Chapter 9 - No Strings Attached

Luci couldn't believe that she was looking at herself on the TV. Those two women had given a very detailed description, and anyone who saw it would know it was her.

"If Nolan sees that picture, he'll know it's me. I can't stay here." Xavier put his arms around her holding her to him in the bed.

"I won't let anyone hurt you. Why don't we stay at a hotel rather than your apartment? It's too easy for someone to get in here, and then we can have time to plan what we should do." Luci looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Did you say we? You'll stay with me even though I'm caught up in this mess? How can you do that when I haven't accepted you as my mate?" She was still being cautious. Luci wasn't ready to accept him as a mate, but maybe she could accept him as a friend.

"Of course, I'll stay with you, and you don't have to worry about me wanting anything in return. All I want is for you to be safe. I know you're not ready to be my mate, and that's okay. However, that won't stop me from doing everything I can to protect you." Xavier was amused and saddened by her expression. It spoke volumes about how alone she really was. He meant what he said too. He would help her with no strings attached.

"Alright, let's go to a hotel until we figure something out. I don't think Nolan knows about this place, but it won't take him long to find it. Do you have clothes or anything? I didn't see you with a bag." Luci got out of bed and headed for her closet.

"I rented a car when I got here. My bag's in the car. I came straight to your apartment when I got off the plane." Luci turned to him as she pulled out a suitcase.

"Why did you come here? I know you said it was because you wanted us to talk, but do you have an ulterior motive that I'm missing? I'm not saying that I'm ungrateful. I just want to make sure you don't think I will fall madly in love with you because you helped me." Luci didn't want to hurt him because he had been so kind to her when she had treated him like shit. However, she wanted to set things straight before they left her apartment.

"You have nothing to worry about. When I came here, my motive was to talk to you and see if you would be willing to get to know me before rejecting me. When I saw you crying, my plans changed. All I wanted to do was give you comfort. If you reject me after this ends, I'll accept your rejection. I don't expect anything from you." Xavier wanted to be as transparent as possible with her because he knew that would be the only way to her heart.

"I believe you. Let's go before they find us. I know a good hotel that's discreet." Luci started to grab her suitcase, but Xavier took it from her. She grabbed her purse and phone before they left.

It was early morning, and she was exhausted, but she couldn't rest until she felt they were safe. Luci had always been able to take care of herself; after all, she was a vampire. However, with Nolan trying to get her, it upped the stakes. He was just as powerful as she was, maybe more so.

When they reached the parking garage, Xavier led Luci to a luxury sedan. She was surprised. With him being a prince, she would have thought he would have a driver and people to take care of his every need. Although being with him even for a short time, he didn't appear to be the type to want people waiting on him. After they got into the car, Luci gave him the hotel's address.

"I have to ask you something. How is it that you're a prince but don't have a dozen people following you around?"

"I prefer to be alone. I don't want people around me just because of my title." Xavier didn't care for some aspects of the royal life.

"Wow, I've never met a royal like you before. All the royals I've met have been stuffy and arrogant." Lucinda was impressed by Xavier. He was one of a kind, but she still wasn't ready to go any further than friends for the time being.

They pulled up to the hotel a few minutes later. Due to the early hour, only a few people were out, but Luci was still worried about being recognized. Xavier saw her nervousness and put his arm over her shoulders as they walked inside.

"It's alright. I know you're scared. Let's get upstairs, get some sleep, and we'll figure something out later." Luci relaxed a little and put her arm around his waist. As long as he was okay with the friend thing, she would take advantage of how safe he made her feel.

Xavier requested the penthouse because fewer people would have access. They refused help from the porter with their luggage and headed to the elevator.

Luci couldn't help looking all around as they walked through the lobby. She was terrified that Nolan would have a contact already looking for her. She was also concerned about Xavier getting hurt because he was helping her. As soon as they got to the penthouse, Luci noticed Xavier hesitating as she headed to the bedroom.

"What's wrong?" She asked, looking around, worried that he had seen or heard something.

"You've been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours, and I'll understand if you prefer me to sleep out here." Xavier didn't want her to think he would expect anything just because they shared a bed. She may have wanted him with her at the apartment, but he wasn't sure she still felt the same way.

"I need you in there with me because of everything that's happened." Luci was too tired to worry about his concerns. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bedroom with her.

Once inside, she went to the walk-in closet, opened her suitcase, and pulled out her pajamas. After changing her clothes, she got into bed and waited for Xavier.

"Okay, have it your way." He slipped off his pants and shoes, leaving him in his boxers and a t-shirt. Luci scooted over when he got into the bed until she was lying against him with her head on his arm.

Xavier thought he had just died and gone to heaven with Luci lying against him like she was. There was nothing sexual about the situation, but what pleased him was that she found comfort in his arms. Whether or not she wanted to admit it, they would eventually be mates. He was willing to wait as long as she needed.

Luci smiled as she snuggled against Xavier. She took in a deep breath to savor his scent. Even though vampires didn't pick up on the scents of their mates as much as other species did, she liked how he smelled. Xavier had a very masculine scent that wrapped around her.

She could feel the sparks between them when their skin touched, but she chose to ignore it for now. Luci felt Xavier lean down and kiss her forehead. That simple gesture made her body feel like it was going to explode. She didn't say anything; she just held on to him as she drifted off to sleep.

Xavier and Luci had been asleep for a few hours when the sound of her phone ringing woke them up. She looked to see who was calling and groaned. It was her dad. She knew he had probably seen her picture on the news, and even though she didn't want to, she decided to answer it.

"Hey, Dad, what's going on?" Luci laid back down and moved against Xavier again. She didn't know why, but she felt she needed him to be touching her. He began rubbing his hand up and down her back, causing her to shiver in delight.

"I saw on the news this morning that you were a witness to a horrendous crime. Are you alright?" Luci smiled. Her dad had become more protective of her after they lost Amelia.

"Yes, I'm fine. I decided to leave my Manhattan apartment just in case anyone came looking for me. Those men were awful, and they treated the humans like garbage. I have no idea what they did with the vampires and shifters they kidnapped, but it can't be good."

"Why don't you come back home where you can be safe? I don't like you out there by yourself. It's time you settle down with a nice vampire who can take care of you." Luci rolled her eyes. This was the same conversation they'd had multiple times.

"Dad, I'm fine, and I'm not alone. I have a friend that's staying with me." Luci decided not to say anything about Xavier being her mate. She knew her family wouldn't be happy that he wasn't a vampire, and she wasn't ready to claim she had a mate when she hadn't accepted him yet.

"Well, that's good, dear. I feel better knowing you're not alone. Let me know if you need anything. Oh, and where are you staying?"

Xavier heard what her dad asked, and something about it concerned him. He got Luci's attention and whispered into her ear.

"Don't tell him the exact hotel. He may tell someone he doesn't realize is involved with what happened." Luci thought about it and agreed. After all, Nolan was a friend of her dad's.

"I'm still in New York in a hotel, but I don't know how long I'll be here. I'm thinking about returning to San Diego." She winked at Xavier.

"I have to go; Nolan is calling me. Take care of yourself."

Luci dropped the phone on the bed at the mention of Nolan. Why was he calling her dad now? Was he trying to see if her dad knew where she was? She was suddenly glad that Xavier had told her not to tell her dad what hotel she was in.