Nolan's Evolution (49 page)

              She turned her back to him and to her entertainment system, giving him a view.

              “You may have to change those jeans before we leave,” he murmured. “I don’t want to let you out in public…”

              “Hush Gregor…I’m picking out a song!” She heard his grunt and it made her smile. Quickly she chose her song and spun about smiling. “This is perfect.” Her eyes danced as Florida Georgia Line’s Dayum, Baby came on. She began moving toward him, swaying her hips to the beat. She did a little turn trying to hide the butterflies and give him a little show.

              Nolan couldn’t help a grin as he watched her and listened to the lyrics. “Not bad,” he said over the music. He drew in a breath as she came near.

              Raina stepped up into his space and rested her palms on his hips. She applied pressure to get him moving.  “Okay Mr. Gregor…let’s see if you can dance as good as you look!” Her hands slipped up his sides until they rested on his chest.

              His eyes darkened, and he smiled. His hands gripped her hips and he began to move with her. The blue eyes peering up at him had his heart racing. He felt his concentration slip when she moved against him. He cleared his mind and began murmuring to himself. His lids grew heavy.

              Raina giggled. “Did you just mumble “boundaries” like three times?”

The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Maybe.”

She felt a little smug. “Really Nolan…it’s just a dance!” She saw him flush, and it was like heroine to her system. She lifted on her tiptoes and kissed him, wrapping her arms about his neck.

              “How’s my dancing,” he teased against her lips when she tried to pull away.

              She hung on as he lifted her into his arms and continued moving to the music. “Not too bad!” She squealed when he hefted her up higher. She wrapped her legs about his hips and enjoyed the dance from her perch.

              He squeezed her to his chest. “I could learn to love country!”

              Raina laughed until her stomach ached, clinging to him. This she would file away in her permanent memory bank. It was right up there with kissing in the ocean!

              “God I love you Raina,” he crooned in reverence.

              She smiled. “Ditto.”

              He sighed. “I suppose we should head on out?”

              Raina pouted and slipped down his body to stand on her own feet. “Or we could play hooky…”

              “Uh, not after you’ve given me a taste of country! I’ve got to see how far this goes Aelan!”

              She pushed against his chest. “You are just scared I will steel your virtue!”

              He grinned. “You can have it my love! When it’s time…no stealing! I will give it to you on a silver platter!” He patted her backside playfully. “Now go get your coat.”

              She obeyed, but not until she stuck her tongue out at him.

              They arrived fashionably late. The others were well into their drinking phase. Maxim had been introduced already, and was blending quite nicely with the group.

              Raina had just got her coat off when she was swept into a pair of arms!

              “Oh my God Raina! You don’t know how worried I was!” Bradley blubbered against her shoulder as he hugged her. “Emily said you were incapacitated and…and we couldn’t contact you!”

              Raina patted his back. She understood how all of this craziness must seem to Bradley! “I’m okay Brad…I promise! Look!” She stepped out of his arms and did a spin. “I’m ok!” She hugged him again.

              Bradley’s gentle blue eyes held relief. He looked to Nolan. “And you? You up and disappearing on me? On Raina? My God man, what’s wrong with you?” He smiled broadly. “You’ve been missed!”

              Nolan grabbed him up in a hug. “Well, I’m back, so no worries!”

              “You and Raina? Everything is good again?” Bradley’s brows rose

              “Well, we might be fighting soon if he doesn’t get me some wine,” Raina teased.

              Nolan smacked her backside as he headed to the bar.

              “It’s turned into a magic ass,” she whispered to Emily. They laughed together.

              “Aren’t you glad I helped you pick them out?” Emily’s eyes admired the jeans. “They look fantastic on you Rain!”

              Raina smiled. “He has spanked me no less than three times since he spotted me in them!”

              Emily waggled her brows and grasped her friend’s hand. “Come on…it’s time to dance!”

              “I haven’t even had a drink,” Raina protested, but followed anyway. She grabbed onto Melinda’s hand…Melinda grabbed Arabella and it was just the girls!

Raina about melted into the floor as F.G.L. filled the room with…Dayum Baby. She didn’t even want to make eye contact with Nolan or she might combust! She closed her eyes and danced with her friends like she just didn’t care!

              She felt his presence as he stepped up behind her.

              “I would have thought you planned this if we hadn’t just got here,” he growled, handing her a glass of wine. He wrapped an arm about her, pulled her back against his chest, and moved right along with her.

              Raina was warmed from head to toe. The memory of their private dance beforehand made it all the more titillating! She laid her arm over the one about her waist and squeezed.

              “He’s a keeper,” Emily shouted over the music. “Nolan’s the only guy from our group brave enough to jump in!”

              Raina smiled. “Oh, there’s no giving this one up!”

              “Oh here they come! Nolan shamed them!” Emily wrapped her arms about her husband.

              The boys were there… all but Maxim, who seemed to be the odd man out. He sat at the table with his beer. He lifted it as if to say, “Carry on!”

              Thanatos tipped the Stetson he wore and spun Arabella around, making her laugh. He looked like a cowboy from any girls dreams!

              Raina turned in Nolan’s arms, balancing her wine. “Are you glad you came?”

              He nodded as he watched the fun the group was having. “Everyone needed a release…this is perfect!” He tugged at her blonde curls.

              She saw the look in his eyes. “But?”

              He shrugged. “I can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop!”

              Raina frowned. “Don’t!”

              He gripped the back of her neck and bussed the tip of her nose with his own.

              “I hate that you take all of this on yourself,” she cried. “I just want you to have peace!” She gripped his jaw so that his eyes remained on her. “Just enjoy yourself!”

              He grinned, grasping her hips, and pulling her closer. “I couldn’t be enjoying myself more!”

              Raina lifted a brow.

              He patted her bottom. “I have the prettiest girl here in my arms! How could I not be happy?”

              She blushed. “The jeans are good?”

              “The jeans are fan-freaking-tastic,” he growled. “I may never let you out of them!”

              She smiled. “Let’s go sit a spell.”

              He protested.

              “Maxim is all by himself and we’ve already danced to this song,” she said softly.

              Nolan squeezed her hips. “It won’t be the last time we dance to this song. I promise you that!” He gave her a quick kiss and then tugged her back toward the table as the song changed anyway,

              “Don’t come back on my account,” Maxim protested as they returned to the table. “I’m okay just watching everyone enjoying themselves!”

              Raina shook her head. “One of the main reasons for tonight’s outing was so that everyone could get to know you! So that you could have fun with the group! If you want, I’ll take you out there myself to dance!”

              Maxim glanced to Nolan and very much doubted that would be allowed.

              Raina smacked Nolan’s chest, catching the look. “Nolan!”

              Maxim chuckled. “No, I understand his jealousy over you!”

              Raina rolled her eyes. “Dancing is dancing…it’s not a proposal of marriage! I can dance with another for fun!”

              Nolan’s frowny face made another appearance.

              She shook her head at him and stole a kiss. “Silly jealous man!”

              He lifted a beer to Maxim. “I am fine with a man around my mortal…as long as he’s just there to protect her and keeps his hands to himself!”

“Your mortal?”

              “My mortal,” he agreed.

              Raina frowned at him, not admitting that she liked the sound of that. “You wouldn’t mind me dancing with Thanatos!”

              “He is contracted to not touch you in any way but friendly under penalty of death.”

              She lifted her brow. “Oh really? Wasn’t there a contract you signed that said much the same? Well, you’ve touched plenty Mr. Gregor!

              He flushed, gripping her chin. “You are worth the mutiny Aelan.”

              She couldn’t help her smile.

              It was at that moment that Nolan was suddenly reaching for his phone as it went off. He pulled it out of his pocket. “It’s Joseph.”

              Raina went for the phone. “Don’t answer now! We’re having fun!”

              He frowned at her. “It could be an emergency!”

              “It’s not,” she insisted. “Nolan, please don’t answer!”

              He did anyway.

              She and Maxim exchanged glances.

              Nolan had the phone to his ear, and was scooting out before Raina could protest further. “Joseph? What’s going on?” He was making his way to the door.

              “Did you tell him anything?”

              She shook her head, grabbed her coat, and was on his heels.

He was outside talking as she was rushing out, tugging on her coat. She skidded to a stop at the look on his face.

              “This morning? Yeah, no, I heard nothing about it,” he said solemnly.

              “Nolan, I wanted Joseph to…” His upheld hand silenced her. She bit her lip and took a step back.

              “Really?” His hand was on his hip and then through his hair and running down the back of his neck, rubbing furiously. “No, I didn’t know you were coming tomorrow…had no idea this had come up.” The silvers lifted to her with accused.

              “Nolan, I really meant for…”

              “Hold on Joseph…some ones lips just loosened up!”

              Raina blinked at the anger in his face.

              “Don’t be like that,” she whispered. ‘Please.’

              “You didn’t think I would appreciate knowing this information Raina? Really?” He shook his head. “Why don’t you go on in and enjoy your little hoe down? It appears I have some things to work out.”

              She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. “I wanted you to hear it from Joseph,” she whispered.

              He turned his back on her and continued speaking to Joseph.

              She frowned at his back and stomped her way back into the bar.

              Maxim looked at her with concern and then amusement as she threw down her coat and grabbed his hand. “Come on Maxim…I feel like there is some dancing in order!”

              Soon after they were on the floor, Thanatos was pulling her to his side and ushering Arabella to dance with Maxim.

              What is going on?” he growled. “I can’t believe you were putting Maxim’s life on the line…”

              “Whatever,” she huffed. “I can’t do anything right and he’s mad at me anyway!” She burst into tears.

              Thanatos gathered her close on the floor and comforted her. “Spill it beautiful! We will figure this out!”

              And she did…in soft whispers that the immortal was able to pick up easily.

              The green eyes darkened in concern and in hope. “He should be happy!”

              “I know!” she cried. Tears rolled down her cheeks and Thanatos waved off her concerned girlfriends.

              “This has to be a shock to him,” Thanatos murmured. “Give him a minute to get used to it.” His green eyes softened.

              She bit her lip. “Your persuasion can be so annoying,” she growled as the tears dried up.

              “Its also effective. See? No more tears!” Thanatos led her to the table.

              “I just want to go home now,” she whispered. “Please Thanatos! You can come back, but I can’t stay!”

              He cuddled her into his side. “Finish your wine and I will.”

              Raina gulped it down.