“To be very honest, Yager, I want Neecy to take over. But in the end, it’s Skuld’s decision. Second in commands don’t automatically get picked to lead. All I could do was recommend her.”
Yager leaned back in the seat and Didi was glad she liked good, sturdy wood furniture or he’d destroy the damn thing. “So when are you done?”
“No matter who they choose, the transition will take a few months. Then, of course, a party.”
“When don’t you guys end something with a party?”
“Now, now. Don’t be bitter. But let’s face it. A group of crows is a ‘gathering’.
While a group of ravens is ‘an unkindness.’ ” Yager threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, I see. Trying to get on my good side, huh?”
“I am charming, aren’t I?”
“But you guys always seem to forget the ‘murder of crows.’ ”
“Well, that would be redundant.”
An abrupt knock on her door cut into their conversation. “Yeah?”
Delia stuck her head in. “Uh…” Her eyes strayed to Yager.
“What, Delia?” Delia knew she had no patience with long pauses. She hated that.
“What is it?”
Delia started chuckling and couldn’t seem to stop. “Uh…Neecy…um.”
“What about her?”
Delia cleared her throat. “Um…I need that stuff you put on scrapes. She’s got kind of a little…uh…” She looked down at the floor and laughed harder.
Embarrassed, Didi glanced at Yager. She bet he never had to deal with giggling Ravens. “Delia?”
Shaking her head, she pointed down the hallway.
“Lord, the shit I put up with.” Didi pushed away from her desk and stood up. She walked out of her office, knowing Yager trailed behind her because he only had to hear Neecy’s name and the guy’s entire body tensed up.
Didi heard them before she even opened the kitchen door. Laughing.
Yelling. Rowdy bitches.
Pushing the door open, she froze. Neecy held her hand up. “Don’t freak out.”
“What the fuck happened to your face?”
“Katie nailed her with a roundhouse kick,” Janelle said from her seat on top of the kitchen counter. The girl never used a chair if she could help it. “Bam! And she was out.”
“You blacked out?”
“Just a little. Nothing to sweat about. I mean, these are just scrapes.” She waved at her bloody cheek. “No big deal. I got these when I hit the floor.”
“And a juicy size knot on the side of her head from Katie’s tiny little feet.”
Neecy glared at Janelle. “Ya know, you could enjoy this a little less.”
Janelle grinned. “You’re right. I could.”
Neecy glanced around the kitchen for something to chuck at Janelle when she saw him, leaning against the doorframe and staring at her.
Their eyes locked and Neecy felt Yager move all through her body. The way he examined her face, she could almost feel his big fingers brushing the scrapes across her cheek, checking the size of the lump on her head.
So busy devouring everything about Yager, it took Neecy a moment to realize the Crows had gone completely silent. They were staring at her and Yager.
“I’m going to go and…uh…” Christ, when did she start having trouble speaking?
She was a professor. She spoke to groups of people everyday. But now she was a verbal mess…and she blamed Yager.
Pointing at the ceiling, “Gonna shower.” Neecy turned and headed out the other kitchen door that lead to the back hallway.
Neecy didn’t look at Yager again as she took the backstairs up to the second floor. She walked into her room, closed the door behind her, and stood there for a good two minutes wondering what the hell was wrong with her. This wasn’t like her. When she saw Yager all she wanted to do was go to him and let him put his arms around her. She wanted him to take care of the scrapes on her face, kiss the rapidly growing knot on the side of her head. She wanted him to kiss her forehead and tell her she would be okay. He’d make it feel better.
Christ, when did I become such a pussy?
Now thoroughly angry and disgusted with herself, Neecy ripped off her clothes and went to her bathroom. She turned on the shower, adjusted the temperature, and stepped in. She slapped her hands against the cold tile and leaned her head under the showerhead. Closing her eyes, she tried to push out any needy feelings she had about anybody or anything.
She didn’t need anybody except her sisters. And, hell, they needed her more than the other way around.
Taking a deep soothing breath, Neecy had just begun to relax when the shower door slammed open. She spun around, immediately swinging her left fist, but it hit one big palm.
“Goddamn it, Yager!” She pushed wet hair out of her face. “How did you get in here?”
“You didn’t lock your door. Besides, Didi said ‘Don’t just stand there…go after her.’ So I did.”
At some point, she really would kill that woman.
“Well, out! As you can see, I’m a little bit indisposed at the moment.”
As always, Yager ignored her, instead reaching into the shower and sliding his hand behind the back of her head. He pulled her forward and looked long and hard at her bruised cheek.
“You sure you’re okay, baby? Janelle said you took a really bad hit.”
“I’m…” She gulped hard so she didn’t lose her voice. “I’m fine, Yager. Thanks.”
Still gently but firmly gripping her head, he whispered, “Come home with me.”
“Why?”
“Because you said you wouldn’t do anything sexual here. So come home with me.” He leaned into the shower, completely ignoring the fact that he was getting wet in the process, and brushed his cheek against her unhurt one. So gently, she barely felt it…but she felt it enough. “I promise I’ll make you feel better,” he whispered against her ear.
Her entire body shook. “Yager…”
“Come home with me, Neecy.” His lips barely touched hers…but they touched them enough.
Christ, she shouldn’t do this. She knew Yager wanted more than just a sexual relationship. And if she were to be honest with herself, she was starting to feel that way, too. But she didn’t want to want that. It was dangerous. He was dangerous. Her feelings for him were dangerous.
“Yager, if I come with you now, I’ll be gone by the time the sun comes up.”
He grunted and shrugged, but then he kissed her and she stopped caring.
Yager stared down at the woman sprawled out next to him. Neecy Lawrence could really take over a bed when she slept. But he liked it. One of her legs stretched across his, one arm lay across his waist, and her head rested against his chest, her breath tickling his nipple.
He really didn’t know what to do about her. Neecy made it all so difficult.
Brushing her black hair off her face, Yager winced at the bruises on her cheek.
He hated to see her in pain. He felt it as surely as if someone had kicked him in the head. But he couldn’t tell Neecy that. Anytime he tried to get close, she backed away. Anytime he tried to make this deeper than sex, she ran.
He sighed. He didn’t want this anymore. True, he still wanted Neecy, but he wanted her like this. All the time. He wanted to be able to go to sleep and not worry she’d be gone when he woke up. Hell, he wanted a date. To the movies and dinner. Something simple and fun, ending with mind-‐blowing fucking. It seemed so simple to him, but Neecy made sure nothing was simple. It was like she couldn’t help herself.