Chapter 10: Lila - Beast of the Bayou

I wake up with a smile on my face. My cheek presses against Solomon's hard chest, my palm lying flat right over his softly beating heart. His fingers are threaded in my hair, massaging my scalp gently. He presses his nose against it and inhales deeply.

"Are you sniffing my hair?" I mumble sleepily.

"I am. Every part of you has a different scent that I love," he rumbles. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

I tilt my head up to look up at him. He's back in his human form, but I can still see a faint amber glow around his irises. "It's alright." I smile gently. "Good morning, baby."

He smiles before placing a kiss on my lips. "Good morning, my love."

"It's nice to kiss you without the teeth," I tease.

His face shifts in apology. "I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you in any way? Down there?"

"No, I'm just teasing baby." I place my hand on his warm cheek. "I'm a bit sore…but I'm okay. I promise."

His worried eyes search mine. "I would never hurt you, Lila," he reiterates.

"I know." I rub up and down his chest soothingly. "I'm not worried that you will. If anything, you better be worried about me hurting you."

He finally smiles, almost shyly. "I did pretty good?"

"Pretty good? You did fucking amazing. Are you kidding me?" I gush making him laugh. "It  was…beyond words. It was otherworldly. You sure that was your first time?"

His grin deepens. "I swear. I've never felt anything like that." His voice drops. "I didn't even know I could climb walls."

We share a laugh, our noses pressed against one another.

"Thank you for allowing me to be your first."

He cradles my face in his hand. "I couldn't imagine sharing it with anyone else. You're so special, Lila. I hope you know that. And if you don't, I plan to tell you every day so you never forget it." Solomon vows.

I run my fingers through his beard. "So, you want me around every day?"

His hold on me tightens.  "Absolutely. For the rest of my life."

We kiss, our foreheads touching as we smile.

"Speaking of forever—do you guys live longer than regular people?" I ask curiously. "I wanna know what I have to look forward to. Also, do you age?"

Solomon lets out a low laugh, resuming his massage of my scalp. "I'm not sure, my love. I don't have a point of reference so…I guess we'll just have to see."

I grin. "I have so many questions, but I don't wanna overwhelm you."

He smiles and shrugs. "Ask as many as you'd like. I'll do my best to answer."

"Okay." I perk up. "For one…Edgar talks, doesn’t he?"

Solomon laughs. "He does. Too much sometimes."

"I knew I wasn't tripping!" I gasp in excitement. "How though?"

"He's a spirit animal."

"Get the hell out of here?" I sit up intrigued. "So that's a literal thing?"

Solomon sits up with me. He stretches wide and smiles. "They are. Edgar is actually my great-great-great grandfather. Edgar Mourne. The founder of this town."

My eyes widen and my mouth parts in disbelief. "That is amazing, Solomon." I grab his hand excitedly. "You have an actual ancestor living with you. How lucky are you?"

He lifts my hand and kisses the top. "Even luckier now that you've meandered your way into my life and my heart."

"I'm the lucky one," I reply gratefully.

With ease, he lifts me off the bed and sits me on his lap. He pulls me closer by my hips. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." I nod.

"Most people don't wander here. What brought you to Bayou Mourne?"

I swallow, my heart beginning to thud at the memory. "Fate," I mumble.

Solomon immediately places his big hand over my chest. "I believe that, but I know there's more. I can hear your heart racing and I can smell the fear on you, my love."  His kind eyes search mine. "Did something happen?"

Tears blur my vision and I wipe them away. My head drops down, but he tilts my chin up to meet his eyes.

"I meant what I said—no one will ever hurt you again," he states adamantly. "I've already taken care of one issue for you."

My brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

Solomon holds my eyes. "The roommate's boyfriend."

My eyes widen again. "Did you…kill him?" I whisper.

He shakes his head, the faint glow around his eyes brightening. "No. But my gator Dubois had a nice meal."

My body locks up at the revelation.

"Are you upset at me now?" he asks quietly.

I pause to process it. It only takes me a few seconds to shake my head. "No. He was a bad man."

"He was." Solomon nods once in agreement. "Now…are there any other bad men in your life who hurt you, my love?"

"Why do you wanna know?"

"Fear tastes bitter in my mouth, and I don't like the way it smells on you."

The words sit heavy between us. "Are you gonna kill them if I tell you?"

"Yes," he replies with no hesitation.

I'm momentarily struck speechless. Half of me feels guilt for even considering sanctioning what will likely be a brutal death at the hands of Solomon. But then...I remember that night. The helplessness that I felt. The lack of support shown to me. The utter disregard for what that night did to my psyche. And any guilt that I have…fades.

I focus my eyes on this beautiful man. A monster to some, but the most gentle and kind man I've ever met. And I tell him what led me here—

"I was a party girl back home. I drank a lot. I don't know…I think I was trying to escape my own mind." I shrug slightly. I attempt to drop my head back down again, but Solomon forces me to keep my eyes on him. He keeps his finger under my chin as I continue. "I was talking to this guy online. He invited me to go to this party at his house. So…I went. We were all having fun and everything was going well…until it wasn't."

Solomon's nostrils flare once and his jaw clenches. But he stays silent.

"We were in his room messing around, and then…his door opened." A knot forms in my throat at the memory that's been seared into my brain. A tear makes its way down my face. Solomon brushes it away before I can.

"You don't have to explain any more, my love. Just tell me how many there were?"

"F-Four." I whisper.

He nods once. Wrapping his strong arms around me, he presses his lips to my temple. "I'll handle it."

And without a doubt…I know that he will.

***

Solomon and I spent most of the day wrapped in each other's arms—talking, making love. Neither of us could go more than a few minutes without touching. And when the sky darkens and the moon sits full and high, he kisses my forehead.

"We're leaving, my love," he says.

I look over at him. "Where are we going?"

"Baton Rouge."

Pausing, we stare into each other's eyes. I don't ask why. I already know. With a final nod, I climb out of bed. He takes my hand and leads me downstairs and out the house. Getting into his truck, we head out.

We don't speak. But he keeps his hand in mine the entire time. And when we arrive and my heart starts thudding, he lifts our joined hands and places his over my heart. "Breathe."

I try but it doesn’t help much. I direct him to the address. The house is sitting illuminated under the streetlights. Faint music thumping inside. "This is it."

Solomon nods. Stepping out, he comes over to my side and helps me out. Tucking me under his arm, he speaks low into my ear. "I just need you to point them out. Then I want you to come outside and wait for me in the car."

I look around nervously. "What if someone sees or hears you?"

He looks at me with glowing eyes. "For their sake, I hope they don't."

My breath stutters, making my chest tremble.

"It's okay. You've done nothing wrong," he reassures me. With a kiss, he leads me up the stairs.

Voices drift through the door. My body locks up. I remember their faces. But their voices—I could never forget. None of them. "I think they're all in here." I stare at the door.

Solomon lets me go. "Good. This'll be quick then."

Removing his shirt, he sets it on a chair on the porch. He knocks and I suddenly feel like I'm about to pass out. The door opens just a fraction—Solomon kicks it open, taking it clear off the hinges and sending the door and the man behind it flying backwards.

A scream gets lodged in my throat. I don’t have time to react before he scoops me up one handed, my legs dangling in the air as he holds me close to his side. I can't register what's happening next because bullets start flying.  Solomon spins with me in his arms, shielding me. I close my eyes and cover my ears.

Suddenly, I feel the tickle of his fur. I hear the deep rumble of his growl. It feels like I'm being lifted up, but I don't dare to open my eyes yet. My heart is racing so hard, it feels like I'm about to throw up.

Finally—the gunfire stops.

The smell of it fills the air. He turns with me still in his grasp. Hesitantly, I open my eyes. Solomon is fully transformed now. But seeing him in the throes of passion and the glow of moonlight is completely different in this light.

His teeth are sharp and dripping with saliva. His eyes are glowing bright like flames. He's grown an extra foot it looks like. Dark fur jutting out. Claws descended, sharp and deadly. He looks terrifying…but I know the man underneath.

I can barely focus on the men who are standing there paralyzed in terror with empty guns in their hands. My eyes observe the bloody bullet holes on Solomon's body which seem to have no effect on him whatsoever.

When he speaks his voice is low, more growl than human. "Show me who hurt you, Lila. Point them out for me."

My eyes finally move to the men and land on the ringleader. The man who sat back and allowed his friends to defile me. My hand begins to shake as I point at him. He sees my finger and turns to run out.

Solomon moves fast and swift. Setting me down, he grabs him by the throat, lifting him completely off the ground. "Is this one of the bastards who hurt you?"

"Y-Yes," I stutter.

Solomon's grip tightens around his neck. His legs kick uselessly. His eyes bulge, filling with blood as he fights desperately for air. There's a sickening crack—then he's still. Solomon tosses his body and he lands in a folded heap against the wall.

Even with his terrifying appearance, he manages to soften his face for me. "Go get in the car, my love. If you hear sirens…pull off and head home."

"Solomon—" I protest.

"Go, Lila."

With a nod, I run out the door. Stumbling to the car, I get in the driver's side. My entire body shakes as I wait. I can hear the raised voices, followed by several heavy thuds that make me flinch. And then an eerie quiet.

My eyes frantically search the doorway, barely breathing. Finally, Solomon appears. He grabs his shirt and leaps off the porch. Throwing the door open, he jumps in. I don't wait; I pull off just as the sound of sirens are heard in the distance. I can see him out my peripherals transforming back into his human form but I keep my eyes on the road.

We're a few miles away when he finally speaks. "Pull over, my love."

Still trembling, I pull over and park. Solomon unclips my seatbelt and lifts me up, settling me on his lap. His arms encircle my body and his lips press softly against my temple. "Relax for me, please." He rocks me gently. "I know it's scary, but I don't hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it. And they deserved it. You're mine to protect now, Lila. All mine."

Slowly, I lift my head to meet his watery eyes.

"All mine," he repeats.

With shaking hands I cradle his face in my hands. "Yes, baby." I nod, tears now streaming down my face. "All yours." Thumbing the tears under his eyes, I kiss him. "Forever."