Chapter 26
Cupid Plays a Wicked Game
Malachi leaned against the table and braced his elbows on the sticky wood, propping his chin in his hands, intently watching Jaxon. It was enough to make the man nervous, and his voice cracked a few times. By the time he finished the song, he was a shaking mess.
“Stop it, Mal,” Chuck murmured as she elbowed him in the ribs. “Play nice or you’re going home.”
“I am being nice!” he hissed, glaring as he rubbed his side. “I could have made the hooker in the corner go grab his nuts while he was on the stage. But you didn’t consider that, did you?”
She stared at him, eyes wide, lips slightly parted. “You can do that?”
Putting just a little flame in his eyes, he smirked. “Oh, Chuck, I can do just about anything. Since I got my full form back, all my powers are returning.” His lips quirked as her mouth opened and closed a few times.
“Can you… nudge two people together without really forcing them?” she asked now with a calculating expression.
Her eyes darted between Jaxon and the quiet dispatcher sitting at the other end of the table.
“Marla has a huge crush on Jax, but she’s too shy to approach him.
And he needs someone like her in his life. Could you, I don’t know… help them?”
A strained sigh, then a deeper groan, and finally a hard flop back into his chair had Malachi staring at her with a grimace.
“Too much? It’s too much, I’m sorry I asked,” she offered quickly and gave him an awkward smile as she tried to lighten the mood.
“No. It’s not too much. And I can. I’m just conflicted.
The demon in me—the demon I was before you—would do it in a heartbeat just to mess with them.
The me now—the me that cares about you and is trying to be…
good.” He swallowed down some nausea. “Knows I shouldn’t toy with people’s emotions or interfere in their lives.
” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “This is one of those I don’t know what to do here things. ”
A soft, warm hand landed on his arm, and he opened his eyes to find Chuck smiling at him, genuinely this time.
“Honestly, that’s so sweet. I think the answer here is don’t make decisions based on what you think makes you a better person.
Do what seems right at the time. I’m not asking you to interfere overly much.
I just think she needs help overcoming her inhibitions, her shyness.
And he needs to be open to a woman who isn’t a supermodel.
” She tried in vain to tamp down the curve of her lips.
“Don’t force them together, just give them the nudge they need and let them take it from there. ”
“Chuck.” He snorted. “I’m not fucking Cupid. This better not become a frequent thing.” His eyebrow arched sternly as she batted her eyelashes at him.
“It won’t!” she promised. “Besides, look at it this way. If Jaxon has a love interest, he’ll leave me alone. And it might make him less douchey.”
Sitting straight up, with wide, eager eyes, Malachi grinned as he eyed Jaxon sitting halfway down the table. The man was drowning his nerves in a beer after his less-than-perfect performance.
“Alright, I’ll do it. But I’m only lowering her inhibitions and raising his awareness of her. I’m not making them fall in love. And no guarantees!” he warned.
Miming zipping her lips, Chuck hugged him quickly.
Turning towards Jaxon, Malachi shuddered briefly and delved into the man’s mind.
He found Jaxon’s desire for Chuck and grimaced at how much the man wanted her.
Dialing it back, he smirked as the other man’s shoulders drooped, and his expression turned forlorn.
Without Chuck to moon over, it seemed he had no reason to pretend to be macho.
He nearly shriveled in on himself. Huffing out as near to a righteous laugh as he was able, Malachi then turned his attention to Marla.
Studying the timid, mousy woman, Malachi realized she was actually quite pretty; she just didn’t have much confidence or know how to best present herself. “Get her to the bathroom,” he murmured to Chuck. “I need to fix a few things first.”
Eying him warily, Chuck leapt from her chair. Looping her arm through Marla’s, she pulled the woman to her feet and dragged her away. “Marla, honey, come here with me a moment, I want you to meet someone!”
The other woman’s bewildered stare as she obediently followed Chuck had Malachi choking back a laugh. He waited a moment for their disappearance to be out of mind, then stood. “Gonna grab another round, be right back,” he murmured and headed towards the bar.
Leaning against the scarred surface, he tapped his fingers to the music as he gave his order to the bubbly blonde who had been undressing him with her eyes since they arrived.
Winking as she quickly supplied him with a tumbler of scotch, he slipped some cash her way.
The money was made from ether, and the bills would dissolve into nothing when he left at the end of the night.
He supposed he should feel bad about it, and he was sure Chuck would scold him.
But he would worry about that later, if he even told her.
Watching the door, he was finally sure the bathroom was empty except for Chuck and Marla.
Making his way over, he cast his form into the shadows and slipped between the small gap in the frame.
Leaning against the inside of the wood panel, he sealed the door closed with his power and moved closer to Chuck.
“Hi,” he breathed in her ear, chuckling when she jumped.
His shadows had concealed him from her view as well.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Lie, he absolutely had.
The expression on her face suggested Chuck didn’t believe him, so he moved around her and approached the confused and overwhelmed Marla. “Hello, Marla,” he practically purred.
“Y-you c-can’t be in here!” she protested nervously, her fingers fluttering and twisting the hem of her blouse. “This is the w-women’s room.”
“I know. And you are a woman. A beautiful one.” He nodded, pleased that she nodded along with him as his influence wrapped around her. “But Marla, do you know what makes me sad?”
She mechanically shook her head side to side, eyes widening, mesmerized by his voice.
Sliding behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face the mirror. He slipped a finger under her chin and lifted her face towards her reflection. “Look at yourself,” he commanded softly. “See that gorgeous creature staring back at you?”
Her eyes filled, and she shook her head again. “I don’t,” she whimpered.
“That. That’s what makes me sad. Such beauty, and you don’t even know it.
Marla,” he breathed on her neck and lifted her hair from her shoulders.
“Pull this hair back from your face. Quit hiding behind it.” He twisted the hair around and formed a clip from the ether, securing the thick locks of her mahogany tresses in a pretty up-do.
“There, now we can see that strong jaw, the pert nose, those gorgeous amber eyes.”
Marla stared at herself now, intrigued despite her shyness.
“Now, pull those shoulders back, show the world you are Marla, and you mean business. You are gorgeous, self-assured, and aware of your appeal.” He nudged her arms to move behind her, and she transformed before their eyes into a confident, alluring woman.
She perked her breasts up and raised her chin.
Her eyes filled with a certainty that she was desirable.
Malachi tapered off his charm, leaving the confidence he’d been pushing into her.
“You won’t remember me, but you’ll remember Chuck brought you in here and gave you a pep-talk.
She encouraged you to talk to Jaxon. He’s lonely; he needs someone who wants him.
That someone should be you.” He pulled a tube of lipstick from the ether and handed it to her, watching with satisfaction as she slicked the deep crimson across her lips.
Chuck stared in awed silence now. Watching the way her co-worker changed, with the right kind of belief in herself. She jerked her gaze to Malachi as he stepped back into the shadows and swirled towards the door, releasing the seal.
“Kelly,” Marla called, her voice lacking its usual timid tremble and whispery quality.
Now her tone was warm, assured, and confident.
“Thank you for the pep-talk and the fashion tips.” She patted her hair and preened in the mirror.
“I never would have worn this color. I’m grateful you suggested it. ”
Nodding quickly, Chuck replied, “You’re welcome, Marla. It looks great on you. The color really warms up your skin.”
Tilting her head to the side and studying her reflection, Marla’s mouth curved into a wicked bow. “It does. And now, I’m going to make Jaxon buy me a drink.”
“Good for you!” Chuck declared excitedly, squeezing the other woman’s shoulder. “Go get him!”
Marla spun on her heel and marched determinedly to the door, flinging it open before continuing her forceful approach towards their table.
Chuck followed quickly, Malachi on her heels. “That was impressive,” she called over her shoulder.
“It didn’t take much. I just made her see what was true about her. She did the rest.” He put a hand on Chuck’s waist and spun her back to him. “Dance with me,” he murmured, pulling her close.
Dancing with Chuck was something he would cherish forever. Well, as long as his forever lasted, considering he expected to be dead in a few days. Another couple joined them, and his smile grew larger at Chuck’s excited squeal, seeing it was Marla and Jaxon.
“I really like what you’ve done with your hair, Marla,” Jaxon shouted over the music.
Chuck leaned her head against Malachi’s chest. “Thank you,” she murmured. “That was a really nice thing you did.”