Continued from:
The Arc
The Arc: 2
I stepped out of the bathroom clad in nothing but a towel. I’d been too tired to worry about walking the three extra feet it took to get to my bedroom and get fresh clothes. When I got to my room, however, it was empty. The bed was turned down, but no one was in sight. With a shrug, I walked over to my long chest of drawers and pulled out an oversized t-shirt. On, the shirt hung almost past my knees. So much for trying to make five three seem big.
Alone, I crawled into my bed. Usually, the wereleopards and I slept like one big pile of puppies. Naked and all. Well, I was clothed, everyone else was naked. In this house, no one ever got dressed unless I told them to. I would never be that comfortable with my nudity. Casual nakedness, like sex, just isn’t my boat. Sorry, folks.
Once I drew the curtains closed and snuggled down into my comforter, I felt the bed shift in weight. At the same time, I felt warmth to the front of me and the back. My body stiffened slightly and a hand touched my shoulder soothingly.
“It’s okay, Anita. It’s Micah and Nathaniel,” I heard Micah’s voice say by my ear.
With that new knowledge, I wrapped my arms around Nathaniel in front of me, breathing in the scent of vanilla. It was the ordinary position when we slept in the same bed. I was dominant to Nathaniel; therefore I took the dominant place and spooned against his back. But now, Micah drew his arms around my waist to pull me flush against him. He was the perfect match for spooning with me. He was exactly my height, exactly my size. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m so attracted to Micah Callahan, newfound Nimir-Raj of the Blooddrinkers Clan. It felt good to have someone around who knew what they were doing now and again.
All the thoughts and events of the day rolling through my head faded away like a thin fog as I slipped into a somewhat peaceful sleep.
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I didn’t even realize the phone had rung until I felt the bed shifting and heard Micah’s sleep-doused voice over me. “Blake residence.
“No. She’s sleeping right now and I don’t think it’s best to wake her.”
I opened my eyes in time to see him glance down at me.
“Hold on a second,” he said distantly. He pushed the receiver into the mattress where Nathaniel would have been if he hadn’t already gotten up. Micah gave me a lazy smile and I returned it, inwardly laughing at his ruffled hair. It was a giant, dark, curling mass.
All I could think to do was draw his face down to mine and kiss him, lightly. “Good morning to you too,” he said, drawing back. “You want to take the phone?”
“What time is it?”
“Eight thirty.”
“Who is it?”
“John Meyers?”
I closed my eyes, vaguely remembering the name from earlier last night. I’d had six hours of sleep and felt as close to great as I would ever get. All I did was nod in response and Micah placed the phone in my open palm.
“Anita,” I said and let out an unexpected huff as Micah flopped back down next to me. He re-wrapped his arm around my waist and drew me back against him as I held the phone to my left ear, because my right was pushed into the pillow still.
“Miss Blake. Or is it Ms.?”
“Ms.,” I corrected. He was too young and didn’t know me well enough to know my peeve. I was Ms. Blake, not Miss.
“This is John Meyers. I’m with Hellboy.” He explained himself like he was much older and I had never met him before. Had I underestimated his age? Naw.
“Yes. We met last night. What is it you need, Agent Meyers?”
Micah chose that point in time to bite gently on the nape of my neck, causing me to moan.
“Ms. Blake? Did I... interrupt something?” His voice was suddenly shaky and a bit amused.
“No. I’m sorry. I really did just wake up. Now what is it?” I nudged my elbow into Micah’s abdomen. I smiled triumphantly when he grunted in surprise.
“Well, we were hoping you could come by. So that we can talk to you about the situation here. Hellboy thinks it’s important you know. Says you seem to be one of the bigger people in town.”
“I don’t know about bigger,” I said. It was true. In the literal sense, I was one of the smaller people. 5'3" is not impressive. Especially next to most of my friends. “But I am one of the meanest and I kill something big and bad about three times a year these days. I suppose you’re better off talking to me than you are the cops. Granted, if it’s big enough, I’ll take it to a friend or two.”
“You’ve seen our team Ms. Blake,” he said, voice a bit worried. “You can’t imagine the reaction they’d have if they saw Hellboy or Abe–“
”Don’t preach to the choir, Meyers. I know the situation, and I know what the reaction will be to seeing a seven foot tall bright red demon. Trust me, it’s been worse here.” I felt Micah staring at the side of my head with a confused look on his beautiful face. I waved him off and rubbed my closed eyes. I’d tell him more later.
“Fine, Ms. Blake. But know that we all have to cooperate here. When can you come?”
“Give me an hour, maybe less. I’ll be bringing company.” I didn’t even say goodbye. I just hung up. It was a habit that Dolph had gotten me into and I hated it.
When I looked back over my shoulder at Micah, he was clearly waiting an explanation. “I’ll tell you in the car. Just get dressed.”
The Arc: 4
Stumble!