“You certainly did. In front of my whole pack the first time. The second time was in your room. The last time was in the pantry.”
“That was hardly a challenge!”
“It is in my home.”
“Did you ever stop to think that we come from two different worlds? I can’t fall into your definition of normal in a day.”
“And for that reason I’ve shown considerable restraint.”
“Restraint?” I exclaimed. “You degraded me in front of half your family!”
“I closed the door. Nobody saw a thing,” he disagreed. But I saw the corner of his lip twitch. “And I didn’t use my belt. The most I hurt was your pride.”
‘My pride’ hurt for nearly a day. And my anger toward him piqued with renewed fervor. As I picked up my pace again, I stewed in the bitter injustice. The fucker enjoyed spanking me.
Behind me, Icarus grumbled under his breath, but I couldn’t hear what he said. He fell into pace again beside me, brooding.
“Did you use the belt on Hailey the other day?”
“Yes.”
“You did? God, if she didn’t hate me already, she certainly hates me now.”
“Why would you think she hates you?”
“Well, for obvious reasons, but she paid me a visit the other day to discuss the physics of female lycanthrope anatomy. Thanks for sparing me of that humiliation, by the way.”
I could now understand his puzzled expression as he held my tampons in his hand. It was a waste of six fifty-nine, but the checkout aisle of Wegman’s was neither the time or place.
“I didn’t realize she was conversant in the subject.”
“Oh, she’s conversant all right. Apparently, she saw a lot during her time in the big woods. She enlightened me on the absence of menstruation, while gaining the fuck-me-I’m-fertile effect multiplied by the ninth power.”
“In estrus.”
“Who cares. She compared me to a ‘bitch in heat.’ And there was nothing nice about it. She’s like a female Damien Omen. Creepy little shit.”
“I agree she has issues, but I don’t think she hates you.”
“I have issues,” I disagreed. “She is an abomination.”
Icarus’s jaw tightened. “You’ll find a way to get along.”
“I already have. It’s called avoidance.”
“That seems to be your approach across the board.”
“Yup.”
And that effectively signaled the end of our conversation. I think he actually preferred the freak child over me. I couldn’t decide if it smarted or not. I chose not, because that would denote that I cared what he thought. And I didn’t. After all, I didn’t have to like him. I only had to be respectful of his rules. Like a parent. Yes, a tall, dark and handsome, single parent.
“Turn here,” Icarus said, pointing at the gates of Rock West High School. “Bacchus and Caius are at practice. You can use the track and they can take you home afterward. I have other things to do.”
Like ditching me. I guess our dislike was mutual.
Approaching the stadium, I could foresee the end of one painful situation and the start of another. God don’t let this be football, I chanted in my head. God, don’t let this be football. I’d rather have a tea party with Hailey than face a certain, loathed quarterback right now. I’d rather gnaw off my right leg. I’d rather take a romp in the sheets with my alpha male.
“What do they play?”
“Soccer.”
Unconsciously, I let out a pent up breath. “Thank God.”
“Have a thing for soccer?”
“No, I just swore off football players. And I have this secret fantasy I’d like to play out with the twins.” It involved using them to fend off Mike Dougherty tomorrow should he erroneously think I’d give him the time of day, and by fending off, I mean with physical force.
Beside me, Icarus tripped over his own two feet, but he was able to recover himself before he hit the ground. “I’ll make sure they’re at the field before I leave you alone.”
Soccer was in full practice, I found, as we circled the massive concrete bleachers. Two dozen bronzed, male bodies speckled the field, glistening with sweat and grunting with effort as they pushed the ball from one end of the field toward the enormous goal net at the other.
The godly display of masculinity left me breathless and gaping as I rounded the fence and stepped onto the track. My pace slowed significantly. Perhaps I’d been staring at the same three hundred faces at Rock East for too long. Yes, fresh minds were all I needed. Fresh minds housed within a field of glorious, half-naked bodies. Lord, I could have a new one every day for a month. This was almost as much fun as shopping for Coach purses during a season sale.
“You’re gawking.”
“I’m single. It’s allowed.”
“Over Marcus so easily?”
“I thought you were leaving? Look, there’s Bacchus now,” I said dismissively, pasting a smile on my face and showing off my best beauty pageant wave. “See, all safe and protected. You don’t need to hang around. Remember you have better things to do. Like imps to pet.”
A third voice joined our soirée, resonating from the sidelines. “Thale?”
Oh God. (Shiver) “On second thought. Stick around.” Picking up my pace again, I prayed Icarus would follow. God, if you ever loved me at all…
“Who is he?”
“Nobody.” Michael freakin’ Dougherty, I hate you to the fiery pits of Hades.
“Thale!”
Icarus stole a second look over his shoulder. “He seems to know you.”
“Knew. Past tense. He’s nobody to me now.”
“Thaleia!” Michael pressed. “Damn it!”
“You want me to get rid of him?”
“Yes.”
“What’re you willing to do for it?”
My jaw clenched. “Anything. Just do it now.”
“Dinner?”
“Call me Julia fuckin’ Childs.”
“No, dinner out. The two of us. Call it a date.”
“Who the hell are you, Satan himself?” The man lived to make my life hell. Why in the world would he want dinner with me when we couldn’t even get along during a short jog?
Unsympathetic, Icarus shrugged. “Take it or leave it.”
“Thale!”
“Fine. Dinner. Just the two of us.” Grasping my arm, Icarus used my momentum to spin me into his arms. I hit hard, my breath leaving my lungs in a whoosh. I glared, deceived, hearing Michael’s footsteps drawing closer. “What the hell are you doing?” I hissed.
“Getting rid of your friend.”
I was still shaking my head when his lips met mine. I pressed my mouth closed. He worked patiently around my reluctance, following the edge of my lips with small nips and teases.
“Open,” he drawled, his eyes alight. “Need to make this convincing.”
I shook my head.
“Open,” he demanded this time, tickling the inside of my skull. My lips parted of their own accord, allowing him access to the recess of my mouth. He flooded it with his tongue, cutting off my objection with a controlling stroke. I promptly rolled into an undignified moan, molding myself to him like a pair of fondly worn jeans.
Surprised with my weak strength of control, I bit the tip of his tongue. He flinched and drew back enough to breathe a reprimand over my lips. “Be nice now, Thaleia.”
Hearing the caress of my name from his desire-laden voice overruled my senses and sent a shiver down my back. It took all my strength to lock my knees so that I didn’t collapse while he inundated me with a hunger that left me wanting.
What could’ve been minutes later when Icarus concluded his kiss, I was appalled to find myself pinned between the fence and his body, rubbing myself against him in a number of inappropriate ways.
“Easy,” he murmured, feeling me stiffen. “Give me a minute before you run off.”
“Is that…?” I gasped, feeling the unmistakable bulge trapped between his hi
p and mine. “Oh my God. You have to be kidding me. Don’t you have any control?”
Raising an eyebrow, he stared pointedly at me in accusation.
“That’s not my fault. Ok it is,” I said, when his expression shifted to amusement. “But it doesn’t mean anything. I don’t even like you.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Can’t we argue this someplace else?”
“Not yet,” he said, pressing his hips to mine, so that I could feel the affect I had on him. Apparently, he had no qualms over public displays of erection.
“Ugh!”
“What happened between you and Malibu Ken?”
I rolled my eyes. Even if he was asking only to distract himself and relieve his carnal spontaneities, I wasn’t sharing. Ex’s were as taboo as bodily functions. “I’m not discussing that with you.”
“It might help relieve tensions.”
“So would a sharp jab of the knee.”
“I didn’t mean me. I meant you. Talking about it.”
“No.”
“I take it he was a football player,” he pressed, fishing for information. That much I could give him. Dougherty made it pretty obvious anyhow.
“One of.” Dropping my head, I winced. “God that sounds awful. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant dated. I don’t sleep around.”
“I didn’t think you did. If knowing my past makes you feel less uncomfortable, I haven’t slept with anyone since I was your age.”
Impulsively, my eyes narrowed. He was leveling the playing field. Baiting me to talk. And damn if it wasn’t working. How long had he abstained? Was it even possible for a man like him? In his prime? Dear God. No wonder he’s been a hot mess where I’m concerned.
“How old are you now?”
“Twenty eight.”
“Ten years?”
“I’ve been busy.” Raising his cousins after their parents died. “See how it works, Thaleia? I tell you a little of my past; you tell me a little of yours. It’s simple. Painless. Swear.”
“Ok. I did something stupid. I got hurt. I learned my lesson. The end.”
“Why are you being so difficult?”
“Because I don’t want to talk about it.” I’d never told anyone before. Just Benny, but only after he guessed. Anyone else could stick it. I didn’t need their opinions and accusations. “And I don’t need your reproof or sympathy.”
“I take care of what’s mine. Whether you hate me or not. You’re one of us now. If he’s going to be bothering you, I want to know.”
“I can handle him; I just wasn’t prepared to see him today.”
“I can force you to answer me.”
My jaw clenched, well aware of his talent for vocal coercion. My lip quivered, fueled between anger and humiliation. “I slept with him two years ago. After prom. And then I found out it was all a bet he had with his friends. I heard them bragging about it afterwards.”
Understanding settled over his features. “And then my morons the other day…”
I gave one sharp and turned my head, hiding the traitorous tears that rimmed my eyes. His morons dredged up old demons. True, I had never buried them. They sat on my shoulder, constantly whispering words of distrust and doubt. They’d saved me from sleeping with Marcus countless times, reminding me of my past and preventing me from repeating my mistake.
Icarus tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and cupped my chin. I promptly jerked it from his grasp. The memory hurt, but the humiliation of reliving it, with him, under duress, stung worse. He was wrong. I didn’t feel better. In fact, I wanted to give him a sharp jab of my knee then ask him if he felt better. I think he would agree that extracting pain was not the solution to ones problems.
“It’s not at all like riding a bike.”
“What?”
Running his hand into his hair, he sighed despondently. “It’s been ten years since I’ve pursued anyone,” he reminded me. “It’s not like riding a bike.”
Fuck me sideways. You have to be kidding. “Are you saying that dragging my emotions through the coals is-is-is-is some sort of stunt to impress me?”
“I’m out of practice.”
“That’s saying it lightly. What else were you planning to do? Pull my hair? Kick me on the shin and run away? Hit me with a stick? Or were you gonna stick to just calling me names since you’re so damn good at it?”
“No, I was going to go knock the little weasel around a bit.”
“Do I need to point out that you’re twenty eight? You can’t hit Dougherty without getting yourself arrested. He’s seventeen until December. Unfortunately.”
“Have you never watched a game of soccer?”
“No, I was busy watching football.”
“Maybe that’s your problem. You were watching the wrong sport.”
“It doesn’t matter how you do it. You still can’t hit him.” Dougherty was considerably smaller. He’d break him like a twig. Though, I’ll admit the notion was appealing. Perhaps the golden boy wasn’t untouchable after all.
“Just a little bit?” he pleaded, noting my weakening resolve. “No broken bones. I swear. Just a few minor bruises to the ribs. Maybe one to the face. Definitely one to his ego. He owes you that much.”
For whatever reason, I couldn’t stay mad. Icarus had completely disarmed me with his confession and his adolescent eagerness to pummel the idiot who broke my heart. I laughed, shaking my head. “This doesn’t mean I like you.”
“Then it’s a good thing I have dinner to change your mind.” Pressing a quick kiss at the corner of my mouth, he loped onto the field, leaving me wondering what in the hell I had gotten myself into. I had come out to clear my mind and somehow ended up facing Michael Dougherty, and got roped into a dinner date with an alpha male I wasn’t even sure I liked.
Fuck.
Chapter 10
“I think I’ve died and gone to smoothie heaven,” Crispin declared, slurping the last of his strawberry, pineapple, cantaloupe smoothie with exuberant appreciation. The straw made a hollow sucking sound against the bottom of the glass that left him whining mournfully.
Cracking my jaw, I strived to pop my ears. Since I awoke, everything sounded like I was underwater. I wondered idly if lycanthrope were susceptible to distemper, parvo or bordetella.
“There’s more in the fridge,” I told him, slinging my backpack over my shoulder. With a hissed ‘yes’ of delight, Crispin hastened to the fridge for another helping. I stuck my tongue out at Icarus for doubting my ability to instill healthier eating among his ragtag pack of waifs and strays.
“Let’s go, Thale!” Caius called as he ran out the front door.
“You didn’t eat,” Icarus said, disapprovingly.
“I nibbled while I cooked.” Grabbing a link of sausage, I rolled it up in a pancake and turned for the door, but Icarus had other plans, using the straps to my bag to reel me in.
He was under the impression that keeping constant physical contact with me would prevent us from falling back into an extreme pattern of discord. Throughout the weekend, he would touch me in subtle ways, like resting a hand on my arm while he watched me cook from over my shoulder. Or chuck my chin when my thoughts would turn toward Benny and my parents. Most often, he stole discreet kisses before I could object or deny him. On the other hand, I reconsidered as his lips met mine, that perhaps he simply enjoyed kissing me. (Or knew that I secretly enjoyed kissing him.)
“Really?” Crispin complained. “Minor’s present guys. Keep it G.”
Icarus’s breath burst warmly against my lips in a soft laugh.
“Thale—iii—aaa!” Caius hailed from outside, impatient.
“I’m in trouble now,” I said, pulling away. “They’re enunciating syllables.”
“Good luck today.”
“Straight A’s,” I dismissed, jabbing my thumb toward my chest. Turning on my heel, I trotted out the door. Caius caught me on the landing, hoisted me over shoulder and ran for his jeep. I sputtered in objection, trying to ke
ep my cleavage from escaping as I bounced around.
“If we’re late,” he chastened, “we get detention. If we get detention, we miss practice. If we miss practice, we get twelve laps added to our routine. And unlike you, we think laps suck.”
Feet first, he dropped me into the back of the jeep, and then jumped into the front while I scrambled to situate myself. Bacchus slammed on the gas, propelling me into my seat, and spitting pebbles across the asphalt driveway. They hit the garage door like the pang of birdshot.
“You live a mile away from the school,” I said, disentangling my arms and hair from the straps of my book bag. “It’ll only take a minute to get there.”
“But we won’t get the best parking.”
“So you and Icarus, huh?” Bacchus said in the world’s worst segue. I’m sure he’d been waiting since Saturday, to be out of Icarus’s earshot so that he could hound me for details.
His blue eyes bored into mine through rearview mirror.
I shrugged noncommittally.
“It’s good. He deserves you,” he said, his focus returning to the road. Though my hearing was off, I didn’t need it to detect the tinge of disappointment in his tone.
“Personally, I’m glad,” Caius voiced. “Guy’s been solo for so long, he was beginning to lose his mojo. It was getting painful to watch. All thumbs and two left feet, you know?”
“Painful to watch?” I contested. I was the one on the receiving end of his muddled attentions. Crossing my arms over my chest, I sat back with a pouty huff.
Honestly, I still didn’t know what to think of our relationship. But my acquiescence did appear to mollify him. And his attentions were more manageable, if not welcome.
Caius chuckled from the front seat. “I’m sorry, but I would’ve loved to have seen him whupping your backside,” he confessed. “I heard you screamed like a banshee.”
“Idiot,” I muttered, sinking deeper against the seat.
“Call me what you will, but I’m a man. All man. One hundred percent, baby. And I will forever have dreams of witnessing such an event.”
My mouth twisted impulsively to a grimace. “Why are men such perverts?”
“We’re not. Women have their share of fantasies too. It’s just that years of being conditioned to deny them confuses you, and you refuse to admit that certain acts titled as unchaste or licentious actually turn you on.”
Feral Page 15
