Satan's Hunger

12

'It might not be anything to worry about,' Kaitlyn said.

'Or it could be.'

'They could have been just checking the room or ... or ...' She stopped at the look on his face. 'But that's why you're here, isn't it? To protect me.' She tried to lighten the mood with a smile but it didn't work.

Jacob grunted.

Kaitlyn swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. With a twist of her mouth, she looked down at her nun-made dress lying discarded on the floor.

Her eyes skipped over to a cupboard in the corner of the room, then to a chest of drawers. Both were elegant and lovely and she felt a rush of hope that they contained some good stuff within.

She went to the cupboard first, opening it with a gasp. Clothes! Real clothes!

'Woo hoo!' Kaitlyn said, pulling out a nice blouse and a pair of navy slacks. 'I know you don't like it here, Jacob. But holy cow!'

She pulled them on. They fit perfectly and felt so good against her skin after the rough scratchiness of the nun dress. How did they even know her size?

Next, she hunted in the chest of drawers to find a veritable treasure of fresh pairs of underwear, pyjamas, singlets and more sets of clothes—all girl stuff. 'I'm afraid there's nothing here for you, Jacob. I guess they didn't consider our ... situation.'

He didn't respond.

'Jacob?' She turned towards him to find him frowning at the door, arms crossed. Kaitlyn sighed. 'Leave it, Jacob.'

'I can't help it. Someone was listening in on us, Kaitlyn. It smacks of an enemy. Not only that but it was ... it was private.'

Kaitlyn raised her eyebrows. There was a tendon bulging in his throat. His wings were stiff at his back. His neck was flushed. 'You're so angry.'

Unfolding his arms, he raked his fingers through his hair. 'I know, and I'm sorry.' He tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes. 'Does it bother you?'

'No. I kind of like it. You're more—human.'

Jacob smiled, then frowned. 'I'd better get changed.'

Kaitlyn stared as he walked over to his pants lying discarded on the floor beside her dress. They'd only just finished making love and yet she already felt the urge to drag her fingers up his muscular abs, to claw her fingers into his big biceps. Kaitlyn dropped her eyes to his crotch. As he bent over to pick his pants up, Kaitlyn watched as the muscles slid over his ribs. After he dressed himself, he went and got his cloak.

Kaitlyn joined him as he struggled to pull it over his wings. 'Do you have to wear this still? Don't they know who you are?'

'I don't even know who they are,' he said.

He sighed as it sat heavily over his wings.

'Are you all right?' Kaitlyn asked as she bent over to pull at the bottom of the heavy fabric, making sure it concealed the ends of his feathers. 'You look tired.'

'I'm fine. I'm just worried about you—that's all. I'm worried about what's coming next. About who to trust. About whether I'm strong enough to protect you.'

Kaitlyn straightened and pressed her hand to his chest. 'I wish you wouldn't. If we're going to be on the run for twenty years, I want you to be happy.' She leaned into him, her chin on his shoulder. 'I want us to be happy.'

He wrapped his arms around her. 'You're right. I'm sorry.' He kissed her on the head.

Kaitlyn sighed. 'Would you stop being so sorry all the time?' Pulling away, she took his hand and dragged him towards the door. 'Come on. Let's go find something to eat.'