It took her a while to find ones that she liked and were in her size. Addison was tall. She always had trouble finding jeans that fit and didn’t make her butt look flat. She had braced herself to take some complaining from Luke. Most men didn’t want to waste their whole day watching a girl pick out clothes. He never did, though. There were no deep sighs or “hurry up” comments.
“Okay. I think I have a couple to try on.” She turned around and showed her guard.
Luke smiled and took the pants from her with one arm and took her hand with his other. He silently led her to the back of the shop where there were two small dressing rooms. Addison briefly wondered if he had been shopping here before, maybe with Brooklyn. She tried to chase that thought from her mind.
The rooms were unattended and both free. Luke let go of Addison’s hand and placed her jeans on the small seat inside one room. He then returned to her, gifting her a quick kiss on the lips. It felt so much like home, she thought.
“Okay, beautiful. Have at it. I’ll be here waiting.” Luke’s words were calm, but she sensed just a bit of worry in him.
“Thanks. I’ll try not to take too long.” She bounced on her toes with a girlish grin before heading into the small changing area and closing the door.
In the small, enclosed space, a sense of calm came over her. She felt almost normal in this dressing space. She tried on the first pair. Nice. They would definitely work, she thought, and put them off to the side. Addison tried on the next two. The first was a for-sure no. It was too much of a “mom jean” style. The second would work.
Addison quickly changed back into her skirt, thinking now entirely about getting back to her man. She left the frumpy pants on the seat and gathered the other two. She exited the dressing room and scanned the shop. When her eyes found Luke, there was a spike of adrenaline, because he wasn’t standing alone, patiently waiting. He was talking to someone, a pretty young girl.
Addison stood still for a few minutes, watching. Luke was turned to the side, so he didn’t notice her right away. The young lady was probably Addison’s age. She had platinum-blonde hair that was obviously fake, Addison thought, and then snorted. The girl’s almost-white, big curls bounced when she let out a flirting laugh.
That by itself had Addison’s blood boiling, but what had her rage building was Luke’s reaction. He didn’t seem uncomfortable or in a hurry to end the conversation. She could see he wore a friendly grin as the girl started to talk again.
All right. Calm yourself, Addison. It could just be a relative of his. That hope flew out the window when the bubbly girl touched Luke. She giggled playfully and then brought her hand up to his chest. She slowly rubbed him there before gliding her fingers over his shoulder. The other woman then slid her hand down his arm, stopping at his elbow. She left her hand there. To Luke’s tribute, he did show signs that he was uncomfortable with that.
Luke turned slightly so that the girl’s hand fell away. That little movement did nothing to squash the fury that was now reaching its peak inside Addison. She could see red, literally. Images of attacking and biting the girl were running through Addison’s brain.
She could almost taste the metallic tang of the girl’s blood on her tongue. Addison dropped the forgotten pants on the floor and took a few steps toward the pair. The intense urge to bite and feed on the girl was growing by the second. Addison didn’t know how much of that need could be attributed to her jealousy, but it didn’t matter. She wanted her blood. She wanted to feast on her, hurt her.
At that moment, Addison knew that her mental wall had failed. Luke turned immediately to face her with alarm and horror written on his face. She felt her hunger and anger flowing out from her body, and she could see that Luke was receiving the waves of energy.
Addison took methodical steps toward the two of them. Her gaze was locked onto the girl, now. She paid little attention when Luke turned away from the girl and took giants steps at her. Her feelings were so intense that she felt nothing else from him. She could feel her energy taking him over.
“Addison, stop!” Luke reached her and grabbed her arm.
She didn’t speak. Addison simply huffed out a rage-filled breath and ripped her arm away from him. It didn’t even surprise her when he fell back a few steps. Her power was the greatest it had ever been. She felt Luke’s mind freeze for a few seconds as she continued to walk toward the blonde. Addison knew that he was fighting to stop her hunger from overtaking him completely.
The girl looked at Addison with more fear than she had ever seen on anyone before. The image of herself during Gabe’s attack popped into her mind for a split second. Just as she stepped up to the frightened “doe,” the girl took a shaky step backward but couldn’t go further. The back of her legs ran into a large table full of sweaters.
“Aahhh, Luke?” the girl stammered.
Hearing his name on her lips was the worst thing in this situation that the girl could have done. Addison balled both of her hands up into fists and started to lift them. She wasn’t entirely sure what her next move was, but her body was just running on its own now. She wanted this girl to bleed. She wanted the girl’s blood on her teeth. All reason had failed Addison at the moment.
Just before she struck the girl, Luke grabbed her. He wrapped both arms around Addison’s body, pinning her arms to her side. Addison felt a very small push of calming energy trying to pour into her back from Luke’s chest. It never stood a chance. Her anger shut it down immediately and even flowed back into Luke. It was filling him. She felt it.
“Luke, what’s happening?” The girl was starting to tear up.
That was the trigger, the last straw. Pain waves exploded from Addison’s body. She could actually see the waves of energy fly out from all sides of her. Luke was flung backward, violently. She heard his pained moan when he hit the floor. It was quickly drowned out as the pain wave overtook the blonde. She shrieked like a wounded bunny and went to the floor.
The blonde fell to her knees and grabbed her face. Another scream ripped from her chest as she fell to her side on the wooden floor. The girl balled herself up into a fetal position, writhing around. Addison turned and started to kneel before the girl. She reached out her hand, but just before she touched the hurting girl, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.
“Please! Addison, stop!” Luke’s voice filled her head.
Addison felt his fingers dig deep into her skin. Another heated pain wave surged from her, spiking the other two’s cries. She turned her head, soullessly, to see Luke lying on his stomach with his outreached hand holding her arm. The pain waves were flowing from her with no pause or mercy now. With no emotions, she watched sweat running down his face while it was scrunched up in pain. She watched him trying to fight the pain that was running rampant through his body.
“Beautiful, this isn’t you.”
Those were the words that ripped her out of her trance. Addison blinked rapidly as, finally, the images before her sunk in. The heated pain energy gradually disappeared, and then there was only numbness. That was slowly being replaced by horror and guilt.
Chapter Thirty-One
Addison fell back onto her ass and started to push herself away from the scene. Bile started to work its way up her throat as the full impact of her actions hit her. She had let some simple flirting enrage her to the point where she was going to kill that girl, in public. How can Luke love me now? I am evil.
Her wide eyes flicked from the still-wiggling girl to Luke. He was starting to crawl toward her. “Addison, it’s okay. Come here.”
“No.” The word caught in her throat as she continued to slide away from him.
“Addison, I’ll take care of it. I’ll calm her and it’ll be okay.” Luke reached for her.
“Don’t.” She continued her retreat.
Luke stopped moving and locked eyes with Addison. “This doesn’t have to define you.”
“I’m evil.” She spoke the words into his mind and watched his face fall. He wasn’t going to
deny it or confirm it.
In a human heartbeat, Addison crawled to her feet and turned toward the front door. She took a second to look around and was relieved to see the shop was basically empty. There was just one customer at the counter paying. Both women stared at Addison. The store employee even opened her mouth to speak but Addison didn't want to find out how much they had witnessed.
Addison wasted no more time. She sprinted to the exit and departed with a violent swing of the door. She heard that bell clang loudly, almost sounding like it broke. Maybe it did. She wasn’t going to go back to find out. Addison looked up and down the sidewalk, looking for a sign of where to run to. There was no sign.
She threw her hands out to the side and growled in frustration. Finally, she turned and ran in the direction they had come from just a few minutes before, back when the day still seemed light and happy. She reached Luke’s car and harshly jiggled the door handle. Of course, it was locked. Addison’s first reaction was to break into the car. What the fuck? Come on, calm down.
Just then she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the car window. She looked wild although she couldn’t deny that it was a gorgeous, powerful wild. Was that the evil side of her talking? Addison stumbled back from the car a few steps before bumping into a park bench. She told herself that the best thing to do was just take a seat, try and calm herself, and wait for Luke. That would be the smart but also the difficult thing to do.
I can’t. I can’t face him now. Addison jumped forward as if the bench was on fire. With tears starting to run down her cheeks, Addison ran. She had no end destination in mind. This was becoming routine. She crossed the street without caring about the traffic. An old blue truck slammed on its brakes to avoid her. Addison never even looked up.
After the street, she ran behind a row of buildings where a field opened up. No looking back, just running.
* * * *
Luke had just gotten the girl to stop crying. He was still weak from fighting off Addison’s hunger and rage, and dealing with the pain blast. It took him longer than usual to calm and pacify the young lady. Luke shook his head while remembering just how strong Addison had been. It had taken everything he had to not give in to her energy, and he knew that if the ordeal had lasted any longer, he would have failed.
Luke stood and gently helped the blonde to her feet. She had a blank stare on her face, but a faint smile. She would be fine in a few minutes. She would probably just have a dim memory of the incident. The girl would most likely think it was a daydream. Well, day-nightmare.
He didn’t know her well. Her name was Stephanie, and she was a local. Luke had talked with her once or twice before while in town shopping. He was well aware that she had been flirting with him, but she always did. He saw no harm in it since he had no interest in her. Plus, Stephanie had never been as forward as she had been today, touching him.
“Bye, Stephanie. I’ve got to go.”
The blonde blinked several times and then lifted a hand to wave good-bye. She still had that out-of-it look, but Luke could see her eyes were clearing. He turned toward the front of the shop with one thing on his mind now. Addison.
Pain power? He didn’t truly believe she was evil, but he also believed that without proper guidance, she could easily be. So, this is why my brother has such an interest in her. Luke reached the door and almost stepped on the small silver bell that had once been hanging over the door.
He exited the shop hastily and started scanning the area. No sign of Addison, anywhere. Well, maybe one sign. Luke then spotted a man hanging out the driver side window of his truck, shouting. He was yelling about someone needing to watch “what the hell” they were doing.
Luke started to walk that direction just as the man started to drive up the street. Luke looked in the direction the man had been yelling and saw that, behind the stores, there was a large field that led to a line of trees. He didn’t have to think very hard to realize that Addison had returned to the forest. He just hoped she was heading toward his house, not away.
Luke sent out a mental call, looking for Addison. All he felt was a mental brick wall.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Addison made it about half a mile away from the shop before she stopped running. She bent over with her hands on her knees and took in deep breaths. She was trying to breathe in through her nose and out her mouth. She didn’t really know why, but she had heard once that helped.
After several long minutes of nothing but breathing, she stood and looked around. What she saw was just a typical forest. Nothing strange or out of the ordinary, unless she counted herself, which she did. What the fuck am I doing?
Addison stood and started to walk back toward the way she had run from. She should probably just go back and let Luke decide what to do next. But before she got too far, a little voice in her head stopped her. He hates you. You saw it on his face. That can’t be true, Addison contemplated, but she couldn’t quite convince herself.
“What should I do?” Addison lifted her arms in frustration and shouted at the treetops.
As if the universe was answering, he came. Addison felt his presence immediately. She didn’t even turn around.
“Go away.” Her tone was flat.
Addison felt him walking closer to her.
“Aahh, that’s no way to treat a friend. Maybe even your closest friend.” Gabe’s hand reached around from behind and lightly ran across her neck. “A friend that knows the real you.”
Gabe’s lips grazed her cheekbone as his hand kept rubbing her neck. Addison’s first reaction was to just sink into him, let him guide her into anything he saw fit. She followed her second reaction. Addison spun around, breaking away from his hold. Her dark hair flung around her in a circle as she stepped backward.
“Are you fucking stalking me?” There was so much anger in those words, and she knew that not all the emotion was directed toward Gabe. “How did you know where I was?”
Addison watched rage flare up in his eyes. He obviously didn’t appreciate her tone, she sensed. She took another step backward. She was starting to regret running from Luke. When was she going to fucking learn that lesson?
“You can only fight the true you for so long, love.” That last word was said with a bit of disgust. “You are like me, not like Luke. He will reject you once he knows.”
“He already knows!”
Gabe’s face instantly lightened. The rage was replaced with a cocky smirk. “Oh, that’s the cause of this round of running. Perfect.” His smile widened further as he took a step toward Addison.
“Answer me! How did you know I was here?”
“Listen, sweet. You’ll never understand the history between my brother and me. Just know that I keep very close tabs on him. Plus, we do have a small and weak twin connection. It is sporadic and certainly not like your connection with him, but it flares up once in a while.”
Gabe took another few steps to reach Addison and she didn’t retreat. He lifted a hand and lightly stoked her head. Addison stopped breathing as she watched his expression morph into something close to a competitor getting ready. His hand grabbed her hair and pulled, causing her head to tilt back and to one side. She held in her whimper, but didn’t fight him.
“I felt his sudden loss and aguish just now, just as I felt his extreme pleasure earlier today. How did his mouth feel on you?”
The image of Luke on her, between her legs, jumpstarted her heart. Addison pushed her hands against Gabe’s chest and tried to get away from him. She twisted her body, but he didn’t let go of her hair. In fact, he pulled harder, tilting her head back even further. A whimper broke free from her.
In a moment of clarity, Addison knew what she had to do. She needed to take down the wall and call out to Luke. Was she finally realizing that her future depended on that man? Whether the outcome was positive or negative, it was his choice and his alone. Addison knew this deep in her bones, now.
Before she could completely concentrate, Gabe stole back her attention
. He bent forward and kissed her, pressing her head hard against his own. She hollered into his mouth with a muffled protest. Gabe didn’t break the kiss until Addison slammed her fists into his chest, this time with much more force. She was finding her strength again.
Gabe pulled back, but still didn’t release her. “Don’t fight this, sweet. We are meant to be together, whether you see it now or not.”
A cloud of doubt formed in her mind. Maybe he’s right. After all, what am I basing my conclusions on? My lust for Luke? My anger? Addison stopped squirming in Gabe’s arms and looked deep into his pale blue stare. His smirk was gone. He looked ultra-serious at the moment. It had a chill running up Addison’s back.
“I may be like you, but I don’t have to be with you.” Addison felt Gabe’s entire body tense. He didn’t like her words, it seemed.
Gabe released Addison’s hair and forced her back a step. “You don’t get it. It isn’t your choice.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Addison wasn’t sure whether Gabe was referring to himself or just her evil nature when he said it was already decided. She didn’t want to know, either. She nervously watched Gabe pacing before her. He was running a hand through his hair, deep in thought. She had no connection with him, so she had no inkling of his state of mind. Addison could tell by his body language, though, that it wasn’t a pleasant one.
She tried to keep her own body language hushed so she didn’t attract any extra attention from Gabe. Addison opened her mind completely to Luke’s energy then. No wall or partial wall. Addison tried to put as much of herself into a cry out to him as possible. Her message was simple. “I need you.”
Once Bitten, Twice Seduced [Revenants 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 11