It was freeing…but it also meant that if the kids at school still scoffed at her, it was because of her personality, not because of an upbringing she couldn’t control. If she wasn’t liked, it would be because she wasn’t likable. It was irritating that in such a short time, Devon had come to know her so well.
He was also right about everything that had gone down between them, the jerk. He had been crystal clear in his stance on dating. She’d known exactly where she stood going in, and she’d been okay with that in the moment.
It wasn’t exactly that she had regrets, because she didn’t. She’d cherished every second of last night. She just wished it was only about sex for her, as it so clearly was for him.
Well, you live, you learn, Charity.A few hours later, Charity had a few bags and was riddled with fatigue. While her shopping efforts had been fruitful, she was really tired of looking at herself in the mirror. Trying on clothes was never fun.
Not having heard from Devon, she found herself wandering down the street, looking in shop windows. She should call him, but the stubborn part of her wasn’t going to chase after him like some lovesick puppy.
She glanced into a picture shop selling artistic photographs, art, and frames. The picture of her mother flashed through her mind. If there was one thing Charity wanted that money could buy, besides information on her mother’s whereabouts, it was a frame for her mom’s picture.
She hesitated in the doorway, looking in, and caught sight of a beautiful blonde standing close to a familiar man.
Heartbeat increasing with each moment, she stepped into the shop, her bags crinkling in her tightening fists. Devon’s face pointed down at Yasmine, his body mere inches away from hers. Yasmine laughed and reached forward to play with a button between the swell of Devon’s pecs.
A yawning cavern opened up inside Charity, the same sensation she’d experienced earlier with Devon. Molten lava bubbled out of it and filled her entire body to bursting. Electricity rolled and surged, straining within the confines of her skin. Sparks flew off her arms and even her fingers like a cloud of glitter. The desperate need for violence took over her being, urging her to find a sword so she could cut off Yasmine’s head in the fastest, most gruesome way possible. Her body brimmed with it, a surging power that threatened to tear loose and bring this whole building to the ground.
Devon and Yasmine startled before looking up with wide eyes.
Logic screamed for Charity to calm down, but her fingers itched for the knife at her belt.
So this is what jealousy feels like. Like teetering on the precipice of a huge killing spree. I need to apologize to Macy.
“Charity, good, I was just about to text you,” Devon said, turning toward her.
Too late, Mr. Smooth Operator.
“Time to go,” Charity said in a flat tone. Yasmine’s stupid gloating face was not helping. Charity wished she could cut that face off and wear it like a mask, Hannibal-style.
“Yes,” Devon said, his eyes bearing into her.
“We’re going to your house tonight, right, Devon?” Yasmine asked in that dumb, silky voice. She gave him a knowing look.
Charity stepped forward before she could stop herself, her fingers at her belt line.
Cutting out Yasmine’s vocal cords was not the right way to handle this situation. She had to calm down!
“Yes,” Devon answered, green mist curling out from around him. His wolf was scrabbling to get out; Charity could feel it. She would rock its world when it did. “Roger is planning a large-scale extraction tomorrow, so we’ll all stay at my place tonight. Everyone is heading over in an hour. Charity and I are going to go home and start dinner.” Devon stepped beside Charity and reached out to put his hand on the small of her back, probably to guide her out.
“Touching me would be a mistake right now,” Charity said in a sweet voice she didn’t recognize.
“Are you okay?” he asked, following behind her as she exited the shop.
“I’m great. How about you? Can’t be easy to manage all your conquests.”
“Charity,” he said as he opened the door of the beat-up SUV for her. “She found me in there. She was trying the flirty game, yes, but I wasn’t buying. In another moment she would’ve gotten the message without my having to officially call her down. She’s pack—there is a certain way we do things to keep squabbles to a minimum.”
“Great, fine. No biggie.”
“Can we talk about this?”
It sounded like that request was about as appealing to him as eating a large, juicy grub. His reluctant tone only made her madder.
“Nothing to talk about. You’re a free agent, she’s crazy pretty, and I am amaze-ballz. We’re all set.”