Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
“Vivian keeps a journal,” I tell him. “Most hunters are encouraged to keep records. If I can find her old ones, I should be able to find entries about me.”
Xavier just nods and follows me through the back hall and into the kitchen. I turn on the light and pause, looking around for a moment as I fight off memories. It’s weird to look back on what I thought were happy times knowing what I know now. Whatever. I don’t have time to waste.
“Where would they be?”
“Maybe in the study,” I tell him. “It was always kept locked unless they were in there.”
“Lead the way,” he says and sweeps his hand out in front of him. I nod and go through the kitchen into another hall. The study is toward the front of the compound in what used to be a facility lounge. It has a fireplace and a wall of fabulous built-in bookshelves.
“It’s locked,” I say, trying the knob.
“Allow me.” Xavier twists the knob, easily breaking the lock. The door swings open, hinges creaking. “You won’t get in trouble, you know.”
I look behind me, hearing my brother’s voices in the back of my head reminding me that he’s the bad guy. But now that I’m standing here, worried about getting reprimanded by Vivian and Marco, I’m questioning everything all over again.
“I know she kept some here,” I say and go to the bookshelves. Xavier helps me look through all the journals until we find a section that is Vivian’s. They are all clearly labeled, and most entries read like reports more than a journal entry. “Oh my god. I found it. The one from the year I was found or kidnapped or whatever.”
I take it and sit on the couch, turning on the lamp on the side table next to me. Xavier joins me, and looks at the journal as I flip through the pages.
“Am I missing something?” I ask, shaking my head. “There’s no mention of me.”
“This seems to be something official,” Xavier says, gently taking the journal from my hands. “Just reports of hunts, not of her feelings.” He flips through it at vampire speed. “There was no hunt the night they took you.”
I get up and put my head in my hands, heart starting to speed up. My thoughts race so fast I can’t separate one from another.
“Hey,” Xavier says, getting to his feet. I’m starting to feel dizzy and Xavier can tell. His hands land on my arms. “Breathe.” I open my mouth but get no air. He moves his hand to my chest, palm flattening. “Take a deep breath, Wren.”
The coolness of his skin against mine calms me and I open my eyes, looking right into his. Inhaling, my chest rises with his hand. I slowly let my breath out and do that a few more times, until my pulse has slowed and I feel grounded once more.
“You defended me against the Order twice now,” I whisper and Xavier steps in, hands going to my waist now. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” he says quietly and brushes my hair back.
“I know, but I want to.” Taking another deep breath, I inch closer so my hips are against his. Everything stops when I’m touching him: the racing thoughts, the feeling of dread, my fear of the unknown…it all goes away.
He lets his fingers trace down my face, going from my ear to my jaw. Then he carefully tips my chin up and puts his lips to mine. In a fury of passion, our bodies collide and it’s like I can’t get close enough to him. His tongue pushes into my mouth, and I let out a soft moan, melting inside from how everything feels. My arms wrap around him and his hands land on the small of my back, slowly inching down until he grabs my ass, pushing me against him.
In one swift moment, he picks me up and my legs fasten around him. I rake my fingers through his hair and he steps back, sitting on the couch in front of the window. Straddling him, I feel his cock start to harden against me and holy shit, it’s big. My body is craving to feel him push inside me, to fill every inch and fuck me senseless.
Xavier moves his mouth from mine to my neck, and his fangs scrape against my skin. I suck in a quick breath as a shiver runs through me. I want to feel his bite. I want the pain and then the pleasure. I want to sink onto his dick, rocking and riding it as he sucks blood from my body.
Mirroring my desire, Xavier bunches up my dress and then flips me over so I’m beneath him. He kisses me again and then lifts his head, eyes meeting mine for a fleeting moment before he starts to kiss his way down my body. My legs part and he pushes my dress up, kissing and sucking at the skin on my stomach as he hooks his fingers around the top of my underwear.