Chapter 11 #2
I ignored when people around me froze. Me of all people saying that was huge. I knew that. I was the eldest child of the head of the council. Yeah, of course that mattered.
“So know a lot of us are fucking furious for you and this isn’t over with Conrad. I swear it to you that it’s not, and lighter punishment than he deserved was solely to protect you.”
“I know,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping again. “He got the max for every charge. I know that. I know… I know.”
“Sometimes you just need to hear it said and who is on your side.” I was glad when she nodded even if a tear fell onto the picnic table. “Good, then I want you to go somewhere with me Tuesday.”
Her eyes were curious, clearly knowing me well enough and trusting me, but there were a few sputters or noises behind me. Not from my guys since they all probably knew exactly where my head was.
So I flicked the others off over my shoulder and focused on Bevin. “It’s a yoga class a lot of us take. It’s run by someone who’s former military—we all are. It’s a lot of breathing exercises to help us with our anxiety—it helps a lot for former service members with PTSD or who are struggling.”
She studied me for several moments and I knew it wasn’t about my aura since she couldn’t read them yet. Also, Cheese was already running all around, so she wasn’t listening to him.
“I would feel awkward intruding when I’ve not been in the military,” she finally said.
Fair. “You won’t be the first someone has brought to help.
I’m not the only one who pushes the class to their people—it’s a good community that started for this reason.
I’ll warn the guy, but I promise you that it’s fine.
They’re mostly human though and that will be good for you to experience. ” I nodded when she flinched.
Yeah, especially her who had been locked up. She was too old to have no socialization with humans.
She was quiet again, long enough that I even sat across from her at the table to be kind to my damn knees. “My answer is yes. I appreciate the offer and consideration. But not yet. I would like to really get my running schedule and more in order. I need to find my new normal before adding.”
I wasn’t used to being told no like this and it was about where my patience ran out. “I understand that and even applaud you taking that seriously, but this could help to—”
“Yes, could help. I know running does help. It’s a given. Having a real system to do toys helps me. Now it’s treats and brushes. I need a system. I need that. I need to focus on school and keep with it and how to hide my power—”
“That is the plan with this,” I assured her. “It’s crucial for us to hide it in the military.”
“I figured, and that’s why I want to do it.” She sighed when I waited for more. “I’m talking a few fucking weeks, Taylor. Chill. Seriously.”
And then the brat slammed her drink down in front of me.
“Damn, bro,” one of my guys hissed from behind me. “Like dayumnnnnn.”
Yeah, I flicked him off over my shoulder too and a bunch of them burst out laughing.
Fuckers. I rolled my eyes and pushed her drink back to her.
“Fine, I get it. Do what you know and add as you can. I get it. It’s just hard when I feel like I have the answer you need. You know what that’s like after all.”
“Touché but only in magic no one else has. I also know me best. It’s not a blowoff, I promise.” She took her drink and stood, clearly saying the conversation was over. She even patted my shoulder before walking away like she was comforting me at being rejected.
Emma was at the table and leaning in before I could react.
“She was trapped in a house with assholes and doesn’t know how to handle normal situations.
I know that absolutely seemed like she just patted you on the head and looked down on you, but she doesn’t understand.
To her, the gesture is comforting and she knows you’re going through shit too. ”
“I’m not that big of an impatient asshole,” I grumbled.
“No, but I’ve been around her more and learned to speak Bevin. She did it in front of people and no one likes that.” She sighed and sat down across from me. “She needs more time to acclimate to… People. She says she wasn’t socialized enough to be in public. Sad, but she’s not wrong.”
I nodded and went to say it really was fine, but then I caught Tracey watching us with interest. She was studying around Emma and then me.
Why is she checking out our auras?
The spit roaster rotisserie thing arrived and people asked for help to unload it. That got people moving because apparently they wanted to get the chickens loaded.
I had two thoughts at the same time.
Say what? And yum.
I helped out and also helped myself to a huge plate of the food. Then I got my workout building a platform for one of the glamping things coming. I felt eyes on me several times and turned to find Tracey blatantly watching me.
Fucking delicious woman pushed my buttons every time I was around her and it drove me nuts. She wasn’t a short woman, but she was shorter than she seemed because she always wore those damn D’Orsay pump high, high heels.
And yes, I even looked up the name because I’d never found heels so sexy on a woman. But she always wore heels. Even now at this damn campsite she had on some ridiculously high open-toed heels that wrapped around her ankles and gave me all of the dirty thoughts.
Plus kissing her painted toes. That hadn’t ever been my thing, but apparently it could be if it was this lush, thick woman. I wasn’t sure the difference between saying thick or if she was thicc with two c’s, but whatever she was, I was into it.
I was into her. From her mocha skin that seemed to be getting a bit lighter now that summer was over, to her alluring green eyes. I didn’t know the shade since I never got close enough for long enough with a reason to stare, but I was dying to figure it out.
I was dying to do a lot of things with her.
I knew it wasn’t smart, but… I couldn’t help who I was attracted to.
And the way she pushed my buttons just flat did it for me.
I’d had others try, but she wasn’t trying.
She was that confident and knew who she was.
She could leave me speechless with one quick comeback and leave me hard for her.
I had to look away or I would get hard right there.
She walked into my view a bit later and gestured with her head to follow her… While handing me her heels. She didn’t even bother to wait to see if I would come, knowing I would, and carefully walking on her tiptoes into the woods away from everyone.
I bit back a growl and snagged someone’s flip-flops after glancing around for something better than bare feet in a place like this. I jogged in the direction she went and easily caught up to her.
She chuckled quietly when she felt me looming. She glanced up and simply smirked before moving further away from the others.
“Stop, it isn’t safe,” I grumbled as I grabbed her arm. I realized she’d been drinking too when she wobbled. “Grab my shoulder.”
“Whatever you say, handsome,” she chuckled as I knelt down to put the flip-flops on her feet. She smirked at me again when I looked up at her. “Are you ever going to act on all that lust in your aura or are you planning to make a move on Emma?”
I couldn’t hide my shock or make my mouth work fast enough and unfortunately she got the wrong idea, letting me go with a sigh.
“So you are. Guilt is all over you.”
“No, I’m not,” I said firmly and grabbed her wrist as I stood. “The guilt is because it’s not right to keep ignoring her crush on me, but it’s just easier. I don’t know how to handle it and—I don’t think it’s real. I saved her.”
“You’re not wrong, but it’s real, handsome,” she assured me searching my eyes. “You don’t want her.”
I shook my head and decided it was my turn to be honest with what I knew. “You know who I want. You know damn well and push my buttons.”
Her eyes flashed shock. “That I do. I thought you missed it.”
I snorted. “I don’t miss much even if I’m a dumb man.” I licked my lips as I moved closer so I was looming over her. “But we both know this isn’t smart.”
Hurt filled her eyes so fast that it froze me because I hadn’t expected that.
She ripped her wrist away and cleared her throat.
“Yes, the eldest son of the head of the council shouldn’t be involved with an orphan.
Of course.” She paused in walking away and looked at me over my shoulder, something dark in her eyes. “Or is it because I’m Black?”
I’d heard her specify that she was Black Creole and had been dying to ask her what that meant more than what Google told me. Or what it meant to her, but right then wasn’t the time given what she was saying.
I growled and went to her, putting my hand on her curvy hip. “I don’t give a fuck that you’re an orphan or Black.” I felt better when she just seemed confused then. “We’re two pillars of this side of a war, Tracey. If we end up on bad terms then—”
“People end up on bad terms because they screw each other over or aren’t clear on what they want or where they are in life,” she said firmly, her eyes a bit glazed over.
“Your first priority is your family and your second, your people. Mine are Bevin and what we’ve built.
None of that will change if we’re involved or not and we know that. ”
It sounded harsh, but she wasn’t wrong. She raised an eyebrow waiting for me to agree, so I nodded.
“Good, then we know where we stand. The question is if you’re brave enough to take the leap if you think you can handle me.”
I growled at the challenge and backed her up against a tree. “You’re playing with fire and it drives me crazy.”
And then I was kissing her. I cupped the back of her head and attacked her pretty mouth with the lipstick that I wanted to have all over my fucking body in some new kink I didn’t know I had. I fucking devoured her lips, nibbling them in between trying to map out her mouth with my tongue.