Name: Russell Alexander Devereaux
Hair: Light brown
Eyes: blue
School activities: none
Likes: movies, swimming, pulling pranks, Enchanted Cosmetics beauty products. (not the make-up, but the lotions, moisturizers, exfoliating scrubs, facemasks, bronzers…)
Favorite Food: Manicotti
Favorite Music: Alternative
Favorite Movie: Star Wars (eposodes 4,5 & 6 only!)
Favorite Phrase: “I told you so.”
Why we love him: Bold and daring, defiant and confident, this powerful mischief-maker is almost irresistible. A little vain and used to getting his way, he can be high-maintenance at times, but he’s worth his occasional temper tantrums. This lovable and loyal snarky guy doesn’t let people in easily, but when his walls do come down he holds nothing back. Russ Devereaux will give ever piece of himself to you, so be careful not to break him.
You Can Quote Me On That:
Gabriel’s face paled a little. “Steal a car? Are you sure that is a wise plan?”
“What’s the matter, Gabe?” Russ asked. “I would think you were right at home with larceny considering you already stole my girl.” ~Chameleon
“He made his choice, Dani, and he didn’t help us escape because he hates you.” Russ frowned. “Actually it was pretty awesome of him. I have to admit I didn’t think he had the balls. Damn it all if I’m not impressed with the guy right now.”
I feigned a heart attack. “Why, Russ. Was that—did you just say something nice about Gabriel?”
“Of course, he’s acting like a total pansy about it. If it were me, I’d have played it off as a romantic gesture and used it to get you into the sack.” ~Chameleon
“You’re supposed to be invisible right now.”
He stepped back and studied me a moment, his arms folded across his chest. After a minute of serious scrutiny, he held his hands out in my direction and whispered something in Latin. He was putting a spell on me.
When nothing happened again I said, “And now?”
“Now you should be naked.”
I gasped.
“Kidding,” he said, but from the smile on his face I’m not sure he was. ~Ungifted
“Patience, young grasshopper,” he teased. “Good things come to those who wait.”
I smiled at the cliché. “How very wise of you.”
Russ shrugged. “I eat a lot of fortune cookies.” ~Ungifted
The Man In Action…
“C’mon,” Russ said. “Let’s go swimming.”
“What, right now?”
Russ ripped his shirt over his head. “The water will stay warm,” he promised.
“What are we supposed to do, swim in our underwear?”
Apparently that was exactly what we were supposed to do, because Russ stripped down to his boxers and dove into the water. When he surfaced I said, “I am not stripping down to my undies with you.”
“It’s not like you haven’t before. Remember when we were four and my dad got us that Slip n’ Slide? You had no problem stripping down then.”
“I didn’t have boobs then.”
“You still don’t.” My jaw dropped. “Dani, things have been so stressful this week. I know you. You’ll feel better if you do something crazy.” Russ turned his back to me. “Come on. No one’s looking.”
I couldn’t believe I was letting him talk me in to it, but I hurriedly took my shirt and pants off and dove in the water. It felt amazing.
“I’m impressed! I didn’t think you’d go for it.” Russ said when I poked my head above the surface. I made sure the water line never dropped below my shoulders.
“You were right,” I said. “I really need to de-stress.”
Russ swam over until he was standing a foot in front of me. He dropped his playful attitude and looked way too serious all of the sudden. “It’s going to be okay. I’m going to be here with you every step of the way. I’ll do whatever you need me to. Even if that’s forcing you to strip down to your skivvies and jump in a lake.” He winked and cracked a smile, but sobered up almost immediately. “I mean it,” he said. “Whatever you need.”
Ha! If he only knew what I felt like I needed right then. Or...maybe he did. Somehow Russ was only centimeters from me now, though I hadn’t noticed him move closer. I could feel the heat coming off his body. I felt that magical pull stirring inside me, driving me mad with the desire to touch him, to run my fingers over his bare chest.
As if he could read my mind, Russ slid his hand around my waist and pulled me tightly against him. When I gasped he snaked his other arm around me and locked me in his grip knowing I’d try to escape. My attempt to put some distance between us was a pathetic one, and it only encouraged him.
“I don’t get it Russ,” I breathed, fighting off a shiver.
“What’s not to get?” Russ moved his hands up my back, pinning our bodies together. “I can’t really make it any more obvious.”
I panicked. “This isn’t us. We’re best friends. You’ve never once....” My voice trailed off when I felt my cheeks turning red. “I didn’t think you wanted this. Like I was born into the wrong family, remember?”
Russ’s grip tightened the tiniest bit. “I hate when you and Dad joke about that. You are not my sister.”
“Then why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I’m not human, Dani. There was so much of me I had to keep hidden from you. My dad always says it wasn’t the magic that my mom couldn’t handle. He said she was strong enough. He said she would have been the one in a thousand if he hadn’t lied to her for so long. But he never gave her a choice to be a part of our world. By the time she knew it existed she was already tied to it. She was already married to my dad. She already had a son who wasn’t human. I couldn’t do that to you. I wasn’t going to get into a relationship if I couldn’t be myself with you.”
The moment felt completely surreal because even though I’d never really thought about there being an “us” before, it still felt like I’d waited my whole life to hear him say all these things. I felt a warmth inside me that was different from the energy I’d been feeling lately, and I relaxed.
“What made you finally decide to tell me?”
“I always thought it was better to have you as a friend than tell you the truth and risk losing you, but I can’t be just your friend anymore. It’s killing me.” Russ dropped his voice to a whisper and it shook slightly. “Dani you have to know that I’m as drawn to you as you are to me. I may have settled down since coming into my power, but I still crave you.”
“This....” Russ put his fingertips on my cheek and dragged them down my neck, then brushed them back and forth along the length of my collarbone. It was too much to handle. My breath caught in my lungs and I started to tremble.
“The chance to touch you like this,” Russ said, “in a way that could never be mistaken for friendship, it’s all I ever think about anymore.”
