To Hell and Back (Hellcat Series Book 4) (22 page)

“
I suppose anything is better than nothing.” Julius took her
hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ve been muddling along on my own
for so long that it’s all I know. Who knows what other talents may
be lying dormant?”

“
I still think Benedict is the better person to train you.
He’s at least a bit more open-minded.”

Julius smiled at her slightly disgusted tone, but didn’t
comment.

“
Do you think Benedict is right?” Gabi asked. “Will we have
time to prepare? So much has happened in the past few days that I
find it hard to believe they won’t just throw everything at us as
soon as possible, while we’re still on the back foot.”

Julius glanced into the rear-view mirror. Benedict was
following behind them in a Bentley. He’d brought two guards with
him, and one of them was driving. Gabi had no idea where the
Bentley had come from, perhaps the Princeps kept a spare car in
every major city.

“
I think Benedict is a very gifted Clairvoyant. I think he’s
also Clairaudient. I’ve suspected it for a while. He alludes to
having a spy at Court and knows exact details of conversations,
word for word in some cases. But I don’t think his spy is a person.
I think he can use his power to listen in on anyone’s conversation,
within the radius of the Castle at least, if not further. And
possibly ‘hear’ and comprehend more than one conversation at a
time.” Julius was still watching Benedict’s car with a brooding
expression.

Gabi wondered if Benedict was listening to them right now. It
was something she needed to keep in mind. The thought of Benedict
‘listening’ in to anything he chose made Gabi even more relieved
that she’d talked Julius into going back to her house
tonight.

Alexander had acted a little strange when she made the
suggestion earlier, insisting it was safer at the Estate; he’d been
unusually adamant. She put it down to his recent near-death
experience and hoped he snapped out of it soon. He seemed fine
physically, but something had changed in his attitude and bearing.
Thankfully Julius sided with her. He understood there were times
when she just needed to be in her own space.

They hadn’t actually discussed living arrangements. Julius had
never suggested she move in with him at the Estate, but she knew it
wasn’t reluctance on his part. He just knew her well enough not to
ask, and that meant more to her than he realised. It may be tricky
juggling time between the two residences, especially with the pets,
but they would manage. As soon as they’d settled Benedict into one
of the vacant accommodation units at the Estate, they were going to
her place.

Mac was also offered a cottage at the Estate; Gabi felt he was
too exposed at a normal human motel. Now that he knew as much as he
did, he could be used as leverage or tortured for information; that
made him an asset they couldn’t just leave out in the open. He was
patently unhappy about being put up at the Estate, and Gabi
couldn’t really blame him, any human would feel uncomfortable amid
so many supernaturals. Kyle smoothly stepped in and offered the
spare room at his place. He and Trish had recently bought a small
house in a quiet suburb not far from Gabi’s. Mac accepted his offer
without prolonged consideration and was on his way to collect his
things and check out of the motel. Gabi liked the idea of having at
least two Werewolves to protect Mac, and two battle-hardened men to
protect Trish.

It wasn’t quite midnight when she shoved some frozen pancakes
into the microwave to defrost. She’d grabbed some Chinese takeout
on her way to the meeting, but her stomach insisted she was in
arrears with meals, and was demanding immediate debt recovery.
Hazelnut coffee was steaming on the counter next to her; Julius had
surprised her with an espresso maker a few weeks ago, one with all
the bells and whistles. When it arrived, it was accompanied by
about a year’s supply of coffee capsules with so many different
flavours that each morning was like a little adventure in taste. It
was sheer heaven having downright awesome coffee without having to
leave the house.

Slinky was wrapped around her neck, nuzzling her ear
contently. Razor was grooming himself on the counter, having just
finished three tins of gourmet cat food, and Rocky was tormenting
Julius in the sitting room. Well, Julius was pretending to be
tormented by the energetic little rodent. He was holding a large
glass of red wine in one hand and fending Rocky off with the other.
It was a game they often played and one that Gabi thought Julius
secretly enjoyed. The little squirrel’s goal was to get on his head
and burrow into his hair, by any means necessary, and he pretended
to be determined to keep her from achieving her goal. Every now and
then he’d ‘let’ her slip by his defences, and she’d chirp elatedly
at her perceived victory. Gabi didn’t for a moment believe his
martyred expression when Rocky turned his artfully tousled
hairstyle into a mussy squirrel nest.

She gave Razor a passing smooch as she grabbed the syrup and
whipped cream. He was so much more relaxed now that she let him
come with her for some outings; she hadn’t come home to a wrecked
house for weeks. And Rocky, as annoying as she could be with her
unending supply of energy, was company for Slinky when Razor came
with her. She felt a little guilty about Roman, who was still
relegated to outside. Though he had a doghouse the size of a
one-bedroom apartment, every toy known to canine-kind, and loads of
room to run and play, he was probably lonely during the day. She
wasn’t always home to go for a run with him, and probably didn’t
spend enough time just playing with him. Maybe it was time to visit
the local puppy shelter, she mused. Her musings came to an abrupt
end as Julius stalked silently up behind her; she’d been in the act
of squirting whipped cream onto her syrup-laden pancakes. He
pressed up against her back and reached over to pluck the can from
her fingers.

“
Hmm, whipped cream,” he murmured, a seductive purr in his
voice.

She tipped her head back, letting it fall onto his chest,
exposing her throat, the pancakes forgotten as another hunger
speared through her.

The whipped cream didn’t actually make it back to the bedroom,
but nor did her clothes, or his, so it didn’t matter. He almost got
away with it, almost made her forget that he’d tortured her with
pleasure until she begged for mercy a few nights ago. She’d sworn
she’d return the favour, and now was her chance. She never fought a
battle unprepared, so her weapons were already in place. Two silk
scarves hung from one of her bedposts. She allowed his talented
mouth and hands to bring her to her first orgasm, lulling her
willing victim into the baited trap. He lay over her, eyes dark
gold with passion, drinking in the sight of her pleasure, ill
prepared for her assault. In a quick, fluid move she had him on his
back, and before he could anticipate her next move, his right arm
was bound to the ornate, wrought-iron latticework of her
headboard.

“
Lea,” he growled warningly, surging upward to run his tongue
across one nipple as she leaned over him to grab his other wrist.
She deftly avoided his marauding tongue and bound his other wrist
above his head. His smile was a touch sardonic as he moved his head
to look at the wrist with a raised eyebrow. She smiled, straddling
his chest. No, he wasn’t truly at her mercy, he could break the
bindings with the smallest tug, but she had a game plan.

“
Now,” she said, leaning down to nip his shoulder, “the rules
for tonight.” She nipped her way over his collarbone, loving the
way his body tensed and his breathing hitched.

“
Rules?” he hissed. He was being deceptively good; she knew
what he was planning, despite them both currently shielding their
emotions.

“
If you break my bed,” she said, trailing her hot tongue over
the cool skin of his chest, “or the bindings before I give you
permission,” she circled one flat, taut nipple with her tongue,
then grazed the tip with her teeth, making him groan, “then you get
dressed and go home immediately.” She was learning how to put a
purr in her voice and was quite pleased with her progress. “Do you
understand the rules?” she asked, practising the purr again. She
wriggled her body further down his, making sure to avoid letting
him cheat by thrusting into her before she was good and
ready.

“
You’re going to kill me,” he ground out from between clenched
teeth. She continued working her way down his body with her mouth
and teeth.

“
No, I’m going to make you beg,” she corrected, with a
deliciously evil grin.

CHAPTER 14

Gabi busied herself in her kitchen, making coffee with her new
espresso maker. She was grateful that it used coffee capsules. She
didn’t think she had the touch required to be a true barista, and
now she didn’t even have to grind coffee beans. She slotted a
Sumatra dark roast capsule into the machine and pressed a button.
In a few seconds a dark stream of fragrant coffee bubbled into the
waiting mug. The scent was delectable. She turned to put the mug
next to the plate of bacon, eggs and sausages in front of Mac at
her kitchen counter.

Rose was chatting cheerfully to Slinky and Rocky in the
bathroom as she cleaned, Julius was in his daysleep sprawled out on
her bed, and Razor was eyeing Mac’s plate of breakfast with
interest from the other side of the counter. Gabi’s lip twitched in
amusement as she slotted another mug under the spout of the coffee
machine. She selected an Ethiopian blend capsule, and once the
satisfying gurgle of hot coffee hitting the bottom of the mug
stopped, she set a milk pod into place and watched as the creamy
froth mixed with the rich dark coffee. Adding a squirt of caramel
flavour, she gave a gentle stir and went to join Mac at the counter
with her own plate of breakfast.

It had been a surprise to wake to a call from Mac, but she’d
been quick to give him directions to her house. His trip had given
her just enough time to grab a shower and catch up on her email and
some other office correspondence. She could’ve done with a few more
hours’ sleep, but she didn’t feel the effects of a four-hour night
as much anymore. Another score for Vamp-blood therapy.

“
Don’t forget to remind me when the hour is up,” she told him
again, glancing at the clock on the microwave. She’d negated the
powerful ward that protected the house so that Mac could come
inside unharmed, but the downtime only lasted about an hour, and
then the ward kicked back in automatically unless she deactivated
it again. A few people were keyed into the spell and could enter
unhindered; it was a short list that included Kyle, Rose, Byron and
Julius. She didn’t want to subject Mac to the magical kick it
rendered to anyone not on the approved list; she had it on the best
authority that it was an entirely unpleasant experience. Mac
grunted acknowledgement around a mouthful of food; then he lifted
the mug to his lips, and Gabi watched his eyebrows rise in
surprised appreciation.

“
Not bad,” he conceded, studying the contents for a moment
before taking another sip.

“
I told you it was good shit.” Gabi grinned, forking a piece
of sausage onto the counter for Razor, who purred as he seemed to
inhale it rather than eat it. His purr deepened as he looked
expectantly back at her plate. They all ate in companionable
silence for a few minutes, watching the flick of images from a news
channel on the small TV screen embedded in the fridge door. Gabi’s
little intuitive voice was telling her to be patient. Mac had
something to tell her; he just needed time to work up to it. He
emptied his plate almost as quickly as Gabi did, and as soon as
he’d taken his last mouthful, he rose and took both their plates to
the sink.

“
Leave them there. The dishwasher will do that,” Gabi told him
as he began to run water into the sink.

“
Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “And what are the chances of another
cup of that god-awful coffee?”

“
Ha,” Gabi snorted indignantly. “Insult my coffee machine and
she’ll burn the next cup.” But she snagged his mug and selected
another capsule from the box. With two cups refilled, they moved to
the sunny sitting room. Mac sank into one of her vintage-look
wingback chairs while Gabi took the sofa, curling her legs up under
her. Mac’s gaze went distant, and he wrapped his hands around his
mug, as though needing the extra warmth despite the morning
sun.

“
My first encounter with the supernatural,” he began, his
voice a little rougher than usual, “was a little less rounded than
your father’s, unfortunately.” He sipped the hot black coffee and
sighed. “I was walking home one evening and heard a commotion in a
vacant lot a few blocks from my apartment. I couldn’t just mind my
own business, of course, and went to see what was going on. Three
men had a middle-aged woman cornered, laughing and jeering. One
held a knife, another a baseball bat. I hesitated; I was only
nineteen and a bit on the scrawny side.”

Gabi raised an eyebrow in surprise at that, but held her
tongue.

“
I backtracked quickly, looking for something I could use as a
weapon. It probably saved my life, but not in the way I expected.
As I returned, I heard a cry and grunt of pain and thought I was
too late. To this day I can’t tell you what made me pause before
rushing in. I could say I wanted to assess the situation before I
did something stupid, but it wasn’t that. I stopped at the boundary
wall and looked cautiously back into the lot. What was unfolding
froze me. One of the men lay dead, his neck obviously broken. The
one with the baseball bat was on his knees; he was the one crying
and moaning. The third one…” He paused, sipping his coffee. “Well,
the middle-aged woman was holding him by the throat; his feet were
several inches off the ground, even though she was half a head
shorter than him. He was just dangling there. I’ll never forget the
look in his eyes. There was just enough light from the streetlights
for me to see his expression. She lowered him to the ground,
gripped him by the hair, tugged his head to one side, and then bit
into his neck.”