by ERIN BEDFORD
I smirked at Mop and opened the fridge where I had bought ten containers of biscuit dough.
I grabbed one of the cylinders and held it out to him. “Like this.”
“What be that?” Mop gave the tub a cautious but curious once-over.
“Biscuits.” I smacked the end of the cylinder on the side of the counter, and the container popped open.
Pushing a chair over to the counter, Mop glanced over my shoulder as I began to lay out the little white circles onto a pan.
“Thems ain’t biscuits.” He poked his finger at the dough, and then sniffed his finger with a grimace.
I gave an impatient sigh. “Not yet they aren’t, but in about ten minutes they will be.” I moved over to the oven and hit the preheat button. “Humans might not have magic, but they have their own form of instant gratification.”
Mop frowned. “I don’t know. Seems like cheatin’ to me.”
I shoved the pan into the oven and closed it with a smack. “It’s not cheating, it's efficient. I don’t have hours to be slaving away in the kitchen to make some stupid biscuits. This way is faster, and Teeth won’t even know the difference.” I turned to the Fae in the room. “I thought you would know all about modern wonders?”
“Not everyone that comes to the human realm actually ventures out into the populated areas,” Chess said from where he lounged at the kitchen table. He tapped his claws on the wood.
“So, you guys just come into our world to hang out in the woods and occasionally steal from people's gardens? That makes no sense whatsoever.” I shook my head at Trip who was nodding in an excessive manner.
“Trip likes Lady’s carrots, Trip does!”
I smiled at the opalaught, because really, what else could I do? He was just too cute. But I expected more from Mop.
“What about you?”
Mop plopped down in the chair he was standing on and scoffed. “Like I want to be here? I only be here for Trip. I have me own family to worry ‘bout. I don’ be needin’ no human rubbish. Me wife would be havin’ me by the goods if I brought any of that silly stuff home.”
“You have a wife?” I didn’t try to hide the surprise in my voice. Not too long ago, Mop was complaining about the Seelie calling him ugly. That didn’t sound like someone who was in a happy and healthy marriage.
“Yeah. What about it?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Do ye think I can’t get a woman? I have ye know, I be a catch amongst brownies. Any Fae or human would be lucky to have me.”
“Mop is right, Mop is.” Trip nodded. “Mop has biggest house in the whole brownie village, Mop does. Though, Mop’s wife isn’t very nice, she’s not.”
“Trip!” Mop shot him a glare.
Trip pulled his ears down around his face in defense against Mop’s sharp tone. I opened my mouth to comment when the oven went off at the same time the front door slammed shut, and the worst sound in the world called out from the living room.
Chapter 7
Mother Knows Best
MY MOTHER. THE sound of her voice struck fear in the very heart of any socialite who dared to cross her.
My human mother, who didn’t know anything about the Fae realm, or that I wasn’t completely human, had arrived home. If she stepped into the kitchen right now, she would see a little brown man whose head was not shaped right to be a normal human, a rabbit that could be rabid if tempted the wrong way, and a male supermodel who looked like he just stepped out of a Japanese comic book.
Yeah. That would go over well.
“Katherine! Did you hear me?” her voice called out from the living room. “It is rude not to greet your guests at the door.”
“You’re not a guest, Mom,” I shouted and then turned to the others. “Hurry out the back door before she sees you. I’ll leave the biscuits out on the counter for you to take to Teeth.”
I pointed at Chess to tell him to throw his glamour on or get out, but he had beat me to the punch and sat with an amused, but curious expression on his face.
The back door slammed shut just as my mother stepped into the kitchen, marking Mop and Trip’s exit. I proceeded to pull the biscuits out of the oven, knowing the rant that was about to come.
“Are you listening to me, Katherine? I swear you are just like your father, so defiant. Far too much spirit for a proper young lady.” My mother slipped off her white gloves and held them in one hand.
She, who had barely hit fifty, was all about the Hillary Clinton look: matching skirt and blazers in sensible colors that didn’t scream harlot, and enough hairspray in her hair to open a new hole in the ozone layer. She could have gone the hot trophy wife way, but instead, she went the ‘I have to be the head of every charity and restoration group in the county’ way. My dad might be a bookworm, and know how to crunch numbers like nobody’s business, but my mother knew exactly how to wheedle the most out of her wealthiest investors.
Leaning back against the counter, I waited to see how long she would ream into me before she even noticed Chess was in the room. It could be a while. When she got on a tangent, there really was no stopping her.
“And your hair.” She waved her gloves at me, a scowl on her face. “While I appreciate that you have finally gone to the length to get it colored, I really wish you would have called me. I would have gotten you in with my girl.” She primped the edges of her own stiff, blonde bob. “And I’m not so sure I like the blonde on you. Your sister can pull it off because she has the right skin tone, but sadly, you take after your father in that aspect. You might consider going more of a Champagne blonde next time. I can…” she trailed off mid rant when Chess couldn’t hold back a chuckle.
“Well, hello. Katherine, why didn’t you tell me you had company?” Her blue eyes stabbed into me, showing her displeasure in a nonverbal capacity. She was good like that. A single look from her could kill a guy’s boner in an instant and a young daughter’s self-esteem for life. My mother turned to Chess with a smile. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Katherine’s mother, Sylvia.”
Chess unwrapped himself from his chair and took my mother’s hand in his, bending down to brush his lips on top of it.
“It is a pleasure to meet such a lovely woman,” he purred, humor lighting his eyes as he looked up at my mother through his long eyelashes. The cheater. “I can see where my Kat gets her good looks from.”
My mother giggled. The stiff upper lipped Republican fucking giggled. Like a high school girl! Well, at least I wasn’t the only one affected by Chess’ charm.
“Why, I don’t know about that, but you are charming.” She giggled again, and I found myself smirking at them.
“Mom, this is Chess. Chess, my mom.” I watched with ongoing amusement as I introduced them.
At least Chess was good for something other than eye candy. I might have to make him my certified mother-daughter buffer.
“Chess?” She looked at me in question. “That’s an unusual name. However, did you come by it?”
“It’s a family name.” Chess took the inquiry in stride. “My full name is Cheshire, but as you may notice my friends call me Chess, as may you.”
“So, is that what you two are? Friends?” She placed an innocent hand up to her face, looking between us.
“Mom!”
My mother, ever the tactful one.
Chess chuckled in that way that made my insides tingle. He left my mother’s side and approached me. Wrapping a strand of my hair around his finger, he tugged on it, sending a small zing into my scalp.
“I would like to know as well.” Chess’ eyes lit up with humor. “Are we friends, pet?”
My face became hot at the nickname, and his proximity only made my embarrassment worse under my mother’s watchful eye.
“Yes,” I stuttered, not exactly sure what we were.
I was attracted to him, but my life was way too complicated to be thinking about having a boyfriend, human or not. There was also the ever-looming question of what to do about Do
rian haunting me every moment of my life.
“Yes? Yes, what?” Chess prodded.
I glared up at him and gritted my teeth, no longer amused. “Yes, we are friends.”
My mother made a knowing hum.
My eyes snapped back to her. “What?”
She looked down as she began to put her gloves back on. “Oh, nothing. I can see you are very good friends. But I really should be going, dear. I only came by to see if you were coming to Sunday dinner, since you missed the last one.”
“And you couldn’t have called for that?” I patted my pocket, wondering where the hell my phone had gone. I swear I had it a moment ago. Maybe it was still in the backyard.
“I would have if you bothered to answer any of my calls.” She frowned briefly before turning to Chess with a smile. “It was delightful to meet you, Chess. I do hope to see you again soon. Maybe you could come with Katherine to Sunday dinner? Then you could meet the whole family. It’s been awhile since Katherine has brought any of her friends over to meet us.” She gave me a pointed look.
“No,” I jumped in before Chess could answer. “No. I’m sure Chess has other places to be, other business to attend to than a silly family dinner.”
“I’d be delighted,” Chess called out over my head, and I glared up at him.
“Good,” my mother chirped. “Well, now that is settled, Katherine, will you walk me to the door?”
“Of course, Mom,” I gritted out and followed her out of the kitchen, knowing that Chess was enjoying himself far too much.
When we reached the front door, she pounced.
“What is going on with you? You don’t answer any of our calls. Your father is beside himself with worry, and you know how he gets. His cholesterol is already through the roof, and he doesn’t need to be overstressing himself.”
I sighed and grabbed my hair. “I’m sorry. I’m just going through some stuff right now. I didn’t mean to make Dad worry.”
“Stuff like missing work?”
“Ugh. What? Did Brandi call you? That’s why you came by?” I growled, hating that bitch all the more.
“And what about your sudden hair change. Or maybe your unusual need for colored contacts? Are you insecure?” She brushed a strand of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear in the only motherly manner she had ever portrayed to me. “Did someone say something to you, Katherine? Because you know, I always say that no one can make you feel bad, only you can.”
“I know, Mom. God. If anyone makes me feel insecure, it is your and Linda’s constant pestering.” I pushed her hand away. “You better go easy on Chess. I don’t want this to end up like what happened with my prom date.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” My mother sniffed.
“I mean it.” I pointed a finger at her. “We aren’t dating, so get that thought out of your head. I will not have you interrogating him. He is just a friend.”
My mother smirked. “Well, if all of your friends look at you the way that delicious male specimen does, then you have been holding out on your old mother. Why if I was ten years younger, I’d—”
“Ew. Mom, really? TMI.” My mouth twisted in disgust.
“Well, you can be safe and assured that there will be no interrogation,” she continued, opening the front door. “I’ll leave you to your friend then. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Bye, Mom.” I rolled my eyes and closed the door tight behind her.
“Well, that was entertaining,” Chess purred from the kitchen door.
“For you, maybe.” I threw myself on the couch and covered my eyes with my arm. “I’d rather have a root canal without the numbing agent.”
The couch shifted beside me as Chess sat down next to me. I let my arm fall to give him a curious look. He had dropped the glamour as soon as my mother had left, and his tail was whipping back and forth like it had something it needed to get out.
“Yes?”
“What is your family like?”
I leaned my head back against the couch and shrugged. “You know, like any other family. My sister is a pain, has always been Miss Perfect, so, of course, I get compared to her in every way.”
“Perfect?” He arched his brow, leaning into me. “I don’t know how she could ever be more perfect than you.”
“Hold on, Romeo.” I gave an uncomfortable chuckle.
“Romeo?” He cocked his head to the side.
Oh, right. He probably had never heard of Shakespeare or any other references from the human world.
“Never mind.” I shook my head. “Anyway, my dad’s great. He’s what the business world calls a fixer. He goes into a company that is sinking and crunches the numbers until he comes up with a plan that pulls them out of hot water and into the Fortune 500.” I glanced at Chess. He nodded in a polite manner. I frowned. God, I was lame. “He’s my best friend,” I finished, trying to pull the conversation out of the snooze zone. “And, my mom, well, you met her.” I chuckled in an apologetic manner.
“They sound wonderful,” Chess said absently as he played with the ends of my hair.
“What about you?” I moved away, drawing his gaze up to me. “What’s your family like?”
At that moment, something passed in his eyes, dark and a bit sad, before a lopsided grin covered his face. “Same as any other family, I suppose. But more importantly…” he paused for emphasis. “About this friend thing.”
His fingers found their way back into my hair.
“Yeah. What about it?” I closed my eyes and tried not to moan at the way his digits massaged my scalp. If he kept doing that, he might very well move up from friend to Master of Kat.
“Does it come with any perks?”
“Perks?” I popped an eye open to look at him. “What kind of perks?”
He gave me a sultry smirk and tugged me closer. “The friendly kind.”
I squeaked out, ‘Oh!’ and then his mouth covered mine. Unlike his other kisses, which were meant to seduce and consume, this one seemed more like he was trying to lose himself in me. As if talking about his family made him need reassurance that he was really there and he was all right. I told myself that was why I let him kiss me. That the reason I dug my fingers into his hair and pulled him closer was because he needed this, not because I did.
He groaned and cupped my hip to bring me closer. He kept his hands on my waist, not creeping up or down, as he was perfectly content to continue ravishing my mouth in slow and sure movements. It was different but mildly unsatisfying.
The part of me that had given in and decided this was a good idea, that we wanted—no, needed—this, wasn’t happy with the gentle nips and sliding of our mouths together. It needed more. I arched my back to try to get him to take the hint, but he only held my face in his hand, changing the angle of our kiss so as not to nick my tongue on his teeth.
Growling in frustration, I took matters into my own hands. I used my weight to push back against him until I was leaning over him and then threw one leg onto the other side of him. Sitting astride his lap, I could feel every inch of him pressed between my legs. My hands tightened on his hair so I could get just a bit closer.
He moved his hands down to my hips, pressing me down against him as if knowing just what I needed from him. When he began to move my hips back and forth against his, he pulled his mouth away from mine. My eyes fluttered open and met his as small zings where our hips touched moved through me.
When I couldn’t seem to get the right amount of friction, my hand went to the waist of his pants. Just as my hands found the skin of his stomach underneath his shirt, a throat cleared behind me. I froze in place. With my hands still on Chess’ delectable abs, I looked over my shoulder to see Mop’s disapproving frown.
I moved to get up, but he held up his hands. “Oh no, don’t be stoppin’ on me account. I just be here to let the cat know they be wantin’ him at Court. But please continue, I be sure they’ll wait.” He waved his hands at us
to finish before darting back into the kitchen, and I assumed through the back door. What was that all about?
Chapter 8
Old Friends
I HAD TO admit I was sad when our make-out session turned dry humping got interrupted, and Chess left for his mysterious meeting in court. He didn’t say which court, but I had a sneaky suspicion it was my mother calling him once again.
So, while Chess was away and Mop and Trip were doing God knew what, I decided to work on my glamour by myself. I just hoped Dorian kept busy doing whatever he was doing and left me alone. I hadn’t seen hide or feather of him since the confrontation with Chess. Not that I was complaining, but losing my constant shadow was worrying, especially with the Shadow man on the loose.
The only mirror I didn’t have covered was the one in the bathroom. I figured if Chess couldn’t use it as a portal, then the Shadows wouldn’t be able to either, or anyone else who decided to pay me a visit. Now that I knew there were others who were like me—well, not like me like me, but of more than one realm—I had to be careful whom I let into my sanctuary. I already had a parade of Fae coming in and out of my house on a whim.
My wet hair hung over my shoulders as I glared in the mirror. The stubborn blue color stared back at me. I had been trying for over an hour to get my eyes to change back to my original Christmas tree green, but the most I had been able to do was give myself a headache.
Before he left, Chess had suggested I find a picture of myself to use as a focal point, but after a quick search of my house and cell phone, I realized I didn’t have any pictures of me to use. Apparently, I was really good about not getting my picture taken.
“Argh!” I stomped my foot when I opened my eyes to see blue ones staring back at me again. “I give up.”
I tightened the towel around my top half and marched out of the bathroom into the hallway. I smacked into a solid warm body. My feet slipped. I landed hard my butt and my towel fell open, showing all my goods to the room.
“Well, hello, princess,” said a voice I knew all too well from growing up in the Seelie Court.
I snatched my towel up from the ground and covered the ladies while glaring at the blonde intruder. “What the fuck, Jewels?”
