Page 114 of Claws & Cover Ups
He huffs, but I kiss him again.
He pulls back a few seconds later, putting a hand on my chest to push me away. “Wait, you're seriously not going to arrest me?”
“Oh God, you seriously thought I was going to arrest you, and you drove all the way here tosurrender? We’re going to have a serious conversation about your self-preservation instincts when I'm done with you here.”
He snorts. “So what? You wanted me to go away?”
“No,fuck no,” I kiss his jaw. “But I was giving you a choice, a life away from me. From my life.” I trail kisses from his stubble cheeks to his throat when he leans his head back to give me more access.
“And now you won't let me leave?” he asks breathlessly.
“No,” I say firmly, “You don’t get to leave anymore.”
He nods. My lips extend into a smile. “There it is,” he murmurs.
“We do need to talk though,” I say.
He kisses my lips again. “Later?” he asks hopefully.
I wish. I pull back all the way from him. He groans. “We have so much to discuss. I feel like I don’t even know you. I mean, a secret life as a vigilante killer? You put yourself in so much danger, Elliot. I need to know that will not happen anymore. I don’t think I can—”
“I wasn’t lying about quitting,” he interrupts me. “I stopped after that Arizona mission. I couldn't carry on that life anymore, not without losing myself completely,” he says, sounding forlorn.
“And you regret that?” I need to know. If it’s something he would go back to as soon as he gets a chance, I… I don’t know what I’ll do, honestly. But Ineedto know.
He looks at me, his gaze intense. He shakes his head after a while. “No. Not even a little bit,” he says decidedly.
A partof me refuses to believe him. He clearly has no trouble lying, after all. But a big part, the part that really wants to believe, says he’s telling the truth. I think back on the changes I’ve noticed since Elliot got back from that trip in Arizona, a trip we should definitely talk more about.
He’s been more open, not hiding behind his mask anymore. Filling his life with things that make him happy. Looking healthier and happier too. I know, with time, I can learn to trust himcompletely.
I nod. “Okay.”
“Wait,you’rethe one to talk. Asecret international agency?” He walks towards the couch and sits down. “What the fuck, Nicholas?”
I follow him and sit on the armchair. Difficult to have a conversation when I’m liable to jump him at the slightest touch. “Matt told you everything?”
“Even though he claims he’s bad at things that are not directly related to his job profile, I got the gist.”
I snort. “He’s just hard on himself,” I wave him off. “So, yeah. I’m a Bureau agent, and we would have eventually taken care of the problems you risked your life for,” I chide.
“You wereclearlyslacking off,” he snides.
“I’m sure Matt told you about the understaffing situation. We’re doing our best. But—But, I’m going to try to be more proactive. Happy?” I continue over his interruption attempts.
“Not like I have a choice,” he relents. “By the way, how did you find me yesterday? It’s been bugging me since you got there.”
“Ah, your buddy Sam tracked me down and ordered me to tell him everything. Then told me exactly where to find you.”
“Of course, he did,” he snorts. Then, remembering who he’s talking to, schools his face. “I mean,he did?That’ssoweird. I didn’t know he could do something like that because heneverhas before,” he says with a straight face.
Huh, maybe he’s not as good at lying as I thought. “Calm down. I’m not arresting your friend either. But I’ll have a long conversation with him about everything, especially abouthow he does it all. But you guys didn’t do anything we don’t already do at the Bureau every day. So, it’s not like I have the high ground here. But I’m not letting you put yourself in danger anymore,” I say sternly.
His eyes narrow. “Oh wow. And what about you? You have two high-risk jobs. You can putyourlife in danger all you want, andIcan’t?”
“Well, yeah, I am a werewolf if you forgot that tiny detail.”
“Oh my god, you’re so fucking condescending. Iknewyou were just playing at the whole nice guy thing. Ihadthat stupid abducting werewolf until you came to the basement with your pretentious shining armor andruinedit,” he yells.
