Page 59 of Loup Garou
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m just realizing how much I missed you and how safe you’ve always made me feel.”
He rubbed his index finger over my wrist. “I love you, Linds.”
“I love you too.” The second I said it, I stopped fast. My pulse sped and heat flared to my cheeks.
Exavier wrapped his arms around me. “Breathe. It’s okay. I’m not going to lay claim to you here and now. I promised you time. I’m justhappy to know that at least you give the automatic response when I tell you I love you.”
“I didn’t say it just because I’m used to answering that way. Other than my father, you are the only man I’ve ever said I love you to. In fact, my lack of saying it was the reason for the majority of my relationships ending. So don’t stand there thinking it was a shallow automatic response, Exavier. It wasn’t. No part of me has ever stopped caring for you. This is all very sudden. That’s all.”
Closing his eyes, he looked so peaceful, so content. The minute he looked up at me, he smiled. He tapped my butt cheek playfully and wagged his brows. “Feed me, woman, or I’ll feast on you instead.”
“You might want to stop bringing that up.” I opened the door at the top of the stairs that separated my living area from the dance studio below and stepped back so Exavier could enter.
He brushed past me, let his hand linger over my hip and then took my hand in his. “Lindsay, I can see it in your eyes. You’re thinking of telling me I can’t touch you since we’re doing the starting-off-as-friend’s thing. I’d like to remind you that we held hands and were close when we were little too.”
“Yes, but I never once wanted to beg you to throw me against the wall and fuck me, Xavs. Now I do.”
His gaze skimmed over me slowly. “Baby, begging doesn’t even need to come into play. Trust me on this.”
My eyes lit as I stared at his mouth. “We should eat.”
Taking his hand in mine, I pulled him into the upper level. He tugged on me and pointed at the tub. “Lindsay, you have a tub in the middle of your—” he glanced around, “—umm, is this the living room, kitchen or dining room?”
I beamed. “Isn’t it great?”
“Does it work?”
A tiny laugh escaped me. “Of course it does. I soak in it every night when I get home. It relaxes my muscles. It, and the oversized downstairs, was the reason I got the place. I love it.”
Exavier appeared to be in pain. I slid into him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m picturing you soaking in the tub, and it’s not helping with the urge to claim you. Did you have to tell me that? I’m going to be staring at it all night, knowing you’re naked in it nightly.” He groaned. “Ah, Linds, I see water on the faucet. You were already in it. Weren’t you?”
I nodded and did my best not to laugh. “Mmm-hmm, with bubbles too.”
“Bubbles?” he asked, a tiny whimper coming from him. “Feed me now or so help me gods I will be in you in a matter of seconds. Yes, food now and then point me to that other room Jay sleeps in when he stays over. You might want to lock me in for your own protection.”
I wokewith a start and stared around my bedroom. I wasn’t sure what had pulled me from the deep sleep I’d been in. Something tugged on my gut, telling me to get up. I followed it, sliding out from the warmth of the bed. I continued to allow it to pull me, and the second I found myself in the hallway headed towards Exavier’s room, I broke into a run. It felt as though I were swimming in molasses. The harder I pushed onward the slower I went.
I tried to open the door but found it was locked and hot to the touch. Hissing, I jerked my hand back and hit the door with my fist. “Exavier!”
He didn’t answer.
My heart leapt to my throat as I pounded again and again. Still, he didn’t answer. Frantic, I thrust my power out, splintering the door to the point that I could see through it. It took a minute for my mind to register what I was seeing. Black shadows sat hunched on Exavier’s chest and abdomen. Though they were only shadows, I could still make out talons, fangs, monstrous figures.
Exavier shifted restlessly beneath them, still asleep. The shadows directed their attention to me. Glowing red circles were where eyes would be on each one. Three pairs of red flames stayed locked on me. I felt it then, something evil lurking behind me. I turned just in time to find a fourth shadow demon crouched against the wall, hanging at an impossible angle.
Screaming, I flung power at it only to hear its tormenting laughter running across me as I missed. The shadows swept out and through me, chilling me to the bone, leaving evil streaks of power in their wake.
“Exavier! Wake up! Please.”
He didn’t move. One of them leapt upon his chest again and seemed to draw in a deep breath. I watched as a faint, sheer, ghost-like image of Exavier began to rise from his body.
His soul.
“No! Get off him, now!” I charged at the demon only to fall through it. A helpless feeling consumed me as I continued to charge it and it kept on sucking Exavier’s very soul from his body.
