Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

TEN

It'd been two weeks since I told Matthew everything. Two weeks since we had sex for the first time.

I finally understood why some of my demon friends were so besotted with their human mates.

My every waking thought was about Matthew, and I hated every minute we were apart, which was usually the duration of his work shifts.

A few days ago, I'd invited him to move in with me because he'd been spending most of his time at my place anyway, and because I hated how unsafe his neighborhood was. But he'd said not yet, reminding me that I'd already paid the rent on his place. How did I make him understand that money was nothing to me? My money came from magic, and I could make as much of it as I wanted.

Matthew was at work, and I was in my apartment trying to figure out how I spent my days before I met him. I'd checked in with the other demons and discovered that the dark souls had passed through Calux's town a while ago, but I hadn't sensed them anywhere close, so they must've gone a different direction. I had no idea what they were planning, and frankly, I didn't care as long as they stayed away from Matthew. I would help my demon buddies take care of them whenever they were caught, but I wasn't going to waste too much energy worrying about them.

No, right now, all my focus was on figuring out how to convince Matthew to move in with me. I couldn't take back the rent I'd paid, because that would force Matthew's hand, and that was the last thing I wanted. I wanted Matthew to move in happily and willingly.

I'd at least convinced him to leave his second job at the nursing home where he worked nights, and tonight was his last shift there. After tonight, I'd be able to spend every evening with him.

He'd told me not to come over tonight because he'd get back from work at around three in the morning and wouldn't be 'up for company,' but when three o'clock rolled around and I was still awake, I realized I wouldn't be able to fall asleep without Matthew in my arms.

Giving myself a onceover, I quickly used my magic to get to an alley beside Matthew's building. I could've gone straight to his floor or even his apartment, but I didn't want to run into someone or startle Matthew if he was still awake.

Stepping into the building, I climbed up the stairs to Matthew's floor, excited to see him.

After the first time we had sex, we'd been together a few times more. We went to a club once, and Matthew gave me a blowjob in the bathroom. Then we got home and he made me shift so he could give me another "proper" blowjob. It turned me on how Matthew found my true form attractive. I hadn't expected that since humans weren't the most open-minded, and I was pleasantly surprised by my mate.

Stopping on his floor, I straightened my clothes before walking down the hallway to his door.

I paused a moment before I reached it as I heard some muffled sounds coming from inside.

Peering forward, I realized the door to Matthew's apartment was open.

"You invited me here. Why are you struggling now?" A voice with a slurred edge came from inside, and I rushed inside without a thought, my gaze zeroing in on Matthew's mattress instantly, where a somewhat familiar-looking man was pressing Matthew down into the mattress, a hand clamped over his mouth to keep him from shouting.

I rushed across the small apartment, grabbed the human, and ripped him off of my mate, sending him flying through the air and crashing into the small dining table.

Without giving him a second thought, I went on my knees and helped Matthew sit up, running my eyes over him and trying to see if that asshole hurt him. "Are you okay?"

Matthew gave a jerky nod, and his eyes slid from me to the asshole struggling to get out from under the table.

"I'm sorry," Matthew mumbled, and I scowled.

"Why are you apologizing? That asshole attacked you."

"He's my landlord." He watched me expectantly, like those words explained everything.

"So? That doesn't give him the right to assault you."

"I sent him that text, remember?" he said, and it took me a moment to realize what he was referring to.

"You did that in a fit of desperation. And you paid your rent. Either way, it doesn't matter if you texted him or not. It doesn't give him the right to rape you."

Matthew flinched, then lowered his head, and I cursed under my breath. I shouldn't have been so blunt, but I needed Matthew to know this wasn't in any way his fault.

Leaving him on the mattress with a kiss on his cheek, I headed over to the asshole landlord who'd managed to climb his way out from under the table.

One of the pesky little orders I was given when the rulers of Otherworld summoned me to the human realm was that I couldn't hurt humans. If I did, I'd be sent right back to the demon realm.

As much as I wanted to hurt this man, I couldn't leave Matthew alone. I hoped the table had broken a few of his bones at the very least.

Grabbing him by the collar, I pulled him to his feet, then dragged him all the way to the front door as he flailed in my grip.

Pushing him out of the apartment, I glared at him and let some of my demon side reflect on my face. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from Matthew."

The asshole stared at me with wide eyes, then scampered away. I waited until he'd disappeared down the hallway before closing the door and turning to Matthew, who was exactly where I'd left him.

I wasn't sure if I was the best person to comfort him when I might just make everything worse, but I was the one here, and Matthew was my mate. I had to do something.

Matthew

Today had gone from bad to worse, and I just wanted it to be over.

My last day working at the nursing home, and two of my favorite patients had passed on. I knew it had nothing to do with me, that it'd just been their time, and yet I couldn't help feeling like if I hadn't quit, they'd somehow still be here.

Then I'd come home, taken a shower, and climbed into bed wishing Ten was there to hold me and tell me I'd feel better in the morning, when my landlord had walked in like...like he owned the place. He was clearly drunk, but he hadn't seemed drunk enough to not know what he was doing.

He'd said he wanted to 'cash in' my offer from the other day, and that he'd 'make it worth your while.'

I didn't even want to think about what would've happened if Ten hadn't shown up, but I only had myself to blame, right? If I hadn't made that offer...

I startled when arms wrapped around me, then sank into them when I realized it was Ten. I didn't know how much time had passed, but at some point Ten had shifted into his true form, and he pulled me deeper into his leathery chest, tightening his arms.

Sighing softly, I started to relax as his heat soaked into my skin, pushing away the last of the chill that had filled me when my landlord had touched me.

"This was not your fault," Ten said after a few minutes, his voice firm.

"But the text?—"

"You sent me that text first, remember? If it was because of the text, I could've done something to you that night instead of updating your furniture."

I sucked in a breath, then craned my neck to look at him. It was an awkward angle, but I managed to make eye contact with one of his eyes.

"You'd never do something like that."

"Exactly. The blame lies with the person, not the text. Your landlord is a bastard and the only one to be blamed. Okay?"

I sighed, knowing he was right. Even when I'd made the offer, I hadn't been sure I could do it. And when I'd found out my rent was paid? I'd been so relieved, even if I was confused about who had done it.

I knew my landlord was the one in the wrong here, even if it would take me a minute to fully accept it.

"Come on," Ten said, shifting into his human form as he stood up since my apartment had a very low ceiling.

"What? Where?"

"My place. You can't stay here anymore."

He was right, and while this wasn't how I'd imagined I'd say yes to moving in with him, I was excited to live with him. I liked staying at his place, not only because he could be himself there, but because I'd slowly started to make his place ours. Some of my stuff was already there, and Ten promised he'd move everything else with his magic, including the nice furniture he'd gifted me—minus the broken table, though he said he'd replace it.

Removing the apartment key from my keyring, I placed it on the counter, and Ten smiled widely when I walked over to him.

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I leaned up on my toes to press a kiss to his lips.

"I know I said we're going to my place, but if you aren't ready to move in together yet?—"

"I am," I cut him off, pulling back to meet his eyes. "I'm so ready, Ten. I promise."

Ten grinned widely, then wrapped his arms tight around me. I snapped my eyes shut as magic stirred around us, and I felt my stomach drop as everything around us whooshed before settling, all within a few seconds.

"We're here," Ten murmured, and I opened my eyes to the familiar walls of Ten's apartment.

"Wow," I murmured, stunned as I was every time Ten used his magic for something.

"Give me a minute," he said, then closed his eyes.

I sucked in a breath as my couch popped up across from Ten's, with the coffee table between them. My throw blanket and cushions followed, and I knew the rest of my stuff had been moved as well when Ten opened his eyes.

"That was...quick," I said, and Ten chuckled.

"That it was. Your clothes are in the closet, and I put the chairs and a new table in the kitchen. I didn't bring over the mattress since we already have a bed, but I can if you want."

I shook my head, then pursed my lips. "Could you transport it somewhere it can be useful? Like a shelter or a donation bin of some kind?"

Ten smiled, then nodded, closing his eyes for a moment before giving me a thumbs up. "Done."

Grinning, I wrapped my arms around him again, and pressed my face into his chest, breathing him in. A yawn slipped past my lips, and I gave a surprised shout when Ten lifted me up and started carrying me to his bedroom.

"You need sleep."

Laying me down on the mattress, he covered me with the blanket before walking over to the other side of the bed. His clothes disappeared, and he climbed under the blanket, wrapping his arms around me and tugging me close.

I hummed happily and tucked my face into the crook of his neck, soaking in his warmth as sleep tugged at me.

"Thank you for saving me. Again," I mumbled, wishing a younger me could see me now. I finally had someone who would protect me, my knight in scaly armor, and I didn't ever want to lose him.

"Always," Ten whispered, and I smiled when I felt the press of a kiss on top of my head.

Exhaling deeply, I let sleep pull me under, knowing that when I woke up, I'd be safe, secure, and loved.