CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Waking up with hair in his face and a hand on his leg, it took a minute to get his bearings. Nikole, the Princess, was laying in his bed, not just in his bed, but also on him. He wasn’t used to being around others, not after the war. It had been a few hundred years since he even wanted to talk to someone else, but now he had her in his bed and draped over him. Slowly, he moved her off of him in an attempt to make her more comfortable, accidentally waking her in the process.
“Mmm…morning,” she said in a cute and mesmerizing sexy tone.
“Good morning, Nikole. How are you feeling?”
She blinked her eyes open and noticed his violet-flaked irises. Smiling up at him, she froze for a moment when she realized where his hands were and that they were still in bed together. “I’m much better, but Alec, what are you doing?”
He paused for a moment, then realized that in his attempt to move her down he had positioned himself over her. His hands were placed around her body as he tried to maintain support as to not hurt her. “I, um, you had fallen asleep on me and I was trying to make you more comfortable since I was getting up, forgive me.”
She brought her hand up to cover her mouth as she yawned, still trying to take in the situation. “Hey, look, you moved your arm. That’s great. I bet you can walk today, if you want to try,” Alec said in an attempt to take the attention off of him.
Nikole nodded in excitement. “I would love to walk. Can we try it now?” She slowly started to turn her body to get out of the bed even though he was still holding onto her. He felt her start to move, but he wasn’t paying attention, as he couldn’t keep his eyes off her face and noting beautiful she was in the morning when she woke up. “Alec, you can let go; I’ll be okay.” He snapped back into reality, quickly releasing her, and got out of the bed himself.
Nikole was determined to get out of this bed. She moved the covers off of her, forgetting just how naked she really was. Alec sucked in a deep breath at the sight of her healed legs, sleek and splendid. Nikole’s right leg moved out of bed and slowly landed down on the ground, making contact with the floor. Her toes danced along the wood flooring as she tried to get a good footing. Adjusting her body, she shifted, allowing her left leg to dangle off the bed. Alec watched cautiously as he noticed the spark in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. She was excited, a true warrior who wanted to reclaim her independence.
“Do you want some help? That first step can be hard,” he offered.
She shook her head no. “I have to do this for myself, Alec.” She braced her hand on the bed, and with one motion, started to stand up. Both feet planted firmly on the wood, she straightened up. The smile on her face was breathtaking. Her teeth showed, fangs and all, as color came to her flesh, lighting up the room. Nikole moved her left leg and started to step forward. It happened in slow motion…Her falling. Alec moved quickly to catch her, but missed her by inches as her body hit the ground hard. “Shit, Nikole, are you okay? I never should have let you do that alone.”
She pushed his hands away. “Alec, I have to do this on my own. Please.”
Alec moved back, but not too much, as he watched her struggle to stand on her own. Drawing on her inner strength, she pushed herself up on her arms and braced against the chair Alec had in the room. Pulling with what little physical strength she had, she was able to move to a kneeling position. She saw the door. She was going to walk out of this room if it killed her. She looked up to Alec and smiled. “Just a bit further, no?” She laughed to herself as she brought her left leg up from under her and pushed off it. Standing and holding onto the chair, she breathed deeply and tried to take another step.
Alec moved to her side and offered a hand. “Just for support. No help, I promise.”
Nikole took his left hand in her left hand as she felt his body come behind her and his right hand brace her right elbow. She looked over her shoulder back to him and began to talk but he interrupted her. “I just don’t want you to fall. You can do all the work; just think of me as a brace.” Smiling at him, she nodded a bit before looking back to the door. She moved her right foot and slowly started to take her first steps out of the room. Alec barely held onto her as she crossed the fifteen feet from the bed to the door. As they walked out of the bedroom, she looked at his living room and kitchen. She was blown away by the design.
“Did you build this place? It’s amazing.” She loved how the loveseat sat facing a huge picture window, displaying a view of the lake. The woodwork and carpet coordinated, reflecting the rays of sun fill the home with warmth and light. The natural coloring, the light shades of tan and brown, mixed over the cream walls. The two of them made their way to the sofa. Alec helped her sit down on it. Her hands ran over the light brown leather. She had a hard time absorbing the sight of everything. “Alec this place…it’s fascinating.” He sat down beside her, watching her take in the different things around the room.
“I built this place in 1975 shortly after I bought this land from your akh. I’ve slowly upgraded it with the decades as more modern items became available, but it’s my sanctuary. It’s off in the distance, not easily found by people. It is…” he paused and exhaled slowly, thinking he needed to choose his words carefully. “It is the only thing I have left in this world that is worth caring about. I lost everything when we all migrated to the States, so this is where I hideout and keep to myself.”
She knew how he felt; she had lost everything too. Moving her hand over to his and grasping it, she gave him a look and softly said, “I am sorry my amm took everything from you. You have been so generous in helping me. Can I repay you somehow?”
He shook his head looking at her; he didn’t understand why he cared so much. “No, but thank you.” He ran his finger over to her cheek and brushed her soft skin. Moments passed. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Did he take her home or keep her? There was just something about her that made him boil inside and want to burst with joy. He didn’t understand what it was. He didn’t even know her.
“Why don’t I call your akh and arrange for him to meet me somewhere to take you back?” He didn’t want to give her back, but he couldn’t keep her. He couldn’t have anyone else again. Not after last time. “Give me his number and I’ll call.”
She hesitated for a moment. “Can’t I stay one more day?”
“No. I don’t have people over. I told you, this is all I have since the war. I’m sorry; I’m just not used to being around people.”
She nodded, understanding what he meant. The war of 1777 had destroyed so many families. Maybe he’d lost a lover or a child? She felt a bit ill thinking of him having a lover. She looked up at him again and smiled as best as she could. “Of course, that is very rude of me. I am sure you want your home back. Thank you for taking care of me and helping me. I can never repay you.”
He could tell he’d upset her, but he didn’t know what else to do. He wasn’t used to this, used to people. He realized he hadn’t checked her wounds yet. He took her hand in his and brought her arm to his lap. Removing the bandages, he saw everything had healed and minimal scaring from the knife wounds showed. He felt some relief, knowing she would be okay. He wished he could do more for her.
Nikole, unable to predict what this man was going to do, pointed to his cell phone on the table. “Can I please use the phone? I’ll call Zayn myself.” Alec handed her the phone and watched as she began dialing. How he wished he could trust himself enough to let her stay the one more day she asked for. How he wished things had been different for him. Why did he have to be cursed with this inner demon, the ones that haunted him from that night in Zahle with Haydar? He sat back and listened to her talk to her akh.
“Zayn! Zayn, oh Gods!” Nikole cried into the phone.
“Nikole! Are you ok? Where are you?”
“Yes, yes I am fine. Do you remember the guy you sold the training center to, Alec? I’m at his place; he found me and gave me his blood.”
“Damn it Nikole, you don?
??t know if you can trust him. I’m getting you out of there, we don’t really know him.”
“Zayn, calm down. I am safe and I trust him.”
“The men are ready to fight and get you to safety. We will be there in no time. Nikole; I won’t lose you again, we are ready to kill!”
“No, I don’t need you to bring guns. Just come pick me up. Do you know where he lives?”
“I thought he wasn’t even in the States anymore. Last Nasir and I heard he went back to the homeland. Are you sure you are safe with him”
“What do you mean you thought he left the country? Zayn you are talking too fast calm down. Just come and get me.”
“Okay, we will be there in a two hours. I love you, and I’m so glad you're safe. Be careful, Nikole...”
“I will Zayn, see you in two hours. Oh and love you too!” She ended the call with her akh and looked up at Alec. “Well, Zayn will be here in two hours.”
Alec got up and walked to the window, opening the blinds. “I just got home a month ago and haven’t checked in with anyone yet. Come on, let’s clean you up and get you dressed. I don’t want your akh to think I did anything disrespectful to you.”
She stood from the couch, wobbling a bit, and started to walk slowly to the bedroom. She felt Alec come up behind her, supporting her weight. She was grateful he had taken her in, but she didn’t want to leave, and she didn’t know why.