The Guilty Innocent (27 page)

When he was still, Xavier's fangs receded and his eyes changed back into the beautiful grey that I was used to. Both men panted heavily, Xavier took his hand away from Sergio's throat and removed his knee from Sergio's chest. Xavier's hand, forearm and back were a bloody mess, but they were healing and Sergio's wounds were healing as well. I could see bits of Xavier's shredded skin reattaching itself. Both Xavier and Sergio seem to not be affected by the wounds and I wondered if the wounds on both men were as painful as they looked.

There was a knock on our door that startled me. John walked over to Xavier and wrapped his arm up with a towel to help stop the bleeding while the wound healed. Sergio and Xavier silently stared at each other. Elise walked over to the door but before she opened it, she undid the belt to her pretty-pretty princess robe, revealing a pink lace and ruffled bra and panty set. Her body was amazing! She had a sexy six pack, long shapely legs and torso. I was kind of jealous...just a little. She opened the door, the cabin manager stood on the other side with his security officer. Both men's mouths dropped open when they caught an eyeful of Elise's attire...or lack thereof.

“Is there a problem gentlemen?” she asked, thickening her French accent.

Both men seem to come out of
la-la land
when they heard her voice. “Umm, well...ma'am, we heard some disturbance coming from this cabin, we wanted to make sure everything was in order.”

The manager appeared distracted as his eyes trailed over Elise's body. A wide silly grin spread across the manager's face as he zeroed in on Elise's breasts then switching his gaze to her crotch. She was a brave woman, no way in the world could I have let their asses gawk at me!

“Well, we were having a pillow fight and we got kind of rowdy.” Elise said as she trailed one delicate finger along the ruffled and laced trim of her bra. Both men's eyes lingered on her finger. They looked as though they were in a trance.

“Well...j-just...j-just try to keep the noise to a minimum, okay,” the manager beseeched.

Elise giggled. “No problem, I'm sure I can manage that,” she said as she flirted with the two men. “Okay boys, I'm getting a bit chilled, bye.” She closed the door slowly as the two men continued to stare until the door was fully closed and locked. Elise huffed and closed her robe, retying her belt into a bow. She turned around to face Sergio, her hands on her hips.

“I know that a lot of your frustrations are because of me, you're not sure as to my reasons for being here. You think it's because I'm hoping Darian will take me back.” She said as she walked closer to him, kneeling beside his head. “And at first, I was. But because I do love Darian, but even more, I wanted to save him. Sergio, he helped us and asked for nothing in return...nothing. It was
I
that desired him, that chased him, I tried to force my love onto Darian and he pushed me away... gently.” She said smiling sadly.

She looked up at me. “I lied to you the first day we met when I told you I did not see what he saw in you,” she paused. “I do see... your passion, your compassion and sense of fair play. I've watched you these past few days, I've seen you risk your life for others and I know you care about Devin and want to save him as well.” Her eyes began to tear up, but she continued. “I know that Annette was your best friend, probably more of a sister, and I know that I can not take her place. But I want you to know that I offer myself to you as your friend and sister, if you would accept me,” Elise said sincerely.

Oh great, now I'm crying! It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. I walked over to her and she rose, I hugged her, my tears sliding down my cheeks. After a few minutes, I released her and we smiled at each other, both of us wiping away our tears.

Elise kneeled beside Sergio again, she took his head into her hands and gazed into his lovely grey eyes. “Sergio, my dear Sergio. I do love you and I have not done right by you because of my own stubbornness, this I know. You have done your duty by protecting us. It is not your fault that Devin was taken but with your help, we can save him. What Xavier purposes makes sense. Please Sergio, will you do this?” Elise asked softly. Sergio's expression softened and he sat up, his eyes never leaving her.

His right hand came up to gently caress the side of Elise's face. “I have loved you from the moment I first laid my eyes on you over twenty-five years ago. You were the reason I joined your Pride. I would die for you, Elise.” He smiled. “I will do this, please don't cry.” Sergio whispered passionately. Xavier and John remained silent while Elise and Sergio talked.

“I now know that you are my true mate, you have more than proven yourself to be a worthy king in every aspect.” Elise kissed Sergio full on the lips. His hand came up to hold the back of her head. The two of them shared a passionate kiss as if there were no other people in the room. Xavier and John moved away, Xavier walked over to me and took my hand, leading us into the bedroom to allow Sergio and Elise some privacy. When we walked into the bedroom, Xavier closed the door, John threw himself on the bed and I sat on the edge. I looked at Xavier, I had some questions to ask him.

“Xavier, were you really trying to hurt Sergio?” I asked as Xavier removed the bloody shirt Sergio had ruined.

He looked at me and smiled. “No. I understood why he was angry. He had the right to his opinion. I also knew he wanted to vent out his frustrations. I just happened to be the outlet, but even that was fine by me.” Xavier replied in his usual smooth manner.

“What did Sergio mean when he said that Darian was as much a criminal as the guys we're tracking down?” I asked softly as my eyes trailed over Xavier's toned chest, taking in his perfection.

“Natasha, I think that is a question you will need to ask Darian,” Xavier stated, I agreed.

“Why do your eyes change color when you're angry?” I remembered the frightful sight of both Xavier and John in their more intense moments thus far.

“Because we have different forms, which I don't think you ever want to see.”

I decided to leave that subject alone, if he said I did not want to see it, then I certainly did not want to know about it. I looked at John who had climbed off of the bed and was now listening at the door and chuckling like a mischievous boy.

“What are you doing?” I asked. I suspected I knew what he was doing but I wanted to hear it from the “horse's mouth”, so to speak.

“Well, I'm a...I'm...” He trailed off, looking at Xavier who was watching him and laughing as he shook his head. “Okay, okay, I was eavesdropping!” and this he said, snickering like the lecherous fiend that he was. I broke out into a fit of laughter.

“Well it's about time!” Xavier exhaled once he stopped laughing at John.

Xavier laid down on the bed next to where I was sitting, then his arm snaked out and wrapped around my waist, pulling me down on the bed. I laughed and looked at him, his beautiful grey eyes sparkled with lust and love, his full luscious mouth parted in a grin. His fingers began to trace over my flesh, tickling along my erogenous zones. I slapped his hand away and he laughed. I could tell that he was used to having sex with an audience but I was not.

“Hey you, naughty boy, not now,” I said jokingly. Xavier's grin turned into a mischievous one and I felt that I had to reiterate my point before he got any ideas. “Not now,” I said sternly. He pouted playfully and nodded.

“Damn, he is really working her over!” John exclaimed as he stood by the door. John was grinning as he listened to Elise's and Sergio's love making.

“Get you some business, damn!” I said, Xavier laughed out loud.

John turned to face me and laughed.

“We don't need you to color-commentate what we can all hear, I'm embarrassed enough as it is,” I stated.

Xavier turned to face me, a questioning look on his face. “Why? It's just two people having sex.”

“Well, I hold the act of sex in high regards. I don't think you should just screw anybody just because you're hot for them. People should treat themselves with more respect than that, especially women.” I stated. Xavier sat up and leaned on his right elbow as he looked at me.

“Go on, I find this to be interesting,” he said encouraging me to continue.

“Well, people put so much emphasis on sex, like it's the end of the world if they don't get any. And it's the actions of irresponsible people engaging in these shallow sex acts that cause so much trouble. The vast spread of AIDS, herpes, and other STD's, not to mention unwanted pregnancies and abortions, can be contributed to some people who just wanted to have sex simply to have sex. People kill people over sex, people betray others over sex, it's ugly. I feel that I deserve better than just some roll in the hay just for the sake of being sexually active, big damn deal!”

I looked into Xavier's soft grey eyes. “Before you, I had not had sex in almost a year because I wanted to share that wonderful, joyous experience with someone I cared for, someone I loved.” I said as I caressed the side of his strong jaw line. He lowered his head and kissed my palm. It was such a simple but romantic gesture, it made me blush.

“I have to be honest with you, every since I met you, I have only slept with one person...Darian. Does this upset you?” he asked as he looked at me, studying my expressions.

“In all honesty, I suspected as much. You and Darian were lovers long before I came around and I know that you both want me to be a part of your relationship. But I just don't know how I feel about that. It is going to take some time for me to truly be comfortable with the idea of the three of us together. You do understand, don't you, Xavier?” I asked him, looking into his eyes.

“Of course I do. I can be patient for an eternity if you need me to be,” he said.

He leaned forward and kissed me on the mouth, his warm tongue darting in to caress my tongue. I put my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. His strong arms wrapped around my back, messaging my muscles, making me feel protected...safe and above all...aroused!

“You whooo.” John said, gaining our attention, both Xavier and I looked up at him. “Hello, I'm another person in the world, and I'll be damned if I'll be the only one in this cabin not getting any.” John stood by the door, his arms folded across his chest, his foot tapping the floor repeatedly.

“So step out!” Xavier joked, chuckling even as he said it. John pouted playfully then laughed. He walked over to the bed and flopped down.

John looked at me. “How did you realize you had this ability to see the future?” he asked.

“Well, about four months ago, I stopped taking this medication I thought I was taking for migraine headaches. I had been taking this medication for years, every since I was a small child, about four or five years old. Turns out the medication was prescribed to suppress my dreams, thus my visions. My parents were trying to protect me when they put me on the medication, I understand that now. And all was just fine and dandy until Annette convinced me to go drinking with her four months ago.” I chuckled as my memories traced back to that fateful night. That was the night that changed my life forever.

“Well, I didn't take my medicine that night because I would be drinking. And I got really “scummy” at the bar and felt really sick, so we decided to leave. I bumped into this drunk guy on the way out and he dropped his keys. I pick them up and Annette took them to the bartender who gave the keys right back to the man. I know this because in my drunken stupor, I drifted off to sleep and I saw the inevitable car crash through his eyes before he rear ended the cab Annette and
I
was in. It was really sad, he was killed and the cab driver as well, Annette and I were hospitalized and that reminds me, I'm
still
paying for hospital expenses. I did not have any insurance at the time. But something else wonderful happened while I was staying at the hospital.” I teasingly wiggled Xavier's nose between my finger and thumb, he chuckled. “I met Xavier.”

“That is interesting. Hey, I heard you slapped Darian, is that true!?” John inquired as he leaned over Xavier's shoulder, resting his chin on Xavier's biceps.

“News travels fast, I see,” Xavier mused. “How did you hear about that?” he glanced over at John.

“Well, you don't want to know. So did you?” John asked.

“Yeah, but I wasn't thinking at the time. Trust me, had I been thinking, I would not have slapped him.” I thought back to the moment of impact, the inside of my palm against Darian's cheek. I thought it was curtains for me at that point.

“Wow, I'm actually surprised to find out that it was true and not just a rumor,” John chuckled.

Xavier smiled at me. “If you hadn't, he might have chalked you up with every other mortal that's ever crossed his path. You intrigued him, I've never seen anyone ever lift a hand to Darian. And when you slapped him, all I could picture was him destroying you and I feared that. I had no idea that one slap would entice him so.” Xavier said thoughtfully.