by Walters, Abi
“Vex Estevan Carino.” The name rolled off my tongue as I walked over to where she stood and pointed at the man in the old photograph. “Estevan was my dad’s name. Whenever my mom was angry with him she’d call him ‘Essie’. He hated it. Luckily Vex Essie Carino doesn’t flow as well, so whenever I was in trouble I got the full name treatment.”
“You in trouble? Hard to believe,” She murmured under her breath.
“Funny.” I led her to another picture. This one was bigger and more recent. “That’s Hakeem. My mom. Veronica, my sister, and her mate Steven. And my niece, Willa. This was taken last summer at Willa’s birthday party.”
“Your family is lovely, Vex. Your sister looks a lot like your dad, but I see your mom in your face.”
“We get that a lot. Her family is from Hawai’i. My great-great-great grandparents and a group of shifters emigrated from the island to the states. My parents met when my dad was on vacation in California. He came back with my mom, and then a few years later I showed up.” I lightly grasped Acacia’s arm. “Enough history. The sun will be up in a few hours and you should get a shower and some rest.”
“They gave me a really awkward sponge bath at the hospital. I’m just ready to sleep. Your couch looks ten times more comfortable than my bed in the RV, so I’m pretty stoked to count sheep.”
“I’ll take the couch. My bed is even comfier, and before you say no at least check it out. I need to get you a change of clothes anyway. Come on.” I was nervous and chatty as I led her to my room. “I think I went to three different mattress stores before I finally found one that was soft enough for me. I hate firm beds. I need to sleep on feathers.”
“I never would have taken you for a high maintenance kind of guy,” She teased as I turned the light on. “Oh. That’s a big bed.”
“I’m a big guy, and I wouldn’t call it high maintenance. I work a lot, so when I do get to sleep, I don’t like springs digging into my back.” I begrudgingly let go of her arm and headed for my dresser. “If you want, you can find a shirt to wear while I look for shorts that won’t swallow you whole.”
I rummaged, managing to find a pair of gym shorts that were a little tight on me. When I turned around, my words stuck to the back of my throat like peanut butter. She was wearing my faded grey Red Hot Chili Pepper shirt and nothing else. It didn’t quite hit her knees, but it hung low enough to keep me questioning the design of her panties. I was mesmerized by the colors and pictures that were permanent marks on her long legs.
“Those are still going to be too big on me. I’ll end up kicking them off in the middle of the night, anyway. I’ll just sleep like this… if that’s okay.” She kneaded the top of the bed like a kitten as she spoke. “You know, this is a pretty big bed. We can share. If that doesn’t freak you out. I promise I don’t bite.”
“That’s too bad. I do.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. I sensed the shift in the air that told me that she liked what I had said. Smelling that all night and having her just inches away would be torture. My control was good, but I doubted I’d be strong enough to resist her. I wanted to do the right thing, but I had a very good inkling that if I told her no it would hurt her feelings. “It doesn’t freak me out, but I don’t want to crowd your space.”
She peeled back the striped comforter. “We can put up a pillow barrier if you want. I won’t be crowded. I don’t move a lot in my sleep. Side preference?”
“We’re not twelve, Acacia. We don’t need a pillow barrier. The bed is plenty big. I’m going to change and use the bathroom.” I grabbed the first pair of lounge pants I saw and walked over to the light switch. “You’ll probably have to sleep on your back on the right side because of your arm. I usually sleep in the middle, so don’t worry about me. I’ll adjust.”
I turned the room light off and quickly shuffled to the attached bathroom to do my business and change. I brushed my teeth and splashed a little water on my face. When I reentered the dark bedroom Acacia was breathing softly, as if she were asleep. After the emotional few days she had encountered I wasn’t surprised that she passed out as soon as she hit the sheets. She had given me a little bit of information about what happened with her family while we waited for the hospital to release her. I hated that her mom and sister didn’t see her the way I saw her.
I climbed into the bed as carefully as I could and adjusted my pillows. I wanted to hold her. I could already smell the wonderful blend of oranges and mangos coming off of her. She somehow managed to hold onto the scent when she spent hours in a sterile gross smelling hospital after being bathed in blood. I felt like a freak hoping that her smell would imbed in my pillows. Yup. Definitely a freak.
“I need to tell you something, but I’m really afraid. I don’t want you to think less of me.”
Her softy sleepy voice was uncertain. She rolled until she was on her back, but she didn’t turn to look at me. I could feel the nerves rolling off her like waves.
“I could never think less of you, Acacia.”
“I spent three years at a federal correctional institution in Waseca, Minnesota. I’m considered a terrorist by the government.”
That was the absolute last thing I had expected to hear from her. She took advantage of my silence to explain.
“When I was twenty-one I was living with my friends Slug and Anna in this rental house halfway between Billings and Miles City. We were in the thick of shit for the Supernatural Society. We did house calls and were working on this Youtube series. I saw a flyer at a coffee shop one day for this animal rights group and I joined the next week. I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into at the time. It started off with protests and lobbying for general issues, but then one day our unofficial leader told us about this pharmaceutical company in town that was testing their products on animals. It was brutal. Absolutely terrible what they were doing.
“Protests turned into chaining ourselves to the fences. That evolved into hacking into their system and leaking the phone numbers and addresses. The night I got arrested I was literally caught red handed. I spray painted some nasty things on the side of the building after smashing the windows. There were three of us who went on the run that night. We caused twenty thousand dollars’ worth of damage, but that wasn’t our biggest problem. I knew from the moment the cops showed up that we were in deep shit.
“We violated AETA, or the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. It is supposed to keep people from damaging or interfering with the operations of animal enterprise, which is basically any academic or commercial outlets that use or sell animal products. The act also covers acts that threaten a person or injure them because of causes related to the enterprise. We vandalized the property and threatened the workers. A month after my twenty second birthday I was declared guilty and sentenced to the maximum thirty six months. I’ve been out for a year and a half now. So yeah. That’s my big secret.”
I was speechless. When she said terrorist a dozen red flags rose in my head but after hearing her quick rundown I didn’t think there was any reason why she needed that nasty brand. I thought back to that first night in her RV when she talked about animal testing. My mate was so fucking passionate and so devoted to helping animals that she went to prison because she was protecting them.
Acacia was one of the most selfless and caring persons I’d ever met. She was attacked by a mountain lion as a kid and instead of being afraid of nature and animals, she became an activist. My mate gave up three years of her life because she was trying to save helpless creatures. As a shifter I understood the need for animal rights and activism, but it wasn’t until I spent time with Acacia that I appreciated the sacrifices.
“Say something,” She pleaded softly, her voice wavering.
I hadn’t realized that more than a few seconds had gone by. “Acacia… there is no reason to be ashamed of that. You told me once that it’s about the animals, not about you. That makes you a hero in my eyes. Did you honestly believe I would think differently of you?”
&
nbsp; “My family does. Even Aiden. He just pretends like I was away at camp for three years or something. I lost all my friends, Vex. Slug took over the Society. I’m not even a member anymore. He Zuckerberg-ed me. I tried going to a meeting when I got out and they forcibly removed me. The salon I was working at wouldn’t hire me back. I couldn’t even get a job at Great Clips. I busted my ass at a plastic factory because they were the only place that would hire me. I bought the RV from my parents and saved until I felt comfortable quitting. Everyone looks at me differently. Everyone treats me like I’m either going to chain myself to a tree, throw pigs blood on them, or have some fucking psychotic break. I just… didn’t want you to do that.”
“Look at me and listen carefully, Acacia,” I said slowly. It wasn’t the right time to tell her just how deep my feelings for her ran. We were both exhausted and emotionally drained. I didn’t want to push it any more than I had to. “You are wonderful. You make me laugh. You’re passionate and beautiful and smart. You don’t hide who you are. I like that you’re different. I like that I don’t have to pretend around you. Don’t ever think that anything you say or do will make me like you any less. You could decide you want to wear a clown nose and tinfoil hat to protect you from the aliens and I’d still think you’re beautiful and smart. I’d probably ask you to make me a foil hat, too.”
“There actually is scientific validity that wearing a tinfoil hat reduces electromagnetic radio frequency.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“See? I learn something new every day around you.” I waited a few seconds before I lowered my voice. “I have a secret to tell you, too.”
“Okay.”
“I’m a bear.”
She bypassed the non-existent pillow barrier between us and scooted closer. Her voice was back to the light flutter I enjoyed so much. “Thank you.”
She rolled on her side again and pulled the pillow she was using to prop her arm up closer to her body. After she adjusted I took a page from her book and inched closer until I could feel her warmth against my chest. I slipped my arm around her waist and hoisted her back against me. She made a tiny squeaking noise but nestled in. I was too tired and way too damn content to care about the erection that tapped against her backside or the musky scent of arousal that perfumed the air.
All that mattered was having Acacia in my arms. In my bed. Where she belonged.
Chapter Seven
Acacia
Waking up in bed with someone is nothing like what they make it out to be in the romantic movies. The sunlight doesn’t fall through the slit in the curtains and create a warm ethereal glow. There isn’t that moment when you wake up and wonder if you’re still dreaming. There aren’t any sleepy kisses untainted by morning breath or nuzzling cuddles while you slowly wake up. Okay, maybe people do experience that, but waking up with Vex was anything but romantic.
It all started with his alarm. Like a pterodactyl screech, it seemed to echo as it sounded somewhere in the room. I was in the middle of an Evil Dead inspired dream where Vex had a chainsaw attached to his arm and overused the “Groovy” catchphrase as he killed mutated looking deadites as they barreled towards me in the woods. A nightmare for some; a lovesick dream for me. I hadn’t cuddled with another person in years, so I lashed out and punched the warm entity that was pressed against my body. Vex’s sexy morning voice uttered a hoarse curse as he propelled himself off of the bed. The thick comforter tangled around his legs and he crashed to the floor.
“Shit! Are you okay?”
“No I’m not okay!” He grunted. There was a rustling noise and the screeching stopped a few seconds later. His head popped up over the side of the bed. “You’re bleeding.”
“So are you!” I didn’t even look down at my arm. I rocked up on my knees and shuffled over to him. A trickle of blood inched down from the corner of his mouth. “Wow. I socked you hard.”
He thumbed the blood away as he stood up. “Don’t flatter yourself. You didn’t even break any teeth. Let me see your arm.”
“Wait until I have my morning coffee.” I stuck my arm out. I had a close up view of his naked torso. It was even better in person. It was easier to focus on the toned muscles of his chest or the pink and white scars that peppered his bronze skin than the pulsating pain in my body. “Is it bleeding? The nurse said a little bleeding was okay.”
“I think your bandage came off a little while we were sleeping. It looks fine. How is your side? I have some Tylenol. My friend Orsa sent me some herbal ointment shit the last time I took a bleeding. It helps with bruising and inflammation.”
“Thanks.”
I was completely terrified with how comfortable I felt kneeling in his bed while we were both half naked. It wasn’t even totally a sexual thing. I mean, the attraction was blinding. Every time he was near me I was acutely aware of his presence, and his smell was as intoxicating as any liquor or fine wine. I kept sneaking peeks at his chest like I was a pre-teen looking at my first Playboy magazine. While he did look like he belonged on a beach somewhere with a perky blonde model at his side, a bulk of my attraction towards him was totally unrelated to his looks. I loved the way he smiled when I talked and the way he never made fun of me for my beliefs. He listened to me. He appreciated my stories. He countered my quirky nonsense with his own strangeness.
I wasn’t normally ashamed of my status as an ex-felon, but just before I admitted the truth to Vex I felt as if I were going to throw up. I was lying in bed with a man I was falling in love with, and I was about to reveal something that could change his opinion of me drastically. I wasn’t prepared to handle my revelation about the dreaded ‘L’ word, much less his rejection, but I was tired of ignoring the elephant in the room. And instead of telling me to get out or treating me any differently, he told me I was beautiful and smart.
In the light of the morning it was hard for me to believe that he meant what he said. It was a weird mix of fear and uncertainty that kept the idea planted in my head. I was already entertaining the concept of love. I was drowning in him, and I didn’t want to come up for air. But did he feel the same? Did he just like me, or did he see a future with me? You sound like a psycho. Thank Star Lord shifters can’t read minds…. can they?
“You can’t read minds, can you?” I asked abruptly.
Vex’s nose twitched and it looked like he was holding back a smile. “Nope. Shifters have heightened senses. I can see well at night. I have great hearing. Even better sense of smell. I can tell when a person is afraid, nervous, or even aroused just by their scent.”
“Aroused?” I squeaked. I had definitely had thought about the horizontal jig while he was around. “Really? That’s uh… a really cool superpower.”
“The hearing thing is a pain in the ass. It takes a while to adjust to things like movie theaters and restaurants. Concerts are a big fat no-no.” He looked down at my chest quickly. A smirk stretched across his face when he looked back up at me. “So I’ve never had the chance to see Red Hot Chili Peppers live.”
“Maybe it’s like a blessing in disguise. You won’t get to hear them perform live, but that also means you were saved from terrible local bands that thought they were punk rock. Bleh. I wasted so much money at those things.”
“Touché.” He placed his arms on either side of me and leaned forward. He was still standing on the ground, so he was hunched forward slightly. My breath hitched as he drew closer. “You know what my biggest superpower is?”
I wanted to say something witty. Or sexy. Maybe ‘Oral?’ or ‘Popping a boner while you’re sleeping?’. Instead I stammered, “What?”
“Making pancakes.” He gave me a shit eating grin. Like lightening, he pulled back and walked towards his bedroom door. He snatched a shirt that was folded on top of the dresser and sniffed it, giving a satisfied expression before he slipped it on. “The Tylenol and that ointment are in my medicine cabinet if you’re interested.”
When the door clicked shut behind him I let out a sigh and fell backwards on
the mattress. I had no idea where the new flirtatious side of Vex had come from, and I was totally unprepared for it. I was swooning like a petticoat wearing woman in the old west. Mmm. Vex as a gunslinger. Gotta add that to my laundry list of fantasies involving him. I rolled and threw my legs over the bed. The burst of pain in my side was an all too real reminder of how close I came to death the night before.
I quickly did my business and washed up in the bathroom. Vex’s medicine cabinet was organized so well I was surprised there weren’t labels below everything. I dry swallowed a few pain pills and, with gritted teeth, slathered on the green Vaseline-looking ointment that was in a small unmarked container. The bruise was a lot larger than I anticipated. The angry looking purples and blues were prominent. I didn’t have any tattoos on my chest or abdomen, so the colors popped out against my alabaster skin. Carefully, I dropped the oversized band tee back down and washed the salve off my hands.
Though the shorts Vex had attempted to give me the night before were way too big I still put them on. I wasn’t going to put my bloody clothes back on, and I needed something to wear until we got back to Big Betty. Cinching the string, I gave myself a nod of assurance. I looked like a dungeon troll, but it was the best I could do. My trademarked winged eyeliner look had smeared in the night, and I was pretty sure I left a streak of makeup on his pillowcase. He was gentlemanly enough not to mention my raccoon eyes, so hopefully he’d be okay with a completely fresh faced me. My hair, at least, tamed with a little bit of water. I skipped the rest of my pep talk and followed the scent of bacon and coffee.
“Feel better?” He asked without looking up from the sizzling meat in the frying pan.
There were two plates at the breakfast bar stacked high with pancakes. Butter and a bottle of syrup sat between them. My stomach grumbled as I let out a moan of appreciation at the sight of the food.
“I’ll feel even better when I finish this stack of pancakes.” I hoisted myself up onto one of the high stools and immediately started dressing my cakes.