Angelic Avenger (13 page)

“I heard that about you.”

“Does everyone think I’m shacking up with General Chaos?” I looked between the two and Alex shrugged.

“That’s the word on the street. And why not? He’s certainly hot enough. You’d have to be dead not to…never mind. He seems to be spending a lot of time hanging out at your place. How’s Casanova taking that, by the way? That’s some pretty tough competition.”

He smiled as I rolled my eyes. “Trust me when I say there’s absolutely no competition. Now, back to the subject at hand, I’ve already called off speculation about my love life as a topic of conversation. Besides, if you two keep it up, I’m going to start worrying that I might need to keep them away from you. What’s the prevailing attitude around the communities about all this jazz? Are most like the two of you, like it would be nice, but not going to risk execution over it?”

I didn’t like the way their gazes flickered to each other and Simba suddenly saw another couple who needed refills. I really needed to get that cat’s name if I was going to be frequenting this place. Wait, what was I thinking? Once this was over, I was never coming in here again. Period.

“Well, there’s where the problem lies.” Alex leaned in again. “There’s a rising sentiment that we have nothing to hide. Unfortunately, there’s been a split off the mass who think maybe the humans shouldn’t be the top of the food chain, anymore.”

I blinked a long, slow blink. He couldn’t possibly be suggesting what I thought he was suggesting. There was no way the Council would tolerate a revolution. Speaking as one of the troops who would be dealing with the revolutionaries, I could only pray it wouldn’t come to that.

“Care to give me any specifics?”

“No.” He shook his head and looked away. “I’ve already told you too much. A lot of good people are getting caught up in it. You have a lot more freedom around than most of your kind because you live down here. Maybe you can put your ear to the ground and see where it leads you. There are enough of us on the fringe that can see this for the disaster it is, so they’ll talk to you, if you start nosing about. I’m sorry, Bella, but I can’t tell you any more because I can’t risk being linked to you any further. They’ll kill me as surely as you would if you were sent for me. In fact, if you’d not gotten to Evan first, I’m sure they would have just for bringing things to the angels’ attention.”

I would have loved to tell him I wouldn’t, but we both knew it would be a lie. I tried not to lie if I could get around it. The truth was always easier to remember. At least now I knew why Evan had been so quick to fall on the sword, so to speak. He was dead either way.

“So, Simba, what is your name, anyway?”

Alex snorted and choked on his beer. The cat behind the bar doubled over laughing and it was the other bartender that swooped under the bar to pound on the wolf’s back until he could breathe.

“God, don’t do that to me,” Alex wheezed. “That’s too classic. Simba. I love it. A king, no less. You’re going to make him feel all superior…”

“Craig. Craig Malone.” He wiped his hands on the towel in front of him before offering it out. “And I’m always pleased to meet a sexy woman who’s so sure of herself. When you get tired of playing with the angels, give me a ring. I can promise you I’m a better toy.”

My laughter spilled over and soon, we were all laughing. I looked up to see Gray staring at us from the stage, his sax looped around his neck. There was something smoldering in his gaze that made me suddenly aware of him totally as a man, and it made me glad to be a woman. Lifting my glass toward his direction in a toast, I let my appreciation show with a nod. He flashed me a smile as he lifted the mouthpiece back to his mouth and began to play. The smooth sound of his contribution to the melody flowed through the room.

“Somehow, I don’t think you need to be sitting by your phone, Simba. My dance card seems to be full. Everybody wants to dance with me all of a sudden. Where were you guys when I needed you?”

“I’m pretty sure I wasn’t whelped, yet.”

“Now—” I tsked softly under my breath, “—reminding a woman of her age isn’t a great way to get a date, you know.”

“Ah, yes,” Craig whispered, leaning close over the bar. “But you’re immortal, so you’ll be young and beautiful forever. I figure I’ve got plenty of time to wear you down.”

“Dream on, loverboy.”

The man was a cat. They really couldn’t help pushing on those borders of acceptable behavior. For them, it was a game. For the rest of us, it was entertainment. I could live with that as long as we were both playing from the same rulebook.

Speaking of entertainment, the band switched to a pulsing beat that pushed against my defenses. Another drink materialized in front of me and I met the laughing amber gaze.

“Simba, getting me drunk isn’t going to increase your chances.”

“No, but I might be needing a free favor, later. No use letting all this magic go to waste. Someone should get a little action out of it.”

I blushed again, which made them all laugh and make lewd suggestions.

“No action tonight on anybody’s card.”

It sounded grumpy even to me. I’d probably be a lot better about the idea if deep down, a part of me wasn’t wishing I really would be getting some action out of all this. Well, if wishes were horses, everyone would ride.

Somehow, the analogy didn’t help my libido one iota.

Chapter Eleven

Magic and martinis so don’t mix. My head told me that. I tried to roll over, but the arm across my waist held me flat. Wait…arm? I tried to remember the night before.
Please, God, don’t let me have done something stupid.
We’d skipped dinner after the show. After the last set, neither one of us were thinking about that kind of hunger. I could still feel the heat of his kisses as we’d spilled in the front door.

Oh hell. Tell me it was a nightmare. Foras had been sitting on the sofa watching television and had been absolutely less than happy. The rest was a blur. Vague shouting. Then silence. I think I passed out. From the dry mouth and swollen head, I think I had far too many martinis. Unfortunately, that didn’t answer the question of how a man had ended up in bed with me.

“I know you’re awake.”

Foras. Damn. What a way to start the day. It took three tries to ask the question on my mind.

“Where’s Gray?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t hurt him despite the provocation.” His tone was dry enough that I risked the shooting pain in my head to crack an eye open. He was lying on his side, his chest bare in the dim light. He’d been kind enough to pull the drapes, at least.

“Please tell me you’ve got something on under there.” I so didn’t want to be naked in bed with anyone right now. I was wearing my pajamas, but was too afraid to ask who dressed me. The fact I
was
dressed was reassuring, though.

“Would it entice you if I didn’t?” His smile was slow and sexy as he pushed the sheets down. Unable to stop myself, I watched the smooth cotton slide down the ridged plains of his abdomen until I realized he wasn’t going to stop with torment. Reaching out, I slapped my hand out to stop the sheet from sliding past the very naked hollow of his hips.

“Clothes. No naked men before coffee. House rule.”

I slammed my eyes closed, not only to preserve my own modesty but because the sudden movements made me want to be horribly sick. I hate hangovers.

“Ahhh, but would it be the same rule if Mr. Devereau were here with you instead?”

“Yes, it would,” I snapped and pulled a pillow over my face. Could this morning get any worse?

“Bella? Are you awake?”

You know, it never helps to ask that question. I peeked out from under the pillow to Gray’s scowling frame in the doorway.

“Yeah, yeah…I’m moving. Slowly.” I closed my eyes and pulled the pillow back over my face.

“Maybe you’d move a bit quicker without the naked man in your bed.” The scathing tone tried my patience. Did I ask for this? No. Lord, save me from male egos.

“Well, don’t get all snappy with me.” I snorted and pulled the pillow up to meet his glare. “I certainly didn’t invite him here. If you’ll remember, I was planning on it being you, but guess you missed your chance, huh?”

He opened his mouth to retort, but a pair of hands reached around and yanked him out of the doorway.

“Now, ya’ll behave. I’m done refereeing fights over her. If you two can’t be civilized, I’ll take her away from the both of you.”

I laughed at Ben’s method of ending the brewing argument and promptly groaned. It hurt. Man, did it hurt.

“It’ll take a better man than you, Ben,” I called after him. I let out a long sigh and realized Foras still had his hand resting on my belly. No wonder Gray was livid. Turning to look at him, I glared. “Out. Out of my bed and out of my apartment. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

His smile went all the way to his eyes. I pointedly didn’t look any further down than his chin. I so didn’t need this right now.

“I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t. Which is it? You want to stay and wreck my love life. I know you do. It’s written all over your pretty face.”

“No,” he corrected softly. “I don’t want to wreck your love life. I want to
be
your love. Maybe now isn’t the time for it, but his spark will flicker and wane. I’ll still be here and so will you. The one thing I’ve mastered over the ages is patience.”

Great, just great. Was that a promise or a threat? My head hurt too much to even try to make sense of it, so I didn’t bother to try.

“Please go, Foras. I can’t deal with both your egos at the moment.” I closed my eyes and pulled the pillow back over my face to block out the light.

“I can’t, Bella. If I go, Turel will come after Lizzy. As long as an angel is in the immediate vicinity, he’ll keep his distance and wait. He’s not so mad as to be without caution, yet. Now that the wheels are in motion to eliminate the threat, I’m honor bound to protect you.”

I don’t know which I hated worse, the matter-of-fact tone or the point he made. Either way, it meant I was stuck with an angelic overseer, but did it have to be
this
one?

“You’re a freakin’ general. Send someone else.” I hated the pleading note creeping into my voice. I so didn’t want to be caught between him and Gray. A week ago, I was thinking lonely spinsterhood. Today, I had one suitor too many. It goes to show you how wishes could bite you in the ass.

“I could, but what fun would that be? If I’m going to lose you to a mortal, allow me the brief moment to torment him with the fear that he may not be good enough for you. It will make his victory sweeter in the end.”

“You’re talking like I’ve already made up my mind and am going to go pick out china, already.”

He smoothed his hand over my abdomen and patted it lightly. “Haven’t you? Made up your mind, that is?”

I started to deny it and realized I couldn’t. Somewhere in the course of the night, I had made up my mind. I had fully expected to wake up with Gray. Sex wasn’t something I took lightly. While I certainly wasn’t planning a walk down the aisle, I had been looking at the shacking up angle.

“Okay, fine,” I admitted in a small voice. “But there’s no reason for you to antagonize him any further by staying in here. The door is open, so he knows good and well what we’re
not
doing. Go on, get out and let me get a cold shower. Maybe I’ll feel human after that.”

“Coffee’s done, Bella.”

I grinned into the pillow at Ben’s cheerful announcement. “Bring me a cup, please?”

His laughter was bright. “Right on it, babe.”

I didn’t feel Foras get out of bed. He was suddenly not there. It made it easier, I supposed. Lizzy’s excited squeal cut straight through my aching head. The cup of coffee was waiting on the bedside table when I finally decided I was ready to face the day. Thanks to the nifty travel cup Ben had put it in, it was still hot, even.

Gotta love good friends. They think of everything. Well, almost everything.

A fresh cup of coffee had arrived while I was in the shower. Bless Ben and his highly evolved sense of fairness. He wasn’t going to make me face the firing squad unarmed. I drank the entire thing before I bothered to dry my hair. I would have hidden there all day if he’d have let me.

“Bella, honey, Lizzy’s asking for you.”

“Go away, Ben. Come get me when the testosterone level falls by two.”

“It ain’t that easy, honey.” The laughter in his voice made me realize how cowardly I was being. “They’ve decided to play nicely. Shoots and Ladders, even. Lizzy’s already beat them twice. Have some pity on them.”

“No.”

I was being petty and I knew it. I couldn’t hide in here forever. Exactly how does a lady face the angel she woke up with and the halfling she’d intended to?

Easy. Very carefully.

“I’ll be right out, Ben. Go keep them from tormenting one another while I get dressed.”

I’m not sure what I expected when I forced myself out of my room dressed in black yoga pants and emerald green chenille top. I knew it flattered me, but I couldn’t figure out why I bothered. Why did I want to look my best around men who were circling like vultures? I had absolutely no idea. To say I was embarrassed about how the evening had turned out was like saying Niagara Falls was a nice waterfall.

Ben was right, though. I had to face them eventually. He handed me yet another cup of coffee with a smile as I curled up on the couch. I watched the two men sprawled on the floor around my coffee table making noises over the board game while Lizzy crowed in triumph. It gave me a warm feeling of home that I didn’t realize I had been missing. How can one child do so much in such a short time?

Gray looked up and frowned at me angrily. I couldn’t understand what the problem was until Ben curled up on the arm of the couch beside me. He nudged my shoulder and I glanced at him. His blue eyes were serious as he cut his gaze to his hand and back again. I glanced down and saw the diamond winking from around his pinkie. When had I taken it off? I didn’t remember.

Suddenly, it was clear. His feelings were hurt because he thought I was yanking his chain after last night. Reaching up, I took the ring and slid it on my finger.