Devon's Discipline (8 page)

“If I had a beer I could.” She swallowed hard as her pulse went crazy under his touch.

“Don’t tease me.” He pressed his lips down where his fingers were. “You won’t like how I tease back.”

Damn him! All she could think about now was how it would feel to have his teeth sink into her flesh.

“I wouldn’t voice your fantasy either.” He warned and shot her a look to punctuate it as he pulled away.

“Then why the hell did you just get all acquainted with my neck?” Devon shook her head. “I’m not the one who… oh…” Matthews licked a long line from the bottom of her ear down to the hollow of her collarbone and made her anger dissipate immediately.

“What I just did is getting friendly, ‘cause honey, acquainted is a whole new level.”

“I’d like to get acquainted then.” Her eyes widened as he nipped once then straightened. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

“No, but you’re also not at one-hundred percent right now. If you’re serious, then we’ll see after you feel better.”

“Okay, fine. Anyway, I should go after dinner.” She rubbed the back of her neck and tried to think of something else to say.

“I’m concerned about your access to alcohol, but I’m not keeping you prisoner.”

The doorbell rang two quick times in succession to indicate the food had arrived and he went to answer it.

When he returned, she smiled. “Wow. You must have some pull at parties.” Most of the local places delivered quickly to campus, but this was impressive. She let out a breath but said no more. His mood seemed improved and she didn’t want to get him going again.

“I can be quite demanding.” He pulled the containers out of a brown paper bag and set each one down.

“I didn’t eat before because I didn’t want to ransack your cabinets.” She reached for the chicken lo mien and a set of chopsticks. Her mind drifted back to the races her dad used to start. They would have crazy chopstick nights, no matter what they were eating. Devon recalled her mom once served them chicken noodle soup, which turned into a huge mess, but the three of them had giggled for an hour.

“I assure you my kitchen is boring,” he remarked, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

“I bet I could make it more interesting.”

“How so? Fine china? Mood lighting?” Matthews fixed his bowl, then sank down into the large armchair near the couch.

“I used to cook with my mom and I miss it. The kitchen at my house is rather pitiful.” Devon wondered why he didn’t get her point. She wanted to spend time with him.

“You’re welcome to come over and cook whenever you want.”

“I’d love to when I’m back on my feet and all,” she smiled. Although last night’s scare still made her tremble a little, she felt safe here and didn’t want to leave.

“How are you feeling now?” Matthews leaned back in his chair.

“I think they broke my ribs.” Devon slurped a long noodle into her mouth. Most of her bumps and bruises had healed completely overnight, but her ribs, nose, and shoulder ached badly. Maybe it had been her time to go and join her parents.
What an awful thought. If it were my time, I’d already be with them.

“You were in very bad shape last night.” He poured out some sauce and dipped a wonton into it.

“If you hadn’t rescued me from the end of your driveway, would I have died?” Devon twirled a long noodle around the chopsticks, then watched it fall back into the dish. “I mean, if they had brought me home or something?”

“You had multiple broken and dislocated bones. Your chest and stomach were crisscrossed with bruises and you spit up blood more than once. I’m not medically inclined, but those are all serious problems. Let’s just be glad they brought you here.” His eyes darkened. “They at least made one tiny good decision, but it’s too bad I wasn’t outside when they did.”

“You’ve been making odd comments today. Do you want me to be afraid of you?” Something about the way he looked at her made her realize she felt equal parts turned on and scared around him.

“You wouldn’t be in my house eating take-out if I wanted you to be afraid of me.” A shadow of a smile played across his lips as he stood and collected their plates. “Though you should be more cautious.”

“Okay, okay. Back to my earlier question. Do you find me as attractive as I find you?” Devon stood slowly, then got distracted by his movements. Simply cleaning the dishes caused the muscles in his arms to flex and she longed to run her hands over them.

“You don’t know the answer?” Matthews scoffed as he approached and met her in front of the couch. “Really?”

“You pushed me away again, but you never answered me.” Devon tapped her foot and twirled her hair around her finger as she waited for his answer.
I’m so on edge! Just tell me!

“I find you very appealing, and I know when I turn you on.” He licked his lips as he spoke, and true to his words, she found herself turned on immediately.

“I read online somewhere that adrenaline is like ecstasy to a vampire.” She shrugged. “If a spike happens, along with other factors—”

“Wait, are you going to start quoting high school statistics at me?” he snorted. “The amount of restraint you think I have is flattering.”

“I’ve never thought about it before now.” The look on his face made her wet as he reached out for her.

“If the temptation is so great, how can I stand here with your pulse on my tongue and not act on it?” Matthews tugged her against him.

“I don’t know.” A sharp prickle of fear ran down her spine as Devon pressed closer and his grip tightened. “I’m not in a good spot at the moment.”

“I agree with you.” He ran his cheek along her jaw and breathed in. His tongue found her neck again and she melted into him.

“You pulled me closer.” She loved being held, but an undercurrent of panic sparked through her thoughts.

“Not the smartest move on my part.” Matthews let go of her slowly. “I’m sorry.”

Devon’s first instinct told her to dive to the floor, but he seemed to be in a scary mood. She bent down and slowly searched for her shoes but kept her eyes on him. In a one-handed quest she found them but slid each onto the opposite foot. She looked down, let out a long breath, and corrected her mistake. “Will you consider me more than a student when this semester ends?”

“Maybe.” He strode over to the front door and opened it. “If you pull up your grades, we’ll talk.”

“We will?” She cocked her head to the side.
When did he change his mind?

“Even if we get involved outside of the classroom, I’ll continue to hold you accountable for your actions, physically.” Matthews leaned against the door frame. “You decide if you can handle a relationship with me.”

“Do you spank all your students?” She felt a bizarre mix of arousal and irritation at his statement.
Will he spank me for the rest of my life?

“I wouldn’t have a job if I spanked all of them.” He gestured her through the door.

Devon took a step forward, then looked over her shoulder. She had a smart remark on the tip of her tongue.

“You feel better, but your body is not ready for the punishment I have in store.” He swatted her once across her butt and she squeaked.

“Are you are going to punish me for last night even though I almost died?” Devon shook her head as bits and pieces from last night came back to her. One of the guys had asked if she called out for Matthews and the attack stopped immediately.
What if I hadn’t said his name?

“I’m going to punish you for last night because you almost died.” He cupped her chin. “You can ask me questions later, but for now, go home.”

“I figured you would beg me to move in here after the horrible choices I made last night,” she huffed as her fear of having to leave peeked through.

“I suspect if you and your attitude move in, you’ll never sit down comfortably. Begging is not an option. If I think you’re safer here, it will happen.” Matthews dropped his hand but didn’t move back.

“You can’t make decisions for me.” A burst of rage flew through her thoughts. “I’m not yours!” Devon clenched her hands into fists then moved back, unsure why she felt so mad.
I want to be his, so why am I so angry?

“You’re acting very odd. First you’re surprised I didn’t tell you to stay here, then you get upset at the idea of me demanding you to. What do you want?” He ran his hands through his hair as if frustrated, then looked down at her.

“If you hadn’t found me, I’d be dead.” Devon burst into tears and covered her eyes with her hands. “Those assholes… hurt me!”

“When you asked me if I was going out to find your friend’s pack, you were very close to the truth. It kills me that I can’t rip those punks apart, but their alpha and I have a deal. I can’t explain it now, but I promise you all I want to do is find them and make them pay for what they did.” He drew her to him and took her hands in his. “I don’t want you to go, but it’s not a good idea for you to stay here.”

“Why not?”

Matthews tilted his head towards her elbow and licked a long line up to her wrist. He brought it up to his mouth and pressed it against his lips. “I want to taste you and it’s driving me crazy.”

Devon felt her eyes go wide but despite his strange desire, she found herself aroused and it suppressed her anger. “I love garlic.” The likelihood of him actually being revolted by a bulb made her giggle.

“You’re adorable.” Matthews dropped her hand and moved back. “Do you really want to spend the night?”

“Yeah. I’d rather be here than alone in my house.”

“You can have the guest room again, but you need sleep… You will feel better in the morning…”

Devon stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for letting me stay again. Good-night.”

She smiled when he tapped the top of her nose with his finger, then planted a kiss there. “Good-night, Devon.”

Chapter Three

Devon looked over at the kitchen again and sighed. She had returned home after two nights away and found out both roommates had also gone off campus but would be back tomorrow. She tried to stay in her room and work since she itched to taste the bottle of Jack hidden in the cabinet, but it tempted her from a distance like a precious fruit out of her reach.

“Fuck it.” Her steps were full of determination as she plucked the bottle from its hole. She grabbed six shot glasses and set them in a line on the counter.

Devon popped the top and poured a perfect ounce in each shooter. She smiled at the thought of the burn before the buzz when a loud knock on her front door jarred her. She stashed the bottle underneath the sink.
Who the hell is there? I’ll pretend I’m not here.

“Shit.” She glanced between the drinks and the door as two more knocks pounded against it. Did she have enough time to down them? She moved the curtain away from the small window on the side and peeked through it. Matthews stood there with his arms crossed.

A louder knock sounded and she slowly resigned herself to opening the door.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Were you sleeping?” He raised an eyebrow.

Devon glanced over her outfit as she weighed the options in her head. “No.”
One point for me, I told the truth!

“Did you get enough rest?” He took a step inside.

“Yeah, lots.” Devon stood in the entryway to the kitchen casually, as if Matthews had been there before.

“I can smell the alcohol from here.” He stepped over to the counter and poured each shot down the drain. “I came here to check on you.”

“Okay, well you did. See you later.” Devon cringed as the alcohol swirled down the pipes.

“You went out to a bar, alone, and nearly got killed. Do I encourage such behavior?”

Devon took in the threat behind those words. He had come over to spank her. She dashed up the stairs two at a time, but he reached the door before her. She dove underneath his legs and through the door. “You’re not allowed in my room!”

“You’re right, but the longer you keep me out here the worse it will be.” He pressed a hand on either side of the door frame.

“Wait, what? You actually can’t come in my room?”

“Yes, little Ms. Dabbles-at-Best. You’ve got a protection spell in place, and I can’t breach it.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he scowled.

“You don’t understand what I’m going through! If I don’t hit every class for the next two weeks, I’ll be dropped!” Devon fumed. “You think you can just barge in here and punish me, but you’re not me! My parents are dead and I can’t handle it!”

“I lost my parents when I was fifteen. We have more in common than you think.”

“Did you start drinking?” Devon watched him move down the hallway towards her. She peeked around the frame to see him sit on the floor just outside her door, leaning his back against the wall. She desperately wanted to go out and join him, but the threat of his punishment kept her in place.

“No, but I became hell-bent on revenge,” Matthews murmured. “I wouldn’t encourage it as a life path.”

“If I let you in, will you tell me your story first?” She wanted to know more about his past, especially if he had lost his parents at a young age.
Maybe he really does understand me.

“I will tell you the rest of it, but I won’t compromise on your punishment. You were reckless and still think you would have survived without me.” Matthews looked over at her.

“Look, I don’t know how to repay you. Can you drop it?” Her attitude poked through again and she sighed. If he was right, she had no idea how to express her sincere gratitude. Hallmark didn’t make a card for that.

“I saved you because I promised to help you, not to hold it over your head.”

“Fine! Now are you just going to sit there all night?” She tapped her fingers against the wall.
Is he really going to sit in my hallway forever?

“If you refuse to invite me in.” He leaned his head back. “I can function on very little sleep, so believe me, I can wait you out.”

“I don’t even know what to say.” Devon began to pace in front of her bed. She wanted to do what he asked, but she didn’t want another round over his lap. Her butt had been red for hours after the session in his office. Her offense had only been tardiness so what would he do for nearly being killed?
Am I afraid to let him in because of the punishment or because I can’t stand the fact that I disappointed him?