Banging Reaper (Pounding Hearts 1)

My mind tries to slide into the gutter but her asking “What’s up?” brings me out of it pretty quickly, just in time for me to notice her blanket falling off of her shoulder and revealing a black lace covered orb.

It looks full and heavy like it could fill my hand.

I drag my eyes away, lifting the food and coffee to show her. “Breakfast?”

“Oh my god!” she gasps as she grabs the coffee from my hands. “This is exactly what I need.”

She shuffles away from the door. I wasn't exactly invited in but I step over the threshold anyway. Shutting the door behind me, I watch her shuffle into the kitchen before she slumps down into one of two old but sturdy kitchen chairs.

“Mmm,” she hums. She must like the hot steaming liquid in the cup because her face looks almost happy. “Why are you here?” she asks quietly around the lip of the cup.

Her eyes look up to stare into mine.

“Well, I wanted to make sure you were alright from last night,” I say as I walk into the kitchen and sit down across from her.

In for a penny in for a fucking pound.

I look around the apartment quickly to see if I can spot anything that might belong to this Sebastian person. The only thing I see is a black cat slinking up to my legs and wrapping himself into a figure eight as he tries to rub himself all over my legs.

“Sebby, you don't even know him!” she remarks as her foot snakes out from under her blanket and she tries to pull him over to her.

“It’s alright,” I say reaching down and rubbing the cats head. “Is this your protector?” I ask while once again looking around the apartment, taking the shabby place in.

Nodding, she takes another sip then opens her mouth about to say something else only to be cut off when some jackass starts banging loudly on her front door.

A male voice sounding suspiciously like Ethan’s calls out, “Hey Avery, open up!”

Fucker sounds like he's slurring.

Avery

I take a sip of my coffee while watching Chase’s fingers stroke through Sebastian’s fur. I stare at those fingers a little too long, imagining what it would feel like if he stroked me.

I bet he could make me purr.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I’m just about to tell Chase that Sebastian is usually not so friendly with strangers when Ethan bangs on my door.

Shit. Ethan always has the worse timing.

I take another quick sip of my coffee and bite back the moan rising in my throat. It’s my favorite, though I don’t think Chase had any way of knowing it. It usually costs around three bucks a cup so it’s been a month or so since I’ve treated myself. Regretfully, I force myself to set the steaming cup down on the table and stand up.

“Want me to get rid of him?” Chase asks.

For a split second I’m honestly tempted. Especially since I know Chase is more than capable of getting rid of Ethan. Chase could probably kick Ethan’s ass right out the front door.

But seriously, the last thing I need is for a fight to break out here. My landlord would most likely kick me out and then where would I go?

I’m only here because it’s one of the nicer places I can afford.

“No,” I shake my head. “I should probably see what he wants.”

Ethan is my problem and I should handle him.

“Do you want me to go?” Chase asks, standing up. God, he’s tall. He looms over me. The expression on his face hardens, becoming something unreadable. I swear he looks just like he did last night when we passed in the hallway, but even worse

now that he’s black and blue all over.

“No,” I say right away. I don’t want Chase to go. Now that he’s here, with breakfast, I want to hang out with him. I want to get to know this avenging angel who rescued me. “No, please don’t go. Just give me a minute to get him out of here.”