Page 21 of Guarded By Death

“Goodnight, Scar.” His velvety voice drapes over me as he turns to leave.

"Wait, please stay," I beg. He stops, turning towards me with and adorable grin on his face.

He climbs in beside me and pulls me close to his hard chest. I breathe in his intoxicating scent, my eyes close involuntarily as I struggle to keep them open. The alcohol coursing through me is making my lack of sleep these past few days obvious, but I don't want to go to sleep yet. I place my head on his chest, unable to hold it up any longer. I finally close my eyes as his warmth envelops me.

"I know I act tough and think I don't need any help, but I need you, Pierce," I mumble as I drift off to sleep. I feel a smile creep upon his face as he snuggles against my neck.

Twelve

Road Trip

My eyes flutter open and a thin layer of sweat lays on my face. I bring my hand to my forehead. It's hot, too hot in here. I feel a heavy arm draped over me. Pierce.

I look over and study his face, sleep taking away the hard edges, and making him look softer, younger. I almost forgetwhohe is,whathe is as he takes deep breaths, his chest rising and lowering naturally. When I realize the blazing heat is coming from his tan skin, I worry less about the suffocating warmth and focus on the comfortable way his arm feels around me.

My sleepy gaze pans to the window, soft morning light cascades over the room. I'm curious to know why he doesn't look like what I think the Angel of Deathshouldlook like, I shiver at the thought.

"What are you thinking about?" His deep tone breaks me out of my thoughts, his voice heavy with sleep.

I glance over and see his head still lying on the pillow. Bright green eyes stare up at me through thick lashes. Perfection.

I take in a deep breath. "Can I ask some… questions about you?" I ask.

His fingers interlace with mine. "Go ahead, just don't freak out and run away again." He laughs but I collect a hint of truth to his words.

My mind flows freely, as do the questions as they fly from my lips. "How are you sleeping? Like, how do you sleep? Aren't you supposed to be a terrifying be-" He cuts me off with a gentle finger to my lips.

He sits up, ruffling his thick black hair with his large hands. "Woah, Scar. Don't overwhelm yourself. Take it easy. We have all day," he teases, stretching his long arms above his head. "I still have a human body, I'm just a little stronger than your normal man and with a few fun abilities up my sleeve," his cocky grin makes me laugh.

"So why don't you wear a cloak and look evil?" I say quietly, tapping my free hand nervously against my leg. He laughs again and I gently push his arm. "Don't laugh at me! I'm being serious."

"I know, I know. It's just, wow Hollywood really does a number on you humans." The way he casually says 'humans' draws me back a bit.

"You just said you have a human body?" I question.

"It's different. I don't know how to explain it; I don't see myself as human. It's been too long..." He trails off and a million more questions pop into my head.

I try to control my frantic insides, but he knows when I'm truly calm thanks to this ‘connection’ thing between us.

He looks to the window. "Can I show you something?" he asks, and I nod. "Get dressed, wear something for warm weather." He gets out of bed, wearing a pair of basketball shorts that he didn’t have with him last night. The black T-shirt I remember, but I wonder when he had time to get the shorts.

I ponder about clothes for a minute before I realize there are much more pressing questions I need to think about. Like where he wants to go and why he would think I would dress for cold weather in summer?

"Of course, I'm going to wear something for warm weather, it's summer," I state. Even the simplest of requests he makes sound so confusing to me.

I hop out of bed and make my way to Liv's room to grab some clothes. She must have stayed at Zack's. I need to text him and apologize for my quick departure last night; I'll do that later. Assuming we’re going to the beach or a park I decide on one of Liv's summer dresses. I pick a cute flowy white one.

I do a quick side braid so my unruly hair stays out of my face, I decide to not wear any makeup since the heat will melt it off. With a shrug, I exit the bathroom and find Pierce leaning against the doorway of the room, he's now in a thin white t-shirt. I can see black ink on his skin underneath it. I begin to wonder how he pulls clothes from thin air, but I stop myself.

His eyes are focused on the bruise that was left from my attacker; he sighs. "Grab a swimsuit," he says.

"See, no need for confusion. You could have just said we were going down to the beach." I tease and he gives me a funny look.

I walk back in the bathroom and throw a simple white bikini of Liv’s on underneath my dress and head back into her room. As we're making our way down the steps I head towards the fridge and grab some cold pizza out, I gesture towards Pierce, but he politely declines.

After I finish my slice, he grabs a beach bag that's near the kitchen and he throws two towels that Liv and I used yesterday back into it. He’s in front of the fridge now; opening the doors and throwing a few bottles of water in the bag before he walks over to me and embraces me in a warm hug.

I nuzzle into his chest and take in his scent. A hot feeling on my back disrupts me from this sweet moment. The sound of waves tells me we’re no longer in the kitchen. I take a quick peek around. I first look at my feet and see weathered wood.

---