by S. E. Babin
His gaze narrowed and a nasty sneer formed on his mouth as Martin continued to speak. "Mark informed me you've been kicked out of the Lupin pack after it was reported you planned to return here and force Katie to marry you." He made a tsking sound. "Apparently neither Mark, nor the rest of the world, likes your attitude. Nor is it legal to force someone into marrying you." I stepped out from behind him and looked up at his angry countenance. "But according to Mark, you weren't going to convince her the nice way."
Martin stepped off the porch, his right hand still raised at Jeff who remained mostly motionless. He reached inside Jeff's pocket and pulled his car keys out. I followed behind him confused about what was happening. I wasn't surprised about Jeff's removal from the pack, but I didn't know what his car had to do with it.
Martin popped open the truck and with an apologetic expression on his face pulled out rope, zip ties, a gag, and a small bottle of a pale colorless liquid.
All the color dropped from my face as I took a step away.
"Zip ties and a rope? Don't you think that's overkill?" Martin took a deep breath and held the vial up to the light. "On top of that, GHB? Isn't that what this is?"
Jeff only glared.
Martin turned his attention away from the wolf. "I think you should go back inside, Katie."
I shook my head mutely.
"Mark has asked me to bring him back to the pack."
Tears formed in my eyes. There was only one reason Mark would ask him to do that. Jeff's face went white and he shook his head violently, but he still couldn't move his body. I looked at Jeff, really looked at him, and knew he wasn't remorseful, nor would he ever be. From the items in his car to the way his eyes burned with fury, there was nothing about him that made me feel like I wanted to save him.
I gave Martin a short nod and let myself back into the house. I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't look back, nor did I allow myself to feel anything when I heard the car doors shut and the vehicle pull out of my drive.
Martin was back in less than an hour, his face a somber mask. He stopped in the kitchen and I heard his indrawn breath as he started to speak, but it was followed by a sigh and he slowly walked back to the guest bedroom. I'd finished kneading the bread and I'd stuck it back in the proofer. I felt numb all over, but the baking was helping. I didn't stop for a break once the bread went in. I went right to the pantry and got the ingredients for my chocolate crinkles. Martin's radio was clicked on and the sound of music, power tools and blenders kept me company for most of the rest of the day.
By the end of it, I'd finished everything despite the unexpected course of events, and felt marginally better. Jeff was a werewolf. He knew the laws of the clan and had continually chosen to break them. Part of me felt horrible for turning him over to Mark. The rest of me knew it was the right decision. Mark was a brutal leader, but that was how he stayed in power. Fairness, but the ability to kick someone's ass in minimal time ensured his power base. I felt sorry for whatever woman stepped up to be his wife. She was going to have her hands full.
I was just putting everything away and cleaning up the kitchen when Martin came out. I opened my mouth to speak, but he interrupted me.
"I hope you know you deserve the best. Do you honestly think Jeff was the best?"
That wasn't what I expected him to stay. I'd outgrown Jeff months ago though I hadn't realized it fully until today. The sight of the man standing in front of me was the epitome of the kind of man I wanted for the future. He was coiled power with the ability to use it without harm. He was kind and generous and...
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" I asked.
Martin blinked a couple of times.
"It's lonely here," I admitted. "I like to cook, but I don't like to waste food."
He swallowed hard and a frown knitted between his brow. "I'll stay if you let me help."
"Fair enough. I'll put you in charge of the salad."
"I'm sure I can't screw that up." Amusement warred with hesitation as he reached over to wash his hands in the sink. "Let me grab a clean shirt from the truck," he said and headed outside. I couldn't help myself. I watched him go all the way until the door shut beside him.
Lord have mercy that man had a nice behind.
I'd already grabbed all the salad ingredients out of my restocked fridge when Martin came back in wearing a long sleeved blue henley. The color set off the deep olive of his complexion and made my mouth water a little bit. I showed him all of the salad stuff and to my surprise and delight, he washed his hands again before he started handling the ingredients. I asked him if he liked chicken stew and he announced he was a Romani and stew was his jam. Whatever that meant, but it sounded good so I went with it.
After he'd shredded all the lettuce, he went in to grab his bluetooth speaker and turned on some bluesy music. We settled into a nice rhythm of cooking with the occasional joke, when I heard the door click open. I spun around thinking Jeff had somehow managed to get away from Mark when I saw it was something way worse.
My parents.
Dad's gaze narrowed slightly as he took in the sight of us.
My mother's lips twitched.
"Darling," she said, "would you care to explain why your contractor is chopping vegetables?"
22
I stood there dumbfounded with roux dripping from my spoon as my brain spun with the possibilities on how to explain this.
Smooth as silk, Martin jumped in for me. "Katie had a pretty busy day with some unexpected delays so I offered to help her finish making dinner for her guests tonight."
I was going to climb him like a tree and kiss the shit out of him. Not only did he come up with an explanation, he also inferred I had company coming over. Thus giving my parents the hint they were intruding. Politely, though.
My mother's eyes sparkled. I don't think she bought it for an instant, but my father looked mollified. "She could have called me," she said.
I plunked the spoon down on the rest and walked over to give them both a hug. "I'm sorry I've been out of touch lately. Things have been...weird."
Mom huffed. "Not as weird as seeing you in the daily newspaper and the massive line of people in your yard. Honestly, Katie, it looked like Woodstock out there. All you needed was someone naked and a marijuana dispensary."
I blinked at her. "I'll pass?"
"One more day of it and it would have devolved. What did you say to get them to leave?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. I just did my best to ignore it."
"Huh. Maybe I should do that to your sister so she'll move out."
Martin snorted with amusement. He wiped his hands and excused himself.
"You don't have to go anywhere on my account, Mr. Roma. We just popped in to make sure my daughter was still alive." My mother sniffed. "Considering she can't bother to pick up the phone these days."
I sighed. My father was very keen on studying Martin and hadn't yet said a word. "Dad?"
He blinked and moved his gaze to my face. "He has powerful magic, Katie. Why is he a contractor?"
I groaned with embarrassment, but Martin once again saved the day.
"Working with my hands is its own rewarding magic, Mr. Harper. It might not involve the supernatural, but it does involve skill and practice. Not everyone can do what I do, and I consider that its own reward." With a nod at both of my parents, he headed back to the guest room.
No one spoke for a moment. "I like him very much," my mother said. A conspiratorial look appeared on her face. "Perhaps when he's finished here, I can introduce him to your sister."
My heart lurched and fell to the bottom of my feet. I slapped a forced smile on my face. "Oh. I'm sure that would be nice."
My mother gave me a long look. "That's if someone else doesn't snap him up before that. He's an awfully handsome man to stay single long." With a soft pat on my cheek, she grabbed my father's arm and they left.
"Glad to see you're still alive," she said as she opened the door. "When your dinner guests are gone,
perhaps you can call and we can set up a time to get together. We aren't as young as we used to be you know."
I rolled my eyes and blew a kiss at them both.
The door shut behind them and I bent over to rest my head on the counter. "Oh my god," I groaned. Parents could be the worst.
23
A few minutes after the front door shut, Martin ventured out of the room.
"Is it safe?" he called.
I assumed he knew it was otherwise he was in for a very embarrassing moment. "Coast is clear."
He grinned as he walked toward me. "Don't you love it when parents drop by for an unexpected visit?"
"It's the best," I grumbled. I picked up the knife he had been using and handed it to him hilt first. "Now get back to chopping."
"Yes ma'am," he said obediently.
I turned before he could see the grin peeking from my mouth.
I'd remembered to lock the front door this time so no other people could wander into my house unannounced. My parents were bad enough. Some stranger wanting to date me would be even worse. Though, thank goodness, all of those people appeared to have admitted defeat and gone home.
The timer for the rice dinged and I turned off the heat and pushed the rice off the burner. The chicken stew was smelling delicious, the scent of thyme and rosemary lingering in the air along with the yeast rolls that would come out of the oven in the next few minutes.
Martin reached around me to grab the salad from the fridge, while I reached up to grab a bottle of wine from the top of it. After he set the salad on the table, he took it from me and with deft fingers quickly opened it without getting a hint of cork in the liquid. I'd never been able to do that. My wine skills were pretty subpar, though if there were a medal for drinking it, I'd win gold.
He poured me a glass and handed it over before pouring himself one. "Thanks for having me this evening," he said.
"My pleasure. Thanks for saving me. Multiple times."
He shrugged. "I'm sure you would have done just fine without me."
"How did you.." I paused, unsure if I would be prying.
"Stop him?" he asked.
I nodded. "You just made him...stop."
Martin sipped his wine. "It's not a difficult magic. It's just unique to us. We can do a lot of things, Katie, but most of us choose not to use battle magic. We're content with reading the bones or tea leaves."
"Do you?"
"Read tea leaves?" A faint smile played upon his mouth. "I used to. A lot. I had several clients outside the city limits."
"What made you stop?" The faint hint of chocolate and raspberry hit my tongue as I sipped my wine.
His gaze darkened. "I didn't like knowing things all of the time. For me or for anyone else. Knowing the future can be a burden. And not always a good one."
The oven dinged, signaling the end of our conversation. I grabbed a pair of potholders and put them on, then reached in and took the bread out, inhaling its deep, yeasty scent.
"Dinner is ready," I said softly.
I took the potholders off and tossed them on the counter. Martin handed me a plate which I set down. I tossed the salad and quickly dished it into bowels which I carried over to the table. The dressing I'd made earlier already set in the middle. The silverware was also there thanks to Martin.
He forewent the plate for a deep dish bowl and scooped an enormous amount of rice and stew inside it. I realized he had a better idea than the plates so I grabbed a bowl too and grinned at him.
After we'd served ourselves, we sat down to eat.
Not thirty seconds in, the damned doorbell rang. Again. I groaned with frustration.
"Just leave it," Martin said, his eyes darkening with an emotion I couldn't name.
"I can't. What if it's my parents again?"
"Then I'd say you're in trouble for lying about guests."
I snorted and threw my napkin at him before I got up to answer the door.
Kristoff stood there, his blue eyes trained solely on me.
"Hey," I said a little nervously. Martin was sitting right at my kitchen table looking good enough to eat and the man I was maybe a little bit dating stood right in front of me.
"You haven't called me back," he said, though he didn't seem angry.
"I had a lot of catching up to -"
Kristoff stepped into my house, caught my chin with his fingertips, and brushed his lips against mine. He backed me up against the wall and I was so taken by surprise I couldn't manage anything but an "mmmf."
Silverware clattered in the kitchen, but Kristoff was completely oblivious to it.
I felt...
Nothing.
Warmth, affection. But nothing I should have.
It didn't matter though. Seconds later Martin brushed past us both, his toolbag in one hand and his anger following him like a cloud.
"Night, you two," he said and slammed the door behind them.
Kristoff chuckled. "I didn't even see him."
But I had.
Clearly for the very first time.
And I had managed to fuck it all up.
Kristoff sat on my couch, his hands between his knees and stared at me, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief. "The contractor?"
I snorted with the way he spit out the word like it was a disease. I didn't owe him any explanations, but I did owe it to him to tell him the truth. I'd been tiptoeing around Martin for months now. When I'd first met him, he was kind to me, even though I'd just been dumped on my wedding day. Again.
The second time, he was also kind and a little confused about my sudden raging desire to fix my home. The third time he saw me, I was completely totaled on my couch and...he was still kind. But annoyed. As he should have been. He'd overlooked my craziness, moved his schedule for me twice, gave me advice, kept quiet sometimes, too, appreciated my food, took a werewolf down by barely batting an eye. Plus he made salad without complaining about it.
Kristoff was kind, handsome and funny, but his kiss lacked passion or honestly, any enthusiasm. He was like a smore to a campfire. Comfort.
But I wanted something more than comfort. I wanted to feel totally confused and like I was coming out of my skin with someone.
Like I did with Martin.
Kristoff adjusted his unnecessary glasses and shook his head again. "Is there anything I can say to change your mind?"
I offered him a soft smile. "I'm sorry, Kristoff."
With a nod and a deep sigh, he stood. "Very well, then." He held his arms out and I walked into them. He rested his chin on my head. "Punch the lucky bastard in the liver for me, would you?"
I laughed against his chest. "No."
"Figures." He dropped a kiss on the top of my head, grabbed his bag, and left the house, only pausing to wave goodbye.
I shut the door, and leaned against it, wondering what the hell I was going to do.
Twenty minutes later, the idea hit me like a brick.
I was going to give Martin a taste of his own medicine.
24
It was obscenely early the next morning when I got up and carefully dressed. I wore a pair of loose fitting jogger pants and a crop top which exposed my tan abs which still looked pretty good, but had somewhat atrophied over the last few months. Still, not too shabby. I prided myself more on muscles than slimness, but my stomach had gone from a six pack to more like a four pack. I brushed my hair until it shone like black silk, then put it into a messy braid. I stepped out from my bedroom barefoot, padded into the living room and turned on the DVD I hadn't used since before my wedding.
And then I waited for Martin to show up.
As soon as I heard the key enter the door, I began the slow, seductive movements everyone in my family knew like the back of their hand. Hip bump right, right, left. Hip bump left, left, right. I turned only to see Martin standing a few feet away slack jawed.
I timed the beat of my hips to the music and belly danced for him, never breaking eye contact. My hair began to slip out of its braid
as moisture began to form on my forehead.
Belly dancing was not easy, especially if you had neglected your form for awhile.
After a couple of moments, Martin came back to himself. "What are you doing?" he asked hoarsely.
I gave him a slow grin. "Dancing. It's great exercise."
"This early in the morning?"
"It's the best time. Before breakfast, before the day really begins." I didn't stop for a second and I noted the struggle Martin was having keeping his eyes on my face.
"Do you want to join in?" I asked, keeping my expression innocent.
He made a strangled noise. "No." He briskly walked to the back of the house, but I saw him loose a shuddering breath.
A wide grin stretched my face as I finished up the DVD.
An hour later, I'd stepped out of the shower and again chose my clothes carefully. A strappy red sundress minus the cardigan exposed my bare shoulders and decolletage. I let my hair dry naturally and knew when it dried it would form soft curls around my face. I added a double layer of mascara and slid on a pair of jeweled sandals. When I stepped out, Martin was waiting for me in the kitchen. I saw his chest hitch when he saw me.
"What are you doing, Katie?"
"Nothing." I brushed past him to get a mug, but he stepped behind me, looming over me. My heart began to beat rapidly at his proximity.
He lifted my damp hair from the back of my neck. "Are you sure?"
I stilled even as gooseflesh broke out all over my skin. His warm breath hit my nape.
"Of course." I leaned back a little and pressed against him.
He sucked in a breath. "Katie," he said, his voice strangled.
"Yes?"
His warmth abruptly left me.
By the time I had turned, he'd disappeared back into my guestroom. I grinned.
So far, I had him completely discombobulated.
Martin
Okay. What the hell had happened between last night when I saw her mouth getting devoured by a vamp and today when she was putting off more sex appeal than Fifty Shades of Grey? Not that I had read that book, but I had to hear about it in excruciating detail from not only my sisters, but my mother too. Talk about no boundaries.
