“Thank you,” he murmured, gently pulling the collar from her fingers and setting it next to him on the comforter. “Chuck, look… I’m sorry again for snapping at you out there. I didn’t want you to get hurt. The world needs more people like you, and I couldn’t stand it if that asshole had laid a single claw on you.” He took her nearest hand in his and threaded their fingers together. “And thank you for helping me. Once again, I’m in your debt. I don’t know why you put up with me, but meeting you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I may not know who I truly am or how I ended up there in that rescue center, but these last six months have been amazing.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that.” She smiled softly and ran her free hand gently through his hair. Her fingers got tangled, and she tugged them free with a chagrined wince. “Sorry, I forgot your hair gets so messy after you change forms.”
Taking her other hand now, he smirked, a teasing smile, and with a sing-song tone replied, “You are sooooo obsessed with my hair, Chuck. You liiiike it, you looove it.” He tilted his head and widened his eyes innocently, batting his lashes.
“Shut up, you idiot.” She laughed and yanked her hand from his, shoving his shoulder playfully. At his stifled gasp, her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh shit, Mal, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you! Dammit, I’m an idiot. Come on, lie down. What do you need? What can I get you?” She hurried to the head of the bed and yanked down the sheet, plumping up the pillows. “Here, Malachi, please. Tell me what to do.”
He watched her worrying her lower lip between her teeth and studied her pale cheeks. “It’s okay, Chuck, I just need to sleep for a bit, and I think my body will heal itself. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be alright. Go do whatever you need to do. I’ll take care of whatever I need. I’ve put you out enough.”
“No, you haven’t. Nothing is too much for you.” Seeming to understand the depth of what she’d said, her aura flared red and orange. Shestraightened her shoulders and briskly directed, “Let’s get you tucked in, and I’ll run to the store for dinner.”
Silently, Malachi studied her and her aura. The red was getting stronger, and it unnerved him. She was definitely feeling what seemed to be a strong lust for him, and it was wrong. He was all wrong for her. For the first time in his demonic life span, he felt shame and despair. This was what he was trying to accomplish: gaining her trust, her desire, her grace. But it made him feel awful and grimy. Conflicted. Unfamiliar emotions swirled through him like a hurricane, spinning around the center of stillness that was undeniable. He cared for her too much. He wasn’t going to hurt her.
Groaning from the stiffness of his body and the sickening dance of feelings sweeping through him, he lay back onto the pillow. “Fuck,” he murmured as his muscles relaxed on the silky sheets and all the little aches and pains flared up again. His gaze caught Chuck’s worried stare, and he plastered a reassuring fake smile over his lips, trying to let it reach his eyes. He wasn’t sure it was fully successful, but it earned a timid smile from her in response. “I’m good now, go do what you need. I’ll be here. Just going to sleep.”
Closing his eyes, he forced his breathing to even out and listened until he heard her quiet footsteps retreating. When the door closed gently, and the tiniest click from the catch echoed, he truly relaxed. He stifled a groan as every muscle in his body throbbed all at once, as if punishing him for daring to ignore his injuries. Shifting around until he sank further into the mattress, he released a deep sigh as the quivering stopped, and everything warmed. His healing magic had started, and soon the comfort lulled him into sleep.
Chickens, Ruffles, and Steak
Afrantic howl that sounded like a crazed lunatic had escaped the asylum and was rampaging through the neighborhood woke Malachi from his restorative sleep. He came awake with a jolt and smirked as he heard Chuck shushing Reena. It would seem his brindle-coated sidekick was demanding her share of steak as well. Stretching his arms over his head until his spine popped, he released a deep groan of satisfaction. No pain greeted the gesture, and he chuckled as Reena’s insistence became firmer.
“You cut that out right now, young lady. Malachi is sleeping, and I don’t want your greedy butt waking him up. Keep up this nonsense, and you won’t getanysteak,” came Chuck’s sharp retort.
A strangled yip echoed from the kitchen, then the tiny click of nails on the floor as Reena trotted towards the bedroom. A snuffling at the base of the door was followed by disgruntled murmuring and scratching on the wood.
Reena,he sent her, grinning at her low whine.Be a good girl for Chuck, okay? She’s had a long day. I promise I’ll share with you. Just chill out ya little psycho, alright?
A sigh that spoke of suffering and injustice was followed by a piggy snort of agreement before her nails clicked away down the hall.
He grinned, picturing her curly tail held upright in indignation. He wasn’t entirely sure where Reena stood on the debate of being righteous or not, but he was sure that whatever her stance, that tail shouted it. His amused thoughts were interrupted by a soft tap on the door frame.
“Hey,” Chuck called, opening the door and finding him awake. “Sorry if she woke you. How are you feeling?”
Sitting up on his elbows, he stared at her with half-closed eyes, a lock of his hair falling over his cheek. He stifled the smile that was trying to emerge as he watched her moisten her lips and shuffle nervously in the hall. “Chuck,” he mumbled, “come here. Quit hovering.”
Her mouth opened slightly, she shuffled forward, almost like a zombie, uncertainty and lust in her gaze.
Oops, gotta tone that down,he thought, easing up on the dark incubus call that was wrapping around her.
With a slight shake of her head, she continued forward under her own power and sat gingerly on the edge of the mattress. Her fingers suddenly grasped the lock of hair in his face and nudged it back, tucking it behind his ear. Eyes wide at her seeming audacity, she stared at her hand like a foreign invader and then back at him in surprise. “I… uh… it was blocking your face. It’s soft. Your hair. I mean, I don’t know why that surprises me. Your fur is soft. When you’re a dog. Umm.” She compressed her lips to cut off the flow of words and watched him warily.
Unable to help himself, he laughed out loud and flopped back on the mattress at the bewildered expression on her face.
“Malachi!” she gasped. “Oh no, are you okay? Did that hurt? What do you need? What can I get you?”
Once again, he acted on impulse and snatched her shoulders in his large hands, then threw her down on the bed next to him before flinging his body over hers. She was so shocked by the movement that she didn’t even try to twist away or escape. A fact he found interesting, given her police training. Slowly, he lowered himself closer to her, only the tangled sheet between them. His nose nearly touching hers, their lips a scant two inches apart, he murmured, “I’m fine now. No pain. All better.” He lifted one of her hands and placed it against his side, pressing her soft fingers against his ribs. “See? Not a twinge. Bruising is all gone.”
Taking in her wide eyes, erratic breathing, and shaking hands, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead then leaned back on his heels. Smiling, he held up his palms. “I’m a new man! Now I believe there was talk of steak? Something tells me we should get in there before Reena stages a mutiny.” He leapt off the bed and held out his hand again, this time in an offer to help her up. As she continued to stare at him, mouth still hanging slightly open, he curled his fingers and dropped his arm to his side. “Okay, well, I’ll be in there when you’re ready.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode into the hall without a backward glance at her. He didn’t need one. He knew what she would look like, rumpled and disheveled in those tangled sheets. Cheeks flushed, lips trembling, and her aura streaked with lust and confusion. His own lips quivered as they drew into a devilish smile.
Standing in the kitchen, he glanced around, looking to see if there was something he could do to help. Then he froze, standing like a statue.Help? I don’t help. What am I even supposed to do?
A cleared throat behind him startled him from his thoughts as he whirled to face Chuck. She had composed herself for the most part,although her cheeks were still flushed. “Any reason you’re standing in the middle of the kitchen, right in my way?”
“Would you prefer me on four legs underfoot instead?” he replied, arching an eyebrow and crossing his arms. “I was going to offer to help, but if I’m just in the way, I can go outside and contemplate my fuzzy existence.”
“No!” she said quickly, then her eyes narrowed, and she pointed at him. “Not funny!” she griped as he struggled to hide the grin that had formed. Slowly lowering her hand, her lips twitched as she fought her own smile.
