Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae #1)(62)

Charity laughed, the dark cloud over her mood quickly lifting. Why couldn’t all friendships be this easy?

“I’ve got all the basics down,” Charity said. “I need to steal Devon’s CDs and figure out how to load them up. The computer doesn’t have a CD drive, though. Also…I haven’t seen any CDs lying around.”

“No, because it isn’t 2001. I thought he said he created a family plan with you when he bought everything. You should have access to his music subscription. I have one if you want to mooch off me—”

“When he bought everything?” Charity asked.

Macy paused. “The phone and computer, yeah. Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”

“He said Roger bought them.”

Macy froze with her eyebrows raised. “Oh. Ahuum.” She squinted with her eyebrows still raised, a weird expression that clearly implied she’d accidentally outed a secret.

Charity turned back to the pot. “Why would Devon buy me that stuff?” she murmured, warmth filling her chest despite herself. She was cool with him giving her emotional support, since that was his duty as alpha, and as Yasmine had said, he was damned good at his job. But this was…thoughtful. Disguising his kindness by giving someone else credit was even more so. It showed he had a big heart. It showed that he cared about the wellbeing of those around him, even when it wasn’t necessary.

“What are you making?” Macy asked, clearly seeing the need for another topic change.

“Oatmeal,” Charity said, happy for the continued distraction. “I have enough for you and Andy, if you want some?”

“Ew, no thanks. When’s Andy showing up?”

Devon entered the kitchen in sweats and a T-shirt, a coffee cup in hand. He made a beeline for the stove, as was becoming the norm.

“Devon, I need a word with you,” Macy said in a low voice, staring at her hands.

He ignored Macy as he glanced into the bubbling pot. “I’m getting tired of this stuff.”

“What did you eat before I made oatmeal for you?” Charity asked.

“Nothing. I didn’t eat breakfast.”

She gave him a blank stare, allowing him to realize for himself how ridiculous he was being.

Instead, he turned back to Macy. “We’ll speak after I have my shower and coffee.”

Silence filled the kitchen. Devon leaned against the counter, staring at Charity with a familiar expression. This was the way he’d looked at her that first night, when she’d been wearing Samantha’s dress. Those beautiful speckled eyes of his had a way of cutting right through her.

She lifted her eyebrows. “Can I help you?”

He didn’t so much as blink. It almost seemed like he was trying to solve a riddle.

“Staring is rude,” she muttered. “And obnoxious.”

“We need groceries,” he said as Yasmine walked in and stalled at the edge of the kitchen.

“Fascinating observation, Watson. I shall make a note,” Charity said, proud she’d kept the discomfort out of her tone. She wondered if Roger would give her an advance even though she was on a trial period. He had to know she needed it.

“I want to work out a deal,” Devon said, ignoring her comment. “I hate cooking. I figured I’d buy groceries if you cooked.”

That offer was too generous, especially now that she knew about the phone and computer. She was beyond grateful, but she was already at Code Red in the burden department. She didn’t want to put him out any more, not when he was perfectly fine with takeout and his current setup. Roger would definitely be open to an advance. He had to be.

“With school, sometimes I don’t have time to cook,” she lied, trying to find a polite way out of this. “I don’t know that I could hold up my end of the bargain.”

“Just make sure we have freezer stuff, then,” he replied.

“And then there’s the issue that you might not like what I make.”

“I’m not picky. I ate a mushroom the other day, remember?”

“Right…” She stirred the pot of oatmeal, which didn’t need nearly as much attention as she was giving it. “But I would have no way to get all the groceries.”

Devon shifted his stance, his patience drying up. “I’ll drive you, obviously.”

“It’s just…” Charity lowered her voice. “It’s not really fair if you help shop, buy, and don’t even get all your meals cooked. It’s kind of to my benefit, you know? I can’t accept that.”

Yasmine huffed in disdain. Charity’s face flared hot with embarrassment.

Devon didn’t notice. He leaned into her space, imposing upon her with his size and the power and energy coiled within him. She could feel his wolf begging to get out, flirting with her. Coaxing her.

“Stop making this complicated,” he growled, a command that shocked into her body. He was trying to quell her defiance by dominating her, like the alpha he was.

Fire licked up Charity’s middle. The unruly thing within her bloomed heat.

His nostrils flared and his eyes sparked. Electricity crackled between them. His eyes traveled her face before settling on her lips. She could almost feel them tingle.

“Will you do it or not?” His deep, rough voice coated her skin. “And stop trying to challenge me, Charity, or I’m going to answer.”