Protecting Shaylee (The Fae Guard Book 1) (8 page)

NO WAY. NO FREAKING way did I just conjure ice water from thin air and drop it on Aden. My mind is rejecting the thought, but the truth is fighting to overcome the disbelief. I don’t want to admit that I felt a rush as the water fell, like a heated summer wind blew through my body. Just as I don’t want to admit that if Aden hadn’t spoken those words, I probably would have given in to the overwhelming desire for him—wait—words. My mind halts and then rewinds to something he just said.

“What do you mean ‘no’?”

Aden closes the small gap between us. Keeping his eyes locked with mine, I see determination darkening his green gems to the color of fresh grass. I try not to notice how beautiful they are, holding tight to my anger and hurt, to keep from falling under his spell once again.

“Just what I said,
baby.
” He emphasizes the endearment with a low, smooth tone and it washes over me, heating my skin and making my panties even damper. “I’m not going to play games with you, Shaylee—you’re mine.” His head lowers until his lips are at my ear. “And you know it.”

Tingles work their way down my spine, settling between my legs in a dull throb. I want to respond with a snarky comment, to tell him he’s wrong. But, I can’t. The words won’t come. Because he’s right. I am his. He pulls back slightly and I see a smug grin on his ridiculously perfect face. My eyes narrow and I mirror his actions, bringing my lips to his ear and letting them brush against the shell as I speak.

“Maybe I am yours, Aden.” I feel his smile widen as his cheek rubs against mine. I run a finger down the middle of his chest until it reaches the band of his boxers, molded to his impressive (
why deny it?)
erection. I slip the finger in and tug slightly, pulling him just a little bit closer. When I feel his breath hitch, I continue. “But, that doesn’t mean you get to have me.” I step back and bring my hand up to, condescendingly, pat his cheek. The smile has been effectively wiped from his face. I take advantage of his momentary astonishment and quickly step around him, entering the bathroom, firmly shutting the door, and clicking the lock. Perversely, I enjoy the fact that he is stuck, waiting for a nice warm shower after having been drenched in icy water.

And this round goes to Shaylee!

Once I grab a quick shower, I step out of the tub and wrap myself up in a scratchy, white towel, barely big enough to cover my chest and ass. As I stand here, dripping onto the rug, I contemplate my circumstances. Ok, so, I didn’t think things through when I huffed into the bathroom—I forgot clothes.
Nice going, airhead.

I don’t want to step outside the bathroom in my, practically nonexistent, towel. And the obstinate twit in me doesn’t want to ask him for help. The practical me rolls her eyes at my stubbornness, and her logic wins out. I call out to Aden and wait for his response but am met with silence. I call again and, when there is no response, I wonder if he has stepped out. Maybe he went to get breakfast or some other errand. I sigh in relief, that I’ll be able to get dressed before he returns, and open the door.

Damn it!
I stumble on my feet, when I see Aden leaning against the wall across from the door, wearing a towel wrapped low around his hips. My body reacts and I pull the towel tighter around myself, not that it does any good. His arms are folded across his muscular chest, but his stance is relaxed as he lazily peruses me from head to toe and back up. A cocky grin breaks out on his face, “Forget something, baby?”

I glare at him and he just chuckles.
Jackass.
With an obnoxious (
ok, completely sexy)
wink, he unfolds his arms and reaches down to grab the handle of my small suitcase. He lifts it easily and holds it out to me. If I reach for it, I’ll lose my grip on the towel. The arrogant look on his face tells me that he is completely aware of that fact. After a second of deliberation, I come to a decision.
Why the hell not? Maybe it’ll torture him just a little.
I drop the towel and grab the suitcase before spinning around and storming back into the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind me. I can hear his laughter through the door.
Next round to Aden. Shit.

Digging in my bag, I pull out an old pair of stonewashed jeans and a black t-shirt with the words, “
You’re a great friend, but if the zombies chase us, I’m tripping you.
” I have a thing for funny shirts.

I braid my long hair, quickly finish getting ready, and then step out to let Aden shower and dress. He’s standing at a small table, by the front window, munching on a doughnut, still in nothing but the towel. I stifle a groan.
Ugh, why does he have to be so freaking gorgeous?
I mentally bitch slap the panting whore inside me.

I clear my throat and work to keep my voice steady, “Um, the bathroom is free.” He looks up and chuckles when he sees my top. Raising his eyes back to mine, they go warm, a genuine smile creasing his face. Gone is the smug bastard from earlier and I feel my irritation melting away at the reappearance of my Aden. The sweet, fun-loving Aden that melts my heart.
Don’t pretend that the overconfident asshole doesn’t cream your panties.

I pad over to the table and set my bag by the door before plopping into a chair. Grabbing a doughnut, I watch Aden as he saunters over to his suitcase and grabs some clothes. His back is to me and I take the opportunity to study him a little as he heads to the bathroom. His back is defined with sinewy muscle and there is a small tattoo on the back of his neck that I never noticed before, but I’m too far away to really see what it is. My eyes drop lower to the most incredible ass I’ve ever seen.
Wow.

The towel molds to the shape and with each step, it slips a little lower, revealing those sexy dimples at the base of his spine. I bet my tongue would fit just perfect in one of those little dips. I can just imagine how tight his ass is and how it would feel in my palms while he—
oh for crying out loud, Shaylee! Can’t you think of anything but sex?
I just barely keep myself from banging my head down on the table in frustration.

My attention returns to my breakfast and I force my mind from the naked temptation on the other side of that flimsy door. So much has been thrown at me in the last sixteen hours; I haven’t really had a chance to process it. It’s seems surreal. Faeries, magic, fallen Fae, it’s all been a part of my imagination. Now I have to accept that they are a part of my reality.

Closing my eyes, I remember my dad and listen intently to what he was always telling me. I can feel the truth in his words, but there is still a part of me that wants to wake up and have this all be a dream. I wanted my life to be simple and now it is more complicated than ever. But I know, if my father were here, he would have told me to hope for the future rather than lament the past. I open my eyes and look at the sliver of sunshine peeking through the ugly, floral curtains.
What is it with these hotels? Cheap equals ugly?

The sunshine practically calls to me and I slide the curtain back to bask in the glow. The parking lot sits open in the sun but each of the three sides of the hotel sport an overhang that shades the walkway and doors. There aren’t many cars, so I’m surprised when I notice movement in the shadows across the way. But, it was only for a second. I feel a rush of heat roll through me, just for a moment, so I scan the area again—there is nothing.

The bathroom door opens and Aden steps out clothed (a good thing, I suppose) and throws everything in his suitcase. He glances at me quickly as he checks around the room for anything we might have forgotten.

“You ready to go?” he asks distractedly. He doesn’t wait for my answer, just grabs the keys to the car and throws both of our bags over his shoulder. “Let’s go.” When he reaches the door, he stops before opening it. His eyes close and I watch, mesmerized as his skin takes on a slight glow. I’m not talking about the sparkly vampire kind of light, or the aliens made of light that you read about in books. It’s more like a radiance. The way skin looks when it’s out in the open, soaking up the sun. But he’s standing in the shadow of the door and yet, I see the brilliance of sunlight, even in that tiny glow.

He opens his eyes, and the light recedes. I find myself feeling the loss of it, as though I’ve been deprived of something that makes me whole. Aden grabs my hand and pulls me close.

“We have to hurry. When I open the door, step into the sunlight as quickly as possible and go right to the car. Got it?” His voice is strained. I just nod, confused at what’s got him so stressed. Finally, he opens the door and moves quickly out of the shadows, into the bright light of the morning. The beams wash over me, the heat . . . a blanket of comfort, calming my racing mind and dissolving the tension in my body. Aden’s posture has relaxed too, but he still rushes me into the car. After tossing the bags in the back seat, he climbs into the car and drives out of the lot onto the open road.

He glances in the rearview mirror a couple of times, before settling into the drive. After a few miles, he slides a look over at me. “Sorry. I didn’t think they would catch up with us so fast. I wanted to get out of there quickly.”

“There’s that ‘they’ again.” I make air quotations around the word and infuse my tone with light sarcasm. His lips twitch in amusement and he shakes his head slowly.

“Always the smart ass.” His little smirk grows into a full blown grin and I’m struck once again by his features, the way they form a beautiful face, worthy of a marble statue at the Met. His jaw is square and strong, normally very chiseled, but the scruff he’s sporting this morning softens the lines. I wonder how that scruff would feel on my bare skin. The images that thought provokes cause my body to heat and I feel my cheeks burn. Before he can notice the telltale blush, I school my features into a playful pout.

“But what a fine ass it is, don’t you agree?” Aden starts laughing, and I feel relief that he didn’t notice my momentary lapse of hormone control.

“Baby, there isn’t a part of your body that I wouldn’t like to worship. That sweet little ass of yours is just the place to start,” his words stomp right down on my triumph, bringing all that delicious desire rushing to the surface again. He accompanies this statement with a glance at me, not bothering to hide the inferno raging behind his emerald eyes. My mouth dries out and my tongue sticks to the roof of it, preventing me from responding. I can practically feel the fire emanating from him licking at my skin.

Just as quickly as it came, the fire is gone when he turns his attention back to the road. The blaze inside me isn’t receding as quickly, so I search my mind for a distraction. Oh. Right.

“So, I’m assuming this ‘they’ you referred to this morning is different than the ones who assigned you to me?”

SHE IS CLEARLY TRYING to change the topic away from us, and at first, I consider not letting her. However, there are things that she needs to know before we get to our destination.

“Just to be clear, Shaylee. Don’t think you’re getting out of talking about us. But, for now, I’ve got other things to tell you that take precedence,” I inform her. She squirms uncomfortably in her seat and I’m half tempted to pull the car over and help her relax. My cock is definitely in favor of that idea, but the head on my shoulders wins the argument with the head between my legs. She gives me a jerky nod, so I focus and start to tell her about the ones who are hunting her.