45 The heart can only believe what the eyes see (2/2)
He pulled her closer until her head rested against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. ”I don't know what happened in your past, but I want to make it better.At least help you realize how worthy you are.”
She glanced up at him, ”Worthy?”
He let the glasses fall low on his nose so that their eyes could meet, ”Of love.”
When her eyes heated in response, he released her and pushed the glasses back into place. ”Come on let's get inside, the swamp soup is calling my name.”
She laughed as she stepped away from him.”Chowder…” She said as she walked ahead of him toward the building.
Xavier chuckled as he followed behind her, ”As if 'chowder' makes it sound any more appetizing!”
They were both laughing as they walked throw the front doors, but as they entered the majority of the bar fell quiet. Joslyn glanced around, curious of what could have possibly caused such a rambunctious crowd to fall silent. It didn't take long for her eyes to land on the source of the high tension.Across the room sitting in a darkened corner was the swim team surrounded by girls, and sitting center of the group was Russ. An attractive were-girl was clinging to him, her chest pressed provocatively against his. His eyes met Joslyn's as if he could sense her presence.She stood frozen, Xavier standing behind her hands now on her hips, as Russ pushed the girl off and began rising from the booth. The other team members quickly moved out of his way as he moved toward her in a growl that could only be seen when a leopard stalks its prey.
”Joslyn, we need to leave,” Xavier said as he began pulling her backward through the door.As Xavier pulled her frozen frame through the doors Russ's steps became faster and his strides longer. ”At this rate, he's going to reach us before we make it to the car and looking at his expression and reading his mood… trust me you don't want him to reach us!”When she glanced over her shoulder at him in confusion, he added. ”He's more animal than man right now. We need to go!” Xavier grabbed her tighter around the waist and lifted her off the ground.He made it back to the car as Russ pushed his way out the double doors.Xavier quickly shut and glanced toward the doors.The were-girl appeared behind him and grabbed his arm, giving Xavier time to quickly cross over the car and get into the driver's side seat.Before he could get the car started though, Joslyn flung the door open.
She pulsed before getting out and looked back at Xavier, ”I have to at least talk to him. Stay here and he'll stay in control… hopefully.”
Xavier grabbed her arm concern obvious in his voice, ”I can't let you do that, he's radiating violence right now.”
Joslyn dropped her head, ”I can't leave things like this either.”
Xavier reluctantly let her arm go. ”Ok, but I'm not leaving you alone with him. I'll be right here. If he gets too out of hand…”
Joslyn nodded as she slowly got out of the car and walked toward Russ.
Russ shrugged the girl's hands off as he made his way down the stairs. His eyes moving from Joslyn to Xavier and back. ”So this is how it's been you've been the past two days? With him?” He threw up a clawed finger to point at Xavier as he settled against the hood of his car. He snarled as Joslyn glance across the parking lot toward Xavier. ”You said he wasn't there, that you're spending it alone!?” Anger lit his features ”You don't look fucking alone to me, Joslyn!” He yelled.
This was a side of Russ, Joslyn had never seen.She stopped her progression toward him and instead took a step backward. ”Russ that's not fair, you…”
He cut her words off, ”You met up with him behind my back, how did you expect me to react.” She took another step backward, but it was no use he closed the distance into swift moves. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him, ”So, now you are afraid of me? That's rich, coming from you.”
Joslyn tried to pull away from him. Unable to meet his gaze, she answered, ”I asked him to meet me but not for the reasons you are thinking.”
He snarled at her again, ”So are you seriously going to stand there and tell me, he's not attracted to you… That you aren't attracted to him.”
Joslyn blushed, still unable to meet his gaze.
He tossed her hand away as if it burnt him, ”Well that says it doesn't it?!” As she began to turn away, Russ grabbed her shoulders to turn her back toward him, ”What am I to you, really?” He lowered his face inches from her face, the sent of whiskey strong on his breath. ”In the past month, you haven't once expressed even a fraction of your feeling, you haven't said 'I love you' since the night you turned me down in your bedroom.” Before he could continue a small hand pulled his hand away from Joslyn.Russ or Joslyn either one had noticed the were-girl as she approached them.
”Russ, baby, come back inside.” He looked up at him with pleading puppy eyes.
He growled down at her as he pulled his arm away from her. ”Go inside yourself.” When he turned back toward Joslyn, the girl let out her own growl.
”Not without you, my love. This bitch doesn't deserve you! I do! I love you!” The girl tried to pull him away once again, but this time Russ pushed her away.
”Leave us, Gigi!” Russ growled without looking back at the girl.
The girl stepped forward again, ”No! I'm better for you than her! I bet she doesn't even know the things you like. I already know all your kinks.” The girl snarled at Joslyn as Joslyn stood staring at the familiar looking girl. ”I bet she can't please you like I can!” When those words didn't seem to work on him, she threw herself at him. ”I'm stronger, I can take all of you.I'm a wolf too, your family would be pleased.We could be together….”
A whimper slipped out from Joslyn's lips as she backed away, ”You are lovers?”
The girl's lips curved up into a cruel grin, ”That's right we are. I've seen his box of treasure under his bed, and I've enjoyed the hammock in his closet more than once!”
The pain behind Joslyn's sad, shocked eyes cleared the anger swirling around in Russ's whiskey fogged brain, ”Jos, no it's not like that!” He pushed past the girl toward Joslyn. ”It didn't mean…” but before the words could leave his mouth, the girl threw herself at him again this time landing her lips full on his.
Joslyn turned quickly and ran toward the car. When Xavier was sure she would make it without the werewolf stopping her he got into the car and started the engine.He already had it in gear as Joslyn opened the door and launched herself inside.He quickly backed out of the space and speed from the parking lot as a tearful Joslyn watched the figures in the side mirror shrink into the distance.The last sight of Russ broke whatever fragments of her heart that had been left in tack.
As Gigi grinned happily at the departing car, Rage erupted inside of Russ. He grabbed her by the throat and pulled her against him before lifting her off the ground to meet his eyes. His lips crashed down on her lips painfully as his hands tightened around her neck. ”Is this what you wanted?” He kissed her again, bringing blood this time, before releasing her neck and letting her drop to the ground. He stared down at her, disgust evident in his eyes.
Gigi didn't bother standing, instead, she set up on her knees and kneeled in front of him. ”I will take your rage.For you, I would bare anything so long as we could be together.”When he snarled down at her and began to step around her, she grabbed his ankle. Her eyes sparkled up at him, ”I promise I would make you happy, your majesty.”
He glared down at her in disgust as he shook loose of her hold, ”Don't call me that.” He pushed past her making his way back to the bar.As he glanced up at the door for the first time, he considered turning tail and running in the opposite direction. Raven stood in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.
Raven shook her head as he approached, ”In all of my 3000 years, never have I ever seen someone fuck up as bad as you just now.”
Russ hung his head as he slowed his progression toward her.
”If the next time you see her, she's married to that vampire… that shit's on you, my boy.” Raven uncrossed her arms as Russ made his way up the steps. She stepped toward him as he made it to the top step. She smacked his head hard, before adding, ”She… WE… met with Xavier the other day because your idiotic sister is apparently dating his brother. INCASE you haven't noticed while stomping around in your booze and testosterone-induced rage, she hasn't been home or in contact with anyone since a few days after that beach party.” When Russ stopped on the top step to stare in shock at Raven, she smacked his head again. ”You and your sister are both idiots… Where did I go wrong raising you?” She shook her head as she turned back toward the door, then thought better of it and turned back toward him. ”Go home, ALONE, and sober up. Then try and get your shit together, why don't you?”When he only grunted and gazed down at the floor, she continued.”For the record, I ship them.” When his head shot up to meet her angry gaze she added, ”At least he's mature enough to not let his emotions get in the way of logic, and I can promise you, he will never have eyes for another woman as long as he lives.” Russ dropped his head again and turned back to the parking lot…
”I didn't drive…” Russ sighed, regret heavy in his voice.
Raven shook her head, ”We'll figure it out.” She shook her head and headed back inside.
”It's fine, I'll give you a ride. We need to talk anyway.” A massive hooded man stepped out of the shadows and walked toward Russ.He stopped beside the girl still on her knees in the parking lot. He held his hand out to her and pulled her to her feet. ”You should keep everything you saw tonight to yourself. And you should also keep the information you know about the prince to yourself.” He glanced back at Russ before continuing. ”That's the last thing I need right now, to deal with his identity getting out before it's time for him to take the throne.”
She dropped her head, ”Yes, sir.I'm sorry, sir.”
He arched a brow at her, ”Then you also know who I am?”
She shook her head as she continued to look down, ”Yes, sir. You… you are Orion.”She kept her gaze averted as he pulled her to her feet.
”Then I don't need to tell you what will happen if you don't cooperate?” Orion asked.
”N… No, sir. I understand.” She kept her head low.
”Good, now leave.” He said as he continued forward toward Russ. He signaled over his should, not bothering to look back as he ordered. ”Then go home, pup.”His gaze landed on Russ, watching the confusion slowly turn to understanding.
Russ sank to the steps and let his throbbing head rest in his palms.
Orion chuckled as he stopped in front of Russ.”Yeah, I would hang my head too after that display.”He patted the top of the boy's head as he made his way up the stairs. ”Sit tight as I go say hi to an old… friend.” His lips curled mischievously as he said the word 'friend'.