my hands together in my lap as I waited for him anxiously. My mind becomes lost in the events of this morning. Was Olivie working with Reid or was she really just protecting the vampire race? If we do eradicate Reid’s Sector, will the hunting from The Elders Council end? My thoughts were cut short by the sound of Elijah opening the driver’s side door.
“I’ve got us a room,” he said as he pulled the keys from the ignition and the gentle rumble of the engine ceased. I blinked several times at him, in disbelief that this man could possibly have any attraction for me. He smiled and joy shot through me like a giddy child on Christmas morning.
I scrambled to free myself from the seat belt and exited the car. My grace escaped me and I stumbled. With lightning speed, Elijah’s arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, suspending me in midair. I remembered to breathe and let out a sigh of relief. My feet found the earth underneath me and I regained my balance. My mind swayed with Elijah’s blood coursing through me and I had to concentrate to keep from falling over again. Elijah’s eyes turn cold and his expression hard.
“S-sorry” I stuttered, wondering what I had done to upset him.
“You need to wash up immediately,” he hissed. I self-consciously ran my fingers through my bloodied hair and nodded sheepishly. I tiptoed toward the door, like a scolded child. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and tried to gauge his mood. He gave nothing away by his facial expression. He slipped the keycard into the door lock and flipped the handle, sending the door ajar.
“After you,” he whispers politely, still no emotion evident. I lowered my head and shuffled passed him to the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and let my forehead fall against it. Slipping my hand through the clinically white shower curtain, I turned on the water faucet on full blast. Slipping out of my tank and shorts, I ran my hand over my wrist where my wound had once been. Olivie had taken this to an entirely different level. I felt defeated. I slipped into the shower and adjusted the water to the perfect warmth. Dumping a handful of travel-sized shampoo into the palm of my hand, I absentmindedly massaged it into my scalp. The morning had started out with so much promise. Would my life be like this every day if I stay with Elijah? Would I survive a day without him? Would I want to? I shook the thought from my mind.
I stepped back into the flow of water and let the soap wash free from my hair, the water a swirl of red as it rinsed down the drain. I had fallen for Elijah hard and as much turmoil as my life had consisted of since meeting him; I couldn’t seem to remember anything before him. Was this a side effect from his blood? Would it wear off when the blood leaves my system? I strained to try to focus on any event from my past that did not include him.
I reached for the conditioner and it toppled toward the shower floor, never making its impact. I glance up to see Elijah, hand extended and holding the tiny bottle in his hand. A smile involuntarily flashed across my face. The corners of his mouth turned upward and I was relieved he was no longer upset. His feelings washed through the air and I became drunk with his lust. I closed my eyes for a moment, grinning like a fool behind the curtain that I held against my body.
“Can we talk?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. It took a moment for me to find my voice. Is this how vampires feel all of the time, drunk with passion?
“No one is stopping you,” I replied coyly, taking the conditioner from his hand and turning my back on him, warming my front in the wall of water. I watched Elijah’s shadow outside of the curtain. I dumped the contents of the bottle into my hand and rubbed it through my hair.
“Where did you get that stick from, Eva?”
“One minute I was standing there in the house and the next I was… I don’t know. I was in the woods somewhere.”
“You were unconscious.”
I pressed my back against the cold tile wall, shaking my head as I went over the details of the fight in my