Chapter 16 Aurora #5
He said he wants to change, to be better, but can I trust him to change a billion years of bad habits?
Louie looks terrifying. Her massive body is tense, and her lips twitch with rage.
“I’m doing my best to stay calm, Aurora.
What do you want me to do? I could go out there and fight him, but I’m pretty sure I’ll lose.
Look, this is your life, and you’re the one who’s gonna have to make these decisions.
Do I trust that old twat? Hell no. But I don’t trust anyone with you.
I’m with you no matter what you decide, even if I don’t agree. Mostly because I don’t have a choice.”
Louie tunnels under my arm and lays her head in my lap. “At your service, oh mighty Mistress of Catastrophic Choices and Ancient Dick.”
“Thanks, Lou,” I whisper, snorting as I kiss her snout.
“I wish I could explain this pull I feel toward him. It’s like an ache in my chest that only stops when he’s near me. Do you know anything about that?”
“You sure it’s not just heartburn, Aurora? You are almost thirty.”
She’s dead serious!
“Yes, Louie. I’m sure it’s not heartburn. Jesus Christ.”
When I finally stand up, my lips twitch into a smile. Louie’s a snarky bitch, and I kind of love it.
I strip, toss my ruined clothes in the trash, and step into the shower. The scalding water turns the drain into a scene straight out of Psycho. I run my soapy hands all over my body, not only to clean myself but also to assess the damage Jameson inflicted.
My neck is, by far, the worst injury I sustained. The lightest graze of the washcloth makes me whimper in pain. Remembering the blood Jameson smeared across my face, I creep my hands down my body and in between my legs.
I’m not worried about my clit. Doubt he would have been able to find it, anyway.
But the blood …
With a deep, shaky breath, I slowly push one finger inside of me, expecting the worst.
Huh, nothing.
Adding another finger, I’m surprised—and deeply relieved—when I still feel no pain. Maybe he didn’t hurt me as badly as I thought. It doesn’t make sense, but I’m not going to question this small mercy right now.
When the water finally runs clear, I step out, towel off, and carefully tiptoe over Louie, who’s sprawled across the bathroom floor like she owns the place.
“Hey, Aurora. I just wanted you to know how proud I am of you. Ezra told me you bit that monster’s cock off. Fuckin’ badass, babe.”
“Thanks, Lou.”
I’m proud of me, too.
After I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and slip into a massive T-shirt, I know what I want—no need—to do.
Louie gazes at me in the mirror. She knows I’ve made some sort of decision. She’s always been intuitive.
“I want to ask Ezra to stay tonight. I would feel safer with both of you here. Plus, I have some questions I need him to answer. Is that okay?”
Can dogs sigh? Because Louie hangs her head with a loud snort.
“I knew that’s what you’d decide. I can’t say I’m happy about it, but like I said, I’m with you no matter what. Quite frankly, I’m out of my depth with him, too.”
I wrap my arms around her soft neck and whisper, “Thank you, Lou.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m a fucking saint. Just keep it in your pants, yeah?”
“Lou, Jameson assaulted me. He nearly killed me tonight. I’m not really in the mood for a make-out session with the billion-year-old monster.”
The hellhound sneers at me. She doesn’t believe me. Do I believe me?
“Well, let’s go then, Aurora. You need to rest. You can have your little chat with the ancient twat. I’ll be outside running the perimeter. If anything happens, I’ll be close enough to tear someone apart if they try anything. Okay?”
“That makes me feel even better about my decision. Are all hellhounds as awesome as you, Lou?”
“No.”
There’s not a hint of humor in her voice as she pushes the bathroom door open and heads to the living room. When I grow up, I kind of want to be like Louie.
I give myself a few seconds, then wander out after her. Louie is curled up in front of the fireplace, while Ezra sits in my reading chair, completely absorbed in a book.
The sight of him so lost in one of my novels does something weird and fluttery to my insides.
No. Bad Aurora.
“Ezra?”
My voice drifts out quiet, careful, like it belongs to someone else.
Startling an ancient predator seems … unwise. His shadows flick at the edges of the chair, restless things that never quite settle.
“Are you well, Aurora?”
Ezra lifts his gaze, storm-grey eyes drinking me in. Not in a sexual way, though. He’s truly making sure I’m okay.
“All is well, Ezra. Thank you.”
I glance away, trying to calm the anxiety scraping against my ribs.
“Um, so I was wondering if you would consider staying here tonight. Like I told Lou, I’d feel better if both of you were here. But I understand if you have other things to do. You don’t have to feel obligated or anything. You’ve done enough.”
My face burns while I fidget with the hem of my shirt. This question felt less embarrassing a few moments ago.
“Are you sure, Aurora?” Ezra asks, his voice softer now, a careful thread of hope running just under the concern. “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, nor do I want to upset Louie.”
He shifts in the chair, glancing at the hellhound.
“But if you truly want me here …”
His eyes meet mine again, searching … hoping. Shadows curl at his wrists, just barely held in check, waiting for permission.
“I’m very sure. Louie will keep watch outside if you’re willing to stay inside with me. Right, Lou?”
“Yeah. For some reason, Aurora wants to spend time with you alone. But for the record, I don’t trust you. And I expect you both to keep your pants on.”
“Okay, Mom,” I mumble under my breath.
I’m twenty-seven years old. If I want to drop my panties for Ezra, I’m going to fucking do it. But the overprotective hellhound doesn’t need to know that.
“Understood, Louie. I apologize for my transgression the other night. Please rest assured that it will not happen again.”
My heart stumbles. But what if I want it to happen again?
“Will you be okay outside, Louie? It’s freezing.”
I know she said she would give us time alone, but I don’t want her to get sick or anything.
“Aurora, I’m a hellhound, remember? It would take more than a chilly wind to faze me. We tend to run hot.”
Louie chuckles at her own joke as she trots toward the front door with me trailing behind her.
Gratitude crashes over me so fast I can’t breathe, and before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m on my knees, hugging her tight.
“Thank you, Lou. I love you so freaking much.”
Louie nuzzles against me with a content sigh.
“I love you, too, Aurora. Don’t forget to think with your brain and not your vag tonight, yeah?”
And there goes the Hallmark moment—straight off a fucking cliff.
Ezra chuckles from the chair as I open the door. Louie takes off into the woods, and although I can’t see her, I feel comforted knowing she’s my first line of defense.
Once again, it’s me and Ezra. Alone. But this time we’re on my turf.
When I turn around, he’s no longer in the chair, but in the kitchen gathering my ice packs, Advil, and an enormous glass of ice water.
He shifts everything into one arm and reaches his hand out to me.
“Let’s get you to bed, beautiful.”