Chapter 158

Ciara woke with a start, Xander was holding her again, his body twined with hers, a hairy thigh thrown over her hip.

Not wanting to wake him, she eased the hand cupping her breast, sliding slowly from the bed. Her eyes came into focus and she froze.

She wasn’t in his home anymore, she was…

Oh God! She jerked around and there he was, Jon. All mussed up from their lovemaking…they have made love!

Pushing from the bed, she suppressed a slight moan as her muscles bemoaned their fragile state. Her thighs were aching, the apex of her thighs were so tender. Padding lightly towards the bathroom she closed the door behind her. Staring in the mirror she saw a stranger there. Her skin had a tinge of blood smeared, here and there, two tiny holes confirmed his need for her. Remembering the other two puncture wounds, she brushed her skin there. It was gone…Jon didn’t like the sight of another vampire’s mark on her and had made sure to remove it and replace it with his own.

Her eyes dropped to her swollen breasts. Her breasts seemed bigger, her nipples puckered, both seemed heavy, sore. Her hands cupped each weight and she winced.

Was there a place on her body that didn’t ache?

She turned towards the shower and opened the taps. Setting the water to the correct temperature, she stepped in, lifting her face she marveled at the generous fingers massaging her sensitive skin.

Slipping the soap over every inch of skin, the past few weeks replayed in her mind. Tears flowed as regret, fear and shame overwhelmed her.

The dark, claws of guilt anchored into her soul. Chimala’s face on her deathbed haunted her. Everything was her fault, Chimala’s death was on her hands. She had placed herself in danger running from Jon’s protection. She had put herself in harm’s way, in Xander’s way and now he was going to pay for it too! All he wanted was someone to love…he loved her, worshipped her and what did she give him? For a fleet second she wondered how he was. His dark features flitted in her mind and she gasped. What the hell was she feeling for him?! He abducted her for God’s sake. Was she losing her mind?!

Ciara sagged to the cold tile floor of the shower, her body racking as heartache took over.

What kind of person was she? Wanting another man while her heart mourned another? There were times that she ached for Xander’s touch even when his brother were threatening to rape her did her body flamed in need!

I don’t know myself anymore! What happened to me?

All her strength drained from her as her emotions escaped in ragged sobs.

“Ciara?”

She cowered into a corner as his hoarse voice called out to her. The door of the shower slammed back and she sat in a sorry heap, her legs locked together, pulled up tightly against her body, her face buried in her hands.

“Baby, what the matter?” his touch was almost more painful than the concern in his voice.

She refused to answer, her heart was shattered, her pride was left somewhere at Xander’s home, never to be retrieved again.

Jon swooped down, lifting her into his arms, he walked wordlessly towards the bedroom, his lips pressed into her wet hair.

He sat on the edge of the bed, settling her on his thighs, he kept her safe. Never saying a word, he rocked her gently. His love and understanding for her seeped through her skin. His calm thoughts flowed through her mind, relaxing her muscles, easing her sorrow.

Ciara’s arms felt suddenly heavy, dropping them onto her lap, she sagged against his chest, her face resting against his chest.

They sat in silence; her hiccups the only sound in the room.

Jon’s hand cradled her head against his chest, raising it slightly, he stroked, sweeping her tumultuous emotions from her.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” His voice drifted towards her.

She shook her head, turning her face, she clutched his free hand, bringing it to her face.

Jon focused on her thoughts but was taken aback as he found a void there.

“You don’t have to hide your feelings from me baby but I respect it. Whenever you’re ready…I’ll be here.”

Her gorgeous, emerald eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at him.

“If you should ever read my thoughts, you will hate me. I’ve taught myself to keep my mind blank, it was safer that way.”

Jon’s face took on a murderous glare, swallowing a few times, Ciara could see he was forcing his emotions under control.

“Was he violent with you?”

“Jon…I don’t want to talk about it, not now, ok? Xander didn’t always like what I was thinking, so I figured out how to clear my mind. ” Her eyelashes sparkled with new tears.

Fury cut through him like a knife.

I’ll fucking kill him. What has she gone through?! She couldn’t even think what she wanted? What kind of a sick fuck was he?

Tipping her chin to meet his icy stare, he prompted.

“Was there someone else too? A brother? What the hell went on there? “His voice seemed calm, but the violence in his eyes chilled her to the bone.

“How?...when I was sleeping?”

He nodded.

“There was a brother, Gorgios, the vampire that attacked me that night…”

“’…in the alley.”

“Yes.” Her lips quivered.

“Where is he now? How did Xander protect you against him?” Jon paled as he bit the words out, he was almost sure he knew the answer.

“His dead.”

A jolt thundered through him.

“His own brother killed him? What the fuck?”

“He tried to hurt me..Xander protected me. He saved me from his brother.”

Jon didn’t like the way she said it. Did she have feelings for the vampire? She almost seemed to admire the fucker.

“Baby…what happened? Did he rape you?”

Ciara stunned face was more than he could take and he pulled her into his chest.

Her tiny voice escaped from his steely embrace.

“He tried to…but Xander came just in time.” She shivered as Gorgios death gurgle invaded her mind. The wall crumbled and Jon was thrown into her memories. He saw her on the bed, Giorgos on top of her, ripping her nightgown, his fangs hacking into her, swallowing greedily. Jon felt her shiver as her thoughts took her too his assault, the cruel way he molded her breasts, his erection pressing into her. A pain sliced through Jon’s chest as her fear and pain pummeled into him. Suddenly the vampire with the crimson eyes was in the room. Ciara didn’t watch the bloody clash and all Jon could tap in was her shock and horror and then he saw the dying vampire through her minds eye. Xander came for her, his bloodied, injured state upset Ciara and when she stripped him off his bloodied and stepped with him in the shower the wall came up again and he was spat out, an unwelcome intruder in her thoughts.

Jon wanted to shake her, demanding that she opened up but her slumped, shivering body kept him from pushing her.

What happened in that shower? What happened after that? He swallowed at the bile worming its way up.

He kissed her temple.

“Thank you for letting me in, showing me what happened . I can understand that you’re not ready to tell me everything and its okay. But when you want to…you know what to do.”

She seemed wary of him as he whispered against her temple. Did she lose her trust in him?

“We need to get dressed, we have a plane to catch in a few hours and I still need to feed you. I almost forgot you needed food.”

He smiled. Ciara offered a wobbly smile as well.

The woman before him was a wounded, traumatized little girl. It was time to take the hurt away even if it was for just little while.

His face lit up, looking years younger he flashed his famous smile.

“You ready for some sun and sea?”

“Definitely.” Her smile belied her haunted eyes and another chip splintered from his heart .

“Come ‘ere darlin’.” She rushed into his arms. “Everything is going to be ok.”