Elliot

She’s not in any of her classes. If not for Jacobs hired tail. I’d already be in her dorm checking on her. When school is out and I don’t see her at the track. I begin to earnestly worry. If I’m going to get past her tail, I’ll need a distraction. I’ve been looking all day for someone similar in looks, but there’s no one like her. She’s one of a kind. There is one more way, but it’s risky, desperate times.

While pushing the numbers, I come up with the right words and hope for the best. I’m barked at before I even say a word, bad move.

“I told you this would happen! What is wrong with you?”

Grinding my teeth, I pray to the gods for patience.

“It’s a long story, Grayson, and one I’m not keen on sharing. Listen, I need you to call-”

“Nope! Not a chance! I’m under strict orders not to help you in any way. We all are. Unless your life is in danger. Is it?”

Unbelievable, I hang up and set my ass down in the grass, waiting like the chump in the car.

Two hours later, she strolls out, looking exhausted. Her first stop is the coffee shop. How she can wait in a line for twenty-five minutes for a bun and coffee is beyond me. Humans are odd creatures, so little time, and they waste it easily. On second thought… I go stiff as a board, watching her devour the bun. She stops every so often to lick the melting frosting; her little pink tongue rapidly sweeps across the sides, working the thick cream expertly. When she sucks her fingers clean, her eyes roll back in pleasure at the taste. My claws sink into the tree in front of me, horns straightening. It’s all too easy to imagine her sucking something entirely different, and the vision has me painfully aroused. I look back in the direction of Jacob’s tail and stop dead in my tracks. Two Sanskrit demons are staring directly at her. Now, what would those slimy bastards want with a witch? Some bodyguard he is, he didn’t even notice, too busy on his phone. I hope Jacob isn’t paying him by the hour.

Shit, she’s on the move, and so are the Sanskrit’s. Jolene stops and looks around as if sensing the three sets of eyes that are focused on her. She walks out and heads in the opposite direction from her dorm. For fuck sakes… she’s drawing them out. I don’t know whether to be impressed or disappointed, but the situation just got worse. My anger rises as Jacob's guy sits still, completely unaware of the danger she’s in. I follow behind, far enough of a distance for them not to sense me but close enough to kill them if they touch a hair on her head. The useless fucker in the car rolls up behind, completely unaware of the situation, and distracts me. I turn to see the bigger Sanskrit sprawled on top of Jolene while the other begins creating a portal. Running full tilt, I throw one dagger at the Sanskrit landing it between his eyes; the portal evaporates instantly. I use my other dagger to sever the head from the remaining Sanskrit, watching it roll on the ground in front of her. It all occurs in the matter of seconds, leaving Jolene in a shocked state. Her high-pitched cry is delayed as she scrambles back from the severed head.

I try to find the words to calm her, but I’m at a loss. We can’t stay here. Sanskrit's are one of the few demons that sense deaths of their kind. Within minutes, the area will be crawling with them. I move for her arm and she jumps back, startled.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I turn to the unfamiliar voice.

“Your still here? Run along before I tell Jacob how incompetent you really are!”

I’m still going to tell him, but this guy doesn’t know that. The fucker actually hesitates like it’s his decision until finally conceding.

“Jolene?”

Her head is on her knees, the crying simmering down to sniffling. There’s no time for gentle. I give it to her straight.

“If we don’t move now, we’re going to have to deal with an entire fleet of those things.”

Her head snaps up, and she finally looks at me. She’s still breathtaking, even with her swollen bloodshot eyes and splotchy skin. Tired of waiting, I grab her by the elbow, moving her along. Jolene seems to pull it together as we round the corner and shrugs out of my hold.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She can’t be serious.

“I did tell you; you didn’t believe me.”

She shakes her head, pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers.

“But you didn’t tell me, tell me.”

I stare at her for a few seconds, beyond confused.

“What does that even mean? Listen, we don’t have time for this, we have to get as far as we can from here and fast!”

Jolene heads toward the campus and I pull her in the other direction, not so gently. I don’t mean to, but my patience is wearing thin.

“What is your problem!?” she says in a quivering voice.

My lips thin as I stare her down.

“Think Jolene… They were following you. They know where you stay. Do you really think their brethren don’t? They were after you for a reason.”

She rips out of my grasp again, stepping back. She’s so fucking sexy when she’s hot-headed.

“Well, I don’t have anywhere else to go!”

I step toward her, and she steps back.

“The safest place for you right now is with me.”

“I’m not going back to that creepy place; I’ll take my chances.”

She walks off and I grab her, throwing her over my shoulder. She’s small, but strong. My grip tightens on her thighs as she struggles, screaming bloody murder, and we catch the attention of a couple passing by luckily. They keep going. Her thighs are lean and firm beneath my fingers. Ignoring her demands, I move my grip higher, placing my hand over her plump cheeks. Palming the taut flesh gets me rock hard. Jolene stops struggling and begins pounding on my back. I smack her behind, and she lets out an offended gasp. At least it shuts her up. A few seconds of silence is all I get before she switches tactics and tries reasoning.

“Where are you taking me?”

There’s no use answering, she’ll see soon enough.

“You can’t keep me locked away forever. I have a life, people who will miss me and come looking for me.”

Actually, she has one person; her aunt. But I shouldn’t know that, so I keep my mouth shut.

“Fine! Ignore me. It doesn’t change the fact-”

“Enough! I’m trying to help you.” I snap.

She makes a growling noise of frustration.

“It's not helping if the person is refusing your assistance.”

The way she says the last word has me grinding my teeth beyond annoyed.

“You, Jolene, are a walking, talking, disaster. You're either going to end up dead or wishing you were. You couldn’t spot danger if it walked up to you with a glowing neon sign… I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.”

She sputters, and I cut her off, continuing to insult her out of fear for her or misplaced anger. Maybe a little of both.

“I believe the words you're looking for are thank you. Thank you, Elliot, for saving me and putting your life on hold to protect me... Face its little girl, without me you’d be dead.”

I set her down in front of the door and slip the key from my pocket. Her furious gaze penetrates even my thick hide, making me feel guilty. I push her inside, locking the door behind me and shutting the blinds.

“There’s only one bed.” She says matter-of-factly.

I hide my amusement behind a mask of annoyance.

“That’s the least of your worries, Jolene.”

She crosses her arms and quirks her brow.

“Not at the moment.” she counters.

I can’t suppress the smirk that appears as I answer.

“Fine, I’ll sleep on the floor. Happy?”

She scoffs, rolling her eyes, making her way to the bathroom.

“Not in the least!”

Jolene slams the door with surprising force, and a quiet chuckle slips past my lips. It’s then I realize she’s going to be my ruin, but I have the feeling I’m going to enjoy every minute of the fall.