Slayer [vampire+vampire hunter]

Slayer 10

I gasped awake mere minutes after I'd finally dozed off, jerking into a sitting position, my pajamas sticking to my sweaty skin. It was too difficult to fall asleep with Xavier's touch lingering on my skin, his scent permeating my mind. I felt delirious, maybe even feverish. He was going to drive me insane. My heartbeat was too fast, pounding in my ears like a bass drum.

Maybe he was a drug. Already I was yearning for his touch, his embrace, his kisses...

Argh! I shook my head furiously as if I could thrash off the memories-yet another part of me clung to them. A rather big part of me.

Oh, my God, I was going insane.

I hope I have fighting practice tomorrow.

~*~

I stumbled drunkenly out of the room we'd designated as the practice room, my muscles sore and screaming. I winced at the ache that shot through my shoulder when I closed the door behind me, staggering slightly. Verderyn didn't hold back, did he? He was as bad as my former coach, and Coach had been widely known in the slayer network for being as hard as a slave driver. Verderyn didn't hesitate to leave a bruise when he found an opening, but I knew he was barely restraining from damaging my bones. I was going to suffer tomorrow, that I was certain of.

"Are you all right?"

I jumped, letting out a strangled gasp, then an "ow!" of pain, and Xavier quickly moved forward to steady me. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said, placing a hand on my elbow, and I shivered slightly, my skin prickling under his touch.

He noticed, and pulled me up to his body, wrapping his arms around me. "What are you doing?" I choked out, my lungs constricting, stealing my breath.

"What I want to do," he said with a smirk, leaning his head on my shoulder. He was so close... My head seemed to swirl, and I realized with some chagrin that the distraction Verderyn had provided was becoming useless. As if I could get my mind off Xavier when I lived with him.

"And what do you want to do?" I whispered, staring into his striking eyes.

He grinned wickedly and pressed his lips into the side of my throat. Air whistled through my teeth, drawn down to my lungs, which were still oddly tight. My cheeks were flaming with heat, which intensified when he skimmed his fingers across my cheekbones. "So red," he commented.

"Shut up," I muttered, averting my eyes.

He pressed his face into my hair and inhaled. "You know, I-"

I heard the door open, and we broke apart with a start. "Oops," Verderyn said, pausing at the threshold of the practice room.

At the sound of laughter, I glanced at the end of the hall, where Ser stood, leaning against the wall. "Tough luck, you two."

Verderyn shot us a look of embarrassment and darted away, down the hall and out the front door. Ser walked forward, leering at us with satisfaction. "Xavier..." he said in a slightly sing-song voice. "What happened between you two?"

I watched with amusement as Xavier blushed. "Um, well, you see..."

Ser burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "You sly dog!"

I blushed harder, biting my lip, and Xavier wound his fingers with mine tightly.

When his laughing fit finally subsided, Ser straightened, his face falling into something much more somber. "I'm happy for you two, but I guess I have to rain on your parades. I have bad news."