Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 47

I wanted to see Victor but I was so nervous about the meeting that it was midmorning before I had the courage to drive to his house. The whole way I kept wondering what I'd say, trying to prepare myself for every possibility. I could make him see that it was best to stay friends, right?

When I knocked on his front door there was no answer. Sighing, I tucked my hair back and stepped into the house. The TV was on so I walked into the living room. Four vampires turned to me, their gazes assessing.

"Hi," I croaked, wiping my hands on my jeans.

Gemma stood gracefully. "Hello, dear. We've been expecting you."

I looked around at them but their expressions gave nothing away. "Um, where is he?"

"Upstairs."

I nodded and awkwardly crossed the room to the stairs. I took a deep breath before I pushed his door open. Just like his family, Victor turned his head from the window and stared at me.

"Hi," I said shyly, stepping into the room.

Victor was sitting on the floor, one leg drawn and his arm slung over it. He'd been gazing out the window and I couldn't tell how long he'd been sitting here. It seemed like a while though. He was barefoot and dressed in all black for once - a long sleeved Tee and jeans. With his messy hair and sapphire eyes, the look was hot. I gulped. He'd never embodied the moody, brooding genius artist as much as he did right now. And with the weak sunlight giving him a faint glow...

It took me a minute to realise that he hadn't responded, that he probably wasn't going to respond. I cleared my throat. "I've been calling you, and texting."

He kept his dark gaze on me, studying my face. "I know."

I bit my lip and perched on his recliner. "You didn't respond."

I saw a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Why're you here?"

"I want to talk," I said softly. "We kind of left things in a bad place and I just want us to talk. No fighting this time, and no running."

He gave me a bitter half smile. "You think I ran."

"No, I'm promising not to run," I countered, tucking my hair back. "Just talk to me, and if you want me to I promise to stay away after that."

He continued to stare at me. His eyes were intense, his gaze deep, but I couldn't read it. Slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, he raked a hand through his umber hair and bit his lip. I saw the decision in his eyes right before he said cryptically, "I want to show you something."

"Uh, okay?"

He was suddenly on his feet and raised a brow. I stood too, wondering what he was up to. He sauntered past me and out of the room, eyes ahead of him as he slipped one hand carelessly into his pocket. I turned and followed since I didn't have much choice. He took me down the corridor to the last door, the only door in his entire house that he kept locked, that I'd never set foot in.

My heart skipped a beat as he pulled a single gold key from his pocket and slipped it into the slot. I pulled on his arm, stopping him. He froze and simply turned his head to look at me with that strange assessing gaze again. "You've never let me in this room."

"I think it's time you knew my secret," he shrugged.

My heart skipped a beat but I let his sleeve go. He turned the key and pocketed it again, then ran a hand through his hair and pushed the door open. When I stood rooted to the spot, he gestured for me to get in. I slowly stepped past him into the vast room, my eyes widening.