My Protector (Bewitched and Bewildered Book 2) (16 page)

Aiden laughed and banged his hand on the table. "Say goodbye to your study," he teased mercilessly.

Meryn sighed. "I wish we had a study."

Gavriel looked at Meryn in surprise before a sly smile crossed his lips. "Aiden does have a study Meryn." Aiden immediately stopped laughing and glared at Gavriel.

"I know, his office downstairs," Meryn pouted.

Smiling broadly Gavriel shook his head. "No, he also has one upstairs. Each warrior suite comes with a master bedroom and bath and two additional rooms."

Meryn turned sharply in Aiden's lap to face him. "We don't have a study."

He ran a hand across the back of his neck. "Actually we do."

"No, we don't."

"Yes, we do."

"Then where in the hell is it? I've been living here over a month, I would have noticed a whole other room!"

"The door to the study is partially covered by the aquarium, you probably missed it."
 

"We have a study?" She asked again.

"Yes."

"We have our own study?" she asked this time sounding more excited.

"Yes?" Aiden looked down at her confused.

Elizabeth sat back and held up a hand and began a countdown. And in five, four, three, two ...

"Holy shit balls, I have my own game room!" Meryn hopped off Aiden's lap and darted out of the room. Seconds later they heard the sound of small feet pounding up the stairs and racing down the hall.

Aiden groaned and dropped his head to the table.

"Serves you right." Darian laughed.

"But I keep my weights in there for when I can't sleep," Aiden complained.

"I'm sure that contractor will be more than happy to help you get rid of them," Gavriel said congenially.

A minute later they heard the sound of feet thumping down the stairs. Meryn appeared in the doorway breathless.

"It's so fucking cool! The door is almost hidden, it's like I have my own bat cave. But those weights totally have to go; I'm calling dibs on that room." She walked over and sat down in the empty chair next to Aiden.

Aiden frowned down at her. "How can you call dibs on a room I've been using for the past five hundred years?" he demanded.

Meryn looked up and smiled. "Did you call dibs?"

Aiden shook his head. "Of course I didn't."

"Ha! Then I get it fair and square," Meryn countered.

Elizabeth turned to her mate. "Do we seem dull and staid in comparison?"

Gavriel shook his head. "I think it's more that Meryn lives in and rules her own world."

"Why would I call dibs on my own room?" Aiden asked.

Meryn ignored him and looked over to her. "Will you help me design a game room? I've always wanted one."

Elizabeth nodded. "Sure, I don't know much about games, but I can help you pick out furniture and decor."

"But that's my weight room; I've used it for hundreds of years!" Aiden protested.

Meryn turned to her mate. "Then you've had it long enough and now it's my turn. Be an adult and share. Besides, I called dibs."

"Whatever makes you happy, baby," Aiden said, leaning back in total defeat.

"Sweet! Then later it can be a game-themed nursery." Meryn grabbed the last pastry so that Ryuu could take the empty plate to the kitchen.

Aiden was mindlessly nodding his agreement when her words sunk in. He stood so fast his chair flew back.

"A ... a ... a ... are you? Could you be?" he stuttered.

"What pregnant? Technically ... yes. You never did pick up condoms when you raided the grocery store for tampons. Maybe, but I don't think so," she stopped and looked down at her hands and counted. "Yeah, maybe. But if you want to explore the possibility of getting me pregnant, I won't wear the amulet. That is, if you go buy condoms."

"We can have a baby if I go buy condoms?" Aiden asked breathlessly.

"That's kinda contradictory, but yes." Meryn nodded.

Aiden looked the other men.
 

"Ryuu, I'm leaving my mate with you. Come on, men." He bolted for the front door.

Gavriel kissed her cheek then joined the other men as they followed Aiden out of the room.

Ryuu shook his head as he stacked the plates on his arm. "Meryn, you are terrible."

Grinning, she popped the last bite into her mouth. "That should keep him busy for a while."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Won't you have to get pregnant now?"

Meryn shrugged. "I think I may already be pregnant, it's why I haven't put the amulet on. I'm not sure what it would do to Meryn 2.0."

Elizabeth and Ryuu stared at Meryn. Finally Ryuu asked the question bouncing around her own head. "Then why did you tell him to get condoms?"

Meryn shrugged and spread her hands. "Because it will be funny watching him try to use them later?"

Elizabeth grabbed her stomach and laughed so hard she thought she was going to wet herself.

"Meryn, I think you're my hero," she said gasping for air.

"I know. I kick ass!"

Laughing, Ryuu leaned down and kissed Meryn's forehead before carrying the plates to the kitchen.

My little sister is very kick ass.

CHAPTER NINE

Gavriel leaned his head back against the headrest as his commander drove at break neck speeds towards the Duck In. What he really wanted was to be snuggled up with his own mate, but he knew that this was important to Aiden. The bear shifter had been dreaming of a family for centuries.
 

"Okay men. You heard her. We need to buy condoms; I think it may help her to get pregnant," Aiden said, laying out the mission.

"What are condoms? Do paranormals use them?" Keelan asked.

Darian shook his head. "I've never heard of them. Have you Gavriel?" Darian, Colton and Keelan turned to face him.
 

"I have a vague idea of what they are. I know the practice of using them started amongst humans hundreds of years ago," Gavriel said. Beyond that he didn't know much.

"Is there a human handbook? Ever since Meryn has moved in, I'm discovering that I don't know as much as I thought I did about their daily lives. It's humbling," Darian complained.

"We don't need a handbook. We have Bart. He's the older gentleman we met at the grocery store the last time we went. He is a great source of knowledge." Aiden said.

"What if he's not there?" Colton asked.

"Good point. Keelan use your phone and go to The Google and see what it has to say about condoms," Aiden ordered.

Keelan took out his phone and his face was lit up by its soft white light. As the miles flew by Keelan's frown grew deeper and deeper. As they were pulling into the parking lot Gavriel noticed that the young witch was blushing and his ears were scarlet.

Aiden turned off the ignition and turned around in the driver's seat to face Keelan.

"Report," he said.

"Umm, sir, can we just go in and check something?" Keelan stared down at his phone unable to meet his commander's eyes.

"Didn't The Google have anything?" Aiden asked.

"Sir, it's awfully hot in here. I'm going inside." Keelan opened the door, practically jumped out and slammed the door behind him. Aiden stared at the now empty seat, a surprised look on his face.

"What's wrong with him?" Aiden pointed out the window where Keelan waited for them by the sliding entrance door.

"Aiden, according to Meryn, condoms deal with pregnancy, maybe he's embarrassed. He is young after all," Gavriel suggested.

A look of sympathetic understanding crossed Aiden's face. "Of course. Okay, men. Just like last time. Call out when you find them my future son depends on us and the success of this mission," Aiden said in a passion-filled voice.

Darian crossed his arm over his chest in salute. "You can count on us, sir."

Colton nodded. "Let's do this." He reached behind him and pulled out his nine millimeter. He checked the chamber, secured the safety and returned it to the holster.

Aiden hesitated before saying. "Colton, I don't think we'll be attacked at the Duck In."

Colton raised an eyebrow. "And until today I wouldn't have thought that ferals had balls big enough to approach Gavriel of all people next to the Alpha estate either. Things change."

Aiden nodded after a moment. "You men always help me to think when I'm distracted."

Colton grinned and opened his car door. "No extra charge."

Gavriel waited for Darian to get out before he climbed out of the third row passenger seat. He liked sitting back there; it was like he had the entire back of the SUV to himself.

They met up with Keelan who was still the color of a tomato and went inside. They walked in and from across the store they heard a familiar male chuckle.

"I see all your boys are with you now. What'da do this time?" Bart chuckled.

"Nothing, my woman asked me to pick something up," Aiden announced across the store.

"Whatcha after tonight boy?" Bart called out.

"Condoms!" Aiden yelled. Several people turned and were staring at them slack jawed. Women started to edge away from them.

Behind the counter Bart laughed. "I guess yer not in trouble anymore." Under his breath Gavriel heard the old coot say. "This should be good."

The men spread out and searched the rows. After a few minutes they heard Keelan whisper.
 

"Sir, I found them," he hissed, trying to keep his voice down.

"What was that Keelan? Did you say you found the condoms?" Aiden shouted from the aisle that held the soap. Nodding frantically Keelan didn't answer just pointed. The men gathered around the small display section and stared.

"These boxes are smaller than the tampon boxes," Darian observed.

Colton picked one up and began reading. He laughed, then stopped laughing, stared and then frowned. "Aiden, I don't think this is right."

"Why?" Aiden picked up a box and began reading. "Says right here Colton, 'Pleasure Pack'. Sounds promising, doesn't it?"

Darian looked down at the boxes. "Aiden, be careful. This one says 'Twisted, Intense, and Fire & Ice'. Sounds like torture devices to me."

In the background Gavriel heard Bart burst out laughing.

Gavriel picked up a box and started reading. "Aiden these things
prevent
pregnancy and STDs, whatever they are."

Aiden shook his head. "That can't be right. If Meryn said to get them, I'm getting them. She said if I got these we could have a baby, so I'm not leaving the store without them."

"This one says 'lubricated'; that has to be good, right?" Darian asked, holding up his box.

Aiden nodded. "Do you think they come with instructions?" he turned the box over in his hands.

Keelan leaned in and pulled Aiden down. What he whispered had the men staring at the boxes.

Aiden stood up and glared down at Keelan. "They go where?" he demanded.

"Oh stop! Y'all are killing me!" Bart pounded on the counter.
 

Aiden frowned. "The quicker we get back, the quicker Meryn can explain this to me. Let's just pick some out."
 

Gavriel stood shoulder to shoulder with his unit staring down at the boxes.

Darian rubbed his chin. "If it were me, I would go with the one with the warrior on it."

Colton nodded. "Agreed."

"Okay men grab the ones that have honored our fallen Trojan brothers and let's go."

From the front counter Bart called out. "Make sure you get the right size."

Aiden looked over to the old man wide eyed. "They come in sizes?"

Bart nodded. "And considering how they're used, you don't want one that's too big or too small if you take my meaning." His mouth twitched.

"How do I know what size I am?" Aiden yelled.

"Perverts!" an old woman hissed and walked past with her loaf of bread.

Bart cackled. "Don't mind Ethel, she's just ornery because no man ever went shopping for her, if you know what I mean."

"Bartholomew Macleod I'll tell your wife you said that to me," Ethel threatened.

Bart shrugged. "Go ahead, she knows you're not getting any either."

Ethel gasped. "Well, I never!"

Bart laughed. "Probably part of your problem."

Ethel threw the loaf of bread at him and scuffled out as quickly as she could.

Aiden looked remorseful. "I'm sorry you lost a customer because of my inquiry."

Bart waved off his concerns. "She'll be back tomorrow, asking which size you bought."

Aiden blushed. "Oh." He turned back to the men. "Is there a chart?"

Keelan shook his head frowning down at the box. "There's no chart. But Aiden, are you allergic to latex?"

"I don't think so, why?"

"These are made with latex, but they say if you're allergic to latex to try some of their lambskin condoms. You don't think they actually use the skin of a lamb do you?" he asked, his eyes looking frightened.

Aiden simply looked over at Bart who shook his head. "Don't be silly boy, that would be a waste of perfectly good leather."

The men breathed a sigh of relief.

"They're made from the lamb's intestines," Bart informed them.

Keelan dropped his box and stood back. "Humans are monsters!" he whispered.

"That's it! Grab the latex ones in the biggest size they have, we're leaving." Flushed the men grabbed at the boxes and headed to Bart's register.

"That's a lot of condoms boy and all of them are in extra-extra large. I didn't even know we offered this size." He blew dust off the box. "You sure you're not being optimistic?" he raised an eyebrow.

Grinning, Aiden leaned in and whispered to the old man. The old man sat back. "You're pulling my chain."

Aiden shook his head.

"No wonder yer woman set your car on fire. I would too if someone came at me with that every night. Poor darlin." Bart rang up the boxes.

"She's no longer angry with me and is talking about having a baby." Aiden said proudly.

Bart stopped mid scan and stared at Aiden. He looked down at the counter of condom boxes and started shaking his head as he resumed ringing up his purchase. "I have got to meet yer woman. Sounds like she has a sense of humor that one. She reminds me of my wife. Okay boy, here's yer bag." Bart held it out and Aiden handed him the money.