Chapter 13

Monroe held me once we were inside. He looked me over, reaching his hand to my bandaged head. "It's bleeding through again," he said and then pursed his lips together, letting out a small whine. It was more like a dog whining than a human.

I took his hand and held it in both of mine. "I'm fine, really."

"I should've killed her," he replied with a growl. I was taken aback by that statement.

"She did that well enough on her own."

"Well, I'm glad she's dead." He snorted and shook his head. That wasn't Wieder talking. That was Blutbad.

"Why did you want to… lick me?" The words sounded almost humorous coming out of my mouth.

"I don't want to… I mean, umm…" He looked up at me as the red reappeared in his eyes. "I want to comfort you. You're hurt, and that's what we do when one of us is hurt."

"You… kiss it better?"

He chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah. It makes it feel better. It did help, right?"

"Yeah, it soothed the pain, but the blood—"

"I can control those kinds of instincts." He pulled me toward him again. "I want to take care of you. Let me do that." His voice dropped down an octave, maybe two. He was back to being authoritative… Alpha.

"May I have a shower first?" I asked instead of insisted.

Monroe nodded, letting me go.

The shower was quick. I couldn't handle the sting of the water on my head. Once out, I dried my skin, examining myself in the reflection of the mirror. The wound still trickled out blood. It would heal. A few bruises trailed down my arms from being tossed around by Miss Fireball. Small indents lined my wrists from the copper wire that was around them. Thank goodness the doctor hadn't noticed those. A low flying shelf wouldn't have explained that. By tomorrow the cut would be smaller, and the bruises would be more yellow than purple. Perhaps by the time I went to work on Monday I could part my hair the other way and the one on my head would be hidden entirely. I dabbed at the wound with a tissue and then dried my hair.

Wrapping a towel around me, I walked out to the bedroom. Monroe was waiting for me on the bed as I stepped out. He was already naked.

"Come here," he said with that commanding tone and eyes still as red as the blood on my head. I crawled into bed beside him and he looked over the wound again.

"It needs another bandage," I said.

"I'll take care of it." He kissed me hard pulling me close again. His mouth moved all about, fervently exploring my body, and he tossed my towel aside. His hands ran along my skin, partially rubbing, partially caressing. Fingers traced along my bruises. We moved to where he was on top of me. More kissing and nibbling, then to light biting.

"You can't get hurt again," he said. "I can't let you."

"Monroe I didn't do this on purpose."

"Quiet. Just listen. I will protect you, but I can't if you don't let me in." He moved up to my forehead, running his tongue along the pain. The panic hit again and he stopped abruptly. "Please don't be afraid of me. I can't handle that smell of fear right now."

I let the practiced calm wash over me, and I relaxed. I took in a breath, looking up into my protector's eyes. They were full of kindness, but lurking beneath the soft brown was that flickering red. Back and forth it went, like the colors of a spinning roulette wheel. But where would it land? He saved my life tonight. He wasn't going to do anything that would cause me harm. Whether the words were said or not, he loved me and that trumped instincts to kill. My presumed logic slowed my racing heart.

"Better," he said.

I nodded in reply.

He moved back to my head, and I closed my eyes as he kissed it better. His fingers clenched my arms holding me in place. Low growls vibrated against me while his tongue eased the pain, relaxing me. Monroe went back to my mouth. That metallic taste hit me again, but I ignored it and kept my calm. He pressed his tongue against my lips until I parted them. It intensified the taste as his tongue encircled my own.

Monroe pulled away from my mouth and moved down to my breasts, his tongue his guiding force as he delicately traced around them. He then kissed down my thighs, biting them gently. Between kissing, growling, biting, and gripping me he never tried to do anything more. This wasn't about sex, this was about… Well, I still was too ignorant to understand it. But I let him do what he felt needed to be done.

My thoughts drifted back to my helplessness. My pride had been replaced by stark humility as I sat in that tunnel, bound tight, waiting for my death to come. As I lay in bed, the tears welled behind my eyes, and I squeezed them tight to hold them in. I wasn't weak.

Monroe stopped and his voice came out deep and slow as he said, "You're safe with me." I nodded, keeping my eyes shut. "Look at me, Renée."

I opened my eyes as the tears released, flowing down my cheeks. Soft kisses removed them. Soft kisses carried down my chin and to my neck.

"You're safe," he repeated close to my ear, and then he ran his tongue against my throat. Arms embraced me, comforted me. The Blutbad took pity on this poor, naked creature who had been maimed not just physically but mentally.

He pulled me close to him, and I cried into his chest. We remained intertwined as one. As he held me, I felt safe… protected.

I was fully aware I could've died tonight. Fully aware I shouldn't have walked in that room without a plan. Sadly even this wouldn't stop the recklessness from coming out again. This only proved I needed to be smarter next time. And there would always be a next time. I wasn't weak.

My phone rang inside my bag, and I tensed. "I need to get that," I breathed out and he removed his arm. I got up slowly and pulled the phone out. It was Nick again. I went back to the bed as I took the call.

"Why haven't you answered your phone?" Nick was exasperated as he spoke.

"I was in the ER," I replied steadily. My head rested on Monroe's shoulder.

"Oh..." His voice softened. "So, how are you?" he asked.

"Better," I replied. "Is Juliette okay?"

"Yeah. The bump on her head will heal soon enough, but emotionally she's... this hasn't been easy."

"Of course it hasn't," I agreed wholeheartedly.

"So, you wanna tell me how long you've been able to see… everything?" His tone had changed back to detective mode.

"All my life," I faintly replied. Monroe nudged me, and I put the phone on speaker.

"All your…? How is that possible?"

"That's the million dollar question, man," Monroe chimed in.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I don't know why," I told him.

"Why didn't you just tell me all this the night I first met you?" Nick said sharply.

"I didn't know you, Nick," I replied in the same tone. "It's not something I just tell people right from the get-go."

"Dude, she didn't tell me for almost a month," said Monroe, "so technically you're right on schedule."

"I'm at the trailer. Can you both come over?"

"Man, not tonight," said Monroe quickly. "It's been a long day, and Renée needs to rest."

"I promise we'll have a long talk soon," I added.

"Come by tomorrow morning," Nick insisted.

"Just call us tomorrow and we'll go from there, okay?"

Nick sighed into the phone. "Fine."

"Thanks for reaching Monroe tonight, Nick," I said sincerely. "Without him I don't know what might have happened."

"Well, I owe him another big one for finding Juliette," he replied in a softer tone.

"You would've done the same for me," Monroe replied.

"I'll call tomorrow morning." With that, Nick hung up.

Monroe stood. "I'm gonna find you a bandage." He returned and set to work on my head, then we curled back into bed.

I stared at the phone still in my hand, and then thumbed through my small music selection until I came across Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars.' The speaker was loud enough to hear, so I set the phone on the nightstand and let the lyrics say everything for me. Monroe draped an arm over me, holding me close.

"If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me,
And just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel.
Those three words
Are said too much.
They're not enough…"

Monroe gave me a squeeze as I mouthed the last part. I loved him so much, but those words were just not enough. We stayed in bed long after the song had ended. Everything else was ignored for a while.

My head began to ache again, and I squirmed to find a comfortable spot.

"Are you all right?"

I held my temple. "It's just hurting again."

"Let's go downstairs. I've got a great tea that'll help with the inflammation and will ease the pain."

Monroe helped me down the stairs to the living room. "Are you gonna be well enough to see Nick tomorrow?" he asked as I got comfortable on the couch.

"Yeah, by tomorrow I'll be fine." I looked up at him. "So, it looks like I'm getting a temporary trailer membership card."

"By the time we're done with Nick, you might get more than that."

Oh, I didn't want to think about that tonight.

A/N: Renée just can't learn her lesson, huh? Oh, well... More recklessness will show up later in the story, I assure you.

Going to the trailer soon! Eek!