Kierra

I'm left alone long enough to get dressed, it’s when I’m putting in piercings that Bastion knocks. Telling him to enter, I finish getting the hoop onto my ear. Not those big ass ridiculous ones that serve no other purpose than to get caught on everything and make your ears saggy, just the small ones that hug your earlobe.

"What's up, Kiddo?"

He shrugs, but there's something on his mind. The scars on his wrists stand out painfully. Just seeing them heats my blood at the thought of what he's gone through. I'm determined that he’ll never have to worry about anything like that again.

"What do you have planned for today?"

His voice is soft. Asher's leaving has hit the boy hard and I'm not sure what to do to help. Moving away from the closed door, he goes to my bed and sits.

"Well, at some point we need to get over to Ava's so I can give her your guys' school papers. Also have to get the rest of the clothes washed. I feel as if we're always doing laundry, how 'bout you?"

That gets me a shrug, but his face does soften a tiny bit.

"Was also going to ask her about any open houses that are up for grabs over there. If you and I collect any more animals, we're gonna need the space. Not to mention needing our own laundry facilities...and more bathrooms. I keep finding beard hairs everywhere."

I shiver as if it grosses me out, which gets me a small smile. Not sure why it does to some people, it's just hair. Annoying that it goes everywhere sure, but nothing to be all girly about.

"Did you have something specific you wanted to do?"

Again I get a shrug. Pulling out a pair of evil socks, I sit on the bed next to him.

"You know...shrugs can mean many things. Could mean you want to go shopping, coloring, driving, skipping, tree climbing, dumpster diving, frog jumping..."

My blathering has him putting his hand over my mouth, blue eyes glittering at me.

Score.

Always worked on Faline too. Annoy them enough with silly questions or random talking and they finally give you an answer just to shut you up.

"We could always string Xavier up by his ankles and hang him from one of the pines out there. Don't think it will accomplish anything, but would be highly amusing. We could decorate him the way other people are decorating trees."

With an evil glint in my eye I start talking lower and lower while planning it with him, the decorations we'll use, and which tree would be best. It’s when I get to the part of hanging pink ruffles around his hips that we finally hear a loud 'Hey!' coming from the front room. The kid finally laughs with me. I'm a terrible person; having to pick on someone else to make another smile. Terrible, but amusing. Besides, Xavier asked for it.

"That does remind me though, Thanksgiving is in a few days. Guys around here already eat like...well, animals, but that's a given day where you're expected to eat like one. There anything specific you'd like to do? Ava's already invited us over there. Woman isn't careful, it'll look like we're moving in on her."

Not sure how she's been able to get any work done with us hanging around so much. She somehow manages it though. Glancing at all the blades on the bed, I look back to him.

"How do you like the knife training so far? I know you guys haven't gotten very far into it yet, but that's another reason for going over there. We'd set up a smallish training area so we could practice with our chosen weapons. Figured you and Maii would find it useful."

With a nod, he smiles a little more, looking over all the blades but not reaching out and grabbing any. That right there lets me know he's taking it seriously. When I was his age, I was never just looking with my eyes, I always had to touch.

"I like it. Zypher has offered to teach us how to fight too."

My eyebrow raises at that, but I smile.

"Yeah? Who do you think would win, Z or Xavier?"

"I'm not answering that."

We both grin wide, knowing it's a very smart answer. Just the bringing of it to voice will have the two wondering and start posturing.

"Alright, who would win between me and Z?"

"You."

That catches me off guard. Was expecting him to say Zypher or that he wouldn't answer that either. At my look, Bastion smiles.

"The first rule he gave was you never hit a woman, and I agree."

I snort so hard I hurt my nose. Holding a hand to my throbbing nostrils, I motion the other to the door. Time to clear up some stuff. My entrance into the living room has everyone grinning.

"Alright you trolls, I will be the first to tell you that if a woman hits you like a man, then she sure as hell can take a hit like one. If it's something just in play, practice, or petty argument, then no, you don't hit a girl, but if she is striking at you with intent to harm, then you have every right to protect yourself."

I eyeball each one and the only one who seems to agree with me is the gay fox. Go figure. I smile at him.

"Take it you've gotten into a scuffle or two, huh?"

He nods but doesn't explain. I lift a brow, and he just shrugs.

"I agree with you. When a girl can hit harder than you, there should be no reason not to hit back. Girls in Texas are just as fight-happy as the guys."

Ahh. That explains a lot right there. The LGBT movements here in the north are a lot smoother than they are in the south. I understand his skittishness now, he more than likely left because his very life had been in danger.

"Exactly. If I'm hitting a man with intent and he doesn't hit back, then there's something wrong. It's not being chivalrous, it's letting your honor get counted against you. You all have my permission that if I ever come at you with intent, you have every right to fight back. Because frankly, if I'm coming at you, I'm either trying to kill you, or I'm looking for a fight."

Not sure if my smile is very comforting, but I'm being honest. Only Maii, Bastion, and Xavier can understand at this point, but I'm sure the others will in time.

"Actually counting on you bigger guys to help me become a better fighter. I've done alright for myself before you all came, but there were many close calls."

The recent one being almost death, but eh. Bastion shivers, so I pull him closer to me. He'd been so upset when it happened, but I think he got angry at me shortly after. I know Asher did.

"Letting someone punch a hole into your ribs and shoving the bone shards into your organs isn't something I care to repeat again. Although I think what I'd been dying from was the blood loss by not saying anything. Bleeding out in Orion's van an all."

Xavier is scowling hard at me, as is my Imp when he pulls away to glare. I raise my hands up in a shrug but have a small grin in place. The three new males look like they don't believe me, you'd think the brothers would know a little better by now. I would’ve left it, but Xavier doesn't, not after seeing their expressions. Standing from his cushion, he stalks over to me, amber eyes alight with emotion. I stand my ground, knowing it isn't me he's irritable at, not wholly anyway.

Crossing my arms and raising a brow, I prepare to get manhandled. Coming up close and bodily making me turn so my right side is pointed towards the green couch, my shirt is grabbed and yanked up over my ribs. He stops just above the still large scar with its wide center and spider-legged tears.

With having a bigger bust, there's no going without a bra, so I'm covered on that. I'm still a thicker gal though and becoming a Werewolf does not mean it ends your self-consciousness. I look away as the maned wolf glares at the three who didn't believe me. Kani inhales sharply. It's not the scar that bothers me; I don't even feel it anymore. What bothers me is that a male is holding my shirt up over what I consider to be fat.

I may have become leaner, but I'll always be thick just from the wider frame I was given. Squirming, I try to pull it back down, but he holds it stubbornly. Looking to his face, he's glaring at someone.

"Xavier, let go of me."

He lets go instantly but doesn't move. So I take a step back and pull my shirt down to where it's supposed to be. Looking over to the three looking at me, I lift my chin.

"Can doubt me all you like, but never doubt my willingness to put my life on the line for someone I care for. I got this and many others in my pursuit to save my sister, and I'd do it all over again."

They all drop their eyes as the tall one glares down at me, so I move away, going to the kitchen for one of those smaller bottles of juice. Looking back out over the room, my eyes fall on the paintings hanging from the bookshelves.

"Need to get those down to the gallery, too. I have a commission from out of state and another from one of the diners in town that I need to get made as well. Alarico and his wife, Lucia should be here soon."

I frown. That woman in my home does not seem right. She floods me again with all her crap and I will throw her out on her ass.

"Kani, you said you're nineteen right? Do you have any job experience? Do you know how to drive?"

His head cocks before answering.

"I worked in one of the stores at the mall, but I don't drive. Never had a need to, I walked everywhere."

Nodding, I take a drink, then set it down shortly after to go to my room to grab up the thick paper and twine to wrap up the canvases. Going to need to pick up more of those too here soon. Not sure if I still have any downstairs or not.

Just as I'm coming back out, the blue and purple-haired brothers are heading out front.

"Xavier? Have you seen any more canvases below? I think I saw a couple but I'm not sure."

Instead of saying anything, he goes down. Moving my drink and rolling out the paper, I get started on wrapping up the finished paintings. Kani is perusing the bookshelves while Maii and Bastion work on some of their own drawings.

I don’t realize how far my mind has wandered until I back up into a hard frame. Hands land on my shoulders while a face comes in close to my ear.

"You have to stop."

"Stop? Stop what?"

Doubt he's talking about the wrapping since I'm on the last one. It's not till I feel just how...interested he is, that I recall what I'd been doing. My face flames immediately.

"Oh God, I'm sorry. I have no excuse other than I didn't... I'm really sorry."

When you're flushed to the degree I am, it gets hard to speak without sounding breathless. Even moreso when you remember just what you've been doing. I'd been playing on his mark, teasing in my head without really realizing I was doing so in real-time.

Can feel and hear his heartbeat thunder against my back, his hands having moved down to my hips as he bends down into me. My attempt to step away only has him step with me so I'm caged into the counter that I'd been wrapping on. His hips pressing into my back lets me know just how happy I've made him, even if it wasn't exactly intentional. Warm breath is felt on my neck as he angles down, soft whispers of lip touches. I'm staring very hard at the tabletop, trying to remain cold to tempting touches while holding my breath and failing horribly when I exhale. Having to inhale again brings his scent in, thick and strong.

Heated exhales start fogging in the dropping air temperature, my skin tinting blue as I direct the ice into my own flesh. Soft pants escape as I fight myself, then small whimpers. My eyes had closed at some point, for when I open them, the table in front of me is covered in a thick sheet of ice.

Painting survives since it's on the paper, but if I don't stop, it’ll spread to everything. The hard, hot body behind me has stopped pressing further claim, yet hasn't moved either. I pull the ice back, willing it to dissipate. Nothing worse than fighting yourself over something you want, yet know you can't have. I have too much to do to get entangled into anything emotional right now. Puppy pile comfort is all I can except right now. All I can allow myself.

Any romantic relations will just weaken me and I can't have that right now. Bad enough it gets harder each day without skin contact, adding that just totally fries my brain. Hence my keeping it in my brain, but with the mark on him, he feels it. Makes me feel horrible that I keep teasing him that bad and don't follow through. Playful, everyday type teasing is no problem, it can be stopped, ignored, or walked away from. He can't exactly walk away from his own skin or nerve endings.

Since I don't think I can actually say it aloud, I close my eyes again and direct it inward. Finding and following the path needed into his head, even my mental whispering is low.

"I'm really sorry Xavier, I didn't realize... I wasn't thinking...rationally. The mark was totally forgotten about. I'll stop and try to find a way to close it down."

Fingers dig into either side of my hip, biting through my jeans. His face at my neck pulls back with a low growl that makes me wince but sends a thrill up my spine at the same time. His voice is angry as it returns to me, hot breath moving over my skin.

Stupid Silver magics are going to make it so I lose another friend to its retardedness.

"Don't you dare."

Breath escapes me in confusion, yellow eyes opening to stare at the table once more before turning my head. He allows it but keeps my hips pinned with his and his hands.

"What do you mean? What I was doing isn't fair. I'm a bitch, but I'm not a tease."

What I did could be construed as a type of rape. His body may be willing, but that doesn't mean the brain is. What I did, he can't run from and he didn't ask for.

"Don't close it down. I'm proud to be marked, to be the first one. I fully enjoy your attentions, you know that. The only reason I told you to stop is because walking around with a boner is starting to get really painful."

The blush reinforces on my cheeks, covering the whole of my body. The coolness from the ice shielding warms up drastically. You have no idea how hard it is to look him in the eye right now, but I somehow manage.

"I didn't mean to. I mean, I did, but I didn't think about it actually transferring through..."

Biting my tongue hard, I stop. His grin isn't making the situation any better. Having just basically admitted that I think about and want his body.

Now his seducing will be known that it has more of an effect than what I let on. Seems whenever I try to apologize about something, I end up placing my foot in my mouth first or digging that grave deeper. One of these days I really just need to fall into it and stay.

I have to press back to make room to move away, the motion delighting my libido and inner hussy. Her preening reminds me of how she'd been acting when in heat. It's only been two weeks, I still have six to seven more days before I have to worry about that crap. Groaning internally as I shimmy out from the press of his delighted frame, his cocky grin follows me as I retreat fast to the bathroom. My own loins are starting to feel way too warm as I finally get the door closed behind me.

Having had to use a magic ability on myself to cool the fires of arousal is just sad, but I do it anyway. Circling freezing air around me and taking comfort in it, then splashing water onto my face and fixing myself, my hair gets brushed while staring into the mirror. Green eyes accusatory, I glare at my reflection. He may not want me to, but I need to learn how to put up some kind of block. Or find someone else to fantasize about, either way.

Think that right there is why he doesn't want me to shut it off, 'cause then he knows I'm fixated on him. And I'd been doing so well at coming across as indifferent.

Totally blown.

"Someone is pulling up the drive."

Kani's warning is a gratefully needed rescue. Body mostly cooled down, I come out and smile at him.

"Thanks."

Looking around, I ask with motions on where the maned wolf is. I get a cheesy grin as he points out front. I heave a sigh, and he laughs.

"Why are you denying that? Gurl, I'd be all over that in a heartbeat."

I chuckle with him, an honest one that I have someone I can talk to about this crap and it not feel awkward.

"That's part of the problem. I do, believe me, I do have eyes. I've seen enough of that man to make pristine visuals. But I can't risk it."

He looks like he's about to ask why then his face changes.

"You don't want things to change."

Nodding, I move to get my boots on. Handing Kani one of Faline's coats, I tell the boys to get theirs and come out. My nose scrunches hard as I look over the three of them.

"This woman and I really don't mesh well, so if at all possible, I don't want her in my home. Alarico is alright, but his wife is one of those uppity prissy bitches."

"Hers the chin you shoved a blade into?"

Bastion sure doesn't miss much. Not sure I told him, so either Xavier did or he heard it from one of them. I nod though while looking at the almost finished wrapped painting.

"Can I get you guys to each grab a canvas and take them out to my jeep? Doors are unlocked, need them in the backseat."

They all nod with varied expressions. While they get them out, I quickly finish the last one. Have to get it rewrapped, the dampness had ruined the first attempt.