71 Safe in your arms (2/2)

Jos glared at the door. ”If you don't stop with the stupid nicknames I swear-”

”Swear what, Kitten? You know threats are way more effective when made face to face instead of through doors, right?” Arei's lips curved up into a smile as he teased her. His eyes sparkled with mischief as the door pushed open and an angry, tear-streaked face emerged. He leaned toward her brushing away a tear, ”Typically tears are reserved for the person getting threatened as well.” He stood straight and hooked a finger under her chin. ”Cheer up, you'll be rid of me soon enough and back to prince puppy in no time.” He took the small bag from her hand and quickly turned away, not wanting her to see the disappointment his own words brought him. He grabbed her other luggage as he walked toward the door. ”Hurry up we don't have much time.” He pushed the door open and held the door for her.

”What the fuck is going on here?!” An angry voice yelled for the parking lot.

Jos froze in the doorway for a brief second, worry filling her eyes as she sidestepped behind Arei. ”Xavier... Shit...”

Arei smiled, ”Ah Mr. DeMarco, back so soon?”

Xavier looked back and forth between the two of them. Jos was barely visible as she all but hid behind the large mammoth of a man. Xavier's eyes gazed over the other man, sizing him up for the first time. Much like Xavier himself, the man had removed most of the tux from earlier. His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at both the neck and sleeves. The sleeves were now rolled to his elbows showing two full sleeves of tattoos. There was another poking out from the neckline of the button down. His long hair was pulled back into a neat bun revealing shaved side that also had tattoos, some kind of symbols above each ear. The man was impressive for sure but gave off the scent of a human. Xavier's jaw twitched as he watched Jos's tiny hand cling with familiarity to the man's bulging bicep. ”That was you that called earlier wasn't it? You guys have this planned?”

Arei smiled widely as he held a protective hand back to shield Joslyn. ”You might say that. Ya can't really expect such-” He glanced back toward her winking so that Xavier could see it. ”Good friends to just walk away from each other so easily after so many years do you? I mean we'd planned on meeting back up at the gala but you left so early.”

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

”What are you doing?!” Jos whispered loud enough for only him to hear as she squeezed his arm tighter.

”Just follow my lead.” He said. He took her hand and began walking toward his car.

Xavier didn't budge, he only stood there with his arms crossed as he watched them move across the parking lot. ”So that's it? You're just going to leap from my bed to his?”

Arei held the door open for her and waited for her to get in. He smiled brightly as he turned away from her back toward Xavier. ”Now see that's where you're wrong... She's only been in one of our beds... and it wasn't yours.” His mouth widened into a nice, big toothy grin as anger filled Xavier's expression. And just as suspected the vampire lunged for him. Arei easily blocked the punch and had Xavier flat on his back in a matter of seconds. He laughed as he stepped over the unconscious vampire laying across the empty parking spot. ”Poor bastard, I thought you'd have more fight than that.”

He got into the car and started the engine. It wasn't until he glanced over at a pal faced Jos that his satisfied smile slipped away. ”What's wrong, kitten?”

”Is... will he be alright?” She asked.

Arei let out a huffed laugh, ”You wouldn't be so worried about him if you knew what kind of person he really is.” He kicked the car into gear and began driving.

They rode in silence for the longest time, until the city lights began to fade and highway began to be all that stretched out in front of them. Jos frowned, ”Where are we going?” She asked.

Arei didn't look away from the road, ”I have a place a little north of Tampa. We can spend the night there. Then leave in the morning.” When Jos only continued to stare out the window instead of answering, he added. ”Lean the seat back and take a nap it's about a two-hour drive.

She nodded and did as he said, leaning the seat back until she was comfortable then closing her eyes. ”I'm sorry.” She whispered.

Arei glanced her way. ”For what?”

Jos turned her head in his direction opening her eyes only fractionally. ”About all this, getting you involved.”

He laughed, ”Kitten, I got myself involved. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Jos frowned. ”It's just that I realize it was a little naive of me to trust him, to come here with him...”

Arei patted her knee, ”I'm glad you came, otherwise it's hard to tell how long would have gone by without me getting to see you again. I don't know about you but I've enjoyed our little reunion.”

Jos frowned, ”I was pretty rude to you...”

Arei shrugged, ”And I was an asshole to you. We're even.”

Jos glanced over at him and couldn't help but return his smile. ”I should have listened to your slid of things a long time ago. For that, I'm also sorry.”

Arei frowned, ”For that, I will take your apology. Everything I said is the truth... everything I said then and everything I say now, Jos. I wish I'd been brave enough to ask you... to make you say MY name then... but I guess deep down I know it wasn't me you wanted and couldn't bear to hear the words from your mouth.”

Jos fought a yawn as she rested the side of her head against the headrest of the seat. ”You're wrong about that, you know. Thinking back I loved Orion. He was the first person to show me attention the way he had, but it the feelings I had for the man I had confessed my love too and the man that took care of me and trained me all those months after that... the man I fell IN LOVE with...” He met her gaze. ”It was you.”