by Jamie Begley
“Would you like some more?” For the first time, Cara actually saw a small smile on his face. Cara was struck dumb. She took it back; if Venus or Aphrodite saw him, they would never let him leave their bed. For the first time, Cara wished she had watched their maneuvering with the opposite sex. Maybe then she wouldn’t be feeling so inept at how to act.
At his questioning look, Cara realized he was still waiting for her answer. “Yes, please.”
While he was fixing her another plate, Cara reached out and carefully refilled her wine glass.
“I’d be careful if I were you. You had a shock to your system with the burns then the aspirin. It might not be wise to drink too much wine.”
Cara waved his concern away with a bandaged hand. “I’ll be fine. We have wine with our meals at home, and ours is much stronger than yours.”
“If you say so.” They both dug into their food and it wasn’t long before they sat back stuffed.
“I may never move again. That was the best meal I’ve ever had. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It was just spaghetti, though.”
“It was ambrosia.” Jericho looked at the beautiful woman, who was barely able to remain sitting upright. She was on her third glass of wine.
Jericho frowned. The last thing he wanted to deal with was an intoxicated woman who had mental challenges while he had been without a good fuck for six months. He ignored her natural sexiness when her little, pink tongue licked a small drop of sauce from a wine glazed lip.
“You better get to bed while the wine has eased the pain in your hands.” He started clearing the table as she got up.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Jericho breathed a sigh of relief, glad the temptation of a woman was out of his sight. He had no intention of getting involved with the woman. The only use he had for a woman was on her back with her legs wrapped firmly around his waist, and Cara was trouble, pure temptation; Jericho knew better than to tempt fate.
Chapter Seven
Cara woke early the next morning with the bright sunshine pouring through the window. She dressed slowly, knowing Jericho would drive her into town as soon as possible. She walked slowly into the living room, and she wasn’t wrong. He was waiting for her with his keys in hand.
“I’ll get my coat.”
Jericho refused to feel guilty at the hurt look in her eyes.
When she returned wearing her coat, they walked to the truck where he silently opened the door for her, mindful of her hurt hands.
The ride into town was silent. Haden was a small town with a small population, yet the main road was backed up with traffic.
“I wonder what’s going on. I’ve never seen the town this busy.” Jericho saw several of the cars had out of town license plates as he parked his truck in front of the diner.
“Let’s grab a bite to eat and then I’ll help you find a place to stay.” Cara followed him into a small diner.
They sat at a booth that a small family left as they entered. As the family passed by, Cara winked at the small child held in her mother’s arms. Not long after Jericho had handed her a menu, wanting the ordeal over, she looked up when a perky brunette came to their table with a pad in her hand. Her brightly colored lips curled into a smile that Cara had seen on Venus and Aphrodite’s lips hundreds of times. Cara looked at Jericho to see his reaction, which was an answering smile.
Cara’s heart ached; she had wanted him to look at her that way, not another woman. The only consolation she had was the smile never reached his eyes, they stayed just as hard and cold. He might desire the woman, however she didn’t have his heart. Cara was beginning to realize no woman would be able to claim that part of him. It did not exist.
“When did you get back into town?” As her hand reached out to run down his muscled arm, Cara wanted to reach out and smack the woman’s hand away from him.
“Couple of days ago. We’ve been rained in at the cabin. Tammy, this is Cara,” Jericho introduced them without looking up from his menu. He showed that neither woman was of importance to him.
Cara’s lips tightened. She wanted to throw the glass of water in his face, yet barely restrained her temper. She was the most even-tempered of her sisters. Often they had made fun of her attitude, not understanding how she could be so forgiving of others, but Jericho was pushing at her anger.
She could understand his attitude towards her. She had been thrust upon him and he had seen that she had been taken care of, but this Tammy had obviously shared his bed and he could have at least been courteous. Cara could tell the woman was trying to keep the anger and jealously hidden from Jericho when a fake smile curved her lips.
“She’s looking for a place to stay. After we eat, we’ll head to the hotel and then I’ll wait until you get off.”
The other woman’s eyes brightened. “The inn is booked solid. There was a massive mudslide and the highway is closed until they can get it cleared. The town is full of stranded motorists. But I have an idea; she could stay at my place. Hopefully, I won’t need it for a few days.”
Jericho raised his eyes from the menu. He had never allowed her to stay at his cabin, but it was the lesser of two evils. He needed to get rid of Cara before he made a mistake he would regret. Tammy knew the score; she would never expect more from him than a quick fuck. Cara, on the other hand, would expect more, and Jericho had no intention of giving her false hope. He wanted no woman permanently. He didn’t want a woman other than relieving his needs, and once the sex was over, he wanted her gone. It would be a pain having Tammy in his cabin, but the road would open soon and he could bring her back and put Cara in the inn.
“That sounds like a plan,” Jericho told Tammy.
“Great. I get off at five. What can I get you to eat?”
Jericho ordered his steak and looked at Cara. “What would you like to eat?” He hardened himself against her hurt filled gaze.
“Do they have spaghetti?” This time it was Jericho who looked away. He felt as if he had kicked a helpless kitten. Forcing indifference, he looked at Tammy. “Give her the same thing I ordered.”
When Tammy left to get their orders of food, Cara looked down. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to be left alone in town while Jericho took his waitress back to the cabin. She knew they would spend the time in his bed, which made her so envious of the woman she couldn’t breathe. If Venus or Aphrodite were here, they would know how to get their man, however Cara had no idea of what to do.
When the door to the restaurant opened, Cara looked to see who was entering. Her breath caught in her throat. She didn’t think she would ever be glad to see the man who entered, yet right now, when she was missing her family so badly and suffering from Jericho’s rejection, she was so happy that tears came into her eyes.
The other diners weren’t so happy. The women were stunned at his sensual beauty and every hormone went into overdrive. Their bodies squirmed in desire, breasts tautened, eyes glazed over as they watched the man poised in the doorway. Grimm always liked to make an entrance.
As Cara’s face lit up and an angelic smile curved her luscious lips, Jericho’s dick hardened in his jeans. He forced himself to look away from her; to stare out the window and gain control of himself. The sooner he got Tammy back to his cabin, the better. She was uncomplicated and would take care of the hard on he’d had since meeting Cara.
Cara watched in amusement as Grimm’s dark eyes searched the faces of the diners. The men choked on fear while every misdeed, whether minor or truly evil, flashed before their eyes. Every primitive instinct of both sexes had been brought to the forefront. Guilty husbands looked away from their wives, the women shied away from their husbands in remorse, even the children were affected, beginning to cry and confess to every misdeed; from disobeying the babysitter to swiping candy at the local market.
When he began to walk toward Cara’s table, the people in the restaurant actually tensed in fear that he would stop at their own.
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Jericho, oblivious to the man entering the room, only turned from staring out the window when the man slid in next to him at the booth they were sitting at.
Surprise stilled him from knocking the intruder away.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Tears clogged her throat and she was barely able to squeak out his name. “Grimm”
“How are you holding up?”
Cara gathered herself. “It’s good to see you. Have you come to take me home?” Hope lit her beautiful eyes.
“Sorry, babe, you know that’s not possible. I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop in to see how you’re doing.” Cara’s lip began to tremble before she could help herself.
“I want to go home. Please help me, Grimm.” Desperation was in her voice.
She had to get away from Jericho. Cara felt in her mortal bones how badly he could hurt her; what he had just done was merely a small taste of it. He had rejected her for another woman. Her pride stung and she simply wanted to go home to her mother. Her mother would protect her and make sure no overbearing man would dare treat her daughter in such a manner.
“I would if I could, but you know I can’t. It’s not your time. Besides, you know that if I took you, it wouldn’t be home that I would have to take you to.”
Cara nodded. Suddenly fear filled her gorgeous face. “You’re not here to…?” She glanced in fear at Jericho. An evil smiled curled Grimm’s lips at her look.
“Nope, not him either. I’m on a layover you might say. I have a little time and thought I would find something to amuse myself with.” Cara felt sorry for this amusement. Grimm would be like a tiger amusing itself with a small mouse. Tormenting it to death. Death and Grimm were always a foregone conclusion.
Jericho sat stiffly next to the man who Cara had called Grimm. He wanted answers, and this man looked like anything other than a loony. Perhaps Cara wasn’t mentally ill, but part of a scam with this stranger. As if the man could read his thoughts, he turned to give Jericho his full attention.
“My little friend has been remiss in her introductions. Allow me. I am Grimm and you are Jericho Hawk.” When Jericho stared into the man’s black eyes, he felt as if his soul literally shrunk back inside himself. Hiding. Jericho tried to shrug the analogy away, yet was unable to stop himself. The man put out a coldness that actually made you shiver. Jericho didn’t look away. He had faced and survived worse monsters than this man. The problem was, Jericho inexplicably was beginning to believe that this Grimm was no ordinary man. It was hard to miss the reactions of the other patrons when everyone was staring at your table. “I hope you have been taking good care of her.” Threats glittered in the dark gaze staring at him.
Grimm’s eyes looked at Cara’s bandaged hands and darkened further.
Cara jumped in quickly. “It was my fault; I wasn’t careful.”
“You must be more careful, Cara. If anything happened to you, my anger would not be pleasant.” Grimm turned once again to Jericho, making sure the other man got his message.
Jericho had had enough of the man’s threats. “I’m glad you’re here.” Smirking to himself at Grimm’s surprised look. Jericho was sure it didn’t happen often. “You can take Cara off my hands and see that she is taken care of. After all, you two are obviously close.” Innuendo heavily laced his voice, leaving no doubt at what he thought their true relationship was. Jericho really didn’t care who they were fucking, though.
He’d had enough. He tried to push the man so that he could slide out of the booth and leave the two alone while he waited for Tammy in his truck until she got off work. Suddenly, he fell back in his seat and Grimm hadn’t even moved. Fury emitted from the man’s expression. Jericho no longer felt the coldness the man put out; instead, red-hot heat surged through his body.
“Grimm!” Jericho dimly heard Cara’s scream, but he was unable to look away from the deadly black eyes.
Visions exploded within his skull. Cara standing on a balcony, staring into a dark sky. He felt the loneliness and sadness she felt. Then other visions flew through his mind. Her standing in a corner watching a party of individuals. Many of the women were dressed in flowing gowns and the men dressed as warriors. Instantly, Jericho knew who each person was as if he had known them for years, and realized he was reading Cara’s mind at the moment of the party. Envy of the other women’s obvious sexuality, and painfully shy when an immortal dared to talk to her under her mother’s watchful glare.
Cara hid a deep-rooted fear that she would never be able to match the greatness of her mother and aunt. Then everything in his mind dimmed as if he was in a dark tunnel. He heard women’s screams of terror and choking fear for her sisters’ safety. Flashes of light allowed Jericho to see Cara struggle to watch the doorways her sisters went through before she allowed herself to find an exit, putting her own life at risk.
Jericho was stunned when he felt the seat once again beneath him. He didn’t know how the man had done it, but he knew that he could no longer argue against Cara’s story; he had seen it all. She was what she had said. Someone had tried to kill her and they had almost succeeded. Now she was left stripped of her powers.
“What did you do?” Cara questioned anxiously, well aware of Grimm’s powers.
“Took away his doubts. He now knows that you speak the truth.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. You could be punished.”
Grimm shrugged. “Who would dare punish me?” Cara knew he was right. He could take a mortal or immortal soul with a touch. It was a power he exerted with effortless ease.
“Why?”
“I owed you one.” Cara understood what he was saying. Often they had argued over souls. She had felt circumstances should have been taken into account when determining a soul’s destination. Grimm had not; he had only been interested in the end result. Cara had believed that a single transgression regretted and mourned over shouldn’t lead to Grimm, yet he more often than not had won and she had lost numerous souls to him.
“If you’re done, now will you two please leave?”
Grimm didn’t take his attention away from Cara. “He’s really making me angry, sweetheart.”
“Jericho.” Cara thought to warn him, but it was too late.
Grimm moved with lightning speed, grabbing Jericho’s wrist and holding it in a brutal grip he was unable to break in the small confines of the booth. In the same instant, he took Cara’s hand.
Memories flooded her mind. Jericho as a small child neglected and left alone by an uncaring mother, foster homes until he had ended up with a woman he had thought of as a monster, but she was more than that. She had been one of such malicious evil that Cara, for all her centuries of seeing souls, had rarely seen. She had been given the care of a small child who had never known love or affection, and had tried to destroy what humanity he had left. He had been both mentally and physically abused to such an extent that Cara tried to shake her hand free from Grimm’s grip, unable to bear seeing the torture he had been forced to endure for years.
Grimm refused to relinquish her hand, forcing her to see and feel everything that Jericho had borne for years at the evil woman’s hands. When he was finally old enough to escape the woman, she had been unable to handle not having her toy to torture and had tried to regain her power over him. It had led to her death by his hands. He had even been imprisoned for the murder until it had finally been proved to be self-defense. Cara saw the years he spent alone, knowing his soul had been scarred beyond repair.
Cara swallowed back the tears. A child learnt love from his caretakers and then would be able to share that love with others. Jericho had never learnt to love. Everyone had failed the child, and the man had paid the price.
Grimm released their hands.
“What did you do?” Jericho angrily questioned him.
“Merely gave Cara a heads-up.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that you shouldn’t make me angry.” He turned and gave Jericho
a smile of intent just as Tammy came to the table with their order. The poor woman couldn’t stop shaking as she placed their plates before them.
“Can I get you something?” The woman’s tone suggested he could have anything he wanted.
“Well, now, what are you offering, sweetness?” Seduction poured from Grimm’s voice.
Tammy didn’t beat around the bush. “Me.”
Cara thought the woman would rip her clothes off then and there. If her nipples got any larger, they were going to burst through her uniform.
Grimm smiled seductively at the lust-crazed woman. “Well, I could use a place to stay since I’m trapped here with the roads closed.”
“I have a place close by, you could stay with me.” Grimm smiled even wider, showing his pearly whites. “I was supposed to meet Jericho, but I would rather have you,” Tammy confessed guiltily.
“What time do you get off?” Grimm’s predatory smile widened.
“Give me a minute, I’ll be right back.” She turned away, but then hesitated, turning back to Grimm. “I will have to make up an excuse to my boss.” At his nod of approval, Tammy rushed off.
“That was bad, Grimm.”
“That’s one of the perks of my job,” he said unrepentant then gave Jericho his attention once more. “My little friend will be returning home with you, and I expect you to take better care of her than you have been.” He reached out and touched each of Cara’s hands, which were lying on the table, with a brief touch. Instantly, she felt the soreness leaving.
“Thanks.” Cara was thanking him for more than healing her hands. She was thanking him for letting her get to know Jericho in ways it would have taken years for a mortal to know, if ever, because Jericho would never have told. Most of all, she was thanking him for getting the horny waitress away from Jericho.
“Happy to oblige.” Grimm slid out of the booth when Tammy returned. When she leaned into his body, he placed an arm around her hip to draw her against his side while smiling wickedly.
“I stole twenty dollars from the cash register last week,” Tammy confessed suddenly.