Page 34 of Taken By the Vampires
I stood, gaping. The storm was worse than before. But, how could that be? Storms never lasted as long as this. Even in the dead of winter, there were times of reprieve, when the clouds would part and the sun would shine over the newly laid blanket of snow as though Mother Nature saw fit to show off her latest creation.
“Ah, you’re awake. I thought I’d catch you before you woke up, Ella.”
I spun to see Davon standing in the doorway, folded clothing in his hands. I clutched the sheet to my chest, fighting to urge to cross the room and let him enfold his arms about me.
I swallowed heavily. I had it bad.
I couldn’t rely on anyone to provide anything to me. Not even comfort, no matter how fleeting. I couldn’t afford to become side-tracked.
I didn’t want to feel like this. Nonsensically, an unexpected fit of anger tore through me. How dare they treat me this way, break down my heart, show me another level of caring and make me crave more of it knowing full well I could never have it more than a few days.
“When do you think the storm will break? Surely you have news. You know I have to leave.” Rude, I know, but I couldn’t seem to help it.
Davon’s face fell, but he quickly schooled it. I hated seeing that expression on his face, no matter how fleeting, so I turned back to the window, hardening my resolve.
“It’s set in for a while,” he said.
I crossed my arms over my chest, burying my fingers into the fleshy part of my arms. “How long? Surely, you’ve heard something, Davon.” The broadcasts were good and always kept people informed. To not do that meant deaths. “Don’t you have a radio of some sort?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have anything like that.” He moved next to me. His body emanated warmth that warded off the chill coming in from the exposed window. Offering comfort in an indescribable way I could seek for the rest of my life. I stepped away from him.
“Then we don’t know how long we’ll be stuck here for?” No one did that. Not in this county. We were remote. You had to take survival into your own hands and negligence was akin to suicide.
“We’ve been here a while now. Don’t worry, Ella. We’ll be safe,” Davon said.
It was my safety of mind that had me worried.
Worried, because they affected me too much, too fast. Worried, because I wasn’t sure how much control I had over myself when it came to them. Worried, because now I didn’t think I could ever go back home unchanged.
Worried, because I was way over my head and when the choice came to leave, I wasn’t sure I could.
“Are those for me?” I raised a brow at the exercise clothing he held. “Where did you get those?” Maybe some other woman they’d brought here. Jealousy, hot and fierce rose and I had to work had to tamp it back down. They’d had a life before me. If they wanted to bring a woman here and do whatever to her, it was their business.
Davon smirked, as though he knew what went through my head. That was entirely too close for me. I snatched them as he held them to me. “We thought we’d teach you some self-defense moves.”
That… was unexpected. “What?”
Davon’s smirk changed into a full-out smile that my heart responded to with a massive thump. “You’ve had a rough time. If you find yourself in a situation, we want you to be able to fight.”
“What about with you guys?” I held my mouth closed. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Instead of taking offense, Davon just laughed, the action easy and natural to him, “You never need worry about us. We’ll always see to your best interests.”
I stared at him for a moment. I just didn’t understand. “But…why?”
Davon’s laughter faded, the lines fanning from the edges of his eyes smoothing away. “You haven’t known much happiness, have you, Ella?”
“It’s been fine. I’ve been fine. I’m okay.” My mind stuttered to a halt. Apart from Mom, nobody had brought me much other than daily struggle. I just got used to it over the years, finding solace in hard work and the Grimoire. “I don’t expect anything from anyone. It doesn’t pay to rely on anyone. You have to protect yourself.”
Davon placed his palms on my arms and rubbed gently. I stilled a shiver that ran through me at his touch, “No, that’s not the way it should be. You should expect kindness before distrust. You will learn you have nothing to protect when it comes to us. Now, before I lose my nerve and give in to my desire to kiss you again, go into the bathroom and get dressed, or you can get dressed here in front of me. I won’t complain. I’ll take you to breakfast and then we’ll begin our training.”
I clutched the clothes to my chest. Not because I thought I’d drop them, but because when he said he wanted to kiss me, the urge to take him up on his offer was all-consuming. “I’ll take the bathroom.”
I scurried into the bathroom to shower and change as Davon’s sexy chuckle wove through me, demanding I forget the clothes altogether and give in to my own desire to kiss him right back.
Chapter Twenty Four
Cassius turned from the stove with a plate filled with mouth-watering bacon and eggs. I placed my hand over my stomach as it growled in appreciation, mortified it was so loud. Cassius chuckled. “I’m happy to know my cooking will be appreciated.”
