Wicked

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  I grinned, feeling absolutely boneless. "What?"

  "You owned me with just one kiss," he said, and my chest clenched with the most exquisite pressure. "I just wanted you to know that."

  Emotion clogged my throat, and when I spoke, my voice was hoarse. "Okay."

  A crooked smile appeared and he kissed me softly. "Stay here. All right?"

  I nodded, and when Ren withdrew from me and left the bed, I settled against the pillow, closing my eyes as I stretched my arms and legs. A big, goofy smile pulled at my lips. Parts of my body were sore in the most delicious way, and I couldn't remember ever feeling this relaxed. Like I'd spent the week getting a deep tissue massage and now—

  A sudden shout from the kitchen, followed by the sound of something crashing to the floor jerked me into a sitting position. Heart pounding, I threw my legs off the bed and grabbed Ren's shirt. Tugging it on over my head, it fell to just above my knees as I grabbed the stake off my dresser and hurried out into the hallway. I came to a dead stop in the entry of the kitchen.

  Holy granola bars.

  Somehow, in my post-coital blissed out mind, I'd forgotten all about my very special roommate.

  Ren had Tink pinned to the counter, a kitchen knife at the brownie's throat, and his large hand wrapped around Tink's midsection. A large bowl was on the floor, brown flakes scattered across the tile like a cereal murder scene.

  Oh crap.

  Tink's wide gaze found mine as he twisted his head to the side. "I wasn't doing anything!"

  "You were in her kitchen," Ren snapped, eyes glittering dangerously. "Eating her Frosted Flakes. What in the actual fuck?"

  "Uh . . ."

  "I always eat her cereal!" Tink flailed his little arms. "And you're naked. You're completely naked!"

  Oh my, Ren was completely naked. My gaze dropped to his butt, and good Lord and Mamma Mia, so help me, he had a nice behind. Shapely, firm globes—

  Fear for Tink's life snapped me out of it. "What are you doing, Ren?"

  He sent me a dubious look. "I was going to make you breakfast, but I found this little freak in your kitchen."

  Tink curled his lip. "You were going to make her breakfast while naked? Your junk out and everything?"

  Ren's grip on Tink's midsection tightened, and the brownie squeaked like a toy. The whole breakfast thing was kind of sweet and Ren cooking naked was really hot, but I needed to regulate.

  "Okay." I placed the stake on the bistro table then reached up, tucking my hair back. "I can explain, Ren, but I need you to let him go."

  "You heard the woman," Tink said. "Let me go."

  Ren's gaze flew from the brownie to me. "You want me to let this thing go?"

  "He's my thing—I mean, he's not a 'thing.' He's a brownie, and he's okay. He's not going to hurt anything. I swear." Walking over to where Ren stood, I ignored the way Tink glared at us. "Please."

  "He's a brownie, Ivy. What in the hell is he doing here?" He turned his gaze back to Tink, and the brownie paled since the edge of the knife was still near his throat. "And what do you mean he's yours? I come into the kitchen and he's sitting in a bowl of Frosted Flakes like a walking, talking rat."

  "I am not a rat, sir! I am a brownie and damn proud of it, you overgrown—"

  "Tink," I warned, then wrapped my hand around Ren's wrist. His emerald gaze flicked to mine. My heart was slamming against my ribs. As upset with Tink as I was, if something happened to him . . .

  "His name is Tink?"

  I nodded. "Well, that's what I call him."

  "Am I high? I've got to be high." He glanced back down at Tink and scowled. "Is he wearing doll pants?"

  "What's it to you?" Tink challenged.

  Ren's brows flew up.

  God, this was so not how I wanted Ren or anyone to find out about Tink. Drawing in a deep breath, I tried again. "I'm sorry. I should've warned you—"

  "You should've warned me," Tink muttered crossly. "I'm the one who had to see his dong swinging around—"

  "Tink!" I snapped, sending him a glare that let him know I was seconds away from letting Ren do his worst. "Okay. I can explain everything, but I need you to let him go, and you should . . . um, put some pants on."

  "I second that," the brownie said under his breath.

  Oh my God, Tink had a death wish. "Please, Ren. Tink isn't bad. Brownies aren't bad. I can explain everything. Please, just let me explain."

  For a moment, I wasn't sure if Ren was going to listen, but then he flipped the knife in his hand, slamming the sharp end into the cutting board next to Tink. The knife trembled from the impact as Tink flew off the counter, zooming up to the ceiling lamp. The fixture swung as he peered over the edge.

  Tink raised his hand and his middle finger.

  I sighed.

  Ren turned a disbelieving stare on me then stalked out of the kitchen. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get distracted by that ass.

  "You got some last night," Tink called from his perch. "You hussy."

  I turned my glare on him. "What were you doing? You had to know he was here."

  "Oh. I know! I heard him," he yelled back, and my cheeks heated. "I didn't think he'd stay the night. One night stands don't stay the night!"

  "Not a one night stand, asshole!" Ren shouted from the hallway.

  My heart got all happy about that, but then Tink lowered his voice. "Him? Really? You decide to dust the cobwebs off and you do it with him?"

  "Nothing is wrong with him, you little jackass."

  Tink gaped at me. "I'm the jackass? He manhandled me! While he was naked!"

  Shaking my head, I started out of the kitchen. "Get down from there. I need to go talk to him."

  The brownie muttered something under his breath, but I ignored him as I went to my bedroom just in time to see that wonderful behind disappearing into jeans. Ren faced me as he tugged the zipper up. "I really don't know what to say," he said.

  "I . . . I don't know either, to be honest." I walked over to my dresser and opened the drawer, grabbing a pair of shorts. "No one knows about him. Not even Val."

  A shadow passed over his face. "He's a creature of the Otherworld, Ivy."

  "I know." I pulled the cotton shorts on then grabbed a cami with a built-in bra. I turned to the side, tugging the shirt off, and quickly slipped the tank top on. I faced him and saw that he still hadn't buttoned his jeans. The cut of the muscles near his hips was extraordinarily distracting. "I haven't told anyone about him, and maybe one day I would've told you, but . . . he's a brownie and I know people like us would judge him on just that fact and nothing else."

  Ren thrust his hand through his hair, causing the waves and curls to stick up. "How else are we supposed to judge them?"

  I picked up my cardigan from the chair and slipped it on. All I could hope was that Ren would tell no one about Tink. Hoping for anything else seemed foolish. "I don't know? Maybe understand that not all creatures from the Otherworld are like the fae?"

  He stared at me like I just flashed him a third boob.

  "Maybe I should start at the beginning?" When he didn't respond, I sat on the edge of the chair. "I found him a couple of years ago, in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. He was hurt badly. His wing and leg were broken, and I don't know why I didn't finish him off like I knew I was supposed to, but I'd never seen a brownie before. Didn't even think any of them were in our world. I couldn't kill him. I know it's a weakness, but—"

  "It's not a weakness, Ivy."

  Hope that he'd understand everything sparked in my chest. "Anyway, I just couldn't do it, and I couldn't leave him there, so I took him home and healed him. He's been with me ever since, and he's never done anything to put me in danger or hurt me. Well, he does try to bite me every so often." I frowned and shook my head. "I think that's just a weird brownie thing."

  "Do you have any idea how powerful brownies can be?" he asked as he glanced at the open door. He took a step toward me. "Do you have an inkling of what is living in your home?"

  Tink w
as powerful when it came to ferreting out my passwords and ordering shit off of Amazon, but other than that, I think he got hit with the short stick when it came to having useful powers. "He's really good at cleaning the house," I said lamely.

  Ren stared at me. "So you basically have a pet brownie?"

  Thank God Tink wasn't here to hear that. "I wouldn't necessarily call him a pet." He was more expensive than a pet.

  "Then what do you call him?"

  I shrugged one shoulder. "I just call him . . . Tink." Pulling the ends of my cardigan together, I looked up at Ren. "He's my friend."

  "And I protect her," Tink said from the hallway. He was peering around the edge of the door.

  "I wouldn't go that far," I said dryly.

  Ren looked down at the brownie. "Protect her from what?"

  Tink was rebelliously silent as he marched into the room, creeping over to where I sat. He ended up clutching the leg of my chair, his body half hidden behind my leg.

  "Brownies hate the fae, Ren." I fiddled with the buttons on my cardigan. "They aren't the enemy."

  "Is that so?" murmured Ren, watching the brownie.

  Tink cocked his chin up defiantly . . . from behind my leg. "They killed my entire family. There is nothing more I hate than the fae."

  "The brownies have destroyed almost all the gates from inside the Otherworld. They've been doing more than what the Order has accomplished when it comes to the gates, and none of us ever knew," I explained quietly. "That's how I know about the gates being destroyed. Merle didn't tell me."

  Ren's brows lifted. "It was him?"

  Tink glared at me. "Oh, so it's okay for you to lie?"

  "Shut up, Tink," I snapped.

  Ren sat down on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied the brownie. I was relieved to see that he no longer looked like he wanted to murder the little guy, but wariness was etched into his features.

  "I couldn't tell you how I knew. If I did, then well, I would have to tell everyone about Tink, and as much as I want to punt kick him across the room sometimes . . ."

  "Uh," muttered Tink. "Love you too."

  Ignoring him, I took a deep breath. "I will protect him with my life."

  Ren's head jerked up and his crystalline gaze found mine. His lips parted, and I held my ground. "Please," I said. "Don't tell anyone about him."

  A tense heartbeat passed, and then he said, "Well, at least it's not like you have a pet snake, because that shit would be weird. And I guess there are people who have more annoying roommates. I'll be honest, though. I don't trust the little shit, but I respect your decision."

  "Well, I don't trust you either, so what-the-fuck-ever," Tink replied with a saucy grin as he stepped out from behind my leg.

  Grabbing a scarf off the chair, I threw it at him.

  He caught it, clutching it to his chest as he flew into the air. "You gave Tink a scarf. Tink is free!" He flew out into the hallway like a little cracked-out fairy, screeching, "Tink is freeeeee!"

  Ren looked at me. "What in the actual fuck?"

  I sighed. "He's obsessed with Harry Potter. I'm sorry."

  Tink darted back into the room, holding the scarf to his bare chest. "There is no reason to apologize when it comes to Harry Potter."

  "You do remember what happened to Dobby, right?" I said.

  "Shit." Tink's eyes widened and then he dropped the scarf. "Fuck that shit. I'm hungry. Someone—no name mentioned—ruined my breakfast. So I'll be in the kitchen." He stopped and looked pointedly at Ren. "I got my eyes on you, buddy."

  Ren lifted a brow.

  Once I heard bowls clanging around in the kitchen, I focused on Ren. "Are you really okay with this? Because I need to know if you're not."

  He stood. "Honestly? I think I'm a little dumbfounded by it right now." He walked toward me, snatching the fallen scarf off the floor then kneeling in front of the chair I sat in. "You have a brownie living with you. I've never even seen a brownie before."

  "I didn't tell him about what you are," I whispered. "The Elite? Any of that? I don't think he knows."

  He smiled crookedly, glancing at the door. "I thank you for that. God, I have so many questions I actually want to ask the little punk. Sorry, I—"

  "No. He's a punk. He's proud of it." I smiled a little. "He'll probably answer your questions. He likes to talk, especially about himself."

  Ren laughed under his breath as he placed the scarf on the arm of the chair. "A fucking brownie. Jesus. Not expecting that."

  I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing.

  His brows furrowed, and he looked like he was about to say something then shook his head. "You know," he said after a few moments. "I wanted to make today—well, what we have left of today—special for you. I thought I could make you breakfast and then maybe we could go somewhere. I don't know where, but anywhere." As he talked, my eyes widened and my heart squeezed like it had been put through a juicer. "Tonight is going to be hard, and I want you to have this day to just be happy." A flush crept over his cheeks. "Kind of sounds stupid now that I say it—"

  "No. Not stupid." Scooting forward, I placed my hands on the sides of his face, the slight stubble tickling my palms. "It sounds brilliant." He turned, pressing a kiss against the palm of my hand and then the other. "You still up for it?"

  "Most definitely."

  "And if you make breakfast and save a little bit for Tink, he'd be really forthcoming with any information," I advised him.

  Ren tilted his head against my palm, rubbing back and forth. Part of me was still worried over how Ren truly felt about Tink, but I did trust him to not say anything, and I could only hope that if Ren . . . if he stuck around, he would grow to accept Tink, maybe even like him. The latter was a long shot, but he was handling this better than I expected, and for that I was grateful.

  "Let's do this then."

  I let him pull me out of the chair, and still holding on to my hand, he guided me toward the hall. As I followed him, an unexpected cold chill snaked down my spine. Looking back into the bedroom at the rumpled bed and clothing strewn across the floor, all I could hope was that today wouldn't be my last happy day, that I'd have many more.

  That I would have a tomorrow and so would Ren.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Surprisingly, Ren made breakfast and the three of us managed to eat the fluffy omelets without him trying to kill Tink once, and I was kind of amazed by that. Tink had answered Ren's questions about the gates and what the brownies had been doing in the Otherworld, but Ren didn't push beyond that. I could tell that he wanted to, but for some reason, he held back.

  After we showered—separately, because it would've been weird at that moment knowing that Tink was fully aware of what Ren and I had done last night . . . and this morning—Ren and I spent the better part of the day along the Mississippi, doing the tourist thing. I skipped classes again, knowing that I'd pay hell when it came to catching up, but I was doing the whole here and now thing. I wasn't going to stress about it.

  Although it wasn't the first time I'd ever been on a date, it was sweet and fun and so different to me that it did feel like I'd never done this before. Through idle chatter, Ren discovered that Tink was a baker and the reason for my late night trips in search of beignets.

  "You really do care about him," he said, sounding stunned.

  It struck me then how much I did, and I should've realized that when I hadn't turned him into a shish kabob when I found out he