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“Why gray?” she asked, pulling at the
comforter.

“Because my life was gray before you came in
it.” He pulled at her earlobe and smiled his all-American smile.
Julie’s heart lurched into her stomach. He was her monster. He was
her everything. She was more determined than ever to pull him into
the light. Holding the side of her head, his mouth parted. There
was a need and desperation to his kiss. The feeling was almost too
much for Julie. He had all the trappings of the world. He didn’t
lack in money, just love and happiness. This sweet, wounded boy
needed her. She was the one to make him whole, to heal his hurt.
She was doing what was right.

“It’s late. Are you ready for bed?”

Julie simply nodded her head. She was
exhausted but unsure if she would ever be able to sleep that
night.

Catherine had laid out some pajamas, a new
toothbrush, and toothpaste at the foot of the bed for her.

“Angel, use my bathroom. It’s through those
doors.” He pointed to a set of doors behind her back. “I’ll use the
bathroom down the hall.”

He didn’t sit up with her. He rolled on his
back and ran his hands down his face. Knowing the magnitude of the
day was finally hitting him, her heart quivered at his
broken-hearted expression. He was so scared of losing her, but her
heart was loudly screaming she could never leave. The blood pounded
in her ears. She was dying to reach out and kiss him, but her body
refused to obey.

“You have all your stuff in your bathroom,
I’ll use the hall bath,” she said.

“No.” He was stern. “Don’t leave this room
without me, promise.” There was such urgency in his voice. She
nodded her head. “I’ll be right back, please be careful, I need
you.”

He hopped up. After kissing her on the top of
the head, he quickly left. She slumped on the bed and held her
pajamas to her stomach. Earlier that day her world was falling
apart in that very room, but now she felt hope for the future. She
picked up her toothbrush and hurried to get ready knowing he would
soon be back.

His bathroom was bigger than most bedrooms.
The tub could have easily held two maybe three people. After the
long day she had and the sweaty walk in the woods, she wanted to
sink down in it and take a long bubble bath. Sure he would freak
out if she was out of his sight for too long, she pushed aside the
idea of a nice long soak and changed into the softest pajamas. She
brushed her teeth and scurried back into his bedroom. He was
waiting right outside the door for her. With a brief gush of air,
Trucker had her wrapped in his arms and wings. She knew he had
extra powers but his speed still got to her. Feeling his body at
her back and the soft caress of his wings, the pit of her stomach
rolled. Suddenly, she was fearful of where the night might
lead.

To Julie’s dismay, Trucker let his wings
recede. She wanted to pout but the determine look in his eyes as he
took her by the hand and led her to his bed gripped her attention.
Sitting down, he pulled her close to him, and removed the clip out
of her hair, releasing her curls. They fell freely around her face.
He brushed his fingers through them, placing a hand on each side of
her face.

“Angel, when I was little I dreamed of a
place where I would feel safe and loved for who I am, not what I
am. You’re everything I dreamed about and more.”

She stood there dazed. Yes, he was pure evil,
but he was so much more. He was her lost little boy that needed to
feel love. He had a soul that shined brighter than the evil glint
in his eyes. She crawled into bed and positioned herself beside
him. They laid there staring at each other. He slowly inch by inch
took her hand into his. She could see so many emotions in his eyes,
but above all it was love and hope. She rested her head on his
chest and felt a small spark come from his heart.

“Trucker, tell me how it works.”

“What, baby?” Trucker stroked her hair,
pushing a strand away that was stuck to her sweat soaked forehead.
He was tender, but the tension was laying just under the
surface.

Aware his nerves were shot, she decided to
play it safe and give into the happy points of the day. “This
beaming, teleportation thing, can you take me to like Paris?” She
widened her eyes in a fake enthusiasm.

“You’re not fooling me. I always know how
you’re feeling. I can see the fear, feel the anxiety, and taste the
desire.” He pressed his fingers into her arm. “But to answer your
question . . . no, that’s Jake’s job. I don’t know how I did it
today. My kind all have magic in us. We have some gifts that comes
natural to us and others we can learn.” Trucker scraped his hand
down her arm. Julie tried not to tremble; conscious he was
oblivious at how roughly he was manhandling her. “Jake has been
trying to teach me that trick for a while. The farthest I’ve ever
gone is from here to my bathroom. I just know today ... I wanted
you here so bad. I needed to talk to you alone. Then you started.”
He restrained her, pushing her body onto his. “Baby, how could you
think I could hurt you much less . . .” He shook his head. The pain
on his face was too much for her.

“You did hurt me.” She wanted to kick herself
when those words slipped out. He did hurt her, and she could only
imagine the pain he could cause. Nothing he could do physically
would come close to the ache his mental pain caused. “Truck, my
head was going a million miles an hour. I knew you were uh . . .
different, but not this. Demons bring pain not love. Why else would
you have me here? If not to kill me.”

“Because I want you here with me and for the
record, we don’t date our victims. I know that’s harsh, but I
couldn’t hurt you, not like that. The human in me loves you way too
much.”

No, he wouldn’t hurt her, and she believed
that or she wouldn’t have been there. She shifted her body on his
and giving him a guilty little grin, she tickled her fingers over
his chest. She had enough sense to be scared, but for the moment
she never felt safer or more wanted.

“I’ll sleep on the couch, baby,” he
offered.

“Why?” she asked suddenly confused and hurt.
What did she do to make him want to leave?

“Baby, I’m not leaving you. It’s dangerous to
be near me when you are so vulnerable.” His trembling hand caressed
her hair. Julie never felt it; her heart was trying to stay intact.
She snuggled close to his body and fingered his chest hair.

“I’m scared to be here by myself.” She hated
to admit it to him, but she needed him with her.

“Babe, I would never leave you alone. I’ll be
on the couch.” He kissed the top of her head and grabbed a pillow.
She watched as he walked to his closet and pulled out some
blankets. He meticulously spread the blankets out on the couch and
made the neatest bed. He moved like he had done it a million times
and had it down to a fine art.

“Truck, how many girls have you had stay here
with you?”

“One and only one, my one and only.” He knelt
down beside the bed and stroked her face. “I have to be private
because of what I am, but my nature makes me extremely private.
I’ve never let anybody in my life but you.” He did that heart
tugging tilt of his head. “I learned as a little boy not to trust
anyone, doing so only brings pain, but I trust you.”

“I love you, Truck.” Julie reached out to
touch the dimple on his cheek.

“Angel, my chest is on fire. What you do to
me is amazing.”

“I know you been with other demons but is it
possible for us?”

He busted out laughing. “Are you talking
about sex,” he said through his laughter.

She nodded, and he gripped her hand, bringing
it to cup his harden and enlarged groin. “Does this answer your
question? Baby, I want to sink so deep in you that you beg for
mercy but if I did at the moment, I would claim you and you are not
ready for any of that.” Trucker brought his face close to hers.
Julie thought he was going to kiss her but he gripped her earlobe
with his teeth and tugged. “I need to be able to control myself
with you. I can hurt you if I’m not extra careful, and for once,
I’m going to do the right thing by someone,” he whispered in her
ear before lightly kissing her cheek. “So stop begging.”

Julie had been willing. He could had easily
devoured her. However, he fought his true nature and chose to
protect her. Sex was not his main desire where she was concern. His
appetite to consume her and bond him to her forever was his
greatest need. She only knew what he was, not what he wanted from
her, and she was nowhere ready to learn that little detail
either.

Trucker had always slept with one eye open
and that night was no exception. Trucker bounced to his feet when
he heard a shuffle in the corner. He suddenly snapped his head
around to see Julie sleeping, holding onto his pillow. He noticed
her radiate light filtrated throughout his darkness. Forgetting the
noise that woke him, he watched her sleep and for the life of him
couldn’t understand why she chose to stay.

“We need to talk, you lazy bum,” Jake said
and jerked on Trucker’s ear, pulling him over. “Now.”

“Julie?”

“She won’t wake up, I dusted her,” Jake
explained.

In his ever-blinding speed, Trucker was in
Jake’s face. “What did you do?” He went to hit him, but Jake
captured his fist.

“Cool it, boy, it was sleeping dust. She’s
your claim. You honestly think I could hurt her much less tell you
about it. I’m not into suicide missions or hurting you.” He let
Trucker’s hand go and Trucker fell back on the couch.

“What is so important you felt the need to
come tonight?” Trucker asked, sliding his hand through his
hair.

“Her.” Jake and Trucker both glanced over at
Julie sleeping. “She’s special.”

“Like I didn’t already know that.” Trucker
walked over to her and wiped the hair off her face. She was his
claim. The feelings he had for her was far greater than anything he
had ever experienced before.

“I know your track record with the ladies.
Trucker, you can’t do that to her. Her virtue is important to
her.”

“I know that too. I love her. I’m never going
to push anything on her.”

“Especially your mark, you want to mark her,
ensure she’s always yours. She’s not ready for that. She will be
one day but listen to me wait.”

Trucker rolled over beside her and lightly
ran his fingers down her neck. “I never understood the whole
bonding thing. Why would you want some woman around for the rest of
her life? Women are to be used then thrown away, but not her.” He
placed a feathery light kiss on her forehead. “My jaws ached
tonight. I wanted too.” He rolled back over and sat on the edge of
the bed. “Jake, I can never truly have her.”

Jake crouch down beside him. “Why do you say
that? She’s here now.”

“For now, but when will it be too much. When
Emily turns into a wolf, into her. The council tries to kill her.”
He glared at Jake. “When she finds out my true destiny. I told her
I had a choice, but we both know that’s a lie.”

“It’s not a lie. I’ve told you, everyone has
more than one destiny. It’s up to you which one you choose.”

“Not me, I have no choice.” Trucker was on
his feet pacing. He felt his other side coming to the surface. He
had to reel him in. There was no way he could let him loose this
close to her. He wouldn’t let him anywhere near her.

“Yeah, let her go then. Emily is your destiny
not her, right?”

It was going to happen, but he didn’t want to
hear it and somewhere deep down, he hoped it wasn’t true.

Trucker had Jake by the throat “Take it back
now.”

“That's right, boy. Get mad. Fight for her.
She’s stronger than you believe. She’s not leaving you. She’ll one
day ask for you to bond with her, you have to wait for her to
ask.”

Trucker dropped him and went back to her.

“Truck, she’s smart and watches everything,
she’ll notice the mark. She’ll ask you about it. You tell her
everything, show her your teeth. It’ll scare her at first, but
she’ll come to you one day and beg you for it.”

“I’m scared I’ll lose control with her.” He
traced her neckline.

“You won’t, but this little lady will teach
you patience.” Jake said as he shook his finger at Julie.

Trucker turned back to Jake but he was gone.
He nuzzled his nose across her jaw taking in her smell, and
imagined his mark on her. His jaw ached as his canine teeth
partially extended. He licked the vein at the side of her neck,
wanting desperately to break the skin. The passion burned through
his veins. He jerked back, clenching his jaw shut. She rolled over,
spooning herself against the length of his body.

******

Trucker crawled out of the warm cocoon they
were wrapped in and stumbled to the bathroom. He stared at his
reflection in the mirror. His cold black eyes stared back at him.
He smiled and saw his teeth were long and sharp. With a rush of
reality, he realized his other side was fighting to come out. He
had found his mate and wanted to stake his claim. He wouldn’t let
the evil in him win. Julie was to be protected and loved. He would
fight him and keep her safe. He wasn’t sure how long he stood
there, but eventually his demon conceded. Trucker went back into
his room. He merely stood staring at her sleeping. After several
minutes, he crawled into bed and wiped a tress of blond curls off
her face. He shivered as she sighed in her sleep and burrowed her
face in his chest. The clear pure light coming off her stung his
eyes. He held her tight in his arms and drifted off to sleep with
her taste on his tongue.

Chapter 13

Julie woke up in the binding embrace of a
sleeping Trucker. His head was tucked firmly on her chest, his leg
carelessly thrown over hers. She was suffocating from his humanly
body heat and was confused how he ended up in bed with her. He was
the one that wanted to sleep on the couch. It didn’t matter. He was
with her and he was human; her own personal Adonis. She traced
along his nose with her fingers. His face appeared softer while he
was dreaming, making him appear his age for once. It was hard to
remember sometimes that he was just a young man on the cusp of
life. He pulled her closer to him. She gently kissed his lips,
waking him up. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she
wondered if he knew how he ended up in the bed.