by C. M. Owens
“So you want me to force him to oblige?” I ask.
“Exactly.”
“I suppose I can, but Devin’s not going to be there is he?” I ask with concern.
I look down to see I’ve dropped ice cream on my pajama bottoms, and I strip them away to rush them into the washing machine. My black, lacy, short-style underwear doesn’t seem too improper to sport around in since Jace never came back last night.
“Yes, he is. We’ve got harpies to deal with too.”
“I can’t see him, Hale. It’s too hard,” I groan.
“Man up, and take one for the team. I wouldn’t be asking if we didn’t really need you. The hounds suffer under the touch of lightning as well,” he adds. “That’s what I meant by needing your zap.”
“Fine. Jace should come too since he’s an electrically charged entity as well. I’ll send you my address,” I mumble reluctantly.
“No need,” Hale snickers, and suddenly my front door opens to reveal them all.
“A little presumptuous?” I grumble while hanging up my phone.
“Perhaps. Camara tracked your cell a long time ago in case you ever needed our help,” he explains.
“And no one bothered to tell me where she was,” Devin’s voice dryly inserts, and my heart almost crumbles to pieces when I see him.
My hair is all over the place, my face is still streaked with the mounds of tears I spent the night crying, and here I am eating this disgusting pile of nonsense. I slam the lid on the ice before anyone sees my loathsome taste and toss it back into the freezer.
“Holy lacy goddess,” Kry laughs out.
“Oh damn,” I gasp while staring down at my nearly bare lower half, and then I flash up the stairs to change into some pants.
“I don’t know how Jace is refraining, considering your aphrodisiac scent and teasing morning shows. Tell him to hurry up,” Hale jokes.
When I start back down the stairs, Devin’s jaw is about to dislocate when he bites down too hard, and I try not to enjoy the fact he’s feeling jealous. I pick the phone back up and dial Jace.
“What’s up rainmaker?” he jokes.
“Hey, we’ve got some guests, and they need our help with hellhounds. Do you feel like flying to Miami?” I ask quietly.
“Yeah, I’ll help. I’m assuming Devin’s there judging by your whispered tone. Are you going to be okay?” he worries.
“We’ll see. Hurry up,” I prompt.
“Give me about twenty minutes,” he murmurs, and then I put the phone back down.
“He’s not here?” Camara asks quizzically.
“No. He went to a girl’s house last night,” I say with a smirk, and everyone’s face stifles a grin as Devin’s jaw finally resumes a more natural stance.
“I can imagine why. It’s potent in here, and why does it smell like vanilla fish?” Kry muses.
Crap.
“Long story. Jace said he’d be here in twenty. I’ll go grab my bags, and I need to fix my hair and stuff.”
I rush up the stairs, and I shake my hands to try and expel the nervous rattle in my body. I flash into my clothes, and then my hands rapidly smooth my hair into a more feasible style.
Suddenly, Devin’s in my room just as I finish up with my makeup, and his eyes burning against me as I become trapped under his hypnotic gaze.
“You shouldn’t be staying alone,” he gripes. “It’s not safe.”
“I’m perfectly fine by myself. There hasn’t been the first sign of trouble since we’ve been here. Jace can’t stay cooped up with me given my apparent unruly scent, and I don’t blame him for wanting a breath of air that isn’t tainted. Persia and Kahl couldn’t even handle it. I know that’s the real reason they had to leave. I won’t even discuss how gross that is,” I grumble.
He almost smirks but quickly covers it before flashing over to cup my face with his hands.
“Let me help you,” he murmurs, and his lips try to reach mine.
“I won’t go if you start this,” I warn. “You can’t do this to me.”
“Adisia, you’re calling Camara to hear my voice at midnight. It’s obvious you miss me as badly as I miss you. Please, just let me hold you. I’m dying without you,” he pleads.
“Then call Nina,” I snark, and then I flash back downstairs before he can counter with anything.
I hear the car pulling up through the window that has been freshly opened, and I look down curiously at my watch.
“I had to open a window. I’m not sure why Jace doesn’t keep every one of them raised at all times,” Ther says while fanning himself.
I blush a little, and then Camara pulls out a vial from her purse.
“I gathered you something to help. I’ve got more too for when it starts to wear off. It should help,” she offers kindly.
“Thanks,” I murmur, and then she walks over to the cabinets in search of a blender.
Devin’s eyes catch mine briefly as he comes back into the room, and I promptly look away.
“Did you get a cat?” Camara asks in bewilderment.
“No. Why?” I muse.
“Because you have like a hundred cans of tuna and pickled herring in here. I swear there’s every type of jarred or canned fish one can buy,” she says in disgust.
“She’s been a bit of a fish fanatic lately,” Jace’s Aussie accent chirps, and then he walks over to give me kiss on top of my head.
Again, Devin’s jaw clenches, and I look away.
“Is there anything besides fish here?” Camara exasperates. “I need to mix this with something.”
“We’ve got ice cream,” Jace adds, and she flashes to the fridge.
My eyes widen when I think of the disgusting mess I made of the ice cream, and I rip the vial from her hand to guzzle the disgusting, putrid liquid without dilution.
Everyone snarls in disgust with me, and I rush over to grab a glass of water.
“Oh damn. The brandy. Get the brandy,” I prompt when the water only makes it worse, and Jace grabs the brandy from the cabinet as he chuckles.
“I suppose you’re breaking your no drinking rule after that,” he teases.
I turn it up, and it tastes almost as disgusting. I finally swallow down enough to drown out the skunk, and I sigh as everyone’s eyes stare at me, befuddled by my bizarre behavior.
“What the hell?” Camara gasps. “I could have mixed it with ice cream and made it a milkshake or something.”
Jace starts heaving his laughter, and I shove him for his understanding taunt while my eyes threaten him to keep his mouth shut.
“She apparently ruined the new tub of ice cream I bought, and she didn’t want anyone to see her new treat of choice,” he snickers out.
“Huh?” Deacon muses and Devin’s eyes narrow at the closeness I’m sharing with Jace.
“Shut up,” I growl.
He only laughs harder, and then he gives me a playful wink before dashing up the stairs.
Kry walks over to the freezer to answer the riddle, and I flash between him and the vaulted secret I wish to keep.
“What the hell? I have to know what’s going on now,” he prompts.
“Please don’t. It’s so embarrassing,” I grumble, and he throws me over his shoulder despite my kicking and screaming.
Hale chuckles as he pulls out the ice cream to reveal the gross secret, and everyone gags at the concoction.
I bury my head in my hands, and Devin arches an eyebrow.
“Why fish and ice cream?” he says with a grimace.
“I don’t know,” I lie.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jace chuckles as he strolls down the stairs. “She loves ice cream and the sea. She’s subconsciously combining the two in her time of despair,” he adds with a morbid touch of humor.
Devin’s eyes soften, and I worry he’s about to do something foolish. I roll my eyes, and my fingertips zap Jace as he walks by my upside down hang.
Kry chuckles as he puts me back down, and then I stalk toward the livin
g area to avoid all the prying and pitying eyes.
“That hurt,” Jace plays.
“It wasn’t supposed to feel good,” I growl, and he jogs up beside me to jump into the driver’s seat of his new car.
“We have enough room in our SUV,” Camara inserts.
“We’ll just drive separate so you don’t have to drop us off after we’re done,” I say to ensure everyone I’m not folding to Devin while on this mission.
Devin looks pained, but he climbs in the front seat as Kry jumps into the driver’s seat.
His eyes catch mine as Jace speeds away in the BMW. I lean back in the seat, and he giggles a little for his betraying scene.
“You’re supposed to be on my side,” I gripe.
“Oh, lighten up. It made you smile a little, and to be honest, I was finding it hard to not try to finish what we started last night when I saw you this morning. The disgusting ice cream aided me in my deterrence.”
I laugh and cover my face, and he reaches over to take my hand in his.
“I think it’ll be good for you to get out of the house for a while, and I know you need someone in your corner. That’s why I decided to come. I’m sure Devin wishes I had stayed behind,” he says too smugly.
“I was in my underwear when they showed up, and everyone got the wrong idea, especially Devin.”
“Damn it. I should have come home sooner,” he jokes.
I laugh a little harder, and the landing strip they used comes into view just in time to bring my laughter to a halt.
I’m about to be stuck on a jet with Devin, and I can barely keep it together when I’m miles and miles away.
“It’s going to be okay,” Jace encourages.
He skids to a halt, and then he hops out to flash over and open my door for me. I smile when he grabs my bag, and Devin is shaking his head when he climbs out of the SUV.
Camara sprints over to whisper too low for anyone else to hear.
“Devin thinks you and Jace are on the verge of forming something more than a friendship.”
“Why?”
“Because you two are very comfortable with each other, and it’s killing him.”
“I’ve been married to Devin for five months, and I’ve lived with Jace for four of them. I’ve been a grieving, cheated on wife in need of a shoulder to cry on. Jace has been that shoulder. It tends to make you a little closer than the average set of friends. It doesn’t mean anything else is going to happen, even though I wish could do such a thing,” I grumble. “I still love Devin, and until I don’t, I’m stuck in limbo.”
She sighs, and then loops my arm through hers as we follow the group onto the luxurious plane.
My pictures are lining the inside like wallpaper, and there’s one of me sleeping on Devin’s chest that almost brings tears to my eyes. He’s kissing my forehead while holding the camera at arm’s length, and the memory of so many nights sleeping that way almost overwhelms me.
I miss that touch from him, and it’s aching it hurts so badly.
“You okay?” Deacon asks, and I almost jump out of my skin at the startling insertion.
“Yeah, I just need to sit down,” I lie.
Devin’s eyes are focused on me with a burning intensity, and Jace grabs his phone when it buzzes.
“Hey, sorry I bailed. I’ve got some business in Miami, but I’ll give you a call when I get back,” he lies before the girl can get a word in.
“Okay. Don’t forget to call me. I’ll make it worth your while,” she seduces, and then he hangs up with a chuckle.
Devin seems to relax slightly when he sees how jealous I’m not, and Jace rolls his eyes as he tosses the phone in the trash can.
“I’ll get a new phone in Miami,” he chuckles.
“I’ll probably need one too,” I whisper, and Jace instinctively glances to Devin which arouses his suspicion.
“If you say so,” he whispers back.
“It’s not polite to whisper,” Hale chimes in as he makes an opening between Jace and me.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and Jace can’t help but laugh. Devin relaxes even more when he sees Hale doing his dirty work for him, and then Kry walks over to turn on the monitor with red and blue dots on a map.
“Hellhounds and harpies,” Hale says to answer my silent question as to what the dots represent. “We’re charting their appearances and trying to find out where in the hell they’re coming from. The harpies are the most baffling. They’re more organized than usual.”
“Harpies are never usual. They shift and evolve with each rebirth. They started off as mindless drones, and now they’ve adapted and show beauty, finesses, and wit,” Jace adds as if he has experience.
“Where have you been, Mr. Expert?” Hale jokes.
“I’m a bounty hunter. I’ve been hired to do all sorts of jobs, and harpies have been high on the list many times. Hellhounds happen to be a specialty of mine though, so you’re in luck,” he boasts.
“Well, well, well. Adisia did make a good contact,” Deacon muses.
“I made a good friend,” I correct, and Jace gives me a wink.
I yawn fiercely, and Hale slides me against him when I feel my body getting to heavy for me.
“When did you sleep last?” Camara worries.
“I don’t remember,” I yawn again, and I see Devin flinching at my confession.
“The most sleep she’s had in a while is when she passed out at the wedding,” Jace gripes. “I’ve harped on her for that, but she won’t listen.”
Devin stands up and walks over to pull a blanket out, and then he flashes over to me. I tense up when his hand barely touches my arm while putting the blanket over me.
“Go to sleep,” he commands softly. “We’ll wake you when we get there.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just a little tired. It’ll pass. It always does,” I yawn again.
“No. Go to sleep. You need it to be alert and ready,” he orders, and for some reason I can’t argue with him the way I do Jace.
My eyes flitter shut and I feel the warmth of the sun against me.
Devin’s soft touch is so glorious as his body covers mine, and I feel the needful grip against my skin. His firm, perfect arms wrap around me as his smoldering blue eyes seduce mine, and I claw at his back as his provocative lips trail across my neck.
The scorching desire that has been bottled up for too long is ready to explode, and the brief affair never happened as his lips fall on mine.
“Adisia!” Camara warns, and I have a small panic attack when I see my lips are pressed against a startled Hale.
“Oh crap. Sorry. I was having a dream, and… Why are you carrying me?” I stammer out.
His lips find mine again, and I grimace when I realize I’ve just intoxicated him with my supercharged pheromones running amuck the way I did Jace. I don’t want to shock him away, so I struggle to push him back.
He jerks my hips to him, but Camara rips him off me before he can try too much. A slight thump emerges as he gently collapses to the floor from her forceful detachment.
He swallows hard, and I can tell he’s trying to regain composure from my sleep-kissing assault. It’s too much for anyone, even with the slightly diluted aide from the skunk.
Camara stifles a grin, and then she walks over to pour herself a drink.
“Devin said to let you sleep. I was going to put you in the bed,” he gushes out, finally answering my question.
I can see I’ve had a very haunting effect on his libido.
Crap.
“You need to go find some… release,” I hesitate.
“We don’t have time,” he chuckles uneasily. “We’re about to change and go meet up with the others. They’ve been doing some shopping and Intel gathering. You’ve been out for a while. Devin carried you to the couch when we got here. He called a few minutes to go to say he wanted you put in the bed since you were still asleep. He said we could go speak to Graven by ourselves.”
“I’m glad I wasn�
��t dreaming that when he was carrying me,” I mumble to myself.
I wouldn’t have stopped. I would have fucked him and caved on the very first day.
Hale tugs at his shirt collar, and I see a blushing hue staining his face.
“I have mixed emotions on this subject. It’s definitely something I’ve always wanted to do, but Devin must never know,” he mutters warily.
I laugh a little, and Camara just rolls her eyes while unsuccessfully restraining her new grin.
“Go get dressed. Now that you’re awake, we can meet the others at the club,” she says casually.
“What kind of club?” I chirp.
“The stripping kind,” Hale says while his eyebrows dance menacingly, and then he downs a cup of scotch while trying to escape my seductively toxic remnants still running wild in his system.
“Great. Please tell me none of Devin’s exes work there. I don’t know if I can deal with another stalking stripper. Though I suppose it’s not as bad as a finless mermaid,” I murmur with a wince.
“No exes, and we need to hurry. They’re meeting with Graven at nine.”
I flash downstairs to find my bag, but I don’t see it anywhere.
“Where’s my stuff?” I ask.
“Devin’s room,” Hale says with a smirk as we casually strides down the stairs to join me.
“He really thinks it’s that easy?” I scoff.
“A man can dream,” he teases, and then points me in the direction of the room.
“Show me one that doesn’t belong to a man with dreams, please, so I can move my crap to it.” I grumble.
“Down the hall and to the right,” Hale chuckles out.
I walk into Devin’s room, but I’m almost breathless when I see all of our wedding pictures covering every inch of the walls. My fingers graze across a photo of us laughing at our wedding reception.
There are so many candid shots I never knew were taken and so many where he’s watching me when I’m not looking. Tears spring free, and I wipe them away before they become too abundant.
I flash out of the wedding memorial that only hurts to remember now. The unoccupied room I enter has pictures of us as well, but I quickly remove every one of them.
