“Please be home, Christian.” Technically, they are broken up, but she knows he will help her. Anya pulls the coat tightly closed around her and rushes inside. His flat is on the fifth floor. She doesn’t even notice how quickly she runs up the stairs. Tapping on his door, she prays quietly that he will be home. When he doesn’t answer straight away, she cusses and begins digging through her purse for her keys. “Where’s the damn key?” She snarls.
Christian rips open the door and his brown eyes go wide in shock. “Anya? What the hell? It’s four in the morning!”
Anya is so relieved to see him that she starts to sob and throws herself into his arms.
“Chris,” is all she can manage. Quick as a flash he picks her up and rushes inside his modest flat to the couch, kicking the door shut behind him.
“What’s wrong, love? Is it your Da? He was fine this morning.” Anya is trembling too hard to speak as the shock catches up to her. “Are you hurt?”
“I… I don’t know. I was at Katie’s and he came at me from behind.” Christian jerks and sets her beside him gently on the sofa. He walks over to the small table and turns on the lamp to have a look at her.
“Sweet Jesu! Anya what happened,” he gasps. The coat she is wearing is open and the bruising around her throat and blood-stained clothes terrifies him. Anya looks at her hands and back at him.
“You’ll never believe me, Christian. I’m not even sure I believe what I saw. I didn’t know where else to go…”
“We need to call the station, they can help,” but Anya instantly reacts.
“No! You don’t understand, Christian. He ran out after the attack and he didn’t rape me. Chris, only some of this is my blood. Please, can I just use your shower and I will figure it out in the morning?”
“Of course, but I will need to bag up your clothes for evidence. Come on.” He pulls her into the bedroom and quickly turns on the shower to steam.
“Thank you.” Gone is the cocky, frisky, Anya he was first attracted to. He has never seen her this vulnerable and it makes him long to protect her. She stands on trembling legs and drops the coat before she pulls the shirt off over her head.
“Dear God, Anya!” The dried blood is all over her body and she starts to sob once more when she looks down at her naked body.
“Get it off me, please,” she whispers. Christian drops his sweats and pulls her into the shower. She stands under the steam and lets him tend to her. Grabbing a wash cloth he soaps it up and tenderly begins to wash her body. The rusty red and black stains are gone within minutes, revealing only the bruising around the one side of her neck. He is relieved to see that she was right, but where did all the blood come from?
Anya leans in and rests her forehead on his large sculpted chest. Wrapping her arms tight around his waist, she savors the feel and strength of him. “You’re a blessing, Christian. Thank you.”
“Anya, I have to call this in. You will need to tell me everything.” As a member of the Garda Siochana or police, Christian knows the protocols to follow. “We can catch this person.” Anya turns in his arms and reaches up to pull his mouth to hers. She kisses him softly drinking in the taste of him. He gives her what she needs, tempted to take her in the shower as he had in the past. Christian groans when her hands begin to roam.
“Seriously, Anya. You would tempt a saint. We must follow protocol!” He pins her arms to her side, and she laughs.
“Ok,” she turns off the shower head and waits for him to hand her a towel.
“I’ll find you some clothes.” Anya dries her hair and body quickly, then draws on the large shirt he gives her. She sits on his king size bed and waits for him to get back with his notepad. “I’ll fix some coffee and send a squad car over to Katie’s.”
Christian sighs when he walks back into his room and finds Anya is curled up on his bed, sound asleep. “Damn, Anya what have you gotten yourself into?” Knowing his questions will have to wait, he locks up the house and checks that his pistol is loaded on the stand beside his bed. No one will touch her again tonight. He pulls her body tightly against his and falls to sleep.
Chapter 5
Anya dreams chaotic dreams with flashes of memories. She remembers running through the streets with Katie and into a church. Something or someone is chasing them and his eyes! They glow just like the creature from today.
Anya remembers and knows that this isn’t a nightmare, but a past memory. This is what Katie has been dreaming about, and it was real! “Caius.” She murmurs the now familiar name.
Red eyes snap open, seeking her. He pushes into her conscious and finds her mind open to him.
“Anya isn’t it. Not Katie. Tell me what you are!” He hisses loudly in her head.
Anya fights
