Devon's Discipline (7 page)

Her mind cleared as if a veil had lifted and she relaxed against him. He lowered her back to the floor and stood up.

“You’re still bleeding,” she observed, more amazed then frightened.

“It’s a small wound and will stop. Right now I’m concerned about you.” He grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and draped it over her.

“I think I’ll be okay.” Devon licked her lips but immediately regretted it as the coppery taste returned.

“I’ll be right back. Just stay here.”

“I’m so dirty—”

“I don’t care about the mud. Stay here, please.”

Devon hugged the blanket to her and tried to make sense of the past few minutes.
I had no idea he’s a vampire! What the hell does he think about all the things I said?

“Let’s get you clean and then you can sleep,” he announced as he walked back into the room and scooped her up against his chest.

“I’m so… but…” How could she let him see her this way? She tried to protest but could not make the right string of words come out. The hallway flew by her eyes as he carried her, so she gave in and closed her mouth. He would do whatever he wanted with or without her blessing.

“The fog is gone, but your body has a long way to go.” Matthews turned into the bathroom and set her on the edge of the tub as the water filled. Once the level hit midway he slid her off the side and into the water slowly.

“How did you find me?” She bit her lip as his hand came out of the water and several drops sprinkled across her breasts.

“I heard your cry,” Matthews stated in a tone she could not place. He dipped a soft cloth in the bathwater and ran it over her shoulders. He worked his way down each arm without pause.

“How can I thank you?” Devon gasped as his fingers brushed against her skin and she felt goose bumps rise as they trailed along her body.

“You don’t need to.” He picked her right leg up gently and washed from her toes all the way up to the top of her thigh.

Devon closed her eyes and opened them slowly as he hit the sweet spot where her leg met her hip. She longed to know what his thoughts were as he switched to the left leg and repeated his actions. Each stroke against her body awakened a deep thrill she believed dead. She felt vulnerable while naked under his touch, but she could not deny the spark he created.

“Your body will heal a hundred times faster than normal, but you need rest.” Matthews moved behind her to wash her back.

His fingers reached the end of her spine, then he rolled her onto one hip and dipped lower to caress each tender curve of her bottom. He helped her sit up again, then reached over her to wring out the cloth and draped it over the side of the tub.

“Your chest has the most damage.” He soaped his hands and ran them over her collarbone and down into the valley between her breasts. His palms brushed across her nipples as he cleaned her there, and she could no longer stay quiet.

Small moans slipped from her lips and she reached for his hand. He let her lace her fingers in between his.

“Everything is heightened because of my blood. Every little touch or movement—even a thought.” He moved his hand away. “Come on, let’s get you out.”

“I don’t want to,” Devon murmured.

Matthews drained the water and pulled her to her feet. He bundled her up in a soft towel and stepped out into the hallway. “Just relax.” He brought her into the guest room, laid her down in the bed, pulled a tee-shirt over her head, and fixed her arm through the holes. Her legs were guided into a pair of well-worn sweats and he slid them up to her waist. “Get some sleep.”

“Please don’t leave me alone tonight!” Devon sprang upright and grabbed his hands.

“Don’t get yourself all worked up again.” He helped her get under the covers. “You’re safe here.”

“I’m so scared. Please don’t go. I won’t be able to sleep.” Tears poured over her cheeks, and she trembled at the thought of being alone.

“I’ll come back, but I have to get cleaned up first.” Matthews kissed the side of her head. “I won’t let anything happen.”

“Hurry back,” she whispered as another round of tears slipped down her cheeks. He brushed them away with the back of his hand, then left the room. Devon wondered why he needed to get cleaned up but suddenly realized he had carried her inside and must be covered in dried blood.
Did it excite him to see me like that?
She thought back to his face when she asked him about dying. No, his first concern had been to save her.

Devon tried to replay all the events in her head, but her whole body still ached and made concentrating difficult. She curled up on her side but felt restless.
Why did Josh let them attack me? Did Lucy know about Matthews being a vampire?

“You need to rest.”
Matthews returned and sat next to her. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

“Can you stay in here?” Devon rubbed at her eyes, exhausted from her ordeal. “Please?”

“I’m still your teacher, so I really shouldn’t.” Matthews swallowed hard as she found his hand and tugged him towards the bed. “You’re not listening to a word I say.”

“I bet it’s from the knock to my head,” she smiled as he climbed over her and looped his arms around her body protectively.

“What’s my excuse then?” Matthews sighed as she snuggled closer.

“I don’t know. I’m sleeping.” Devon relaxed for the first time in a long time. “Good-night.” Despite the night’s events, she fell asleep quickly, without hearing his reply.

* * *

Devon watched Matthews pace back and forth through the kitchen. He stalked like a tiger stuck inside a cage.
What is he thinking?

“Do you remember what they looked like?” He had asked the same question a dozen times.

“Three big jocks, but I’m sure that describes half of the male population on campus.” It was ten in the morning and all she wanted to do was go back to sleep. She sighed as he stopped and pressed another glass of juice into her hand. She’d already had orange, apple, and cranberry.

“Tell me the name of the bar.” He returned to pace in front of the breakfast nook.

“I was at the…” Devon paused as he raised his head.
What will he do if I tell him where I was? Will he search for those boys?
She decided to take several small sips of the sour grapefruit juice, no doubt healthy in some way, and finished, “…I’m afraid to tell you.”

“I could take the image out of your head and this conversation would be over.”

“The Barking Log. You know, the one off Main Street? Josh Brinkham, his older brother Nick, and some other guy they always hang out with. Daniel, I think.” Devon blinked as he stopped mid-step. The look on his face could have melted wax off an unlit candle.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I don’t want you to go after them,” Devon snapped, then felt all of her energy drain. His blood had healed all of the major damage but it would take a few days to be back to normal, or so he said.

“Why were you dropped off in front of my house?” Matthews took the glass from her and washed it.

“Can we discuss what happened first?” She rested her head on top of her hands and watched him.

“The part before I saved your life or after?” He returned to her side and waited.

“How come you didn’t tell me about being a vampire?” Devon scrunched her nose up at him. It took all of her composure not to scream at him.
Why did he keep this from me?

“In my office you made a comment about dark alleys and personal ads, so I didn’t jump at the chance to tell you. Now, answer my question.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t believe you or something?”

“This conversation has nothing to do with the events of last night, so drop it.” Matthews motioned for her to get up.

“Can you read my mind?” Devon asked as she looped her arm around his neck so she could stand. His touch sent shivers down her body.
How can one touch turn me into mush?

“Focus on what we were discussing. You were hand-delivered to my house—why?”

“Answer my question first,” Devon pried. She wanted to know why he hadn’t trusted her with the information or why he hadn’t at least hinted at it in some way.

“Yes, I can. But it will make you very uncomfortable.” Matthews settled her into the couch, then knelt down by the top of her head. He grabbed her chin, then locked his eyes on hers. “What did you do to make those wolves stop?”

“They stopped when I called out for you.”

“Why did you do that?”

You actually care about what happens to me.
Devon felt tears flood her eyes as he let go. Her head pounded in protest and she let it fall down to the pillow.

Matthews clenched his jaw as he stood, then moved out of her line of vision.

“What the hell did you just do to me? My head hurts!” Devon cried as she pulled the throw blanket off the top of the couch to cover her legs. She felt so exposed.

“Next time answer me immediately so I don’t have to read your thoughts and find out myself.” He came back and handed her a glass of water. “I didn’t mean to cause you pain when I did that, and I warned you it wouldn’t be pleasant.” Matthews kissed the top of her head as though it was a form of apology. “Though I am now in a bad position since their alpha gave me his word they would mind themselves.”

“What are you saying?” She knew Josh and his brother were wolves, but the conclusion evaded her. She sat up slowly as her head returned to normal. What did all of this have to do with her?

“Has Lucy ever gotten into a physical fight with you?”

Devon shook her head.

“Does it makes sense to have three male werewolves on you?” A deep crease appeared on his forehead as he took a sip from his mug.

“No, it doesn’t.” She shook her head again. “Josh also asked his brother if I belonged to you, but I’m not a possession so I can’t be owned.”

“You’re mine whether you want to be or not.” Matthews shifted to look at her directly.

“Then I wouldn’t have gone there in the first place. You pushed me away after you kissed me, so it’s clear I’m not.” She snuggled down into the cushions and ignored his last statement.
I have no idea what he means, but I do not need this supernatural drama.

“What you didn’t realize is how close I was to losing control in my office. I needed to get away from you. I’m sorry you felt rejected.”

“So you actually find me attractive and interesting?”
Why the hell didn’t he just tell me what he felt?

“Your questions are all over the place, which tells me you need to rest.”

“Please answer me—I’ve got a lot of things I’ve been wondering about.”

“You did a paper on real issues your werewolf friend faces. You wear a pentacle around your neck. How could I not find you fascinating?” Matthews brought his gaze back to hers.

“You didn’t mention my appearance.” Devon slid off the couch and perched on the armrest, suddenly feeling much stronger. She recalled one of the websites that had screamed in bold letters,
vampires can be-spell you to tell deep secrets!
Did he feel any attraction to her at all?

In a split second she found herself in his lap, pressed against his chest. Her pulse thundered in her ears and she tried to calm herself down.
Just breathe!

“I know how aroused I make you.” He moved the hair off her neck and ran his fingers upwards. “I’ve known it since the second I laid my eyes on you.”

Damn her body! She could not be in his arms this way if he was going to tease her! She struggled against him, then froze as an intense need to get away overcame her thoughts.

“Get off my lap.” Matthews placed a hand on either side of the chair.

Devon raised her head very slowly and saw wildfires in the center of his eyes while the normal royal purple had faded into ebony. A random Internet search the other day noted an adrenaline spike was pure ecstasy to a vampire.
Now I know why he is so serious with me all the time!

“Are you going after Lucy’s pack?” She slowly slid down to the floor and half-crab crawled back to the couch. She made tiny motions and tried to calm her heart.

“Chasing werewolves is the furthest thing from my mind.” He stood and in a split second the door slammed shut behind him.

“Shit.” Devon pulled the blanket to her chin and sighed. She liked him better when he was nothing more than a professor who taught an interesting course.

* * *

Devon checked her phone again. He had been gone for almost three hours. She had stood several times with the intent to leave but had stopped herself.

“I want to please him and I want him to care about me! Why can’t I tell him that?” She hugged her knees to her chest. “Maybe I should write down how I feel.”

Matthews came home a few minutes later in a much calmer mood. He rummaged for something in the kitchen, then returned and handed Devon a menu to one of her favorite restaurants. “Do you like Chinese food?”

“Yes, but I’m boring and always order chicken lo mien and sweet and sour pork.” Devon’s eyes roamed over his body and she flushed.
Why can’t I stop thinking about his hands all over me?

“When you project your thoughts, I hear them like you’re shouting.” He took the menu from her and moved to the kitchen.

“Great! You know when I’m aroused and you can hear my deepest, darkest thoughts.” She felt her face flush again. “Is there anything else you care to tell me?”

“I try not to poke around your thoughts but sometimes it happens. I really didn’t mean to hurt you earlier.”

“I get it, but I don’t want you to read them like that again.” Devon looked down to study the strings in the throw blanket. Being in his house made her want to do bad things to him and now he knew it.

“There is no entertainment value in it for me, so don’t give me a reason to need to.”

“I’d kill for a beer right now.” She heard him open the fridge and grab glasses. Devon accepted the drink he handed to her just seconds later but tasted only sugar.

“You can’t always have what you want.” Matthews leaned down and ran his finger over her neck.