To Shackle a Shrew (Southern Sanctuary Book 7)

by Jane Cousins

  Devon snorted softly in derision. “Humble? I bet they worship the sand you walk on.”

  “Enough about me.” Liam grinned. “How about you, any tales you wish to tell about life growing up in the Makura Court? Care to elaborate on all those Sapphic rumours?”

  Devon rolled her eyes. “I don’t think growing up surrounded by a bunch of bitchy women with explosive tempers and killing nails was much more fun than growing up at the Merrow Court. I was luckier than most though, I got to spend two months of every year at my Dad’s place.”

  “Oh? How did that come about?”

  “My Dad is a lagoon deity in Hawaii.”

  “Your father is a minor God?” Liam wasn’t all that surprised, there was something bone deep magnetic about Devon.

  Devon grinned. “You’ve never met anyone more laid back in your life, but my mother is a bit of a title snob, so she made some concessions in the betrothal contract which were a bit unusual.”

  Damn, he liked it when she laughed and smiled freely. And he was liking even more that the flimsy black cover up of hers had slipped off one shoulder to reveal smooth velvety skin. “Please tell me you can belt out a tune on a ukulele?”

  Devon laughed loudly. “Actually I can.” Pleased that Liam wasn’t taking the whole minor God thing too seriously. When it came to her Dad most people were sorely disappointed to find that he was anything but an all-powerful omnipotent entity. It was probably something to do with the fact that he habitually wore flip-flops. In fact, she wasn’t sure he even owned a pair of shoes. Funny, now she came to think of it she was pretty sure that her Dad and Liam would hit it off… which was so not relevant.

  A loud buzzer sounded from the direction of the kitchen, Liam shot to his feet. “I hope you like Paella?”

  “Yes.” Devon watched him limp inside, a few of her curls snaking out so they could keep Liam in sight. Great, now she not only had to deal with her own unwanted attraction to the man, her hair was acting like a lovesick puppy. Reaching back she gathered the mass together, pulling it over one shoulder to glare threateningly at the ends. “I swear I will get a clip if you don’t start behaving.”

  “Everything alright out there?” Liam’s voice drifted from the kitchen.

  “Um, I was just wondering if I can do anything to help?”

  “No.” Liam appeared in the doorway, a dish in each hand. “I have everything under control.”

  Devon hurriedly twisted her hair, pushing it back over her shoulder and sitting on the ends. “Wow, this looks great.” She stared down at the array of seafood and rice in front of her, spicy smells drifting upwards to tantalise her senses.

  Liam sat down across from her, picking up a fork. “Bon appetite.”

  Devon dived in, she was hungry. “Hmmm… this is good. So, you want to tell me what this is all in aid of? What is it you want?” She gestured at the meal before casting a quick glance around at all the flickering candles.

  “So suspicious. We had to eat tonight.”

  “Yes, but we could have had vegemite on toast. Instead you put together several starters, cooked Paella, which even I know is a time consuming dish to make, and you have enough candles alight on this deck to be seen from space.”

  Liam shook his head, grinning. “Hasn’t anyone ever done anything nice for you for no particular reason?”

  Devon chewed slowly, pondering his question. “No.”

  “What do you mean, no?” Liam actually looked startled.

  Devon sipped some of her wine, a wry smile twisting up the edges of her mouth. “This may come as a shock to you but not everyone finds me easy to be around.”

  Liam issued a soft derisive snort. “Please, you enjoy making people feel uncomfortable. That way you keep everyone at bay… why is that? Scared to get close, make a connection?”

  Devon rolled her eyes. “Everyone is incredibly annoying.”

  “The whole human and inhuman race is annoying? Without exception? Now I know you’re not telling the truth. I saw you talking with Nell, you like her. And even that hulking husband of hers, I watched the way you teased him.”

  “Okay, I admit I don’t hate Nell as much as I used to.” Devon dipped her fork inside a mussel and scooped out the flesh.

  “Why do you equate being nice to someone as a weakness?”

  “Why do you equate staying in one place as a weakness?” She shot back.

  “I thought we’d already determined that we were not stereotypical representatives of our species. Besides, I move around for my job. I go where the work is.”

  Devon shrugged. “You may not lie, cheat and steal but there’s one Merrow credo that you still hold dear.”

  Liam’s eyebrow shot upwards for a split second. “Do tell.”

  “Where ever you are, you already have one foot out the door. It’s instinctive. It’s why you have tons of acquaintances but no real friends. It’s why you haven’t unpacked your saddlebags. It’s the same with me, being a Makura, we’re taught that the only acceptable emotions are anger and revenge. Any other show of emotion is treated with contempt. I don’t like to be seen as weak and you don’t like to feel tied down by places or people.”

  Liam chuffed a laugh. “How are you going to cope being married to a Merrow for ten years?”

  “I have a number of incentive plans I’m considering that will make my life easier.”

  “Incentive plans?”

  “Based upon money. I think that will work best.”

  “You’re going to pay your future husband? To be good? To sleep with you?”

  “Well, I was thinking more along the lines of a star and reward system for things like taking out the garbage and helping with the housework. I wasn’t planning on having to pay for sex though, that seems kind of clinical. A lacy teddy should do the trick on that front.”

  Liam coughed, pushing his empty plate away. The image of Devon clad in nothing but a lacy teddy was scorched across his brain. “Sounds like you have it all worked out.” Money and sex, sounded like the perfect combination to keep whichever of his half-brothers Devon chose to marry in line. And now he was aroused and angry.

  “You okay?” Devon pushed her own plate away.

  “Sure.” He picked up the bottle of wine and shared out the last of the contents between their glasses. “So what’s your normal type of guy?”

  Devon frowned in confusion, not understanding the question.

  “That you would hook up with? No, hold on. I can picture him. He’s the distinguished sort, tall, full head of dark hair that’s starting to turn grey at the temples. He wears a stuffy suit and his shoes probably cost more than the average person’s car. And has a double barrel surname, like Smythe-Jones or Trenner-Scott. How am I doing?”

  Devon’s eyes narrowed, there was an unfamiliar sharp edge to Liam’s words. Almost as if he was accusing her of not just being a snob but of some sort of inappropriate behaviour. Her hair, still trapped under her butt, writhed, sensing strong emotions roiling through her, it wanted to be free. No, she would stay cool, calm. “Sounds about right.” She started stacking dishes.

  “I bet you meet them at some upscale bar where only bankers and lawyers can afford to hang out.”

  Devon gave him a tight superior smile. “I’d tell you the name of the place but…” she let her gaze travel over his stained frayed t-shirt. “…I doubt you would have heard of it.” She stood up, grabbing the stack of plates and headed towards the kitchen. Head held high, hair swishing dramatically from side to side, teasing the backs of her bare thighs.

  “Did I touch a nerve, Princess?” Liam followed her into the kitchen, crowding her at the sink, leaning over to place more dirty dishes down. The idea of her with another man, men, it sent a tidal wave of jealous anger flooding his gut.

  Devon stepped around Liam quickly, careful not to touch him. She didn’t like his tone all of a sudden or his attitude. She had no idea what had crawled up Liam’s normally easy going butt but she was this close to bringing out her ki
lling nails and drawing blood. “I have work to do.” She left the kitchen at a fast pace, not bothering to turn on any lights as she strode through the living room, skirting the couches.

  “Running away?”

  That bought her to an abrupt halt, swinging around to face Liam who was standing in the kitchen doorway, his arms folded across his body looking both smugly superior and belligerent.

  “What was that?” The soft candlelight filtering through the windows played across her face, her eyes sparkling with green flecks of simmering anger.

  “I asked if you were running away?”

  “From you?” Devon chuffed a small laugh, tossing her head back, two of her curls flipping him off.

  “Yeah from me. The man who doesn’t fit into your nice safe world. Who doesn’t have a fancy house or an expensive car. Who doesn’t bore you to death talking about his crappy sixty hour a week job at some snooty law firm. A man who isn’t intimidated by you. Who doesn’t jump every time you snap your fingers. Or cower every time you open your mouth. A man who doesn’t have a posh two barrelled name or wear a fancy over-priced stuffy suit.”

  Devon tossed her hair back over one shoulder, releasing a soft snort of derision as she turned once more to storm off. Except Liam’s next words froze her in her tracks.

  “The man you want.” Liam took a step towards her.

  Silence stretched between them.

  Devon felt the blood leave her face and then come back full force as she whipped back around to face him. “The man I want, what? Out of my house? Out of my life? To see bleeding on my hardwood floors?”

  “You want me.” Liam took another step, closer still. He couldn’t seem to stop pushing her buttons tonight.

  “The only thing I want is you out of my life, the sooner the better.” Devon tried to force an acerbic edge to her words but they came out softer, more tentative than she intended.

  “Liar.”

  “I never lie.” Devon returned, aware that he’d moved another step closer. “Why would I bother when the truth hurts so much more?”

  “Then I dare you to tell me the truth.” Liam was now within striking distance of her hair but showed no fear. “You never cared for any of those high powered self-important wankers, they were convenient… and you know it.”

  Devon couldn’t help but laugh. “I would never call you convenient.”

  “Exactly, I’m wrong for you in every way…” He took one last step so that only a foot separated them now. “And that’s why you want me.” He noted the high colour gracing her cheeks, how her full lips were parted and the way her breasts rose and fell fast as she fought to hold on to her temper.

  “I don’t want you.” Her response was automatic but it clearly lacked conviction.

  “Na-huh, and you said you never lied. Come on Princess, admit it. The house, the car, the job, the bank account and the clothes, none of that is important… It might be what you want in husband, but it isn’t what you need right now… you need me.”

  Her resolve was weakening, he was so close, the smell of him - the ocean on a summer’s day - wrapped around her senses and decimated all her good sense, yet she loathed giving up control. “I don’t think so, I’m not fixated on everything you just listed. I just have high standards.”

  “Then lower them for me.”

  “Seriously? That t-shirt alone puts you in the sub-basement.”

  Liam was grinning, fighting the urge to pull her into his arms, she had to be the one to make the first move. “Then I dare you to do something about it… no, I double dare you.”

  “No one challenges a Makura and gets away with it.” Devon took a deep breath, taking a small half step in Liam’s direction. “I think it’s time I taught you a lesson fish boy.”

  Liam was smiling, heat blazing in the aquamarine depths of his eyes. ”Do your worse, Princess, I double dog dare you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “You know, I’m not sure I can find words adequate enough to express how much I hate this t-shirt of yours.” Devon wrinkled her nose in distaste as she surveyed the faded grey material, the juvenile red slogan, the bleach stains and the small tear.

  “Oh, colour me hurt, Princess.” Liam badly wanted to reach across those measly few inches that still separated them, but bone deep he knew that letting Devon make the first move was critical to getting her to admit that she truly wanted him. “What are you going to do about it?”

  Devon smiled up at him, an impish grin full of devilry and promise. “I’m glad you asked.” Two of her curls whipped around, seizing his t-shirt at the collar and in an instant ripped it right down the middle.

  Liam blinked, torn between amusement and admiration as the remains of his t-shirt slipped to the floor.

  “You weren’t expecting that, were you, Merrow?”

  Liam stood his ground. “You’re just full of surprises.”

  “Most men would be shaking in their…” Devon cast a slow glance down his body. “…bare feet at this point. What are you thinking about right now?”

  There was a large grin on Liam’s face, his eyes never wavering from her. “Strangely, I’m kind of hoping my shorts offend you as much as my t-shirt.”

  Devon couldn’t help herself, she laughed out loud. Dear Yami, the man was weird, relentless and all kinds of hot standing there, the muted candlelight playing over his lithe muscular tanned chest and tight abs. Damn it, she was supposed to be through with sowing her wild oats… on the other hand, she wasn’t married yet.

  One of her curls snaked out, caressing Liam’s jaw before trailing slowly down his throat over his pecs and abdomen before gripping the waistband of his shorts.

  Liam’s breath came out in a low shudder, Poseidon, the feel of her glossy curl caressing his flesh made his heart race and his cock swell.

  Devon’s common sense was at war with her hormones and quite frankly her libido was kicking the shit out of her ability to process rational thought. She wanted him, damn it. Because he smiled easily, no matter how much she snapped at him. He made her laugh. He was surprisingly thoughtful. The man didn’t even flinch when she flexed her bitch side, which was all kinds of refreshing. In fact, the more she snarled, the more he seemed to find her intriguing.

  Still, she needed him to know where they stood, even as her upper body leaned towards him unconsciously, and the tip of her tongue swept out to moisten her suddenly dry lips. Her hand snaked up over his tense upper arm to sweep around the back of his neck as the curl gripping the waistband of his shorts pulled him so close that their breath was intermingling.

  “This is just an aberration… agreed?”

  Liam smiled as he lowered his head. “You keep sweet talking me like that Makura, and I’ll never let you go.” He waited, his mouth hovering above hers, it was critical that she be the one to make that final irrevocable move between them.

  Devon went up on the balls of her feet, planting her lips firmly over his. Liam’s mouth was soft and warm as she pulled his head down slightly lower to get better access. Moaning softly in approval as his arms swept around her pulling her into a tight embrace, wedging her soft curves up against his hard muscular flesh. To her very core she felt the heat of his body intermingle with her own and it felt so good. Like floating in warm tropical seas.

  Liam shuddered, Devon’s hair was testing his self-control as several of her curls trailed down his naked spine, up over his shoulders, it was like having pieces of the softest velvet rub over his skin… caressing, teasing, firing up each and every one of his nerve endings.

  He forced her mouth open, dipping inside to taste her. Dear Poseidon, help him. Reaching down he cupped her ripe ass, lifting her up, biting back a yell of triumph as her long legs wrapped around his waist. The knowledge that she wanted him tested his self-control even further.

  He needed to back off, catch his breath, but he couldn’t let her go. The thought of pushing her away, even to regain control was abhorrent, that left only one option. If he wasn’t going to embar
rass himself and leave Devon wanting, and knowing her, contemptuous, he needed to cool off and he needed to be somewhere where he had full and total control.

  And there was only one place he could achieve that.

  Devon was vaguely aware of the cooling night air brushing against her skin… wait, that wasn’t right, was it? She needed relief from this throbbing ache that had set up business between her legs and she didn’t want to complain but there was several perfectly good beds inside… or even more expedient, the hardwood floors of the living room.

  Hmmm, Liam’s mouth was so insistent, she arched her throat as he trailed kisses down to the madly beating pulse at the base. Okay, so they’d do it outside, who cared, it wasn’t like she had any neighbours.

  She bit back a sigh as his mouth moved back to capture her lips. Damn, she liked the feel of his hands on her butt but she wanted them on other parts of her too. Digging her nails lightly into his scalp she managed to break their kiss, willing to plead for him to touch her, take her, but their whereabouts caught her attention. “Why-” She didn’t get to complete her sentence as Liam walked them right off the end of the dock.

  As they plummeted downwards he kept a tight hold on her. Being water creatures the temperature of the dark water made little impact upon either one of them as they slipped through the ink black water, drifting slowly downwards.

  Hmm, the velvety cool water had nothing on Liam, as he shifted his lower body into his water form, holding Devon tight, the two of them spiralling downwards ever so slowly. She gasped softly as gentle vibrating ripples lapped at the skin of her bare legs, as if a hundred tiny fishes were applying soft kisses against her flesh. Sweet Yami, she arched her back, pulling away from Liam as the ripples moved to caress her inner thighs.