They studied each other for a moment; him with a possessive intensity; her with a look of… expectation. After several long seconds, she released his hair and patted his chest as if he was the family dog who had done a good deed. The grin on her face was a combination of relief and expectation.
“Thank you, Nonny!” She breathed as a knock sounded on the door.
“Enter,” Simon barked in frustration.
“Would you like for the pieces you requested for the room brought in?” Youssef asked in a light tone, his eyes taking in Simon’s strained expression and the woman’s satisfied one. “Or it can wait.”
“Are all the pieces out of the van?” Tory asked, peeking around Simon.
“Yes, Miss Carson,” Youssef replied with an amused grin when she looked at him in curiosity. “The packing material has been stored in the back.”
“Great,” Tory breathed, sliding to the side and away from Simon. She reached into her back pocket and removed the packet of papers Alexandru had given her with a description of Simon’s purchases. “There you go. Youssef, how would you like to explore Charleston tonight?”
Simon’s eyes swiveled with deadly accuracy at his friend. He noted with satisfaction when Youssef paled and swallowed hard. The message in his eyes was clear, touch her and he would kill him.
“I’m afraid I have… other plans for the evening,” Youssef replied in a strained voice. “Perhaps, Mr. Drayton could escort you.”
Both men watched in disbelief as Tory shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m looking for someone a little more… manly.”
Simon’s mouth dropped open as Tory gave them both a grin before she murmured a hurried goodbye. He blinked several times before he turned to look at Youssef’s stunned face. No, he had not misunderstood her.
“Did she just imply that I am not man enough for her?” Simon asked in disbelief.
“I refuse to answer that question, my friend,” Youssef said, raising his hands in surrender. “I’m close enough to being your next meal as it is.”
Simon sank down on the couch and ran his hands over his face. He had never, even when he was just a young man, ever had his masculinity questioned before. First, she wanted Youssef. Then, she thought he and Youssef were… his mind shied away from that. Finally, she wanted someone a little more manly? Manly! Hell, what was he?
“I do not like the look in your eyes, Simon,” Youssef muttered. “The few times you have had that look in my lifetime, it has been trouble.”
Simon looked up at his friend. “I think it is time to show Miss Carson just what I really am,” Simon said. “When she wakes in my arms after I save her from a creature she has only imagined, let’s see if she does not think I am ‘man’ enough.”
“Simon…” Youssef’s voice faded.
It was no use. Miss Carson had unknowingly woken the beast. A beast who had not had the thrill of the hunt for far too long.
“She is mine, Youssef,” Simon replied, pulling off his jacket. “Tonight, I hunt.”
*.*.*
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” Tory muttered as she pulled away from the main gate of Simon Drayton’s estate and onto the main road. “You almost blew it. You have got to remember to think human when around the humans. Nonny and mom didn’t tell me it would be so hard. ‘I’m looking for someone a little more manly!’ That has to be the stupidest thing anyone ever said to Simon Drayton! The guy wrote the book on manliness! I wonder what Youssef would have thought if I had said human! That would have really put Drayton in a spot if he had to tell his head of security that HE was in more danger than Simon would ever be. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Tory-girl. Think before you insert your foot in your mouth next time.”
Still, one good thing… okay, maybe two, came out of Simon kissing her. She wasn’t cursed anymore. She had waited to see if he broke out in Blisterwarts like Edgar had, but Simon had remained completely, blissfully Blisterwart free!
Nonny had worked on a reversing spelling for hours before she left. Her grandmother had only figured out which spell her dad used after her mom stole his Spellbook for Nonny.
“If it wasn’t for the fact I love daddy so much, I’d put a hex on him,” Tory grumbled.
Her dad had hidden the Blisterwart spell in her hairbrush. Every time she used the thing, it re-enforced the spell. No wonder she couldn’t get rid of it!
“Well, I’ve got enough business now I can move into the apartment above the Krazy Kettles back home,” she growled, turning onto Meeting Street. “As soon as I get back, I’m moving into my own place.”