Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,164

backed away. Hux’s eyes shadowed as he continued to stare at me. I saw his gaze, but he didn’t see me, like he was stuck somewhere else entirely.

"Hux, take two deep breaths. Ash is right here. She's safe." Cyler put his hands up in surrender as Hux stomped closer. It was as if this was a normal occurrence. Cyler seemed familiar with whatever was going on with Huxley.

“I’m going to kill him!” Hux roared. His shoulders were tense as he tried to stalk away, but I reached out and grabbed his forearm before he could leave. Hux was a man of action. He threw punches first, asked questions later. But this was delicate. We couldn’t allow him to storm into battle, because then we’d ultimately lose this war.

Huxley and I were face to face. His hand flew up and hovered just over my cheek, as his dark and demanding eyes looked me over. His hot breath brushed over the bridge of my nose as his expression hardened. Then his cold fingers touched my neck, as if to check my pulse. I flinched, startling him. I saw the murderous haze clear from his eyes for a brief moment of doubt before he slipped back into the fog.

"Go with him,” Cyler whispered. “He's going to be like this for a little while. Seems like you’re good at keeping him from running off." Cyler then took another step back .

"What’s wrong with him?" I asked as Hux took his thumb and smeared Josiah’s blood across my cheek.

"He won't hurt you. I've only ever seen him like this a handful of times...."

Cyler grinned and shook his head before tossing the wet washcloth in his hand on the counter, then crossed his arms over his chest.

"Why are you smiling? Something isn’t right..."

"Babe, he gets like this with people he loves ."

Cyler’s words were like a bomb going off in my chest. I slowly slid off the countertop and pressed myself against Huxley. "Okay," I murmured before grabbing Huxley’s hand. For a moment I pulled away and kissed Cyler on the cheek before guiding Hux outside towards the Walker quarters.

Once in my small room with the door securely shut, I led Huxley to the bed to sit. He grumbled when I tried to pull my hand from his. "I just need to get out of these clothes. It's got Josiah's blood all over it."

His eyes went dark again, and he appraised my dress, almost as if he just remembered the state I was in. He started to stand, and I saw how his mood changed. Once again, he was just moments away from running off to murder Blan. In a desperate attempt at calming his demons, I began ripping my dress off. He needed to see that I was okay, so for him, I'd let go of my insecurities and bare all if it meant I could bring him down from this self-destructive ledge.

Huxley rubbed the back of his neck as he watched the fabric shimmy to the floor. I stepped out of my dress then flung it away with a small kick. Huxley clenched his fist and looked down, his posture still rigid. I wanted to wipe away the tension. Take away whatever terrors Huxley experienced to make him this way. I bent over while resisting the urge to wrap my arms around myself to cover my stomach and chest. I grabbed Huxley's hands and pulled them towards me, forcing him to touch the soft skin on my hips.

"Feel me, Hux. I'm okay." He unclenched his fingers and tentatively touched me. While grazing over my lower stomach, he let out small incomprehensible mumbles. I wanted to squirm beneath his movements but remained still. He stood, his eyes clear as his fingers roamed my shoulders and my defined collarbone. With eyes still intently focused on my body, he slowly trailed his hands down the sides of my breasts. My nipples pebbled beneath my thin black bra.

"Do you believe me now? I'm okay. I'm safe. Don’t leave me. Stay, Hux."

He finally met my eyes, and what I saw in his juniper gaze was pure, unadulterated heat, burning me up, making me feel like I still had too many layers on. I wanted to lean closer. I wanted to guide his hands between my thighs.

"You need to get cleaned up," he finally said in a hoarse voice. His words felt clinical. Robotic, almost. His eyes looked around the room as he slipped into his usual unaffected demeanor. Disappointment