Chapter Eight
I ’m still standing outside the little house, with a bloody nose and a sandwich, when I finally get my laughing under control.
Wow…
That was definitely not what I had expected to encounter when I woke up.
To be fair though, I really had no expectations at all, since I barely remember collapsing the night before. I don’t know what came over me last night, or why I ran, but at least I ended up collapsing in a fairly safe area... if you ignore the nymph with the mean punch.
Although, I kinda deserved that.
What actually woke me up was catching a whiff of that same sweet floral-citrus scent on her that I had smelled last night. And her physical form compliments that scent perfectly. With beautiful long curly hair, and a body whose curves just beg for me to take a bite. But her eyes…
Those gorgeous eyes were hiding some secrets.
And damn me for wanting to learn them.
It feels like she has a decent amount of power, but she was keeping it so tightly coiled, she couldn’t even count on it to deter her clumsy behavior. She was beautiful. Stunning even. She caught my eyes and had my cock jumping to attention like no other female had before. She is just...
I shake my head and dislodge the thoughts drifting straight from my lonely cock, right to my blood-deficient brain.
She is a damn distraction, that’s what she is. From her body to that mean right hook. I can’t afford any distractions right now.
Noticing how rough my clothes are, I pull up the bottom of my shirt to clean my nose. The whole thing needs to be washed anyways, and, after all, blood is one of the biggest reasons why I choose to wear dark colors.
Looking at the closed door, I decided it would be easier to just sit down out here. I set my plate down beside me for a moment while I pull off my pack. My shoulders ache from wearing it all night, but that shouldn’t last too long. I can work them out on the hike back to the bike, or further into these woods depending on where I need to go next.
As I open the flap on my pack to pull out my water bottle, out comes my little dragonfly friend again. Thankfully I manage not to fling myself around this time. Still... I purse my lips as I consider the creature. Why does it keep following me?
I let out a huff which immediately shifts my focus back to my parched mouth, so I pop the lid on my bottle and drink slowly.
Once the bottle is half gone, I look down at my boot where the dragonfly is resting and—I shit you not—it’s staring right at me. Apparently, I’m not getting rid of the little thing that easily.
It must be my charming personality.
Shrugging my shoulders and ignoring the audience, I grab half of the sandwich and take a big bite… and groan. It’s good. Nice ratio of condiments and other toppings, with a variety of veggies and a good portion of meat, topped off by perfectly baked homemade bread.
Oh Gods this is good.
I lean in for another bite and stop with the offering only inches from my eager taste buds when my brain finally shows up to the party.
She made me a sandwich. A complete stranger, sleeping outside her house. And I went and opened my big mouth with some rude ass comment. Dammit Blake…
My stomach growls and I decide it’s best to not insult her further by wasting the food I desperately needed.
As I continue to work my way through the gifted meal, I try to figure out why I acted that way. I mean, I’m an asshole, but that was pretty low even for me. “Let me repay you for the sandwich?” Had I seriously said that? Grimacing at myself, I take another big bite.
Fucking hell this sandwich is orgasmic.
She brought on an attraction in me that I hadn’t felt before. Unfortunately, I didn’t rein in my pheromones quickly enough. When she was sitting on my lap, her eyes were almost glazed over with her response. It felt so wrong to have her respond like that because of something outside of her control. I panicked and took the easiest route. I tried to say something to be a dick and break the attention she was paying me, and boy did that work.
I had expected a lot of things, but not a straight punch to the face. Or the attempted assault on my groin. Or for her to still give me the damn sandwich.
My mouth quirks up in a half smile as I pop the last bite in my mouth, and wonder what it would be like to spar with her. To get to watch that body move and sweat. Then to have an excuse to touch her. And if she actually took me down... damn I hope she would pin me. I wonder if she tasted as delicious as she smelled.
My eyes go wide as my thoughts begin to paint this elaborate and semi-erotic scene.
What. The. Fuck?
Ok, so these thoughts all have to be just due to sex deprivation, right? That poor woman probably thinks I’m some freak. I mean who propositions a stranger for making them a sandwich?
A fucking sandwich!
I rub my hands across my face and try to reign in my thoughts. Obviously, thirty-seven isn’t too old to experience raging teenage hormones. At least I don’t have puberty to contend with as well.
Alright, I need a plan. I pour a little water on the plate and move my new friend over to it for a drink, before downing the remaining water from this bottle. One of the only downsides to my merfolk tendencies is that I can never seem to drink enough water. Seriously. Some days I feel like a camel preparing for a drought.
For some reason though, I can’t drink alcohol without getting deathly sick, which kinda pisses me off because my brothers never seem to have that issue. It’s just one more thing they like to tease me about. They’re complete assholes to me. Just like our father.
Thinking of my father immediately brings my focus back to the present. Why am I focusing on some stranger instead of the hunt?
Like I said, this woman is a distraction. I shake my head and shove the bottle back into my pack before pulling out the small dagger from my boot. I need to get a direction so that I can make my next plans.
Like before, I prick my finger and allow the little blood droplet to swirl through my magickal air. Closing my eyes and focusing on my intent, I use the words that seemed to work best the last time.
Inveniet Eam Locus
Once again, the droplet remains intact instead of splitting. It moves around slowly, reminding me of a lost child, before stretching straight out and pointing…
Well, that can’t be right. It’s pointing right at the little house again. The Creatori can’t be inside that thing. It would tear it apart just trying to get through the damn door.
Then again… my magick did bring me here last night when I did this spell.
Wherever here is.
Maybe I should check things out a little bit more before I dismiss the idea entirely. I could also return the plate and maybe get a chance to wash up real quick. Sleeping on the forest floor does not do great things to your body. It leaves your muscles stiff and you smell a bit… intense …
Although I’m sure that falling asleep in a sweaty heap after hours spent running through the forest like a maniac didn’t help with the smell at all.
I dismiss the spell and it dissolves in the air. Putting my dagger back in my boot and closing up my pack, I snag up the plate which I notice has no water missing at all. I frown at the dragonfly and decide that I will just add it to my list of “Shit Blake has to Figure Out Later.” Slinging my pack across one arm and taking a deep breath, I make my way to the door of the cabin.
First step, I need to apologize. I shouldn’t have been a dick. Well, I mean I did have a purpose behind it, but she doesn’t know that. So a polite apology is necessary if I want any chance at all of getting any information out of her. And from her position, it truly was completely unfair to a stranger who was just being kind to me.
Second, I need to figure out what she knows about the Creatori. There is no way that me ending up here is a complete coincidence. There are some kind of answers here. I still don’t think the thing is in her house, but she knows something. I can feel it.
Once all that is done, I can get back to hunting, and also maybe find a nice lake somewhere close for my new little friend to relocate to. The friend who is currently hiding over by the bush and offering me no moral support. It’s pretty bad when even a dragonfly knows you’re a shithead.
When I reach the door, I can hear muffled voices and the sound of dishes being washed. Hmm… So she isn’t alone out here. That’s good to know.
I fight down the sudden rush of jealousy at the thought that she may be mated. That seriously has to be one of the stupidest reactions I have ever had to a complete stranger. Besides, after the punch and near kick, I am pretty sure she has expressed her disinterest in me fully.
And why the fuck does that bring on a slight tinge of pain right in the center of my chest?
I have got to get things taken care of and get far the fuck away from this woman as quickly as possible.
I knock twice, and the sounds inside abruptly stop. There is some shuffling before heavy footfalls make their way to the door, which doesn’t open, but a stern voice flows through it.
“No! Whatever it is, whatever you want, the answer is just no.”
Smirking, I reply, “I only wanted to apologize for my earlier behavior, and to thank you for the sandwich.” I wait a minute and when no response comes, I add, “I have your plate. I can leave it out here, but I seem to have ventured a little further into the woods than I meant to.” I left the implication that I was lost out here, floating on my partial truth.
A few more minutes pass with still no response from the other side of the door. I need to get answers from her and I don’t have a lot of time. I also need to stop the monster before it starts its killing spree of magickals. The faction’s numbers have dwindled over the years as it is. I can’t push her too much though, or I will never get any information from her.
I’m about to set the plate outside the door and go back to sitting a few feet away when the door swings open. She is just as beautiful as my first impression. At first, I forget what it is I need to say to her. Then I take a breath and put a big fat magickal cork on my pheromones. I have had just about enough of my libido and its bullshit.
Even though she opened the door, she hasn’t said a word. She is just standing there with her arms crossing her chest and one eyebrow quirked up. Waiting. It takes all of my willpower not to stare at her breasts, even though her crossed arms have amped her cleavage. Making me want to bury my face in and...
She clears her throat and pulls my attention. Fucking hell, I was staring, wasn’t I?
I told you I was a boob guy.
Taking that as my cue I start. “Oh, here is your plate back,” I say as I hold it out to her. “I really want to thank you for the sandwich. It was a very kind gesture. As I said before, I also want to apologize for my mouth. I guess I had a rough night and I didn’t mean to take it out on you when I woke up in a surly mood.” I smile kindly at her and wait. Since she still hasn’t moved to take the plate, I let it fall back to my side along with the arm I had outstretched.
She relaxes her posture a little and lets her arms drop to her sides. By some miracle, I manage not to jump her when the girls give a little bounce from their release. Sighing she says, “It’s alright. I was just shocked to see… umm… you out here is all. I guess I need to reset my wards.”
Nodding as I remember passing through the dissipated ward last night, I catch her hesitation and try to prod just a little. “So you weren’t expecting me, but someone else?” I try to keep my facial expression neutral, even though I clearly heard the disappointment laced in my tone.
Her posture becomes rigid as she barrels over her response, “No! No, I wasn’t expecting any guys at all. I mean, anyone at all. Not just guys. Not that I have a problem with you being a guy. I mean I can appreciate the male form as much as the next girl, especially your form, but I… Holy shit my mouth has just got a mind of its own today.“ She scrubs her hands down her face, before extending a hand for the plate, which I give her. “I have not been feeling well, so you’ll have to excuse me while I catch up to my brain here.”
She takes a deep breath and steps back before putting words to the invitation, “As long as you’re not here to kill me, and you’re going to be polite , you can come in for a brief moment. I have a bathroom in the back of the house if you would like to get cleaned up a little and I’ll get something cold for your nose.”
“Thank you,” I add quickly, while following her into the tiny house. It’s homier inside than I imagined, which is a nice surprise. When I see her flick a nozzle on the sink and water trickles out, I raise my eyebrow in anticipation. “Would it be too crazy for me to ask if I could use your shower?” I gesture down my body before following up with, “I’m kind of a complete mess, and I really don’t want to dirty your home up.”
She half turns from washing the plate, and seems to consider me while chewing on the inside of her cheek. “Yeah, that’s fine. Of course. Sorry my manners are a bit rusty.” She points down a small hallway, “There are towels in there, and you’re welcome to whatever soaps. I will have that cold compress waiting for your nose.” She turns her back to me to dry the plate, and I cautiously make my way toward the bathroom.
The room itself is an ok size, even if there is no door, but the shower is small. Like really small. Especially for a guy my height. So much so that I have to bend down a little to rinse my hair. Thankfully, I can control my shift in water, or I would really have some issues with the size of this shower. But damn does that hot water feel glorious after the night I had.
As the water trickles down my face, I pull on my magick.
Sanans Aquam
Whispering to the droplets touching my nose, I feel the sharp tug as the joints right themselves and suck in a breath at the quick pain. Wow, she actually broke my nose. Good thing I heal fast. I hadn’t even realized it was that bad. Probably because I had been too distracted by all of her. Feeling the tension start to pull in my lower abdomen, I sigh and once again rein in my attraction, before reluctantly tapping the wall below the shower head to turn off the mechanism.
I step out of the shower, but before I can reach for a towel, a strangled gasp makes me pull my hand back. Quickly spinning around, I see the woman pointing at the floor… where I have my various weapons laid down since I had to remove them from my body.
She glares right at me and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the look makes me instantly stiff. She is nearly seething when she says, “You have five minutes to get dressed, tell me who the fuck you are pal, what the hell you are doing here, and why the hell you have that many weapons!”
I just continue to stand there. Completely naked, at full attention, in front of a gorgeous woman and I can’t seem to figure out a single thing to say.
First time for everything, I guess?