When Gracie Met The Grump

by Mariana Zapata

The important part was, I wasn’t about to let him die on me. He’d probably haunt me for the rest of my life if that happened, and that would be awkward.

His fingers had twitched once or twice. His toes did the same a couple times too, but that had been the extent of his movements. It didn’t make sense. None of this did. I couldn’t move past it.

He was stupid handsome. And a fucking mystery. I’d always been a sucker for a good mystery.

But other theories? People had some active imaginations. That or they were really, really bored.

The sound of creaking in the kitchen had me leaning over to the side to take a look. Someone was awake.

There’s no reason to be nervous. There’s no reason to be nervous. But I was still fucking nervous. I shut my computer and got up. “Are you okay?” I called out.

The superbeing didn’t look away. His attention was fixed on his fingers, turning them one way and then the other before sliding his gaze toward me, his expression groggy. And… grumpy? I almost tripped. Because I hadn’t imagined it the other night. His eyes weren’t just kind of purple; they were a pure, royal purple. Indigo maybe. In that moment, they weren’t violet like I’d thought. There was a dot of black for a pupil, but that was it. They weren’t glowing, but they were still incredible.

And the man with the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen, settled into the most handsome face I had also ever laid eyes on,...

I didn’t think I imagined the fact that, at the sound of my voice, he blinked once and something in those crazy-colored eyes seemed to focus, to snap into place, and suddenly, I knew he was finally seeing me.

And just as quickly as I processed that, the most ferocious fucking scowl formed over that gorgeous face while I crouched there. I almost wanted to look over my shoulder to make sure there wasn’t some kind of demon behind me, but there wasn’t. What the hell was with that expression?

His eyelids dropped to a sliver, and the scowl on his mouth got even deeper. His nostrils flared. My skin… why was my skin buzzing? Why did he look about ready to fucking kill someone? Was he breathing harder too?

“I didn’t kidnap you or anything, swear.” I was starting to ramble. His lip curled back just enough for me to see his canine exposed.

He was definitely breathing harder. And he was mad at whatever he had to be mad at. It couldn’t be me. I hadn’t done shit.

The Defender’s nostrils flared again, and that gaze flicked back to a spot behind my head before he closed his eyes, so, so tight that lines formed at the corners of them. He swallowed hard. That broad chest rose and fell once, and the muscles at his cheeks flexed like he was gritting his teeth.

I didn’t think anybody would be dumb enough to try and kidnap someone who could bat a 50 caliber round away like it was a gnat. On the other hand, people ate laundry detergent, so….

Another shaky breath later, he spread his fingers wide again just as he opened his eyes too, that pissed-off expression still on his features. The Defender stared at me. Hard. I started to open my mouth again to ask if he was okay, but I shut it right back.

Those dark purple eyes moved over my face as his mouth went flat, and after a long, long glare that made my heart start beating fast, he finally flicked one of his fingers toward the glass of water I was ho...

He didn’t take it, but those eyes settled back on me heavily with what seemed an awful lot li...

I’d never pictured myself meeting a member of the Trinity, and I sure as hell hadn’t imagined getting glared at by one of them.

The Defender grunted, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made me even more nervous.

Bright white teeth bit into the watermelon. The Defender chewed slowly, almost thoughtfully, his gaze staying where it was the entire time before briefly flicking back to the bowl. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his fingers flex then straighten, over and over again.

I speared another piece and held it out. He took it and chewed that slowly too, eventually eating another five before whispering out an “Enough” that sounded absolutely grouchy and rough, like I was inconveniencing him or something.

How he managed to tell me to fuck off with my turkey breast without actually moving his lips, almost impressed me.

If it wasn’t so startling, it might have been irritating too, honestly. Beggars can’t be choosers, and there had to be millions of people who would kill for this experience.

I hadn’t been over to that many people’s houses in my life, but I’d always eaten whatever it was they gave me to be polite.

He’s in pain. He’s probably used to people bending over backward to do his bidding.

I’d thought about it, and short of pawning him off on someone despite his request, it wasn’t like I could call emergency services to come pick him up. That would raise too many red flags and bring way too much attention on me. Mostly though, he had asked. Even if he didn’t remember, I did.

“The store is closed already.” I’d always thought my grandma’s glares could say a million words, but from the look of it, she wasn’t the only one with that power.

His incredible glare gave me nothing at all. Moving on then. Okay.

My prayers went unanswered when he gruffly said, “For now… nothing.” For now. I didn’t miss that part.

“Are you sure there’s no one you want me to call?” I tried again. His gaze flicked to the wall behind me again as he said in a crab-ass voice that sounded oddly resigned, “No.”

I could do this. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d take...

It wouldn’t exactly be hard to look at his face a while longer. I’d probably never get to see bone structure so perfect again in my l...

He didn’t say a word. A feeling of dread filled my throat, and my stomach went weird. Weren’t superior beings supposed to be wise and well-balanced? Nice? If not happy, at least at peace with themselves and the world? I’d always thought they would be likable. Kind. Maybe serious because of all that pressure on them to save the world. I thought they would be charismatic.

Because my gut said this man wasn’t a ball of sunshine. I had a feeling he wasn’t even a night-light.

The less I asked, the better.

He was back to watching me like I had tied him to the chair and was holding him hostage.

I’d always thought The Primordial would have a queen-like disposition. She used intelligent words and concise sentences. She was the epitome of classy and dignified. I highl...

Those dark, incredible eyes followed my movement.

The man’s eyes bounced from the sandwich to my face and back, but he opened his mouth, showing off those strong, white teeth, and took a neat bite, chewing slowly, that intense gaze still steady on me. Maybe he was feeling me out. Or maybe he was in a bad wittle mood over what had happened to him.

“I can get out of this chair,” he said slowly, his nostrils flaring. “Every bone in my body could be broken… and I would still be stronger… than every human on this planet.” He’d said human, hadn’t he?

It was hard to keep my face blank, but I did. Because really? Suddenly his strength made up for the fact he hadn’t even been able to feed himself? Or that I’d had to help him into the chair in the first place? I’d been sheltered most of my life, but I wasn’t a fucking idiot.

But he was starting to get on my nerves anyway.

Dark, curly lashes fell over his eyes. “Like you could carry me.” Well, this was going to go well, I could already tell. This was a shitty idea, and I knew it. He should be in a hospital, or with other people who at least had a fragment of an idea what they were doing, not me.

But really, what the hell had I done for him to be this pissy? All I’d done was try to help him because he’d asked. I hadn’t shot his ass out of the sky.

“Suit’s ruined. I want… to take it off,” he huffed the second he was settled. Off? As in off his body? It was a fucking miracle my eyebrows didn’t jump off my face. I’d helped my grandparents undress. This was nothing new. I could do this clinically.

He wasn’t just a man though, was he? He was all muscle and nice skin and a beautiful face that the world had no idea what it was missing out on, and… everything. And I was about to help him take off his suit. That world-renowned, charcoal suit and blue cape, or what was left of it. Me.

It ripped easily, way too easily, but he made a little sound like even that hurt. Right, Mr. I Am Stronger Than Every Human On This Planet.

He was back to staring-slash-glaring, so I ignored him.

I kept my eyes glued to the dark material, making sure to pretend like stripping him wasn’t blowing my mind.