A Howling Heart
Chapter three

I stutter in disbelief. My cheeks, neck, and even my ears are ablaze with embarrassment as I register what I've just said.

If he's amused or shocked or even disgusted, he doesn't show it. Matias allows me to look like a fish out of the water with my mouth agape.

"I'm sorry."

"Are you?" His voice has the tone of someone genuinely curious.

I clear my throat and decide avoidance is the best option.

"I want to be able to take care of my mom. I'm the one who has to pay the bills. I just want to relieve that burden."

"I can provide you with a good amount of monetary compensation. Taking care of your mother won't be an issue."

Is he rich?

He rises from his seat and nods for me to follow him.

"Come."

I push myself up into a standing position and uncoordinately follow him out into the hall towards the stairs. I can't keep my eyes from the bulging muscles in his back as he begins to climb the steps, and despite the alarm bells blaring obnoxiously in my skull, the yearning I feel in the pit of my gut reigns and I follow.

Something's off about him.

"Faster. I don't like to wait."

I frown, my grip tightening on the railing as he nears the top of the steps and takes a sharp turn toward the first door.

Incredibly bossy too.

Once I get into the room he's entered, that's when the smell hits me. The smell of decay and sickness. My eyes search the room, spotting the bed in the far corner and my face falls with horrified shock. He's in bad shape.

I feel Matias's eyes on me as I move deeper into the room but I don't make eye contact with him. Regardless of the unsightly in front of me, I can't peel my eyes off the old man bedridden with pale, flaking skin, a sunken face, and a weird greenish tint to him.

Goodness... he almost looks dead.

"He's alive. It won't be too much longer though."

"What happened?" My raspy tone does little to mask the way that man's appearance unsettles me. Matias stiffens.

"He was unsuccessful in his life. At the end of the day, that is what killed him. But I won't be. I won't let anything hold me back from what was meant to be. I will not end up like him." His words are firm. A promise uttered as if spoken aloud will solidify his word.

I nod slowly, unsure of how to react. I watch as he peers down at the man in the bed, and his jaw clenches, an overwhelming urge to comfort him swarms in my chest. "This must be hard for you..."

I step forward, reaching for his arm to squeeze reassuringly like has been done to me a million times by an array of different doctors regarding my mother. When my hand makes contact with his skin, a hot vibration in my hand makes me hiss and pull my hand back.

What was that?

I stare down at my hand with wide eyes. Matias's no longer looking at his relative, but is now intently staring at my face as he takes a step towards me.

I step backward, aware of how my mind begins to race and I find myself breathless.

"Don't look so alarmed, Fae. This is life. It is part of the problem with my bloodline. With what we are."

"What do you mean? Oh, like Italian or something?"

He snickers, humored by what I've said but I don't understand what the amusement is about. His bloodline? As if he comes from filthy genes or something.

He steps toward me again, and this time my feet don't move regardless of how much I will myself to take another step back.

I'm just so intimidated by him. It's completely unnerving.

"You're gentle, you know..."

That's quite an observation.

"Well, it helps when you're taking care of sick people."

"It can also be a problem."

My brows knit forward as I frown, offended by his words as if my whole mannerism is something to be embarrassed by. I've always been taught that you get more out of the world with kindness. "Excuse me?"

"With someone like me."

As my employer?

"Well, with all due respect, I'm your employee. I will adhere to your wishes."

When a slow smile spreads on his face, and I'm flashed his white teeth, my tongue goes dry, and my face warms.

"Adhere to my wishes..."

He scratches his chin contemplatively before he reaches for me, and I let him.

This feels like such a deja vu.

When his hand makes contact with my chin, and his fingers gently graze my jaw, I gasp when the electricity from his touch surges within me, and I feel my mind swarming with images. What is happening?

All I see are teeth. My senses are invaded by the smell of the woods, and the sounds of growls. I feel the yearning and desperation for someone, and when I'm finally able to pry my eyes open after I've shut them tightly, I realize that that feeling of desperation and attachment was for the man standing before me.

"What was that?"

He pulls his grip away and I bite my lip to suppress the pout on my tongue. "You're hired."

He spins on his heel and begins stalking off back towards the stairs. It takes me a few moments to collect myself. I take some deep steadying breaths as I slowly make my way back towards the stairs. Part of me believes I won't find him at the bottom of them, waiting for me, but I feel his presence before I see him.

Like he's been waiting for me this entire time...

Like the man in my dreams.

When I get to the bottom steps and he steps in front of me, his body firmly pressed against mine, his heat seeping into me until I feel my insides burning with need.

"Come back tonight. Ten pm."

I don't question why he wants me so late. My answer is instantaneous and submissive. "Yes, Sir."

"Good."

His eyes move to my lips as I slowly moisten them with my tongue, and as I turn to leave, my steps falter. I catch myself, letting out a deep breath as I pull the door open and walk back to my van. I don't have to look to know he's staring at me. I can feel his eyes resting on my back the entire way to my car.

I wonder if he's always like that.

When I finally get back in my van and begin pulling away from the house, I hear his voice in my head again, but instead of the word 'perfect' his raspy tone forms something else. Mine.