Free Crave by Teresa Mummert Page B

.” My mind searched for where I had left my gun and I glanced around the room. It was in the bathroom and the bullets still sat on the table in the bag.
    “Looking for this?” he asked pulling my gun from the back of his jeans. I reached out, but he wagged his finger at me to stop, “Guns are dangerous,” he cautioned as he slipped it back into his jeans. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. I stood silently watching him, unsure of what move I could make. His eyes opened slowly and he licked his lips. “I’m so sorry, Eva. I never wanted any of this to happen,” He whispered, placing his hands on either side of my face. I shuttered and pulled back slightly as my knees threatened to give out from under me.
    “Hurry up, Eva! It’s already dark out,” Grayson called from the living room. I turned my gaze back to Elijah. He placed his finger on my lips to warn me not to give him away.
    “Just a minute,” I called back trying to hide the shakiness in my voice.
    “Thank you,” Elijah whispered and kissed me softly on the forehead. I froze, torn between wanting to scream and wishing the Elijah I’d known the last few days would wrap me in his arms and keep me safe. My head swirled as the emotions battled inside of me. I was paralyzed, like the prey of a shrew.
    “Have you missed me?” he asked and even though I knew he was a monster, it felt like he genuinely wanted to know. A blush crept over me as I thought of the dream I’d following his attack. Do I tell him no and risk him deciding he was done playing his game and could kill me now? Or do I tell him I’ve missed him and giving him more ammunition to humiliate me with and I die without my dignity, the only thing I had left?
    “Y-yes,” I stammered hoping the rapid beating of my heart didn’t give away my fear. I wasn’t lying per se. I did miss him, but the version I missed I wasn’t even sure was real. Was he still clinging to that thin thread of humanity that I could reason with, or was it all just a game of cat and mouse? Was he simply… playing with his food?
    He smiled and I caught my breath as my eyes locked onto his. “I’m here now,” he whispered in my ear as he inhaled against my hair. My body involuntarily relaxed as he slowly trailed kisses down my neck. I could feel it. This was the moment it all ended. I’d somehow found the will to live after all I’d been through, only to be eaten alive by the same guy who had somehow managed to steal my heart only days before. I wasn’t sure which part of him I hated more; the thief or the murderer.
    “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Grayson called from the doorway and for a moment, I felt relief like I’d been spared this horrible fate. But as Elijah pulled away and turned to focus on Grayson, Fear slightly crept back in. No! Not Grayson! Kill me but let him live! He is too good to die because of me.
    “We have to stop meeting this way,” Elijah joked with a sinister tone. I realized that Grayson had no idea what he was up against. He didn’t even stand a chance.
    “I-I’m sorry, Grayson. Maybe we can catch up some other time?” I said quickly, flashing a small nervous smile and hoped it was convincing. Elijah glanced at me with a grin and back to Grayson.
    “Right,” Grayson replied in a bitter tone and turned to head down the hall.
    “Grayson,” I shouted around Elijah. Grayson’s face peeked back around the doorway waiting to hear whatever excuse I’d had for him, his eyes narrowed.
    “You were always there for me with Marcus. Thank you for being here for me when I need you now ,” I said hoping he would read between the lines. He nodded and walked off down the hallway, slamming the door to my apartment as he left. I let out a sigh of relief knowing he was out of danger, but the night was just beginning for me and my opponent didn’t play fair.
     
     
                   
     

Chapter nine
Deliver Us from Evil
                  Elijah rested his