Imprint

ACT II - Part V

It has just begun to rain when we pull up to the police station. Hito and I duck our heads and run inside to escape the onslaught of water. The air inside the building is crisp and cold, stark contrast to the muggy moist August air. I fiddle with my hospital bracelet as Hito talks to the man at the front desk, trying to calm my nerves.

"Well, we have had to muzzle and cuff him in solitary because he was biting himself and anyone we tried to send in to talk to him," I hear the man tell Hito. Muzzle? Cuff? For Leo? This doesn't even feel real. "I see we have orders to take him back," he gestures to me, then continues, "but, not you."

"Aki, are you sure you still want to do this? They're going to lock the door with you inside and are under orders not to disturb you for three hours - this means if something happens, then you're stuck."

"I am not leaving him alone in this state. Besides, if I can help him get it out of his system, then the detectives and lawyers can talk to him and the sooner we can reach a settlement." Hito shakes his head, but doesn't fight me further. With that, they take me to the metal detector and leave Hito behind in the waiting area. I follow a burly guard down the cement hallway towards where Leo is being held. We arrive at the door, a big steel thing that looks like it's meant for a bunker - not housing my mate.

"Good luck, dude," the guard says as he unlocks the door.

When I walk inside, I'm hit with Leo's strong scent - only it's mixed with something a little darker and muskier than normal. Is this what a rut smells like? And Leo, oh Leo, he sits in a metal chair in the center of the room with his hands cuffed behind his back. His face is partially covered by a metal muzzle. He is still wearing the clothes from the party - almost four days ago - and it has dried blood splattered on the front. There are bruises on his arms and I'm not sure if they were self-inflicted or from the commotion in the library.

"Leo?" I call softly to him. He flinches and looks up at me warily. "Hey, it's me... I'm sorry it took so long to get here..." I cautiously approach him and hear the door latch shut behind me, sealing me in. Carefully I reach behind his head and take off the muzzle.

"You shouldn't be here."

"I wanted to come see you," I delicately use my fingertips to brush the hair on his forehead. He leans into my hand and I can feel how hot and sweaty his skin is. It's not unlike my heat. "Oh Leo..." I feel my words get caught in my throat, as if I'm being choked all over again.

"You shouldn't be here," Leo repeats softly. "But I'm so glad you are." I lean forward and kiss the top of his head.

"I'm going to unlock the cuffs, okay? They gave me the key," I say as I walk behind him.

"Wait. If you do this... I... might hurt you..."

"Aren't you the one who said you were never a danger to me?" I unlock the cuffs and they clatter to the floor. Leo is up the moment they hit the ground, rubbing his wrists which are bruised and bloody. I back away towards a bed-like cot in the corner. "It's okay, Leo. I'm here to help you." I pull my shirt off, exposing my pale chest.

"Your neck," Leo is upon me quickly, gently moving my head to look at my neck. "That bastard... these bruises...'' he softly kisses my Adam's apple. Then he runs his tongue over the tender flesh, the warmth filling me. I'm running my fingers through his messy brown hair, admiring the reddish tint, when I feel him press himself into my leg. He's kissing me all over now — eyelids, cheek bones, ears, neck — and I can feel myself starting to slip away, finally relaxing for the first time in days.

"Mmmm Leo," I murmur breathlessly. God, I can feel myself getting drunk off of his rut-scent.

"I want to lick off every place he touched."