Chapter 19 Xavier Wants To Claim Her
Xavier Wants To Claim Her
ELI
"Can I bite?” Was that seriously all I had asked previously? Like who says that?”
I Jump up.
Had I even asked that or was it a dream?
Asking permission to penetrate her skin after scaring the shit out of her? I’m pissed, I’m annoyed at her, myself, the damn elevator. Why is it always the stupid elevator where things take place?
Probably killing Gabe later.
But she still holds onto me. Right? Or again, was that my imagination, my built up lies of us being together? My hope?
I wasn’t keeping her there; it was her own body acting like a magnetic force. I lean in, wondering why she isn’t scared, why she isn’t pushing me away, maybe she really is delirious and maybe she won’t remember this in the morning. Maybe that’s part of it?
Too many maybes. All I know is I have need and my fangs are dripping with it. My mouth burns like it’s on fire. I lean in. She’s present despite me not knowing, that’s all that matters. Even if I am going crazy.
The elevator moves, bumping me against her neck, my teeth graze her soft skin, and suddenly the doors open.
“Need any help in here?” Is that Xavier’s voice?
Slowly, I turn to my left and want to commit more crimes than a person should think of in under three seconds.
He’s wearing a white suit of all things, has way too much skin showing in his black shirt beneath it and has aviators on as if the sun comes out during a full moon, he’s also with a crew of firefighters.
"You.” It’s all I can get out.
He checks his watch.
“Yeah, had a meeting, heard one of my favorite people was stuck in here with…” He eyes me up and down.
“This.”
I’m apparently this.
“And…” He grins.
“…I figured I’d help the rescue along and make sure to save the fair damsel by offering her dinner.”
“Thought you had a meeting.” I snap.
“Oh I did, I canceled it when I found out our lady friend was in trouble.”
“She doesn’t need saving.” I will rip his head from his body and watch it roll down the street.
He tilts his head.
“I didn’t mean from the elevator.”
Suddenly, out of her stupor, Ava shoves me away, her chest heaving, and bolts from the elevator right into his waiting arms. I’m clueless about how to proceed. All I know is they walk off hand in hand.
She looks back at me once, twice, as if confused, then down the hall. I stay in the elevator.
And then I take the stairs.
All I can think is, I’m going down.
Going down and I have no idea how to go back up. I want her. I can’t have her. She hates me, but she’s drawn to me, and now the person I hate most in the world is touching her.
Touching mine.
When I get outside, it’s pitch black except for the moon.
The full moon looms high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the city, maybe Fate has a cruel twist in store for me, for her, for Xavier.
I stare up at the moon, the stars, and wonder what my fate would have been had I stayed with the pack, had I known my actual origin, had I known the answers to all the questions even my adoptive parents can’t answer.
As I walk down the street toward the apartments, I sense it. I glance over at the local pizza place I like to frequent, Guidos, and I see them , sitting outside, laughing.
But that’s not all I see.
I see, no, I feel—challenge. A different kind.
Not one with business, with trying to be the best or the richest, the most talked about—no, I feel a challenge over her.
I sniff the air.
It smells like her, but it smells like something else too.
My senses seem to get more acute as I spend time with her. A growl rumbles deep in my throat as my hackles rise. Her laughter making it even worse. He’s challenging me, and I won’t have it.
I won’t.
My heart slams against my chest as my nose fills with their scent. He wants her too.
Oh God. Xavier wants to claim her.
Xavier’s…not human.
As if reading my thoughts, he looks over and flips me off.
And all I can think is—it’s on.