The biggest smile split his face. “I know, Lucy. I just wanted to be the one to say it first.”
“Well, I know how much you like having the last word, so I wouldn’t want to deprive you of that now.”
He chuckled lightly. “You know me well, Ms. Masters. No one has ever gotten to me the way you have. No one has even dared trying to get that close to me, but you charged right into my life, waking something inside of me I never knew existed.” His crystal blue eyes glittered with joy in the warm rays of dawn that broke through the pines. “I love you so much, Lucy.”
An audible gasp resounded across the still forest. He actually said it. I knew he felt it, but it became so much more spoken out loud. Hearing those words caused a flurry of emotions to spread through me, but my heart swelled to accommodate the most prevalent of them all. I loved this man so much and wanted everything with him, and all of him.
4
Hand in hand, we made our way back to the apartment, keeping as low of a profile as possible. With newly shed sunlight, evidence of our tussle was on display for several blocks surrounding the building. People were huddled in groups at every demolished wall and car to speculate the source of such random destruction. Some were chattering away about their first hand eye witness accounts and showing grainy videos they captured. Gavin and I approached one such group, careful to blend in with the crowd as we caught glimpses of a recording.
It was too dark to make out anything clearly, and all it showed was the crumbling walls left in our wake. We were too fast for the camera to capture, but eventually, concrete visual evidence would surface. People saw me when I bowled into that crowd, and if that day came when they put two and two together, Gavin and I would deal with it. But for now, we had to keep our focus on the non-human threats.
We pushed through the doors to the apartment building with Gavin’s arm locked around my waist to support my weight. My eyes immediately locked on Jerry, who stood behind the front desk like nothing was out of the ordinary. I gave him a quick scan and was glad to see him walking right, but there were more pertinent matters to attend to.
“Hey Jerry! Good to see you alive,” I called as I released Gavin’s hold and held my nose.
Jerry shrank back and bumped into the wall behind him at the sight of Gavin. I didn’t stick around to smell the fear pour off of him.
I rushed ahead and listened to Gavin apologize to Jerry for his actions. Running straight up the stairs and through the doorless entry, I honed in on the fridge. The handle on the antique, yellowish door didn’t survive my haste as I yanked it open. I ripped into the first bag I saw. Getting lost in the energizing sensations of power and vitality, I practically purred in between gulps.
I chugged about six pints before realizing I had an audience. Tipping my head back, I drained the last few drops and tossed the bag aside, wiping my sleeve across my mouth. My eyes connected with Gavin’s amused ones as he leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen. Knowing my history of being a fairly messy eater, I assumed the room probably looked like a crime scene, but he had me snared.
“What?” I shifted uncomfortably under that penetrating gaze.
“Incredible. You were able to bypass hundreds of humans in your weakened state until you could make it back here.”
“Yeah, so? There were a few close calls.”
He shook his head. “You continue to amaze me, Ms. Masters.”
He shouldered himself off the frame and stepped closer. The playful glint in his eye gave away his next move, so I settled against the counter to get comfortable as he towered over me. I slid my hands up his chest and he tipped his head down to line up our mouths.
“You know, Mr. West, as much as I love your bossy side,” I said with a hint of sarcasm, “I think I like the complimentary side of you more.”
He chuckled softly. “Is that right?” he whispered against my mouth.
“But I really love the freshly showered side of you too,” I teased.
His deafening laugh pulled him away from me, and I wanted to reel him right back in at that sweet sound. I wanted to hear it all the time, but we really needed to keep moving.
“Point taken. I’ll shower quickly so you can jump in after me. Unless… you wanted to join me to conserve water?” He let the question linger in the air between us, and I had to shake my head to clear out the dirty thoughts.
“Gavin, shower. Now.” I pointed toward the cramped bathroom. “We really have to go soon. I don’t know where we’re going to go, but we can’t stay here after the attention we’ve already gotten.”
“Lucy, I get it. It’s okay. We’ll figure something out. We’ll leave as soon as we’re ready.”
He came to me and planted a kiss on my forehead before finding the t-shirt and sweats Jerry had scrounged for him the day we arrived, along with his phone I left by the bed. He connected it to the charger I bought this week, since I had let it die. I couldn’t bring myself to field any messages he might have received.
He showered in typical male fashion. I barely had time to polish off two more pints before it was my turn. He sauntered out of the bathroom looking way too good in those sweatpants. Steam wafted from the doorway behind him, carrying his scent, mixed with a fresh clean one.
He caught me ogling and the half-cocked grin fell into place smoothly. “All yours. Unless you’re still considering my offer to join you.”
Everything inside me tightened, and I cut off my thoughts before the telling blush appeared and gave me away. “I think your offer is void at this point, since the whole purpose was water conservation.”
He flashed over to me and dipped his head, leveling me with those piercing eyes. His voice dropped low and smooth. “Hmm, I guess if saving water was all it meant to you, then I won’t suggest it anymore.”
I leaned into him just as he backed away with an innocent expression firmly in place. “Better get in there so we can head out soon.”
He swatted my ass and winked as he lowered his large frame onto the couch, spreading his arms across the back and tossing his legs up on the coffee table. I stood frozen, gawking at his show of smugness. He met my gaze and smiled too brightly.
Son of a…
Now, I was hot for different reasons. Clearing my throat, I evened my voice before responding. “You’re right. It’s probably best you don’t suggest joining me again. I’m not sure you could handle all the things we could do in an enclosed space with nothing else between us but the hot steam and cascading water, dripping from all that bare skin and—”
He was up in a millisecond, but I was quicker. I dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut in his face. I heard his low growl from behind it. “Do you really think this flimsy door could ever keep me from getting what I want, Ms. Masters?”
“No, but your upstanding morals will, Mr. West. I know you wouldn’t let my first time be a quickie in a shower stall covered in mildew.”
I heard the smile in his next words. “You’re absolutely right, gorgeous.”
The return of that tone with a different term of endearment did funny things to my chest. I think he must have recognized the soiled use of ‘baby’ as well.
A poignant silence followed. I wondered what else he might be remembering. And I was a big fat tool for not asking how he was holding up after everything he experienced.
“Gavin, about tonight…”
“Lucy, don’t.” His words came out harsh and clipped before softening. “I’m sorry. I just… please, Lucy. Not yet.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Take your shower, and I’ll get things ready to go.”
No more words were spoken. When I stepped under the steaming spray, I listened to him shuffling things around the room, probably doing his best to repair the maimed wall and slightly askew furniture. By the time I had finished showering, I realized my mistake. In my rush to the bathroom, I had completely forgotten about a change of clothes.
Gavin busied himself in the bedroom, so I secured a towel
tightly around me and cracked the door to call out to him, but as soon as the door moved, it got caught on something. I looked down to find a fresh pair of jeans and thermal Henley folded on the floor. Always the practical thinker.
I dressed quickly and combed through my wet, dark locks before reappearing in the living room. Gavin was seated on the couch, leaning forward with his head in his hands. My heart cracked in response to seeing him so defeated. He must have been torn up with guilt after the way he acted during his hostile reawakening. I also knew he needed to work through some of it alone until he was ready to open up to someone.
Not wanting to disturb his thoughts, I cautiously moved toward him. When I approached, he didn’t look up or acknowledge my presence. Careful not to jostle him, I stepped onto the couch and swung my other leg over the back of it as I came to a seat on top of the back frame. Intending to massage his tensed shoulders, I placed my hands on them.
Suddenly, it wasn’t enough contact, so I slid down the back cushions and sandwiched myself between them and Gavin’s back. I probably looked like a frog, but I didn’t care. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I rested my cheek on his shoulder. It was the best back hug anyone’s ever given, if that was a thing.
His chest and shoulders shook in a silent laugh, which made me laugh at the ridiculous posture. As long as it made him smile again, I didn’t give a crap.
With alarming speed, he tugged on my arm and I fell into his lap. He cradled me there with one arm behind my back for support, while the other hand stroked my cheek lovingly. It passed through my wet hair a few times, smoothing the clinging strands away from my face.
“I love that sound. You need to laugh more, Lucy. I’m making it a personal goal to hear that laughter at least once a day.”
“Hmmm, I think you might be biting off more than you can chew.”
He was about to respond when his phone rang and interrupted whatever he was going to say.
He answered on the second ring. “West.”
“Hello, is this a Mr. Gavin West?” I heard the nasally male voice as clear as day with my enhanced hearing. He sounded young.
“Yes, who’s calling?”
“Hi, Mr. West. This is Officer Schaffer with the St. Louis Police Department.”
I jerked upright and slid off his lap and onto the coffee table in front of him. When our eyes met, we shared an equally perplexed expression.
“What does the St. Louis Police Department need with me?” Gavin asked.
“I’m sorry to have to do this over the phone, sir, but I tried your residence and you weren’t in. I’m calling in regards to a Helen Lancaster. She had you listed as an emergency contact at her place of employment.”
“What happened to her?” Gavin’s tone was clipped.
My spine went rigid, and I dreaded the direction of this conversation.
“I’m so sorry to tell you this, but she was found dead in her apartment early this morning. No one had heard from her in days, so her landlord checked in on her and found…” I could hear him shuddering over his inhalation.
“She was murdered.” Gavin finished the guy’s train of thought.
“Yes. I’m sorry. I didn’t know who else to call. She doesn’t seem to have any relatives, so I thought you’d want to be here to handle her affairs and make some arrangements. We just ask that you don’t visit her apartment. There’s still an ongoing investigation, and once the crime scene has been cleared, you may collect her personal belongings.”
“She had a will, didn’t she?”
“Yes. Her lawyer is still going over the details, but in the meantime, I know Ms. Lancaster’s landlord would like to clear her things out as soon as possible. Again, I’m sorry, Mr. West. I didn’t have any family members to contact.”
“It’s fine,” Gavin interrupted. “I’ll be in the area soon.”
“Oh, there was one other reason for the phone call. I know this is a difficult time, but we’d like you to come to the station at your earliest convenience. We want to conduct a short interview and get a few statements from you. Any information you could provide might shed light on Ms. Lancaster’s murderer.”
“Of course. I’ll stop by as soon as I’m back in town.”
The relief in the young officer’s voice was evident. “Wonderful. Thank you so much for your cooperation, Mr. West, and again,” I mouthed the next words along with him while looking solemnly at Gavin, “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. West.”
This earned me a smirk as he ended the phone call. When the distraction of the nervous policeman subsided, reality sunk its ugly little claws in, digging painfully into my chest. The usual mixture of anger and fire pulsed through my veins, but this time was strange. The accompanying guilt was noticeably absent. I actually tried telling myself it was my fault somehow, but it rang false in my heart.
Huh? How about that, Lucy? You’re growing.
And now back to the anger. “What’s our next move? Clearly, my father wanted to send a message, but what?”
Gavin’s eyes were on the water ring about a foot from where I sat on the coffee table. He had his game face back on, calm and calculating. When his hand came to rest on my left knee, my leg stopped bouncing up and down.
Oops. Anxious habit. Obviously, I was not the one to overanalyze. I was more of a take action kind of girl, and my body was already gearing up for a fight.
He smiled at me but it looked pained. I knew Helen’s death affected him. They were friends for years. My palm smoothed over his cheek in a soothing gesture.
The smile transformed into a frown. “I’m sorry, Lucy.” His eyes begged me for understanding.
“We’re going back, aren’t we?”
The regret in his voice didn’t escape me. He was worried about me facing my past, facing the guilt I left behind in St. Louis, but I was a different person now, more self-aware and confident than I’ve ever been in my life.
“We have to go, but don’t worry, no one will even know you’re there.”
He was so adorable, but it was completely unnecessary to coddle a woman who had the sensitivity level of a Predator. And not the one in Aliens vs. Predator, where he teamed up with the chick against the aliens at the end and spared her life. Although their allusive honor code was commendable, I preferred watching their ruthlessness in all its gruesome glory.
“Oh, hell yeah! I love a good stick-it-to-the-man opportunity.”
Recognizing my trouble-making attitude, he sighed but then smiled despite himself. “Lucy, it’s probably best for you to lie low while you’re there.”
Again, how cute? He was worried about me getting arrested. They’d have to catch me first. “Yeah, it’s always best to do the opposite of fun, but when have I ever been known to do what’s best? Or safe, for that matter?”
He shook his head, but a smile ghosted over his lips.
We bid Jerry adieu before leaving, and I saved his contact information in my phone. Soren and Elias had insisted they’d be in touch when the time was right, but I wanted my own assurance.
†
As the taxi came to a stop, I ended my call with Max. The others would be meeting us in St. Louis at Gavin’s building, where he arranged a vacant room for them to stay. Gavin paid the cab driver and took our luggage, ushering us into the airport.
Less than two hours after leaving the safe house, I sat beside Gavin in the terminal, killing time by people watching. As we waited for our plane to arrive, a small boy played with a toy car on the floor by my feet. He made engine sounds as he pushed it along the dingy airport carpet. When he caught me watching he smiled up at me. I returned the smile easily, but when my gaze left his, it found Gavin’s entertained grin.
“What?” I said defensively. I could be pleasant. Why did he always turn it into some big accomplishment every time it happened?
His smile widened at my souring mood, and I crossed my arms, leaning back in my seat to sulk in silence, but he had other plans.
Leaning over to whisper in my ea
r, I felt a few strands of hair come loose from my ponytail and brush against my neck as he spoke. “It wasn’t what you think, Lucy. I was just picturing what a future with you could look like. Maybe that could be a boy with emerald green eyes and dark hair like his mother’s.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and turned away to hide the hope in my expression. I couldn’t afford to think about a future yet, especially if it involved an eternity I might never see, or a possibility that has such a slim chance of happening. Gavin once told me vampires couldn’t have kids, but he also said we were different. If I ever regained my soul, maybe it would be possible for us, since having a soul gave us our humanity, and supposedly, everything that entailed.
“Lucy,” he said, interrupting my thoughts. “It’s okay to have dreams and remind ourselves how human we are from time to time.”
I turned to face him again. “I just… with everything we’re up against, I’m afraid to have hope, like I’m jinxing myself to make plans for our future.”
Eyes the color of tropical waters on a clear day searched me inside and out. Surprising me, he simply nodded in agreement, unable to form flowery words of comfort when he knew as well as I did what we were facing.
Offering a change of subject, I blurted the first question that came to mind. “Why did you get a headache while we were fighting?” As soon as my brain caught up with my mouth, I wished I could put my foot in it.
Wow, you really know how to make an awkward conversation even more uncomfortable, don’t you, Lucy?
“It’s okay, Lucy.” He offered a small smile, but it was shadowed with remorse. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for what I did to you.”
“Stop right there. I know you feel bad, but I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me.”
He leaned forward, putting his palms together and bringing his head down as if in prayer. “But I did hurt you,” he responded with his eyes still closed. He turned his head and opened them to look back at me. “That’s why I got the headache.”
Beautiful Eternity (The Bloodmarked Trilogy Book 3) Page 5
