Chapter 9 #2
I didn’t know it could feel like this. Even before Ophelia’s brand of torture, there were only fumbled kisses at parties, and those were nothing to celebrate or write home about.
Lucas growls, unhappy that my thoughts have drifted, so I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back. His tongue flicks out slowly, carefully, and so fucking patiently. Whimpering, I open my mouth to allow him entrance, working off what feels right.
I refuse to let myself dissociate or overthink if I’m doing this correctly, which means all I can do is follow Lucas’ lead.
There is a level of trust that I’m allowing Lucas to see how far he takes things.
His body is solid muscle, his arms a cocoon that seems to lock out the rest of the world.
His tongue sucks on mine, making me whine as I perfume.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs against my lips. “You’re dressed differently today. Is this because you’re staking out my house?”
“The opposite actually,” I breathe. “At first, I wanted to see if I could get close. I am also homeless until later today, so your tree provided the perfect bed.”
“You’re going to break my brain,” Lucas groans. “Please continue.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to put me down?” I squeak out.
“Nope,” he says. “Did you drive or did you hike in?”
“Both,” I reply. “My SUV is hidden in a ditch. Why?”
Turning to face the deeper part of the woods, he shakes his head as if trying to wrap his mind around what I said.
“So you’re on Yalter Street?” he muses, beginning to walk through the woods.
“Ah, yes? What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“Walking you,” he grunts.
“I thought that typically meant that we would be walking together,” I say. “I haven’t ever had someone walk me anywhere, so maybe I’m confused as to how this works.”
“I think you might be,” Lucas smirks. This alpha is ridiculous. “Now, tell me how I should improve my security while you have me as a captive audience.”
“Revealing your kinks, I see,” I say without thinking.
Lucas barks out a laugh, keeping my body close to his chest.
“Hardly, but I’m a little sad I have to share you now,” he murmurs.
“Sir, is everything alright?” a man in black tactical gear asks, stepping out in front of Lucas.
“Isolde, tell him why I’m unhappy,” Lucas says. “Please feel free to be as blunt as possible.”
“You’re incompetent,” I say immediately. It’s difficult to adopt the correct tone to dress down his men while I’m being cradled like this, but I’ll manage. Lucas has made it clear that he’s pretending that my legs are broken.
“I beg your pardon,” the guard growls.
“How else do you explain my presence? Spoiler, I didn’t enter through the front door. I walked through these woods and no one noticed. Not one video camera picked me up, and every guard patrolling these woods missed me,” I explain.
The guard is six foot two, broad shouldered and clearly a professional. He’s not a made man, but his body’s loose and attentive position makes me believe he may have some type of military experience. Either way, no one enjoys being dressed down.
“There’s no way—”
“Where did you stay all night?” Grant asks, walking around Lucas to stand beside us. He didn’t make a sound, or used our voices to cover it up. It’s a bit inhuman, but I can sympathize with that when I can move in the same manner when I want to.
Hence why I’m being cuddled in Lucas’ arms now.
“A tree,” I shrug. “I was there all night, and even drank some coffee before I climbed down.”
Lucas’ shoulders tremble slightly, and I appreciate that he isn’t calling me out for my disgraceful fall from the tree, despite his amusement at my words.
“You may have noticed the rope she left on the ground,” he practically wheezes. “It’s how she kept herself from falling while she slept.”
“What if I’d been someone else?” I ask, my eyes widening as I think about it. “I could have been a sniper, kidnapper, anyone other than myself. He’s already been kidnapped once, I thought you’d be better at your jobs. I’m disappointed.”
“Did you hear that? The most important woman in my life is unhappy. What are you going to do with that information, Thom?”
“I… Well, sir, miss, I want to know how this happened so I can fix it,” Thom says, his hands fisting in worry. “I’ll walk with you so I’m not hindering the continuation of your day, miss.”
Oh. I wasn’t expecting him to take me seriously. Swallowing hard, I nod. Dropping my head back slightly, I stare at Lucas in admiration. The most important woman in his life, huh? Damn, he’s a smooth talker.
“We both appreciate that,” Lucas says, beginning to walk forward again.
Grant surprises me as he falls into step beside Lucas, and Thom moves to walk on our other side.
“The scope of the video cameras are too narrow,” I say, waiting for push back from one of them.
“How so?” Thom asks.
“I hugged the trees as I walked, watched as they panned the area before moving past,” I explain.
“It was pitch black out last night. How were you able to see any of that? It was a new moon,” Grant says.
“Night vision glasses,” I shrug. “This isn’t my first rodeo in skulking in places I shouldn’t be.”
Lucas clears his throat, shaking his head.
“It’s not that you shouldn’t be here, but that I would prefer that you not sleep in trees when it’s so cold out,” he grumbles. “Please, by all means continue.”
Holding back the urge to laugh, I enjoy the bubble of something resembling butterflies. Pressing on, I explain how Lucas’ security can make improvements. Maybe I’ll come back to see if it actually gets implemented or not.
“I don’t know what that look on your face means, but please don’t do it,” Lucas groans.
“Sir?” Grant asks, appearing befuddled.
“How am I going to know if security is actually improved if I don’t test it?” I ask, very close to pouting.
“You’re going to get yourself shot,” Grant sighs.
“Oh please,” I scoff. “Now you’re just being dramatic, Grant. Besides, you wouldn’t care if I was, and you’d probably throw a party afterward. Didn’t you complain about me last night in the backyard?”
Thom stoically refuses to react while Grant’s mouth opens and shuts like a fish. Lucas shakes his head, his amusement gone.
“I suggest that you take a moment to appreciate how resourceful she is,” Lucas says. “I’ll leave you two here so you can discuss how to tighten up security. Both of you should be thanking Isolde for showing us the holes that we have.”
Once we are out of ear shot, I sigh. “I didn’t win any points with either of them, but that wasn’t my intention anyway. Lucas, I can walk. I didn’t hurt myself because you caught me.”
“If I’m holding you, it’s less likely that you’ll disappear,” he mutters. “I hate that I can’t smell you.”
“If everyone could smell me, that wouldn’t allow me to hide. Would it?” I ask.
“I still don’t like it. What are you doing today?”
“I’m going shopping, and then hopefully moving into a house,” I say, watching his face as he sees my SUV.
“How do you plan to get out of there, darlin’? You drove yourself into a ditch,” he grumbles.
“Four wheel drive,” I say, shrugging. “It’s fine. I do it all the time.”
“We’ll see,” he seethes. “You kill people for a living. Is that correct?”
“Oliver is spilling my secrets, is he?” I ask, rolling my eyes. Wiggling, I force Lucas to drop me so I can pull out my keys. “I’ve never killed anyone who didn’t deserve it. Does that help?”
“Isolde, it’s not the morality or reasons for the killings,” he says. “I’m more concerned about how dangerous it is.”
“Oh.”
Stepping off the road, I slide down to my car. “I’m very good at staying alive, Lucas. I promise.”
He watches as I get into my SUV, turn it on, and wait for everything to warm up.
Getting comfortable, I pull off my gloves and check my phone.
Nothing important has come through yet, and I’ll check my email when I get to a big box retail store.
I’m going to also use the restroom because I’ll have to pee by then and grab something easy for breakfast.
Lucas has me paying attention to how often I eat now, simply because in my mind, I want to be able to prove that I’m eating if he asks. It’s silly, but I want to make my alpha proud.
Even if he never knows that I’m doing it.
Putting the car into reverse and enabling the four wheel drive, I maneuver out of the ditch until I’m back on the road. Lucas comes up to my window, and I roll it down to smile brightly at him.
“You’re very smug and accomplished right now, aren’t you, Little Omega,” he purrs.
“You doubted me, Alpha,” I pout, playing his game.
“Dear God, Isolde,” he groans, leaning against the side of the vehicle. “You’re going to kill me. Having you call me that makes me think of things that you’re not fucking ready for. Fuck me. Please, be careful driving. This back road is a nightmare in the winter.”
“I will,” I promise.
“Where are you planning to live?” Lucas asks suddenly. “While this is a safe town, I don’t like the idea of you renting a room or something like that.”
“I’m not,” I say cryptically. “I have to go, or I’ll be late.”
“Are you carrying your weapons with you?” he asks.
“Always,” I say, looking at him funny. “Is there something I need to know about Bargersville?”
“No. It really is safe. I’m being overprotective and a bit anxious about your wellbeing. I don’t like being away from you. Will you come to dinner tonight?”
“Does it have to be at the house?” I ask, chewing on my bottom lip.
“No,” he says slowly. “There’s a bunch of restaurants. Are you allergic to being inside my house?”
“It’s silly. Your house is so big. I have a thing for knowing where my exits are, and I can’t really do that there,” I explain, waiting for him to look at me as if I’m insane.
“I can buy another house,” he says. “If you don’t like it, I can also gut the fucker and remodel. I need you with me, Isolde.”
“It’s really fast,” I whisper. “I shouldn’t say that because I ended up in a tree in your backyard to be closer to you, but what I’m feeling defies sense.”
“If it makes sense to you, then this is how it’ll be,” he says. “I want to see you every day though. Hopefully not because I’m catching you as you fall out of high places.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I need to be around you too,” I admit.
“No scent blockers,” he growls. “I want to be able to scent mark you, breathe you in, and smell myself on you.”
“Wow,” I breathe.
“This is what happens when you kidnap an alpha and use your particular brand of flirting,” he teases, winking at me before moving back so I can drive. “Till later.”
“Yes,” I whisper, putting my car into drive as I begin to put space between us.
It feels like emotional sludge as I press the gas pedal down, and I’m starting to forget why I’m doing this. Is it so terrible to give in and move in with complete strangers?
“Get it together,” I tell myself, closing the window and driving away.
I’m still careful as I go through my day, because I promised the alpha I’m leaving behind that I would be.