by J. J. Dean
"You're just going to stand there eating?" he asks, folding his gloriously meaty arms across the wide expanse of his chest. I drool a little when his arms flex, but I place the half-eaten cookie in front of my mouth so I don't give myself away.
As a way of answering his question, I continue eating my baked goods and stare him directly in the eye. When I lick my fingers and thumbs, savoring every morsel of my cookie, I catch his eyes darkening as he watches every movement. I decide that maybe it's a mistake when my belly tightens, and my neglected vagina perks up at the way his eyes zero in on my mouth.
I cough awkwardly and then completely ignore the man that has no right to make my body stand to attention. I turn to face Redhead and lean my hip on the counter. I catch him trying to sneak another cookie, so I slap his hand before he reaches them. He snatches it back like he got stung by a scorpion and faces me with his eyebrows almost hitting his hairline.
"That wasn't nice. Sharing is caring, Flower," he grumbles.
"I'll share more when you tell me your name and what the fuck the pair of you are doing here," I retort. I cross my arms over my breasts, mirroring Asher’s pose but looking a lot less intimidating.
Redhead wipes his hands on his jeans before holding his now crumb free hand out for me to shake. I eye it wearily before placing my smaller hand in his. Nothing happens this time, no eye flashes or crazy revelations, likely because we shook hands earlier and I'm now fully aware that he's an Angel.
"Name's Elijah Vaughn. Brother of that grizzly bear behind you who's glaring sharp daggers at my hand right now," he responds. My head whips around to face Asher, who's stealthily moved closer to where Elijah and I stand. I catch his gaze snap up swiftly and he looks away sharply when his eyes connect with mine.
I turn back around with an amused grin and shake Elijah's hand once before letting go. It registers that he called Asher his brother, which pulls me up short. “Wait, brother? You look nothing alike,” I point out obviously, my eyebrows drawn down in confusion.
“We aren’t blood related. Just brothers in every way that counts,” Elijah responds, nodding with a small smile on his handsome face, his dimples peeking through the light stubble he’s sporting.
I’ll admit, I might have turned a little gooey with that revelation, but he still hasn't explained why they’re standing in Frenchie’s waiting on me.
"Well, Elijah-"
"You can call me Eli," he's quick to rectify, and I begrudgingly smile again. Damn him for making me smile.
"Alright, Eli. Why are you still here?"
A mischievous glint appears in his eyes before he responds. "Thought Asher could loosen up some more. Got anymore boner magic on you?" He deadpans, not a twitch of a smile or a flare of a nostril.
I don't miss a beat, responding with a straight face. "I'm all out, sorry. Big Man there took up a lot of juice just to get two orgasms out of me. Selfish, really. I mean, he got two, when all I got was a fucking stitch from an unplanned jog through the streets."
When I hear a whispered, "For fucks sake," and a groan, I lose the battle with my laughter, which is quickly followed by Eli's. I'm wiping carefully under my eyes, ridding myself of the tears of hilarity, while our laughter tapers off and a comfortable silence settles in the room.
"Okay, seriously. Tell me." I break into the quiet, looking between the two hotter than hell guys I've suddenly found myself standing between. I’ve no idea when Asher got even closer, but there he stands, only a foot away from my back. The man moves as silent as the fucking dead, that's for sure.
Eli opens his mouth to respond, but Asher must have gotten tired of the banter when he decides to cut in before his brother can get another jab in at his expense and tells me exactly why they're still hanging around in my café. "We're going home with you."
Luna
I choke on my next inhale, almost hacking up a lung when a coughing fit ensues. Eli, ever so helpful, claps my back a few times, attempting to aid in stopping my spluttering. When I'm able to breathe again, I look wide-eyed in Asher’s direction and blurt, "No the fuck you aren't, you fruit loop. What the hell is wrong with you? Got a little taste and want more, huh? Not today, buddy."
I move away from the counter and storm to the back of the store to find my purse. Sure enough, I find it tucked away in the storeroom and I silently call up my thanks to Ms. Frenchie for snatching it up and hiding it for me.
I rip it from where it lays on a secluded stool in the corner and thunder out back to the main room. I'm walking in a cloud of frustration, outrage, and shock. The damn nerve. I should kick his balls into his esophagus for being cocky enough to think that shit would fly.
Rude jackass.
I don't miss the look Eli is giving Asher when I barrel passed them, hooking my purse over my shoulder and storming my way to the door. I hear him quietly whisper, "This is why the talking should be left to me, you idiot." But I don't stop to pay any more attention or question what he means.
I get the door open, move to the other side and close it before they even realize that I'm out of the store and am now standing on the street. I look back in time to see both of their heads shoot up at the sound of the lock latching in place. I watch as realization slowly dawns on them, and witness the moment they realize I’ve locked them in. I pull the key out of the keyhole and move to the wide window. When their eyes swing towards me, I make a show of tucking the key back in my bra before offering them an eyebrow raise. Giving them both a sweet as pie grin, I give them the universal one finger salute before turning and leaving.
I can hear two sets of knuckles knocking on glass, but I ignore it and head to my car that's parked in the alley next to the store. I make it to my car, strap myself in and heat up my baby in record time. I turn my car on and I’m about to drive home, when a beast of a figure I'm becoming all too familiar with steps in front of my bumper. I groan and lean my head back on my leather seats is exasperation. Can't I catch a break?
A knock at my passenger window has my head snapping back down to find Eli's beautiful dimples winking at me when he smiles apprehensively. I roll the window down enough to hear, and he rests his forearm on the roof of my car while leaning towards the gap I've made.
“How the fuck did you get out without a key? You better not have disturbed Francis,” I growl. That woman needs rest after the day we’ve had.
“You’re not the only one with a few tricks up her sleeve,” he replies with a cheeky wink. Oh, how I wish that wink did nothing for me, but alas, my life is falling ass over tit these days. He’s quiet for a few more minutes, enough that my patience is lost, the need to go home and relax becoming as strong as my irritation at having my plans delayed.
"What?" I snap, eyes narrowing at the annoyingly good-looking Angel.
"I'm sorry. Asher didn't mean what he said the way it sounded. He just isn't good with words when he's worked up and frustrated. Can I explain?" he asks, his voice gentle and somewhat pleading.
I glance at Asher, who's still standing directly in front of my car, and narrow my eyes at him. I turn to face Eli, intending to give him the same scowl, but his dimples disarm me, and my face smooths out. I don't give him the smile that wants to break out, however. I'm not a dummy. I watch him for a moment before I cave. "Talk. And do it quickly. I have shit to do," I lie. I have nothing but binge watching the new Chilling Adventures of Sabrina program that's recently been added to Netflix and a date with a tropical smelling bath bomb that I can practically hear calling my name from here, but he doesn't need to know that.
He takes my acceptance for an explanation as an invitation to sit in my car when he opens the door and plonks his firm ass into my passenger seat. Before I can open my mouth to reprimand him, he's shoving my plate of abandoned cookies under my nose, and I decide that maybe sitting in the warmth of my vehicle while he explains isn't too bad of an idea.
I gratefully accept the plate of cookies, picking one from under the film covering them and nibble while I wait for him to explain.
He doesn't leave me waiting and pushes on with his clarification. "He didn't mean we're going home with you in any way other than the face value of those words. What he didn't manage to say was that he thought it only fair that, after the stunt you pulled earlier, the least you could do was let us stay with you for a little while. His words, not mine. Though I probably should have used mine if the angry scowl you're wearing is anything to go by."
My eyes are narrowed dangerously on him, and I'm holding my temper back, but he's one sentence away from having my foot lodged up his ass.
He holds his hands up and continues quickly. "Okay, let me try again. Can we please crash with you for a little while? My brother and I have been holed up in the shittiest motel ever and we could really do with being somewhere with a little comfort, you know? We could call it compensation for making my brother embarrass himself twice in front of an audience. We won't be any trouble-"
I snort, cutting him off. I raise my eyebrow at him, and he corrects himself.
"Won't be much trouble? Anyway, we'd seriously appreciate it. I'll even bake you cookies."
Bastard.
I've shown my hand. He knows I love cookies.
I facepalm hard, the sound of skin connecting with skin loud in the now quiet car. I groan before turning to the man now sporting a bright smile.
"Just so you know, that was payback. The idiot tried to hide that he was an Angel. He tried to hide that he knew I was, too. He hasn't got a good poker face. He made me feel stupid, so I returned the favor," I explain a little indignantly.
He's nodding a little too vigorously and says, "Completely deserved. You had every right. I'm on your side. One hundred percent."
I give him a bland look and groan, "Goddamn suck up." I roll my eyes at his laugh and slide my window down. Poking my head out to the side, I yell, "Get in the car, asshole."
I stuff the last cookie in my mouth just in time for Asher to squeeze himself in the back seat after Eli got out and folded his seat down as far as it would go. Watching a muscly guy trying to squeeze into a car with very little room on the inside has quickly become one of my favorite things after watching Asher's wide frame jostling about, trying to find the right angle to fit into the too-small-for-him car.
Once his ass is secured in the back seat, Eli pokes his head in the car and tells us he'll grab their bags. Presumptuous jackasses had their bags packed and ready and waiting at Frenchie’s. I find myself closing my eyes in exasperation and exhaustion until Asher quietly grumbles, "Sorry."
My eyes reopen, and I stare at the ceiling for a second. Did...did he just apologize?
"Hmm?" I tiredly respond, not sure I heard him properly, or if my sleepy brain is making things up. Wouldn’t be the first time.
"I said I’m sorry. Didn't mean what I said to come across like it did," he says before continuing, "and... thanks. For letting us stay."
It’s quiet for a second while I decide that maybe I should apologize, too. I mean, I did make him blow a load twice in public. Only seems fair, right?
“I guess I’m sorry, too. You know, for the... the incident.”
My gaze flickers up to my rear-view mirror, only to find Asher's eyes already there. His eyes bore into mine, intense now that we're alone in my small interior car. I give him a quick nod in acceptance of his short but sufficient apology and break my gaze away from his, opting to rest my head on the headrest while we wait the short time it takes Eli to grab their things.
He’s back in the passenger side and we're heading to my loft apartment in no time at all, making the short drive in comfortable silence.
***
The walk up the five flights of stairs is done without a word. Eli and Asher trail behind me, Eli close to my back and Asher not too much further behind.
We reach the top of the building and I pull my door key out of my purse. Unlocking the door and shuffling my exhausted body inside, I hold the door open for the two Angels, allowing them to enter my home.
They take their time looking around, no doubt noting the very expensive ornaments that I’d collected centuries ago, the ancient first edition books on the shelves, and the way I've filled my home with a mix of modern and vintage furnishings. My home is decorated with things I've accumulated over the years, some costing more than others when they're original pieces or things I got straight from the source. I have vintage chests sitting in one corner filled with old vinyl records, the first ever made, and then I have a wall of blue rays next to my huge television. My home has the well-lived-in feel, the comfort of a home being a home, and it should seeing as I haven't moved from this spot in almost seventy years. It doesn't look out of sorts, though. It all blends surprisingly well. Something Eli confirms with an impressed whistle and an awed expression.
"Nice," he whispers, walking towards my wall of books and gently skimming his hands over the spines.
Asher is browsing through my selection of DVDs, so I decide to head into the kitchen and find my beloved wine. I find a glass in one of the cupboards, pour myself more than I probably should, and take a deep sip of the fruity alcohol.
"You two want anything to drink?" I ask after taking a smaller sip.
Asher ditches the movies and walks to the opposite side of the island that separates the kitchen and living room. He leans his elbows on the dark marble surface and answers, "I could do with a coffee if you have some, thanks."
"Sure. If you're staying here for a little while, I may as well show you how to use the machine, so come here," I tell him, pulling a coffee pod out of the box I keep in the cupboard above the blessed coffee machine I had the good sense to buy a couple of months ago.
Once I have the pod in place, I feel Asher's body move close to my back. When I turn my head to check how close he is, I startle a little when I see his head is directly next to mine, my lips almost brushing his cheek as I turn. He's watching me carefully, observing what I'm doing. I mean, it's a coffee machine. You just have to push a few buttons and wait, but he's watching like I'm explaining how to build a rocket. I can feel his firm body resting against mine, his taut, muscled chest leaning gently on my back. I can feel every intake and exhale of breaths, hot air tickling the hair at the nape of my next. I'm suppressing another shiver when the smell of leather and spearmint hits my nostrils, a scent that I somehow know is distinctly Asher.
"You don't have to stand so close," I tell him, my voice barely above a whisper. I start to become flustered at his close proximity, not used to having sexy guys crowd me.
My breathing picks up slightly when he leans closer and whispers back, "I know."
We stand that way until I finish showing him the ins and outs of how to use the simple machine and find out that he drinks his coffee black as I make him his mug of caffeine. He moves to the other side of the island again when I'm done and I slide the ceramic mug with a cartoon donkey and quote that says, 'Mornings suck ass' on the surface to him.
We drink our beverages with nothing but the ticking of the clock as background noise. It's sometime later that Eli shuffles his way into the kitchen.
"That's a badass collection of books you have in there. I'm impressed. Wouldn't have pegged you for a reader."
I'm torn between being pleased that he thinks my collection is badass and offended that he didn't think I was a reader. My tired brain settles on being content with him complimenting my collection. I respond with a lazy "thanks" before taking my glass to the sink and turn to lean on the counter. I cross my arms and tilt my head back a little, my eyes slowly falling closed.
"You look exhausted, Luna," Asher comments gently, his deep timbered voice wrapping around me in the comfiest hug. His soft-spoken words are a pleasant change from the gruff barking he's been doing since the coffee shop fiasco. It’s a little surprising, too, considering he looks like the only thing he'd gently talk to would be that of a severed head of someone that did him wrong.
With my eyes still closed, I mumble, "I could literally pass out where I'm standing a
nd be okay with it. I'll wake up in the morning curled on the floor and I won't even question it. Probably fall back to sleep, actually."
"Come on, Flower. Show us where to sleep and then get your ass to bed," Eli’s lighter but no less alluring voice butts in, the cheeky command causing me to huff out a laugh.
I groan before tipping my head back down and opening my eyes. "You guys can have the spare room. There's a queen-sized bed and a sofa bed in there. You can fight over who has which."
I drag my feet out of the kitchen and head down the small hall to the back bedroom I turned into a spare room for when Ms. Frenchie would stay with me weeks on end.
"There's an attached bathroom right through there," I point to the door on the left of the room before continuing, "my room is upstairs, and I have an ensuite so there won't be any awkward fumbling for the bathroom. There’re extra blankets in the closet, top shelf. Make yourselves at home, I guess."
Eli surprises me with a hug before I turn to leave, softly whispering, "Thanks, Flower."
I freeze and pat his back awkwardly, not one who's used to being freely given affection unless it’s from Ms. Frenchie, which is rare in its own right. He holds me until my body relaxes into his and I return the hug properly, resting my head under his chin and wrapping arms around his toned torso. This is…really nice.
So, this is what I’ve been missing, huh?
He lets me go after a little squeeze and I miss the contact immediately. Asher offers his thanks before giving me the smallest of smiles, something that's gone as fast as it appears.
Tiredly, I tell them, “Holler if you need me. In a while, crocodiles."
With that, I'm heading out of the room, down the short hallway and up the stairs to my room, dragging my ass slowly up every step. By the time I'm in a loose fitted shirt and boy shorts, I'm ready to drop.