19. Chapter 19
Beingthiscloseto Demi in the car is driving me absolutely insane. All I can smell is her. I flex my hands on the steering wheel as I drive. Jax said it was best to take his car so we could load it up with whatever she needs from her apartment, but part of me wishes we”d taken my bike instead. The thrill of the ride would have been a distraction.
The thought of her thighs wrapped aroundme makes my cock twitch. Her arms would have been tightly around me, and her breasts pushed into my back as she held on.
Yeah, the car was definitely the best plan.
I”m not sure I could have stopped myself from pulling over on my bike and fucking her over the bike.
The kiss we shared was enough to set my whole body on fire, and I can only imagine what it will be like when I sink into her tight heat. I will do that at some point, and nothing Jax says will stop me. Diego has already gotten to see what she feels like, something he”s had fun tormenting me with. He”s gotten to taste her and feel her clenching around his fingers.
Absent-mindedly, I tap my fingers on the wheel. I need to stop thinking about having her body wrapped around me, ’cause, hell… if I don”t, I”ll be pulling the car over and leaving cum stains all over the back seat. Then Jax will really have something to complain about.
I watch her out of the corner of my eye as she turns on the radio. It”s some boring classical music station, the usual listening for Jax. He might look like he”s only in his early to mid-thirties, but he”s got a few hundred years on me and Diego. I much prefer rock or metal - definitely more my jam.
When Demi starts humming, it”s like music to my ears. Maybe classical music isn”t so bad after all. The sound of it soothes my nerves, and any hard-on I was getting disappears. We finally turn onto her street, and I count down the numbers until we reach her apartment. I pull into a space a few buildings down.
Getting out of the car, I speed around to her door and open it. Demi’s turquoise eyes drift open and look up at me and my offered hand. I pull her up and out of the seat. She goes to pull her hand away, but I keep it firmly in mine, lacing our fingers together as I let her lead the way.
Demi only lets go of my hand as we reach the front door. Rooting in her purse, she pulls out her key and slips it into the lock. A sigh of relief escapes her as we enter the building, and she takes in a huge lungful of air. As she leads me down the hall towards the door at the end, my hackles begin to rise.
I drag in a deep breath. Wet dog scent is everywhere. It”s the same smell from the alley. Grabbing her hand, I stop her in her tracks. A gasp escapes her as I let out a feral growl. Pulling Demi back, I place myself between her and the door at the end. My fangs itch, wanting violence, but I know I need to protect her too.
”Stay here!” I bark the order, and she takes a step back from me. Demi gives me a small nod, her narrowed eyes lead me to assume she sees my red eyes and descended fangs.
Taking another step towards her door, the smell of the wolves gets even stronger. It”s not only the scents I found on her and her friend”s body, but it”s at least a few of them. My muscles tense and my fists clench. I”ll rip them apart for what they did to her.
Glancing at the entryway, it”s open a crack. The wolves have clearly busted the handle to gain entry to her property. Edging closer, I move on silent feet. If they”re still inside, they”ve probably already heard us, but I don”t want them to know the exact moment I”m going to bust through the door.
Another door opens closer to the main entrance and I whip around, snarling. Demi turns as well, taking in the small, older lady with gray hair in the open doorway.
”Agnes.”
”Oh my, Demi. You”re okay.” Agnes rushes towards Demi, or at least, she goes as quickly as she can. She wraps her arms around her. ”I went to the store this morning, and when I came back, I saw your apartment door was open.” Letting go of Demi, she fusses over her like she’s one of the family. ”I went to check on you, but you weren”t there and the place was a mess. I was so worried about you. I”ve rung the police, useless bastards that they are. They still haven”t gotten here.”
”I am so sorry, Agnes. I”ve been staying with friends for a few days. It was on a bit of a whim, hence my attire.” She motions to the oversized clothing she”s wearing and Agnes nods.
As the two of them talk, I look back over my shoulder at Demi”s open apartment door. Agnes doesn”t seem like the kind of person who could hurt a fly, so I leave the two of them to their conversation and approach the apartment.
Stepping through the door, the wolves” scent is stronger now, I scrunch up my nose in disgust. What did they do, rub their mangy hides all over the place or something? When I get inside, Agnes is right. They trashed the place. There are all sorts of things scattered on the floor, the couch cushions have been ripped apart and the TV has been smashed to pieces.
A gasp behind me has me spinning. Demi is standing at the door, a hand covering her mouth as she takes in the devastation. I don”t even think as I step closer and wrap my arms around her, making soothing noises as I hold her close.
”I”m sorry,” I whisper against her ear.
A sob escapes as she lays her head on my chest, her small arms encircling my waist.
”I can”t believe someone would do this.” She hiccups. ”I have nothing of value.”
”It was the wolves,” I growl, anger rising at their audacity. ”Their scent is all over your place.”
A shudder runs through Demi’s body, and I tangle my fingers in her hair, stroking it as I hold her tightly. My eyes move around her apartment again, taking in the devastation. I”m not sure if she”s going to be able to salvage anything. I need to send Jax an update on what we have found.
”Go pack what you can. I”ll stand guard.” With a kiss on top of her hair, I let her go. She moves back, nodding as she disappears into another room. Pulling out my phone, I send Jax a text.
The wolves have been to her apartment. They trashed the place.
Get her things and get back here ASAP.
Not sure what the hell he thinks I”m doing, so I don”t bother to reply as I shove my phone back in my jeans pocket. Tilting my head towards the door, I hear two sets of footsteps approaching. I ready myself. They smell human, but you can never be too cautious.
”Portland PD, if there is anyone in there, put your hands in the air.”
Two humans burst through the slightly open door, both with their guns drawn. As soon as they see me, they swivel in my direction.
”Get on the ground!” One of them barks the order, but I just stand my ground, lips lifted in a sneer.
”Bane, I... oh fuck.” Slipping my eyes to her, I see Demi standing in the doorway with a duffle bag over each shoulder and a backpack in her hand. They slip down, thudding against the wooden floor.
The officers” guns turn on her, and she automatically lifts her hands. I”m in front of her in a flash, and one officer gasps as it dawns on him what I am. His gun lowers slightly, but his friend keeps his aimed at my chest.
”I said down on the ground.” The other officer snarls. ”Both of you. Don”t make me shoot you.”
”My name”s Demetria Arnold. This is my apartment. I came home and found it broken into. I”m just getting some things to take to where I’m staying with a friend.”
My fangs flash at the cop who still has his gun on me. He flinches before straightening himself back out and keeping his hand raised.
”Miss, if you could please step towards me slowly with your hands still raised. I need you to show me some identification.” The officer who has already lowered his gun beckons her towards him. He keeps his voice calm, which is more than what his friend is doing.
I”m not sure I trust the other guy. His heart is racing and his finger is resting over the trigger, ready to squeeze off a shot. Demi goes to move from behind me, but I stop her before she can shift from behind the cover of my body.
”No!” I glare at the officer with the gun. ”Not whilst he has a gun aimed at her.”
The calmer officer takes a step forward, and I can”t stop the growl that escapes from between my lips. His next step falters as his eyes cut from me to Demi, who is peering around my arm. He places himself in front of the gun-crazy officer and holsters his weapon, showing his own hands.
Clever man. He”s realized that aiming a gun at a vampire isn”t the best idea. Showing his empty hands, he beckons Demi forward again. She looks up at me and I give her a nod. Hands still in the air, she shuffles around me.
I watch her every move as she gets closer to the officer. The other one has finally lowered his gun, but he”s still holding it in his hand like a lifeline. Not that it will save him if he dares to harm Demi. I will end him whether he has a gun or not. A bullet will hurt like hell, but it”ll heal once I”ve consumed blood.
”I need to go in my purse for my wallet.” Demi”s voice sounds tense. I’m not surprised. Only a few minutes ago she had a gun pointed at her.
”Of course, Miss Arnold. Just nice and slow.”
Following his instructions, Demi reaches into her purse and pulls out her wallet, and hands the officer her driver’s license. He checks over the flimsy bit of plastic, looking from the photo to Demi. With a nod, he hands it back to her and turns to the twitchy officer.
”It”s all good, Mack. This is Miss Arnold, and this is her apartment.” The one named Mack still doesn”t look convinced as he holsters his weapon. He keeps his hand over the grip, ready to pull it out again.
”You sure, Jimmy?” Officer Jimmy nods and turns back to Demi.
”Is everything okay here, Miss?” He looks between the two of us. I fold my arms across my chest, a growl rumbling through it. Officer Jimmy takes a small step back. ”We got a call from a neighbor. A Miss Agnes MacKay.”
”As fine as it can be, Officer. And yeah, I saw Agnes when I came in.”
”Do you know who could be behind this?” Demi goes to open her mouth but I rest a hand on her shoulder.
”Not a clue. As far as I can tell, only a few things were taken. Mostly clothing.” I’m not surprised. It”s the one thing in Demi”s apartment that will smell like her the most, the best way to track her.
”And you”re sure everything is okay?” He eyes me cautiously. ”You wouldn”t prefer to go down to the station?”
Demi shakes her head and looks back at me. There”s a look of confusion which mars her usually sweet features.
”Everything is fine, Officer. This is my friend, Bane.” She gestures towards me with one hand. ”I”m staying with him for a little while. Probably a good thing, cause at least it means I wasn”t home when the wol... intruders got in.”
Officer Mack raises an eyebrow. With Demi almost messing up, they don”t look convinced about the whole situation and his hand still rests on his gun. I”m pretty sure he just wants to shoot me. But fuck him, I”ll shove that gun where the sun doesn”t shine if he isn”t careful.
”You”re going to want a locksmith to come out and make sure the apartment is secure. And if Mr. Bane would be so kind as to give Officer Mack the address of where you are staying, we can get out of your hair. A word in private first please, Miss Arnold.”
Officer Jimmy motions towards the open door, and Demi follows him. Officer Mack pulls out a notepad and pen, stepping in front of me as I attempt to follow her out of the door.
”Your address?” He taps the pen against the paper and I start to reel off the address for the club while listening in on Demi”s conversation with the other officer.
”Look, Miss Arnold, if you find yourself in any trouble at all, call me - anytime, day or night.”
”Honestly, officer. I”m absolutely fine. My friends will take care of me.” The conviction in her voice warms me.
”Of course, Miss. I just want to let you know that you have options if you decide you don”t want to stay with them.”
God damn humans getting into our business. He”s probably worried I”m going to hurt her, drink her blood, and leave her corpse out in the cold. The human officers of the city have seen what vampires suffering from bloodlust can do. Not that they are allowed to say a word of it to anyone. If they did, the Council would make sure they met their demise.
”I promise, officer. If I run into any trouble, you”ll be the first to know. But you must believe me when I say I”ll be fine. Is that all?”
”Yes, ma”am.” Demi moves back into the apartment. Officer Jimmy watches her from the door. His eyes flick to me one last time.
Officer Mack meets him at the door and they both leave. Demi surveys the mess the wolves have caused to her apartment again, her shoulders slumping down. This is her home, and they came in here and destroyed it. One more reason I can”t wait to get my hands on them.
I shoulder her bags, grabbing them from where she dropped them in the bedroom doorway. Taking Demi”s hand in mine, I pull her apartment door to. As we walk outside, I send another text to Jax letting him know someone needs to come secure it for her. I”ll tell him about the clothes they have taken when I see him in person.