Demon Blind, page 10
Picking up a lens, I brought it to my eye to see if it was as damaged as the frame. It appeared dirty but unbroken. Looking through it, a body swam into partial focus. I could see abs. Sweet mother of God, could I see abs. Chiseled hard ridges.
I lifted my gaze and blinked at Scath. His grey skin wasn’t a shock to me, but the details were. Hearing about pointed ears and unusual eyes was completely different from seeing them.
His green gaze held mine, but I barely noticed the vertical pupil as I studied his handsome face. Cleft chin. Strong jaw. Kissable lips.
“Whoa,” I breathed and glanced at Brooke. “Am I really seeing an Adonis?”
She chuckled. “Yep. And that’s our cue to go.” She hugged me quickly. “Have fun with your new glasses.”
My gaze shifted to the fey who stood behind Scath as Brooke and Solin left.
“I’m really embarrassed about the mix-up,” I said. “I don’t normally go around kissing people.”
“I understand,” Fallor said.
“You don’t have a wife or girlfriend I need to apologize to, do you?”
“No,” he said. “I will go too. Have a good night.”
I focused on Scath as the door closed. It was incredible to finally see some detail. He watched me as I studied him, and I wished I had frames to hold the lenses in place so my hands would be free to do some exploring.
“Will you be able to see the difference between us with that piece of glass?” he asked.
“It’s a little blurry when you’re farther away, but I’d be able to tell the difference when you’re close like this.”
“Will using both pieces make your vision clearer?”
“A little more, yes. But it’s limited in how much clearer. My contacts almost had my vision to 20/60, which is pretty good. Like twice as good as it is now.”
He grunted, and we continued to study each other. The man was positively mouthwatering, like those first responder calendars I used to buy. For charity. Because I’m a good person.
“Are you going to tell me where your shirt went?” I asked.
“There were infected at Whiteman. We removed them before we left.”
I tipped my head up to look at his face again and noticed his hair was still wet.
“I heard killing infected is messy business,” I said. “That you tear off their heads.”
“It is.”
“Kind of glad I haven’t witnessed that. I’m glad you weren’t hurt. And thank you for finding these.”
“Do you want me to go to the supply shed for the frames?” he asked.
“I’m not sure they’ll work. See how thick my lenses are?” I opened my hand with the other lens. “And there’s a groove cut around it? That groove has to fit into the frames just right. And there are different sizes and shapes of frames. I’m not saying we won’t find one that works, but it probably won’t be easy. And we’ll probably break a few frames trying.”
“Then we will find more,” he said.
“Okay. I guess we don’t have anything else to do before bed, do we?”
He grunted and turned toward the door before pausing. “I’m not running away.”
“I know you’re not. And I’m really sorry that I kissed someone else in front of you. That kiss was meant for you.”
Thanks to my lens, I didn’t miss the sadness that washed over his expression.
“I don’t want your fear kisses or your trade sex, Apryl.”
“Then what do you want?” I asked, needing to hear it.
“I want whatever is real.” He started for the door and said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” just before leaving me alone.
Heaving a sigh, I set the pieces of my glasses on the counter and thought back to the mess of mistakes I’d made over the last couple of days because of that initial misunderstanding. But now that I understood he wanted the real deal, could I give it to him?
Thoughts churning, I made my way back to the bathroom. I was overdue for a shower and some serious thinking time.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SCATH
My heart was full, and I grinned the whole way to the storage shed. Apryl hadn’t meant to kiss Fallor. She didn’t prefer him over me.
I knew her disinterest in Fallor didn’t change that she still thought she needed to trade sex for food and a home. But it did mean that her heart wasn’t already claimed by another and was free to be claimed by me.
And I’d already started my slow assault with her glasses.
The way her eyes had lit with excitement when she’d looked through them the first time proved I’d done something meaningful for her. Now, I needed to find her frames that would work.
Moving through the aisles of supplies, I made my way to the tote. The door opened in the living room, and I carried out the tote to see Drav looking at the supply shelves.
“How is Mya?” I asked. “Another headache?”
“Yes. She said that it’s stress, and she wants more chocolate.”
“Stress? Does she worry about the baby?”
“No. She worries about her brother. He, Eden, and Shelby, a new female, went to look for places like this one. A hound was discovered, and a few of our brothers were injured. They will live, but Mya does not like any injuries.”
I nodded, understanding. “Apryl and I made brownies. You’re welcome to take ours, so you don’t need to make anything.”
He grunted and headed for the door with me.
“Is it hard?” I asked. “Watching her suffer to give you a baby?”
“Very,” he said, jogging beside me as we left.
“Do you regret it?”
Drav sighed. “Every time she hurts, yes. But when the baby kicks under my hand, I regret nothing.”
“I want children, but I don’t want Apryl to suffer.”
“Mom says every pregnancy is different. Angel doesn’t suffer as Mya does.”
“Angel’s baby is human,” I said.
Drav grunted and waited for me to open the front door. The shower was running in the back bedroom.
I put the tote on the counter so Apryl would be able to see it. Drav waited as I removed the brownies from the refrigerator.
“Here. I hope Mya feels better quickly.”
“Thank you.”
Drav left with the brownies, and I headed for the bedroom. The water turned off as I approached.
“I’m back,” I said through the bathroom door. “I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
“Wait,” she called as I was about to turn away.
The door flew open, and I stared at Apryl. She had her hair wrapped in a smaller towel and a larger one around her body. Water ran down her chest, disappearing in the crack between her breasts. And with each step she took toward me, the beautiful curve of her hip peeked out.
I inhaled her scent as she drew closer.
“I have something I need to say to you,” she said.
I waited.
“Your home is perfect for me, and I’m grateful for all the food you have. But that’s not why I’m staying. Before I could see you, I liked the sound of your voice. I still like it, but I like the way you take care of me while letting me do things for myself even more. And now that I can see you, I think you’re very handsome, Scath.”
She wasn’t holding up a lens to her eye as she spoke, but her gaze still moved over my features as she set her hand on my chest. Her feather-light touch sent a shiver of need through me.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
“I didn’t mean to kiss Fallor. I meant to kiss you. And the next time I try, I want you to know I’m doing it because I’m attracted to you, not to pay you back for the roof over my head or the food in my belly.”
I’d yearned to hear those words from her and wanted to believe them, but I found it difficult to believe she had changed how she viewed things in the time it took me to retrieve the frames. She’d mistaken Fallor for me because she couldn’t see and had admitted the single lens made things clearer but not perfect. Would she still find me handsome when using both lenses? Would she still be interested in me if she knew she could live with any male of her choosing? That they would all willingly provide for her just for her company, not for her body?
“You doubt it,” she said, not sounding too upset. “That’s okay. I’d doubt it, too, if I were in your shoes. I’m just asking you to give me some time to prove it.”
I frowned at her choice of words.
“Do you still believe that I will change my mind and ask you to leave?” I asked.
Her expression changed to one filled with guilt.
“We both know I’m not your ideal girl. Fallor will probably show up with someone you can actually leave alone with a hot oven and not have to worry about her. But thanks to the glasses you found, I won’t be helpless.”
I didn’t know how else to reassure her other than to admit the truth.
“Fallor has already returned with word of other women looking for homes.”
Shock and hurt showed on her face, and I quickly clasped her arms as her hand fell from my chest.
“There are many of us and very few willing females. Why would I send away the one I have? One who thinks I’m handsome and touches me freely?
“I want you to stay here, Apryl, but I want you to stay here because there is nowhere else you would rather be. Not because you think there is nowhere else for you to go.” I took a steadying breath. “It doesn’t matter that you cannot cook or could accidentally hurt yourself if you are left alone…any of my brothers would gladly have you if you do not want to remain with me.”
Her gaze flicked over mine, and I saw the uncertainty there. It tore at my heart, and I forced myself to release her. But I couldn’t help the way my fingers caressed down her bare arms.
“Will you stay with me, Apryl?” I asked.
“Wait. Let me get this straight. You’re telling me all the other single fey would jump at a chance to take me in just to prove that you really want me to stay with you?”
“Yes.”
She looked down, hiding whatever emotions she might be feeling from my gaze.
“I know what you want,” she said. “I know what all the fey want. You want forever and babies. It’s hard to think of forever when I’m still trying to figure out how I survived this long. And as for babies, can you imagine having a toddler as blind as I am? I don’t want to bring babies into this world just to watch them die.
“So I guess whether or not I stay is still up to you and if you’re okay being with a woman who is struggling with the idea of a long-term relationship and having babies when it feels like the world is still slowly dying.”
She looked up at me then, showing me all the vulnerability she was feeling, and I felt the same. This woman needed more than a male who could provide for her. She needed a male who would take the time to understand her fears and insecurities. And after living with the humans for so many months, I knew understanding her fears didn’t mean overcoming them.
I wanted children as badly as the rest of my brothers. But badly enough to give up Apryl?
Seeing her had made me yearn for a baby with her brown skin and pretty eyes. If I couldn’t have that, would I find anything else as satisfying? No. My heart said Apryl was meant to be mine. And if that meant no children, so be it.
“I want you to stay,” I repeated. “And we will build a long-term relationship slowly, starting with trust. Please trust me when I say I want you to be here.”
“I’ll try,” she said.
“Good. Get dressed and come to the kitchen. We will fix your glasses so you can see with both lenses at once.”
“Okay.” She started to turn away and paused. “Thank you, Scath.”
I wasn’t prepared for her sudden and almost violent hug. Her arms wrapped around my waist with the force of one of my brothers as she squeezed me. And it incited that same need to prove my dominance but in a completely different way.
The weight of her breasts teased my torso as wickedly as her freshly washed scent. Inhaling deeply, I caged her against me, skimming my palms over her damp shoulders. I wanted her under me, rubbing herself against me. I wanted it so badly that my cock throbbed in time with her racing pulse.
Slow, I reminded myself.
Fighting the need to pick her up and carry her to the bedroom, I gripped her shoulder and gently pried her away from me. She seemed reluctant to let go, which only fed my aching need for her. When she finally did release her hold, she looked up at me with her beautiful brown eyes and…
Her towel came loose and dropped to the floor.
Her mouth fell open, and I stared. At everything. Her deliciously rounded breasts. The soft swell of her midsection. The very oddly trimmed remains of the tuft of hair that covered her pussy. Then back up to those invitingly parted lips. On her mouth.
Swallowing a growl, I cupped the back of her head and struggled to rein in the intense desire to taste the lips of the woman who gave my life purpose.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen,” she said, her panicked gaze flicking to my mouth.
Was she thinking of kissing me? I wanted to groan and lean in to encourage her. Instead, I forced my stiff fingers to relax against the back of her head. Hadn’t I promised to move slowly after she’d admitted her fears to me? She needed my understanding, and I needed her trust. Pushing her wouldn’t get either of us those things.
“I will wait for you in the kitchen,” I said.
It took everything in me to turn away and leave her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
APRYL
I didn’t know what to think as Scath left the room.
He’d said several times that he wanted me, but when my towel had fallen off—truly a freak accident this time due to my over-exuberant hug—he hadn’t even batted an eye. Even with my tits out with nipples blazing.
No, not true. He’d kind of grabbed the back of my head as if I was some “cute,” misguided child.
What straight man didn’t try to cop a feel? Or look?
Frowning, I wondered if maybe I’d missed an eye-groping. I’d been looking at him, but his lighter eyes made it kind of hard to tell where he was looking. Yet, if he had looked, it had to have been brief. Men who were interested didn’t glance. They stared. They appreciated the view. Why would he want a woman he wasn’t into enough to do that?
He’d said it himself…there were a lot of them and not very many females who were willing. So, he could be desperate enough for one that he would take one he wasn’t attracted to.
I made a face at the thought and went to the closet, wondering if I could be with someone who wasn’t attracted to me. Grabbing a thong, I started to get dressed and acknowledged that mutual attraction was a must for me. Without it, I’d always doubt how long-term our relationship would be. If what we had could even be called a relationship.
No sex. No affection. Just cohabitating?
His insistence that I stay just didn’t make any sense to me. Why else keep me if not for sex? It wasn’t like I brought any other useful skills to the table. I couldn’t cook or clean well and didn’t want to spawn the next generation of apocalyptic snack food for the infected.
I tugged a shirt on over my head, skipping a bra, and struggled to think of even one reason Scath wouldn’t ditch me the moment someone willing to have his babies came along. There wasn’t one, which meant there was zero point in staying long-term.
That didn’t mean I needed to pack up and leave, though. As he’d said, he wanted me to be here…for now. So I had some time. Based on how reluctant the women in Tenacity were, I probably had a few weeks at least. Plenty of time to figure out how to fix my glasses, gain a useful skill or two, and find a fey who was interested in me.
Pretending to feel better about my situation, I pulled on a clean pair of shorts and went to join Scath in the kitchen.
He had the tote open on the counter and was lining up all the frames in neat rows. When he heard my approach, he looked up but quickly focused on the glasses again.
“I saved you some of the meatballs we made,” I said, walking around the counter and picking up a lens to see what I was doing. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
The almost pained word had me pausing and glancing his way. His head was bent as he sorted through the frames.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Frustrated,” he said. He held up a narrow set of frames. “I’m not sure any of these will work for you.”
I smiled sadly, wishing he was attracted to me. The men I’d dated in the past hadn’t cared about the little things as much as Scath did. They’d never understood that all those little ways of showing a woman they cared added up to something big. Something heart-rending and addictive.
“I kind of figured it wouldn’t be easy,” I said. “But we’ll figure something out. It’s better to have lenses without a frame than no lenses at all.”
He grunted and went back to sorting as I warmed up his dinner. When it was ready, I slid it in front of him along with a fork and moved the tote to the floor while he took his first bite.
I grinned at his groan and straightened from my bent-over position.
“Good, right?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Grandma knew what she was doing,” I said. “She didn’t like all the recipes with ketchup and barbeque sauce, so she made her own. The secret is in the vinegar and molasses.”
I went to look over the frames he’d set aside. There were a few potential options that looked like they could support my thicker lenses. I tried test-fitting the lens, but the frames were just the wrong shape.
“When I was fitted for glasses, they had a machine that would warm up the earpiece so they could bend it to fit behind my ears. I wonder if we can get the lens to fit by putting the frame in some really hot water.”
He immediately left his seat and filled a pot with water. While we waited for it to boil, he finished his meal.
“Let’s take a set of frames that don’t look that promising and see if the water even works to reshape them,” I said.
