Breathing out a sigh, drenched in sweat, she slowed. Then stopped. Panting, she headed back into the house. That boring job in the admin office was starting to look better. Especially since she hadn’t gotten a paycheck from this new job yet and she needed food.
As she passed through the sliding glass doors and sitting room, she saw Yasmine enter the kitchen in tight, sparkly pink leggings and a tube top that barely covered her large breasts. How the woman wasn’t freezing her butt off, Charity did not know.
“Hey,” Charity said, wiping her face of sweat.
Yasmine stopped at the edge of the kitchen and popped out a hip. “Well, look who it is.” The sneer erased some of her beauty. “The tag-along. I know what game you’re playing. It won’t work for long, I can assure you.”
“I didn’t realize staying alive was a game, but I sure hope it keeps working. You want some oatmeal?” Charity measured out some water and dumped it into a pot on the stove.
“He only sees you as his duty, you know,” Yasmine continued, undeterred. “He’s protecting the damsel in distress because that’s his job, and he’s damn good at his job.”
Charity threw a thumbs-up over her shoulder. “Gold star to you for the worst pep talk ever. Now, about that oatmeal…”
Yasmine huffed and sauntered toward the cabinets. “You’re no threat to me.” She extracted two coffee cups before filling them. “Watch your back, honey.”
“Dude, I’m not even into him,” Charity said, exasperated. “We fight, like, most of the time. You’re exactly right; there is no threat— Okay, you’re walking away. You don’t care.” She rolled her eyes and snatched up her phone as she waited for the water to boil.
She’d missed calls from both Macy and Andy.
Text from Macy: I gotta talk to Devon this morning. Need ride to school?
Text from Andy: We got class today, yo. Im so gonna sit next to you ;)
Text from Andy: I called u. Did u do homework? Need help. Im coming over.
Charity smiled. Lovable douche, that one.
“Hey.”
She jumped as Macy strolled in and took a seat at the island.
Macy grinned. “Scared you?”
“No. I was doing calisthenics.” Charity scowled. “Make more noise when you walk around, would you?”
“Sorry. I’m not used to hanging out with deaf humans.”
“I’m not a deaf human. I’m a deaf magical being with no real control over her life and said magic.” Heaviness filled her chest, stifling her smile. She measured out the oatmeal.
“How are you?” Macy asked, her expression turning serious.
Charity shrugged.
“Do you want a hug, a punch, or a change of subject?” Macy asked, deadpan.
Charity couldn’t help but laugh. “Change of subject, please.”
“Did you figure out your phone and computer?” Macy asked, bringing out her own phone. “Because I’m happy to make fun of you if you didn’t. Help. I mean, I’m happy to help you.”
Charity laughed, the dark cloud over her mood quickly lifting. Why couldn’t all friendships be this easy?
“I’ve got all the basics down,” Charity said. “I need to steal Devon’s CDs and figure out how to load them up. The computer doesn’t have a CD drive, though. Also…I haven’t seen any CDs lying around.”
“No, because it isn’t 2001. I thought he said he created a family plan with you when he bought everything. You should have access to his music subscription. I have one if you want to mooch off me—”
“When he bought everything?” Charity asked.
Macy paused. “The phone and computer, yeah. Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”
“He said Roger bought them.”
Macy froze with her eyebrows raised. “Oh. Ahuum.” She squinted with her eyebrows still raised, a weird expression that clearly implied she’d accidentally outed a secret.
Charity turned back to the pot. “Why would Devon buy me that stuff?” she murmured, warmth filling her chest despite herself. She was cool with him giving her emotional support, since that was his duty as alpha, and as Yasmine had said, he was damned good at his job. But this was…thoughtful. Disguising his kindness by giving someone else credit was even more so. It showed he had a big heart. It showed that he cared about the wellbeing of those around him, even when it wasn’t necessary.
“What are you making?” Macy asked, clearly seeing the need for another topic change.
“Oatmeal,” Charity said, happy for the continued distraction. “I have enough for you and Andy, if you want some?”
“Ew, no thanks. When’s Andy showing up?”
Devon entered the kitchen in sweats and a T-shirt, a coffee cup in hand. He made a beeline for the stove, as was becoming the norm.
“Devon, I need a word with you,” Macy said in a low voice, staring at her hands.
He ignored Macy as he glanced into the bubbling pot. “I’m getting tired of this stuff.”
“What did you eat before I made oatmeal for you?” Charity asked.
“Nothing. I didn’t eat breakfast.”
She gave him a blank stare, allowing him to realize for himself how ridiculous he was being.
Instead, he turned back to Macy. “We’ll speak after I have my shower and coffee.”
Silence filled the kitchen. Devon leaned against the counter, staring at Charity with a familiar expression. This was the way he’d looked at her that first night, when she’d been wearing Samantha’s dress. Those beautiful speckled eyes of his had a way of cutting right through her.
She lifted her eyebrows. “Can I help you?”
He didn’t so much as blink. It almost seemed like he was trying to solve a riddle.
“Staring is rude,” she muttered. “And obnoxious.”
“We need groceries,” he said as Yasmine walked in and stalled at the edge of the kitchen.
“Fascinating observation, Watson. I shall make a note,” Charity said, proud she’d kept the discomfort out of her tone. She wondered if Roger would give her an advance even though she was on a trial period. He had to know she needed it.
“I want to work out a deal,” Devon said, ignoring her comment. “I hate cooking. I figured I’d buy groceries if you cooked.”
That offer was too generous, especially now that she knew about the phone and computer. She was beyond grateful, but she was already at Code Red in the burden department. She didn’t want to put him out any more, not when he was perfectly fine with takeout and his current setup. Roger would definitely be open to an advance. He had to be.
“With school, sometimes I don’t have time to cook,” she lied, trying to find a polite way out of this. “I don’t know that I could hold up my end of the bargain.”
“Just make sure we have freezer stuff, then,” he replied.
“And then there’s the issue that you might not like what I make.”
“I’m not picky. I ate a mushroom the other day, remember?”
“Right…” She stirred the pot of oatmeal, which didn’t need nearly as much attention as she was giving it. “But I would have no way to get all the groceries.”
Devon shifted his stance, his patience drying up. “I’ll drive you, obviously.”
“It’s just…” Charity lowered her voice. “It’s not really fair if you help shop, buy, and don’t even get all your meals cooked. It’s kind of to my benefit, you know? I can’t accept that.”
Yasmine huffed in disdain. Charity’s face flared hot with embarrassment.
Devon didn’t notice. He leaned into her space, imposing upon her with his size and the power and energy coiled within him. She could feel his wolf begging to get out, flirting with her. Coaxing her.
“Stop making this complicated,” he growled, a command that shocked into her body. He was trying to quell her defiance by dominating her, like the alpha he was.
Fire licked up Charity’s middle. The unruly thing within her bloomed heat.
His nostrils
flared and his eyes sparked. Electricity crackled between them. His eyes traveled her face before settling on her lips. She could almost feel them tingle.
“Will you do it or not?” His deep, rough voice coated her skin. “And stop trying to challenge me, Charity, or I’m going to answer.”
Macy’s face went slack. Then pale. Charity barely noticed.
That sweet inferno surged inside her, feeling the call of Devon’s magic. The heat boiled higher, filling her. Excited tingles prickled her flesh. She felt wild. Reckless. Damn good.
His wolf might want out—but her unnamable power wanted out, too.
She grinned. “Sure. To the groceries.”
He bristled, and his power flirted with her senses, strong and heady. His stare burned into her, his wolf scrabbling for a foothold again. The sensation fanned her fire to impossible heights. Her palm itched for a sword.
He shook his head slowly. “Knock it off, Charity. I’m serious.”
Excitement swam in his gaze, negating his words. Something deep and hot pounded in her body, begging for fulfillment.
“See? This is why she should be removed,” Yasmine said, cutting through the moment. “She doesn’t follow orders.”
“She’s not pack. She has an excuse to defy his orders. You, on the other hand…” Macy muttered.
As if a ruler, bent too far, suddenly snapped, Devon whirled toward the hall, power rolling from him. He pinned Yasmine with the stare he’d just shown Charity. The scowl dripped off her face and she took a step back.
“You need to learn when to speak, and when to remain silent,” he said.
“Yes, alpha.”
He glanced at Macy. “I’ll speak to you in a while.”
“Yes, sir,” Macy said, back to looking at her hands.
Charity itched her chest as the indescribable euphoria dwindled away. “Well. That was exciting.” She turned back to the oatmeal, not able to keep the smile from her face.
“Have you lost your mind?” Macy asked quietly. “You don’t challenge him. You just don’t. One day he might lose control of his wolf. His wild side will be forced to subdue you.”
A thrill arrested Charity. Her body tightened up, most notably in the feminine areas. She blinked at Macy.
“Exactly,” Macy said, swiveling her head to watch Yasmine follow Devon out.
Macy had misinterpreted Charity’s look, thankfully. Charity wasn’t afraid of Devon trying to subdue her.
She was afraid of her excited reaction to the thought that he might try.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Later that evening, Devon pulled into the supermarket parking lot with Charity fidgeting in the seat next to him. They hadn’t spoken since breakfast, and frankly, he’d been glad for it. She was a distraction he hadn’t needed today. Two more people had been reported missing, an elderly woman and a teen. Devon had no illusions about what had happened—they were food for a newbie that had lost control and drained its blood source dry. A higher-level vamp had probably disposed of the body. A newbie wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to do it.
The first newbie they’d taken out had been reported missing, too. It was only a matter of time before the others were reported missing. Devon needed to pin down the rest of those creatures before anyone else paid the price, and before the MLE office was contacted to work with the Brink police on the missing persons. Roger was counting on him.
Unfortunately, none of the surviving newbies had stayed in the same place for long. Sam hadn’t been attending her classes and had only stopped by her house to grab some clothes—Rod had checked it out after Devon and Charity’s visit but come up dry. The same was true of the others. They weren’t acting like normal freshly turned vamps. They seemed more organized. More elusive than even newbies under the guidance of middle-tier or lesser vamps.
Devon wondered if that elder didn’t have a hand in things. Usually, an elder would lose interest after the changing party, but none of the typical rules applied lately. Vlad’s obvious and extreme interest in Charity seemed to be leaking to all parts of this situation. Devon was no match for someone like Vlad. Roger barely was. Still, until Devon was sure of a connection, he had to keep working on this.
Not an ideal time for chores, but he had to keep his pack fed, and if they didn’t get some groceries, Charity would be in a tough spot. He was burning through her food supplies, and Devon knew she didn’t have two pennies to rub together to buy more.
“Are you coming in, or what?” Charity asked aggressively, her hand on the door handle. He knew for a fact that this deal skirted her line between pity and fair. It clearly galled her.
He couldn’t help a small grin. This was actually a fair trade in his book—the woman could somehow make oatmeal taste good—but her frustration tickled him. It was penance for all the silent challenges she’d made, accompanied by boosts in her mouth-watering scent. They drove him crazy.
“Can I wait out here?” he replied in distaste.
“You aren’t driving Miss Daisy. These choices concern you. I don’t want to get something you hate.”
“You won’t. I eat everything.”
“Let me rephrase. I don’t want to get something you’ll bitch about.”
Devon sighed and climbed out of the SUV. They had a couple of hours until full night, and he’d chosen an affluent area of town that vampires usually didn’t prowl for food. They’d be fine. He hated shopping almost as much as he hated cooking, but eating well was worth this hassle.
She stared down at her list as they entered the store. “Can you grab a cart?” she asked. She glanced back, probably to make sure he’d do it.
The light fell across her delicate features, highlighting her bizarre ethereal quality. She was lovely, extremely pleasing to behold. Everything about her worked in perfect harmony. She caught the eye and held it in such a way that he felt trapped and weightless. Jailed, but not sure if he was panicked or elated by that fact.
“Hello?” she said.
“Yeah, sure.”
He met up with her in the most useless area in the store. He told her as much.
“What are you, five? Vegetables are good for you.”
“Vitamins are easier to get down.”
She smirked and dropped a bag of apples into the cart. “You liked that portabella.”
“Meh.”
She chuckled softly. “Right, okay. Do you want to divide and conquer, or take it by aisles together?”
“I hate it here and I don’t know where anything is.”
A crease formed between her eyebrows. She nodded. “Uh-huh. Yes. I can see you missed my question.”
“Together,” he growled in mock irritation.
“Don’t start with the attitude. It’ll just piss me off.”
“Oh well, that’ll change my whole tune, surely.”
She shook her head, another smile lighting up her face.
He cleared his throat, his behavior the night before eating at him. “Sorry about last night. I know it seemed like I was pissed, but I wasn’t. Not really. Andy was right—it happens to a lot of people. I was just…you know…worried. It’s my duty to look after you, and I did a shit job. I shouldn’t have taken that out on you.”
“It’s fine. And thanks. For helping, I mean. You were justified in the way you acted and the things you said. I completely lost my head. But if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not talk about it anymore.”
Understandable, especially for a guy who thought talking things out was the equivalent of a medieval torture device. He’d remember to send Macy her way, though. Women more readily talked to other women. At least, that was what Andy had said.
It was bad when Andy became your expert in dealing with women.
“Also, thanks. You know, for the phone and computer.”
Devon gritted his teeth. He hadn’t wanted to advertise that he’d been behind those gifts. It was essential to the pack that each of them had a phone, and if he wanted, he was sure he could submit
an expense report for reimbursement. But the computer…
In the simplest terms, he was paying it forward. He knew what it was to feel lost, destitute. When he’d answered the summons, he hadn’t had a dime, a place to stay, anything. If not for Roger and the pack, he would still have nothing. Sure, he’d worked his ass off to earn everything he had, but he couldn’t deny he’d been given a boost. So far, no one had done that for Charity. The least Devon could do was give her the right tools to help her achieve success. She was too headstrong and proud to ask for them, so he’d tried to ensure she wouldn’t have to.
He rolled his shoulders as Charity crossed something off her shopping list. She’d made one. On paper. Something that had oddly charmed him. “Don’t mention it,” he growled, hoping she caught on. Literally, don’t mention it again.
“Should I get more portabellas?” she asked, turning to face him, closer than he’d realized. He caught a whiff of her scent, clean and feminine and not entirely human. Sweet and spicy.
The change of conversation and her sudden proximity froze him up. He started to salivate and stared into her red-brown eyes, sparkling with intelligence.
“What the hell is wrong with you today?” she demanded. “Has Yasmine got your head lost in the clouds or something?”
He grinned while trying to claw his way out of his weird stupor.
“Jealous?” he teased.
“Yeah, right. What’ve you got that a vibrator can’t do better?”
He froze up for the second time, surprised and shocked and holy shit she’d just gotten him hard. That wasn’t good.
“Ha!” She grinned at him. “Embarrassed you! Point to me.”
He blinked a couple of times, and couldn’t help the goofy grin as he looked into her beguiling gaze. An unexpected burst of butterflies filled his stomach.
Still a little flabbergasted, he followed her around the stands of produce, only coming out of his fog when he realized he was shopping with a poor kid who was used to a minimal budget.
Warrior Fae Trapped: A DDVN Book Page 19