Page 57 of Iris
The scar, the tattoos, the fact he doesn’t say a word as he steps up in front of Reece and Mari, positioning himself in protector stance, is something that’ll have tongues falling out of heads.
The sleeves to his lightweight coat are pushed up, showing strong, tattooed forearms, and he’s smoking a cigarette.
Alicia swallows. The two girls disappear into the small crowd as he stares at Alicia a moment, waiting until she shrinks back, and then focuses on the Alpha.
Xavier pins him to the spot like he’s just shot an arrow into his prey and is watching its death throws.
“I…I…I didn’t mean it. She just…” Frantically he looks at me as Xavier shifts, but doesn’t move. “I’m sorry, Iris. I was out of line.”
“Pathetic,” Alicia hisses.
Xavier shifts his attention to her and releases a steady, controlled stream of smoke into her face until she coughs. Then he takes another drag and does the same to the Alpha.
“W-we’ll go,” the Alpha says, trampling the box as he hurries to get away.
Alicia snatches it up and stomps off after him.
And my heart flutters as Xavier turns to me. It’s like he’s asking if I’m okay, even though he doesn’t sign.
“I’m good,” I say as he drops the cigarette butt and grinds it out. “Where did you come from?”
“You know him?” My sister breathes.
Xavier signs but it’s fast and I don’t make it out. At all.
“I’m sorry,” I say, I don’t really know how to sign, other than a few words.
But suddenly Reece signs back, just as fast.
And Xavier smiles as they silently talk. It’s beautiful. The soundless conversation is both open and secret and it’s like a dance. I like his hands. I already know how they feel on me, but this is different. And I want to learn it. Desperately.
“You can sign?” I ask Reece.
“Yeah, I taught myself. I thought maybe I could come up with something so non-signers could understand the deaf…” He stops, as Xavier signs and then continues signing. “And the mute could talk. And no, not just with writing.”
Xavier signs something else and then he looks at me. He’s continuing on his way, doing whatever it was that brought himto the Upper Side, and it pulls at me, because I want him to stay. I want to go with him. I just…I want. Him. Killian.
I stop.
Want to spend time with? Or want?
Xavier looks around and then clearly deciding we’re fine, he keeps going, disappearing down the nearest narrow street.
“Who,” Mari says, “was that?”
Before I can answer, Reece says, “He offered to kill the guy for you. He was joking. I think.”
He doesn’t sound so sure, and I’m not that sure either, but…something swells big and bright in me. I should be disgusted, but I’m not. Even in jest, no one’s offered to kill for me. It’s…romantic?
Woah, girl, get it under control.
“But—”
“Mari,” I say, cutting her off, “this has to be our secret. Heath will lock me in my room if he thinks I know people like that.”
She thinks about it. “Do you?”
“Do you want me to answer that?”
