Laney (28 page)

“I didn’t. I could hear it.” I closed my eyes, trying not to picture it or replay the sounds.

He wiped my clothes down where I had thrown up on myself and pulled me to my feet. “We’re a little unsightly tonight.” he joked, gesturing to his blood-stained clothes. “But you are still beautiful.” He said more seriously. It made me smile.

Gladys was back with a bottle of water that she held out for me.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“No need to apologize; it happens.” She forced a smile at us. “Now back to your spot. I cleaned it up.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “I need a minute alone, please,” I said to both of them.

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

“I can’t leave you in here alone,” he gestured to the bathroom window.

“But I have to pee,” I whined.

“I know this is horrible, but I’d hear you even if I stood outside the door.”

“Ugh! Turn around then.”

How freakin’ embarrassing! Throwing up in front of him wasn’t enough? Now I have to pee with him in the room?

“I’ll close my eyes and cover my ears.” He flashed me a fang-filled smile as he turned his back to me and faced the shower.

“Whatever! Just let me pee,” I said as I closed and locked the bathroom door. I didn’t need anyone else walking in while I was going.

Gladys pounded on the door, preventing me from relaxing so I could pee. “No hanky panky in there. I’ll stake your ass!”

“Staking is a hate crime,” Oliver chuckled to himself with his hands over his ears.

Oh my God! Just let me freakin’ pee!

After enduring one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I pulled up my pants and flushed the toilet.

Oliver asked if he could turn around. “Yes,” I huffed while I was washing my hands. I dug around, looking for some toothpaste. I found some in a drawer behind the door and brushed my teeth with my finger.

A burning flare of pain shot through my neck as I was rinsing my mouth. I cringed and a small cry escaped from my lips.

He turned my body toward him. “Let me take a look at it.” He unzipped his sweatshirt that I was still wearing and I shrugged out of it. He brushed my hair behind my shoulder and started removing the bandage. Tingles ran through me as his light touch worked the bandage gently away from the bite.

“How bad is it?” I asked turning to look in the mirror over the sink.

My eyes grew wide. It was bad. It wasn’t just two puncture wounds like I had expected it to be. There were two deep puncture holes and just below them were two large gashes running down the front of my neck. All the wounds were still fresh and open, seeping a little. I raised a trembling hand up to touch it. Oliver was behind me, watching as I examined it. He stopped my hand before my fingers could reach the wound. My eyes fixed on his through the mirror. He gently pushed my hand back to my side and brushed my hair around the back of my neck over my left shoulder, fully exposing the bite on the right side of my neck.

“Close your eyes,” his voice was soft and passionate.

“Uh uh,” I breathed shakily.

His eyes were still dark and his fangs still showing. I watched in the mirror as he leaned over my shoulder and hesitated just over the wound.

“Are you sure you can do this?” I was nervous—but why? I wanted him, forever.

Only his eyes lifted to meet mine in the mirror. His mouth was just over the bite, his cool breath hitting it, causing excited tremors to run through me.

He kept his eyes on mine and pressed his cool lips onto my neck just beside the marks. It excited me. I trembled and that familiar energy started to flow through me. He kissed my neck where his lips were and a quiet, uncontrolled moan escaped from me. I saw a flash in his eyes and a quiet rumble came from his chest only causing me to tremble more. His arms wrapped around my waist from behind and he kissed my neck again, closer to the wound this time. My pulse accelerated. I wanted him to bite me; I wanted to be his. His scent hit me, getting stronger and stronger. It was exhilarating and it made my body crave him. I reached up and ran my fingers up the back of his neck and into his hair. He hovered again just over the wound, his breath sending more chills through me, his eyes still on mine. With my fingers tangled in his hair, I encouraged his lips to touch the wound as I pulled his mouth closer. I nodded as I watched him get a little closer. I watched as his eyes left mine and focused on the bite. His lips pressed against the gash mark caused by stupidity and revenge.

I watched as his tongue gently brushed against one of the gashes and his body jolted. Then he spun me around to face him. His lips pressed against mine, needing something more. His hands pressed firmly against my back and pulled me tight against his body. He took a step back, pulling me with him. He sat on the toilet lid and stared up into my eyes, desperate for more. I leaned in, my lips pressing firmly against his. My lips parted and so did his. My tongue met his, causing the rumble in his chest again. He grabbed my hips and pulled me onto his lap so that I was straddling him.

Damn this was a bad idea.
Why would my brain pick now to be rational?

Not without effort, I pulled out of the kiss and started to remove myself from his lap. He stopped me, holding my hips in place against him. His eyes were pleading. Keeping my eyes on his, I brushed my hair away from my neck again and leaned in, wrapping my arms around his neck. He hesitated and I tangled my fingers in his soft curls and guided his mouth to the wound once more. His cool tongue swept over the gashes. I held his head against my neck encouraging him to heal the actual bite.

“Do it,” I whispered. I knew she’d interrupt us soon; we’d been in there too long.

His mouth found the bite marks and it covered the holes. He surprised me as he gently started to suck, making that same sound he’d made with the IV bag, but this had an added quiet moan to it. His scent grew even stronger. His arms held me tight against his body and his hands were pressed firmly against me, one on my lower back pressing me against him, and the other at the base of my neck, holding it in place as he suckled from me. An erotic blissful swirl flowed through me as another uncontrolled moan slipped from between my lips causing another rumble from inside him. I tightened my grip around his neck and pressed him harder against mine. A distant voice from the back of my mind cried for him to stop, but another begged for him to continue, for him to bite me.

“Bite me, please,” I quietly pleaded, as the second voice won.

His body tensed. His suckling slowed, but didn’t stop.

“Please,” I begged softly in his ear.

The suckling stopped but he didn’t pull away.

“Everything alright in there?” Gladys asked, as she quietly knocked.

“Fine,” my voice cracked. “Be out in a minute.”

His cool tongue gently swept across my neck as he pulled back. It sent a final shiver through me. I knew he wouldn’t do it.

I let my head drop onto his shoulder as he lifted his from my neck.

“I love you,” he whispered. “More than anything.”

“Then bite me,” I whispered. I felt weak.

“No,” he whispered back.

“Bite me so no one else can,” I demanded quietly, lifting my head to meet his eyes. I didn’t want the slayers to hear me.

He shook his head and his hands slid down my back to rest on my hips.

“What if someone does it before you?” I whispered furiously. “You just going to keep hunting them down to kill them?”

He squared his shoulders and fixed his dark stare on me. “I won’t bite you. I want you to be with me because you want to, not because of some blood connection.”

“Then what about what you just did? Can’t that cause you to be connected to me?” I argued. I was frustrated that he wouldn’t just bite me, but mostly that I had ruined that feeling that was going through us.

“No. There was no venom mixed in it and it doesn’t really work that way.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, kissing his cool lips. He frowned at me not understanding why I had apologized. “I love you and I loved that I was able to feed you.”

He relaxed and the side of his mouth came up in a sexy half-smile. “Me too,” he said, hugging me tight and nuzzling against my neck.

He loosened his hug and I got up from his lap. I reached my hand out for his.

“I need a minute,” he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows across his knees.

I frowned at him. “For what?”

He shot me a crooked smile with a hint of pink in his cheeks.

“Oh…” I felt my cheeks warm.

A minute was about exactly how long it took as he stood, grabbing my hand, and taking a deep breath. “You really should pick more appropriate places to get me all worked up like that,” he whispered against my cheek. He gave me a quick kiss while he opened the bathroom door.

“Hey, just trying to mix it up,” I joked, as my cheeks burned.

We slumped back down the wall and I rested wearily against his shoulder. He rested his head on mine.

Gladys returned. She gave Oliver another IV bag and me another plate of snacks and water.

I was able to keep mine down, with the dead body gone and all. “You going to drink that?” I asked him, nodding at the IV bag he was holding while he watched me eat. “I imagine you need it.”

“I do, but I want to savor the taste of you.” His eyes held mine.

My body ached for him to do it again. I tore my eyes from his as I blushed. “I love you Oliver,” I whispered, not looking at him. I sat my plate to the side and leaned against him.

He wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I love you, Delaney.”

We sat quietly against the wall watching the slayers rush around the house checking windows, arguing, eating, and so on. They didn’t seem to sit still. Gladys did; she quietly sat on the couch with her coffee cup held in both hands, sipping it slowly, while the others never seemed to stop.

“They’re all older,” I whispered to Oliver.

“Yeah, there hasn’t been a need to recruit new slayers. I fear there will be now.”

“Ah.” was all I had left. He set the blood bag down beside him and wrapped both of his arms tightly around me. I snuggled against him. A purring ball of fluff returned to my side. I stroked Steve as my eyelids grew heavy.

Chapter 32 - Getting Picked up

I woke up to the sweetest sound: Oliver’s voice. “Wake up, Laney,” he whispered, gently brushing my hair away from my face.

Early morning sunlight was streaming in through the living room window. I was curled up on my side on the floor, my head resting on one of his legs and his sweatshirt draped across me. I had one arm wrapped around Steve, who was curled up against my chest, purring loudly. I smiled and looked up into Oliver’s eyes. He smiled back with that stunning smile. His eyes were back to a beautiful emerald-green and his fangs were gone. He never failed to take my breath away, even disheveled and covered in dry blood. All of this was worth it to be with him.

I sat up and stretched. My body was sore, my stomach still queasy. I was a mess and I stunk.

Oliver gracefully rose from the floor, holding out his hand to help me up. I gave Steve a little more love, scratching him under his chin and along his back. He meowed, looking at me with his big yellow eyes. He stretched and wandered off toward the kitchen. I watched him and his massively fluffy tail as he waddled away and then I placed my hand in Oliver’s.

He gently pulled me up from the floor then close against his body. “I will protect you,” his voice soothed. He kissed me hard, like he couldn’t get enough. When he ended the kiss, he gave me another on my forehead, his strong arms wrapped around me, holding me tight against his body. “I won’t let anything take you from me.”

“I know,” I said softly. Resting my head against his firm, cool chest, I wrapped my arms tightly around him.

“Let’s go,” he said, releasing me. He held out his sweatshirt so I could put it back on and then he took my hand.

“Is it safe?” I asked.

“Felix is here to pick us up.” He led me to the front door.

Gladys was sitting alone in her living room in one of her mauve chairs, looking out the large front window.

Without looking at us, she said, “I hope you two survive.”

“You, too,” Oliver responded politely.

“Thank you for protecting us,” I said.

“It’s been my pleasure, Miss Alexander. Now you two need to hurry; they’re getting closer.”

My heart started to race. Not again!

“Are you ready for today?” he asked.

I took a deep breath. “Well, life has definitely gotten more exciting since you’ve been around.” I forced a smile.

“Don’t you mean more dangerous?” He smiled, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing the back of it.

“Either way, I’m ready for the day as long as I’m with you.”

He smiled a breathtaking smile. “I love you, Laney.” My heart melted.

“And I love you.” I rose up on my toes, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

He looked past me at Gladys and nodded. “Volla.”

She nodded back. “You are welcome. But just know that, once you leave my property, you are fair game.” She said it with a hint of humor and a smile tugging at her lips. She continued to stare out the window.

“As are you,” he said with a smirk.

He opened the door and we stepped onto the small front step together. Through the thin fog, I could see a huge black SUV waiting in front of the house, engine running. Oliver squeezed my hand. In a whispered tone, he said, “Run.”

And I did. As fast as my weary body could, I ran straight for that big SUV. Thankfully, the little picket fence gate was open. I don’t think I could’ve hurtled it. The front passenger door swung open. Oliver boosted me into the car. Felix caught me with his gigantic hands, softening my landing as I hit the middle console. Oliver was right behind me, slamming the door behind him.

The doors locked as Felix floored it and peeled out as we sped away. Oliver gave me a nudge and nodded to the back seat. I climbed back and he followed. He pulled the middle seatbelt around me and fastened it.

“That was close,” Felix’s voice boomed.

“Too close,” Oliver breathed, looking behind us.

“What was close?” I asked.

“You didn’t see them?” Oliver asked.

“See who?” I hadn’t seen anyone. I glanced out the window behind us.

“Vampires, Laney. There were probably ten of them coming at us as we ran to the car.”

“I counted fourteen,” Felix added.

My heart thumped wildly. “I didn’t see anything. I was focused on getting to the car.”

“They’d been waiting in the shadows since last night. Gladys had most of their locations spotted. I think she missed the one on the roof.”

“Their solar phobia is fading,” Felix added.

I felt a hint of hysteria bubbling inside. I had no doubt Oliver was worth all this trouble, but I was afraid I’d have a breakdown before long.

Oliver wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against him. “You’re safe,” he whispered into my hair.

“I went by your apartments,” Felix said. “I gathered everything you said. It’s all in the back.”

“Had anyone been there?” Oliver asked.

“It’s hard to tell considering all the damage that had been done the night before.”

“I want both apartments swept clean.”

“On it,” Felix said, picking up his phone.

“No, I want you to do it,” he said with authority.

“Yes, Sir,” Felix answered.

“Why are people calling you ‘Sir?’” I questioned.

“It’s like a respect and ranking thing.”

“Explain.” I smiled a “get on with it” smile.

“Felix and I are second in command. If something happens to D, our coven leader, one of us will lead the coven.” He lowered his voice for the next part, though I’m sure Felix could still hear it. “A bonded male has more authority and others pay him more respect. They can tell that I’ve started.” My cheeks warmed at the thought of it. “It’s an honor to be bonded and it also shows a sign of stability and commitment.” He straightened and smiled the sweetest smile.

I shook my head a little. “My brain feels fried. I’ve had a lot to take in lately.”

He kissed my forehead. “You’ll be fine,” he chuckled.

“Felix, I need you to take us to Julz’s place. After you drop us off, pick up Carter and the girls, including Zoey’s grandmother, even if she resists; you tell her it’s an order. Then take them to a safe house until things are in order.”

“Yes, Sir. I spoke with Zoey an hour ago. Things were quiet, but she thinks they are being watched.”

I hadn’t thought about them since we left the restaurant and my pulse began to quicken at the thought of something happening to them.

“Don’t worry. Felix will get them somewhere safe,” Oliver said, his thumb rubbing my shoulder where his hand was resting.

“Why are we going to Julz’s house?” I asked. After everything we had been through, I wasn’t sure I could handle Julz’s mood swings, too.

“I need you to talk to her. I need you to totally understand why this is happening.”

“You told me why.”

“I need you to know everything and only she can fill all of that in,” he paused and then continued: “I took her, Laney.” His voice had changed; it was sad and strained. “I took her from Oscar to save her life and to keep her safe. I knew she was pregnant; he didn’t know yet. He would’ve let her die. I couldn’t let that happen. He would’ve used Hayden for horrible things.”

I kissed his lips and looked into his spectacular green eyes. “I’ll talk to Julz.”

“Thank you,” he whispered, resting his forehead against mine.

I focused on his mouth and leaned in, pressing my lips against his. Then I put everything I had left in me into that kiss. I knew this wasn’t over; we were far from safe. But knowing that this—that he was my reward for surviving, meant everything…