Object of My Affection by Tracey H. Kitts Read Free Book Online Page B

another call coming in, so he excused himself.
    The moment the call ended I began to cry. I cried so hard I pulled my stomach muscles. I had known that Marco was attacked, but I’d had no idea that my father and Alfred were both there. I had never expected to hear an eye witness account of him being ripped to pieces.
    I went into the bathroom and put a cool wash cloth over my eyes. No matter how much I tried to calm myself, all I could see was Marco covered in blood. My mind ran through memories of rubbing my face against his chest. The image was so strong that I could feel his hair as it brushed my cheek.
    The next image that filled my mind was his muscular tanned chest hanging in shreds. I lunged for the toilet and barely made it. I must have spent at least an hour in there throwing up what felt like everything I’d eaten for the past month. Once I finally stopped gagging I just lay there on the floor and fought the urge to run to Marco as if it were a physical thing. My desire to be near him, to comfort him was almost tangible.

Chapter Four
    Somehow I made it through to the next morning when Elijah came knocking at my door. I had packed a change of clothes in my usual black leather bag. Elijah wanted to go to dinner after a day at the beach and I didn’t want to wear a transparent tunic to a restaurant.
    When I opened the door the smile faded from his face as he asked, “Are you alright?”
    “Yeah,” I lied.
    It had taken every ounce of will power I possessed to get out of bed that morning. I wanted to be near Marco and the more I fought the urge, the stronger it seemed to become.
    Elijah stepped inside the door and hugged me close to him.
    For a moment I wondered if he could read minds, too. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in the curve of his neck. Since Elijah was only a few inches taller than me, he was easier to snuggle. The more I was around werewolves, the more touchy feely I was becoming. I had always been the kind of person who liked to be casually touched, but not by strangers. Then again Elijah wasn’t a stranger. My desire for closeness had been largely ignored, however, due to the fact that direct contact with their skin might accidentally result in me reading people’s minds. For years the only person I ever hugged had been my father.
    But Elijah was safe. He’d had a nice childhood and a nice family. He had good memories. Nothing terrible was going to jump out at me from behind that gorgeous smile.
    “Are you sure you’re ok?” he asked as he pulled back from me.
    “Yeah. I was just a little sick last night, something I ate.”
    “You sure it isn’t all the rumors I’ve been hearing?”
    “Well, that didn’t help, but the thoughts of being associated with you doesn’t make me sick.” I attempted to sound upbeat about it, but failed miserably.
    “I’m really sorry about that. I want you to know I haven’t said anything to give people the impression that....”
    “It’s alright,” I interrupted. “You don’t owe me an explanation,” I forced myself to smile, “or an apology. I’ve lived in this town off and on my whole life. These people are assholes.” The smile was genuine after I said that and my spirits began to improve.
    “So, you feel like snorkeling?”
    “Sure. Just let me get my flip flops.”
    Elijah had an old red Jeep that was perfect for going to the beach. He tossed my bag in the back along with his and we were off. The nearest beach was about a fifty minute drive from my house, so we had time to enjoy the breeze and each other’s company.
    “So, what have you been up to?” he raised his voice slightly so I could hear him over the wind rushing past our ears.
    Immediately, I was plagued by the image of Marco crawling toward me in the bathtub and I felt myself begin to blush.
    “Oh, nothing really.”
    “Do you burn easily?”
    “Huh?”
    “You look a little flushed.”
    “Oh, it’s just the heat,” I lied.
    For the rest of the drive he