8. Ivy

Chapter 8

Ivy

W hat the actual fuck just happened ? I berate myself while weaving my way through town. The hairs on my neck stand up and I know I'm being followed, so rather than head home, I head for a secluded area of downtown where I can corner whoever it is and take them out.

The district is abandoned and even the bums stay away from it. It's the perfect place to lure them to and remove the threat. Yes, I've used this spot before. I know all the good ones around town. You never know when they will be needed.

I weave through what little traffic there is in hopes of losing whoever it is. I know it's not that coward Stanley. He's long gone. I'll find him again, and next time I won't fail.

Rounding the corner I drift my rear tire and slide into the abandoned warehouse's half-broken-down door. Dropping my kickstand I jump off my bike, remove my gloves, and head to the corner of the building. I don't want to worry about my bike if this gets physical. I won't back down though. If it's a fight he wants. It's going be a short one, and he won't be walking away from it. He cost me my hit. No one gets away with that.

Hearing a Harley, I have a feeling I know who's following me now. It's the big guy I bumped into. The one who made my lady bits dance. "Son of a bitch, not him." I shake my head. Of all the guys, why him and why now?

Watching and listening I hear his bike cut off and footsteps approach. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," he sings. "We have introductions to make and things to discuss."

I stay in the shadows as he enters, but it's no use. The minute his head swings my way I know he sees me. His eyes glow almost cyan. What the fuck is he?

"There you are… mate ." He smiles at me, approaching like a predator, but I have no clue what type. One thing is certain, I'm no one's prey.

"No mate here. You have me confused with someone who gives a fuck."

He stops in front of me, so close I can smell the Marlboro he smoked recently and something else I can't place. Something between the smell of a hot sandy beach and sunshine. I raise an eyebrow at him. "If you know what's good for you, you'll turn your ass around, get back on that shit bike of yours, and forget all about me."

"No, I don't think I will," he drawls. "When you find the one normally it's polite to at least exchange names. Mine's Jackson, but no one's called me that since my mom died. Everyone calls me Jax. You are?"

I snort, "Your worst nightmare if you don't leave. You fucking cost me… Ya know what? Nevermind. You want my name before you go? Fine. My name is death to those who get too close. So, if you're smart you won't come closer. Forget you met me. I can never be the mate you're looking for."

For the first time since my parents died, I'm scared. I can tell what he says is true. I feel the pull to him. He's definitely my mate, but it can never be. To touch me would be his death. What man would want a mate he can't even kiss ?

The fucker just smirks at me.

"If you're so sure you're gonna kill me, I think I deserve a kiss before I go."

Before I have time to warn him off, he leans in, grabs me by my hair, and pulls me into him.

His lips slam into mine in an aggressive kiss that I wish could go on forever. But as he pushes his tongue past my lips, a tear slips down my cheek.

He has no idea what he's done. Even knowing it will cost him his life, I can't force myself to pull away. It just feels so right. I want to stay in this moment forever. Would it be selfish of me to kiss him to death?

It wouldn't be the first time, but it would be the only time I'd ever feel guilty about it.

He pulls back and looks at me, before swiping the tear with his thumb and placing it in his mouth. Panic seizes my heart. "Noo!" Fuck. I didn't want this. He didn't have to die.

He begins to laugh, drawing my ire. "Poison." He stumbles a second before placing a hand on the wall beside my head.

"No, venom . With no cure. I'm sorry. I tried to warn you." Why couldn't he fucking listen to me? He'd still be alive if he had.

Extricating myself from him I start to make my way to my bike. I can't stay here and watch him die. I don't get more than ten feet when his big hand grabs my arm and spins me around. "Not so fast."

It's then I notice he's not dropping. He should be flopping around on this nasty ground by now. Especially after he ingested my fucking tear like a dumbass. "How…"

"Fuck. I need…" he groans, grabbing his dick.

Looking down I'm surprised by the huge bulge in his jeans. What the actual fuck! Without hesitation, I kick him right between the legs as hard as I can. He drops to the ground and I run.

Behind me, I hear him laughing between coughs, but I don't hear his steps chasing after me like when I left the fight club. I'm just about to my bike when I hear an odd skittering noise. As I throw my leg over my bike I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Without even looking I can tell whatever it is is fucking huge and it's heading right for me.

Flashes of fluorescent greens and blues from behind me tell me exactly what I'm dealing with and I have no desire to be a fuckin' deathstalker's next meal. Fuck. I thought those fuckers were extinct! I fire up my bike and literally burn rubber out of the warehouse. Fleeing from my mate and the deathstalker I really hope is not my mate, I fly out of the parking lot without looking back.