Masquerade (Heven and Hell #1)(91)
Author: Cambria Hebert

He shrugged. I guess part of me would enjoy the power, the control. But I have other responsibilities.

“You mean me.”

“I mean protecting a treasure who, luckily, is you.”

“Why did you send them away?”

He sighed. “They aren’t nice guys, Hev. They might have been willing to accept me as leader for a while, but then the fights and the power struggle would have begun. I don’t want that. I don’t want them around you. They are dangerous, and I don’t want to deal with them.”

I feel like you’ve given up so much for me.

He made a scoffing sound. Those guys were nothing to give up. Besides, I wouldn’t have anything if I didn’t have you.

His fingers stretched across the table to lace with mine, and we sat there quietly watching the people in the boat. They were definitely in love, I watched as the pinks and purples of love bloomed around their heads like little clouds and reached out to one another. As the man rowed the boat rocked and one of the oars slipped out of his hands. Mustard bloomed around the woman in worry when the man leaned overboard to grab the oar. Then he rocked the boat – on purpose – judging by the way his aura flared and the woman screeched. When she realized his trick, she playfully pushed him then slid over in front of him, as close as she could get, and he settled back into a harmless rhythm of rowing.

I smiled to myself. The guy sure knew how to get her closer.

“I know Airis said that there was a reason that I am considered a supernatural treasure, but I just can’t imagine what that is.”

He shoved a whole oatmeal cookie into his mouth as he thought about my words. The way his jaw flexed as he chewed turned me on. And shot of heat streaked through my body. He glanced at me, gold streaking his eyes. I was suddenly glad Sam wasn’t able to see auras too. It was bad enough that he could practically hear every thought I had.

I blushed and looked down. Sometimes having a Mindbond was embarrassing.

“I don’t really know what is going to happen.” His voice was huskier than usual. “But to me, you are a treasure with or without a supernatural power.”

He had a way of making me forget exactly what we’d been talking about. He came around the table and crouched in front of me, taking my hands. “Thanks for lunch.”

“You’re welcome.” I stood, Sam moving with me. “I’ll see you later.”

He groaned and pulled me in for a long hug. I wish I didn’t have to work so much.

When are you moving into your new place? It was a lot less rent and maybe he wouldn’t need to work as much.

They called me today. I can move in tomorrow.

“Great! Want me to help you finish packing tonight?”

“Sure. I get off here at four. I’ll come pick you up.”

Sam’s two roommates actually kept to their word and moved out. As far as he could tell they’d left town too. It was nice not to have to look over our shoulders everywhere we went. It was nice to see Sam actually relax a little.

I finally got to see the apartment they’d been renting. It was a lot bigger than the tiny efficiency he was moving to, with its two bedrooms, separate kitchen, and living area. But the place was more depressing than I could have imagined. It made me more determined than ever to make sure his new apartment was a real home for him.

Even though the place had two bedrooms, Sam didn’t have one. China had claimed a room of her own, and the other two boys had shared a room. Sam had slept on the couch. It was an old sofa in blue plaid that sagged slightly in the middle. A threadbare, ugly, green blanket hung off the back that I pictured as being Sam’s only source of warmth. Sure, he might be a hellhound, and he might not need a lot of blankets…but shouldn’t he have a nice one just in case? Shouldn’t everyone be entitled to at least one comfort? It made my heart hurt.

There was a TV on a little table across from the couch and a brown, wingback chair with holes in it adjacent to the TV. The walls had all probably once been white, but were yellowed with age, and the carpet was rust-colored shag that seriously needed cleaning. The kitchen was very outdated, and I wasn’t sure if any of the appliances worked other than the fridge, which was pitifully empty.

I understood Sam’s hesitation to bring me here, even after he knew it was safe. I knew, because of the Mindbond, that he hated for me to see the way he’d lived. He was embarrassed that he didn’t have more.

I didn’t acknowledge that I knew these feelings because I didn’t want to hurt his pride. And honestly, it didn’t matter. I loved him. He did the best he could to take care of himself, and I was proud of him for that. But I was equally thrilled that he was moving, and when I was done with his little apartment, it would be suitable for someone as special as he is.

I was taping up the last of the boxes from the kitchen when he caught me behind the waist and kissed the back of my neck. His tongue snaked out to trace a line up to my ear where he stayed to nibble. My heart thundered and my knees felt weak. Oh, what he did to me.

“Sam,” I groaned.

“Sorry,” he released me, keeping his hands out to steady me.

Passion and teenage hormones were pumping through my veins. I bit my tongue to keep from blurting out that I wanted him. Although I was certain he already knew.

“Soon,” he murmured, taking my face in his hands.

“When?” I asked, breathless.

His lips brushed mine. Once. Twice. The third time they lingered. “Not here,” he whispered against me.

I closed my eyes and willed myself to calm. I took in the feel and touch of him. Finally, I stepped back and cleared my throat. “This box, uh.” My voice sounded like I’d eaten gravel. This is stuff that is going to your new place. I put all the other stuff to be donated by the door.

He stared at me for long moments before he nodded and took the box to add it to the ‘keep’ pile. “That should be everything then. There’s just one room we haven’t cleaned out…”

All the sexual tension disappeared. “China’s room.”

“Why don’t you wait out here? I’ll take care of this, and then we can leave.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ll help. It will go faster and then we can leave.”

“You don’t have to,” Sam said gently.

“I know.” I grabbed his hand and we walked together back to Evil’s den.

Her room was a little nicer than the rest of the place. That made me angry. She didn’t deserve nice. Although, I guess it wasn’t really nice, just more livable. If this room had an aura it would be icky brown. She had a double bed with sheets, a pale blue comforter and two pillows. A small ratty dresser with a mirror sat off to the right and a small closet filled with clothes. Two pair of shoes – one running, one heels – were tucked to the side of the bed.