Feelings for Two #2
To my continued dismay, the shame rising into my throat was born out of removing the gift the Brit gave me and not because I’d spent the better part of the prior evening dreaming about Sloan and his silky-soft lips and lust-roughened voice.
My head is all fucked up.
“It is very beautiful,” Sloan muttered softly, something about his guttural voice making my throat quickly seize. “Though, I’d argue not as fitting as the one I gave you.”
Holy hell, shots fired…
Ask anyone and swooning was so 19th century, but it didn’t stop me from falling victim to it the minute the sultry Brit’s statement hit. I barely caught the way Cassius’s lips tilted upwards before Sloan was speaking again.
“I’ve missed you.”
The guilt I’d been waiting for finally showed the fuck up. But sadly, it wasn’t because I’d betrayed Phillip; it was because I didn’t feel guilty about my exhilaration over the heartfelt statement said to me by a man I’d been yearning to see for days.
Déjà vu’s a bitch.
Sloan barely took another step before Phillip appeared out of nowhere, hand holding his friend’s shoulder. “Should I bother asking what the fuck you’re doing here?”
You could cut the tension with a knife, but Cassius didn’t seem to know how to read a goddamn room, because he very loudly bemoaned the partnership like his life had been ruined the second Sloan appeared.
“I can’t believe I have to deal with both of you bloody wankers now.
What did I do to deserve this?!” Cassius complained loudly, stomping his foot like a toddler having a tantrum.
I couldn’t help it, I laughed out loud, and both of my Hunter companions didn’t manage to keep from smiling in response. But just as quickly, the two went back to silently staring at each other. My eyes flicked from Sloan to Phillip, then back to Sloan before I realized we were here to do a job.
“Find anything?” I asked Phillip, inadvertently hiding the hand with his ring on it.
The Austrian didn’t look over at first, and I almost thought he wouldn’t, but then his light gaze jerked over to where I stood.
“If we move now, we’ll catch them before they fully awaken.
Piece of cake.” Then his steely eyes were back on Sloan.
“Again, why have you come? You were supposed to aid Rose with gathering the Hunters on the list.”
Cash peered quietly between the two Hunters before smirking. “Maybe I won’t need to worry about the lot of you. Seems like you’re plenty caught up in each other.”
Walking a wide circle around the soundlessly quarreling pair, Cassius came to stand beside me, eyes deciphering the quiet struggle taking place on my face. His purple dragon eyes naturally fell to where the bracelet he’d given me was hidden.
“You seem to be collecting a lot of jewelry these days,” he whispered, smirking happily when I glared at him. “It’ll be so very interesting to see which one you favor by the end of this little trip.”
I opened my mouth to lay into him, not sure what I’d say but figuring I’d use that teenage part of my brain to work it out while the words tumbled from my mouth. Unfortunately for me, Cash didn’t wait. He grabbed my hand and dragged me the direction Phillip mentioned the vampire coven was located.
“I’ll be taking this prize with me while you blokes have your little macho-man chat. Toodles!” Cassius called out, instantly barred by the other two when he put a leg out in an almost slap-stick comedy style.
It oddly reminded me of Mr. Bean, and I smiled without intending to. The day had devolved into a ridiculous series of events, so it seemed fitting it’d end with some weirdo Mr. Bean moment.
Granted, if the other two hadn’t stopped Cassius, the Dark Fae would’ve gotten a one-way ticket to Smackdown Town, thanks to yours truly, Vindictive V.
I wasn’t the damsel sort. Sure, my head wasn’t exactly on straight these days, but I could handle some cowardly Fae who’d gotten a little too comfortable doing what he wanted.
Except, I’d been quietly desperate for an escape—and Cash appeared to pick up on my silent plea.
It was in his eyes as they trailed back over his shoulder to find me, and it was the first time I wondered if maybe there could ever be a future where I forgave the man for all he’d done, much like I had Donna and Phillip.
“Shite. I nearly got away with it too, if not for these bloody kids,” Cassius whined in a baby voice that grated on the nerves.
It wasn’t the perfect Scooby-Doo quote, but the Dark Fae struck me as someone who added his own flair to everything he touched. In this case, a very popular cartoon phrase.
Phillip took a step forward, but it was Sloan who freed my hand from Cash’s loose hold, and the silver-haired imp cooed cutely as if he was watching a romance unfold in a daytime soap.
I tried to ignore how my pulse thrummed when the Brit touched my skin. His hand was so gentle and kind, which was a far-cry from Phillip’s, and it felt illicit to enjoy the sensation at all when my brand-new, sort-of-labeled boyfriend was watching the entire time.
Coming between us, Phillip addressed Sloan as if he hadn’t rudely muscled him out of the way. “I guess we’re stuck with you, so you keep the bloody tosser in check. I’ll handle V.”
I opened my mouth again, ready to defend myself, but it was Sloan’s voice that came to my defense first. “I think she’s plenty capable of taking care of herself, mate.”
Phillip pivoted, and I didn’t see the anger radiate on his face, but it was all there in his back, telling a story about how upset the man was. “You have something to say, Sloan?”
I’d never heard Phil use the tone he presently adopted with Sloan, and I quickly realized the situation wasn’t the usual banter-heavy play the two were prone to doing; this was the real deal. They were about to have an actual fight, so I moved around Phillip and put myself between them.
“Uh, ‘scuzie, but I think we all just need to calm the fuck down and remember what we’re doing here,” I interjected firmly.
Cassius stood, a snack in his hand, and I did a double-take at the Fae in confusion. “Oh, by all means, finish what you were saying, love. It’s been a while since I’ve been this amused.”
At least one of us is having a good time…