Page 42

CELINE

I sift a spoon listlessly through my bowl of Cheerios and tuck a stray hair behind my ear.

It’s a mess of curls this morning since I let it air dry, which I usually try not to do.

Yesterday was a long one. Finding Derek’s body in the alleyway threw us for a loop and had me headed right back to the station.

Zavier discreetly checked the body out before I told the captain and found something unusual.

No blood or bite marks just a clear snap of the neck resulting in instant death.

He couldn’t smell anyone on Derek, but I knew he attributed it to the supernatural.

Too many odd things lined up now and I could tell it bothered him how many things were starting to center around me.

He was insistent on sleeping in the room with me last night and I welcomed the comfort. Even if he latched onto me and didn’t let go. At least his temperature seemed to run cooler than that of a human, otherwise I would’ve been sweating in his hold.

“Celine.” Zav taps me on the head with one of Midnight’s fluffy paws. The cat hisses before cuddling right up to Zav’s neck like the two-timing hussy he is. “Are you okay? I think your Cheerios have turned into a cereal smoothie at this point.”

Looking down I see he’s right. Lost in my thoughts the cereal has gone soggy and mushed together.

Gross. This is why I prefer to eat it dry.

With a sigh I dump the mess down the drain and run water. It swirls away and I look back at Zav. He’s giving me puppy dog eyes not knowing what’s running through my head or how to help me. I still can’t believe this gorgeous, thoughtful vampire is my mate.

Mate. That’s strange in itself.

“I want to move back into my apartment.” I finally say after roving over his handsome features. As soon as I say it, I want to take it back because they contort into horror.

“What?” He sets Midnight down, so I know he’s serious.

In a flash, he’s over by my side. The breeze rustles my hair, and he grips my shoulders to steady me when I sway from his sudden appearance.

“Derek is dead, so I don’t have to worry about him returning. I’ve been living with you for weeks and I want to be back in my own space again. I can’t keep taking up your space, mate or not.” I try to reason but he’s having none of it.

I don’t want to be in your way. I don’t want you to get sick of me , I don’t say out loud. It’s old insecurities stemming from the way my mom left, and I know Zav would never abandon me like she did, but sometimes logic doesn’t override feelings.

“Yes, he’s dead but we know there’s someone bigger at play that’s still very much alive.

You’re not safe!” His green eyes spark with fear.

“You can’t get hurt. On my life I swear I can’t go on if you’re hurt and I could’ve done something about it.

Celine, please,” he pleads and it’s the hardest thing to watch him in such distress.

“If you want to go back to your place then I’m going with you. ”

“Zavier.” I wrap my arms around him and try to keep from crumbling under the guilt I feel at causing him distress.

“It’s going to be okay. Nothing’s going to happen.

You’ll be right next door if anything goes awry, and I trust you to take care of me if that’s the case.

” He’s borderline shaking underneath me and I continue my ministrations until he calms down.

“I just need to be in my own room. It’ll make me feel better to be around my own things. ”

His brows knit. “Do you ... not feel safe ... with me ?” he mumbles, voice cracking on the last word and breaking my heart all over again.

“No!” I take a breath, softening my tone. “I mean no, that’s not it at all.” I fumble over my words to explain myself. “You’re not…” I bite my lip. “I know you’d never hurt me, and I do feel safe with you, it’s just been a lot lately. I know I’d feel better in my own space.”

It truly has nothing to do with not feeling safe with Zavier and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was tempted to continue to live together in our little bubble. It’s been … nice. Nicer than I expected, that’s for sure. He can be a bit much at times, but shockingly I think I love that about him.

He thought I didn’t notice, but one night when I woke up needing to pee, I saw his sleeping form next to me in the bed. Long lashes fluttered lightly against his cheeks while he dreamed about something.

Since I no longer resided next to him his hand tried to find me and resulted in him grabbing my pillow and burying his face in it.

A sweet smile pulled at his lips then and I felt myself falling for him that much more.

Sneaking in every night but being gone by morning was his routine and I thought it was cute, but didn’t call him out on it.

I needed to have something for myself again with the chaos my life had wrought recently.

Having Zavier next door should be safe enough, at least for the next few weeks while I take time for myself to decompress.

I still don’t have enough evidence to be any step closer to finding the murderer wreaking havoc in Chicago and I hope being back in my apartment will allow me to think clearer and settle my mind when it comes to the case.

“Come on, you can help me get my stuff together.” I stroke my finger over his eyebrows, and he lets out a disgruntled sound but heaves his body up to follow my lead.

Over the next hour we clean the apartment and get my things together.

Truth be told, I hadn’t brought much over to Zavier’s, just the essentials.

With our arms full we head over to my apartment and unlock it.

The door was fixed right after the break-in, but I haven’t stepped back inside until the moment.

Everything is returned to its rightful place, and I can’t help but eye the man at my side, knowing he has to be the one responsible.

He gives me a smile. “I couldn’t leave it a mess for you.”

Unshed tears burn my eyes. “Thank you.” I lean up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.

“I’m going to put this down,” he says, nodding to the box in his hands.

Zavier plops the box filled with miscellaneous clothes and toiletries on my bed. Stopping, he zeroes in on something at the bottom of the box. Gasping he pulls out a pair lacy black underwear I found him hoarding in his dresser.

“You stole these!” He holds the lacy panties to his chest like they’re something precious.

“That’s what I should be saying to you, mister.” He pockets them once again but I roll my eyes and let it go.

We walk over to Zav’s one more time and I do a quick scan. It’s not like it’s hard to pop back over if I forgot something but I want to make sure I did as well as I could grabbing stuff. The last thing is Midnight who’s currently pouting in the corner of the couch like he knows what’s going on.

“Hey there, grumpy kitty.” I slowly approach with a hand outstretched to show I come in peace. “We gotta go back home. Will you be nice for once and let me grab you?” So far so good, I reach out to grab him and he takes a swipe at me. “You little shit.”

“It’s because he knows you both belong with me.

” Zavier stands behind me, leaning against the wall looking like he just walked out of a GQ shoot.

Ankles crossed he examines his nails and sunlight streaming in glints off the thin silver chain around his neck.

His hair is perfectly in place and his glasses rest on his nose adorably.

I’m probably a sweaty mess from cleaning and packing, yet he looks like he just stepped off a runway.

“Let the record show,” he begins, smirk growing on his lips since I can’t seem to stop checking him out. “I’m against this. I think we need to stick together.”

He waits for me to give him an invitation, but I don’t. I’ve spent so much time with him lately and I just … I need a breather to sort through my thoughts—to see how I feel when he’s not right beside me.

“Grab the cat, please.” I gesture toward the black void that wants nothing more than to suck me into endless darkness.

“I think we need a schedule.” He doesn’t make any move to grab Midnight.

“Schedule?” I question with a hand on my hip.

“Childcare schedule. You get him one day and then I get him the next.” He finally makes eye contact with me and shrugs. “Or better yet, you both stay here and that way we all get what we want.” A flash of white teeth showcases his smirk of defiance.

“Fine. You can have him today since he’s in a shit mood,” I relent, not wanting to argue with Zavier.

I stroll past him and back over to my apartment. His footsteps echo behind me and once we’re standing in my kitchen there’s a stretch of silence.

Shifting from foot to foot I flatten my lips together. Not sure what to say, I glance at him, and he looks to be in the same position. Two socially awkward beings, one immortal and one not.

“This isn’t … I’m not trying to make things difficult,” I tell him.

“I want to take care you,” Zavier’s honey smooth voice replies.

His white sneakers appear in my line of sight as he steps chest to chest with me.

Looking up, he grabs my chin between his fingers and pulls me closer.

“Listen here, mate, if I had my way your ass would be over my shoulder, and I’d lock you in my bedroom until I convinced your mind and body exactly who you belong to.

” He leans up to my ear and whispers. “I’d wring so much pleasure out of you you’d be boneless, and orgasm drunk for days.

Maybe I’d sneak a bite in here or there but not until you were writhing beneath me and screaming my name would I claim you. ”

Holy. Shit.

“You can run and hide from me—from this, from us, all you want but you’re going to think about me when you touch yourself tonight.” He kisses my cheek and backs away out of my apartment. I wouldn’t have known he was even here if he didn’t leave behind his scent behind.

I lean against the counter for stability and close my eyes trying to slow my heartrate.

I swear I hear a deep chuckle through the wall.