Chapter Thirteen

 

 

 

Thank God it was Monday.

Probably not a feeling most people shared, but yesterday had been endless. Alli was just grateful that Michael’s parents hadn’t come, after all. Of course, Michael and Alli had been ordered to dinner next weekend. The fact that it was a three-hour drive was irrelevant. Alli was still trying to work out how to get out of going.

If Alli was being perfectly honest, Evan and his family were growing on him. The kids were cute, anyway. Faeries had always been fond of the little ones—they had a fairly low birth rate, so a child was always a special thing.

Alli surveyed his shop and tried not to let the dismay dig too deeply. The place looked a bit sparse—a good seventy percent of his stock had been destroyed—but he wasn’t letting the bastard who’d violated his place know he’d gotten to Alli. Alli had come in this morning as usual, taken out the trash, opened the register and unlocked the front door. Flora was open for business.

He was forgetting something. He just knew it. There was that itchy, nagging feeling under his skin trying desperately to remind him of something, a perfect match for the itch between his shoulders. After spending more time than usual with his wings out—namely any time Michael managed to get him alone in a private spot—his body was rebelling.

Now, if Alli could only come up with—

The door opened and Alli remembered.

“Oh! Hi, Lucas.”

“Hey, Alli.” Lucas smiled, revealing a matching pair of dimples. Sandy-blond hair nearly hid a pair of bright green eyes as the werewolf waved in greeting. Alli couldn’t help but smile back. There was something almost…endearing about Lucas. He looked about sixteen, acted like a ten year old on a sugar high, and had the attention span of a gnat. But he was cute and sweet and earnest and Alli liked him. Even if he did look like a surfer-boy transplant from California.

“Is it time already?” Alli asked.

“Yep.”

Huh. It seemed like he’d just seen Lucas.

“I don’t have it collected yet,” Alli told Lucas. “Give me a few minutes.”

“’Kay.”

Alli headed for the greenhouse, not paying any attention to whether or not Lucas followed.

“I can’t believe I forgot,” Alli scolded himself. He shoved aside a bucket with his foot, leaning over it to grab his dirt-encrusted trowel. It was stuck fast, wedged between the bucket of sand and the wall. He pulled, grunting with satisfaction as his prize slid free. He nearly did a happy dance when he managed the entire feat without dumping the bucket on his foot. Alli guessed there really was a first time for everything.

In the years since Alli had opened Flora, Lucas had become a familiar face. Lucas was a werewolf, albeit mild-mannered for one of that species. Weres in general weren’t known for their even tempers, and they had long been banned from entering city limits during the full moon. Typical of their contrary natures, they were apparently still pissed about the edict and only came to town when absolutely necessary. Lucas was the one exception, as he ventured into town on almost a weekly basis.

“It’s okay.”

Alli jumped a good foot, not realizing that Lucas had followed.

“Sorry,” Lucas said. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

Alli found himself automatically putting his hand over his pounding heart. He took a deep breath to calm the surge of adrenaline. “It’s okay,” he repeated Lucas’ words back. “I just didn’t hear you.”

Alli headed to the far corner of his collection. The monkshood was one of the first plants the local coven had supplied him with, and it was already growing rapidly, even after just a few days. That was one of the few advantages of being Fayte. Plants did very well under his attention.

“I heard about the trouble you had,” Lucas said in his soft voice.

Alli tossed a quick glance at the wolf. Lucas had his hands tucked behind his back and was rocking back and forth on his heels. Alli sent him a reassuring smile before carefully brushing the dirt away from the delicate plant’s root system. The poor wolf was shy. For him to initiate conversation was rare.

“It was pretty bad,” Alli admitted. “But as you can see, I’m nearly back to normal.”

The greenhouse was a bit bare in spots but was coming along nicely. The front room, unfortunately, hadn’t recovered as quickly. Alli had plants on order, but it took a while to get some of the more exotic species. Alli never sold cut flowers—it hurt something inside him to chop up the beautiful stems—but he did well with the live stuff. Brides in Putman County were fond of pretty pots, large bushy flowers and live bouquets.

“Better than normal.”

Alli’s attention snapped back to Lucas and his eyes widened. Lucas was looking at him with heat, an expression of longing on his face that Alli had never seen before.

“Yes…well…” Alli really didn’t know what to say to that. He dropped his trowel with a clatter and thrust the little cutting at Lucas.

“Here you go,” Alli said with false cheer. “All set for another week.”

Lucas made no move to take the offering. He titled his head in a very canine move, eyes dark and intent. Alli started to get a little jittery at the intensity in Lucas’ stare. An itchy feeling began crawling up his spine, and for once it had absolutely nothing to do with his hidden wings.

Alli never saw Lucas move. One minute they were was standing a few feet apart, staring, and the next hot lips crushed down on his, a lean body pressing close. Alli yelped into the kiss, the cutting falling from suddenly nerveless fingers. He froze for a few long seconds in utter shock.

Then reality reasserted itself and Alli planted his hands on Lucas, shoving hard.

“Get off me!” he shouted, the sound still muffled since Lucas refused to budge. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Alli struggled to get loose. He managed to pry Lucas off enough to breathe.

“Damn it, what has gotten into you?”

Lucas shook his head as if to clear it. “What?” Then his eyes widened in dismay. “Alli, I’m—”

Lucas never finished the sentence. A roar ricocheted around the room and Lucas suddenly staggered under one hundred eighty-five pounds of angry bear shifter.

“Michael!”

Michael ignored Alli’s shout. He shot out with one big fist and caught Lucas on the chin, sending him reeling. Alli lunged forward and grabbed Michael’s arm, which was poised for another blow.

“Michael, stop it,” Alli ordered.

When Michael turned to Alli, Alli nearly took an involuntary step back. Dark eyes glittered with fury, the animal close to the surface. Very close.

“Michael, you need to calm down,” Alli said quietly, urgently. “It’s okay. Lucas is going to leave now. I’m fine.”

“Alli—”

Alli shook his head at Lucas. “Later,” he said. “You need to leave now.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucas said.

“I know. Go. Now.”

“It’s just, I really like you, and—”

“Lucas!”

Michael growled, trying to lunge for Lucas again. Lucas gave a loud squeak and ran.

Alli watched his swiftly retreating form with complete relief. He wouldn’t have been able to hold Michael back for much longer. The muscles under his hands were still shifting and bunching, Michael’s lips twisted in a feral snarl.

“Calm down,” Alli said again, stroking, trying to soothe the beast.

“He touched you.”

“He’s gone now, I promise.”

Sheesh. Since when were spectacled bears so possessive? Alli had done some research, after meeting Bruce for the first time. Spectacled bears were normally calm, placid and shy.

Alli guessed some of the black bear characteristics must have rubbed off on Michael over the years.

“Alli? Everything okay in here? Lucas just ran out the front door like someone lit his tail on fire… Oh.”

Alli closed his eyes and groaned. Great. That was the last thing he needed right now, Chris poking his big nose into this mess.

“We’re fine, Chris, go away before you get mauled by a bear.”

Oh, damn. He shouldn’t have said that.

“Shit,” Chris declared. He slammed the screen door separating the greenhouse from the main store. What he thought that would do, Alli didn’t know. Alli kept his focus on Michael, still stroking and petting. Some of the battle-ready tension was bleeding away, but it was taking far too long for Alli’s peace of mind. If they were at home, it wouldn’t matter, but Michael would hate himself later if he shifted in the middle of town.

“What happened, Alli?” Chris asked in a low voice. Alli shook his head emphatically.

“Later,” he said firmly. “Talking about it will only work him up again.”

“Hey, Michael.” Chris’ tone was low and soothing and Alli greeted it with relief. He imagined it wasn’t the first time Chris had talked down a worked-up shifter, and Alli would take any help he could get.

“Say, I hear you had family in town over the weekend. That’s great. I hoped they enjoyed their visit. It’s always nice to see new faces in Putman.”

The inane, normal conversation was having the desired effect. The wildness left Michael’s eyes. Alli could actually see Bruce retreating and Michael’s human side re-emerging.

“There you are, love,” he murmured. “That’s it. See? No threat. We’re in a safe place, no one’s going to hurt either of us.”

“Alli, did—”

“Not now, Chris,” Alli hissed. Chris glared at him, jaw set stubbornly, and Alli knew it was probably killing the man not to be able to begin the interrogation.

Michael’s hand came up and stroked Alli’s cheek, traced his jaw. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” Alli reassured him. It probably wasn’t the time to reiterate that he hadn’t actually been in any danger. Lucas had kissed him, not tried to whack him over the head with a shovel.

Somehow, he thought Michael wasn’t yet in the mood for logic.

Michael sighed, the sound deep and almost animalistic, coming up from his toes. “Sorry,” he murmured.

Ah, there it was. The sheepish edge creeping into Michael’s expression. Now that the rage was dissipating, the normally easy-going man was beginning to feel a bit embarrassed. As well he should, in Alli’s opinion.

“Why don’t you go to the office and get a drink?” Alli urged. “I’m going to explain everything to Chris here.”

“Then can we go home?” Michael pleaded. “I need to hold you.”

“I can’t close up just yet,” Alli said. “But I can put up the ‘Back in fifteen minutes’ sign and come join you for a snuggle. How does that sound?”

Alli wasn’t normally one for snuggling in the middle of the day, but that hint of vulnerability in Michael’s eyes was about to kill him.

“Okay. Stay with Chris? I don’t want—”

“He’ll be fine,” Chris assured Michael. “We’re just going to talk for a minute. I’ll escort him back to the office myself.”

Michael nodded, still a bit bewildered, and left.

Chris immediately rounded on Alli with a ferocious scowl. “Want to tell me what the hell that was all about?”

“Michael overreacted.”

“Oh, that tells me so much, thanks.”

“You don’t need to be so sarcastic,” Alli snapped. “I just had a very stressful few minutes. Forgive me for not being overly articulate just yet.”

“Alli!”

Alli rubbed the bridge of his nose. God, he just wanted to go home and take a nap. “Lucas came in for his weekly supply,” Alli said. “He was acting a little odder than usual. I turned around and he ambushed me.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, he kissed me.”

If Alli were feeling better, he’d find great amusement in the stupefied look on Chris’ face.

“Huh?”

“He kissed me. I pushed him away. Michael showed up and went all growly and possessive. Lucas left. That’s it, end of story.”

“Oh. Well, that’s not nearly as bad as what I was thinking.”

“I can imagine,” Alli replied dryly.

“I’ll have a little talk with Lucas,” Chris promised.

“Do us all a favor for once and keep your nosy ass out of it,” Alli ordered. “Lucas was embarrassed, Michael is starting to feel guilty, and no one meant any harm.”

“I knew Lucas has a crush on you, but I never imagined he would do anything about it,” Chris admitted.

“I didn’t know he had a crush on me.” Alli was taken aback, although he supposed that did explain a few things. Like why, with his need for daily doses of aconite, Lucas didn’t bother to just grow the stuff himself.

Chris rolled his eyes. “I swear, Alli, you can be the most oblivious person in the world.”

Alli didn’t deny it. “Don’t be too hard on him,” he told Chris. “It’s close to the full moon. You know how weres can be.”

“Then he shouldn’t have come to town if he couldn’t control himself.”

Alli didn’t deny that, either. He settled for reaching up and patting the much larger man on the shoulder. “I’m going to go check on Michael. I think we should just drop it, forget the whole blasted thing.”

“Don’t I wish,” Chris muttered.

“I mean it!”

“Fine, fine.” Chris threw up his hands in surrender. “But…would Lucas maybe have had something to do with the break-in? He might have been getting desperate to gain your attention.”

“He certainly has it now. But no. He likes me. Besides, stolen kisses aside, Lucas is harmless.” Maybe if he kept repeating himself, he’d get some of these annoying alpha males to listen.

“No such thing as harmless.”

On those cheery words, Chris left, muttering about stubborn fairies and bears in need of anger management classes. Alli sighed, rubbed at his nose again, and told himself this day wasn’t actually endless.

It just felt like it.

Alli gave himself a stern pep talk, kicking his fallen trowel aside in a sudden fit of pique. Time to go talk to Michael.

Damn it, Alli hated being all soothing and shit. He didn’t do it well. He wondered as he walked what, exactly, had happened to his nice, boring life. Where he could spend all day playing with plants and being grumpy to anyone who interrupted him.

He had the sinking feeling that those days were long gone. And he was never going to get them back.

Michael was pacing in the back room, muttering to himself, the dazed look replaced with irritation. He whirled on Alli the instant Alli entered.

“Why is it every time I turn around, you’re in some kind of trouble?” Michael demanded.

Shit. Alli’s stomach knotted, threatened to cramp. But when he spoke, his voice came out calm.

“I’m a Fayte, Michael. I told you that. And anyone close to me is going to get caught in the whirlwind. If you can’t handle that—”

“Don’t you go putting words in my mouth!” Michael crossed the room in a few quick strides and planted a hard, claiming kiss on Alli. “I really wish you would stop trying to chase me off.”

Alli shrugged, looked away. “I’m sorry,” he said with sincerity. “It’s habit. If I run people off, then they can’t…”

“Can’t leave you?”

Alli gnawed on his lip and nodded, looking up from under his lashes. “Yeah, I guess so. People don’t usually stick around for long once the bad stuff starts happening.”

“Babe, if an interrupted romp in bed didn’t send me running, this certainly isn’t. It’s not like you asked Lucas to kiss you.”

“Of course not!”

“Then don’t worry about it.”

Alli narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Michael. The words were right, but the tone wasn’t.

“You don’t get to worry about it, either,” Alli stated.

“Who said I was worrying?”

“And you don’t get to track Lucas down and go all growly on him, either. We’re going to chalk it up to a mistake on his part and move on.”

“But—”

“No! Or I swear to God, Michael, I’ll call Chris back and have him arrest you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

Alli stared.

“You would,” Michael said in disbelief. Then he chuckled. “All right, Alli, you win. I won’t make an issue of it. But if I catch him touching you again, all bets are off.”

Alli rolled his eyes and made sure Michael saw it before he stepped close and hugged his still growly bear. “You’ve definitely picked up on some of Evan’s personality.”

“How so?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Michael’s strong arms hugged Alli back, tucking him close. They probably would have stood there for a while longer, but the front bell rang imperiously.

“Time to get back to work,” Alli said, pulling back reluctantly.

“I guess so.” Michael leaned in and gave Alli another kiss, this one full of tongue and heat. Alli groaned, cock hardening in an instant. He wrapped his hands around Michael’s arms, took the kiss deeper.

Michael broke the kiss with another chuckle. “Customer, babe.”

Alli glared. “Then what the hell are you getting me all worked up for? Tease.”

“Nope,” Michael said. “That was a taste. Something to keep you thinking of me.”

“As if I’ve thought of anything else lately,” Alli muttered. He slapped a hand over his mouth when he realized he’d spoken aloud.

Michael’s expression positively oozed satisfaction. Alli glared at him some more.

Someone called Alli’s name.

“Go on,” Michael told him. Alli wanted to smack the smug expression off his face. Or better yet, kiss it off. No, bad Alli, don’t go there.

“You’re lucky there’s someone out there, mister,” Alli stated.

“No, I’m just lucky, period.”

If Michael ever found out what that charming smile did to Alli’s knees, Alli would be in serious trouble. As it was, he had problems following a straight path to the door.

“Go find something to do,” Alli called over his shoulder. “And stop bothering me.”

“Sorry, babe,” came the reply. “I’m not going anywhere. You have a shadow for the rest of the day.”

“Shadows should be seen and not heard,” Alli retorted. “If you’re smart, you’ll stay back here.”

Michael’s laughter followed him into the front. As soon as Alli was safely out of sight, he let his smile break free. Bantering with Michael was quickly becoming one of his favorite pastimes.

Alli discreetly adjusted himself in his pants, hoped the bulge wasn’t too obvious, and turned his happy, lustful grin into a more professional greeting.

Only six hours until he could go home.

The two ladies from the deli next door looked at him expectantly, sporting identical inquisitive expressions, and Alli ground his teeth.

It was going to be the longest six hours of his life.