Читать книгу What A Demon Wants - Kathy Love - Страница 12

Ellina glared at her brothers.

“You know I hate it when you just appear like that,” she stated, ignoring their question. “Can’t you come to the front door like normal people?”

Pasha leaned a hip on her desk, which Ellina noticed brought Jude farther into the room, his gaze shifting back and forth between her brothers, gauging their slightest actions. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him it was okay. That the odd-looking twosome were her half brothers. But something stopped her.

“We aren’t normal,” Pasha said drawing her attention back to him. Boredom tinged with condescension filled his nearly white eyes. Not an unfamiliar look from her loving brother.

“And we aren’t people,” Andrey added, moving to browse her bookshelves with the same disparaging demeanor as his twin. Again, nothing new.

Ellina fought the urge to roll her eyes. Ask a stupid question…

“So who’s the guy?” Pasha asked again, gesturing to Jude with a jerk of his white head.

Ellina ignored the question, realizing why she hadn’t explained who they were to Jude. Then she’d also have to explain who Jude was, and she had no desire to tell these two that Maksim had hired her a bodyguard. They’d think it was a riot. Their silly half-breed sister who couldn’t take care of herself.

But this time, when she didn’t answer, Andrey stopped feigning interest in her books and turned directly to Jude, his black stare pinning the other man.

“Maybe you’ll tell us who you are, since our baby sister doesn’t seem so inclined.”

Jude stood rigid, his arms down at his sides, but he still looked poised to strike, and Ellina had no doubt he would, if necessary. That was what he was paid for, after all.

She also had no doubt he’d tell her brothers exactly who he was, and they’d find it all highly amusing.

But before Jude could answer, she piped in.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

What? Boyfriend? Had that really just come out of her mouth?

Wincing, she looked at Jude, expecting to see surprise, irritation, perhaps general disgust on his face. But instead he regarded her evenly, his sea-green eyes unreadable, his features placid, as if she hadn’t just said the most outrageous thing ever.

Then his features transformed again—and into another expression she was not expecting. He smiled. A full smile that revealed white teeth and that dimple, deliciously deep, at the side of his beautifully sculpted lips.

Jude offered his hand to Andrey.

Andrey stared at the offered hand, then turned to gape at Ellina. She sensed Pasha’s equally stunned look, even as her eyes remained locked on Jude. She was sure her own expression matched theirs.

She waited for him to deny it, even though his smile didn’t indicate he planned to contradict her preposterous claim.

“Well, well. A boyfriend.” Pasha tilted his head, so his paleness blocked her view of the still smiling Jude.

Not that the image wasn’t ingrained on her mind. That smile. Wow. The smile was almost as overwhelming as the craziness of her lie.

Ellina blinked, forcing her attention on her brother. She managed a smile of her own. “Y-yes. A boyfriend.”

She glanced around Pasha, questioning Jude silently with her eyes.

Jude moved away from the brothers, coming toward her, nothing in his expression answering her wordless question. In fact, he looked totally serene, as if what she’d said was nothing less than the truth.

He stopped beside her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his large form.

She glanced up at him, and he smiled down at her. God, not the smile again. It was—stunning. Lovely. Sexy. Yeah, they all fit.

She tried to collect her scattered thoughts, centering on his eyes, but they unnerved her just as much. Clearly they were causing her to hallucinate, because she could swear there was actually something akin to possessiveness in their green depths.

Bright green, now, like polished sea glass. A sigh escaped her, and she leaned toward him.

What the hell was she doing? What the hell was Jude doing? How were they going to pull off this stupid lie?

Ellina straightened away from him, determinedly keeping her attention on her brothers’ still bemused looks.

“When did this happen?” Andrey said, stepping closer to the other side of the desk. His perceptive gaze had shifted from surprise to suspicion.

Ellina glanced up at Jude. She wasn’t sure what to say. Okay, this was her fib…but it wasn’t a well-planned one. What did she say? What sounded even remotely believable?

But Jude didn’t even miss a beat, flashing another one of those dazzling smiles at her and then at her brothers.

He had to stop that if he expected her to follow along with this tall tale.

“It’s been kind of a whirlwind.”

Ellina blinked. Oh, he was good; whirlwind would be the most accurate description she could give of their relationship thus far.

“It’s really all very new,” she added.

Ellina could feel Jude looking at her, but she ignored him.

“Where did you meet?” Pasha asked, raising an eyebrow, the movement appearing nothing more than a shift of shadows, and Ellina could tell he didn’t believe this story one iota.

“In the living room,” Ellina answered automatically, then tried not wince at the stupidity of her response.

Okay, leave the story to Jude.

“I don’t think that’s what they meant, darling.” Jude shone another smile down at her.

She blinked again.

Mush. Brain mush.

Which was working in her favor—she was so muddled her demon side didn’t seem to be threatening an appearance.

“We were introduced through Maksim,” Jude said easily, turning his attention back to the twins, which allowed Ellina’s mind to function once again.

Both Andrey and Pasha nodded in that eerie unison that they often had. Again, Ellina got the impression they still didn’t believe a word. But she didn’t think it was her lame response that had them doubting. They were suspicious by nature.

Plus, given Ellina’s track record, why would they believe she had a boyfriend? Then again, why would they care?

Because they were meddlers. Troublemakers. Prankster demons.

And they seemed to live to torment their half-sister.

“I’ve known Maksim for a while,” Jude said. “I’ve been doing some work for him.”

Ellina tried not to react to that. Jude was getting pretty darn close to the truth, and she knew her half-brothers would pry.

“Really. What kind of work?”

Jude didn’t even hesitate. “I worked on the nursery for him. I’m a carpenter.”

Both brothers lifted their heads slightly in acknowledgment like synchronized swimmers surfacing out of the water. But plastered-on smiles weren’t part of their act. Doubt still shadowed their eyes as they studied Jude.

So she was surprised when they nodded again and suddenly lost interest in Jude, turning their full attention back to Ellina.

“Have you talked to Father?” Pasha asked.

Ellina frowned, confused by the shift in conversation. Or maybe it was because she was all too aware of each subtle shift of Jude’s body standing so close to hers.

“No. Why?”

“Daddy is not pleased with you,” Andrey said, toying with the edge of one of her piles of research notes. Ellina reached across the desk and slid the notes away from him. The movement not only protected her valuable, time-intensive research but also created a little distance between herself and Jude.

Her brother raised an eyebrow, but didn’t attempt to touch the stack of papers again. Instead he slipped his fingers casually into the front pockets of his jeans.

“Why? What’s going on with Dad?” Ellina asked, not really sure if she wanted the explanation in front of Jude or if she even wanted to hear it herself. Her father forever had issues with her.

“He’s not pleased with you,” Pasha said, his tone smug.

“In fact, he’s very angry,” Andrey added, his tone matching his twin’s.

“About what?” Ellina said, unmoved by their words and their self-satisfied expressions. They really were like naughty children, enjoying every minute of someone else getting into trouble.

“What do you think?” Pasha said, smiling smugly.

Ellina didn’t have to think too long or hard about that one. He’d been pretty clear in the past on what he thought of several things in her life. But one in particular really bothered him.

“Is he on another kick about my books?” she asked.

“Oh yeah,” Andrey said, a smirk tugging at one side of his lips. His midnight eyes twinkled.

These two did so love meddling, and Ellina would bet money their father hadn’t sent the twins here to inform her of this not-so-new news. They’d just taken it upon themselves.

But why? She was well, well aware of what their demon daddy dearest thought of her chosen career path.

“Well, I’ll take his opinion under advisement,” she said, then waited for her brothers to leave. After all, there didn’t seem to be any other reason for them to stay.

Both of her brothers just regarded her, tattletale glee still written on their faces.

Finally, when she realized they were content to do this indefinitely, she asked, “So why didn’t he come here to tell me in person? Sending lackeys doesn’t seem like Dad’s style.”

She waited for their smug smiles to disappear. The effect was almost instantaneous.

“Lackeys?” Pasha sputtered.

Their self-satisfied smiles transferred to her. She couldn’t hold back her grin. She knew that comment would get their goats.

“No need to be so sensitive,” she said, her smile widening. She knew it was petty, but she loved using one of their favorite placations back on them. How many times had they told her she was too sensitive about their often cruel little practical jokes? Her comment hardly compared to their open mockery over her half-breed status.

“We are no one’s lackeys,” Andrey said, his midnight eyes somehow growing even darker, as if his pupils were eating up the light around him.

Ellina knew she should stop, but instead she shrugged. “Sure seems like it to me.”

Pasha’s anger grew evident too, his pale skin also absorbing that light around them until he practically glowed. Both brothers glared at her, more than mere irritation filling their eyes.

Some of her satisfaction dissolved.

Okay, when would she learn? She should have kept her mouth shut. Not that she’d ever been great at that.

Now her brothers were beyond goaded, they were furious. Even Jude could tell that. His arm brushed against hers, as he positioned himself even closer to her, preparing himself to block her from attack, if necessary. She wasn’t sure it wasn’t going to be necessary

“How dare you, not even a full demon, say something like that to us?” Pasha said, although his voice no longer sounded exactly human. It was more like a guttural rumble echoing through her office like thunder.

“Have you forgotten who we are?” Andrey asked, his voice taking on the same unnatural quality. “What we are?”

That was a ridiculous question. How could she possibly forget? The demon half of her family never let her forget that she wasn’t a real demon, while the human half never let her forget she wasn’t a real human either.

But she didn’t say that. She’d pushed them too far, and it wouldn’t make things better to keep going. She knew the best course of action was to just let them rant and then, with any luck, they would leave.

Unfortunately Jude didn’t know the plan.

“Is that some sort of threat?” He moved forward just a bit.

Ellina elbowed him, but the subtle jab didn’t seem to register. Instead he continued to scrutinize the two demons, his expression calm, his muscles coiled.

Ellina should have been relieved that her brothers’ attention moved from her to her faux boyfriend. But she wasn’t. This couldn’t turn out well. Not unless she convinced Jude to zip it.

“It’s okay, Jude,” she said quickly, touching his arm. “Just a little sibling rivalry. Just harmless ribbing, really. Right, guys?”

She turned pleading eyes toward Pasha and Andrey. Her pained, worried expression seemed to please them, because the air shifted, some of their anger ebbing away, like water slowly swirling down a drain.

Well, a clogged drain maybe. And unfortunately Jude wasn’t taking her cue.

“Maybe you two should just go,” Jude said. “I don’t appreciate your veiled threats.”

Rage rose up in the air again. And now the drain was totally stopped up. Great. Ahh, if only there was such a thing as emotional Liquid-Plumr.

“You know, I think you should mind your own business,” Pasha said, his pale gaze eerier than usual. Iridescent and snapping with anger

“Ellina is my business.” Jude stepped away from her, coming around the desk to be on the same side as her brothers.

She followed, again touching his arm.

“Jude, you’re really making too much of this. It’s all fine. Right, guys?”

She gave her brothers another desperate look. This could be bad. Pasha and Andrey wouldn’t fight fair, and really, this situation wasn’t worth a brawl. They’d come here to taunt her—for reasons she still didn’t comprehend—and she should have let them do it and be done with them.

No good ever came from defending herself with these guys. Not that she ever learned that lesson. She always felt the need to get little digs in whenever she could. Maybe that was proof she was their sibling.

But she’d clearly learned she should just keep her mouth shut, especially with Jude here.

“I can’t believe you’re threatening a demon,” Andrey said almost conversationally, moving around the room, acting as if he was just casually pacing the room as he talked.

More fear crept up Ellina’s spine, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that ran through her as her gaze shifted back and forth between Jude and her brothers. Apparently feeling her worried looks, Jude glanced at her, just a quick flick of his eyes toward her, but that was all it took for Andrey to make his move.

He lunged, his attack nearly invisible, a barely there whir of motion. But to her amazement, before her brother’s lightning strike could even make contact, Jude threw a hand up, capturing Andrey by the neck.

With only one hand and no sign of exertion, Jude lifted Andrey off the floor until his feet dangled inches above the ground as if he was nothing more than a limp rag doll. Certainly not a tall, leanly muscled demon.

Andrey didn’t react immediately, clearly shocked. Then he dematerialized from Jude’s grasp like vapor disappearing through his fingers. Her brother reappeared on the other side of the room, his anger still intact, but now her sibling was visibly shaken.

Andrey started to lift a hand to his neck, then caught himself. He wouldn’t give Jude the satisfaction of that much reaction.

Ellina glanced to Pasha, who looked equally as wary of Jude, but his pale eyes still snapped and glowed.

“What are you?” he asked Jude.

Jude’s expression was calm, almost blank. He didn’t answer the question, but he did reply, his voice low and even. “I won’t let you hurt Ellina.”

Something unfamiliar curled through Ellina’s chest. A feeling between relief and something else she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Maybe a need to trust this man she barely knew. A longing to have someone to trust.

Pasha’s jaw tensed as if he was grinding his teeth. Clearly not the answer he wanted.

“What are you?” he repeated.

This time Jude didn’t answer at all.

Pasha and Andrey stared at Jude for several moments, the air in the room almost suffocating. Tension and male aggression seemed to be sucking the oxygen out of the enclosed space.

At least for the sole female.

“You know, I think we’ve all just gotten off to the wrong start here,” Ellina finally said, when it appeared that the men were going to be satisfied to just stare at each other indefinitely in some silent challenge.

It was almost on the tip of her tongue to add, Can’t we all just get along?

She suppressed one of her inappropriate laughs at the thought of throwing out a “where’s the love” sort of platitude. Now that would really piss all of them off, wouldn’t it?

“I think you need to leave,” Jude finally said, further positioning himself so she was shielded.

“I think you need to rein in your boy toy, Sis,” Andrey called to her over Jude’s broad shoulder. His eyes narrowed into disturbing black slits.

The laugh she’d already been repressing broke free in a startled burst. Boy toy? Really?

She knew the situation wasn’t funny, but boy toy? Could this whole encounter get any more absurd?

From her angle, Ellina couldn’t see Jude’s expression. But she noticed his muscles seemed to bulge under his skin as if he was itching to attack. Maybe being called a boy toy was a fighting word for him.

For whatever reason, that idea struck her as amusing too. This whole thing was crazy. Bratty brothers, fake boyfriends, the bandying about of terms like boy toy. It was all nuts.

And what was the point of these three men hell-bent on this stupid standoff like feral dogs, hackles raised, teeth bared? It was all ridiculous, really.

Ellina giggled, despite herself, and found all three men’s attention suddenly riveted on her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, which also struck her as amusing. What was she apologizing for? She didn’t even understand what was going on. But she did manage to keep her laughter in check. Just barely

Clearly the long writing hours and the new member of her household were pushing her to the edge. She clamped her lips tighter together.

“I’m glad you find this all so amusing,” Pasha said.

Andrey raised an unimpressed eyebrow.

Jude just frowned at her as if she’d lost her mind.

As she gazed from face to face, more laughter bubbled up in her.

All this machismo. And for what? Her giggle spilled over, sounding more like a strangled squeak than a laugh.

Of course, she must look quite mad. But it was ludicrously funny.

Well, briefly.

Then it wasn’t.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the vague swish of Andrey lifting his arms in an abrupt upward motion.

And with that simple gesture the room flew into utter chaos. Her many meticulously organized notes swirled into the air, eddying around her office like trash in a windstorm. Books soared off the shelves, hitting the floor and the opposite wall like cracks of thunder.

Ellina screamed, ducking, as a hardback, possibly her first bestseller, nearly hit her in the head. Jude grabbed her arm and half dragged/half threw her behind her desk, pushing her down to her knees.

But even with the barricade of the large desk, Ellina still had to cover her head to protect herself from the papers, pens, paper clips, and all the other odds and ends that had once been on her desk that now whipped around them like office supply projectiles.

A stapler glanced off Jude’s shoulder, but rather than falling to the ground it launched back into the air like a self-propelled torpedo. She cried out as several paper clips hit her arms, stinging like bees as they connected with her bare skin.

Jude positioned himself around her like a human cage, blocking further attack, but she could hear the items whacking the desk. The walls. Jude.

“Stop it,” she cried.

As if on her command, although she wasn’t naïve enough to believe it really was her doing, everything collapsed to the ground with a whooshing thud. The maelstrom vanished completely as if it never happened. The quiet was almost as jarring as the sudden eruption.

Jude didn’t move immediately; he stayed crouched over her, his large body protective, his heat warming her fear-chilled skin. And when he did move away, she oddly missed both feelings.

He gestured for her to remain down behind the desk.

After a moment, he said, “They’re gone.”

Slowly Ellina stood, taking in the mess around her. Her brothers appeared to have left, but they had the last word. As always. Of course, this wasn’t the first time she’d seen her office in such overwhelming disarray; it was becoming a pattern.

She stared at her destroyed office, her completely jumbled research notes littering the floor. All her hard work, strewn around, like nothing more than garbage.

She didn’t feel like laughing now.