Page 30 of Witchblood
“No sex,” I said again. Determined to convince him, even if my body was saying, hey okay, let’s do it.
“Agreed,” Liam nodded. I curled up into the wall at the back of the camper, away from the doors and windows. This end of the trailer I’d reinforced with steel interlaced with silver coated steel, so it kept wolves, vampires, and fae alike, out if the wards stopped working. Liam crawled beneath the blankets, giving me space, but blocking me in, so his body was between me and the door.
“My wards are enough to protect me,” I said quietly.
“Hmm,” Liam said. That annoying sound of acknowledgment but disagreement. I turned my head away and closed my eyes again. Liam’s body heat close enough to warm me, even while I pretended I didn’t want him to hold me while I slept.
* * *
Iwoke again, not sure what had actually roused me, since I couldn’t recall a dream. My body felt good, sated, warm, and sleepy. Safe. How long had it been since I’d woken up feeling safe? Was it being home in my own bed? Or the fact that Liam’s scent surrounded me, much like his body spooned me. He’d flipped us, somehow, or maybe I’d done it, but my back was to the open space and his to the wall. I glanced up, expecting him to be sleeping, but he was staring across the room, a troubled expression on his face.
“It’s not haunted,” I muttered at him.
“The glass of lemonade you left on the counter is gone.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Even big scary alpha werewolves were afraid of things that went bump in the night. “You said we have to be up early. Is it time already?”
Liam glanced at his watch. “Three hours.”
“I can sleep three more hours.”
“What about the ghost?” He didn’t sound afraid, but he watched the room warily.
“Not a ghost.”
“I heard that was something you can do. Talk to ghosts.”
“Sadly that is just one of my very limited super powers. Trust me. You don’t talk to ghosts because if you do, they never shut up. Mostly I ignore them, and they ignore me. If I stay here long, I’ll plant some things that will keep them moving should they stumble across the area.”
“Are ghosts mobile? I thought they were tied to places and things.”
“A little of both really. Depends on the ghost.” I yawned. “Sleep. Even alphas need sleep.”
“Hmm,” he grumbled, and this time it did sound like he disapproved. He could stay awake and keep watch if he wanted. Nothing in this little camper would hurt me. He tucked his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. For a minute I was frozen in fear. Only something about Liam trickled through my senses, calming me. His scent maybe? The warmth of his touch? I wasn’t really certain, except to know it was nothing tangible.
“Is it okay to hold you while you sleep?” He whispered softly. He didn’t loosen his hold. “I should have asked first.”
“It’s okay. Just keep your hands above the border,” I grumbled at him, like he was putting me out. In truth, he was being the perfect gentleman. No erection poked into my belly and his body kept a careful distance while still lending me a semblance of protection and heat.
“Hmm,” Liam said again. I was beginning to really wonder what he meant by that disagreeing noise. “Sleep. You’re safe. Just sleep.”
He made me feel safe, even while my brain screamed at me to trust no one. In his arms my physical anxiety vanished, leaving just my over active brain to compensate.
I closed my eyes, and told myself to sleep. Seconds later I drifted off. It was a gift.
Chapter 14
The sound of Liam’s watch alarm woke me the next time. He silenced it quickly, but I was already moving out of his warm embrace, and toward the bathroom. Had he slept at all? Since he was the manager of the bakery, maybe he could stay home and sleep, letting his minions take care of things. Though that didn’t really seem to be his way of dealing with things.
I wondered if leaving my little camper was a good idea. Oberon was still around, and Felix might be stalking me. Neither of them had actually tried to kill me since entering Liam’s territory. Unless the wolves who’d attacked me had been theirs. Oberon did the dirty work himself, so I couldn’t see him hiring some random wolves to hurt me. And Felix…he didn’t inspire loyalty in anyone. Not really. He had money, so maybe he’d hired them. Perhaps that was why Oberon was still here.
Getting up to work a few hours for Liam made me feel better about all he’d done for me. Repayment of some kind at least. I’d learned long ago to suck up my pride and allow myself to accept the charity of others. If it didn’t turn and bite me in the ass so often I wouldn’t fight it so much. Liam had given me a lot. Healing, safety, food, and rest. Those things were worth more than a few hours of labor, but I’d give him what I could while I was here.
I did my business, brushed my teeth and combed my hair. When I stepped out of the bathroom to dig in the drawers built beneath the bed for all my clothes, Liam was sitting up in bed, staring at a large gray cat who perched on the top of a shelf. The cat was dark gray striped in black. The tail was thick and striped more like a raccoon than any cat I’d ever seen. Its long fur gave it bulk, and the flattened ears made it look angry and judgmental. Was that look for me, or for the wolf I’d let in my home?
“Morning, Robin,” I called to the cat. My clothes sat where I’d left them, all clean and neatly folded. I chose a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, with a hoodie to help with the morning chill. Liam didn’t correct or direct what I needed to wear for the bakery, so he either didn’t notice or didn’t care. That suited me just fine. “I’ll be going out for a bit. Do you want me to bring something back for you?”
Robin leapt down from his perch with delicate grace belying a cat his size, glaring at Liam the whole time. He stalked across the open area with his tail held high, displaying his asshole for Liam to see. Tactful was Robin.