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| ALCIDE |
" Becca" He was pinned against the seat of his truck his hands in the air at his sides. The cab was completely fogged over and the air inside was stifling hot. Rebecca was leaned back against the steering wheel her eyes half open. He had no idea how she wasn't pressing the horn but it wasn't going off and since she wouldn't answer he doubted she would clue him in on the answer to that. A spasm ran through his body shaking his core and his first reaction was to grab hold of her. He wanted to but the last time he'd tried he'd gotten burned. Literally. Rebecca was like a radiator that bursts from over use on the middle of the highway in the middle of a sweltering Louisiana August. He leaned back against the seat and tried to relax. He wasn't going anywhere until Rebecca was good and ready. He gave some thought to what had got him here.
He'd known exactly what she wanted when she returned to the table and taken a seat on his lap. He'd been surprised by the action, a bit embarrassed knowing everyone was looking but when she smiled at him he forgot all about it. She had wrapped her arm around him and whispered in his ear that it was time to go in a way that told him she meant business. He'd been having a good time, actually enjoying the company but knew an even better one was waiting for him once he got out there. So when she stood he'd let her lead them around the table with their goodbyes. After giving thanks to Sookie and Sam for the food and the booze and getting a promise from Crawfish to get Janice back to Belle Vita he'd put his arm around her waist and lead her from the bar. No one at the table had any doubts about why they were leaving and Alcide couldn't help to feel good about their envy. He was leaving with a hot blooded dime on his arm nothing better to feed an ego than that. They walked hand and hand through the parking lot not saying a word but both anticipating what was to come. Rebecca's hand was dry but incredibly warm the fact that he could feel it meant she was running hotter than him. Immortals get colds don't they? he thought expecting Rebecca to respond that yes they did but not to worry she was fine. He looked down at her when none of that happened. She was looking straight a head her face a blank. Maybe she just wasn't listening in or maybe something was just wrong. He hoped she wasn't coming down with anything but he didn't want to ask. He was trying not to spend so much time worrying about her health and safety when they were in each others company. It was mostly pocket guilt and at this point and was more self serving and less about her. Rebecca was fine, if she wasn't she would tell him so. He opened her door and gave her a hand inside. She engaged him with a sweet smile of thanks as she adjusted her dress and he closed the door. As he walked around to drivers side the door to Merlotte's opened and he caught the sounds of laughter coming from the inside. His sisters had been among them and he chuckled wondering what had been said to bring an uproar to the table they had just left behind. No one else had seemed to be in a hurry to leave which meant they would have the house to themselves for a while. Or maybe not, his mind reminding him that Mason was sure to be lurking around the house somewhere. From what he could gather he and Becca had yet to work things out, though he did come to her aid the night Fabio Vamp had shown his ass. He opened his door, propelled himself inside by holding on to the window frame and as he closed the door Rebecca was on him. She straddled him with a swiftness rivaled only by one of her vampire buddies. His hands had automatically gone to her hips so she finished closing the door with way more force than was necessary. " Hello" she said quietly. Her voice held an attempt at sounding innocent but her body language didn't even bother trying. Her hands ran up the length of his chest and gently caressed each side of his face.
" It is frightening how much I missed you while you were away." Her thumbs brushed against his lips.
" You have become a craving and I'm in need of a fix."
He kissed her fingers and pulled her in he'd missed being this close to her. He'd missed the way she looked at him like there was no other person in the world, the way she felt as she melted into him, her intoxicating scent. His addiction was just as fierce as hers. He was more than willing to give her whatever she needed as long and as hard as she wanted it.
" You promise?" she leaned into him her chest brushing his, her mouth now to his ear. She bite down lightly and pushed her hands into the back of his jeans grabbing his ass.
" Here?" he questioned. They were parked in the corner of the lot. It was secluded and the only light hitting them came from the streak of the moon hanging in the sky above them.
She nodded her head and bite down on her lip. At the moment she wanted him badly and waiting wasn't an option. Considering he'd been waiting all day to get at her he was inclined to let her have what she wanted.
His arms incased her, his palms hitting the bare flesh of her upper back. She sighed as her brought her forward until her lips were no more than an inch away from his.
" Wanna taste?" he asked huskily. Her eyes darted back and forth across his face.
" Yes please" she replied as she enclosed the remaining gap between him and pressed her lips against his. His senses recognized the taste of her instantly. He knew instinctually how her head would tilt, where her tongue would be so his could dart ahead to meet it. Exactly how much pressure she would use when she took his bottom lip between her front teeth. Every move made was a complement to the last. They fit together with an ease he'd never known this soon but it didn't lessen the excitement of it. If anything it made it even hotter. He didn't have worry about ruining the mood or changing the momentum by making a wrong move. He knew what pushed her buttons and she eagerly pressed all of his. He was flush and lightheaded. The temperature in the cab was climbing higher by the second. They were eating up the oxygen pretty damned quick to. In between fevered kisses he prayed he wouldn't pass out before they finished. She brought his focus back on her by filling his head with sexy sentiments and broken sentences. Her desire to undress him keeping her from making complete sense.
She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed and caressed his chest. " Found me another six pack" she wiggled her eyebrows at him and then ran her tongue across the lines of his abs. "Okay at least eight " she giggled at the annoyance that ran through is mind over being short changed.
It had been a long time since he'd made out in the car like this. He'd forgotten how fun it could be and how unbelievably confining. There was a cramp steadily growing up his left side the pain of which caused him to tense up. Rebecca stopped sat up straight and sent him a " Sorry hun". She shifted her weight to give him some relief. She then ran her hand along his side, the pain slipping away at the touch of her fingertips. " Better?"
"Yeah" He replied not at all surprised she'd been able to remove the stitch with ease. They picked up where they left off and since he was unencumbered by the pain in his side he was able to fully commit to what they were doing.
She starting on the buttons of his jeans. " Could you have found a pair with more buttons?" she let out a frustrated groan and then stopped to steady herself. Every part of her was shaking and the one thing that could ease her was encased in denim.
He took over the task himself (just as eager as she was) but froze as he released the last one. Footsteps were hitting gravel. A couple of guys had come out of the bar and were tossing jokes back and forth to one another. They both listened as their car doors shut, the engine revved and tires crunched the ground and headed down the road.
Anyone could walk by and see them. Like before in the bar if they got caught now they could easily explain the situation as it was away without to much embarrassment.
" You want to stop?" She asked the question but his answer wasn't really required. As she said it she'd put her hands into his opened jeans and and started to stroke him. He watched her work him his gaze going back and forth from her face to her hands which despite their owner having the shakes moved in long steady stroked up and down the shaft of his dick. It felt to good. There was no way he was leaving this lot without fucking her. He ran his hands up her arms and pushed his thumbs through the straps of her dress. Slowly he pulled them down freeing the fabulous breasts that had been tempting him all night and set to some work of his own.
" Becca" he called again this time with some force behind it. She came alive in an instant the fog in the cab lifted and the air becoming cooler. As a part of him was still inside her he could feel her cool down as well.
" Oh hell" She exclaimed looking around surveying the damage they had done. The metal bar that ran along the top of the cab was bent down in the middle, there was a crack in the windshield and then their was the door. Rebecca's hand was still grasping it and her fingers when removed would leave at least a half an inch deep impression in the metal. Finally cool enough to touch Alcide took her hand with a small pop gently removed it.
" I've had some smoking hot sex in my life but that shit was out of bounds." He checked each finger to make sure they were intact and then turned her palm up into his. A few minutes ago he was sure he was going to break her in half. Now he couldn't imagine handling her with anything other than kid gloves. She was fierce and fragile and Alcide loved both sides.
" I didn't hurt you did I?" she traced the red streak that went across his palm. The bar they'd been holding on to for leverage had singed him and part of the fun had been seeing how long he could hold onto it while he thrust deeper and deeper inside her. The pain of of the burning had increased the pleasure of the sex. She may have hurt him but he'd liked every moment of it.
" I'm good. More than good actually." He was sorry when she slid off of him and covered up the the view. His mind flashed away from her for just a second but of course she caught it.
" Well considering what a great rack she's got I'll take that as a tremendous complement." He made a metal comparison of two perfect pairs of tits but Rebecca didn't take offense since hers were the ones he liked best. The ones he got to look at, to touch, to feel. to suck on....
" Okay Okay I got it. You like my tits. Jeez your such a man." She swatted at him but he grabbed her hand and yanked her to him.
" You alright?" She was trying to make light of it but Alcide could sense that while she enjoyed herself
( three times by his count) she was scared by it to.
" A bit overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. I've heard of sparks flying but generally it's theoretical and not literal." she situated herself sideways in the seat next to him so she had a perfect view as he tucked and adjusted his junk and rebuttoned his jeans. He didn't bother to with the buttons on his shirt. It was to damned hot in the car as it was.
She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth " Have mercy if you please" She mumbled to herself and turned to sit straight ahead as he turned on the engine and pulled down out of his spot. He grinned at his reflection in the rear view mirror it was fun getting a rise out of her. He wondered if he could get away with anything just by flashing his penis.
" About as much as I could get away with by letting you put that penis in me." She snuggled her way down into the seat resting on her side with her head on his thigh.
" Well that would cover just about anything I could think of" She stifled a laugh into his jeans. He let his arm fall across hers and a few moments later she took hold of it and held it by her chest like a security blanket.
" The last few days I had to stop myself from thinking that the last few weeks had all been a dream. I'd wake up in the middle of the night my heart racing so sure that all of it had been in my head. But then I would look around me and see that I was lying in the house that you helped to rebuild. Or I'd walk into the bathroom and see your shirt hanging on the back of the door and the pant leg of your sweats hanging out of the hamper and I would know that it was real. Most of the time when I was feeling the worst anxiety over your absence you would call or text me or I'd feel your hand touch my cheek. I don't suppose I should expect that the doubt of twenty plus years vanishes in the matter of days. But I still wish that I didn't fret frantically sometimes when you are not near me. I felt you go past this afternoon. Knew you were so close and my heart hurt when you kept going." He flinched at the idea of causing her pain. She squeezed his hand " I know you had to go home first. I know it. I don't expect that every moment of your life is going to be filled with me. I wouldn't want that. You were your own man before you meet me I don't want that to change. I just want you to know how damned happy I was when I heard this damned truck pull into my drive. I ran through that house like it was on fire and it was actually Crawfish that yelled into my head as I reach the door to keep my cool and so I stopped dead in my tracks and waited."
" I could tell. There were rubber marks on the brand new wood of the porch." He teased but then changed his tone to match hers. " I spent most of the time I was gone wondering what you were doing. If you were okay. If you were sitting at the picnic tables drinking snapple and laughing at Crawfish's jokes. Do you know I crave those damned snapples now? Bought one just about every time I stopped for gas and read the damned tops to" He reached down into the pocket on the side of the door and pulled out a handful of tops as proof.
" I saved the fuckers so you could read them to" She took them and flipped one over to read what it said. It was a fact about Rino's. It made her smile.
"I decided while I was away that when I got back I'd quit hiding what you are to me. I spent hours chasing pavement listening to songs on the radio about lost loves and missed chances and I thought What the fuck are you doing Alcide? Who do you think your fooling? Anyone could take one look and know you were mad about her. All that bullshit about wanted to keep it professional in front of the crew. They'd be the biggest champions of me finding someone decent having watched me fuck up every chance I've had or wondering why the hell I picked the women I did. You are decent Becca. Not perfect but perfect for me and I know it. More than that you've brought me closer to happiness than I've ever known. Lord knows I didn't it possible to find a woman who can not only take my shit but give it right back to me and not in a destructive way. I've known that plenty and now that I know something different I can't help but wonder why I waisted so much time on relationships and flings with people who were always looking for a fight or something other than what they had right in front of them. I guess I didn't think I was worth shit to no one, that I didn't deserve no better than what I was getting."
" You know that that is not true. Your worth your weight in gold Alcide Herveaux." She sat up and he had to stop the car in the middle of the street when she wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. He believed that she believed what she said and that was a start. Sometimes you just needed one person who believed in you. Becca believed and wasn't afraid to love him, all of him. He was willing to bet she'd even accept the parts of him she had yet to see.
"Never thought that I'd want to actually think about my life past the day I was in or actually want to have anybody beside me for any real length of time. I've never expected the good times to last cause just about everyone I've ever cared for has let me down. I let them make me hard and shut everyone out. I ain't saying that's going to change with everyone but I've given up trying to keep you out. Your in Becca and I hope you realize what the fuck you've gotten yourself into." She held on even tighter, the wetness from her teardrops spreading across the back of his shirt. "The only thing I've ever fought for is my business. It's what I've lived for until now. Now I got something else worth fighting for."
Headlights behind them on the road broke the spell and he gently removed Rebecca who sniffed and wiped away the tears as he got the truck moving again.
" There's some tissues in the glove box" He told her keeping his eyes on the road while she cleaned herself up.
" Thanks." she returned to choked up to say more. She blew her nose as discretely as possible and then stayed at arms length so he could concentrate on driving.
When Belle Vita came into view, much of it's facade in various stages of repair he said a silent hello to the old girl and thanks for what her resurrection has brought him. The porch light was on and at least a couple lit the bottom floor. Three cars sat in the drive. He parked his next to Mason's.
" Good to be home huh Becca?" He found he was happy to be here himself.
Her eyes were reddened from crying but they still crinkled in the corners in delight of seeing her new place.
" Home" she let the word role off of her tongue like she was hearing it for the first time. Rebecca had lived in many places, most of them in the years following the deaths of her family. This was the first place she'd called that since then that actually qualified. It was the place she'd been searching for and had at hand all along. Rebecca had waisted some time of her own. She slid out of the cab of the truck and let her feet hit the ground. Solid and sure and not going anywhere. Yeah he heard her think " It's really good to be home."
The opening of the door blasted them with a comforting coolness and Alcide slide inside behind his girl closing the heat of the night out with the click of the knob. He heard no one moving around and the old slightly sweet scent of Vampire was faint in the foyer.
" They are over at Williams." she said placing her keys in their usual place. Saffy and Emmy appeared from the darkness behind the staircase signaling to their human that she had duties to tend to. They had the house to themselves after all. He followed Becca down the hall and into the kitchen.
" They just being social or is something up?"
" Social" she replied pulling the container of cat food from under the counter nearest their bowls. " They are playing poker believe it or not"
Alcide opened the fridge and pulled out some tea. " Who's winning?" The idea of Vampires playing poker was amusing.
" At the moment Silvia and the boys are pissed. They've got quite the party of their own going." she gave each girl a rub behind the ears as they set in on their dinner.
He couldn't help but wonder who was on their dinner menu. Rebecca gave him a look. Clearly she was unpleased with his thought process.
" With Fabio Vamp dead and Debbie locked down Mason and the remaining crew heading to New Orleans?" He hated that the part of him that wanted him be leaving was the one who spoke. There was a hope in his voice that couldn't be hidden. It was burned into his nature to dislike vampires. He liked Mason better than any he'd known before and he'd done nothing wrong. It was just that it would be easier if he left.
" No Mason and those remaining will be staying close for the time being. He and William were sure there was more than one Vampire. Mason does not want to leave William alone here to look after us until they are sure that there is no other trouble heading this way. They are being cautious and not just for my sake." She gave him a pointed look. He was properly chastised before she blinked. It hurt her to think he couldn't accept people the way she did. The fact that it was someone so close to her made it worse. She said nothing though. She wasn't the kind to try and make up someone's mind for them.
"The crew he has sent can handle the house in New Orleans and there are still some things that need to be done here. There is also the prep work for Mason's house."
Alcide handed a glass of tea to Rebecca. The cats chomped away at their feet. Yes there was always Mason's house.
Rebecca sighed and sat down "Do you hate him?" she'd had enough.
" No I don't hate him Becca." it was an honest if not complete answer.
" Do you think he hates you?"
" No I wouldn't be standing here if he did." that to was true. Mason would have killed him for leaving Rebecca broken even if it had been against her wishes if he had wanted to.
" Then why the sudden animosity shift? I know your kinds have a long history of distain and mistrust. But surely there must have something different here from the start or you wouldn't have taken this job. You've known from the beginning that Mason was a fixture in my life. You know our history. It has never been something I have kept from you. Before you left you talked of fixing the rift between you. You were confident you could come to a peaceful coexistence so what happened between then and now?
" He's still in love with you." He'd known that to before he had left but it was hearing the distress in Rebecca's voice when speaking of him that set him to thinking about it in the wrong way.
" Yes he is." she looked out the kitchen window. He wished she'd lie to him once and a while.
The wind was starting to pick up outside. It was picking up the dirt and tossing the trees at the edge of the back yard around. The sky he could see in between them was even darker than before. He could smell the rain coming even from inside. He looked at Rebecca and wondered if the sudden shift in the weather had to do with the shift in her mood. Well if the rain was going to fall....
" Are you in love with him?" He didn't mean it in a we will always be connected kind of way. Or the he is my best friend kind of way. He wanted to know if there was any chance she wanted to..
" I don't wish to fuck him NO" He flinched,he also wished she wasn't quite so blunt. The way she answered made him look like a douche. He would have bite back in the past but her gaze held a fed up with being asked that rage that told him to let it go. The look disappeared as quickly as it came.
" But I do understand what he is going through and it makes me feel like we never properly closed the door on that time of our lives. We didn't have a fight. We didn't talk it through. We simply stopped being lovers. It just ended. As suddenly as it began actually. I guess we shouldn't have assumed nothing had changed between us. Sex has a way of changing the dynamic of any relationship. It was foolish to think that it wouldn't be the same for us. It's just fully manifested itself now. At the most inopportune time"
The lights flickered at Rebecca's eyes fluttered. Alcide had gotten his answer in the usual Rebecca manner. Straight forward and often with far more information than the person asking had wanted to know. She'd covered the bases well on this one.
" He may never act on what he's feeling for you. Out of respect for your feelings or maybe even out of respect for mine but that don't change that he wants you. Seeing you with another man..."
" The man" she inserted. Quit making it worse he sent back.
"Seeing you with me has brought up some shit he thought he'd put away. I know where he's head is at. I've been there. How can I not worry 'bout it Becca when you sure as hell do."
" Your right. I am worried. I had hoped that it would be a minor bump in the road but things are simply not right between Mason and I. He is fighting his nature to demand and per-cure. It's not any easier for him to control what he is than it is for you to control the other part of you. There is more to it than you finally arriving in my life but he will not speak more than a few words to me at a time so I haven't been able to work anything out of him. He stays though and I feel his concern. Not only for me but for you and this house and all of the friends I have made here. He feels the tug of this place as much as I do. He wants to settle down. He wants to be away from the constant prying of my family. He knows that if I set my roots to grow here he can stay. He wants a bit of silence. He feels that he can find it here. He also worries that there is something more coming. Something we haven't seen yet and while it kills him to be here. He stays. He is loyal to a human. To his kind that is a weakness. To him it is a part of his humanity that he has held on to. A part of which so many others have dismissed as soon as the were reborn. He bonded himself to my family willingly and has protected the family line for centuries. We are his family and he would never abandon his family and the responsibilities he holds within it. He is unlike any other Vampire you will ever know. I know what most of them are Alcide. The Russell Eddington's and Sophie Anne's out number those like Mason ten fold. Anyone else would have taken me and if I resisted drained or turned me. So while I am worried I will wait. For when I needed him most he was there for me. I believe I owe him some time to get over what he is feeling now. It is what I would do for anyone whom I cared for." she paused and reached for his hand. " I do not wish for you to be uncomfortable or for you to doubt me but he is my family. He is my blood. He is part of my pack."
He understood all that she said. How many times had he endured far worse in the name of the pack? At least here there wasn't non stop plotting and backstabbing. He just knew that if he were Mason he'd fight til the death to have her. He didn't want Rebecca to have to choose and he didn't want the day to come when Mason could no longer control what brewed inside him. If that day came someone was going to get hurt. More than likely someone was going to die. Their would be no forgiving then. Or would there?
" The idea that either of you would cause bodily harm to the other horrifies me." She would hold contempt for whomever remained. " Alcide, he has fought any urge he has had to even touch you. If you ever find yourself tempted. Provoked. You must do the same." There was fear in Rebecca's eyes. It wasn't that she thought him any less capable. He didn't lack in ability or viciousness when called for. But Mason was cunning, skilled and thousands of years old.
" He would kill me." he held her gaze. There was no false hope hiding in her face. She knew he would die and the idea of it wrecked her. If it actually happened it would ruin her.
He ran his hands through his hair. " I ain't looking to start a fight Becca. He's got cause to mistrust me. I got cause to mistrust him. But I'm going try and have faith that things will work themselves out. I don't doubt you Becca. I just ain't thrilled with the current situation. I'll trust you to handle your business. You trust that I won't take it lightly if he moves in on you. I ain't to keen on the idea of dying but I ain't gonna just let him run wild where your concerned either."
She thought most of his concerns were unfounded. But she had a different experience with Vampires than he did. She was willing to take whatever compromise he was offering. Anything to keep the peace.
" I respect how you feel. About all of it and I also understand you would never be able to sit idly by in anything that concerned me. You want to protect me. As does he. But just as I respect that you are more than one half of our whole you must respect the same in me. I know more about what is happening between Mason and I than you do. You must let me do what I need to do to make things right. You have to except that eventually this situation will have a resolution and most importantly you have to understand that Mason can not hurt me. He would not hurt me. He can however take you at will. I am asking you to stay out of it. I will not be able to wipe away any altercations that may go down between you. If you come to blows verbally or physically it will be with us forever. I will do what I have to do to insure that neither of you die because of me.
He realized the implications of that last sentence. Without saying so directly Rebecca was letting him know that she could stop them. For every sweet lady like quality she possessed she had another that was as strong and hard edged as any woman he'd ever encountered. Rebecca held power and she would weld it to keep her best friend and her lover for denying her either of their company.
He nodded. There was nothing else to say. It was in his best interest to do as she asked. She would tell Mason the exact same thing if she had not already done so. He refused to be the weak link in the chain. He was here to be with her so as long as Mason was respectful of his relationship with Rebecca he would do the same. He wished this conversation had never happened. It made him feel like shit for bringing his baggage into this situation.
" If you feel it you should express it. We are not always going to agree. But if we are honest we can find a common ground, a compromise as a way to solve our differences."
She stood and came over to him. She touched him lovingly " You are my dearest truest love. I want no harm to come to you. Ever." She put her arms around him and within seconds his arms found their way around her. He held close the comfort he felt when he held her. He marveled at the fact he'd had an conversation about something that bothered him without screaming and throwing stuff. No one broke out with the low blows or went for the jugular. Guess this is how people in a healthy relationship handled things. It felt odd and not quite right to him. Doing things this way was going to take some getting used to.
" Ready to head upstairs?" he let his hand slide down her back just enough to get her attention. There celebratory evening had gotten way to serious. He wanted things to swing back in the other direction. He wasn't quite ready to call it a night. He wanted to find out if you could still have make-up sex in a "adult" relationship.
" I believe that what you are thinking of is oh so possible." she kissed him " and will be happy to see if it can be done if I may have a few minutes first. There is something I need to do before I turn in for the night."
" All right." he stood and walked with her out of the kitchen hitting the light switch as he passed it. He started to ask what it was that couldn't wait til morning but she broke in before he could.
" You go on up. I promise I won't be long." She had stopped in front of the library. It could be something work related, or possibly she wanted to spend a moment writing in her journal but somehow he didn't think it was either of those things. He went back to what had happened in the truck earlier. He'd wanted to ask about ever since but had been distracted. The energy in that small space had engulfed him, the heat had been almost more than he could take. It had all come from her. From what he'd read and from what they had talked about since he knew Rebecca capable of much more. But if it was normal why did he sense anxiety in her, the scent of which hung in the air around them. She hadn't been all there after and it was more than just the aftermath of a killer orgasm.
" I'll see you in a few?" She smiled up at him and nodded.
" Yep I won't keep you waiting I promise." She stood on her tippies teetering back and forth with puckered lips waiting for him meet her half way. He grinned at how adorably silly she looked but gave her what she wanted all the same.
Satisfied she turned and entered the library the door shutting lightly behind her. As he headed towards the stairs he stopped and listened to the hidden panel slide open. One of the pulleys on the track was a half step behind the other. He made a mental note to fix that as he walked up the stairs, that and to find out what the hell was spooking his girl.
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| REBECCA |
She was in the alter room all but five minutes. The spell that she wished to cast had already been bookmarked the ingredients at the ready. She should have cast it earlier in the day but had been interrupted by Janice's arrival. If she'd been allowed to finish she'd have put the kibosh on much of what had transpired that night. Well the uncontrollable magical part of it anyway. She would have climbed on top of Alcide in the cab of that truck regardless. She wanted him badly, her desire no doubt added fuel to the flames and the actual act had almost caused spontaneous combustion. The spell would have squelched the fever that had over taken her that night. It would have allowed her to keep control over her own body. There wouldn't have been any over fogged windows or the melting of medal. She mixed the ingredients and cast the spell. Once she was done she looked at the contents of the glass in her hand for a split second before downing all of it's contents. It was thick and grainy and tasted like grass. Much she supposed like one of those wheatgrass shooters one got at a health spa or gym. It was gross but effective. She felt cooler and calmer immediately. She picked up a little sashay and started opening drawers within one of the apothecaries. In the bag she placed pieces of Amethyst, Adventurine, Bloodstone,Malachite, Citrine,Fluorite,Garnet,Hematite, Peridot and several types of quartz. As she closed the bag she realized that many of her kin would find it's contents overkill but each stone would help her in one way or another with channeling energy, finding balance and peace of mind. She'd keep the bag near so that she could call upon each stones magical properties to aid her in keeping all of those things in check. Her Mother had always told her to never be afraid to use the tools readily available to you. She snuffed out the candles and bid thanks to the powers that be for their assistance with her spell and said a silent prayer to the Goddess before leaving the alter room. She quickly checked her email sending a quick response to her Aunt who was being pressured by her Mother to pay her niece a visit. She felt sorry for her Aunt, she hadn't signed up to be the go between between Rebecca and her Mother. But when her brother married into the Keane family they joined their covens and as matriarch of the Beniot's she had the misfortune of dealing regularly with the Keane family matriarch. Since Rebecca had come to Louisiana she'd been having to deal with her more frequently. It wasn't that she didn't answer her mothers calls or her e-mails (eventually) she just didn't give her what she expected (usually) and therefore went crying to her sister-in-law to try and make Rebecca see sense (rarely happened). She told her Aunt not to come, for the moment and that she would contact her properly soon. She put her computer to sleep and turned out the lights and headed to the downstairs bathroom to rinse the current taste from her mouth. She doubted she'd be able to erase it all together, but hopefully the super sent of the Were upstairs wouldn't ask any questions. She heard tires on gravel coming up the road and hurried up the stairs, a snap of her finger turning off any unnecessary lights. Just because she had issued the invitation for them to stay the night didn't mean she wanted to entertain them to. The door to the bedroom was ajar and she could hear the TV, announcers doing replays of some game or another on ESPN. She let the door open slowly and took a peak inside half expecting to find Alcide passed out on the couch. The only thing (s) on the couch though were Saffy and Emmy who both look up at her and then with the slightest of movements tilted their heads to the side. The door swung the rest of the way open and Rebecca ducked and turned gabbing Alcide by the arm he tried unsuccessfully to grab her with. She pinning it to his back and with a knee in his ass pushed him against the wall. The wind and the ego was knocked out of him instantly.
" Not exactly how you planned for that to go now was it?" She gave his arm another jerk for good measure. Brains and brawn were often outwitted by cunning and speed.
He said nothing but shook his head and started to chuckle the sound of which was muffled by the fact his face was planted against the wall. Keeping a firm grip on the one hand she grasped the other one and bought it back next to it's mate. " Now behave yourself and move slowly away from the wall." He took small steps backward until there was enough room for her to turn him around and face him towards the bed. He could have broken free if he had wanted to but he was intrigued by her strength and got a thrill out of being manhandled by her.
" You are a nasty man." The thoughts running through his head were making her blush but she'd be more than willing to accommodate any of them if he was serious. She'd love to find out just how far he was willing to go. In her experience that Were's came in to types. Remarkably wound tight and conservative ( in their human skin) or loose and free and more than anyone could imagine kinky. It would be interesting to see where Alcide fell. So far she'd have to say he lay somewhere in the in between. Willing but with certain limitations. Luckily for her she would know what she could or could not get away with before she did it. She tossed him across the bed and then gave him a hard slap across the ass. He grunted but stayed put. He wouldn't object to this as long as he got the chance to reciprocate. The only thing she was going to do is hurt her hand and he'd gladly take a beating for the chance to watch her ass dance under his hand. She stood over him and contemplated the fun she could have in this moment but as she raised her hand in preparation for the next slap she felt the room start to move around her. A wave of dizziness struck her and she stumbled her way to the bed and crashed down beside him.
She felt him turn to her. Heard him call her name but she was to far gone to respond. She just grabbed his hand and held on tight as she faded away.
The room was dark completely dark when she came to.
"What the hell?' she thought trying to break through the remaining haze in her head. She caught the sound of Alcide's rhythmic breathing beside her. They were spooned together in the middle of the bed his arms clasped together around her. He was not asleep, every part of him was focused on her. Measuring the air that she took into her lungs and counting her heartbeats. Looking for any sign that she was getting worse or waking up. She took a glance at the clock beside the bed. It was just after two am. She'd only been out an hour but it felt like she'd been asleep for days. There was no point in pretending not to be awake so she shifted enough that he let go of his grip allowing her to turn and face him. His face held a contained worry his lips tight the skin of his brow tight and creased. She read that Mason had come running when he'd felt her loose consciousness. Alcide had explained what he had heard before he came upstairs and then stayed with her while Mason had gone to discover what it was she had done or taken. It was not an uncommon reaction to the drink she had taken and considering why Rebecca had cast it more than likely to have happened. She had foolishly thought it wouldn't happen to her. At least not that quickly. She thought she would fall into a nice restful sleep and wake up with a cooler calmer core. She shivered the cool air of the room had penetrated her to the bone the only warmth she felt came from the man beside her. Well at least the spell had worked she thought. She was also glad to read that Alcide and Mason had gotten along. Mason took his leave when he was sure that it was just a matter of her sleeping the effects off. He had finally stopped pacing the library when he felt her awaken. Relieved he took a seat in one of the leather chairs and closed his eyes. It was the middle of his day but he was tired. She sent him " I know how you feel" to which he gave a slight smile. She then left him to his own thoughts.
" Hi" she said sheepishly to Alcide. Even in the dark she could see the tinge of anger in his eyes. He'd have every right to unleash it if he wanted to. He was wound tightly but he had control over the bevy of emotions that ran through him. Many of them had displayed themselves when she had been asleep. She ran her hand across his cheek sending a soothing vibe into his skin. But she knew that the knowledge that she would return from situations like this would simply never sooth him completely. His guts would still churn and his mind would still wonder. She had never stopped breathing,had only been asleep but he hadn't been able to wake her and struggled for control.
" You ever do that again without telling me I will..." he choked on the rest of the sentence. He didn't have to complete it. She was in the wrong and she knew it.
" You want to tell me what is going on with you? What happened in the truck tonight? Why the fuck you are sneaking around taking magic potions that put you out like that."
She pushed away from him and sat up. " My powers are exhibiting themselves in ways I have not had to deal with in a very long time. I all but shut them down after the deaths of Christian and Sage. They were never bound but they were dormant. Since arriving here they have started to return on their own. Strong and forceful without any effort on my part. In fact they are stronger than they were when I released them and I am having a hard time keeping up with the energy that is running through me. That is what you saw tonight. I lost control my abilities. They were running me not the other way around."
Alcide sat up as well moving to her side. " Every time I've touched you you felt warmer. I thought you were coming down with something or maybe were hiding Were tendencies from me but after what happened in the truck I knew there was more to it. I should have asked in the kitchen." He'd heard her go into the alter room. He felt like he should have followed her and confronted her then.
" I didn't want to ruin your first night back. The last few days have been tiresome and I wanted to wait to have this conversation when we'd had enjoyed the ease of our newly de-stressed situation" his look told her none of what she had just said was a valid excuse in his book. " I should be more forthright I apologize."
There was so much more she thought. But she was not going into the rest tonight. She needed to feel secure and in control of her abilities for that conversation. A more proactive approach to things were clearly in order. Getting lost in Alcide was not going to stop what was happening to her and after tonight she needed to face the situation head on. She needed help to. From the man next to her, from the man downstairs and from her family. All of whom were reaching out but being ignored.
" How you feeling now?" He asked having sat quietly while she played things over in her mind.
" Cool, Calm and Collected." She replied.
" Well at least your mojo did what it was supposed to do." He was glad for that. " How long will it last?"
" Don't know. A day or two tops. I will keep taking it" Alcide frowned " Supervised of course while I work on gaining control over things. I'm out of practice and my focus has been skewed. I need to put some work in and everything will be fine." He remained skeptical. He didn't know how it worked for witches but he knew how hard it was grab a firm hold on your life when it was out of control. He'd felt that more often than not when dealing with his other nature. The damage that could be done could change more than the life of the one coming undone. Sometimes shit happened that could not be taken back. Things that unlike his truck could not be fixed.
" I will be fine Alcide" She bumped his shoulder with her head. She didn't want her face to betray the confidence she conveyed in her voice. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. She lifted her face up to his. " I'm lucky to have such a fabulous man to take care of me" She squeezed his chin between her fingers.
He Ahhhh Shucks his way out of her grasp and then gave her a grin.
" Ain't nothing I'd rather do. Just wish the caring for didn't have to come with a throat full of heart. Your gonna scare the shit out of me a lot aren't you?"
" I'll do my best to avoid it but I can make no promises." She ran her fingers up his arm around his shoulder. He gave her shoulder a squeeze.
She listened for sounds of life in the house. Mason was still in the library but Silvia had yet to return to the house. Janice was passed out in her room and Crawfish was lying in his bed fighting off sleep. He was waiting for something. To find out if she was alright. " Hun, were you supposed to let Crawfish know when I woke up?"
He jumped forward " Ah shit" he moved towards the edge of the bed.
" No need for you to go anywhere. I'll let him know" He stopped and let her do her thing.
" I'm good Red now go to sleep." she sent across the hall. Crawfish turned out the light by the bed and was asleep almost instantly.
" Guess if everyone else is asleep we should to." she slid off the bed.
" Not going to go talk with Mason?" He followed as she walked into the closet.
" He knows I am fine. We will talk tomorrow night." She slipped her dress off and hung it on it's hanger. Alcide stood in the doorway with her shoes in his hand.
" You want these?" she walked to retrieve them and he fumbled them into her hands. Alcide was unnerved by her nakedness. She found it cute but hid the smile as she returned the sandals to there spot. He might not be ready for her to lighten up the mood yet. As she reached for her robe his hand came up to stop her. He slide his hand down her bare arm and pressed himself into her. It was her turn to be up against the wall.
" Please don't put anything on." He whispered into her ear. " and stay right where you are." His clothing hit the ground with a soft thud ( Were's got naked quick) and he moved back into her. He had missed this earlier. The feel of nothing but her soft body on the hardness of his. Tracing each voluptuous curve of her skin with his fingers. Kneading the supple flesh of her breasts,hips and thighs in his hands. To many boney women had come in and out of his life. Finding Rebecca had shown him what he had been missing, what a real woman was supposed to feel like. Her body was luscious and alive and he wanted to spend all of his time just like this.
She wasn't immune to the self doubt when it came to her body. She loved herself and worked what she had been given. But living in New York she had been acutely aware that she was not considered the norm. Despite everything she was hearing from his head, feeling from his body she couldn't help but look for vocal reassurance.
" You find nothing disappointing?" she turned but kept her head down. He put his hand under her chin and bought it up so she was looking at him.
" Not a God damned thing." He replied forcefully. " You are fucking perfect." He lusted after every inch of her. " You never doubt that you hear?" To drive home his point he kissed her ferociously sucking all the breath from her body and buckling her knees. He caught her and lifted her into his arms carrying her back to the bed. He placed her down gently.
" You up for this?" He wanted her badly but didn't want her to do anything she wasn't alright to do.
She took his hand and slid further back onto the bed bringing him with her. He moved in between her legs and she pressed her thighs tightly against his hips. " Take from me whatever you need."
She had taken what she wanted earlier and he had willingly gone along for the ride. He had also had worry over and take care of her tonight so now it was her turn to give him what he wanted.
As Alcide filled her mouth with his and melded his body to hers the rain outside began to fall. She didn't want to freak him out by crying as he made love to her. There was no way to express the emotions that were running through her in that moment so she called on water to do it for her. As the intensity between them grew so did the storm outside. The thunder rolled and the lightening crackled, both filling the night sky long after their finale. They had laid listening to it talking softly until Alcide finally gave into sleep. She waited until she was sure he was to far gone to wake up at her movement to get out of the bed. She went into the bathroom dressing quickly in the gown and robe behind the door and slipped quietly out of the other door. It was an hour before dawn not much time to talk to him but she knew he was waiting. She tiptoed down the stairs and guided by a the shadowy light creeping across the foyer floor walked into the library. He was sitting in the same chair she'd seen him in earlier. His mood was serious but he placed a sliver of a smile on his face inviting her to come closer.
" Morning dearest." He was glad to see her. Hadn't dared move from this room in case she wished to speak to him before he had to go to ground.
She sat down across from him and took a swig from the glass that sat on the table between them. " I melted his freaking door!" she said as she downed her drink.
It was but the start of what she needed to tell him. They settled in and got to it...
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| ALCIDE |
He awoke to find himself alone in the bed. Rebecca's side was stone cold. He doubted she'd slept at all. He knew that he was partially at fault for that but he had expected she'd be done in and would sleep hard. Rest could do her nothing but good, not getting enough could be part of her problem. With a huff he rose and made his way into the bathroom. He needed to get cleaned up find his girl make sure she was okay and get his ass back to Shreveport. He had promised himself that he would spend his weekend at his place. Being seen by as many people as possible. Very few people talked shit to his face but his lack of face time was causing loose lips to talk more trash than usual. Janice was having a grand reopening of the salon that weekend and they were throwing a BBQ with a raffle and stuff for the kids. Janice demanded he be there. As her brother it was his duty to support her but more than that she wanted him there to keep the peace. She didn't want to have to put the beat down on anyone for talking smack and with Alcide there she could keep her hands clean and let him handle any trouble.
As he bounded down the stairs he could hear three distinctive voices in the kitchen he was the last to make his way downstairs.
" Morning big brother bout time you got your ass out of bed." Janice's usual snarky nature hadn't been dampened by a hangover. The mug in her hand told him coffee had a big hand in his sisters current state.
" Morning boss" Crawfish gave him a nod as he stuck a fork full of food in his mouth.
" Good morning Alcide." Rebecca's greeting came with a kiss on the cheek and a plate of food. She looked chipper with not a bit of flush on her milky skin. They sat down next to each other and Alcide began to speak to only her.
" You shouldn't be down here cooking and serving everyone. You should be up in that bed resting."
" I'm fine hun, I have nothing planned for the day so I'll get some sleep after I send you three off on you way." he stopped mid bite to look at her skeptically. Rebecca standing still was a tough thought to swallow. " Really Alcide I am fine. Do I NOT look like I am fine?"
" No girl you look GOOD." He winked at her and she kicked him under the table. He could see a bit of a blush in her cheeks now.
" Just so you know I added a little something to your sisters coffee. She was a total wreck when she stumbled down stairs earlier. No way she was handling everything she has to do today."
" What she don't know won't hurt her and what you gave her sure did work. so thanks"
" Just want everything to go well for her. She's got high expectations. No need for a little night before fun to spoil any of that."
It was no surprise that Janice had told Rebecca of the opening. She was after all the biggest reason it was happening but the conversation about it was making him uncomfortable. Janice had wanted Rebecca to come but Alcide had told her he didn't think it would be a good idea. There were to many prying eyes in Shreveport and he didn't want to have any of them looking in Rebecca's direction. Janice had listened and reluctantly agreed though he had no idea what she ended up saying to Rebecca to keep her from coming or from having hurt feelings. Having finished her breakfast Janice pushed back from the table and after cleaning off her dishes announced her departure.
" Good luck hun. I hope everything goes perfectly for you today." Rebecca beamed at Janice but didn't get up from the table. Janice was nervous and making a fuss would have only made it worse.
" All I want is to cut hair and serve punch. Hopefully no one will fuck it up for me. But there has always got to be a hitch somewhere." Janice grabbed her bag off the back of her chair " Thanks for the hospitality Rebeca. I'll see you two back in Shreveport" she nodded her head at each of them and then she was gone.
" Gonna follow her out if you don't mind Ms. Rebecca?" Crawfish asked. He didn't want to just leave his mess when Janice had cleaned up hers.
" You go on ahead Red." Rebecca patted his hand and chuckled. " I'll take care of the clean up. You keep an eye on Janice." Even though she seemed better than she had the hour before he still thought it would be a good idea to stay close. He'd have asked to drive her himself if he didn't think he'd get slapped around for it.
" Will do. You take care of yourself you here?" he said to Rebecca
" I will Red no worries." she promised.
" See you later boss." he stood and headed out quickly not wanting to give Janice to much of a head start.
" You got that boy under your thumb in bad way." Alcide's obvious amusement was covered by soft lips.
" Just looking after his girl like a good friend does." She replied as she pulled away.
" His girl hummm?" He took her hand and pulled lightly encouraging her to join him in his seat. She moved into his lap and wrapped herself around him
" Yes but so not in the same way I am your girl." She showed him exactly how his attachment to her was unlike anyone else's. It took him quite a while to find the strength break away from her. When the oxygen finally hit his brain again he was reminded of what he was supposed to be doing this day. " I really ought to get moving." He held her head in his hands and watched as her eyes danced from disappointment to understanding and what he thought was a touch of hurt.
" Becca...." He wondered if he was doing the right thing excluding her from his life in Shreveport.
" No need to explain. Everything in do time Alcide I can understand that. You go support your sister and I'll see you on Monday." She stood and busied herself with remainder of the kitchen clean up.
He hesitated and delayed his departure yet again. He knew there would be eyes on her at night but hated the idea of her being her all alone all day.
She turned and leaned against the counter. " Alcide, really I can handle being on my own for the afternoon. Got a ton of things to do and frankly you are keeping me from getting them done by standing there looking all concerned." She grabbed a hold of his arm and escorted him to the front door.
" Now have a nice weekend. Do the best you can to behave yourself and I'll see you later." she patted him on the tush and pushed him out the door. " Bye Bye now" She waved tossed him and air kiss and then closed the door.
What the hell he thought as he stood on the porch staring at the closed door. Had he just been dissed and dismissed? He climbed down the stairs and walked to the truck slowly expecting her to come back out but she didn't. Guess she wasn't kidding about having things of her own to do. Not at all feeling neglected or rejected like he thought she would. Such a strange woman he thought as he drove the miles back to Shreveport. Anyone one else would have expected to have been in that truck with him or at the very least moping and pouting about being left behind. He'd have expected there to be some sort of retaliation or a price to pay later for the slight but with Rebecca he doubted he'd have to worry about either of those things. He might have seen a just a flash of pain in Rebecca's eyes but it seemed she recovered quickly from any disappointment she may have felt. Or was it something else? Maybe Rebecca didn't mind him taking off for the weekend or excluding her from the opening at the salon because she was up to something?
His mind remained caught up in figuring out what she could be up to long after he arrived at Janice's. He would nod or smile and say a few words when called upon but mostly he stood in the corner and played different ideas over and over in his head. Everything was going according to the plan and with each successful passing hour Alcide could see his sister's body language change, she stood taller, her eyes began to shine and her smile became less forced, more genuine. He was happy for her so when he saw the Lawrence's truck pull into the back of the lot and watched the man slithery walk towards the party Alcide's back went up immediately. He stayed pressed against the wall but kept shaded eyes on Lawrence who moved through the crowd like a politician at a campaign stop. He smirked and thought of some just out of collage pencil pushing campaign manager sitting in the back of a limo explaining why it was a good idea for him to add this stop to his days calendar. Grass route candidate shows he cares for the common man by going to the grand re-opening of a locally run business. The proprietor is a woman, single, aged 25-35 ( a prime demographic) her family also influential business owners in the community. He wasn't even sure what is was that Malcolm did of a living but if he was in need of a vocation politician seemed like a perfect fit. Alcide was well aware of what he was doing to. Trying to endear himself to the pack members in the crowd. He'd been hearing rumblings of good deeds done for those in dire straights. He was caring and attentive to the needs of the pack. A welcome addition in times like these. Several had lost their jobs and were having a hard time finding new ones. Others worried every day that the other shoe was going to drop on them to. There was a lot of fear running through the community in general and to his pack Lawrence Malcom was starting to look like a savior. Alcide sighed heavily as Malcom made his way to his father and the two of them exchanged greetings and he groaned inwardly and pushed himself off the wall when Malcom was offered drink and a seat. His father was as blind as everyone else. Or maybe it was just that his father was so damned egotistical. he couldn't see that anyone would have the balls to challenge him. He had managed to snow everyone around him but Alcide was sure that Malcom wanted more than to just be accepted into the pack. He wouldn't sit on the sidelines for long, ,making good will gestures and buddying up to everyone. Eventually Malcom would make a move for control, Alcide just hoped he wasn't the only one not blindsided by it when it happened. But just because his eyes were wide open didn't mean he had to sit and watch the downfall first hand. Alcide walked around the side of the building and proceeded to pace. He was holding on to a ton of nervous energy and he counted out the steps he took each pass the repetition helpful in calming his nerves. Nothing seemed to feel perfectly right to him these days. When he was with Rebecca at Belle Vita he worried about what was happening here and when he was here he couldn't wait to get back to her. He was living in between two worlds. One he had had little love but felt obligated to and the other that held a promise of so much more than the mundane. His hands went back and forth from pounding his sides and grabbing and pulling back patches of hair. He'd go inside and sit and mope in the small office at the back of the salon but the girls had already threatened to shave him bald and he wasn't letting anyone touch his hair. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and stared at it willing the non existent message to appear. Rebecca hadn't called all day. He hadn't wanted to call her from here fearing it would be like twisting the knife he felt he'd put in her back.
Torn.
Always fucking torn and selfish and scared.
Fucked up is what he was. Guess nothing had changed there. He let out a exasperated half laugh half grunt and turned to head back up front. Lawrence Malcom was standing against the wall wearing the smug smirk he'd love to slap off his face. " Working out something serious in your head back here Alcide?"
Something hit Alcide senses, a scent he couldn't quite place but knew he had smelt before. He was to busy trying to place it to answer Malcom's question right away. Malcom started to walk closer which made Alcide uncomfortable. He didn't trust himself being in close proximity to this man. He started to loose sight of him humanity with each step the man took. " Nothing worth worrying yourself over" He said in a tone that stopped Malcom in his tracks. Malcom's eyes narrowed for a second but then the smirk reappeared.
" You know Alcide I've been talking with your father about the business. I know things have been rough lately. But from what he tells me you've gotten flush for the moment with that big house in Bon Temps. I've offered my help in keeping that momentum going. Been looking into land around these parts to develop. Hoping that Herveaux construction will play a big part once I've nailed down the land. I've been lucky and have the ability to help the folks in my new home out as best I can. You know spread the wealth, Pay it forward that type of thing."
Alcide hated the idea of making a dime from any venture involving Lawrence Malcom.
" Your Dad is on board." It was Alcide's turn for narrowed eyes. His Father hadn't mentioned a word. Of course he never felt he had to, but God forbid Alcide took a meeting without consulting him first. The day Rebecca had called was a prime example. He'd been furious not to have been involved. That was until he realized the job would pay off his debts and pay the men's back salary. After that he'd lost all interest. Something that Alcide was thankful for.
"He's more than willing actually, plans on taking the lead on the project since your focus is elsewhere right now." The smirk grew larger. Maybe his Dad hadn't lost all interest.
" The Bon Temps job has taken up most of my time. We are under tight deadlines."
"I'll say it is. From what I've seen you don't even spend your nights there and from what I've been hearing your interests in pleasing the owner go far beyond the work on the house." He meant it as a joke. The kind of thing that passes between male friends when one or the other has started something with a new girl. But since he and Malcom had no connection the innuendo of what was said seemed to familiar to Alcide. He had no patience for someone who over stepped their boundaries. Malcom simply didn't know him well enough to make a comment like that. The idea that Malcom was keeping tabs on him, watching his coming and goings and had listened to or been involved with any conversations about him and Rebecca (especially with his father) pissed him off.
" I don't think any of that is your concern Malcom" It was time to get out of there. Back to where other people were present to keep him in line.
Malcom grabbed Alcide by the arm as he tried to walk past him " Your right Alcide what you do and who you do it with is of no concern to me and I'm not pressing into your business. But you know as well as I do there are serious issues that need to be handled within the pack. One of which was of your making."
"The situation with Debbie existed long before you came to Shreveport. It came to a head and it's been handled." He was aware of his mistakes in that situation. He'd be damned if this interloper was going to call him out on it.
The false face that Malcom showed everyone slipped, the grip on Alcide's arm became iron like.
" Handled, yes. But how you went about it was questionable. Her behavior was erratic and every moment she roamed free we risked exposure. She easily could have gone nuts and killed that Stackhouse girl , the one your working for what is her name, Ms. Keane is it?... or some other innocent human. Our lives are protected by our discretion. You've been careless recently. So while I may be new here Alcide what happens within the pack does concern me. Your lack of judgment and absence from the pack concerns me."
Alcide snatched back his arm and placing it harshly under Malcom's chin pressed him against the wall.
" Let's get something straight here and now. My life is mine. Nothing and no one who I involve myself with is your business. You and I are never going to be friends. Your side and my side are not the same and while I may not know what you are doing here or what you want I'm God damned sure it ain't the in the best interests of the pack. So you can keep working everyone one else, giving them what they think they need but there isn't a fucking thing you can say or do that is going to make me trust you. You smell Malcom. You reek of something so fuckin' foul I can't stand to be near you."
" ALCIDE" Janice's voice rang out like the crack of a whip. She quickly grabbed at his arm pulling it back and pushing him away. Malcom grabbed his throat and struggled to catch his breath. The usual red tint of his face had been replaced by lack of oxygen blue. Alcide hadn't even realized how close he'd come to choking him out in his sisters parking lot.
" Thank you Janice." he sputtered bent over his knees.
" Don't thank me and don't think my stopping my brother from taking you out means I like you any more than he does. He's right about you but that don't mean I want your dead body stinking up my newly restored property." She gave Malcom a look that could have finished the job her brother had started and pointed towards the front of the building. " Why don't worm your way back up front I'd like a minute with my brother."
Malcom once again upright hesitated. He should have been anxious to leave after what just had happened. If he'd been smart it have been because he was afraid of the anger that still coursed through Alcide's body
(or at the very least to start telling everyone who would listen what had gone down) but foolish pride kept him glued to his spot. Alcide took one step forward before Janice's foot intercepted him.
She stepped up to Malcom putting her face directly in front of his " LEAVE NOW"
Alcide doubted that Malcom was the kind of man who took orders from a woman but he said nothing else but walked slowly toward the front of the building. They both watched his body language change as he got to the corner. His slumped shoulders went square his posture went straight the attitude returned to his walk. Alcide could see the smirk return to his face.
" That man is going to cause us some serious shit." Janice's narrowed eyes and pinched face looked into his. " I know I'm going to regret not letting you kill him just now. Something about him makes the acid in my stomach spit but for now you and I both need to keep our feeling about him to ourselves."
Alcide stared straight ahead his mind still filled with hate filled thoughts. His sister was right though voicing his reservations now would do no good. He had no proof but the warnings in his gut. Malcom had planted seeds of doubt about him in the heads of many and going after him now would only strengthen the mans case against him. He would stand down like his sister suggested. He'd do some digging of his own, find out what Malcom why or what had brought Malcom to Shreveport.
" Hey you still in there?" Janice poked him repeatedly in the shoulder.
He nodded but she kept poking him " Stop that shit" he swatted her hand away. " Ain't no need for you to annoy me to lil sis."
" Sorry don't get your panties in a twist. Promised your girl I'd be sure you were cooled off." Janice looked relieved that she'd been able to do what was asked of her.
" What's Becca got to do with this?" The mention of her had snapped him back to his spot in the parking lot
" She was blasting my phone non-stop. Got Melynda in the chair half done but she wouldn't quit calling and then I thought I heard her voice screaming in my head to pick the damned thing up so I did. She told me you knee deep in shit and that I had to find you and pull you out of it."
" What the hell?" He wondered if what Janice heard had really been Becca. Could she read this far? Could she know exactly what was going on?
" She said something about being able to feel the tension and that her gut was telling her you needed some help. From what I've gathered questioning Rebecca's gut would be a bad idea. I hightailed it outside and lucky I did."
" Yeah... Lucky..... Thanks Janice and sorry told myself I wasn't going to do anything to mess this day up for you."
" Well besides a pissed of Melynda you didn't. I hate that shit head. You know he offered me the money before Rebecca did. It's one of the reasons I thought of asking her. Knew Dad would make me take Malcom's money as a show of good faith or some shit. He's so far up that mans ass he can't see an ounce of light .I wasn't having that. I didn't want to be him having any kind of hold over my place. Didn't want him here today but last time I checked it was still a free damned country."
" Maybe so but we don't have to let him have free reign on our land." A look passed between them. One that showed they knew what the other was thinking and that they would have each others backs.
"You be careful big brother." He gave her a nod and walked with her back into the shop. The spot that held Malcom's truck was occupied by another car. His Father was holding court with a smile on his face and not one get over here and answer for what you've done look passed between them the rest of the afternoon. Apparently Malcom had left without telling tales. Alcide didn't spend to much time wondering why. He figured it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment. Gather a few more allies. Get a tighter foothold in the pack and then undermine him again. Hopefully by that point Alcide would have some ammunition of his own.
