Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  We finished eating, paid for our meals and went back to the apartment complex. I gathered up my stuff, stuck the key back in the magnetic box I had pulled it from a couple hours earlier and put the box back where I had found it. I walked beside Devon toward his apartment; just before we got to his door he broke the silence.

  “So, are you going to join me in the hot tub?”

  “Do you want company? I thought you wanted to suffer in solitude.”

  “Join me. If I didn’t get to see the view as you retrieved the key and unlocked the truck, the least you can do is let me see you in a swim suit.”

  I acted like I was going to push him for reminding me of having to unlock truck naked, but I didn’t actually do it, I was afraid that with his leg bothering him, I might actually hurt him. I sighed.

  “I guess. Give me a few minutes to change and grab a towel and I’ll be down.”

  I left him as he pressed his thumb to the panel to unlock his front door, and I went up to my apartment. I wondered on my way up the stairs which swim suit I should wear.

  I ended up choosing my two piece halter suit, it wasn’t my most revealing, but I wasn’t looking to impress some new guy, I was just planning on hanging out around the pool with a friend. I pulled on a light cover-up and grabbed a towel and headed down to the pool.

  When I arrived at the fenced pool area it was empty, Devon hadn’t made it yet. I let myself in the gate, set my towel on the foot of a nearby chaise lounge and took off my cover up. I draped that over the foot of the chair too, and I stepped down the first few steps at the shallow end of the pool before I dove forward and swam across the pool. When I reached the deep end I moved to one side and started swimming laps back and forth across the deeper water at this end of the pool. I didn’t pay any attention to what was going on outside the pool as I swam from one side to the other and flipped over before making the return trip, slowly counting in my head each trip across the pool. I was coming up to the edge and I noticed movement at the side of the pool so instead of turning and making another lap I stopped at the edge and stood to see who it was.

  I put one hand on the edge of the pool and dipped my head back until only my face was left sticking out of the water, when I picked my head back up my hair was slicked back out of the way. I tread water while I used both hands to wipe the water from my face and eyes and then I looked up to see Devon standing in front of me.

  He was wearing a pair of black Army issue trunks with the word ARMY in glossy, white, block letters on one leg, and a towel slung over one shoulder. I saw a long scar starting high enough on his thigh that the edge of it was barely visible under the shorts, and extending down to his just past his knee. It was obviously where they’d done the surgeries trying to repair his leg.

  “Been down here long?” he asked, looking down at me.

  “Not too long, I’ve only managed twelve laps.”

  “Only twelve, huh?” he laughed.

  I pulled myself up on the edge of the pool and easily climbed out of the pool. “Meh. I’ve learned that I swim pretty quickly these days. You ready for the hot tub?”

  “More than, it was a bit difficult to get out of my running pants and into these. My knee didn’t want to bend enough for me to do either.”

  “Then let’s go…” I picked up my things and motioned him to the hot tub situated near the corner of the pool area. “Do you want bubbles or no bubbles?”

  “Bubbles, the jets work as a massage on this leg if I position myself right”

  “I’ll turn them on then.” I set the timer for 20 minutes. I figured if we wanted more one of us could get out and reset it. Devon stepped up to the rail and stairs leading into the tub and carefully lowered himself down into the warm water. He sat down on the ledge surrounding the small pool turning sideways and sliding along the side until he reached a jet that he could get to hit his aching thigh. I stepped into the water and walked across the pool until I found a spot where I could sit and see Devon’s face while we talked.

  “Looks like that feels good,” I said sitting in front of a jet of my own, letting the pulsing of the jet work the muscles in my back.

  “It does, and the heat of the water helps too.”

  “Why don’t we let it relax you for a while, and then you can lie on one of those lounge chairs, and then I’ll see if I can work the muscle a bit for you.”

  “I’d like that, as long as you don’t mind. Fair warning though, I’m not a good patient. I whine and complain and I’m a general pain in the ass.”

  “And that makes you different from every man I’ve ever known, how?” I asked, a teasing grin on my face. “Seriously though, I don’t mind, and we might find that it helps you move better, or at least easier.”

  We stayed in the hot tub chatting about our families and people we knew until the jets shut off, and then we climbed out. I laid one of the chaise lounges down so that it laid flat and had Devon lay face down on top of it while I moved around so that I could easily reach his right thigh. I sat on the edge of the chair next to his, but I pulled it close to his so that I didn’t have to kneel on the cement next to his chair while I worked on his leg.

  I started with his calf, in order to ease him into the painful massage, and to give him a chance to relax some before I got to the really stiff and sore muscles. I worked the muscles that had been overworked to compensate for the weaker muscles above them, digging my fingers deep as I worked the muscle. I worked my way higher up this leg until I was kneading the muscles in his thigh, using my knuckles to work deep into the muscles that were the tightest. I worked through the flinches and whimpers when I found a particularly sore spot. I had been working for about forty-five minutes before Devon stopped me.

  “Uncle,” he said. “I can’t take anymore. Let’s have another session in the hot tub.”

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes, let me get a few laps in.” I walked to the edge of the pool. I slipped in and started swimming the length of the pool. I counted ten lengths before I quit, I surfaced and pulled myself out of the pool. As I smoothed my hair from my face and wiped the water from my eyes, I walked over and joined Devon in the much warmer water.

  “That feels good,” I sighed, settling into the water across from him, enjoying the feel of the air being forced from the jets as it beat against my muscles.

  “Yeah, it does… I’m so glad I am off tomorrow. It’s going to be slow getting started tomorrow.”

  “I’m sorry I talked you into doing something that hurt you,”

  “Nah, not your fault. I would have been fine if it wasn’t for the uphill bit, and it just didn’t occur to me not to try it for such a long distance.”

  “If you need anything, let me know. I’ll pick up anything you need while I’m out running errands or I can make enough dinner for both of us, if it would help.”

  “I may take you up on that. I think I’ll pop one of my muscle relaxers before bed tonight. I hate to take them because they blur my mind, but if I don’t I won’t get any sleep. Then I’ll take it pretty easy tomorrow, stretch the muscles without over exerting them, and hopefully by Monday morning I’ll be able to get out and get to work with a minimum of discomfort.”

  “Good luck.” I wasn’t really sure he’d be able to manage it as easily as he seemed to think, but then again, he had more experience with how his injuries work and how well he can move afterward than I did. “Do you need anything tonight?”

  “Nah, I’m gonna stay here for a few more minutes and when the jets shut off I’m gonna head in, maybe take a quick shower and spend a quiet evening in. I did finally have internet turned on, so I may see if I can find a film to watch or just surf until I crash for the night.”

  “That sounds like a plan to me, I have some messages I’ve needed to answer for a couple days, plus anything that came in today. I’m going to go on up and take a quick shower, then work on my messages, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call… I’d say come on up if you want but I wouldn’t want to mak
e your leg worse tackling those stairs.”

  “Yeah, I’m glad for once that my apartment is on the ground. Most of the time I don’t care much for the footsteps overhead, tonight I’ll just be glad I don’t have to climb to get home.”

  “I’m sure… Have a good night.”

  “You too,” he said from where he sat.

  I wrapped my towel around me and tossed my cover up over one shoulder. I felt energized as I climbed the stairs to my apartment, today may have been too much for Devon but the exercise made me feel great. I pressed my thumb to the plate to unlock the door and striped my wet swim suit off as soon as I had stepped in and closed the door, so I didn’t drip all through the apartment. I held it carefully until I dropped the suit in the bathroom sink to hang up after my shower and I washed the chlorine off my hair and body.

  When I got out of the shower I dressed in a light summer dress, with spaghetti straps and a flowing skirt that just brushed the tops of my knees, all I would have to do if I needed to go out for some reason would be to slip on some shoes. I turned on my screen and pulled the wireless keyboard out of a drawer in the sofa table so I could check my messages and reply to those that needed answering. I spent an hour or so answering messages and then I spent the rest of the evening on the net, researching deep tissue massage, and the different techniques and benefits to it.

  Chapter 21

  I WAS LEAVING work on Tuesday evening when I ran into Brandon. I walked out of the Administration building on my way home, I found him leaning up against my car, obviously waiting for me to come out. I wondered why he was waiting for me, why he didn’t just call.

  “Hey, how you doing?” I leaned against the side of the car beside him

  “Okay,” he replied. “How are things with you?”

  “Pretty good, I’ve been working, spending time at the clinic, trying to get things under control. I think I’m doing pretty well, all things considered.” I stood up, so I was no longer leaning against the car. “Why don’t we get in the car so we can talk a little more privately,” I suggested, not wanting to risk being overheard. I’d become sensitive to such a possibility recently. I’d overheard a conversation in the clinic about a comment a pack member had made in public. It had led to some questions and suspicions some humans, and the Kindred who made the comment had been dealt a very severe beating for the careless comment that had endangered the pack. I could see the reasoning, but I really didn’t want to be on the receiving end of such a punishment.

  “If you want to.” He stood as well; there was something that seemed off about him. Something wasn’t right.

  I pressed my thumb to the lock plate next to the driver’s door and after hearing the lock release; I opened it and hit the button to unlock the passenger’s side. I sat down in the driver’s seat, pulled the door closed and waited for Brandon to close his door before speaking again.

  “Like I said, I’m doing pretty good. We’ve discovered that along with my telepathy and ability to call animal forms, I’ve got some talent that lets me sense power in all kinds of people, not just the Kitsune, though it does work better among us.”

  “Oh?”

  “We’ve figured out that this talent is what was causing me to sense something different about Raine. It wasn’t that something about him had changed, it was something about me, and it was letting me sense the power in him. It’s a difference that I’m still baffled how he managed to keep secret all these years.”

  “What is it?” He turned in his seat so that he was facing me.

  “I can’t say, it’s his secret to tell or keep, not mine. But it also let me sense just how powerful our Lysandros is when I first met him.” I twisted behind the wheel so I was angled toward him as well.

  “He can’t be more powerful than our Anikitos.”

  “Actually? I’m pretty sure he is. But he’s content where he is. Bill’s a good leader, and until Bill’s not strong enough to lead the pack, or he’s ready to step down, then I think Hank’s happy letting him lead.”

  “Huh. I never would have guessed.”

  “The only way I did was this talent. I actually felt a physical shock from the strength of his power when I shook his hand the first time I met him, but that may also be because he has the same power. We aren’t sure about that yet.”

  “So you’re not only close with the Anikitos and Alekto, but you have become good friends with the Lysandros too?”

  “Not exactly, I don’t know Hank all that well, I haven’t spent much time with him yet, though so far we seem to get along fine. I am becoming good friends with Alexis though, she’s a lot like me, and very easy to get to know.”

  “So your good friends with the Anikitos, Alekto and Harmonia?” Bitterness leaked into his voice, “Is that why you never have time for me, or is it because of that human you’ve been spending time with?” I was shocked, I’d never heard such resentment from Brandon, and he said the word human as though it meant something contaminated.

  “I’ve been spending a lot of time with Devon, but he’s not human. He’s Kindred too, he just doesn’t shift.”

  “Which makes him human.” Disgust dripped from his voice.

  “Hey, I was human until a month ago.” I was starting to get angry, “I never knew you had such distaste for humans.”

  “I really don’t, but suddenly you’re spending all your time with him, and I don’t like it.”

  I calmed some, trying to reason with him. “Devon lives in my complex, and he’s an old friend who’s only recently gotten back into town, why shouldn’t I spend time with him?”

  “Because I don’t want you to,” he turned sullen.

  “Brandon, what has come over you? Why are you acting like this?” I tried to figure out what was going on with him.

  “You’re mine.” I blinked at him, shocked speechless for at least a minute.

  “No, I belong to no one but myself and I do what I want. You of all people ought to realize that.” I said firmly once I had regained the power of speech.

  “You’ve been mine for years and now that you shift like a proper Kindred, you can be mine forever.”

  “What has gotten into you?” I was aghast. I wondered where all this was suddenly coming from.

  “I don’t like you spending time with him.” Brandon seemed to think he was being reasonable, I disagreed.

  I was losing my patience. “I’m an adult. I get to choose who I spend time with and when, and if you don’t like it you can just go to hell,” I spoke slowly, telling him what I thought of his new attitude.

  He moved so fast I barely saw the movement as he reached out with his right hand and slapped me across the face. I was shocked that Brandon would do such a thing, but not shocked enough to put up with it. Before I had time to think about what I was doing I clenched my left fist and punched him in the nose. My movements were hampered by the steering wheel and how I was sitting, but that didn’t stop me from doing some damage. I felt his nose crunch with the impact, it started bleeding immediately

  “GET OUT, NOW,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “I’m sorry!” he apologized, one hand covering his nose, he seemed shocked by his own behavior, and that I had hit him back.

  “I don’t care. Get out.” I wasn’t willing to listen, I wanted him gone. “If you want to talk to me later then call, but give me some time, and don’t show up without calling first. This is going to affect things.”

  “I didn’t mean to, you just made me so mad.”

  “I don’t care, get out.,” I repeated.

  “Okay, I’ll go. But I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “You do that,” I didn’t care if he did or not. “Now get out.” I was ready to hit him again if he didn’t do what I wanted, immediately.

  “I’m going, I’m going,” he opened the door. While he was still climbing out of the seat I started the engine and as soon as the door clicked shut I backed out of my parking space, I drove straight home.

  The incident with Bran
don still on my mind, I walked swiftly across the courtyard and climbed the stairs to my apartment only to find Devon sitting on the top step, waiting for me. I’d forgotten that I’d invited him over for dinner tonight. I stopped in front of him, and saw in his face the moment he spotted the mark Brandon had left. He stood up to let me continue up the steps, I saw the anger build as he realized what the red mark on the left side of my face was, and for the first time ever I wished that my apartment was farther from work.

  “Who hit you?” Devon asked, his voice soft despite his obvious displeasure.

  “Don’t worry about it, I took care of it.” I stepped past him to thumb the lock on the door and let us both into the apartment.

  “Who hit you?” He followed me inside and refused to drop the subject.

  “Brandon. But I took care of it, his is worse than mine.” I hung my purse in the inside knob of the door where I kept it.

  “Why would Brandon hit you?” He persisted.

  “Because I told him that I’m an adult and I decide who I spend time with and if he didn’t like it he could go to hell.”

  “Wait a minute. You’ve lost me. Who doesn’t he like you spending time with that he would hit you over it?” Devon looked confused, though still unhappy.

  “You.”

  “Ah...” the confusion lifted from his face. “I think I understand.”

  “Good, then you can explain it to me, because I still don’t.” I flopped down into one of the chairs near my sofa, and scowled, not at Devon, but at the situation in general.

  He sat down on the edge of the sofa, facing me. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened and I’ll do my best,”

  I took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “Sure, just give me a minute to change. Why don’t you pull the casserole dish out of the fridge and stick it in the oven, 350, set the timer for an hour. I’ll be right back.” I pushed myself out of the chair, and went into my bedroom and closed the door. I pulled a comfortable pair of shorts and an old t-shirt out of the closet and quickly changed clothes, hanging the suit I’d worn to work back up after checking it carefully for blood spots. I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail and washed my face in the bathroom sink. The cool water against my skin was refreshing; I didn’t bother to fix my hair before I went into the kitchen to join Devon.