Chapter 17: Chapter 17

ELEANOR

“I think we should head back to the house,” Marquez said.

“He mind-linked you to get me out of here, didn’t he?” I asked Marquez, but Marquez kept quiet.

I stayed there for a little longer before I walked away from the training grounds toward Xavier’s house.

As I opened the door, I was greeted with the aroma of lasagna. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Lasagna is my comfort food. Mom would make it every week back when she was still alive.

“Wow, Aunt Sam, you’ve already started your magic?” Marquez yelled from behind me as he walked past me and made his way into the kitchen.

The scene I saw in the kitchen made me chuckle.

Mrs. Costa was seated on her chair with a glass of lemonade while Mr. Costa was making the lasagna.

“What happened here?” Marquez asked her as he walked toward her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“He claimed that I couldn’t beat him in a fight. I guess you can see who lost,” Mrs. Costa said with a proud smile on her face.

“She cheated, son. She seduced me, and I lost,” Mr. Costa said as he turned around to face us.

He was wearing a pink apron with a huge smile plastered on his face.

“Well, we never laid out any rules,” she asserted, and Mr. Costa rolled his eyes.

“So, Uncle Henry, when is this lasagna going to be ready?” Marquez asked.

Mr. Costa briefly glanced at the oven and then started walking toward his wife.

“About thirty minutes,” Mr. Costa replied as he took off his apron.

“Why are you standing near the doorway, Eleanor? Come and have a seat with us,” Mr. Costa said as he saw me awkwardly standing there.

“Oh, I will freshen up and come back down,” I told them, and Mr. Costa nodded his head, so I walked upstairs.

After locking Xavier’s room door, I walked into the closet, took out a pair of leggings and a tank top from my suitcase, and walked into the ensuite bathroom.

After removing all my clothes, my eyes quickly made their way to the bathtub.

It was calling my name, but I let out a sigh and walked into the shower instead.

I know if I sit in that bathtub, I won’t be able to get out in a reasonable amount of time.

I turned on the shower and waited until the water was warm before I stepped inside and closed my eyes.

“~Eleanor?~” Samuel mind-linked me, which made my eyes fly open, and I almost slipped on the wet tiles.

~Shit! Why didn’t I put my block up?~

“~Yes, Samuel?~” I asked him.

“~You have patrol duties in one hour with Ivan. Will you be able to go?~”

“~Sure, no problem.~”

“~Great. I will see you tomorrow, Eleanor,~” he said as the mind-link disconnected.

Letting out a deep breath, I continued my shower.

I stayed in there for a while and was interrupted by someone banging on the room door.

~Who the hell is it now?~

I quickly turned the shower off, wrapped the towel around me, and walked out of the bathroom.

“Who is it?” I called out while standing in front of the door.

“Open the door, Eleanor. I want to go to the bathroom.”

“Can’t you use another bathroom? I’m taking a shower,” I asked him.

“No, this is my fucking room, and I’m not going anywhere. Now open this door right now,” he snapped.

This man was extremely impatient.

I walked toward the door and opened it. He looked up from his phone, and I saw his pupils slightly dilate and his eyes turn a few shades darker.

“Aren’t you going to come in?” I asked him, and it was like my voice snapped him out of a trance. He blinked, then started walking toward me.

I stepped aside, but he moved faster than I anticipated, and I felt my leg tangle with his. Before I could fall he held me and pulled my body close to his.

The sparks that flew on my skin made my heart skip a beat, while I felt my stomach tighten in anticipation. Xavier’s hand moved up to my collarbone as he gently traced the water droplets. A small gasp escaped me as I closed my eyes.

We weren’t even kissing, but just this touch sent a wave of euphoria through my body. I felt him inch closer to me as I arched my back to give him better access.

~Ring!~

His phone rang, and my eyes flew open. Xavier gently pushed me away from him. His eyes held the lust that I was also feeling. He quickly averted his eyes and moved into the room leaving me standing there with my thoughts muddled.

I quickly made my way to the closet and put on the clothes. Then, I walked downstairs to scarf down some lasagna.

I quietly washed my own dish while the others were still finishing their meals. After a quick goodbye to Mrs. Costa, I slipped out of the house and headed out to patrol.

“~Ivan, where are you?~” I mind-linked him while walking toward the training grounds.

“~I’ve just left the house. I’ll meet you at the training grounds.~”

“~Okay,~” I said as I closed the mind-link.

“~Can you let me out today?~” Erica asked me.

“~Let’s ask Ivan if he wants to shift, and then we will, all right?~”

“~Okay,~” Erica answered, then she remained quiet again, both of us eagerly waiting for Ivan to arrive.