blood.”
It’s the only warning I get before Xander’s entire body explodes with movement. His arms wrap around the back of my neck as he forcefully pulls me against him.
Striking like a snake, red-hot pain rips through my neck, and a broken cry escapes me. My breath catches in my lungs and I freeze, barely able to grip at his shoulders as Xander holds me close.
It’s a smell I’ve never experienced. Like burnt hair and iron, as I feel warmth drip across my collarbone.
Then I feel it. Like a syringe sucking from my flesh and Xander’s cool tongue swiping across my jugular. Oh?
The pain fades until it feels warm like a sunburn, then pins and needles bloom at the tips of my fingers and my stomach swoops as shocks of pleasure zip through my spine. It’s fast, almost too fast that my mind can’t seem to keep up, but my body understands.
I moan.
Xander growls, clutching me tightly as he continues to drink. And more of that pleasure seeps into me until I'm panting and shaking. Every nerve in my body tingles under Xander and my hips pivot against the air, desperately seeking friction.
“Noah…” Xander growls against my skin. His grip tightens, and his once cold body blooms with heat.
“Noah,” he says again.
“Yes, I’m here. It’s okay. Don’t stop.”
As if my voice awakens him from whatever comatose state he’s a victim to, Xander is reeling backwards, my blood dripping from his chin and his eyes glowing eerily white.
I blink at him, still feeling the flutter of pleasure through my body, but the look of sheer terror in Xander’s eyes has those feelings dissipating at an alarming rate.
“What’s wrong?” I reach for him, but he flinches back. Doubt creeps into me. “Did I do something wrong?”
For a stunned silence, Xander watches me, his eyes flicking over my body before landing on my neck, and he winces. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Forgive me.”
I tilt my head but wince at the sharp sting at the junction of my neck and shoulder. Like a bruise forming under my skin, Xander’s bite pulses. “Are you okay? You didn’t come back. Nyx dragged you here and the blood… all the blood.” I motion at his stained clothes.
Xander looks down at himself as if becoming aware for the first time of what state he’s in. I catch a glimpse of his stomach, seeing how his skin has knitted back together and is no longer gushing fluid.
That’s a relief, I guess.
I don’t have a second to react as Xander is pulling me against his chest in a vice grip. He shivers and pats my hair. “I thought I had lost you. I thought that creature would get to you.”
“Creature?” I ask. My heart leaps in my chest and my gaze rises over Xander’s shoulder, half expecting to find a rabid beast staring back at us from the gloomy forest.
“What have I done?” Xander’s voice cracks and his shivers turn to shakes. “I bit you. I drank from you. I could have killed you.”
“But you didn’t.” I smile gently and push myself back, wiping away a stream of blood from his cheek. “You didn’t hurt me. I-I liked it.”
Xander watches me closely, his eyes darting over my face. Nyx and Pumpkin wander back inside, both purring loudly with their tails twisted together.
“I need you,” I whisper, pressing my forehead against his. “I was so worried. Make everything feel as if it’s going to be okay. Make me think of nothing but you.”
Xander’s breath fans my lips and his body continues to warm to its familiar burning state. A low, animalistic growl vibrates his chest. “Your blood is an opioid to me, sweetheart. If I have you, I won't stop. Not when you’re begging for relief. You’ll never see another day without me.”
I plant my lips against his, tasting that metallic twang of his blood on my tongue. I want more of it.
“Give it to me. And I'll give you all the drugs you need,” I murmur between kisses.
Xander’s spine stiffens, and his hands grip my waist, pulling me against him.
My thighs wrap around his waist and the world blurs around us, the air whooshes from my lungs as my back is pressed up against my closed bedroom door.
I can’t even get a giggle out before Xander is devouring me.
His hands grip my throat as he slides his tongue into my mouth, his hips grinding against mine.
“Noah, my sweet mate. Let me have more of you, I need to taste every inch.” Xander’s chest rumbles as he growls, his fangs scraping across my bottom lip and his hardening dick has me gasping.
“Yes. Take it. Please.” I scratch at the back of his neck, desperate to pull him closer.
Trailing light kisses across my cheek and under my ear, Xander inhales deeply, sucking in my scent. His chest expands and his hips jut against mine, the hardness of his cock now rock solid against mine.
“I want you to walk into my room. Open my door and step inside. It has to be your choice.” Xander slows his ministrations of love on my skin.
I grin. “You have to put me down first, old man.”
He returns my grin but does as he’s told, gently placing me on my feet and taking a step back.
Watching him closely, I cross the short distance to his door, resting my hand on the handle. Desire curls low in my stomach as more blood rushes south.
The energy in the house grows heavier as I slowly crack the door open.
In all this time, I've never seen the inside of Xander’s room.
He’s never left the door open and I've never seen him go inside nor leave it.
But the moment the door slips open, I'm blasted with a wave of leather and spice. It smells like home. Of him.
It’s simple and elegant with wooden floors and a few bookshelves teeming with books lining the walls.
But what stops me at the threshold of his room isn’t the blood-red rug, nor the slightly eerily painting of Nyx hanging above the far window.
But the opulent and rather large coffin that sits right where a bed would.
The lid is open, revealing plush white bedding and pillows, and I simply gawk at it.