Loving Ean (The Fae Guard Book 2) (34 page)

Suddenly, she whacks the desk with the flat of her hand. “It’s maddening to know they are up to something big and not know what it is! They are searching for something . . . someone, I don’t know. And, they are using fate readers to do it!” I can practically see steam being expelled from both ears. I shrink back in my seat a little (you would too, trust me), glad that her fury isn’t directed at me. “What I can’t figure out is how they’ve been able to turn so many fate readers in the first place. Maybe this douche canoe is exactly what we need to finally get in front of them and knock them off track.”

“How do you propose I go about getting this guy to spill his guts, Fate? It’s not like my powers of persuasion are irresistible.”

Fate snorts, “Yeah, just ask Laila.” I choose to ignore her. When I don’t take the bait, she sticks her tongue out at me. I sigh and circle my hand in the air, indicating that she should go on. “I’m thinking that this guy has stupidly put himself in the same spot as Killian.”

My eyebrows shoot up practically into my hairline, in shock. “The kid that was stalking Shaylee?”

“Yup. It’s ironic, really. He was searching out the little shit because he’d deviated from the council’s intentions for him and they wanted to punish him. Now, I have to wonder how they feel about him doing the same thing, zeroing in obsessively on his own plans and losing sight of the dark council’s goals.” What she’s saying makes a good amount of sense. “What we need is for someone to come after him the way he was sent for Killian. The Fallen council certainly won’t want us to have him in our clutches, but if he fears what they will do to him, he might unintentionally go running right at us.”

The only thing about this line of thought, that has me hesitating, is what we do with him when he’s in our grasp. “What exactly are you intending for him? We don’t torture, and how do you propose that we keep him from using his abilities until we are forced to kill him? There’s no way he’d ever give up and come quietly.”

“What I choose to do with him isn’t your concern, Ean. As far as how to get him in our clutches, I’ll need to come with you. I’m the only one who can do all those fun things like binding his abilities, turning him into a toad, or giving him horns and a tail.” A blissful smile adorns her lips as she continues to mutter all the different things she could turn him into for her own amusement. That’s my cue to leave, before she tries to practice on me. I’m almost out the door when she calls, “Call Grady when you’re ready to roll.” I wave my hand to let her know I heard as I leave.

I SIGH WITH PLEASURE
as the warmth of my drink spreads through my body, relaxing my nerves and relieving me of stress. Shaylee chuckles, “Good, huh?”

“So, so good.”

After a grueling training session with Shaylee, we decided that we needed a night out to blow off some steam. We took off for the bar early and now we’re nursing drinks (Shaylee’s being non-alcoholic since she’s nursing) while waiting for everyone else to show up.

I’m just taking another sip when the scent of soap and woodsy cologne surround me and I feel a light kiss brush my cheek. “Hey, baby.” Now, I officially choke and almost spew the liquid across the bar. I swallow fast and commence coughing up a lung as Ean pats my back and Shaylee almost laughs herself right off of her stool. Once I’ve got myself under control, I spin around and am blindsided by the sight of Aden, Brannon, and Kendrix standing just behind Ean, grinning from ear to ear. What just happened? Did I miss something?

Ean slides a hand around my waist and drops a lingering kiss on my lips. I’m too astonished to even move. When he pulls back, he gently rubs his nose against mine and winks, then turns to the boys and starts chatting, his arm still firmly planted on my hip. Once my brain fog lifts, I squirm, trying to get out of Ean’s hold, but he just hauls me closer into his side. Aden is too busy loving on his wife to notice and Brannon and Kendrix haven’t reacted to Ean’s display. It seems ridiculous to be stubborn and wriggle out of his grasp just to make a point, especially when this is exactly where I want to be. I sigh in disgruntlement, but ever so subtly snuggle in a little more. The side of Brannon’s mouth kicks up for a moment and I’m pretty sure that he noticed. I mentally shrug; whatever. They’ll all be giving us shit about this for years to come anyway, what’s one more moment to be ribbed about?

More people show up and we hang around the bar, chatting for a while until a pool table opens up and a few of them drift over to start a game. Ean drops his lips to my ear and asks if I’m ok here while he goes to play. Every hair on my body stands on end and a shiver of excitement siphons through my body, causing a dampness between my legs. I nod and watch his sexy ass in jeans that show off every muscle as he strides away. As usual, there are several eyes glued to that delicious derriere. I shift on my seat to try and get more comfortable and feel the wetness slide along my inner thigh.

Oh shit! I remember that I’m wearing a flirty cream skirt made of a lighter cotton fabric so that it swishes around with my every step. I grab Shaylee’s arm, drawing her away from her discussion with Aden. When she turns, I gesture to the back hallway. “Ladies room?”

“Definitely.” She gives Aden a sour look and hops off the stool, ignoring the shake of his head and almost panicky expression. I lead her the long way around, staying close to the wall and keeping my front facing the room as best I can. After we are safely inside I run over to the floor length mirror and inspect my skirt from back to front.

“Are you all right?” Shaylee asks, as she stands just to my left, watching me in the mirror.

“Um . . .” I look around to make sure we’re alone but lean in to whisper anyway. “I got a little—um, hot, when Ean was kissing me.” Shaylee shrugs, clearly not seeing the problem. “I’m not wearing panties under this thin, white skirt!” I hiss. I am far from surprised when Shaylee throws her head back and laughs. I choose to ignore her, and finish inspecting my clothes. Seeing no indication of my aroused state on my skirt, I straighten my black and cream, cap sleeved, scoop neck top and finger fluff my hair. Shaylee is still giggling, so I lift one of my wedged, pink, sandal-clad feet and kick her in the shin. Not hard, but enough to get her to knock it off.

“Ouch!” She sobers up immediately and reaches down to rub her leg, but the smile remains on her face, obviously still amused. “You’ll just have to stay away from Ean tonight, I guess,” she snickers but then stops brusquely. “I almost forgot. That might be easier than you think.” I cross my arms over my chest, my head cocked to the side, and wait for her to continue. “My husband, and his band of bozos, gave Ean some really ignorant and, let’s face it, guyish advice.”

She definitely got my interest piqued. “Oh?”

She grimaces, “Apparently, he went to them for some advice on how to get you back. Why he would go to those schmucks instead Hayleigh or me, is not worth the headache to examine. Anyway,” She drops her head back and looks to the ceiling as though she is praying for patience, then looks me in the eye again, “they suggested that he just pretend nothing ever happened. To just start treating you as if you were together. I’m honestly not sure if they thought you’d be too stupid to notice or if you’d just go with it. I’m going to have to go with the latter, otherwise, they’ll all be getting a swift kick to the balls.”

I stand here listening to her rant a little longer without responding. How the hell
do
you respond to something so asinine? I have no doubt that Ean doesn’t believe I’m lacking in intelligence, which means that he really is hoping I’ll just go along with it. The whole thing is so absurd that I have no other recourse than to laugh until my sides are aching and tears are spilling down my cheeks.

At some point, Shaylee gives in to the urge and joins me, holding her stomach, and then doubling over in pain. “Ouch! Oh, holy mother of Fate!” she gasps, the blood draining from her face.

I rush over to her, terrified. “Shaylee? Holy crap, are you ok?”

She rests her palms on her knees for a moment as she takes deep, steadying breathes. She finally stands up, her face twisted in pain. “I forgot about the stitches.” Shaylee had a C-section with the twins and is still healing. We have to dance around it in training, but I guess we were both just too caught up in a night out and didn’t think about it.

“Do you need me to get Aden?”

“No.” She takes a few more controlled inhales and her color starts to return. “I think we might be done for the night, though.

I feel terrible for making her laugh and ruining her night. “Are you sure? I’m so sorry.”

Shaylee waves off my apology and tentatively takes a step toward the door. “No worries, Laila. I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.” She smiles at me genuinely. “It was almost worth it.” My mouth quirks up and I chuckle, taking her arm to help her from the bathroom and back to my brother. “What are you going to do?” I’m not sure what she’s talking about at first. Then I remember the source of our laughter.

“Would I have to hand in my feminine card if I forgive him right away and start fresh, moving on?”

Shaylee suppresses a giggle, careful not to hurt herself. “No. Honestly, Laila, I can’t blame you for that. You guys have been through so much and I can only imagine how ragged and beaten down you feel. If you can move beyond your past, I say just do it. Dragging it out just means more time being miserable, even if he kind of deserves it.” She winks at me as we reach the bar and look around for Aden.

I spot him already barreling his way across the room where he fusses (yes, fusses) over Shaylee before lifting her into his arms, disregarding her protests and strides out the door. I can’t stop smiling at those two; they are adorable, and freaking hilarious.

I smell Ean before I see him come up beside me and my resolve hardens. So, when his hand travels around my waist to settle on my hip, I don’t object, instead, I lean into his side and rest my head on his shoulder. You may disagree with my decision and think I’m letting myself be trampled, or letting Ean off too easy, but you’ll just have to get over it. We both know I’d forgive him and take him back, eventually. I’m just skipping the sucky part in the middle. Judge all you want, I choose to be happy.

I lift up on my tip toes, and with the added elevation from my sandals, I’m at just the right height to place a kiss on Ean’s jaw and whisper, “Let’s get out of here, yeah?” I smile widely when he looks down at me in wonder. I wink at him and he wastes no time scooping me up Aden-style, marching out into the night. Maybe I should be protesting, but I’m too busy laughing and enjoying the freeing feeling of letting all the hurt, anger, and resentment go.