by Brianna West
Bernie whimpered. “That’s so mean! You should be comforting your sweet, loveable, incredibly handsome cowboy!”
Evidently put out, Nyla dragged Bernie off, somehow taking Pavel with them in the process and allowing me to breathe again.
True to our style, the way everyone found out was utter chaos, but I was honestly glad it was finally out in the open. I hadn’t the courage, but Aidan had. His obvious confidence that there was nothing we should hide had given me strength to keep my chin up. And in the moments following the disappearance of the other Guardians, I’d never been so in love with him.
Sneaking a look around us, I stole a kiss from the unsuspecting Guardian, throwing him an impish smirk over my shoulder as I strode off to the kitchen to get a much-needed cup of coffee.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Laura had yet to arrive, so Aidan and I settled into a room that Bernie had earlier proclaimed as our ‘honeymoon suite.’ Which had earned him plenty of punishment from Nyla and Lucas. I’d only managed to walk three steps inside when Aidan forced me back into the door and closed it with our combined weight.
Grinning provocatively, Aidan peered around the room before boxing me in with his arms. “Finally alone,” he celebrated huskily, honeyed eyes glinting with his excitement. “Might as well make the most of it, yeah? Fancy a snog?”
Exasperated, I stared at the huge Guardian. “Not really. Bernie and Pavel will find a reason to interrupt, and I’d rather not be subjected to their torment for the rest of the evening.”
“Just let them try,” Aidan warned, the spark in his eyes going predatory. “I’ll settle the matter old-fashioned, bloke to bloke.”
Aidan went onto his elbows, bringing his body impossibly closer and bent his head down. My heart had already started to race in spite of my brave speech, and his scent was close to breaking the charade of disinterest I was attempting to project. But it was difficult to keep anything hidden from Aidan, especially when my scent was sure to give me away. If not that, then my chaotic emotions through our connection definitely would. It was pointless to even try, but I still attempted to.
Cradling my face in his large, rough palm, Aidan caressed my cheek with his thumb. “Everyone knows and all the mayhem has been settled. Isn’t this supposed to be our bloody, fucking happy ending?”
As eloquent as ever. Yet, his words resonated inside my chest as if they were the sweetest words he could’ve ever said to me. I’d dreamt of one day sharing such words with another person. Perhaps not as crudely put, but they were well-meant all the same. Frankly, it was our happy ending.
Almost.
“Everyone knows because you told them within seconds of meeting them,” I corrected snidely. “And it’s not all settled.”
Aidan tilted his head, questioning me. “Oh yeah? What else is there to settle, then?”
“Conall, for one.”
Aidan’s jaw clenched, his entire body stiffening, and the look in his eyes had instantly become hostile. “That tosser can drown for all I care.”
“You don’t mean that,” I countered gently. “You’re not convincing at all when I know that you called Logan the very minute you thought I’d fallen asleep.”
When we’d been at the safe house, fifteen or so minutes after I’d collapsed from exhaustion, I heard the call Aidan made to Logan inquiring after Conall’s progress. It had been clear in his tone that he was anxious and concerned for his former team leader and friend. Whether or not he might consciously know it, that was another matter entirely. But to me, it was evident he truly cared for Conall. As he should. Their history together would make it difficult for Aidan to fully expel the man from his life. And he shouldn’t have to. I certainly hoped he didn’t.
“Conall wasn’t to blame for the actions he took that night. You even said so yourself, didn’t you?” I reasoned, closely observing Aidan’s reactions as he hovered close, rigid. “I won’t pretend to know him well enough to say whether or not he played a part in how it came about, but I do know that if what Victor said was true, then it was only a matter of time before he lost himself.”
Aidan huffed angrily, hands curling into fists as he pulled away slightly, no longer looking at me. “He bloody knew what he was doing. I can’t forgive it.”
It was my turn to touch his face, drawing his gaze back to mine so that he could hear the words as well as see them. “Yes, you can.” Aidan’s stiff face twitched with obvious upset. “If he means what I know he means to you, you will. Or at the very least, you’ll give him a chance to explain himself.”
Aidan’s eyes traveled my face hotly before he sighed, nodding in defeat. “You’re a bloody saint, yeah?” His mouth twitched again as I smiled at him, flattered by his words. “I’ll speak with him once he’s gotten his marbles back.”
Chuckling, I let my hand drop, but Aidan quickly caught it and held onto it. He then brought it to his mouth and kissed my palm with a tender smile. I didn’t move as Aidan pressed a single, chaste kiss to each of my fingertips, and then led my hand to where his heart pounded. I wasn’t sure what to make of his actions, so I merely let him do whatever it was he intended to do with silent interest. The fast, hard pound of his heart beneath my palm matched mine, and its rhythm only gradually increased the longer Aidan kept my hand there.
“I didn’t know I could feel like this,” he started, the anger in his expression replaced with a nervousness that had ensnared me the moment I caught sight of it. “My mind’s a mess. Every time I think I might know what the bloody hell I’m doing, you go and say something like that. I don’t know what it is about you that makes me want to be a better bloke, but I’ll do it, yeah? I’ll give it a go.”
Wishing to tease him, I smirked. “You’re going to give being a good guy a shot, hmm?”
Aidan growled with an exasperated sigh. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t think I do, actually,” I taunted, dodging underneath his arm and escaping the other man as he attempted to take hold of me. “Don’t really know if you’re capable of the good guy persona with your lack of facial expression and brusque speech.”
“Oi,” Aidan grunted, chasing me and taking hold of my body when I attempted to flee into the adjoining bathroom, “Are you taking the piss? I’m the nicest bloke you know.”
“Debatable.”
Aidan grinned impishly, locking my back against his chest with immovable arms. “You’re having a go, Cheeky Tiger, and I should punish you for it.”
His chin rested on my shoulder as his arms constricted tightly around me, fusing our bodies together. The laughter had died in my throat as Aidan’s hot breath teased the side of my neck and the hard, rigid length of his body pressed into my backside. The subtle musk swelling around us intensified with our joint desire, causing my head to loll to the side and expose the column of my neck.
Aidan licked the bare flesh along my jugular, voicing his approval in the resonating growl I felt through my shoulders with him being pressed so close. He nipped the lobe of my ear with his teeth, his hot breath painting the side of my face as my body thrummed to life with the collecting pressure in my lower half.
“You’re quiet now, yeah? Fancy a fuck?” Aidan taunted with a breathless laugh.
I shuddered with the vulgarity, unbelievably aroused by it. “Do I really have to say it?”
“Yeah,” Aidan groaned, rolling his hips into me, “Say it.”
I swallowed, throat dry as I panted against the building arousal. “Fuck me.”
“With pleasure,” Aidan answered, pushing me towards the wall.
I held the majority of my weight by pressing the palms of my hands on the surface of the wall, trembling when Aidan impatiently stripped the dress pants from my hips and let them pool around my ankles. I heard the clank of his belt before he thrust two fingers inside of me, scissoring them. My legs quaked as the pleasure flushed into my lower half, the familiar sensation satisfying the yearning I felt.
Hurriedly taking hold of my hips, A
idan pressed his hard length where his fingers had previously been, somehow lubricated. I didn’t even care how, just that he was. Frankly, I needed it sooner rather than later, and I was willing to put up with the initial pain if it meant that it happened right away.
“I’ll never get tired of this. You’re bloody perfection.”
The very moment he thrust himself inside, the door to the room burst open and Bernie plowed in with a huge, obnoxious smile before he was stopped dead in his tracks. I didn’t get a good look at his expression, because I wasn’t able to see that far over my shoulder, but I could only imagine it was pure, unadulterated astonishment.
Pavel, who had trailed in a half second later, peered over the other man’s shoulder, confused as to why Bernie had stopped, and immediately froze at the sight of us. His pale eyes were wide with shock while Bernie fumbled forward. The two of them embodied the true idiots they were in those few moments after discovering us and later, when the rage and humiliation had settled, I’d tease them for it.
“Mazel tov!” Bernie managed to shout before Aidan’s magic struck him in the abdomen and lofted my idiot twin straight into the wall.
It was a beautiful hit, and I was grateful that Aidan didn’t shirk away from injuring those that deserved it.
Fixing our state of dress, Aidan turned around, all humor drained from his expression. When his eyes locked onto Pavel, the Russian took several retreating steps and covered his eyes. It would’ve seemed genuine if the man hadn’t been smiling the entire way back.
Pavel retrieved the injured cowboy near the door, who was barely recovering from the assault, and then escaped into the hallway before the door closed with the help of Aidan’s magic.
“Bloody wankers!” Aidan growled, fingering his hair with obvious frustration. “Now I’ve gone completely soft. Can’t get one bloody minute to shag the bloody hell out of my mate. I’ve got to deal with fucking twits every time I bloody well try!”
I would’ve laughed if I hadn’t been having the very same thoughts myself. My brother’s timing was impeccably horrible as always, and I couldn’t even be angry about it. I’d expected as much from my idiot twin. Pavel was just an unfortunate add-on.
Before Aidan could finish his tirade, there was a short knock. We’d both already magically redressed, so I didn’t worry as I looked over to the door and prepared for more unwanted company.
“What the bloody hell is it now?!” Aidan barked loudly.
Laura kicked the door open and strode into the room with the two men who had previously interrupted us by the lobes of their ears. Pavel and Bernie both stumbled as she brought them inside, forcing the large men to their knees and smacking them both upside the head with brutal strength. Her grace was to be envied, because she punished the men without any effort at all. Trailing her was Cecile, who appeared to be tickled by the sight of yet another woman putting the two men in their place. I couldn’t blame her, even I was indecently excited by the sight.
Brushing back the beautiful golden hair from her face, Laura pointed across at the two of us and growled angrily. “Apologize!”
“Sorry,” the two punished men said in unison.
Laura’s eyes were white-hot with her rage as she sneered down at the two. If looks could kill, hers would’ve had them six feet under by now.
“You should know better than to go into someone else’s room without bloody knocking, you imbeciles!” She stamped her heel into the floor, still raging. “You’re going to make it up to them. You’ll be their slaves—slaves—all of tomorrow, do you understand me?! Anything they desire, you’ll fetch it, and you’ll bloody well knock when you do!”
Pavel’s smile was lost on the fuming woman as he attempted to use his good looks and practiced charms to placate her. “You’re a woman after my own heart, kroshka.”
Bernie nodded, enamored. “She hits so good, don’t she?!”
Bernie, the masochist, had reared his ugly head, and I wasn’t even the slightest bit surprised about it. Honestly, strong women were his schtick. He went weak in the knees anytime a woman with a mouth and hand for punishment came his way. Nyla would undoubtedly punish him for it later when I snitched on him.
“Shut it,” Laura barked, causing both Bernie and Pavel to straighten and lose their smiles. “You might think you’re terribly adorable, but all I see right now are bloody twits. Slaves. Go on then, get out of here.”
I was besotted at the sight of the beautiful woman in five-inch heels and a skin-tight emerald-green dress, punishing the two men as if she’d known them her entire life. With how the course of events had played out, I didn’t even have time to feel mortified over being caught in the act yet again. Not when Laura had delivered swift justice with a sweeping, unrelenting hand.
She pointed to the way out, eyes narrowed on the two men. “Out. Now.”
Shaken of their momentary awe, Pavel and Bernie quickly left through the door, and I could hear their excited chatting all the way down the hall. The pair of them were a lost cause and we all knew it.
Laura huffed before turning towards me, smiling sweetly as she always did. “I’m terribly sorry to have interrupted,” she said, peering over at Cecile who quietly watched her. “I didn’t think the two would come in uninvited when I asked for them to fetch you.”
I shook my head, finally recovered from the event. “It’s no trouble. I’m glad to see you’ve arrived.”
Laura smiled brightly, looping her arm through mine and leading me to the door with a quick, sideways glance at Aidan. “I’m happy to see you well. I worried for you, especially when Aidan took it upon himself to rescue you. But I’m glad to see you made it out well enough.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, you daft—” I shot Aidan a warning glare, causing the massive Guardian to clear his throat. “I could do it well enough on my own, yeah?”
“It’s a miracle,” Laura retorted snidely. “A bloody miracle.”
Cecile’s laughter rang out as she came to walk on the other side of me, the two of them leaving Aidan out of the group as we took the corridor to the stairway. “I think you will fit in just fine with our little Guardian collection,” Cecile remarked, aiming her gorgeous green eyes at Laura. “Perfectly, actually.”
Laura grinned happily. “I think so, too.”
*
“It’s just like old times!” Bernie yelped happily, dressed in nothing but ass-less chaps.
Pavel looked significantly uncomfortable, having been dragged on the mission by Bernie. His gaze wandered as a few passing men eyed him overtly, incredibly interested in his gorgeous, half-naked physique. The man was all muscles and glitter, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Why the hell did I get brought along?” Pavel demanded, pushing the overly touchy Bernie away when my idiot brother attempted to embrace him.
I was underneath Aidan’s heavy arm, wearing a halfway unbuttoned, but extraordinarily tight dress shirt with equally tight pants. Izzy and Laura had lost their minds over glitter, so I was practically shimmering from head to toe. I felt like I’d stepped right off the set of a Twilight film. If I’d been a vampire, my appearance would’ve been outright ironic.
Aidan was only wearing a tattered pair of jeans, while his chest was left bare, openly exposing the marred flesh I’d been obsessed with from the moment I met him. Even after all this time, I still mapped their distinct shapes every chance I got. After finding out that many of the scars were earned in Aidan’s youth, when he’d gone it alone and relied on no one or nothing to get him by, I was even more enamored to know the story behind each one.
Aidan was an only child. Both of his parents were absent from shortly after his birth, his uncle having raised him for a time before discarding him as well. So, from very young, he took care of himself. I’d learned that his early days were spent wandering and thieving, which he quickly redeemed when he met Conall and joined the Promiscus Guardians.
It was with Conall’s influence that he’d found his wa
y to the Guardians, and it was with the Irishman’s steady, guiding hand that Aidan learned to trust another person. Conall’s impact on the were-bear Guardian’s life was great, and it only made me wish for their reconciliation more than ever before.
While Aidan might never openly admit to how he felt, I knew without a doubt that he cared immensely for the man who had acted as somewhat of an adoptive father after Aidan had spent a lifetime alone. That sort of bond was deeply rooted, and I knew with great sadness how it could tear a person apart to not have it anymore.
It had been several months since Aidan and Laura had joined the team, and it was as if they were always meant to be there. Much like Aidan and I paired for most missions, Laura and Cecile had become inseparable and partnered over the last few months for any mission handed to them. Bernie had only recently returned from the In-Between realm with Nyla, but they were due to return to that realm any day now. Pavel was an infrequent visitor, but had been dragged into a mission or two when he was given time to. Much like tonight.
Tonight’s mission was something that had been in the works for months, and it finally amounted to this evening. Tonight, we went after the high-demon who had killed Andrea all those years ago. While Niko wouldn’t be able to join us, I was told that he’d led to several high-demon captures over the last few months. Somehow, the information he’d managed over the years had exposed an intricate chain of underground Dark facilities and, like tonight, his knowledge would save hundreds of lives.
I peered over to where Victor and Simon, the Chief of the Promiscus Guardian Council, chatted with some eager men crowding around them. The two naturally drew throngs of men and women wherever they went. Angels were inherently more beautiful than any other creature in existence, and humans and Light alike were drawn to them.
We’d set up several Guardians around the perimeter, and many of us had gone undercover inside and outside the club in order to raid once we confirmed the high-demon’s location.