Chapter 21 Chickens, Ruffles, and Steak
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 get any steak,” 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.
Holding up his thumb and pointer finger, he held them slightly apart and tilted his head.
Rolling her eyes, she blew a rude noise through her lips and smirked.
“Okay, yeah, it was a little funny. You want to help? Go wash those potatoes.” She moved around him to the counter, stepping over Reena, who was staring soulfully at the platter full of red meat.
A tiny line of drool connected her lower lip to the floor.
Resisting the urge to crow in victory, Malachi sauntered to the pantry and rummaged around. Finding his prize, he slipped the apron over his head and tied it around his waist. Moving back to the counter, he grabbed the potatoes and carried them to the sink.
“What the hell?” came Chuck’s spluttered exclamation.
Turning his head, Malachi glanced over his shoulder and gave her an innocent shrug. “What?”
Chuck’s gaze roamed over the sight of him, wearing only a pair of shorts and a pink ruffled apron covered in cartoon chickens and hearts.
Their eyes connected, and a giggle burst from her lips. “Oh, my goodness, Malachi, you really are a mess sometimes.”
“I make this look good!” he insisted, flicking one of the ruffles as she continued to laugh harder.
Turning to face her fully, he plopped his wet hands on his hips and glared in mock fury.
“Hey, this is your apron, you know. Sorry, I didn’t want to get anything on me.
” He flung his hands out, pretending he was frustrated, chuckling when she squealed as water droplets splattered all over her.
“You ass!” she yelled in between giggles. Suddenly, the most unladylike snort ever came from her, and she gasped. Her eyes went wide, and her hand clapped over her lips while she laughed even louder, a high keening accompanying the sound.
“Holy shit, Chuck!” he bellowed, the sound booming through the room.
“You sounded just like Reena!” Laughing even harder as Reena snorted in agreement, he moved closer to Chuck, where she was now leaning against the counter, holding herself up as her face turned fire engine red from trying to gasp for breath.
Hands still dripping, he held them up and wiggled his fingers as he stalked her.
Shrieking, she ran from him out the back door onto the patio.
Chasing after her, he glanced around and was blindsided when she swept his feet out from under him, landing him on his back in the grass.
“Oof!” he grunted as he hit the ground, and her body landed on his stomach.
Before he could blink, she had his hands up over his head and was grinning in his face.
“If I had my cuffs, you’d be in big trouble. Someone forgot I was a police officer, didn’t they?”
Grinning in delight, Malachi shimmered into his canine form and slurped his long pink tongue over her cheek. Someone forgot I am, too! He chuckled as she groaned and wiped his slobber off her face.
“Ah, gross, Mal, that’s cheating!” she huffed and crossed her arms, still sitting in the grass, glaring at him with her eyebrows bunched and her lips pouting in the cutest frown.
Malachi paused in his victory dance and stared.
He wanted to kiss those pouty lips more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.
The desire to do whatever she wanted overwhelmed him.
He would bow at the feet of… cough—GOD—cough…
if that’s what she needed. Crouching down with a frustrated groan, he stared at his paws as conflict roared through him.
It expanded each cell to near bursting with the abject need to please her.
He was supposed to be corrupting her, not the other way around.
Hyacinth was going to kill him. A final death.
He was going to be snuffed from existence and never see Chuck again.
That thought alone sent tremors across his spine, rippling over his pelt like an earthquake through his very being.
If he had a soul, it would be shivering in abject fear.
Tender fingers bunched into the fur on the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Malachi, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was only playing,” came Chuck’s soft words.
It’s not you, he whimpered, aching with pure agony as her sweet concern settled over him like a comforting blanket. It’s just some memories came back reminding me of who I am, and I’m scared, Chuck. I… I don’t think I’ll be around much longer.
“Mal, no, what do you mean?” she gasped as her fingers clenched hard in his scruff. Her tone was strained and desperate. Her breathing went shallow and ragged, but smoothed out when he crawled into her lap and lay his muzzle on her shoulder.
Chuck, please, just listen. Let’s have that dinner, and then we need to talk. I found information you’ll want to know but may find hard to come to terms with. I need a moment to collect myself, and after we talk, if you still want me around, you’re going to have to stretch the boundaries of belief.
“Malachi,” she called firmly, and gripped both sides of his head in her hands.
She stared determinedly into his eyes. “You’re a dog that turns into a man…
or rather, a man that turns into a dog. My best friend is a witch.
You really think I’m not already stretching things?
” She tilted her head and stroked her thumbs over his furry cheeks.
“I’m not sure what has you so scared, but you’re my partner, and I trust you.
With my life. So, we’re going to eat dinner, you’re going to tell me whatever it is that’s bothering you, and we’ll figure this out. Together. Okay?”
Nodding silently, not trusting his thoughts, he stared at her adoringly.
“But change back, yeah? No dog hair in the food.” She smirked, the wry smile curving her lips as her eyes sparkled.
Shifting into his human form, Malachi stared back as he brushed his fingers across her cheeks now. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Yeah, you do,” she replied even more softly. “Mal…” she shook her head. “You’re pretty heavy to be sitting in my lap. And you’re naked again.”
Glancing down, he realized she was right and blushed.
Horrified at the heat and color rushing into his cheeks, he tried to shrug nonchalantly, but it was jerky and stilted.
Finally, he just laughed and reached behind him for the apron.
Slipping it back over his head, he flung his hair back and propped his hands on his hips as he gave a haughty stare. “Better?” he demanded.
“Whatever, you’re still heavy. Get off me!” she chuckled and shoved him backwards.
Windmilling his arms, he tried to catch his balance but instead caught her shoulders and pulled her down with him. “You’re making a habit of lying on me, you know,” came his groan when they landed.
“Sorry.” She laughed, not sounding the least bit apologetic. “I’m really not trying to!”
“Pity,” he mumbled.
At his comment, she stilled, and he was pretty sure that she was probably very aware of what was digging into her stomach. And it wasn’t his collar.
Clearing her throat, she smacked his chest and stood quickly.
“Right. Steaks. Dinner. Then talk.” As he stood, she kept her eyes on his face.
“You, pants, and a shirt.” Whirling around, she marched back into the kitchen and finished prepping the potatoes.
Her eyes caught his through the window, and she jerked her head, gesturing for him to come inside.
Slowly, he slipped through the door and waited.
“You like red wine? Wasn’t sure if you were a beer or wine guy. Or maybe you prefer the blood of your enemies?” She didn’t look at him when she said it, but he could see a small smile playing over her lips.
“Definitely the latter,” he intoned in a deep rumbling voice. “But since we’re short on enemies around here, wine is great.” He pointed towards his room. “I’m gonna…”
“And I’m gonna…” She gestured at the steaks.
Rolling his eyes, he turned and sauntered off towards his room, chuckling at her choked squeak. He had not forgotten he was only wearing the apron. But she had.