Chapter 99 Chapter 99
Shae read the same sentence for the tenth time. She couldn’t focus, all she could taste was Calum, even after brushing her teeth. All she could smell was Calum, even after practically sticking her nose in garlic powder to try to stop that. How long would this last? It was very distracting.
Even after washing last night, with soap, Nona had walked by and sniffed the air, then chuckled.
She stood in front of the mirror this morning staring at the bites on her breasts and blushing… her cheeks weren’t the only thing that heated when she touched the marks. That was lunacy. They were fresh wounds and should have hurt, not turned her on. She glared at the book and tried to clear her mind.
When her father and Brock stepped into the room behind Nona, the first thought in Shae’s mind was run! The expression on Nona’s face said much the same thing.
Setting the book down, she stood up slowly. “Dad, is everything all right with mom?” He gave her a blank look, almost as if it was weird for her to ask about her own mother.
“Yes. Fine.” He motioned to Brock, who stood beside Nona. “We’re here to set a date. Need to get this settled before your heat hits. I won’t have you whoring yourself.”
Opening her mouth, she shut it again quickly before she said the first thing that came to mind. Bite me, probably wasn’t the best reply. “I’ve been meaning…”
He walked over until he was right in front of her and lowered his head so they were almost eye to eye. “I won’t take any…” he inhaled slowly, his brow furrowed. He repeated the action only this time it was much more obvious that he was smelling her. “What have you done?”
Chalk one up to aunt talks-a-lot, it worked… Her fathers’ large hand connected with the side of her face before she could complete the thought. The pain radiated up to her eye. She refused to make a sound.
His eyes were full of hatred as he glared at her, “How dare you do such a thing…”
Nona made a noise of distress causing Shae to glance at her. Brock had a gobsmacked look on his face, not the hard, impartial look he always wore.
“Chief,” he barked and walked toward them, “this is for me to deal with.”
Her father glanced at him and gave an abrupt nod before giving her another loathsome look. “It will be gone in a few months, son, if there’s no permanent damage.”
Brock nodded, the expression on his face hard again. He stopped in front of her and looked down at her. “Give us a few minutes?”
Her father nodded, as he stepped back.
She looked up at Brock, daring him to just try it when he mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and his eyes softened into an expression she had never seen on his face before.
Glancing around him, she watched Nona and her father walk out of the house and close the door. When she looked back to Brock, he looked like he was going to cry.
“Are you okay?” His face scrunched up in concern as he tilted her chin up, “what a brutish thing to do.”
Shae’s face was throbbing and she could taste the blood as her lip swelled, but she just stood there stupefied, listening to him. His voice had gone up several octaves and he looked at her with a completely changed facial expression. Not just his expression, but he was like a whole different person.
“I’m so sorry,” he continued, “I’ve been trying to find a way to talk to you.” He wiped a hand across his brow, “this is a complete nightmare.”
Shae stepped back and held up her hand. “What?” Great rejoinder, but it was the only thing her brain could process to say.
He glanced over his shoulder and then looked bashful. “I like men.” He whispered, then practically giggled. “Imagine the horror that is me,” he motioned the air around himself. “Big scary he-cat,” his voice was lower again, “is gay!” he squeaked.
Shae covered her face, completely unsure of what to think, or do. Then, she dropped her hands away, mouth wide open. “You mean I didn’t have to sleep with…” She blushed.
His mouth made an O, then he covered it with his hand. “Naughty miss. You’ll have to tell me who later.” He sobered, “seriously, is your face okay?”
The throbbing of her mouth and jaw finally registered and she touched her painful lip. “I’m not sure. How bad does it look?”
“Oh, honey, it’s going to be a big puffed-up mess.” He came over to her and tilted her chin again. Clearing his throat, he glanced nervously toward the door. “He’s going to barge back in here at any second, so here’s the deal, I’ll buy us some time, you try not to anger him. Okay?”
She nodded. Seriously, what else could she do at this point? She’d had sex with a complete stranger for nothing. Her cheeks heated, okay, not nothing… more like a whole lot of amazing… The sound of the door closing snapped her out of it. She looked up at Brock, who winked at her then his face hardened into the face she was more familiar with.
“I’ll see how I feel about this in a few weeks’ time.” He said in a cold tone, then turned to face her father and Nona.
Shae just stood there, frozen, staring at the floor, not sure what else to do.
“I understand, son. I appreciate you are willing to try. You’re a better man then I am.”
Shae hiccupped, tying to swallow a giggle at that comment.
“If your done here, Chief, I’d like to look after your daughter’s face.” Nona said in her ‘you are excused’ tone.
Shae didn’t look up until she heard the door closed.
Nona practically ran over to her. “Oh, look what he did to you…” She pulled a cloth out of her pocket and dabbed at the blood Shae assumed must be running down her chin.
“Nona…” Where did she start?
“I know, child, if I’d ever thought he would…”
Shae grasped her hand lightly to stop her. “Brock is not who we thought he was.”
“Heh, an asshole?”
Shae shook her head. “No. He’s gay.”
Nona froze and looked up at her. “He likes… men?”
Shae nodded, and tried to smile, but it hurt.
Nona covered her mouth, her eyes glittering with humor. “Oh, my god, child, that boy needs a medal. The Chief has no idea, does he?”
Grinning, pain or not, Shae nodded. “His voice is… well… it sounds like Aunt Louisa’s when he’s not pretending.”
Nona started laughing so hard, tears started running down her face.
The door flew open and banged against the wall. Aunt Marilyn stood there leaning against the frame, gasping to catch her breath. “Saw them coming down…” she huffed out a breath, “my lungs…” she stepped into the room, “ran my ass off…” she looked from Nona to Shae, her eyes moving over her face. “Oh, my stars, baby Shae, what did he do?” Slamming the door, she hurried into the room. “Nona, go get me the meat fork. I’m stabbing it in that man’s heart.”
Nona started laughing harder, bending over, and grasping her ribs.
Marilyn stopped and looked at her. “Have you gone mad, woman?”
Nona shook her head and waved a hand at Shae.
She looked back to Shaelan, her eyes wide.
“We just…” she tried hard not to laugh, “Brock is gay,” she whispered between giggles.
“He’s gay?” Marilyn gave her an odd look, then her mouth dropped. “Oh, you mean he prefers…” she looked at Nona, then to the door. “Your father doesn’t know, does he?”
Shae shook her head.
“Oh. Oh, now I understand the laughing.” She wiped her brow. “Whew! I thought you had finally lost your minds.” Panting out a breath, “I’d laugh, but I still can’t breathe.” She smacked Nona on the arm. “Go get this girl something for her mouth, be a healer.” She tilted Shae’s chin up to look, “and get me a drink. I damn near died running up here.” She frowned and then hugged Shae suddenly. “He had no right touching you.” She grasped her shoulders and jerked her back so quickly Shae almost tipped over, “Your father hit you, right, not, Brock?”
Shae sighed, “Yes it was, dad. I thought Brock was going to cry.”
“I think I need to have Brock come for tea sometime, soon.” She chuckled, “He had me fooled.” She snorted, “he has everyone fooled.” She frowned, “Dammit, I’ve been outdone.”
Nona came back in, “I think you’re missing the point, Mari.”
Aunt Marilyn dropped her hands away and took the water Nona held out. “The point?” She took a sip, then turned and looked at Shae, then her eyes widened. “Oh. The green-eyed one.”
“We sent her down there to sleep with a man and didn’t have to.” Nona dabbed at Shae’s lip with something ointment.
Her aunt went and sat down. “I don’t think Shae is complaining it happened…” She inhaled slowly, “and I’d say that potent devil did the job thoroughly.”
Shae’s face heated.