Misinformed: Chapter Eight

For a while, it seemed like the world didn’t stop. Silas had so many jobs he could barely go home to shower and change. Sophie was busy too, her family came and she went home for a few days while everything with the hit and run was filed and investigated. School was getting busy as the end of the semester was approaching. Work was also a thunderstorm and Mr. Beauchamp asked Sophie to not only assist him but Mr. Makepeace as well.

The place was quiet, neither one could tell when they were coming or going. The house felt like a lonely place, empty and cold. Their mornings they spent passing each other by one their routes was a memory. He was working late, she was getting up earlier to make sure Persephone got her walk. It was Persephone who was the only one who got to see them both, and even then it wasn’t enough.

Silas would come home and she’d be waiting on him, get her affection and then he’d either try to sleep or go to the gym.

One day he came home and Persephone wasn’t around. She was always there, so it was puzzling. He was sure Sophie wasn’t home, the car she started driving after the incident wasn’t in the driveway. As he moved around his apartment and placed his things back into the safe he heard shuffling around upstairs. Maybe Persephone was asleep.

“Persephone! Don’t go down the stairs!” It was a girl’s voice, but neither Sophie’s or the selkie’s.
He stepped onto the stairs as Persephone came for him, up above he saw a young girl. She had dark, short hair, and eyes like steel. Her brow arched and slipped her hands into the pockets of her jacket as her gaze narrowed on him.

“Oh, you’re the orc neighbor,” she said.

“And you might be?” Silas snarled at her.

“Surprise, surprise my sister never mentions me,” the girl said as she leaned on the doorframe. Behind her another dog stalked and sat beside her. She looked like Persephone, but much bigger and eyes a brighter shade of gold.

“Sister,” he scoffed. “Ari?”

“Oh, so maybe she has mentioned me in passing.” Ari eyed him closely, studying him for the longest time. Her gaze wasn’t like her sister’s. It was a harder stare, a person staring down their enemy sort of look. 

“You pulled her out of the way,” she said, neither asking or stating, surmising really.

“Yes,” he replied in kind, rubbing Persephone’s ears.

Ari’s eyes flicked up, meeting his own gray one. “Why?”

Why did this little wolf set his teeth on edge? Something about her made him question if she and Sophie really came from the same litter.

“Why?” He echoed back.

Ari shrugged and turned to the other dog. “You like her?” She asked.

Silas scowled up at her. “Does it matter? Shouldn’t you be grateful I saved her at all?” He scoffed as Persephone happily rubbed herself against his palm.

“You look like a villain, talk like one too from what I’ve witnessed,” Ari chuckled. “Yet your actions don’t add up. You act like some sort of hero.”

His eyes narrowed on her and she returned the gaze in kind. “I don’t claim to be either, girl.”

“What? Did you grow up eating Clint Eastwood movies?” Ari snorted. 

Silas rolled his eyes at her. “What are you trying to do exactly? Size me up? What are you? Twelve? Eleven?”

Ari’s eyes and nostrils flared and she stomped her foot. “I’m sixteen!” She snapped. “Just because I’m short doesn’t mean I’m a child.”

“Sixteen is a still a child,” Silas chuckled.

Ari sneered and her lip curled up over her teeth. “Well this child could kick your ass if she wanted to.”

Silas smirked. “I’m so certain.”

“Then you’re on the list.” She waved her hand. “Well, I did my job. Gotta go.”

He frowned. “Job?”

Ari nodded. “Sophie asked me to walk Persephone. Said I should keep an eye on her from time to time and let her play with Hela,” her hand rested on the giant dog sitting beside her. “So don’t try and kill me if I’m here again,” she said as she turned and left.

Hela stared down at Silas before following her master.

Persephone licked happily at Silas’s face as he listened to the girl leave and lock the door. 

“Sister, huh?” He scratched under Persephone’s chin. “I prefer the one who lives here.” 

Silas went back into his bedroom and took off his clothes. They stunk of the club he went into. Cigar smoke and beer, the fruity cocktail a drunk girl spilled all over him. The night was hard, he felt as tight and pulled as piano wire. His replacement leg didn’t help things. It was old and uncomfortable. The straps dug into his skin and the cup where his knee sat was made of old rubber and it chafed him as well as made him sweat. He also had only had about ten hours of sleep under his belt for the entire week.

He had to go to Beauchamp’s office that evening. Something he wasn’t looking forward to, never did, but even less now. He didn’t trust Beauchamp’s intentions with Sophie, and his gut told him that it was Beauchamp who was responsible for the hit and run.

Silas sighed, rubbing his eyes and laying back in bed. He thought about the wine he and Sophie shared. Her bed and her chilled fingers on his bare skin. He closed his eyes then opened them quickly, setting the alarm on his clock and then easing back.



Sophie was working later than ever that evening. Isla managed to find somewhere still open and brought them food so greasy the paper bag was transparent. Their work spread out as far as the eye could see like dead soldiers on a battlefield.

“Thanks,” Sophie replied as she shoved food into her mouth.

“If they’re going to work us to death the least they could do is feed us,” Isla grumbled as she settled back in. “I feel like I haven’t been home in ages. Let alone eaten something that didn’t come out of cardboard or a paper bag.”

Sophie grimaced as she scratched at her hairline. “I can barely remember what my bed feels like,” she grumbled. “I feel like all I do is become unconscious then wake up somehow already at school or here.”

“Too bad, I was hoping you were going to say you’d been sleeping with that big bad orc of yours,” Isla teased.

Sophie pouted, unfocusing on the work in front of her as silas took over her thoughts in that moment. “I haven’t seen him either,” she scoffed. “I’m starting to think we was just a dream I had the last time I was able to sleep.”

“When was the last time you saw him?” Genuine concern on something other than the hit and run was a welcome turn.

“Not long after the incident,” Sophie replied. “He’s pretty much in the same boat I’m in. He’s covered up with work.”

“Hm,” Isla huffed through her nose.

“What’s that about?” Sophie asked as she closed a file.

Isla shook her head. “Oh, nothing.” She ate a bite of her food. “I just think it’s a shame. So busy and all, so much stress you wouldn’t have-” she shook her head. “Never mind, it’s none of my business.”

“What?” Sophie growled. “You think everything is your business. I don’t believe that for a second. Spill.”

“You don’t have a stress ball,” Isla said between bites. “I’m just saying that the big bad orc would make a good stress ball.”

Sophie threw her hands in the air. “I don’t have time to destress! I’m studying when I’m not working, and when I’m not doing either I’m at school probably doing all three at the same time. And in those few moments I’m running between them I’m trying to not get hit by a car!”

Isla took off her glasses and turned to Sophie. “Well, when the holidays pop up and you can sit down and breathe, sit down on his-” Sophie threw a fistful of french fries at her before she could finish.

Sophie then stood up and stacked the files she finished sorting. “I’m taking these to Mr. Makepeace and then hopefully I can go home.”

The office was dark as she walked down the hallway. Everyone was home. She walked into Mr. Makepeace’s office, seeing him languishing over a case file.

“I thought you could use this,” She said. “It’s the defendant's bank records. I managed to find them buried with all the other evidence. I think his lawyers were trying to stuff it into the back of everything.”

“I fucking hate fraud cases. I especially fucking hate rich people,” Thomas scoffed, scratching at his chin, which was long over do for a shave. 

He then eyed Sophie as she tried to suppress a knowing smirk. “I know I’m rich, Ms. Starling,” he sneered at her own rich family. “But you know my family.” He hesitated when he realized what that meant.

Sophie brushed it off, her nod a sharp one. “Have you been able to go home at all, Mr. Makepeace?”

“Why the hell would I ever want to go there?” He groaned. “My girlfriend left me, my brother is stinking up my couch, and my sister...well,” he snorted.

“Is the divorce still…?” She wasn’t sure why she was even asking after the woman who made her life hell for a year after escaping her horrid child.

“It’s a bloody war,” Thomas murmured. “Thank god I’m family and don’t have to dirty my hands with it.” He smiled as he looked over the folder. “This was good work digging this up,” he then set it aside and looked up at Sophie. “You know, I’ve been looking for a decent assistant. If you ever wish to leave Beauchamp I can pay you well.”

Sophie was surprised, her eyes widened as he asked. “Oh but-”

“Now I know your family and my family have...well let’s face it you have every right to hate me,” Thomas started. “But you have potential in this work and I can show you and help you with things I think you’d be good at, Ms. Starling and I-”

“No no,” Sophie laughed. “No, I’m not talking about...about all that in the past. And, I don’t hate you Mr. Makepeace, please don’t think I would! I meant, what about Isla?”

“Oh!” Thomas leaned back into his chair. “Well, she’s graduating after all,” he answered. “I’ll be hiring her on as a lawyer soon. She can’t be my assistant and my pitbull at the same time.”

Sophie smiled, “oh, right,” she nodded. “I mean...it is tempting, Mr. Makepeace, don’t get me wrong. I do admire your work but I-”

Thomas rolled his eyes, “Beauchamp right?”

“I feel like I owe him. Plus I’m renting from him, don’t want him raising my rent on me,” she shrugged.

“Offer stands,” Thomas replied. “I’d hate to see you turn into someone like Beauchamp,” he adds. “You’re an honest to god good person.”

“Thank you,I really appreciate hearing that,” Sophie smiled. “If that’s all you need tonight I think I’ll go home.”

“One second,” Thomas leaned across his desk. “If you are ever concerned,” he murmured, “just come to me.” He glanced out his door, across the hall at Beauchamp’s door. “I know you’re worried right now, you have good reason to be. If there’s ever any doubt in your mind, speak it to me.”

It was a relief to hear that, a question on her mind she wouldn’t dare ask answered. “Yes,” she whispered back. “I would really appreciate the ear.”

“I know my partner and his ways, that’s partly why I brought him on as partner but I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him.” He gave Sophie and smile. “Now go home. You’ve earned it.”

She nodded and turned, heading for her desk at the front of the office.

As she was heading to her desk to gather her things she saw Mr. Beauchamp’s light was still on. As she walked towards the door to tell him good night she heard voices inside. She hesitated and listening through the crack of the door.

“-was stolen and the plates were switched. When I tracked down the actual car the tags belonged to all I found was a little old man who only drove the damn thing on Sundays. He never even knew the plates were gone.” His voice was dark and hushed, a husky rasp like walking on gravel.

“And the car itself?” Beauchamp asked.

“I’m still tracking it down. There are still a few homes they own I haven’t been able to gain access to. But I’m fairly certain it’s there. They won’t get rid of it until after the holidays.”

Beauchamp scoffed. “I need the evidence, Silas. Without it, I won’t have what I need.”

“To protect the girl,” Silas stated threateningly.

“Of course to keep Sophie safe,” Beauchamp’s voice as unreadable as ever. “But you must understand, I have to work it from every angle. I have so much riding on the line here.”

“I know your angle, Beauchamp,” Silas growled. “All you do is shove your fingers into pies.”

Beauchamp chuckled. “I pay you for your results and your silence Silas. Please do both.”

Sophie held her breath and hid behind the door as it opened up. She watched as Silas walked away, his back turned towards her and wrapped in a leather jacket. She wasn’t sure why she was afraid to move and call out to him. She wasn’t sure at all what she heard, she just knew she didn’t like it. She felt kept in the dark and hidden away.

She pulled herself away when she heard Silas’s motorcycle speed away. She darted away from Beauchamp’s door and made her way outside. Her brother, Mateo, loaned her his car and on a cold night like this, she was grateful for it. She couldn’t imagine that Silas enjoyed driving that motorcycle in such horrible cold.

At home, Persephone was waiting eagerly. There was a note left by her sister. Their mother sent along some food and it was in the fridge. Her sister had also taken Persephone for a walk thinking that Sophie wouldn’t be able to do it in the morning since the weather showed a snowstorm coming.

Sophie sighed, not caring that she could be snowed in for a week without power. At least then she could stop for a second and realize how awful her apartment had become.

She went to the fridge to inspect the food but instead saw the bottle of wine. She grabbed it and uncorked it, taking a few chugs before groaning in disgust and taking another chug again.

The wind howled outside and the lights fluttered. Persephone keened and pranced her paws as she inched closer to Sophie.

“It’ll be fine,” Sophie reassured and rubbed her ears. “Just be glad I got home in time.” She pulled a container from the fridge and took it with her to the table. She ate it cold, too tired and too hungry to heat it up. Outside the wind howled and cried, and already a mixture of snow and ice were beating against the windows. The storm brewing and boiling like they were inside the snowglobe of an angry child.

Her phone rang with an emergency weather alert, then several text messages and emails about classes being canceled.

“How lucky am I?” She cooed to Persephone. She then wondered if Silas was out working for Beauchamp or if he made it home. It was dark so she never saw his black motorcycle in his driveway. She bit her lip and looked at her phone, wondering if she should call and see if he was somewhere warm and safe. If he was home she didn’t want to seem like she was being weird and clingy.

“He’s an adult,” she told Persephone. “He’ll be just fine.”

Persephone whimpered.

Sophie shook her head and grumbled. “If you miss him so much then why don’t you go and find him?”

Persephone jumped up and ran down the stairs.

Sophie continued eating from the cold dish. Trying to pretend she wasn’t anxious for Persephone to come back, Silas following behind her. She argued with herself she should just go downstairs and at least say hello. Make sure he hadn’t frozen to death. See if he wanted to join her for something hot to drink before the power went out.

She stood up and walked to the top of the stairs, looking down. It was dark below, no sign of life. “Persephone?” She hissed down the stairs. She then whistled, “Persephone! Get your fluffy ass back up here!”

“Should just come down,” his voice called out from the shadows.

Her heart leaped up into her throat and she swallowed it back. “Oh, you’re home,” she descended the first stair as a light came on below. She came down, stepping into his apartment and seeing him removing an ice and snow caked jacket and boots. His face red and chapped, Persephone was licking at his fingers as he tried to undo the laces of his boots.

“Here, let me,” she knelt down, helping him to remove his shoes.

“Fucking cold,” his teeth chattered. “I thought a quick stop at the store was smart.”

She felt bad she hadn’t stopped him at the office now. There were things he couldn’t say because of Beauchamp. He wasn’t trying to hurt her.

“I’ll make you something warm,” she said, as she moved to his other boot.

Silas stopped her there, still not wanting her to get too close to what was beneath. “I’d prefer you’d do that. I can get this.”

“If you’re certain,” she stood and cupped a warm hand on his cheek. “You’re frigid! Don’t you wear anything protective?”

Silas hissed, her warmth painful at first then soothing. “Mnh,” he grumbled.

Sophie sighed and went on into his kitchen, seeing his coffee pot prepped and ready, all she needed to do was turn it on. “It’s supposed to get worse,” she replied. “Are you working tonight?”

“Thank the lord, no,” he huffed as he freed himself from his cold clothes.

“My classes are canceled too,” she suddenly felt awkward. After being apart from him for so long she suddenly wasn’t sure how to approach again. They spent so much time together before, and she dreamed of his kisses, and all of that seemed so far away. She felt like running into his arms now would cross the line.

Silas cracked his neck. “You look tired, you should go to sleep.”

That all but made her feel worse.

“You can sleep down here if the storm bothers you,” he rasped as he stepped into the kitchen with her.

She couldn’t tell if her heart turned into a hummingbird or stopped. “Huh?” She gasped as she looked up at him.

“I don’t have windows in my bedroom,” he replied. “And right now it’s making all sorts of noise outside. You can sleep down here if it scares you.”

Her lips parted as she took a deep breath. “It doesn’t scare me,” she watched him make his coffee.

Silas licked his lip. “Oh, good then.”

“But I’ll stay,” she put her toe over the line. “If your bed is big enough.”

He took his first sip of coffee. “I’d sleep on the sofa, it's alright.”

“No, you won’t!” Sophie stomped her foot. “Don’t invite me to sleep in your place if you don’t intend on doing it with me.”

Silas chuckled, his smirk showing off his sharp teeth.

Her heart clobbered her ribs and battered her lungs it was pounding so hard. She took the coffee out of his hand and set it aside. He tasted like coffee and mint gum, kind of awful. His scruff having gotten thicker and fuller, his hair longer and darker. Had it really been that long? Or was growing hair just his natural talent? She moaned against his mouth as he pressed back to her kiss, his hands on her face as her hands went up under his shirt. His skin cold where she touched.

“You’re warm,” he moaned as he pulled back from her to catch his breath.

Sophie giggled, “usually you’re the warm one,” she moaned against his throat. Her hands ventured further up his shirt, groping and feeling as she pleased. He was hard and thick all over, his body as refined and well crafted as a marble statue. Well, if marble could grow a pelt for the winter.

“Stop it,” he tried to grab her hands through his shirt.

“Why?” Sophie felt him squirm. “Does it tickle?” She flexed her fingers near his armpits and he jerked slightly, trying to cover it as a cough. “Don’t tell me you’re the ticklish sort?” She let her fingers ripple down his side so she could watch his throat strain and become taut as he tried to keep himself under control.

“You’re imagining things,” Silas huffed, backing away but still in her clutches.

“Yes, I must be,” her hands groped his sides where love handles were and his stomach lurched. His hands reaching behind him and grabbing the counter.

Sophie bit her lip to keep from laughing. She had him cornered, she could do as she pleased to him if she wanted. Her fingers continued to explore and play, finding every nook and cranny of his hard, well-kept body.

“Enough of that,” his voice hitched.

Sophie pressed close, her chin on his chest. “Isla had a good idea.”

“I highly doubt the brunette has had any such thing in her life,” Silas snarled, averting his eyes.

“I’ve been so stressed lately. Finals are coming up. Work is like a hurricane and a tornado fighting it out. Isla said I should use you as my stress ball.”

“A stress ball?” Silas scoffed. “I’m as tightly wound as they come.” He managed to slip away from her probing fingers and escape her clutches.

“I suppose,” Sophie pouted, folding her arms across her chest. He always got away just when she had him right where she wanted him. “Then again, you work for Mr. Beauchamp too, that's probably why you’ve been so busy.”

Silas’s hand hovered around his mug for a moment then he picked it up. “That's right.”

“I knew the plates were stolen,” she murmured. “But-” she stopped and shook her head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t talk about work or anything when there’s a moment to breathe away from it.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” Silas put his hand against her lower back, now warmed from the mug and her attentions. She felt comforted by just his palm there, strong and attentive. “You’ve got that fancy car now.”

“I have you,” Sophie corrected, leaning into his towering body.

He scoffed, “if you want a stray dog like me.”

“I do,” she then cupped her hand over her mouth, the words a little bit more than suggestive at this point in the relationship.

“Go get pillows,” he swatted her butt. “Couple of blankets too, I don’t have much.”

Persephone lifted her head from the sofa, looking like she was severely disappointed in the both of them. Suddenly her ears went flat and her lips curled upward. She shot off the sofa and dashed upstairs where she began snarling and barking.

“Persephone!” Sophie went to chase after her but Silas pulled her back and raced up ahead of her. When he got upstairs the door was wide open and Persephone was a wild animal before it, snarling and snapping and threatening to tear out any throat that came near her. Silas stood in the wind and sheeting ice and watched as a shadow raced into the park.

Sophie came up behind him, her hand reaching out and clutching his, squeezing so tight that both their knuckles went white.

“There was someone in my house,” she whimpered.

“Go back downstairs,” Silas growled. “I’ll go over the place with Persephone.”

Sophie squeezed his hand again. “No,” she murmured. “I’m looking with you,” she looked up at him, a determined yet terrified look in her eye. She didn’t want to be left alone, she had to stay with him or she’d fall to pieces.

Silas shut the door and locked it, taking a chair from the counter and using it to prop underneath the handle.

Persephone led the way through the house, sniffling and snorting, pointing out places that Sophie confirmed looked rifled through. Her backpack and files bag for work, her purse dumped out but nothing was missing.

“It doesn’t look like they were able to get far before Persephone came for them,” Silas growled as he helped Sophie pick up her things.

Sophie clutched to Silas’s chest, “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Silas put his arm around her, his hand on her lower back spread out. “I do,” he growled. He grabbed what he could off her bed and led her back downstairs. He tossed her blanket and pillows on his bed then opened up the safe in the back of his closet. He pulled out the gun inside and checked for bullets.

“Oh,” Sophie seized up at the sight of it.

“Don’t worry about it none,” he growled. “Whoever is after you should be, though.”

Sophie collapsed at the foot of the bed and held her head in her hands. “This is all too much for me.”

“Stay put,” he took a flashlight from out of his nightstand. “I’m going to go check around outside and block the stairs.”

Sophie lifted her head. “Be careful,” she clutched onto his wrist. “Surely Persephone frightened him off. Why would there be more than one person risking this weather?”

Silas touched her cheek. “Het me do this, little master.”

Sophie reeled back and nodded, watching him go.

Slipping on his coat again, Silas went outside with the flashlight shining on the snow and sleet. He looked around, checking the ground for footprints. He saw that the door to the laundry/tool shed was open and beating in the wind. He walked out to it, seeing that much like Sophie’s place it too had been gone through. Luckily, he stopped hiding things out there ages ago. He closed the door back and checked around some more.

He bolted the door and braced it with a chair when he got inside. Sophie was watching from the doorway, eyes wide and expectant.

“They didn’t need anything from me apparently,” he lied. He knew they would come for him as well as Sophie. Sophie was just the easier bait right now.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. He pulled off his coat. He was frosted over, the front of his shirt wet from ice and snow that melted, his hair and beard glittering with remaining ice crystals.

Sophie shook her head. “It isn’t your fault,” she smiled to reassure him as well as herself. “I don’t know what I could have that they’re willing to risk Persephone eating them for.”

“They think you have plenty.” Silas put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. He didn’t want to worry her anymore by saying out loud what he knew she was already thinking.

The person in her home was also the person driving the car that almost hit her. They weren’t just looking for something, they were also looking for her.

“You’re frigid,” Sophie murmured as she pressed closer to him.

He moved Sophie into the bedroom. “Get comfortable and try to relax,” he said. “I’m going to barricade the stairs.

Sophie was unbuttoning her blouse with trembling fingers. “Do you think that’s necessary?”

Silas went to her, helping her undo her shirt. “Will it make you feel better?” He took a shirt from the laundry basket by the door, a fresh load he managed to do that morning.

She looked down then back up at him, taking the shirt. “It will,” she murmured as quiet as a mouse.

“Then it’s necessary,” he said, making sure she crawled into bed before he went upstairs.

Her little booth-like table made a perfect barricade for the top of the stairs. It blocked it off, leaving only an inch of space at the top. Plus it would make a horrible racket if someone tried to move it. At the bottom of the stairs he braced his couch against the door frame and stacked his chairs behind it. Persephone laid on the sofa and looked up at him, wagging her tail.

“All I need is you, don’t I girl?” He fed her a fistful of treats before returning to the bedroom.

Sophie was laying in bed, tucked under covers and comfortable but her eyes wide open and staring at the bathroom door. She sat up as Silas sat down beside her. “You bed is softer than I would've assumed,” her voice still low and soft.

“Do you prefer firm?” Silas teased as he peeled off his boots again.

“Shouldn’t we call someone?” Sophie asked. She was clutching a towel to dry him off with.

“No,” he let her take the towel to his cold hair and skin. “Don’t let them know you’re scared. Chances are that they’re protected. We won’t help anyone calling.”

Her hands stilled. “Then what do I do?”

“You should go back home,” Silas answered. “Leave this place and return to the safety of your home with your parents and your brothers.”

Sophie’s jaw dropped. “I…” she began to tear up then. Big fat droplets rolling down her cheeks.

“Sophie,” he growled as she turned her head away, wiping her tears away on the shirt he gave her.

Silas sighed, grasping onto his knees. “You’ll be safer with family,” he growled. “I can’t always be around. You shouldn’t rely on me anyways.”

“But I don’t want to leave,” she murmured. “I love this place so much. I’ve made a life here I love,” she wiped fat tears from her cheek. “But I can’t always ask you to look after me. It’s not your responsibility.” She placed her hand on his back and inched closer to him. “I worry about you being alone.”

“Going home...is better,” he growled. “You should go before shit hits the fan.”

“What about you?” She asked, reaching out and touching his hand. “You’ll be all alone.”

Silas scoffed, “I’ve lived alone before,” he stood up. “It won’t be the first time, and it won’t be the last.” He turned the light off then sat at the foot of the bed.

“We’re supposed to visit with family up north,” she murmured. “Maybe I can wait until after the New Years,” she huffed. “I really didn’t want to go on that trip.”

“Maybe it won’t be all that bad,” he grunted as he pulled his shirt off.

Her hand was on his bare back, smooth and soft against his taut muscles. “You’re all knotted,” she cooed against his ear. Her lips brushing against him making him shiver. Her lips then were on his spine turned him into a puddle.

“Why do you insist on touching me so much?” He breathed to try and turn solid again.

“Because I like it,” Sophie purred. “It makes me feel better.”

“Makes you feel better,” he scoffed in disbelief.

She kissed his shoulder, still black and blue from the hit and run. Her hands smoothed down his back and then wrapped around his sides, caressing around his ribs and up his chest.

“I think Persephone earned that steak tonight,” she murmured against his back.

Silas chuckled, “Aye, she did.” He turned and looked at her as best he could in the dark. “Lay down,” he growled and she did as he commanded. He crawled up and laid down beside her, letting her curl up beside him and lay her head on his chest.

“I don’t wanna sleep,” she grumbled, her finger tracing patterns in his chest hair.

“I know,” he grumbled. “I met your sister today.”

Sophie’s head lifted slightly. “Ari?” She asked. “What’d she do?”

He laughed, “nothing. Just glared at me.”

Her cheek rested back on his chest. “Oh good.”

“Why?” Silas rubbed her arm and shoulder. “What does she normally do?”

“Oh, all manner of things,” she sighed as she snuggled close to him. “She used to glue my things to the counter. I mentioned you and she seemed awful curious. So I was worried you had caught her snooping.”

“I don’t think so if anything I stopped her before she did,” he said as he thought about it. “She sent Persephone ahead to see if I was home.”

Sophie snorted and covered her mouth. “That makes more sense!” She kissed his chest and collarbone, taking full advantage to touch and kiss. Her stress melting away as much as it could. The only thing that would make it better, she thought, would be if he touched her back.

Her hand pet down to his stomach, enjoying the ripple of her fingers along his toned body. “Can I ask you questions?”

“Questions?” Silas scoffed. “Depends.”

Sophie’s finger prodded into his belly button and he had to stifle a laugh. “You don’t talk about yourself unless it’s to put yourself down.”

“There’s not a lot to talk about,” he rubbed her arm. “Nothing that matters.”

Sophie’s cheek smooshed to his chest. “It matters to me,” she murmured. “I care a great deal about you. I want to know.”

“Did you learn to talk like that from William?” He scoffed.

“Yes,” her cheek moved as she looked up at him. “He helped me quite a bit,” her hand was on his neck, her fingers in his hair.

Silas kissed her to shut her up. He didn’t care about William, he didn’t even care enough to talk about himself. Sophie whimpered as he kissed her, but she molded to him, kissing back and hitching her knee up, touching his hip, her foot brushing against his knee where his leg ended. He rolled her onto her back, moving so she couldn’t touch him there.

Sophie pat his cheek and they parted for a moment. “Mnh,” Sophie cooed as she caught her breath. She kissed his jaw and neck. “If you keep kissing me like that I am not responsible for what happens to you.”

Silas chuckled, “is that a promise?”

She cuddled to him again. “You should try and see,” her fingers dug into his ass and kneaded. “I owe you quite a bit for tonight.”

“Wasn’t me,” his voice a deep, dark purr. “That was all Persephone.”

Sophie kissed him again, her fingers snaking up his back and tangling in his hair. “She’d understand if I thanked you instead.”

Silas pulled back, moving her hands and pinning them above her head. “Make me a coupon,” he growled. “I’ll save it.”

Sophie pouted as he pulled away and laid back down. She could understand, though, he's exhausted, and after what happened, she was a bit knotted and exhausted. “Fine,” she groused, biting his bicep as she snuggled back to him.

“I still owe you a date,” he sighed as he relaxed into the bed, her body warm and soft against him. “Maybe then.”

Sophie’s heart throbbed and she pinched her thighs together as she felt pressure build. In the back of her mind, she wanted to blurt, it can be anytime. But her ladylike ways kept her quiet. Instead, she nodded and spread her hand out across his chest again, pulling the blanket around him.

“Keep me safe until morning,” she murmured.

“I’m no knight, but I will.”