Free Consume (The Devoured Series) by Shelly Crane Page B

you up."
     
    "So touchy," Finn said as the door lock clicked loudly. "I don't remember you being so asininely sensitive."
     
    "That was before," Enoch said and laughed. "Before he snagged a conscience that's five foot four, talks too much and reeks of human trouble."
     
    "Five foot five," I rebutted.
     
    "Ok," Eli said in exasperation. "Bloody, ok!" He looked at me with a 'please help, don't hinder' look. "Can we all go in and stop the bickering? I feel like a bloody chaperone."
     
    "You are a bloody chaperone," Enoch countered and glared at me. "When does playtime start?"
     
    "Enough!" He turned me toward the bathroom and pushed me gently. "Go take a long, hot shower. We need to get going at sun down."
     
    "Fine," I muttered. "But I'm only going quietly because I really need a shower."
     
    "That's not going quietly," Enoch mumbled.
     
    "Thank you, CB," Eli said sweetly.
     
    I felt kind of bad for him. I guess he probably did feel like our babysitter. He knew that Finn and Enoch were going to be themselves, and thus annoying, the whole trip and still he let them come because he thought they might help us get the answers we needed. All for me. I sighed and felt guilty, especially after he was so sweet on the train. "Eli, come here."
     
    "Run, boy. The princess is calling," Enoch mocked.
     
    Eli rounded the corner to the bathroom and looked at me expectantly. I leaned in and mouthed a 'sorry' before pulling him down to me and kissing him. It was like someone threw a lit match on me. I had an overwhelming urge to have Eli, make him mine in every way, consume him. It was deep inside me, in my gut and being. It made no sense.
     
    I'd never felt something so strong and almost as if I wasn't even myself anymore before…
     
    Eli recognized my urgency as I clung to him, pulling him through the door and slamming his back to the wall. He groaned as he tried to detach himself from me, but I was having none of that.
     
    I jumped, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissed him opened mouthed and willing for anything. He turned and pressed me to the back of the door and kissed me, but it was reserved. Like he knew something was up, but didn't want to hurt my feelings. But how did I know that?
     
    "Clara," he groaned against my mouth. "Love, you were sick not a few hours ago. Come on, let's take it easy."
     
    "I don't want it easy," I said and stumbled in my motions at the voice that left me. Eli, too, leaned back to assess me. He looked seriously puzzled.
     
    "What was that?" he asked in a whisper.
     
    "I just want you," I answered, but again my voice was sultry and deep. And wrong and completely not mine, but the voice kept speaking anyway.
     
    He cleared his throat. "CB…I, uh…" He looked at me closely. He released my legs, setting my feet to the floor and took my face in his hands. "You don't have to pretend anything with me. You don't have to be some…sexy, over the top girl to make me want you."
     
    I huffed, the sting hitting me right in the chest from his words. "Sexy, over the top girl?"
     
    "You are sexy, I didn't mean that. I meant that you don't have to be something you're not with me. I know exactly who you are and that girl…is who I want. And besides, when we finally do decide to do that, it won't be in some dingy bathroom in a hotel room."
     
    I looked around then, taking in my surroundings. The bathroom was utterly disgusting; the tiles peeling and old, dirty and stained from who knew what. I gulped and shivered in disgust at the bathroom and myself. What was I doing?
     
    "I'm sorry," I whispered and said my next words very, very softly. "Get out, ok?"
     
    "CB," he sighed. "I wasn't trying to jilt you. I just…this isn't exactly a romantic place or situation, and I'm not really sure what's going on with you," he said just as softly. "It's not that I don't want you, I'm just trying to-"
     
    "Just get out, ok," I repeated gently and moved back for him to leave.
     
    He stayed planted there for