Chapter 7
Serenity
“Wow. She really seems to like you,” I said as Gerald loaded the last of my meager belongings into the enormous trunk of the giant Mercedes-Benz limo.
I felt so out of my element standing next to Bryce’s Benz, especially with the plastic shopping bags I’d used to pack my things.
But Carrot distracted me from thinking too much about that.
She’d been meowing affectionately and purring ever since Hunter had given her a gentle rub across her crown and plucked softly at her ears.
Hunter and Bryce shared a knowing look. “Natural connection between felin—” Hunter cut himself short.
“What was that?” I peered up at Hunter as I held Carrot in my arms, suspecting he might be some sort of big cat shifter. I wondered why he was so secretive about it though.
“Never mind.” He shook his head. “No need to talk more about the past tonight,” he mumbled, mostly to himself, a look of sadness clouding his face as he gave Carrot another rub.
“Okay,” I agreed as Gerald clunked the trunk closed and opened the back passenger door for us.
“But you’ve definitely made a friend.” I gave Hunter a soft look.
“And Carrot is pretty picky.” I was hoping saying that would brighten his mood, but it was also true.
Not that I’d introduced her to many people, but Carrot was usually cautious toward anyone but me.
The three of us thanked Gerald and slipped into the stretched section of the limo.
Me cradling Carrot on one side and Hunter and Bryce sitting spaced apart across from me.
The lengthy seats’ material was so luxuriant, softly soothing my legs and back as I looked at the private bar of crystal decanters and glasses which lined a small section to my side.
The whole car smelled like leather and zesty lemon and lime, with a good mix of Bryce’s scent in there too.
I couldn’t believe I was riding in his limo.
The fancy stretch eased away from the motel’s car park.
As its powerful engine grumbled it across the road toward the city center, Gus drove up in the opposite direction in his bus.
Just as Gus creaked it to a halt to let off a few of the last passengers, I asked Bryce, “Can we stop a second? I’d like to talk to the driver.
” I nodded toward the other side of the street.
Bryce, who looked and sounded almost back to normal now, arched an eyebrow, but politely asked Gerald to pull over.
I pressed the window button, and it buzzed the heavily tinted glass down until Gus and I met eyes. His head jerked back in surprise. “Serenity? Did you win the lottery!?”
Feeling Carrot’s warm nuzzle against my cheek and looking over at the kind, handsome faces of Hunter and Bryce, I felt I had won something special, despite seeing Conrad tonight and having to move because of him.
“Not exactly, just got two friends helping out for a while.” Would Bryce mind me calling him a friend?
Gus nodded, trying to peer into the window. “Just be careful who you call friend in this city. But I’m glad you’re getting a break from this place. You deserve it. I hope I’ll see you again, on a nicer part of my route.”
“I hope so too. Take care, Gus. You’re the best.” I sat back into my seat.
Bryce leaned forward until his face poked outside. “And don’t worry, sir, she’s got two genuine friends here,” he said, and I felt myself flushing.
Gus frowned. “Are you Bryce—”
“I am. And we’ll make sure Serenity stays safe,” he said kindly. “Have a good evening, sir.”
We waved goodbye and the limo rolled on, picking up speed once we were on the main road. Carrot squirmed in my lap, pawing in the direction of Hunter, so I relaxed my hold and she pounced across onto his thick thighs.
Hunter gave her pets in long, careful strokes. “You’re going to like my place. We’ll rustle up something special for you. Cat’s gotta eat, right?”
She purred and meowed.
I chuckled and watched the city roll by.
We soon pulled up to a warehouse a few blocks from the club.
“I live in a converted loft on the top floor,” Hunter said to me, passing Carrot over to my waiting arms. We got out, and Bryce and Hunter insisted they’d take my bags, letting Gerald go off to grab a bite to eat for himself and then wait for Bryce in the Benz.
Hunter ushered us into a huge, industrial elevator with an eager look on his face.
He stared at me, as if wanting to make sure I approved of my temporary lodgings—I was sure I would—as I stepped off the elevator and took it all in.
“It’s amazing,” I breathed out softly. Towering ceiling and varnished beams, expensive-looking rugs—each of them easily covering more space than my whole motel room—Hunter had a gorgeous home, filling his place with an eclectic mix of modern décor, sprinkled with antiques that had me fascinated.
It smelled like Hunter too, a more subtle scent than Bryce’s, but just as appealing—woodsy and masculine.
I inhaled deeply, wanting more of it, especially after the night I’d had.
And it stirred something needy inside me.
Something that ached, making me desperate to be closer to this man, his scent and strong arms. Something I’d thought dead.
“Make yourself at home,” Hunter said, grinning at whatever dazed look I must have had on my face as he and Bryce set my bags down.
I let Carrot down and wandered farther into the huge space.
Among the antiques, Hunter had a pirate cutlass in an ornate scabbard displayed on the wall beside rows of packed bookcases made from rich, chestnut-colored wood.
I couldn’t believe he had even more books here than in his office, and I didn’t spot any duplicates.
But the sword really caught my eye. I stopped and stared, taking in its fancy design and woven steel basket guard wrapping around the handle. “What a beautiful piece. It looks expensive.”
“It should,” he replied with a gentle snort, as he bent down to pet Carrot who hadn’t strayed far from him and was begging for his attention. “That sword belonged to Henry Avery. A pirate of legend. You don’t want to know what I paid for it.”
I knew a few famous pirate names, but that one didn’t seem familiar.
I just smiled and nodded. “He had good taste in swords, that’s for sure.
” I turned to sweep my eyes across the spacious, open-plan living room.
“You have such a nice home. Thanks so much for having me and Carrot.” I paused and my nerves rose to the surface a bit.
“Hopefully we’ll be out of your hair soon. ”
His eyes flashed yellow for an instant, so quickly, I almost thought I imagined it. “I’m not having you living in fear with vamp scum on the street.” His shoulder muscles tensed then relaxed. He took a deep breath. “Please, I want you gals to stay as long as you’d like.”
“I really appreciate it. But only until we get this thing with Conrad handled.”
Hunter looked agitated. “You can stay—”
“No need to worry about that now,” Bryce said as he eased himself onto one of the ruby-red sofas.
“Anyhow, I’ll start that digging tomorrow.
I know the NOPD chief personally. I’ll be making my feelings to him on this very clear.
There’s also someone else I know who’s very good at rooting out bad guys. I already sent off a text.”
“I’m so thankful,” I said softly, giving Bryce a warm look, not knowing how else to express how grateful I was to both of them.
Bryce must have been fully recovered now as he suddenly stood and asked both me and Hunter, “Mind if I whip us up a late dinner? For Carrot too, of course.”
“Go for it. You know where everything is.” Hunter gave a bemused smile, sweeping a hand toward his large corner kitchen.
The CEO cooked? “Yes, please.” Now the nausea had disappeared, I felt my stomach rumbling. I’d been so nervous about dancing, I’d barely eaten all day.
Bryce rolled up his dress shirt sleeves and got to work, letting me help by chopping up some vegetables.
Then he pan fried them with fish that filled the air with wonderful scents of garlic and spices.
He even dug some long, fancy candles out of a cabinet and lit them with a flame he conjured directly from his fingertip.
I tried not to wonder, at least not aloud, just how big of an inferno he and other fire elementals could make. The thought didn’t exactly put me at ease, but my first delicious bite drove it from my mind.
After we ate, I changed into pajamas, too tired to shower, ready to turn in for the night.
The room Hunter had shown me to had its own huge ensuite bathroom and a king size bed with soft pillows and crisp sheets.
The room itself was so big it had a dresser too and a lazy boy armchair in the corner.
While the place was so nice, and Hunter’s home felt safer than anywhere I’d been in years, I didn’t think I could sleep alone tonight.
Luckily, when I went back out to the living room, I convinced Carrot, full of fresh salmon, to leave Hunter’s lap.
After one more cuddle with him, of course.
Carrot was in love. I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but I was feeling some pretty clingy feelings toward Hunter myself. So I just scooped her up and said goodnight to him and Bryce, feeling their eyes on me as I went back to my room.
The next few days felt like a vacation. Hunter’s shower had piping hot water which fired out in jets of strong water pressure, unlike the lukewarm dribbles of the motel’s shower. Or worse, the cold sponge baths I’d had most times in the feeding den.