S.A. Price (29 page)

“Yeah... though I’m really sorry you had to find out like this, about me I mean.”

"The snake part? The deadly venom part? Or the part where you just plain lied to me about what you were? Because I can tell you what hurts the most..." A tear rolled down her cheek but she was quick to wipe it away. "Just forget about it. It's my own damn fault."

“Oh god. Evie I never meant to hurt you, but in my defense, I never once said I wasn’t Ophidian. I didn’t know what you were, and I couldn’t take the chance of outing myself. My snake though, well he didn’t like seeing you in peril any more then I did, but he’s a bit more impulsive then I am. I can’t tell you how badly he’s screaming to be out on the hunt for that asshole.”

"He's right, we're not going to be safe with him still out there. I know I sure as hell don’t want to get shot again; I'm ruined as it is, and I distinctly remembered telling you not to get shot. I'd rather not do this from your end because you look like crap," she smiled weakly at him. "At least I get to lie down."

He chuckled. “The scar will be small Evie, don’t worry. Loretta, the surgeon that worked on you, was very careful. It’s discreet.” he smiled. “And I look like shit cuz I have been worried as hell over here. Shit I probably don’t smell too good right now either.”

She smiled, "I wouldn't go that far although the tang of my blood is a little disturbing. It's still a scar... two of them. They'll hire someone else rather than airbrush it out. Discreet shows when you’re just about topless. I'll worry about that later though. How is everyone else?"

“Fine. Most of the girls are fine, two of them were in bad shape, and I think it’s touch and go with them. I’m not sure about the mental issues but physically, the majority seem to be ok, if a little malnourished. You know, I’m curious, what kinda snake are you?”

"I don’t spit venom at people, I'm pretty harmless unless you're a bird. I'm a tree boa... Emerald tree boa."

He growled, trying to hold it back. God help him, the images of her curled around a branch excited his snake immensely. He had never been one for the dangerous kind of snakes; they tended to be extremely volatile. He had grown up with an explosive aunt so he knew the kind of lunatic venomous snakes tended to be. He always admired the boa’s and their easy way about everything. He knew she would be as beautiful in her snake form as she was as a human.

He grinned. “Really? I bet you’re beautiful. And I don’t spit venom; I’m not a cobra. Though my cousin is, don’t wanna mess with her come that time of the month I can tell you.”

She chuckled, "I bet. Venomous snakes always creeped me out, I was there when Aiden got bitten by one. It looked painful. He deserved it but still... it wasn't right." She looked up at him. "Sorry. So what kind of snake are you? If you’re not a cobra."

He smiled a sheepish grin and then blushed. “A Black Mamba.”

"Black Mamba." She said to herself sounding it out. "I have to admit that's pretty hot."

He looked up at her with an eyebrow raised. “Yeah?”

"Sure... You're not going to bite me are you?"

He smirked. “Not unless you want me to, though I wouldn’t break out the fangs for that.”

"Then it’s very hot." She grinned at him. "Do you like trees? In a climbing way not in an oxygen giving way."

He smiled at her and nodded. “We don’t get a lot of them in the desert, but yes. I like shade.”

"They're good for all sorts of things. I'm an excellent climber. The top floor of my apartment is sealed off. I have a lot of trees and birds the whole place is practically an Amazon..." She sighed.

He took her hand and rubbed his thumb over the top of it softly. “Sounds amazing. Are you asking me out on a date?” he grinned.

~119~

She blushed, her eyes flickering down then back up. "Maybe... Once I'm better. I did already promise you dinner."

Taking her embarrassment as a green light, he moved in, laying a kiss on her lips. “Oh I more than accept on both counts. I did promise you a good bottle of red didn’t I?” he winked. “So where is home? Your apartment I mean.”

"In Vegas." She smiled wetting her lips. "It's not in any of the seedy parts either. I don't get to stay there a lot only when I need to change. Though who knows, with my new found undesirable status, I may get a lot more time there."

“Love you could never be undesirable, and I can show you how to hide the scar, though I happen to think it’s going to be very sexy.”

"I bet you do. I think that when it's healed we'll have to do a thorough comparison to the other shoulder... just to make sure."

His heart sang with her words. She wanted to see him again and was in effect making plans for the future with him, and damn if he was the proudest man there ever was. A woman like Evelyn Rose wasn’t something to play with; she was the woman both his heart and his snake had been looking for, for a long, long time. “I’m all for it Evie, and just so you know, I’m not letting you out of my sight. You get yourself into heap loads of trouble.” He wagged his eyebrows at her and kissed her hand. “I’m really just glad you’re ok.”

"Don’t. I don’t want to be out of your sight." She beamed at him turning her hand around to stroke his face. "I'm glad we're both ok, it felt touch and go for a while there. I seemed to stay trouble free before I met you, you know."

“Well what’s life without a little danger eh?” he kissed her palm and then sighed. “You know I have a lot of explaining to do right? They are going to crucify me, and your Archon, Christ he had murder in his eyes when he saw me carrying you up.”

"Merrick?"

He nodded. “Myra told me he was your Archon when I asked. I’m not looking forward to meeting with him, or my aunt. That bitch bites.”

"I bet she does... I think I insulted her, Olivia right? She doesn’t like me much. Merrick's protective but he'll get over it once he finds out I’m ok."

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind taking the beating for this, but he just looks like I don’t wanna fuck with him. And Olivia just doesn’t like anyone being more Basiliassa then herself. She’s very big on wearing the pants if you catch my drift. Well now that you’re awake I should probably face the music, but...”

"But?" She asked hanging on his words.

“I really don’t wanna leave you.” He kissed her again, feeling her moist lips under his own and groaned. His snake side screamed at him to take her, make her his.

She kissed him back her good hand going to the back of his head holding him as she did. Chest heaving she pulled back an inch leaning her forehead against his. "You shouldn't have to." She whispered her lips brushing his. "There’s nothing wrong with my legs you know."

“And be seen as irresponsible? Evie he wants me dead already. Christ it’s like I’m meeting your parents.”

"Its nothing like meeting my parents, my father would love you, if we still talked. Merrick wouldn't give it to you so bad if I was there and you haven't done anything to deserve getting chewed up about. If it wasn’t for you god knows what would have happened."

He grinned. “You really are something. So shall we get this over with? I have plans for you for the rest of the night, if you let me.”

"Oh yeah? Let you do what?"

“Well you’ll have to see, but it involves catering to your every whim. You are after all, wounded.”

"You know I had noticed that, it’s the pain that gives it away. I'm not so sure I'll be up for much whim fulfilling tonight. I'll let you in on a little secret though..."

~120~

He moved in and grinned. “Secret?”

"Uh huh," She whispered. "I love being catered to and nothing right now appeals to me more than the thought of falling asleep in your arms."

He growled a low sensual sound. “Oh I think I can handle that Evie, not a hardship at all. I have been thinking about just that for a while now.”

"It's a fantasy," She whispered admittedly. "Just sleeping mind, I'm far from easy."

“I wouldn’t ever think you were, and not to mention you’re in no position for any kind of rigorous activity. That can wait. We got all the time in the world.”

"Unless one of us gets shot." Her smile faded. "I just wanted to be clear. I may be quick to take my clothes off for a picture, but I don’t just fall into bed with people."

He looked at her, quite serious. “I never thought you were that kinda girl Evelyn. We have all the time in the world to get to know each other, and I plan on getting to know you very well. Sex isn’t an issue, Evelyn.”

She chuckled at him, "Not right now, but it better be at some point in the future."

“That’s up to you Evelyn.” he kissed her hand. “You know what they say, slow and steady wins the race.”

"There’s no race, only the two of us." she squeezed his hand. "You never did tell me what poster you had."

He chuckled. “The old school pin up you did when you first started. The one in the red vinyl corset and frilly hot pants?”

"I think I still have that corset." She grinned cheekily.

He groaned, shaking his head. “Tease.”

"Little bit." She admitted. "Come on, help me get up so we can get this over with."

Homer helped her up gingerly, sighing. “And just so you know, my aunt calls me Ryan.”

"Why?" She winced moving her shoulder experimentally.

“Easy, easy. Well Olivia is my father’s sister, and we lost him when I was an infant. She always hated my name, claming my mother did it as a joke. My full name is Homer Ryan Maxwell, and my family won’t ever call me Homer.”

"I like it, it's very sweet." She leaned forward and kissed his lips. "How did you lose him?

Hunters? I think that’s what happened to my mom, either that or she was just a big old running whore. Which makes a little more sense."

He nodded. “Hunters. My mother didn’t handle it well.”

"No?"

“No.” he sighed, not looking forward to reliving that. He hoped she wouldn’t ask him to.

"I'm sorry, I know most of the kids with snake parents had it hard."

“There’s very few of us that have a happy childhood and a loving family.”

"Certainly explains why some Cuckoo their kids. Come on..." She winked at him and tried to hop off the bed yelping and falling on him instead. "Fuck!"

Homer held her up and then smiled. “Baby, take it easy. They gave you a muscle relaxant, so it probably hasn’t worn off completely. Baby steps.”

"I haven't taken baby steps since I was a baby." She ran her hand over his back. "I do like this though."

“Yeah me, too. Kinda feels right. Let’s go and get my ass chewed out. I’m tired as hell and need a shower.”

~121~

TWENTY-EIGHT

The council room was empty, but Elise could hear them all around the house, and she knew they would all be making their way there now that things were settling down. Myra had told her things went well, aside from the fact that Evelyn was shot in the shoulder. Geraldine and her staff had taken good care of her, and the rest of the girls were in the west wing, the weak ones being cared for and the strong ones gently being questioned by Geraldine. Hopefully they would have a bit more intel later on.

Evelyn was fine, and with Ryan, and Elise knew the poor guy had a lot to answer for, to both his aunt and to Merrick.

She hadn’t seen her betrothed since they got back, the man sweeping in and kissing her on the lips before disappearing with Aiden into the east wing control room. His body language and demeanor were rigid, and she knew things hadn’t gone as planned. When Myra told her about the shot, things fell into place. Ryan, who had been ducking his aunt, was in for it for Evelyn’s wound. Hopefully it wouldn’t be so bad though. The man had intel no one else had, damn valuable intel. She still wasn’t sure what he was doing at the compound, or how he had hidden his nature from Evelyn, who she was sure thought he was human. Myra had told her of his attack, the bite and the venom and she smiled. It had reminded her of Carmen, though she doubted Carmen had ever used her venom to purposefully kill anyone. There was no doubt in her mind that Ryan had, and on countless occasions. He had probably saved her life, reacting like he did.

She sighed and turned hearing the door open, and two of the staff smiled and brought in two plates each of sandwiches, another two members of the staff brought in a few salads and chips. She had ordered a light meal to be brought in, and it looked like their ever-efficient staff was right on time.

“Thank you, thank you all. Robert? Please bring the bar in here as well. I know it will be appreciated.”

Robert nodded and left with the other staff, coming back seconds later pushing a rolling bar into the far right corner. He nodded and Elise smiled as he left only to be replaced by Merrick’s large frame. His eyes were glowing with unabashed heat, and anger. One part of it was for her, the other; well she hoped the anger didn’t have anything to do with them. She cocked her head and motioned to the sideboard where the sandwiches were. “Hungry? I’m expecting the others any minute. You ok?”

He shook his head stiffly, "Not really." Taking his hand he rubbed it over his face wearily. "For the most the girls are well, that’s something at least."

"I know. I checked in with Geraldine after Laura got through with Evelyn. There’s some borderline malnutrition, but otherwise they seem to be ok. She was going to speak with Mila when I left her, hopefully she can shed some light on the subject." Elise, not knowing if Merrick would welcome the comfort of her body for his increasingly agitated state, stayed where she was across the room, watching him.

"They're going to be ok. Maybe a little traumatized, but nothing that won’t heal with time and a little effort." His chest heaved in a deep sigh looking up into her eyes. He looked old; at least, he looked his age. "Gods Elise I'm so damn tired and I don’t think it has anything to do with the holes Aiden had me punching in the floorboards. It’s always one thing after another."