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At the knock at her door, Lex glanced at the window. There was no need to have a repeat incident of a nearly fried vampire. She walked to the door, hoping it was Constantine, but not expecting it to be. After all, he’d been silent in her mind all day. True, he’d probably slept most of the day, but he was known to torment her more often than not by “talking” to her throughout the day while shut away in his chamber.

Lex had the distinct impression he liked having someone to talk to as a means to help get through the long day. It hadn’t taken her long after she came to live here to realize Constantine passed much of the days drifting in and out of sleep. When he woke, he’d talk to her, his voice a resounding rumble in her mind, until he fell back to sleep. She liked when he talked to her, or rather, she did most of the talking and Constantine did most of the listening. Lex had the feeling that his nightmares tormented him while he slept, which was why he never stayed asleep for too long. And, she had an even better feeling that her talking to him helped to chase away whatever memories haunted his dreams.

When she pulled open the door and saw it was Constantine, Lex was more than mildly surprised to see him. She was downright shocked.

He looked gorgeous as usual, dressed in black, with one of his signature sarcastic tees on—this one read, Crazy enough to kill (smart enough to get away with it). She wondered if he owned any pants that didn’t have chains hanging from them. Not that she minded, since his Goth-god get-ups suited him perfectly.

His hair was damp and messy, the glossy black of it such a sharp contrast to his pale complexion. The way he was staring at her made her ache to throw her arms around him. Instead she settled for a shyly whispered “hello.”

Lex was pleasantly shocked when Constantine grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. His chin came to rest on the top of her head. “You’re well?”

Constantine’s concern touched her. “I’m fine.”

Lex sighed and melted into him when he began to stroke her hair. “I was…worried.”

Though she hadn’t known Constantine for that long, Lex knew it must have taken much for him to admit such to her. Anger, he was good at. The more tender of emotions? Not so much.

“I’m just a little achy. Other than that, I feel fine.”

“That’s not what I was worried about.”

Lex pulled away from him and frowned. “Then what else… Oh.” He meant the business about the Daystar. “I’m dealing with it.” She turned and moved back to the bed. She didn’t realize Constantine followed her until his back pressed against her and his arms came around her. He took hold of her hands, stopping her from lifting the suitcase.

“I’ve got it.”

He stepped away and Lex wanted to drag him right back to where he’d been. He set the suitcase on the floor before giving her his full attention. Lex bristled under the intensity of his stare and looked away. When he placed a finger under her chin and forced her gaze back to his face, she chewed her bottom lip. She hated his blank expression and wished he’d betray a hint of what was going on in his mind.

“After last night I’m surprised you’re in one piece.”

Oh, he was a cocky one, wasn’t he? Although, he was right, Lex grudgingly admitted. “So am I.”

“I didn’t mean to be so rough with you, but I don’t know any other way.”

That sounded an awful lot like an apology, or as close to one as Constantine might get. Lex was having none of that since there was nothing to apologize for. He’d been as careful with her as was physically possible. “I told you last night that I was tougher than I look and I meant it.”

His black brows drew together in a frown as he sniffed at the air around her. “Then why the hell do I smell blood on you.”

Lex swore she turned about seven shades of red. How could he smell that? She’d taken a shower when she first woke and saw blood smeared on her thighs. She’d been expecting that, since she knew virgins bled. Such a happening was simply a fact of life, especially given how—large—Constantine was. “I hate those vampire senses of yours. Not to mention the telepathy.”

Ignoring her declaration, Constantine grabbed her by the arms and dragged her to him. He leaned in close and gave her a good sniff. “Why didn’t you tell me I’d hurt you?”

“It was inevitable, Constantine.” He gave her a furious glare, as if she had deliberately withheld some bit of vital information from him. When he didn’t grasp her meaning, Lex let out a dramatic sigh. “I was a virgin and virgins bleed the first time. Didn’t you know that?”

Now how the hell would he have known that? He knew nothing of virgins other than to avoid them at all costs. So no, he’d not realized all virgins bled. He wouldn’t have touched her if he’d known that.
His insides twisted sickly knowing he’d hurt her. He might be a mean son-of-bitch, but when it came to Lex things were—different. He was different. “Was there much blood?”

“No. Not much at all.”

Constantine knew her lie for what it was. Lex couldn’t lie worth a damn. One of these days he’d have to tell her of that fact—but not yet. For now, he liked being able to tell her bullshit from the truth.

As much as he tried not to imagine it, he was nearly put low by the vision of her virgin’s blood. It made him remember those nights when his own legs had been smeared with blood and his cries muffled in his hands as he fought to be strong—as he fought to be a dragon.

Lex’s chamber dissolved around him and Constantine was back at Greaves Castle. Once again, he was a scared boy cowering in the corner. His body broken and his soul destroyed, in those desperate moments after he’d suffered the worst of atrocities.

Though centuries separated then and now, Constantine still smelled Chambers’ rank breath. That bastard’s clammy touch was still on him. If he could he’d go back in time and kill the bastard all over again.

“Constantine?”

The memory vanished when his gaze settled on Lex. She reached out and ran her hands over his bare arms. Her energy shot through him, warming him. “I’m fine, Lex.”

Fine. Hell, Constantine hadn’t been fine since he was old enough to realize his own parents couldn’t stomach him. Yet, Lex seemed to like him. She even claimed to love him, and as hard as it was for him to believe such a thing, he knew she believed it.

If he were being honest with himself, he liked her right back. For once in his existence, Constantine wished he knew how to love.

Last night he’d laid claim to Lex and Constantine would dare anyone to try to take her from him—even God.

When she went up on her tiptoes and ran her fingers across his forehead, Constantine had to fight against the need to close his eyes and lean into her gentle touch.

“Are you ever going to tell me what goes on in your head?”

“Trust me, Lex, you don’t want my thoughts. Hell, I don’t even want them.”

Lex trailed her fingers down his scar. Instinctively, Constantine wanted to pull away but didn’t. He hated the scar. Hated everything it reminded him of. “I won’t demand you tell me about your past.” She placed a feather-light kiss on his lips and he could have sworn his heart kicked a single beat. “But I hope the time will come when you trust me enough to confide in me.”