by L. E. Wilson
As they’d landed way before rush hour, it didn’t take them long at all to arrive downtown. Emma stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, at all of the towering high-rises. She was sure she looked liked an ignorant country girl, which, she supposed, she was. But she didn’t care. The glass buildings sparkled in the rain, some so high she couldn’t see the tops from the car. It wasn’t dreary like you would expect, not like back home. It was shiny and glittery.
She wondered if she’d get to see the top of the Space Needle while she was here. After she found her sister, of course. Then she glanced at Nik and sighed heavily. Probably not.
In no time at all, they were driving into an underground parking garage below one of the more modern looking high-rises. Pulling into a designated parking space, their driver shut off the car and got out to open the door for Emma.
“This is where you live?” she asked Aiden, as he was still the only one speaking to her.
“Mm hmm. You look surprised.”
“I was just expecting something more like The Adams Family, or something.”
He laughed. “I am so sorry to disappoint you, love, but you’ll soon see that this building is the perfect vampire lair. We had it constructed to our exact specifications. The area vamps live in the top half of the building. Well, except for Dante. Humans occupy the lower floors. It helps us to keep our anonymity, and the humans are not aware of the special “amenities” the building contains. No coffins, however, or bats, or gargoyles. Those are so 18th century. But,” Grabbing their stuff from the trunk, he followed Nik to the elevator. “We do have secret underground tunnels! Come along, Em!”
Thanking the driver, she hurried after them, catching up to the guys right as the doors opened. Following them in, she stood awkwardly between the two vampires as Aiden hit the button that would take them to the 19th floor. As the doors closed, the tension in the cramped space became increasingly uncomfortable, and Emma counted the floors as they rose, wishing the stupid elevator would hurry up.
Nik stood behind her and slightly to her left, so stiff and still he looked like he would shatter into a million pieces if a feather landed on him. The only one who didn’t seem affected was Aiden, who was slouched in the corner, whistling merrily.
The elevator whooshed them up smoothly to their floor, and within seconds she was walking out into a small, yet opulent foyer. Limestone floors complemented the clean lines of the walls, which rose up to high ceilings, dotted with recessed lighting. The white walls were covered in modern paintings, or were they prints?
She walked closer. Nope, those weren’t prints. She was no expert, but by the looks of the rest of the decor, she imagined those paintings cost a pretty penny.
They continued down the short hall until it opened up to the main living area. Emma’s mouth dropped open again. Straight ahead, the entire wall was constructed completely of glass, giving her an unobstructed view of the Puget Sound. She desperately hoped they didn’t cover the windows when the sun came up, although she didn’t see how they couldn’t if they wanted to avoid the sun’s rays. It was too bad. She’d bet she could see Mt. Olympus on a clear day.
To her left, there was a galley style kitchen, open to the main room on one side with bar seating for six. The appliances were all stainless steel. The modern-looking cabinets were walnut. Across from the kitchen, in the corner, was what looked to be an office area, enclosed by more glass, so as not to interrupt the view. A sitting area took up the right side of the apartment, made up of a couch, some end tables, and a couple of comfy looking chairs all facing a marble fireplace. Thick area rugs were scattered about, giving the space a cozy feel. Nearer to her were a couple of doors to her right, one leading to a guest bath and the other was probably the coat closet. Hallways led off to either side of the space, and she guessed that must be where the bedrooms were.
She strolled over to the windows and looked out at the still dark sky while the guys put their stuff down and locked up for the day. She wondered if Keira was out there somewhere, looking at the same sky.
A wave of melancholy washed over her. She missed her sister so much. She didn’t care what she was, or rather, what they were. She didn’t care if she’d lied to her. She just wanted her back.
After a short, muffled discussion with Nik she tried hard to ignore, Aiden called out, “Em! Follow me, poppet. I’ll show you to a room where you can sleep.”
Turning away from the view, she said goodnight to Nik, but got nothing but a terse nod from him in response. She barely resisted the childish urge to stick her tongue out at him. Someone had to be the adult in this relationship, after all.
Ambling along behind Aiden down the hall past the kitchen, she asked, “You guys live here together? Just the two of you?”
Aiden must have deemed this was a safe question to answer. “Of course not, love. We have our harem of females that we keep here to feed our lusts.” With a lascivious grin, he quirked an eyebrow. “Both kinds.”
Rolling her eyes and muttering—“I don’t know why I even try speaking to you like a normal person.”—she turned her attention to the bedroom he’d brought her to.
A king-sized bed dominated the space, which, she was thrilled to see, faced the continuous wall of glass. The “headboard” of the bed was actually a half wall, which acted as a divider between the bed and a small sitting area directly behind it. A plush couch with bright pillows faced the wall mounted TV, with a coffee table in between. Bookshelves lined the walls on either side of the screen, and another fireplace was underneath it. The entire room was all walnut and blues, fresh and clean. She loved it.
“I’m jesting Emma,” Aiden told her. “Well, mostly. I have offered the suggestion to Nik many times, but he insists we don’t have the room.”
She wandered around under his watchful eye, touching this and that and peeking into the bath and the walk-in closet.
“Those would be Nikulas’s clothes you see in there,” he answered her questioning look. “This is his room. He insisted you sleep in here and not be banned to the couch like a common house guest.”
“But where is he going to sleep? The sun will be coming up soon.” She tried, and failed, to keep the worry from her voice.
“Don’t fret. Every window in this building was specially made. There’s a layer of gas between the thick panes. When the sun comes up, it activates the gas, which will then, in turn, block the rays enough to where they won’t hurt us, but allows us to enjoy the light. We also have these handy things.” Hitting a button by the light switch, narrow panels slid open along the walls, revealing dark curtains that traveled across the entire wall, blocking out any light. “Just in case of an emergency.”
“I can’t take his room. Really, I’ll be fine out on the couch.”
“Not up to me, love. I just follow orders.” Re-opening the curtains, Aiden paused in the doorway. “Nikulas will come around, Em. He’s just a little upside down right now.” With that cryptic remark, he tipped his imaginary hat to her and said goodnight, closing the door quietly behind him.
Well, what should I do now? As comfy as that bed looked, she didn’t know that she’d get any sleep in it, knowing who slept there every night. The tip of her tongue wet her bottom lip as she wondered if he slept in pajamas…or not. Or maybe he wore those loose, cotton pajama pants? And nothing else? That would be hot.
Stop it, Emma. Grabbing her small suitcase, she tossed it up on the bed and dug out a clean T-shirt to sleep in. Maybe a cold shower would cool down her libido.
Chapter 22
Nik stood in the kitchen alone, attempting to suck down a blood bag without gagging, watching the lights dance across the water. Aiden had gone to his room to pack and rest before they headed out this coming night.
He listened to Emma rustling around in his room and wondered what she was doing. He liked the thought of her in there. A lot. He wanted to go talk to her, but what the hell was he was going to say? Sorry about all that ‘I’d kill you’ shit. I was just messing around.
Ha Ha.
TMI was becoming a major issue whenever he was anywhere in the near vicinity of that female. What the fuck had he been thinking, telling her about all that fated mate shit? She probably thought he was some psycho stalker now. That is, if she hadn’t already.
Although he felt like they’d always known each other, the truth of the matter was it had only been a day. One day. Barely a full 24 hours. It was crazy even to him. He could only imagine what Emma thought about it. She didn’t even have the weird vamp shit to help.
Nik rubbed the back of his neck. He just needed to get through the next few days. Afterward, he’d be busy with his brother, and she could go home with her sister, and they’d never have to see each other again. Things could go back to normal. Maybe take Aiden up on that harem idea he was always bugging him about, or something.
Pft. Yeah, right. The guys teased him now for living his life like a monk, he had a feeling it was only going to get worse once Emma was gone, if that was even possible.
Tossing the now empty blood bag, Nik grabbed a glass and poured himself a large shot of whiskey, not that it would do much good. Alcohol didn’t affect him anymore, which was great, or he’d be a goddamned alcoholic by now. He still liked to slug it down though, more for comfort than effect, and he quickly downed that glass and poured another. Tossing that one back as he had the first, he rinsed out his glass and gathered up the courage to go talk to his female. It was time to quit being a pussy and go in there and tell her how it was going to be, which was strictly business from here on out. She’d help them when they found Luukas, and then she’d be on her way back across the country, lost sister in tow. Fated mate shit be damned.
Mind made up, he headed to his room, not bothering to knock. But, Emma wasn’t there. Walking around the bed he checked the couch, which was empty. His heart gave a heavy thump in his chest. Where did she go? He’d been standing right there in the kitchen the entire time. She couldn’t have snuck past him.
Nik made himself stop, take a deep breath, and focus. She was in the room. He could feel her. Her stuff was still here, and the suitcase was open on the bed. His head whipped around as he noticed the bathroom door was cracked open, and the soft light above the sink was on.
He was standing in the open doorway before he was even aware he’d moved, a deep breath of relief filling his chest. Emma was there, in nothing but a towel, her hair pulled up to reveal her graceful neck. Holding the towel closed with one hand, she reached in with her other to turn on the water, holding it under the stream as she waited for the temperature to adjust. As he watched, she dropped the towel she’d been wrapped in and stuck her hand in for a final check.
Ahhh. Fucking. Hell.
As the graceful line of her spine and her hot little ass were revealed to him, his cock punched up so hard, he sent up a silent thank you for stretchy running clothes. Her body was lean and strong, yet still retained plenty of feminine curves. She was absolutely perfect.
Scrubbing a hand across his mouth, he nearly sliced it open on his aching fangs.
If there were anything left of a gentleman in him, he would leave and give her her privacy. Turn around right now, and walk right the fuck back into the kitchen. Yeah, he should do that. He could come back later for that talk. When she was fully clothed.
He was about to step back into the bedroom. Really, he was. But then she shifted slightly as she removed her hand from the water and pulled back the curtain to step under the water.
What the fuck?
The light was soft in here, as it was easier on his sensitive eyes, so he hadn’t noticed right away.
More scars, similar to the ones he’d already seen, ran across her hip and down her one leg. Ragged tears that had healed unevenly where they couldn’t be stitched closed. She looked like she’d been torn into by rabid dogs. How had she possibly survived wounds like that? And there was another one on the muscle between her neck and shoulder, and another on her side above the opposite hip, one of her calves, her arms, her legs…
“Stop!” he ordered. “Don’t. Move.”
Emma let out a small shriek, nearly jumping out of her skin as Nik’s voice boomed and echoed in the small room. Bending down to retrieve the towel she’d just dropped, she wrapped it back around herself before turning around to face him. “What the hell are you doing in here? Get out!”
Catching her first good look at him, she immediately took a step back, almost falling into the shower. He was totally vamped out again, and not just in an “I want to fuck you and/or drink you” kind of way. He was utterly enraged, and perfectly lethal.
“Nik? What’s wrong?” Looking around, she didn’t see any immediate danger lurking about. What was he so riled up about? It never crossed her mind she could be in danger from him.
He didn’t immediately answer. His glowing eyes raked over her, like he could see right through the towel she was clutching. “Take off the towel, Emma,” he ground out.
“What? No! I will not!” Pulling it tighter around her, she ordered sternly, “Nikulas. You need to leave.”
He narrowed his eyes, and she could see the muscles jump as he clenched his jaw. “Take. It. Off.” He started advancing toward her. “NOW.”
Emma began to panic. No, no, no! How much had he seen? Tears filled her eyes as she begged him, “Nik, please. Please. Leave it alone.” Stepping back into the shower, with a death grip on her towel under the onslaught of water, she got as far from him as she could. She didn’t want him to see the rest of her body. She was ugly and scarred and…and…ruined. He’d already seen enough. More than enough.
A harsh sob was wrung from her chest as she suddenly comprehended why he was reacting the way he was. Horrified he’d seen so much, she gripped that towel so hard her fingers hurt.
The wretched sound that burst from her drew him up short, and he stayed just out of arm’s reach of her. “Emma…I want to see them. I need to see them.”
She shook her head frantically. “No. No, Nik.”
Reaching out a hand toward her, but not touching her, he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.”
Dropping his hand back down to his side, he just stared at her for long moments. When he did finally speak, his voice was hoarse with the emotions shining from his bright eyes. “What did they do to you?”
She trembled visibly in the warm water, desperately clutching her drenched towel to herself. “Please…” she whispered.
Why wouldn’t he just leave?
Chapter 23
Fury surged through Nikulas. He couldn’t control it. Fury at himself for scaring her, and fury at the things that had torn her up like a piece of meat. If there was any doubt in his mind the things she’d described existed, it wasn’t there anymore.
Stepping into the shower fully clothed, he ignored her protests and pulled her trembling body into his arms. She wasn’t broken. He would hold her pieces together. His strong, brave, sweet girl. His little warrior. She had nothing to be ashamed of.
He held her head to his chest and wrapped his other arm tightly around her back, holding her to him like she was the most precious thing he’d ever beheld.
She is, he realized.
Tearfully, she whispered, “I just don’t want you to see…”
“How stunningly gorgeous you are? You’re right. Probably not a good idea. I don’t know that I’d be able to control myself. It would totally ruin my long running status as the monk of the group here.”
It took her a moment, but then…her muffled laugh was the sweetest thing he’d ever heard. “Somehow, I don’t believe that,” she mumbled into his wet shirt.
“It’s absolutely true. The guys tease me relentlessly about it.” He was trying to distract her, and it worked.
“How is that possible? I mean, you’re…you…and you look like…you do.”
“That’s a story for another time.” As he felt her start to relax, he loosened his grip and leaned back to look down into her
face. “Okay?”
Peeking up at him from beneath her lashes, she gave a small shrug as she awkwardly tried to hike up her towel while still in his arms.
“I’m sorry for barging in like I did. I should have let you know I was in the bedroom.” He wanted to rip the towel off of her. Wanted to demand she tell him, in detail, what those things did to her. So, she wouldn’t have to bear the pain alone anymore. But he did neither of those things.
In an act of sheer willpower, he kissed her on top of the head and took a step back. “I’ll leave you to your shower. There’s more towels in the closet right there.”
Emma stayed him with a hand on his arm. “Thank you.”
He gave her a little smirk. “For barging in on you unannounced, invading your privacy, and yelling at you?”
“No.” She laughed again, holding her sopping towel with one hand and running her fingers through her steam dampened hair with the other. “Not for that part. For not pushing the matter. And for lying.” She let go of his arm.
But he stayed where he was, frowning down at her. “Lying?”
“Yeah. You know. About the ‘gorgeous’ thing and all that.” Color rushed into her face as she lowered her head in embarrassment. “I’m far from it, but I appreciate the gesture.”
Nik’s anger returned full force. Gripping her chin, he tilted her face up to his until she was forced to look at him. Her eyes were wide as he gently squeezed her jaw, just enough to make sure he had her full attention. “I NEVER lie, Emma. You would do well to remember that.”
Loosening his grip, he ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek and down her neck. “Everything about you is perfect to me, don’t ever doubt that. Your face, your hair, your scent, your voice, your soul…even your scars. Especially your scars. Every single second I’m near you is absolute torture for me. You couldn’t even begin to comprehend the amount of willpower I have to have not to throw you down onto this cold bathroom floor right now and fuck you senseless. Every single second of every single day. I don’t care where we are, or who’s around. It’s always like that when I’m near you.”
