Chapter 24 ∣  Hiding Something?

-Eris

I couldn't figure out exactly how long I had been asleep, the taste of Mavericks blood still lingered in my mouth as my eyes slowly drifted open. It would be a lie to say that I hadn't expected Maverick to come after me, after all, he is a rogue. More and more, it seemed that this icy heart of his was slowly melting away, shedding away the husk that coated his outer shell from the world. Is this the vampire that had once been a part of his society? Could he truly ever be happy and the people he ran from love him?

It was hard to imagine my vampire—oops, there I go again—the vampire ever belonging to a coven, let alone wondering about the parents who raised him.

Why did he go rogue?

I doubt he'd ever tell me, even if I asked...

"Eris?" Maverick's voice coming from behind me caused a smile to appear on my face. He stayed with me. He didn't just drop me off after getting me out of the mess he got me into in the first place. He really did care about me; it was a first and I enjoyed waking up to someone besides me...or rather behind me now. It was the strangest feeling, sharing my space with another as I had always just been on my own. I don't think I can remember even a single night that I had someone stay over, as the Dv8 Strip Club provided me with all the energy I needed. Why would I risk bringing a mortal to my place of residence to take their life force when a separate place was already provided for me?

I rolled from my right side onto my back, the sheets and covers pulling with my body. My head tilted to see his beautiful hazel eyes staring back at me, resting his head under his arm, his white hair falling to the side of his face.

You're perfect. You're absolutely perfect.

Hurt suddenly pulled at my heart, knowing he could never really be mine, as his soulmate resided within a vampire coven, possibly. It was incredibly brave of him to rescue me, knowing we couldn't have a future together.

"Eris, are you alright?" Maverick asked as we both sat up at the same time, shifting so I was looking directly at him. Before he could say another word, I smacked him hard across the face.

His muscles tensed as he lowered his voice, "I deserved that..."

"And a lot more you ass-hat," I sighed with irritation, "Why did you kill Willow? Why would you do something like that? Wait, don't tell me the answer is...just because you can?"

"Yes and no," he responded, "I killed Willow as a warning."

"What flipping warning comes from KILLING someone?! That sounds more like an ultimatum death sentence...not a fucking warning!" I was angry now. I recalled when Maverick was ready to take my life for no reason at all, just because he could. Just because I wouldn't tell him about who I was. What gives him the right to choose who lives and who dies? It very well could easily have been me...it almost was.

Maverick glanced away as he thoughtfully looked up at the now interesting popcorn ceiling.

Don't tell me you think the ceiling is more interesting at this moment...look me in the eye!

"Declan called the hunters to this location," he stated, choosing his words carefully, "I had noticed their scent recently after I had a run-in with him a few nights before this all took place. His pack wasn't anywhere on my radar and he decided to call them—because I was killing humans left and right—and you know how I know that? They met up with him and spoke about me. I wasn't going to just sit back and have others mess around trying to find me. I killed Willow, showing exactly what their lives are worth and that I'd kill his entire pack if he so much as mentioned my name to them."

He paused for a moment, his eyes finding mine, "I know you could never understand why, and I know I'm the evil person in this case. I'm not the hero, I'm the villain. I'm sorry, that's all I will ever be. I didn't mean to get you involved, that wasn't part of the plan and I feel awful."

I sat there, quietly absorbing what he was telling me. I can understand everything...he did it to save his life. I killed in order to save my own, so I guess we're both the bad guys...but maybe two bad guys can find hope and become good guys?

Maybe? Hopefully?

"I get the picture," I replied softly, my dark hair falling in front of my chest and slowly hiding my emerald eyes from his view. His sudden expression changed to one of surprise. I don't think he ever expected me to grasp the reason why he killed.

"Now," I slowly removed the covers from my body, seeing as I was still in my bloodied clothes from the night, he rescued me, "I need to take a shower."

"Do you want me to leave?" Maverick asked, tossing the ball into my court.

As I reached for a fuchsia towel from my dresser, I turned around and stated, "Now why would you do that? If you leave, I'll have to make my own pizza." I teased him, shutting the dresser draw behind me as I made my way toward the bedroom door, my bare feet enjoying the feeling of the fuzzy black carpet.

"Does that make me...not a strange man anymore?!" He gasped, taken aback by my sudden boldness to allow him to stay.

"Strange as in I don't know you? Yea, you're not...but you sure are still—strange," I snickered.

"Hendrix's says thank you," Maverick took me off guard, "I'm not sure what you did, or what you did for him, but he wanted me to tell you his gratitude."

"Shoot...I made a promise to myself to bring him to his mate..." my voice trailed off, knowing by just revealing his name alone, it would help him.

"I'm afraid that is out of the question now, as we are not allowed to set foot into Forest Park again," he stated, shaking his head at my wide eyes.

I narrowed my eyes and asked, "We're not allowed, or you're not allowed?"

"Are you going to take the risk of finding out?" He retorted.

Fine.

I'm sure...eventually Hendrix will come into town...maybe I can help him then.

The smirked that crossed his face made me laugh lightly, feeling peace and calmness between us. As I reached for the closed door, Maverick stated, "Oh, Eris."

"Yes?" I asked, opening the door and about to set foot into the hallway when I glimpsed the smirked and his raised eyebrows.

Shit...what now?

"I do recall the glass creating one hole in that shirt, ripping the shirt on both sides," Maverick was dancing around the subject. What exactly was he getting at?

"And?" I arched an eyebrow and glanced down, touching where the fabric had torn.

"Well," Maverick pulled the covers back from the bed, standing up and giving me a cocky smile, "Why do you have two holes on the back of your shirt and not two on the front?"

Nope, we're not going there.

I rolled my eyes and stated, "That shower is calling my name."

Turning around I heard him chuckle, "And a quarter size rip in your jeans?"

My face reddened as I slammed the door shut behind me, my hand releasing the handle as I made five steps toward the bathroom door. I opened it inward and flicked the light switch on, illuminating the small room. No, I'm not anywhere close to going there. Not with him. Accepting me for how I am, the way I am right now...that's all I really cared about. I don't think he'll ever accept that part of me, and I didn't expect him to.

I listened, the door to the bedroom opening as I simultaneously closed the one to the bathroom, gently pushing away from the frame. I dropped the towel onto the tiled floor, sliding open the glass shower door and slowly adjusting the temperature controls. While the water began to warm up, the room slowly beginning to fill with a light steamy mist, I crossed my arms in front of my body, grabbing the hem of Hendrix's shirt and lifting it up over my head. Tossing it to the ground, I ran my hand over the slightly raised scar from the glass that had gone through either side of my body.

Another life experience that leaves behind a scar, imprinting my life here on Earth and reminding me just what I have been through. In this case, I'll never forget my run-in with an Alpha...and challenging him none the less, I'll always remember Hendrix, knowing there are other species out there that are kind and compassionate.

I do hope he finds his mate...

With time, I'm sure he will. He deserves to be happy and with someone who will love him back, unconditionally. Something I know I can never have. As soon as Maverick stumbles upon his other half...probably his better half...I'll be but a distant memory.

That's okay, I'll enjoy the time I do have with him.

Sliding my jeans and underwear off, I stepped out of my clothes, moving into the larger than average shower and under the soothing warm water. I rubbed my face and my eyes, trying to wake myself more, the water being absorbed into my hair and rolling down my back. I closed my eyes, tilting my head back and letting the water bounce off my curves, enjoying the feeling of finally getting clean.

A slightly cool breeze broke through the fog of steam that had been swirling and forming in the room, rising to the ceiling.

Please.

My eyes were locked onto the tiled shower wall, listening as the rustling of clothes had me at the edge, the blood rushing to my ears, the sound of my beating heart the only audible noise. I only flinched slightly at the sudden opening of the glass door sliding back and then closing once again, the fog returning as it collected once again.

Maverick's energy began to radiate softly, revealing itself over time as it grew to the height of his pureblood strength, wrapping me in a protective aura. It was not something for me to fear anymore. In fact, all I wanted was for him to be closer to me, energy and body. Despite what he had dragged me into...he made me feel safe and secure.

As I went to turn around, his hands found mine, taking them gently into his and placing them against the tiles. He kept me facing away from him, removing his hands from the backs of my own and trailing them up to my forearms, to my upper arms and resting on the sides of my shoulders. I left the palms of my hands against the tiled wall, my heart skipping a beat when he brushed my hair away from the top of my shoulders and let it fall over my left breast. His fingertips were light as they softly glided over the bite marks left behind from Prince Kalyn and Keegan's play session.

Maverick's fingertips slowly ran over my shoulders, dipping down to my upper back and tracing the whip scars. The sound of the water showering our bodies echoed in the room, my heart skipping a beat when his touch left my skin.

"This is what you were hiding? This is what you didn't want me to see?" Maverick's voice was alluring and seductive, my own voice caught in my throat. He already had seen everything through my blood memories...but I guess it was different seeing the actual marks in person, versus just a memory.

I steadied my voice as it came out just above a whisper, "I'm damaged goods sweetie...You're the only person I've ever come close to fully opening up to about my entire past."

"That wasn't an answer," Maverick stepped close toward me, his arms encircling around my waist, pulling me flush against him. For sure, I thought my heart was going to hammer right out of my chest, the blood rushing to my face as I felt his erection against my lower back. It wasn't just the fog from the steamy room that slowly took up residence at the base of my skull, the warmth from the fog Maverick was building within me had me at ease.

"Yes," I breathed out, his lips brushing against the base of my shoulders and neck, kissing me tenderly. His vanilla and cedarwood scent filled my senses, unconsciously pushing myself further back into him if it was even possible to do so. My hands left their instructed position on the wall, clutching onto each of his as his left hand trailed up my bare stomach, taking my left breast into his hand and massaging it firmly.

His lips turned into a smirk against my skin when a quiet moan left my lips, swirling his tongue as he placed kisses up my neck, taking both of my hands into his right one. He lifted them up to above his head, releasing his hold while my hands wrapped backward around his head, softly pulling at the back of his white hair. A small groan came from the back of his throat, his right-hand grazing over my skin, lowering until he reached just above my mound, lingering for a moment as he pinched my left nipple.

"Don't hide from me anymore," Maverick's husky voice was against my ear, nipping my lower lobe. His fingers ran over my clit, my cheeks becoming warm as the room continued to steam, my body aching for his touch.

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To Seduce a Succubus by K. A. Young.

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