Real Shadows

by M. E. Clayton

  I tore my mouth off her and started tasting her skin. “Xander…” she moaned, and it was like fucking music to my ears. Her hands grabbed at my waist and it felt like I was on fire.

  “I’m going to taste every inch of your skin, baby,” I promised between nips and kisses on her neck.

  Fallon started pulling at my belt and her words sounded as desperate as I felt. “Later,” she whimpered. “You can kiss me all over later, Xander. Right now, I need you.”

  I pulled back to look at her face. Her eyes were clouded over, and her face was flushed, and I hadn’t even done anything yet. It made me feel like a goddamn king. “Fallon, I don’t want to just take you. I want to worship the fuck out of you.”

  “This first time, take me, Xander,” she begged. “You can worship me later. I promise.” Then she hit me with honesty I couldn’t deny her. “It’s been so long.”

  “Fallon, you’re killing me,” I breathed against her neck.

  She pulled back and looked up at me. “I…” Her eyes glossed over, and in that moment, I knew I couldn’t be that guy.

  “We don’t have to do-”

  “No,” she rushed out. “I just…I feel desperate, Xander.” She sounded desperate. “I feel…I think I’ll go crazy if you take your time. I’m feeling too many things all at once and I feel like I’m going to explode if you don’t…if you don’t make it all go away.”

  Well, hell.

  I grabbed her face and made sure she was looking me in the eye when I asked, “Are you sure you want to do this? There’s no going back, Fallon. No running away afterwards.”

  Instead of answering me, Fallon reached for my jeans again and I followed her lead. I wasn’t going to overthink it, and if I was taking advantage of her, so be it. It’s not like I was going to kick her out of my bed as soon as I nutted anyway. If she felt vulnerable afterwards, I planned on being there to make it all better.

  Clothes were being discarded, shoes kicked off, bodies attacked and, suddenly, romance didn’t sound as appealing at it had earlier. I wanted Fallon. I’ve been wanting her. The only rub was that I wasn’t entirely sure she wanted me or just any guy to stave off the loneliness, but I was going to do my best to make sure it was me she wanted when this was all said and done.

  Naked and ready, I grabbed Fallon by the back of her thighs, and she was already on board with wrapping her legs around my waist. I walked us towards the nearest wall and as soon as her back made contact, I let the wall bear her weight and I slid the head of my dick through the wet folds of her pussy. She might not want romance, but I was still going to make sure I didn’t rip her open. I had to test how ready she was for me before sliding home, and if the slick sounds mixed with our harsh breaths were any indication, Fallon was ready for me.

  But I still felt the need to warn her. “This might hurt, baby,” I said against her ear.

  “I don’t care,” she moaned. “I just want you.”

  I closed my eyes for one brief second, praying I wasn’t ruining everything, and then slammed into her wet, willing body, causing Fallon to throw her head back in a scream that I felt all the way to my bones. And, Christ, she felt every bit as addicting as I knew she would. Her pussy was the hottest and tightest thing to ever touch my dick.

  I stayed buried to the hilt inside her, giving her a moment to get accustomed to my size. Her nails were digging into my shoulders and I secretly hoped she drew blood. I needed this woman dependent on my cock. I needed her to need me every fucking day. “You okay?”

  Her breaths were harsh, and I knew she was uncomfortable, if not hurting. “Yes,” she lied. “Move, Xander. Please, just move…”

  So, I did.

  I grabbed her hips and I pulled out before slamming back into her with the same force and intensity as the first time. I hoped what she meant about not wanting romance because this was not romantic at all.

  This was animalistic.

  I fucked my cock into her tight cunt like she had no choice. I rammed my cock into her as far as it could go, and I didn’t let up no matter how loud my legs were screaming. My fingers were deep in her hips and her back was going to be bruised with the force of every crash against the wall. And all the while, she was begging me for more, and she was doing it using my name.

  She was calling out my name.

  “I’m cumming, Xander,” she cried, and I fucked her through every tremor and every ripple. Not five minutes later, I followed as I emptied everything I had inside her precious body.

  Chapter 19

  Fallon~

  Wow.

  Now, granted, it’s been a long time since I’ve been with a man, but Xander did not disappoint last night.

  Still laying in his bed, feeling his warmth against my back, I knew it wasn’t loneliness that drew me to Xander so much as it was that I was tired. I was so tired from fighting all this darkness alone. Sure, it wasn’t fair to him, but he kept assuring me that he was in this with his eyes wide open. And if that were the case, then I had to trust that he meant what he said. He’s willing to see where this goes even if it becomes difficult. It also didn’t hurt that he knew what he was doing in the bedroom. And in the shower. And up against the wall.

  Last night had been great as far as nights of sex went. After I begged him to put the romance on hold, he had brought it out the second time he slid inside me. Once we made it to the bed, Xander had, indeed, savored every part of my body with his lips, tongue, and hands. He had studied me like he had been cramming for finals and the man got an A+++. I was still concerned about this moving too fast, but I was going to trust in what I was feeling.

  And I was feeling a lot of things.

  However, right now, I was feeling the need to pee, so I started to roll out of Xander’s embrace, but he wasn’t as asleep as I thought he was. “Where you going?” he mumbled against the back of my neck as his arm tightened around my waist.

  “I need to use the restroom.”

  “Well, I suppose if you have to,” he teased, but released me, so I could get out of his bed. Last night he had carried me to his bedroom and that’s where we had stayed. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was now that we’d slept together, but Xander struck me as the type of man who will have my stuff moved into his bedroom by the end of the day.

  I sat up and, naked, got out of bed. I wasn’t a huge fan of parading around without any clothes on, but Xander had kissed damn near every inch of my skin last night, so it seemed rather juvenile to be bothered by my nudity now. Not to mention, I could also grab a robe or some pajamas from my room while I freshened up.

  Xander stopped me as I headed towards the bedroom door. “Hey, where are you going?”

  I turned my head to look back at him. “I told you. I’m going to the restroom.”

  His sleepy face looked confused. He pointed towards his adjoining bathroom door. “Use that one,” he directed.

  I rolled my eyes. “Xander, I’d also like to brush my teeth and wash my face.”

  He rolled those beautiful golden eyes at me back. “Women,” he muttered, but he muttered it with a grin on his lips. “Yeah, well, bring your toothbrush back with you and put it in this bathroom.

  See? I knew it.

  I wasn’t opposed to the idea of fully living with Xander, but I didn’t want to presume. “Just grab an extra one for in here if it matters to you that much,” I replied, testing what this was.

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’re out of your mind if you think you won’t be moved into my bedroom by the end of the weekend, Fallon,” he growled.

  I laughed and walked out of the room. My bladder was screaming, and I really needed to brush my teeth and wash my face. It wasn’t a vanity thing; it was a cleanliness thing. Plus, it gave him time to face the day too if he chose. Truth is, Xander Raynes was so hot, morning breath wouldn’t be a factor.

  After taking care of business, I grabbed some underwear and a t-shirt, threw them on, and then headed for the kitchen. Xander may have done most of the work last n
ight, but I was feeling it everywhere and that made me feel exhausted. Had it not been for my bladder, I probably could still sleep a good couple of more hours.

  I started the pot for a cup of tea while also making some coffee for Xander. Even though he thought I hadn’t been paying attention, I had noticed little things he did throughout his day. Coffee-strong coffee-first thing in the morning was one of those things.

  I toyed with making some breakfast, but the desire to crawl back in bed with Xander was stronger than my growling stomach. I knew we’d have to eat soon or later, but the comfort of Xander and his bed felt more needed than sustenance right now.

  Besides, if anything could make me forget I was hungry, it was Xander and the skills he unleashed last night. Xander Raynes was a beast in bed.

  Xander liked his coffee black, so after testing the strength of my tea, I grabbed both mugs and headed back towards Xander’s bedroom-or, I don’t know. Maybe he was serious, and it would be our bedroom by the end of the day. I wasn’t sure. I just knew I liked the sound of that.

  Out of habit, I glanced at the wall shelf that hung on the left side of the hallway that led to the bedrooms, and just like that, my world came crashing down once again.

  When I had moved in with Xander, I had placed my rabbit on the dresser in the bedroom he had assigned me, but Xander had been kind enough to order me an identical one, and he had placed it on the wall shelf in his hallway. He thought having more than one rabbit would help make me feel safer, and it had.

  Until now.

  Everything happened in slow motion as my body went into its familiar state of panic.

  The rabbit had been moved.

  The accustomed sensation of blood thrumming in my ears blocked out the sound of crashing ceramic on the tile floor of the kitchen. Panic blocked out the sensation of hot, scalding tea and coffee splashing against my feet, ankles, and legs. Fear blocked out the sound of my name being yelled from somewhere in the house.

  I’d been found.

  Again.

  But this time, it only took a matter of a couple of months. He’s never moved this fast before. Whoever was doing this usually waiting until I was settled; comfortable. Well…as comfortable as I could ever be.

  I sensed movement all around me, but my eyes couldn’t tear themselves away from that goddamn rabbit. It wasn’t until I felt Xander’s hands on my shoulders that I snapped out of my fearful trance.

  “Fallon!” he yelled with a shake of my shoulders. I blinked and looked into his worried face. Whatever he saw there, it caused his shoulders to sag. “Baby…” he whispered.

  “Did you move the rabbit?” That’s all that mattered. That’s the only question that needed to be asked.

  “What?” His brow drew down. “No. Fallon, I need to look at your feet and legs, baby. They’re turning red.”

  I reared back, hurt, confused, scared, and…unhinged. “Who cares about my legs, Xander? Did you move the fucking rabbit?!”

  “No!” he snapped. “Why in the fuck would I move either of the rabbits?”

  Breathe.

  Dawning raced across Xander’s face. “Fallon,” he said sternly, as if he knew I was about to crack, “I need you check your legs. Let me check your legs then…then we’ll check the rabbits, okay?”

  I shook my head.

  Fuck. My. Legs.

  That was until I took a step and heat radiated all over my lower extremities. “Fuck,” I hissed.

  Fed up, Xander grabbed my hips, lifted me, and placed me on the kitchen island. He went to go…well, I don’t know where, but I grabbed his arm. When he turned towards me, I could see the worry in every part of his face. “Check the rabbits, Xander,” I begged. “Please.”

  I could tell he didn’t want to leave me, but I was two seconds away from full-blown hysteria and I think he knew it. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll go check your room and then…the one on the shelf.” His hands came up to cradle my face. “But promise me you’re going to stay put. Your legs are bad off. Do not walk on them until I’ve taken a look, okay?” I could only nod, but that was all it took for Xander to sprint down the hallway.

  I sat on the counter on the verge of losing my shit as Xander checked my room. How did he get into Xander’s house? I knew there was a huge chance he would finally find me once I made the decision to use my real name here in Brant, but how in the hell did he get into Xander’s house?

  Getting past Xander’s security system seemed to confirm that whoever this person was, he or she was good with computers. It would explain always finding me. It would explain getting inside Xander’s house. His deadbolts only engaged from the inside of the house. They protected us if we were home, but they did not a damn thing if we weren’t.

  I watched as Xander came back down the hallway and stop at the wall shelf. He was so tall that he didn’t need to get on his tiptoes to inspect the shelf. When Xander put the rabbit there, he had sprinkled a thin layer of vacuum dust on it, so we’d know.

  And by the defeat in his stance, I’d say we knew.

  Chapter 20

  Xander~

  The rabbit had been moved.

  The one in the bedroom was still untouched, but the one in the hallway had been moved. And as much as I knew that was Fallon’s greatest concern right now, her legs were mine.

  I turned towards her. “I’m going to go get the First-Ai-”

  “Have the rabbits been moved, Xander?” she asked again, not one bit concerned about possible burns on her feet and legs.

  I did my best to measure my tone. I didn’t want to alarm or upset her. “The one in the bedroom hasn’t been moved, Fal-”

  “But that one has, hasn’t it?”

  “Let me get the First-Aid kit and…then hear me out, okay?”

  “Xand-”

  “Fallon, baby, please,” I begged. Yes, I was worried about her mental well-being, but I needed to see to her physically as well.

  She gave me a small nod of her head and I raced towards upstairs to the attic where I had my industrial First-Aid kit, not caring about the shards of ceramic on the floor. I did a lot of my physical work up there, so that’s where I had it. The kitchen and both bathrooms had standard First-Aid kits, but her legs were going to need burn salve and maybe some bandages.

  I grabbed the First-Aid kit and was back in the kitchen in record time. I dropped down to inspect her feet and legs, and upon a clearer inspection, it looked like some salve was enough to do the trick. Her skin wasn’t blistering, so the burns hadn’t been scalding. “I think some salve-”

  “Xander.”

  That’s it.

  Just my name.

  Just my name said in a tone that I knew she wasn’t fucking around anymore. Fallon was no longer in the mood to indulge me. Her fear was giving way to anger and I’m fairly sure the anger was at me.

  I began to apply the salve to the reddened splotches on her feet and legs. I’d prefer to wash her legs off with a cool, wet towel, but I didn’t have the time. Fallon wanted answers and she wanted them now.

  “It was moved, but…hear me out.” I looked up at her from where I was on my haunches tending to her legs. “It’s possible we could have done it, Fallon.”

  Her eyes blazed, clearly offended, and on the defensive. “I would never move either of those rabbits,” she spat. “What are you talking about? Did you fucking move it?”

  I stood up and looked into her furious face. “No,” I bit out. “I didn’t move it.”

  “Well, I sure as hell didn’t,” she insisted again.

  “Sonofabitch, Fallon,” I swore. “When we got home last night, you begged me to fuck you up against the wall with everything I had. And I did. It is quite possible that we shook the walls enough to move around some of the things that are hanging there.”

  Her hand shot out as she pointed towards the wall where I had taken her. “You fucked me over there, Xander,” she pointed out, but not after making me question everything I had been proud of last night. “Do you honestly
think your skills were so explosive that they shook that wall way over there?!”

  Well, fuck me.

  “It’s possible!” I snarled at her. I mean, I knew there were dicks in the world bigger than mine, but…fuck.

  “Was there anything else on the shelf that…shifted?” she asked, and her voice told me everything I needed to know. She was still scared, but now she was pissed, thinking I didn’t believe her. And it wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, I just wanted to explore all other possibilities before zooming in on the worst one.

  I walked over to the shelf and, making sure not to touch anything, I looked over the miniature potted plant and picture frame of my parents on the shelf and saw that they hadn’t been moved. In that moment, I knew Fallon’s concerns were valid.

  Her fear was justified.

  I turned to face her, and it amazed me how difficult it was to say the words that would bring her entire world crashing down again. We knew this was a possibility. We knew it’d be easy for him to find her as soon as she had started putting down roots in Brant. We had known this.

  We. Knew. This.

  “Fallon, I need you to list-”

  “It’s just the rabbit, isn’t it?” she asked, though she knew the answer already. I’m sure it was written all over my face.

  I walked back towards her on the counter until I was standing in between her legs. I cradled her face in my hands. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Fallon.”

  “How did he get into your house, Xander?” she asked, and even though I knew she didn’t mean to, it made me feel like shit. I promised to protect her and, yet, it’s possible that someone’s been in my house. I never had the needs for cameras because…well, this was fucking Brant; crime was minimal. But looking back, I should have had them installed the second Fallon had agreed to move in with me.