night when you fell?”
He touched his forehead at the hairline. “I got a bit of a bump, but it’s no big deal.”
“Let me see.”
“Sandy, it’s really not necessary.”
“Are you going to argue with me or be a good boy?”
He smiled despite himself. “If I’m a good boy do I get a lollipop?”
“We’ll see. Sit down.”
He sat on the edge of his leather sofa. It was the same spot where Eden had been magically restrained twelve hours earlier. Sandy pushed his hair back so she could see the small cut better.
“Am I going to live, doctor?” he asked.
“Luckily, you seem to have a mutantly hard head to take any blows.”
“Thanks. So what’s required? A Band-Aid?”
Sandy’s fingers slid farther into his hair. “No, but I think I can help a little.”
He was about to protest. He didn’t want her to use any magic on him, even if it was just to heal a cut. It felt wrong to him. But then he felt her lips brush against his forehead and a breath caught in his throat.
“Sandy. .”
“See?” She smiled. “All better.”
“Strangely it does feel much better.”
“I’m very good at my job.”
“And how about this.” He touched her bruise.
“The same treatment might help,” she said.
He nodded, then took her face in his hands and brushed his mouth softly over her cheek.
“Much better,” she managed.
“First aid is a good thing.”
“It is.”
He’d noticed her mouth before — couldn’t help it, really. Full lips. Lush, in fact. And she never wore any bright lipstick, just a touch of gloss to bring out the naturally pink color. He couldn’t help himself. He pressed his lips against hers and kissed her. A small moan escaped her throat as her mouth opened to his.
A moment later she pushed him away, her cheeks reddening.
“Whoa, we can’t do that,” she said, scrambling back from him.
He touched his mouth, surprised by what had happened as much as she was.
“Why not?” He stood up from the sofa feeling a bit unsteady on his feet all of a sudden.
“Malleus members are not allowed to. . well, not with other members. It’s unprofessional and distracting. That’s why it’s against the rules.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous or not they’re very strict about it.”
“You’re not even a member. You’re a consultant.”
“Still. If Oliver found out, he’d. .” She swallowed hard.
“He’d what?” Anger returned to Ben right on schedule.
“He’d be mad. Besides, you’re in love with. . with Eden. Right?” Sandy looked away. “I get that. It’s why you want to save her so badly. It’s okay, really. It’s easier that way for me.” She grabbed her purse, which had fallen to the floor. “Look, I need to go. Let’s just forget this ever happened.”
“Sandy. .”
But she wasn’t sticking around to discuss their kiss, or the fact Ben suddenly wanted to kiss her again.
“I’ll see you later,” she said.
Sandy went out the door and shut it behind her. A second later he opened it, but he didn’t chase after her. She was in a hurry to go, and he wasn’t going to stop her from doing what she needed to do.
He wiped a hand over his forehead, which had suddenly started to ache again. And his forearm itched. He wished the brand would just heal up, already. He’d refused any and all magical remedies. Just because he’d chosen to become a member of the Malleus, didn’t mean he necessarily believed in some of their practices.
Especially when some of those practices including striking women like Sandy for not living up to expectations. As a cop, Ben had witnessed his share of abused women, and it never got easier. Abusers, to Ben, were as bad as demons. Unfortunately, the most you could do with a wife beater was to throw him in jail. Couldn’t exorcise him, even though that would solve a whole lot of problems.
Damn it. He couldn’t just stay here and do nothing, waiting for Oliver to get in touch and give him permission to leave his house. It was his life, after all. And he would do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And he wanted to make sure Eden was okay.
He scratched his brand again. It allegedly gave him extra strength, the ability to sense the otherworldly, and the power to exterminate them easier than the average Joe.
Ben wasn’t sure what he’d do the next time he was face-to-face with Eden’s demon, but he was damn sure he’d do the right thing. Whatever the hell that was.
After staring down his share of murderers, rapists, and arsonists, Ben knew he could tell the difference between good and evil. Darrak was evil. Ben had no doubt about it.
He grabbed his keys and left through the front door, locking it behind him. His old black Chrysler LeBaron was parked in the driveway. He slid a key into the lock.
“Excuse me,” a voice said from behind him. “Are you Ben Hanson?”
“I am.” He turned to see a tall man who looked to be in his late twenties standing there. The man had tanned skin and sleek black hair tied back from his face. “Who’re you?”
“I’m a friend of Darrak’s,” the man said with a grin.
Ben frowned. “You’re a—”
Pain suddenly washed over him, and a moment later he felt nothing.
Eden was concerned they wouldn’t be able to get Andy released without a lot of questions. Darrak had a funny feeling she might try to use some of her magic again to “persuade” the doctor.
He wouldn’t let that happen. She’d used enough black magic for one day. More than enough.
He had his own way of persuading the doctor.
It did help that she was a woman — and one that was remarkably susceptible to his charms.
He still had it. Good to know.
Eden just shook her head as Darrak wheeled Andy out of the room after a five minute chat with the doctor.
“Ex-incubus,” he said simply.
“And that explains everything?”
He shrugged, and grinned a little wickedly at her. “It’s a miracle you can keep your clothes on around me. I’m usually impossible to resist. As was just proven with Dr. Anderson.
“Congrats. You know, I did introduce you as my husband. It’s so wonderful to see she didn’t have a problem with that.”
“I guess humans and werewolves are similar when it comes to their views of infidelity.”
“Not all humans.”
He couldn’t really read her expression at the moment. Sure, he had a way with women, but it wasn’t as if he’d proved it time and time again. Since he’d possessed Eden, he’d barely looked at anyone else.
Some ex-incubus he was.
Andy had nothing to add to the conversation, although Darrak couldn’t blame him. He’d just discovered he was the latest werewolf citizen of the greater Toronto Area.
Andy would deal. After all, he had Eden helping him.
Darrak had been mildly surprised by the depth of her concern over the guy. Sure, they worked together and seemed friendly enough, but her reaction to his phone call and then the pain in her eyes earlier as he learned of his condition — well, she cared about him a lot. It was obvious.
