A Hunger to Share ( Book Two )

chapter 35

James

England 

James looked at himself in the mirror of the room he shared with Artyom, mind occupied with Mathias, and the baby shower Thia, Marcia, and Nora were hosting tonight.

What the hell was he doing here? waiting for the inevitable? He was a fighter. He shouldn't be hiding.

James should be hunting Mathias down, and kill him for everything he'd done to Artyom, and everything he'd threatened to do to him.

The rational part of James knew hiding was the smart thing to do. It was the only way he would be safe from Mathias, the only way he could keep Artyom from breaking again, but it also made him angry that Mathias had this kind of power over them. 

James knew Mathias was a dangerous, sadistic asshole, and he knew what he'd done to Thomas. He liked to think he was diffrent.

He could live through whatever Mathias wanted to do to him but Artyom didn't want to believe that. His fear for James's safety was too great to let him see beyond it.

He was probably being stupidly optimistic. Mathias could kill him and even if he let James live, watching what Mathias had done to him would break Artyom. James couldn't put Artyom through that. He had promised both of them he wouldn't.  

Artyom was also worried if he killed the Twin's favorite torturer they would come after James. It pissed him off that he couldn't kill them because he wasn't human and didn't have some fancy weapon to finish the job.

James wasn't angry with Artyom for turning Mathias's deal down. He was thankful Artyom cared about Ada and their baby, but James was also disappointed Artyom saw him as someone who was so painfuly useless.

They couldn't hide in this castle forever. Artyom called it a long vacation, but it was nothing short of prison.

"Are you ready?" Artyom whispered in his ear, hugging James to himself from behind. His lips touched James's neck, making him shiver in delight.

James looked at his boyfriend's handsom face in the mirror, blond hair shining under the light, and his bright, loving stormy eyes.

James wanted to stay angry with him, but how could he when he could still see Artyom's split open knuckles, his ruined, bloody hands, and the crippling, raw terror on his face?

James had never seen Artyom so terrified, not even the first time Mathias showed up in the club. He had looked so broken, so unlike himself. How could James say no to him when he looked like that? When he begged James to move to Adrian's with him?

How could James stay angry when Artyom's touch, his kind hands, his everything was enough to melt James's heart, his soul, and make him fall even more in love with Artyom.

James smiled at Artyom in the mirror. "Yeah. Is everyone already at the party?"

"Last time I saw Jack, and Nora they were hanging out with the horses in the stables, but the rest of them are there."

James grinned. "I swear those two love horses more than each other."

Artyom chuckled softly, and planted another kiss on James's neck, making his body come to life with desire. If they had time James would have ripped Artyom's clothe off, and rode him until his muscles screamed with pleasure.

"You Ok?" Artyom asked him in a low voice, arms pressing James's back to his firm chest.

"I try." James smiled softly at him.

"You'll be a better dad than your father. I believe in you."

James turned around, and threw his arms around Artyom's neck, pecking his lips. "Thank you." 

"Tell me you know that."

"I do." James burried his fingers in Artyom's hair, and kissed him.