Chapter 4
Stubborn versus Bossy
Drew gave a little wave as he entered Dominic’s house, where the rest of the study group had already mostly gathered.
Dom’s parents were well off and paid his rent, so the house was large and well furnished, and after two failed sessions in the library, the group now met there exclusively.
They didn’t have to be quiet, they could eat their lunch in peace, and they wouldn’t get kicked out at closing time.
It worked well and they’d all grown quite comfortable there.
The house was located near Westwood Lake, so it was a little further away than Drew would have liked, but he’d gotten the bus timetable memorised and the benefits of a private study area outweighed the inconvenience of public transport.
Before he sat down, Drew got Dom’s attention. “Um, I’m not sure whether it’s okay if I stay,” he said and opened the zipper of his backpack to show off Zach’s furry head.
“Oh, wow, you got a cat?” Dom said, standing up from his chair so he could see better.
He was shorter than Drew, with wide shoulders and huge biceps.
His hair was dark and slicked back neatly, and the warm brown skin of his cheeks was scattered with freckles.
He was always dressed nicely, never in clothes from Walmart, but he wasn’t ostentatious and flashy with his wealth.
Drew instinctively pulled back a little. “Yeah. He’s not very good with people, though,” he explained and held up his scratched forearm as a warning.
“Ouch,” Dom said with a wince. “That looks painful.”
“Yeah, it hurt like a bitch,” Drew confirmed.
Sorry, came Zach’s voice in his mind, and Drew wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or not but Zach sounded contrite about it.
“So you’re keeping the demon cat?” Gwen asked from her place on the sofa. She’d kicked her shoes off and her socked feet were curled up beneath her, her long blonde hair in a ponytail today.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because he’s an asshole!”
“He’s just a cat, Gwen. It’s what cats do.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever, dude. It’s your skin on the line.”
Zach jumped out of the backpack and hissed at Gwen, then turned around and wound his way through Drew’s legs in a figure of eight, rubbing his cheek against his shins every now and then.
“Is it okay?” Drew asked Dom again. “If he’s here?”
“Sure, I love cats,” Dom assured him. “So, does he have a name?”
“Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it yet,” Drew admitted.
Why not just Zach? the demon asked silently.
Drew concentrated on sending his thoughts inward, hoping Zach would hear him, but they hadn’t experimented yet to see whether he could. And how will I explain if they ever meet you in person? I’ll look like a nutter for naming my cat after you.
It appeared to have worked as Zach chuckled, and it was annoyingly low and sexy. Getting an erection in the middle of his study group really wouldn’t be appropriate, so Drew bit his lip hard, hoping the pain would distract him. Maybe they’ll just think you want me?
Deciding it was safer not to respond to that at all, Drew said out loud to everyone else, “I’ve got a few ideas.”
“Lucifer?” Gwen suggested.
Don’t even think about it, Zach warned.
“How ’bout Rudolph?” Dom suggested, holding his fingers above his head and waggling them. “You know, ’cos it looks like he has horns or antlers.”
Several other names were suggested, and Drew dismissed them all, having a stroke of inspiration of his own. “I think I’m going to call him Noodle.”
Gwen frowned. “Why?”
“Because when I found him, I’d been trying to make chicken noodle soup.”
I hate you.
No you don’t, Drew said silently as he sat himself down in an armchair. Otherwise you’d be trying much harder to get home.
Zach didn’t dispute this, but he did jump up into Drew’s lap, circling several times before he sat down, ensuring he’d stood heavily on every sensitive part of Drew’s anatomy before doing so. Asshole, Drew thought at him, wincing.
Zach purred smugly at him.
They settled down to work but were interrupted half an hour later by the arrival of Drew’s least favourite person—his high-school bully, Edward Masters.
When Drew had first started uni, he’d been crushed when he learned that Edward had also applied to VIU.
Drew had honestly thought it wasn’t prestigious enough for the spoiled rich boy and he’d head either to the States, Vancouver, or even Montreal for university.
It turned out that Edward’s mother had insisted he stay close to home, and so he’d agreed to stay on the island.
Drew had hoped the campus would be busy enough that he’d manage to avoid him altogether, but unfortunately, Edward was doing his MBA as well, so they saw each other frequently.
Any hopes of Edward maturing to the point where he didn’t feel the need to belittle or tease Drew every five seconds had been dashed very early on, but at least the pushing and shoving had ceased.
Drew did his best to ignore the jibes and snide remarks, but some days it still got him down.
“Hey, everyone,” Edward said as he waltzed in like he owned the place.
His auburn hair was cut in an expensive style, and every piece of clothing he was wearing had an expensive brand plastered across it.
His hazel eyes fell on Drew and a mean grin lit up his face.
“No one told me Phillips got a cat. What’s it like, loser, to finally get some pussy? It’s the only sort you’ll ever get!”
Drew rolled his eyes. “Very funny, Edward. First-class humour.”
“I know you want to finally pop your cherry, Phillips, but just remember, bestiality is a crime.” Edward snorted at his own remark and then sat down on the couch, knocking one of Gwen’s books to the ground as he did so and not bothering to pick it up.
This earned him a glare as she retrieved it, but as usual, Edward ignored anything that wasn’t someone fawning over him.
Who the fuck is this douche? Zach demanded.
No one. Just ignore him, Drew begged, hoping Zach wouldn’t give any credence to the virgin comment.
He was almost positive he was the only person in his class who hadn’t had sex yet, and up until a week ago he hadn’t been too bothered by it.
Sex simply hadn’t interested him. Now, however, he could feel his cheeks reddening and he felt ashamed of his innocence.
From the hints and comments Zach had dropped, it was obvious he was a sexual being, and being a demon hadn’t dampened his allure.
He already thought Drew was naive, but this would only cause him to think even more poorly about him.
Drew had been embarrassed enough as it was that morning when he’d woken up with a leg slung over Zach’s hip and his morning wood sitting snug against a taut stomach.
If Zach learned just how inexperienced he was, Drew was sure he wouldn’t survive the humiliation.
Zach sat on Drew’s lap, kneading his thighs and glaring across the room at Edward.
Oblivious to the creature’s displeasure, Edward launched into an embellished story about the older woman he’d picked up in a bar the night before.
Drew, Dom, and Gwen ignored him, but the others in the group were drawn into the conversation and they got very little in the way of study done.
By the time Edward finally took out his own book and started reading, it was almost time for them to head to their afternoon lecture.
Drew’s stomach grumbled, and he fished out the PB&J sandwich he’d been sure to make before leaving that morning.
Zach hadn’t been overly impressed by his choice of lunch, but was at least happy Drew was planning to eat at all.
When Drew broke off a little and held it out to Zach to try, the cat narrowed its eyes at him and looked away haughtily.
Suit yourself, Drew said silently. He was beginning to understand that Zach didn’t actually need to eat, he just did so because he enjoyed food.
That was lucky because Drew knew he couldn’t afford to buy cat food, and even if he could, he didn’t think his demon would be impressed by a tin of Fancy Feast. Trying to explain why he was feeding his cat only the finest steak would be difficult, so it was fortuitous that eating was a choice and not a necessity for Zach.
Dom began to pack up his books and Drew brushed crumbs off his hands and followed suit. “Did you want a lift to campus?” Dom asked.
“Uh, sure. That would be great,” Drew said with a smile.
“Cool. I’m gonna stop and grab a coffee on the way,” Dom told everyone else. “Anyone want to join me?”
“Sure,” Gwen agreed, and most of the others joined in.
Get one as well, Zach instructed. A cup of joe isn’t going to max out my credit card.
I didn’t know you had a limit on your card, Drew snarked back in his head.
Zach sighed audibly. Don’t be ridiculous, of course I don’t. Which is even more reason for you to stop being a martyr and use my damn card!
I can’t decide if you’re bossier when you’re in your cat form or not.
Don’t make me scratch you again.
You’re enough of an asshole that you actually would make me bleed just to convince me to get a coffee, aren’t you?
Do you even need an answer to that? Zach asked.
Drew didn’t reply, just picked Zach up and shoved him bodily into the backpack. “Sure, I’ll grab a coffee with you,” he told the group.
“You been working the streets, Phillips?” Edward asked. “Got yourself a nice disposable income?”
“Yeah, your momma tips real well,” Drew snapped at him.
Dom crowed and slapped Drew on the back. “Ha ha, nice comeback! Come on, we need to get a move on if we don’t want to be late.”