Mouthful of Apple
Lasci ran up the stairs with the bag of stuff for Purity while both brothers snickered at his frustration.
“Pru, tell Johnathan to bring up a tray of apples and some tea. The female’s medication is on the counter by the fridge. She will need that,” Lasci yelled over his shoulder.
His brother nodded and went to the kitchen, followed by Libidi.
The Alpha opened his bedroom door and found Purity asleep.
Looking around, he didn’t see anything out of order in the room until the floor-length, thick grey curtain moved gently at the balcony door on the other side of the bed.
“What the hell,” he whispered loudly and then looked over at Purity, worrying he woke her. She only shifted slightly, staying asleep.
He walked over slowly, gently setting the bag of items at the end of the bed, and grabbed the curtain before pulling it aside. One of the wood-framed glass doors was swaying ajar, its hook dangling.
The mansion was old, so all three balconies on the home had the old-fashioned hook and eye latch. However, the Alpha and his brothers did feel the need to improve security because, honestly, what fool would want to break into a home of wolves?
He stepped while the misty rain swirled against him. Taking a deep breath through his nose, he could only smell wet dirt and pine. Looking over the edge of the balcony, he scanned the edge of the woods and didn’t see anything that appeared worrisome.
Shaking his head and figuring it was just the uneven breeze, he shut and latched the door behind him.
Turning, Lasci heard her question and looked at her.
“Is there something out there?”
Purity had woken and was sitting up with her head tilted, waiting for his answer.
“No, it must have been the wind or something.”
He watched her furrow her brows.
“Why do you ask?”
“I think it was a dream, but I’m not sure. I felt someone watching me from the curtains, but only you were there when I woke.”
Lasci lifted a brow at her and glanced back at the curtains, slightly concerned.
“You were dreaming because unless they had a death wish, no one would come in the home without our permission, and to be realistic, that’s a very high jump for any human.”
Turning back towards Purity, he watched her giggle and then cough, making him a little concerned.
“You talk like you aren’t human sometimes,” the scowl on his face after what she said made her suddenly apologize, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just different than the way others speak normally.”
Lasci turned away, heading for the bedroom door, “Yeah, well, normal or not, you should be careful what you say. I may not take offense, but I’m unsure if my brothers will.”
A knock sounded, and Lasci opened the door. It was Johnathan.
“You requested this be brought up?”
Without giving Lasci a chance, Johnathan pushed his way in and walked over to the bed.
“Ah, I heard you were awake. How are you feeling?”
Johnathan sat the tray on the nightstand and helped himself to the side of the bed.
Purity just stared at him noticing his alabaster skin and pitch-black hair with exotic features. He looked very similar to what she thought a vampire would look like, making her smile, “I’m better, I suppose.”
“Wonderful. I was the one that picked out your necessities from the store. Did you find them to your liking? Is there something else I could get you?”
Lasci suddenly swore to himself. He wanted to look through them before she had a chance to.
Purity shook her head, “Um, I don’t know because I haven’t seen anything, I’m sorry.”
Johnathan looked at Lasci, standing by the door, “You haven’t given her the items I took special care in picking out, shame on you!”
Lasci rolled his eyes at the demon, “That would be because she just woke up, Johnathan. I will give them to her in a moment. You may leave now.”
He gave Johnathan a threatening look, and the demon butler stood, straightening himself.
“Oh, before I do,” he turned to Purity, “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Johnathan, this home's cleaning, enslaved cook, and therapist. I live here most days, so you shall see me around quite often.”
Trying not to giggle, Purity nodded her head, “My name is Purity, after my grandmother. Nice to meet you, Johnathan.”
Lasci noticed the smile she gave him and thought it was warm, a little too warm.
“You can leave now that introductions are done, Johnathan.”
The butler grinned slightly and bowed to Purity before he left.
As he went out the bedroom door, the demon whispered loud enough that only Lasci could hear, “My, my, she’s pretty and innocent, if you know what I mean.”
Lasci growled in his throat, almost slamming the door into Johnathan's back.
Quickly walking to the end of the bed, the Alpha grabbed the bag of stuff.
“Please look through it after you’ve taken your medication,” he said, setting the bag next to her and looking at the tray, “He didn’t slice the apple for you. I will take this back down to the kitchen.”
Reaching for the tray, Purity stopped him, “Oh! It’s okay. I don’t need it sliced, but thank you.”
Grabbing the big red apple, she realized it was too big for her to bite almost, so licking her lips, she opened her mouth as wide as she could, trying to sink in her teeth. Tiny drizzles of the apple juice came out the corners of her mouth as she barely got her teeth in.
Meanwhile, Lasci was having a hard time watching her. The way her wet lips stretched around the side of it made him suddenly desire to be the apple.
He was about to leave to find something that would erase the image he had of her mouth on him when she spoke, muffled from having a mouth full of an apple.
“There, see. No need to slice it.”
Lasci shook his head at the wetness he noticed on her chin and grabbed a napkin from the tray.
Bending over her to wipe her mouth, he chuckled, “You eat like a five year old.”
She stopped chewing and swallowed the big bite of the apple, “No I don’t!”
Lasci almost laughed harder at her childish protest, but he could only stare at her lips.
Suddenly there was another knock on the door, and Lasci growled, getting a surprised look from Purity, which he blew off.
“What now?”
The door opened, and Prurien peeked around it.
“Sorry to disturb you, brother,” Prurien said, looking at the napkin in Lasci’s hand and then at Purity, “Tener insisted I come to get you. Libidi’s welcome home party is about to start. Also, Amorous is down there, waiting as well. He is still nervous that you are mad at him.”
Purity was staring at him, and the younger brother smiled warmly at her.
Lasci noticed and shook his head in frustration on having to go downstairs, “I’m coming.”
Tossing the napkin on the tray, Lasci said quickly, not looking at Purity, “Make sure you take your medicine.”
Walking towards the door, he blocked his brother's smiling face from the female.
Prurien stepped back from the door as Lasci shut it.
“She looks better. Should we bring her down with us?”
Prurien's words struck a chord with Lasci, and the Alpha snapped at his beta, “No! Don’t forget she is injured, and even though it wasn’t her fault, she needs to stay in that room until she can leave. She’s not family and doesn’t know Libidi.”
Prurien was curious about her and couldn’t help pushing the request further, “I know she isn’t family, but she must be bored sitting up here by herself.”
“Fine, want a more understandable answer? I SAID NO.”
Lasci headed down the stairs, not giving his brother another chance to argue.