Crave - Teresa Mummert Page 0,17

his head toward the floor and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I’ll uh... let you guys talk,” he said and shot a glance from Grayson back to me. My mind was racing. I had no idea how to fix this situation. Grayson’s eyes searched my face and waited for an explanation. I didn’t have one.

“I’m waiting, Eva,” he finally said, breaking the silence.

“I can’t do this now, Grayson. I’m dealing with a freaking dead body.” I didn’t know what had come over me. I had enough on my plate right now and I didn’t have room for a jealous ex-boyfriend. It wasn’t like he was sitting at home, waiting for me to come around. He had been out with plenty of other girls and he was oblivious to how that had made me feel.

He threw his hands up in defeat and stormed off toward the door. “Grayson, wait,” I called after him as he pushed through the police and emergency workers entering my apartment. Elijah walked up behind me and tucked his arm around my waist and kissed me on the top of my head, letting his lips linger as he inhaled deeply.

“So that’s your past,” he asked recalling Grayson’s first intrusion in the woods. I nodded my head in response hoping that Grayson hadn’t just walked out of my life forever.

***

We stepped back into the kitchen as emergency workers removed the intruder on a gurney. I turned around to bury my face in Elijah’s chest so I didn’t have to see his bloody remains. He answered a few questions by the police and they slowly began to file out. I sighed in relief when the last person was gone as he pulled me back from his body and placed his hands on either side of my head as he inspected my expression.

“You okay?” he asked. I felt myself begin to relax as he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

“I’ll manage,” I said, turning the corners of my mouth up into the beginning of a smile. He pulled my head toward him and placed a hard lingering kiss on my forehead. The truth was, I would be completely losing control if it weren't for him. I slipped my arms around him and gripped his shirt in my hands. Thunder began to rumble from outside as the rain started to pelt the side of the building violently.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said with a weak smile.

“It’s storming out,” I replied and he pulled me in to give me a soft kiss. I couldn’t stop my body from melting against him. After a moment, he pulled me back and took my hands in his, lacing our fingers together.

“It’s not safe for you here.”

“Where would we go? There is no safe place anymore.”

“You’re right,” He said in defeat because we both knew it was only a matter of time. You couldn’t win in this world. “Let’s, at least, get out of here for a few hours.”

“Alright. I love the rain,” I agreed and grabbed my sandals from my room, pausing to look at the spot on the floor that recently held a dead body. I shook the thought from my head and picked up my cell phone out of habit. I turned it around in my hand and set it back down on the dresser. I didn’t need any more drama from Grayson tonight. I spun around and flashed a smile at Elijah, who stood in my doorway, grabbing his hand as I passed and pulling him behind me.

Chapter six

Monster Within

The rain was warm as it coated us in big heavy drops. We were soaked in minutes. Something about a storm made you feel alone even if the streets were crowded with others and I didn’t mind the intimate moment with Elijah. I struggled to hear him talk over the rumbles of thunder and the music that spilled into the streets from the local bars and clubs.

“My parents are originally from Ireland, but I was raised in the south,” he explained in a hushed tone.

“Where are your parents now?” I asked trying to unravel the mystery that was Elijah. He furrowed his brow and looked down at the sidewalk.

“Long gone,” he replied in a flat tone. I didn’t probe any further. I could tell it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about and I immediately regretted asking.

“I see,” I said looking out toward the street as headlights streamed by. The sun hadn’t set yet, but thanks to the clouds it could have