“Coming across any creature I used to be with makes me nauseous, but being around her particularly has me having to leave the room at times to hurl.”
“Why?”
“Disgust.”
Another glimpse of gratitude is exposed.
“I am so…fucking…in love with you that being in the presence of another being who I once had intimately is the most agonizing, most vile shit I’ve ever felt.” My stare stays planted in hers. “I haven’t been fucking her behind your back or trying to. And I’ll have you know just saying those words is making my stomach churn.”
She extends the bottle my direction on a sassy, “Drink?”
Transferring the liquor to my empty hand is followed by enjoying a small swig. Afterwards, I extend it back her direction to which she denies. Her towel sporting, damp frame strolls over to the opposite side of the room and up onto the marble counter.
I prepare to follow when there’s a tugging from the inside to stop.
To give her space.
Keep my distance.
Simply be grateful I can see her and smell her.
Mother of Dragons, I’ve never been turned on from the smells of chocolate and papaya in all my years on this earth.
Ana crosses her ankles to allow them a gentle swinging motion. “Why didn’t you tell me you had been meeting with her?”
“Because I’m a fucking idiot.”
“Evident.”
“I thought I was protecting you…your…feelings. I thought if you knew we were meeting up…especially as often as we have been lately that you would suspect the very thing you suspected. I thought by keeping it from you until a better moment or better time that it wouldn’t fuck up what we’re building together. I didn’t want you to be jealous or think you had anything to worry about, but by trying to protect your feelings, I did something much fucking worse and broke your trust.”
She slowly nods. “Little bit.”
“I didn’t trust you to handle the truth. I didn’t trust you to let me handle your reaction to it. And for that…and for giving you a half-truth, rather than a full one, I’m a dragonhole.” I place the bottle down beside my feet and finally step into the room. “And I’m so fucking sorry.”
Ana pulls her lips to one side of her face prior to concurring. “You are a dragonhole.” She lets her beautiful, light-honey brown-skinned shoulders plummet to her wiggling toes. “And…I guess…I…get it. It’s not like I did handle finding out about your little rendezvous the best.”
“Not at all.”
“I was fucking pissed! And…,” an unhappy face is flashed, “admittedly…a…teensy weensy bit jealous. And a little insecure. And a little worried. And…let’s just leave the list there, okay? I’m sorry too.”
Holding back a smile is difficult.
“What are these meetings about? Are they different than the ones with your brothers? Also, why am I not invited to any of them?”
“They’re just updates about her sister, Krystie.” Another step forward is taken. “She’s been kidnapped by Magitek-”
“The same company that had been sending the Elf hit squad after us?”
“Yeah. We have an inkling of what they’re doing to creatures – some really nasty experiments – but we don’t know enough details. Or how many different types of experiments. Or how often. Or even all the types of beings that are getting harmed. It’s primarily what Griff is working on. We want to destroy them and stop them from whatever their fucked-up masterplan is, but we also need to rescue Krystie. Meetings with Karry have been me telling her any little thing about that mission that’s possible. They’re done in person because we’re not sure about Magitek’s reach. We don’t know if they’ve gotten into our phones or have beings watching us, so all information is exchanged at a secure location – usually here – in person. She hasn’t been able to come to the bigger meetings that include my brothers due to her filming schedule.”
“These were just…briefings?”
“More or less.”
“What about the laughing I interrupted?”
“Some random creature we both know found his Fated Mate on the movie set and has been making an ass of himself during the courting process.”
“Oh, so that doesn’t just happen to you?”
“Apparently fucking not.”
Ana steals a small bite from her bottom lip. “And you promise there’s nothing between you two anymore?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die, shove an M&M in my eye.”
My Fated Mate helplessly snickers at the Sleeper rhyme I’ve purposely butchered.
“I swear to never play with the truth again,” I firmly state, figure creeping closer to her once more. “I swear to tell you everything and anything and deal snout first with whatever hell it may bring.”
“I’m a big girl,” she sassily reminds. “I can handle whatever shit I’m given an actual chance to handle.”
Nodding is followed promptly by repeating the earlier request. “Is shaving me something you think you can handle?”
“Sober? Absolutely. Drunk?” Ana waggles her eyebrows and slides down to her feet. “Guess we’ll find out that shit together, Peanut Butter.” Hiding my minor worry becomes impossible thanks to her playfully asking, “Can you grow back body parts completely or just heal ones that are still there?”
If I couldn’t tell for a fact how long it’s actually been since she drank from that bottle, I’d definitely be a lot more fucking stressed out than I am. As is? I know I’ll be fine. More importantly, I know she’ll enjoy fucking with me, pretending that I won’t. It’ll give her a good giggle and a playful smirk.
And there isn’t anything I love more than having my Fated Mate smiling.
Although, hearing her scream my name is a really close fucking second.
Grabbing one of the chairs from the walk-in is done while she goes to retrieve the other objects from the shaving kit. Just as I start to strip out of my white dress shirt, Ana begins her return, halting altogether at the sight of my sculpted, bare chest becoming exposed.
Oh yeah.
My daily swims always pay the fuck off.
Her tongue steals a slow swipe of her lips giving away the building heat that’s being hidden by chocolate and fruit scents.
Consummate.
Soon.