CHAPTER 9 MANNY
MANNY
I locked the door behind Arch. Seeing him again, especially when he was behaving like a reasonable person, was confusing. No way was I giving Oz up, but physically at least, Arch pushed all of my buttons.
Something to think about on the other side of never.
I hurried back to the kitchen where Oz was slumped over the table, his head on his arms. I stroked his shoulder. “Hey, come on. Let’s get in bed.” He lifted his head, his eyes widening. I pointed a finger at him. “No funny stuff. I need to sleep, and you look like you could use some cuddling.”
He made a regretful face, but when he opened his mouth, I put my hand over it. “Yeah, yeah, you’re on the clock. Well, guess what? It’s broad daylight and I have cameras all around the house. If you don’t want to sleep, you can watch them on your phone.”
He seemed torn for a moment, and I held my breath, but at last he nodded. Thank fuck. He looked as worn out as I felt. I moved my hand to cup his cheek. “Has your boss told you whether someone’s relieving you this afternoon?”
“Yes. Bryan will be here at 3:00.”
Excellent. “After you do the handoff or whatever you have to do, I want you to come back inside and we’ll have an official date night.
Clothing optional.” I waggled my eyebrows, and he grinned.
I leaned over and kissed him, a brief peck, but on the lips.
My chest felt fizzy, kind of like when I was healing someone.
When I pulled back, Oz seemed dazed. Not bad for a first kiss.
I smiled in satisfaction as I took his hand.
He let me tug him to his feet, and we went to the bedroom.
I mentally sent thanks to Shane for leaving his king-sized bed behind when he moved out.
They had a California king in the new house.
I didn’t understand why Arch crossed my mind at that moment, but I ignored it.
After I dashed into the closet to remove my wig and put it on its stand, we both took our jeans off, leaving us in t-shirts and underwear. Oz was a boxer briefs guy, and, hot damn, I was looking forward to getting my hands on that package, and soon. When I wasn’t exhausted.
When I slid my gun from under the pillow and put it in the nightstand drawer, Oz just nodded.
He set his phone on the nightstand then slid under the covers.
I got in on the other side, and he gathered me close.
I ended up with my face on his chest, so hopefully I wouldn’t drool in my sleep.
I threw my arm over his belly, breathed in a lungful of his warm scent, and I was out.
I woke up a while later. Oz hadn’t moved, but he was using the arm that wasn’t curled around me to hold his phone.
I smacked my lips, grateful I hadn’t drooled.
No boner either, but that could change at any moment.
He set the phone down on the nightstand and ran his fingers over my head. “Do you feel better?”
“Yeah.” I turned so I could look at him. “Did you sleep?”
He made a so-so gesture. “A little. The talk with Arch stirred up a lot in my head.”
I squeezed him with the arm I still had across his belly. “I can imagine.” I pushed myself up so I was sitting, though I kept a hand on Oz’s wrist. “I feel like I should apologize for him coming by, but it’s really on him.” I shrugged, still feeling unreasonably guilty.
He sat up as well, arranging a pillow behind himself so he could lean against the headboard. He took my hand in his. “What happened last year? How was he a jerk to you?”
I sighed and rubbed my face. “I should start a little further back, I guess.” I eyed him. “Unless the story of how I gained my magic has already made the rounds of the pack?”
His hand went tense in mine. “No. Harrison and Cassandra said they didn’t know.”
“Huh. Well, if we’re gonna do this”—I waved my hand back and forth between us—“you should know.”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
I made a face. “I don’t love reliving it, but I know you can relate.” I took a deep breath. “Have you heard of Ms. Jackson, the sentient Elven artifact?”
I didn’t go into a lot of detail, but I told him how Rory had rescued Pia, about me getting injured and Ms. Jackson healing me.
By the time I’d gotten to Ellis being rescued, Oz had sat up and wrapped his arms around me.
It was nice not feeling quite so alone anymore.
Okay, sure, I could’ve let my friends in on the healing shit at any time, but I didn’t want to worry them or deal with their fussing.
Probably, though, me telling Oz was the warmup to telling Rory, Shane, and Ellis.
Which meant Arch would have to know. And that felt... complicated.
“Then we went to Ellis’ house near Dallas to pack up some of his stuff so he could move to Houston to be with Shane and Rory. I was standing on the driveway with Rory. He’d asked to see the scar from my injury, and I was showing it to him when Arch pulls up in this huge black SUV.”
I talked him through Arch’s initial reactions and the trip back to Houston, including staying at Rory’s condo with Arch, Pia, and Ms. Jackson to give the guys space to complete their mating bond.
Making a face, I held up my hand, my fingers about half an inch apart. “I was this close to murdering him!”
Oz laughed, and I shoved him back against the pillows. “You think it’s funny?” He smiled at me, and I could almost feel the affection pouring off of him. Damn. Could we skip the rest of the talking and get to the naked part? No, because Oz had to finish his shift. Ugh.
“Manny. If you and Arch were six years old, and he was treating you like that, what would people say?”
I cocked my head. “That he’s a bully?”
He heaved a huge sigh. “That he likes you and he doesn’t have the... I don’t know, emotional intelligence or self-confidence to approach you directly.”
My mouth was open, but for a second nothing came out. “But, but—he’s straight!”
Oz squeezed my hand. His eyes were warm and kind. “Or possibly at the time he hadn’t admitted it to anyone yet. Possibly he hadn’t admitted it to himself.”
I frowned. “Their dad basically disowned Ellis for being gay. Arch stayed in touch with Ellis, but they weren’t close anymore. He said Arch tried to be what his dad wanted him to be.”
“Sounds like a tough dynamic to be in if you realize you’re not straight.”
I thought back to this morning, to Arch’s visit and his insistence that his reasons for being an ass last summer were “personal”. If Oz was right, that would mean Arch had been attracted to me back then, and—“Holy shit!” I met Oz’s gaze with wide eyes. “Arch came by to ask me out!”
He smiled. “That’s what I think.” He looked down at our hands. “Me being here made him decide not to.” What was that face he was making? Was he disappointed?
“Hold up.” I held up a hand. “Why do you sound like you wanted him to ask me out?”
He shrugged, looking at me from under his lashes with a flirty grin. “I might have a little crush on the hot Hunter who freed me. If you liked him too, well, it wouldn’t be the first polyamorous relationship in my family. Or in Arch’s.”
I gaped at him, and he dropped the smile. “But if that’s not something you want, I’m absolutely okay with it just being me and you. I promise.”
Shaking my head, I patted his chest. “Wait, wait. I’m processing. Give me a second.” I pressed both hands to my eyes. “Okay, you’re suggesting that I—that we—ask Arch to date us? Even though today was the first time he and I have managed a civil conversation that wasn’t in front of Pia?”
He sat up and put his arms around me. I dropped my hands from my face, but they couldn’t go far, so I ended up with my fingers splayed over his muscular chest. It was distracting, and my dick was getting interested in how few clothes we were wearing.
Oz kissed my cheek. “I’m suggesting—and let me be clear that this is only a suggestion—we ask Arch on a date. We get to know him before we decide anything.”
I hmmmed as I leaned my forehead into the side of his neck. He smelled like my body wash, which made me feel all possessive and growly. What would it be like with Arch here too? “He is hot.”
Oz laughed. “Agreed. Why don’t we think about it overnight and discuss it again tomorrow? Bryan will be here soon to take over, and I want to walk the yards before then. Plus I’ve got to explain to him and Roman that you and I are dating.”
“Okay. Good thing we have pizza we can heat up for a combo lunch and dinner.” I flexed my fingers on his pecs. “Because as soon as you come back inside, we’ll both be too busy to cook.”
He smiled and gathered me close. I lifted up and met his lips with mine.
My eyes fell shut, and I groaned as our mouths opened and our tongues touched for the first time.
The fizzy, happy feeling from before was back, but it was overlaid with a roaring need.
I pressed my body into Oz’s, wanting to fuse myself to him.
His big, warm hands on my biceps felt nice, until he used them to separate us and end the kiss.
“Oz!” I whined, blinking my eyes open.
“I have to go meet Bryan, remember?” His face was flushed, and his eyes were bright.
I wanted to whine some more, but the sooner Oz got his work crap dealt with, the sooner we could get naked.
“Fine.” I fell back to the mattress as he got out of bed.
Propping myself up on one elbow, I watched Oz cover up his beautiful body with boring clothes.
Once he was dressed, he leaned over and kissed me before leaving the room.
The connection between us stretched out, stronger than before, almost glittering.
It was surreal to be able to see things like that, magical cores and connections between people.
Which reminded me, it was time to do a video call with Jackson.
I should update them on everything that had been happening lately.
And I should tell Rory, Shane, and Ellis I was a healer. Fuck.
I rolled over and put a pillow over my head. They were going to be so pissed.