24. Those Are Your Seduction Pants
Those Are Your Seduction Pants
The rest of Chuck’s absence passed quietly.
Malachi convinced Jaxon’s landlord that Luna was already a police asset; therefore, they couldn’t deny her the right to stay there.
They’d taken her shopping for basics and essentials and gotten her set up in Jaxon’s spare bedroom.
Flick had been more of a nuisance than a help, but he kept the tension from building too high between Jaxon and Malachi.
It would seem the otherwise affable officer still wasn’t thrilled with the way he’d been manipulated.
When Chuck finally returned on the fourth night, her skin was pink and suspiciously shiny. She bypassed his waiting arms and Reena’s excited spinning with a mumbled greeting and headed straight for the bathroom. Her bag thudded heavily on the floor as she rushed to the sink to scrub her face.
Reena stomped off to her bed, grumbling under her breath, her meaning loud and clear.
Leaning on the doorframe, wearing only a pair of grey sweatpants slung low about his hips, Malachi watched Chuck almost drown herself in the basin.
He chuckled as she finally lifted her face, water spilling from her cheeks like rivers.
Blindly she groped for a towel that he handed her with a disapproving click of his tongue.
“My, my… they must have really done a number on you there at that retreat that you didn’t even take a second to appreciate what I’ve got on display here.
Perhaps they empowered you so much, you don’t need me anymore? ”
Squinting at him blearily as she peered over the towel, Chuck breathed out a muffled apology. Once her face was dry, she tossed the cloth haphazardly on the counter and leaned her hip against it. Crossing her arms under her breasts, she let her gaze slowly roam his figure.
Knowing it drove her crazy, he raised one arm to the doorframe and did the lean like the characters in the steamy romance novels she read.
Okay, truthfully, he read them too. Grinning with his best seductive smile and calling tendrils of shadow to swirl around his chest and abs, he gave his best come-hither stare.
Lips parting slightly, Chuck’s chest heaved, and she took a slow step closer to him.
One hand came up and rested on his chest before sliding up his neck to cup his jaw.
Her fingers trailed back into his hair as she blinked at him with a mesmerized and hungry stare.
Eyes hooded with heavy lids, she released a small moan, full of want and lust.
Malachi purred with satisfaction as Chuck pressed her curves against his body and moved to wrap his arms around her.
Or he would have, if she hadn’t chosen that moment to use her grip on his hair to yank his head down to the side, bending him nearly in half while she smirked at her ruse.
“What the fuck, Chuck?” he demanded, eyes wide now as she grinned maliciously at him.
“You’re up to no good, as usual, and yet you still think you can distract me with sex.
I know those pants. Those are the ‘I’m going to seduce her, so she doesn’t ask hard questions’ pants.
What did you do while I was gone? Where’s Luna?
” Chuck calmly asked. She released his hair and shoved past him, marching into her bedroom to grab a change of clothes from her dresser.
Rubbing the back of his head where his scalp still stung from her painful grip, he glared at her, growling in the back of his throat.
Definitely not pouting. “Why do I have to be up to something? Why can’t I just have missed you and be glad to see you?
I love you, Kelly. Is it really so hard to believe I just wanted to spend time with you? ”
“Yes,” she replied, pointing at him sternly. “You’re a demon, and while you might be on your best behavior, you still get into all kinds of shit. Also, I love you too.” She grinned now, a soft smile that made his heart stumble.
“Fine. I’ll admit it. I did get into something while you were gone.
But I did also miss you a lot, and I’m glad you’re back!
” he smiled sheepishly, his dimple winking into existence.
He watched her warily as she eased up to him again, once more slipping her fingers in his hair.
Leaning back in anticipation of her yanking it again, he was relieved when she simply pulled him down for a kiss instead.
Once they pulled away, she patted him on the chest. “Tell me what you did first, then we can pick up with being happy to see each other again.” She dragged him to the living room, curled up on the couch, and patted the space beside her in invitation.
“Start at the beginning, and your story better explain where Luna went, because Nathan said she moved out.”
Nodding, he held up one finger to pause before he hurried to the kitchen, returning shortly with a glass of her favorite wine. Handing it to her, he winced at her arched eyebrow. “You might need that,” he mumbled, not looking forward to this part of the conversation.
Sipping the wine, she pointed at the cushion with a stern expression, causing him to sit quickly and fold his hands in his lap like a naughty child.
Shaking his head, he remembered he was a demon and lay down, putting his head in her lap instead.
He grinned. “Alright, story time. Just remember, I’m a demon.
I do crazy shit, but you love me anyway. ”
With that as his opening, he launched into his tale, leaving out no details.
When he told her about the biker insulting Reena, he heard her teeth grinding in anger.
She otherwise remained silent throughout the story, asking no questions.
No gasps of incredulity or shouts of irritation.
He began to worry, concerned that her silence was about to lead to an eruption like none seen since Mount Vesuvius buried entire towns.
Chuck’s glass was empty when he finally finished, and she idly spun the stem between her fingers.
Her eyebrows were bunched, and she was chewing on her lower lip while she thought.
Briefly, he thought he should refill her drink, but when he twitched, she made a negative hum.
With an aching slowness that felt like it took centuries, her gaze finally met his.
Malachi watched her with bated breath, bracing for impact.
“You know… it was actually a good idea,” she finally murmured reluctantly.
Sitting up in shock, Malachi stared at her, open-mouthed.
His surprise was etched into every feature, and he didn’t even smooth out his hair that was ruffled and tangled from lying on her lap.
“You… you agree? I mean…” He cleared his throat, and his voice took on a note of confidence.
“Of course you agree. It was a great plan. A fantastic one of epic proportions and success. I’m so glad you see it that way. ”
“I said the idea was good. Not the execution of it.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead as she laughed without mirth.
“Your cousin is a menace. And I can’t believe you dragged Jax into all that.
You could have just explained it and asked him.
And…”—her eyes narrowed as she pointed at him—“I can’t believe you took Reena to a fucking bar fight of all things.
She’s tiny and has no real defense. Seriously, Malachi! What were you thinking?”
“I didn’t want her to be lonely!” he protested, his hand over his heart.
“You told me to watch over her and keep her entertained. She’s seen all the episodes of Real Housewives, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette.
Twice. I think she might have even watched every episode of Ancient Aliens as well.
Do you want her to start watching news talk shows?
No way! She’ll get ideas and then want to overthrow the government!
Hell is full of chihuahuas who plotted world domination.
” His lips quivered, trying not to laugh as Reena’s sleepy grumble came from her dog bed.
“I kept our baby safe.” He added a solemn nod to drive home his point.
Rolling her eyes, Chuck wiggled around and stretched her legs out over his lap. “Do not”—she pointed at him once more—“ever take Reena to a bar fight again. Am I clear?”
“Yes, ma’am!” he replied in a sultry, husky tone. “Your every wish is my absolute command, and pleasure. Would my lady like a foot rub?” He picked up one foot and dug his thumbs into the arch, knowing it would melt her like a snowman in the summer.
With an indecent moan, Chuck slid further into the couch, burrowing into the cushions. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. But keep doing that!” she moaned again, waving her fingers at him. “So, the bar fight was a test to see if Jaxon would defend or bond with Luna, right?”
“Basically,” he agreed, bobbing his head.
“I needed to see if he would still defend her, knowing what she was. I know he’s not my biggest fan.
” He grinned at her grunt of amusement and continued.
“I wasn’t sure if it was just me or all demons.
Anyway, I got it all set up with his apartment manager, and I’ve got a plan to fast-track her training with the department. ”
Chuck lifted her head slightly and shook it, her expression dubious. “Hmm. Can’t wait to hear this part.”
“I already got Nathan on board with this, too,” he reassured her while he stretched her toes.
“Here’s the play. Lunadoodle is from another city that lost funding and needed to transfer her.
Flick is going to play the part of the other officer; Nathan is going to say he knows him, and they will both agree that Jaxon is the best candidate.
That way, she has a safe place to stay with someone who can protect her and keep her on the path of r-righteousness.
Gah… that still makes me want to vomit saying that. Gross.”
A slight giggle from Chuck had him smiling indulgently at her. “You’ll see,” he told her softly. “I’ve got it all figured out.”