Chapter 30 Wen #2
I snorted. “You’ve clearly never been stuck in rush hour on the highway.”
“What is rush hour?”
“Hell. Rush hour is hell.”
At the store, I grabbed a cart and started wheeling it toward the produce section.
Mal followed so close behind me that he kept bumping into my back.
His hand kept brushing my lower back in a way that was definitely possessive.
His body kept angling between me and other shoppers like he was protecting me from the imminent threat of suburban moms buying organic kale and arguing about HOA regulations.
“You can relax,” I told him. “Nobody here is going to attack me.”
“You do not know that with certainty. There could be threats anywhere. Hidden enemies. Dangerous individuals.”
“The biggest threat here is the price of avocados and the judgment from other women when I buy ice cream.”
He frowned deeply. “What is an avocado?”
I was in the middle of explaining the concept of overpriced millennial fruit that was supposedly going to solve all our problems when we reached the meat section. I gestured to the neatly packaged cuts behind the refrigerated glass.
“This is how we buy meat here. Already dead, cleaned, and butchered into portions. Not traumatizing to look at.”
He studied the selection with the focus of someone learning a completely foreign concept. “Which one should I choose for our dinner?”
“Whatever you want. Chicken, beef, pork. Just nothing that looks like it used to have a face.”
“No rabbit then.”
“Definitely no rabbit.”
He was examining a package of chicken breasts and reading the label with intense concentration when I heard a familiar voice.
“Wen? Oh my god, is that you?”
I turned to see James walking toward me with a friendly smile. He was Krystin’s distant cousin, tall and good-looking in that non-threatening way. Harmless, sweet. And currently the key player in my evil plan.
“James! Hey!” I moved away from Mal toward him with more enthusiasm than necessary. “How have you been?”
“Good! Really good. Busy with the new job but good.” He pulled me into a hug that lasted just a beat too long to be casual. Long enough to be noticed. “You look amazing. Pregnancy really suits you. The father is still not in the picture?”
I felt Mal tense behind me. Could practically hear his wolf snarling inside his head.
This was going exactly as planned.
“Thanks! You’re sweet. No, he’s not in the picture. But anyways, how is the new job going?” I angled myself so I was standing closer to James than to Mal and touched his arm while we talked.
“It’s great. Really challenging but I’m learning so much. The team is awesome.” He leaned in conspiratorially and lowered his voice. “Though I have to say, working this much means I barely have time to see friends anymore. We should grab coffee sometime and actually catch up properly.”
“I’d love that,” I said warmly and maybe touched his arm again. “It’s been forever since we hung out.”
It was a total lie. I’d never hung out with James, but it served its purpose when Mal appeared at my side so fast I almost jumped. His hand wrapped around my waist in a grip that was definitely possessive. His body pressed against my back in a way that screamed mine.
“Hello,” he said. His voice was pleasant. His eyes were absolutely not. They were boring holes into James’s skull.
James’s smile faltered slightly as he took in Mal’s size and expression. “Uh, hi there. I’m James. Friend of Wen’s.”
“Malachar. Wen’s mate.” The way he said mate sounded like a territorial claim and a threat rolled into one.
“Friend,” I corrected quickly because we were in public, and Mal looked as if I’d struck him. “Mal, James is Krystin’s cousin. I’ve known him for years.”
“How lovely.” Mal’s hand tightened on my waist. “Wen, we should finish shopping quickly. You need to rest. The baby requires you to rest frequently.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” I turned back to James and deliberately ignored Mal’s grip. “So you were saying about that coffee?”
“Oh, right. Yeah, maybe next week? I know this great little place downtown that just opened. They have amazing pastries.”
“That sounds perfect. Text me the details?”
Mal made a noise that was definitely a growl. His fingers flexed against my hip hard enough that I’d probably have marks later.
I bit back a smile. This was too easy.
“Anyway, we should probably get going,” I said to James. “But it was so great seeing you. We need to catch up more often.”
“Definitely.” He hugged me goodbye and I made sure to hug back enthusiastically and maybe held on a second longer than necessary. “Text me!”
“Will do!”
I turned around and started pushing the cart toward the dairy section with casualness. Mal walked beside me radiating enough tension to power a small city. His jaw was clenched so hard I was worried about his teeth. His hands were fists at his sides.
“He seems very friendly,” he said after a moment. His tone suggested that friendly was a crime punishable by death and dismemberment.
“He is. James is a great guy. Really sweet and thoughtful.”
“Very touchy with you.”
“We’re friends. Friends hug. That’s normal human behavior.”
“That was not a friend hug. That was a mating invitation and courtship display.”
I snorted and grabbed a gallon of milk. “It absolutely was not. You’re being ridiculous.”
“He leaned in close to you. Touched your arm multiple times. Suggested a private meeting over coffee and pastries.” Mal stopped walking and turned to face me with his eyes flashing red. “That is explicit courting behavior in any culture.”
“It’s coffee, Mal. Not a marriage proposal.”
“You are mine.” He stepped closer and his voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “My mate. Carrying my child. And that male was propositioning you right in front of me. We are not friends.”
“What are you doing?” I interrupted and crossed my arms over my chest even though it was difficult with the belly in the way. “You’re still in quicksand, remember? You don’t get to be jealous and possessive when you’re the one who screwed everything up.”
His expression shifted from angry to desperate. “I know. I am aware. But seeing another male touching you makes my wolf completely insane. I cannot control the instinct to eliminate threats to our bond.”
“Well, try harder because James is not a threat. He’s a nice guy who was being friendly.”
I turned around and started shopping again. I’d barely made it three steps when James appeared at the end of the aisle. I waved enthusiastically and he walked over with that easygoing smile. Time for Round 2.
“Hey, forgot to mention,” he said. “My sister just had a baby last week. Want to see pictures?”
“Oh my god, yes!”
We stood there looking at his phone while he showed me photos of his niece. She was adorable. I made appropriate cooing noises. Mal stood behind us emanating murder vibes so strong I was surprised James wasn’t running away screaming.
“They’re thinking of naming her Sophia,” James said.
“That’s a beautiful name,” I said.
“That name is terrible,” Mal interjected. “No child should be burdened with such weakness and common usage.”
James blinked and looked at him. “Uh, what?”
“Ignore him,” I said quickly. “I think Sophia is a lovely name. Very classic.”
“Thank you.” James shot Mal a confused and slightly concerned look. “Your boyfriend seems very opinionated about baby names.”
“You have no idea. He has opinions about everything.”
We continued shopping with James walking alongside us and chatting about random things.
Work. His sister’s baby. A movie he’d seen recently.
I engaged enthusiastically in the conversation.
Mal trailed behind us like a very large, very aggressive shadow that was seconds away from committing violence.
“Perhaps you should return to your own shopping,” Mal suggested to James with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes at all. “I am certain you have many important things to purchase for yourself.”
“Actually, I’m pretty much done for the day. Don’t mind walking around with you guys for a bit though. It’s nice catching up with Wen.”
Mal’s eye actually twitched.
I was having the absolute time of my life.
Finally, after what was probably psychological torture for Mal, James glanced at his phone and said he needed to get going. We said our goodbyes and I made sure to hug him again. Mal stared at him with literal murder in his eyes until he disappeared around the corner.
Then he turned to me.
“That was completely unnecessary.”
“What was?”
“Allowing him to accompany us through the store. Laughing at his mediocre jokes. Touching his arm repeatedly.”
“I was being friendly and polite. And what if I want to touch him? I had to see you with Amaia. Suck it up.”
“Wen.” Mal moved closer and backed me up against the shelf of pasta sauce. “I will hunt down Amaia and kill her myself if that brings you peace of mind, little mate. But I will not share you with anyone. Ever.”
His hands came up on either side of my head, caging me in against the shelf. His body pressed as close as my belly would allow. His eyes were locked on my mouth with laser focus.
“You don’t own me,” I said. But my voice came out way breathier than I’d intended because having him this close was doing things to my traitorous body.
“I know I do not own you. But you own me completely. And the thought of another male touching you makes me want to burn this entire building to the ground and salt the earth.”
He leaned down with the very clear intention to kiss me. Maybe the jealousy skit had gone too far, but I’d missed him. Missed the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the entire world that mattered.
So I closed my eyes and tilted my head enough that he could kiss me.
His mouth was gentle at first, almost cautious. Then it turned demanding. His tongue swept against mine and I melted into him like I had no self-control whatsoever. Heat pooled low in my belly. My hands fisted in his shirt without my permission. I made a noise that was embarrassingly needy.
He groaned against my mouth and pressed closer. I felt him hard against my hip and satisfaction rushed through me.
Excellent. This was better than jealousy. Let him suffer.
I pushed against his chest and stepped away. Smoothed down my sweater. Started pushing the cart again like absolutely nothing had happened.
“We still need milk,” I said casually.
He stood there for a long moment looking completely dazed and disoriented. Then he adjusted himself and followed me. I glanced down and had to bite my lip hard to keep from smiling at the very obvious problem he was having in his jeans.
I really hoped he was suffering as much as I was. Probably more, actually.
We checked out and drove home in loaded silence. He kept shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I kept my eyes on the road and pretended not to notice his discomfort.
Back at the apartment, he insisted on carrying all the bags inside despite my protests.
“You need to rest and conserve energy. I will handle the physical labor.”
“I’m pregnant, not dying.”
“You are carrying precious cargo. Our pup. Let me provide for you both.”
I rolled my eyes but let him have his way because arguing was exhausting. He started unpacking groceries and putting them away following my guidance. Then he turned to me with determination written all over his face.
“I want to cook dinner tonight. Put my newly acquired skills to use.”
I looked at him skeptically. “Your cooking skills.”
“Yes. I am ready to prepare a proper meal for you.”
“Mal, I really don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Please. Let me do this.” His expression was so earnest and hopeful. “I want to take care of you. Provide for you. Show you I can be useful in human ways.”
Against my better judgment and all my survival instincts, I nodded. “Fine. Don’t burn my kitchen down.”
“I will be extremely careful. I promise on my honor.”
He started pulling out ingredients and actually looked like he knew what he was doing. Looked at them with focus. Began prepping vegetables with surprising competence and proper knife technique.
Maybe the chef had actually taught him something useful.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I announced. “Try not to destroy anything while I’m gone.”
“I will not. Enjoy your shower, little mate.”
I headed to the bathroom and started the water, letting it heat up while I peeled off my clothes. My body was sore and swollen and I desperately needed this shower.
I stepped under the spray and let the hot water work on my aching muscles. Closed my eyes and tried to relax for the first time all day.
That’s when I smelled it.
Smoke. Definitely smoke. And something burning.
“Shit.”