“I think I would like that.”
Those six words were like music to his ears. His dick jumped to attention again, ready and more than willing to satisfy her right now, if she wanted. But she turned away to make her cup of coffee, so he forced himself to lean against the opposite counter. Crossing his arms, he watched her. She was like a dancer, graceful and deliberate in her movements. Her ripped skinny jeans hugged her ass to perfection. Jayden could still taste her on his lips. He shifted against the counter; he didn’t think his cock could get any harder. Then she bent down to get her creamer out of the fridge, and Jayden found out he was wrong. His dick screamed at him to bury himself between her generous thighs, but he told his dick to take a chill pill or they would scare her off. His tiger growled at him, telling him not a fucking chance were they going to let her get away. They would protect her and those sweet girls even if it fucking killed them.
Twenty
Ariana
She couldn’t believe she had kissed Jayden. Her lips still tingled from the contact and pleasure still coursed through her body. Ariana could feel his eyes tracking her every movement. She fought to control her shaking her hands. That was one thing the Monster never did. He had never tried to kiss her. The kiss with Jayden had been perfect. Everything she had ever dreamed about a kiss being. It was soft and new at the start, but quickly grew in passion and desire, the small brush of his cock against her making her shudder. He felt huge even through his jeans. She knew he was from the glimpses she had gotten when she was looking in on them before. But it was different having it brush up against her, the evidence plain as day. She really wanted to get over her nightmares and try with him. With all of them.
As she finished making her coffee, she took a deep breath, turned around, and looked into his eyes. She loved his eyes. Ariana sighed softly and took her first sip of coffee for the day. How she had made it this far without it, she didn’t know. But could only attribute it to the adrenaline rush from earlier. Hearing Aiden talking to someone on the phone, Ariana jumped a little. The outside world came crashing back to her as she tore her gaze from Jayden. Straightening her back, Ariana returned to the living room, prepared to tell the guys that she accepted their offer.
Aiden hung up the phone as Ariana stopped in the middle of the room again. This time his eyes found her, and she gasped at the intensity in them. They darkened as he looked at her, like the ocean just before a storm. Why was he looking at her like that? What the hell did she do now? Did he know about the kiss? Was he angry? Question after question raced through her mind.
Before he could speak, most likely pissing her off and ending up in a shouting match again, Ariana spoke the one word she knew he wanted to hear. “Okay.”
Astonishment slid across his face, making her chuckle. That was not what he thought I was going to say. To bad for him she liked to keep people on their toes. Aiden opened his mouth just as a knock sounded at the door. Everyone tensed, hands flying to various weapons on their bodies. Aiden had palmed a dagger in the blink of an eye. Roman held twin short swords, where the hell he was hiding them she didn’t know. Jayden’s hand rested on the small of his back, but he didn’t grab for his weapon. Probably a gun then. Mateo gripped two wicked looking daggers in his hands. Ariana wanted to get up close and personal with those beauties. Easton’s hands crackled with the blue flame surrounding them. His face was set into hard lines, ready for anything.
Ariana didn’t reach for her knife. “Relax guys. I know who it is.” She had been expecting the visit since last night’s adventure at the club. Was it really only yesterday? So much had happened, it felt like a million years had passed.
Their tension faded as Jazzy’s voice floated through the door. “Come on and open up, you saucy wench! I know you’re in there!”
Laughing and shaking her head, Ariana headed to the door, opening it with a flourish. Jazzy flew through in a whirlwind of pastel colored hair and glitter. Wrapping her arms around Ariana, she smothered her face with quick kisses.
“Hey now! Careful of the coffee girl!” Ariana laughed at her best friend’s antics. Jazzy was always over the top, that’s why Ariana loved her so much. She was the one person who was able to drag Ariana out of her downward spirals when life got to be too much for her. She was going to miss her when they left for the cabin.
Jazzy finally stopped and gripped her shoulders, smiling brilliantly. “You are beautiful! And wonderful, and I adore you!”
Now thoroughly confused, Ariana regarded Jazzy with a puzzled frown. “Are you off your meds sweetie? Not that I don’t mind hearing such things.” She threw in a wink and a smile.
Ariana winced at Jazzy’s outfit for the day. She sure did love her glitter. Today’s ensemble consisted of a pink glitter halter top and a blue sequined mini skirt with what had to be four inch spiked blue and pink shoes. Of course, they were pure glitter too. Shaking her head Ariana glanced down at herself and scowled.
“Really? You shed glitter all over me again, Jazz. This is becoming a bad habit.”
“Giiirrrlll! Are you serious? Glitter is the new black! Besides, you’re a legend at the club! Ricky was on a warpath after you left. Danny and I quit too! Now, he has no one and is scrambling to get people hired!” Jazzy laughed. “And the way you handled that clown beforehand? O.M.G. priceless!”
A laugh bubbled up Ariana’s throat. “Well, damn.” Turning around to the guys, she raised her voice slightly. “Do you hear that guys? I started a revolution!”
“Vive la révolution!” Jazzy shouted, slinging her arm over Ariana’s shoulders and knocking Ariana’s coffee mug out of her hands. Ariana watched in horror as it started to fall. It was her favorite mug! Without thinking, Ariana threw her right hand out. Blue flame mixed with electricity circled her hand and shot to the cup, stopping it in midair. Ariana slowly rotated her hand, turning the cup right side up and placing the coffee back inside. With her left hand, she reached out and grabbed the handle. Bringing the mug to her chest, she cradled it lovingly and glared at Jazzy.
“What the fuck, Jazz! That was close!”
“Sorry, I know I wasn’t watching what I was doing!” Jazzy backed off, hands held out in front of her. “Wait, you’re actively using magic now? When did that start? I knew you had magic but thought you didn’t want anything to do with it. Especially since you never asked about me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Seriously? That’s what you’re going with? Ari, I’ve known you’ve had magic since you got here. Don’t deny it now! I just saw you use it!”
“Well, hell. Wait, you have magic?”
“I thought you knew?” At Ariana’s head shake, Jazzy propped her hands on her hips. “Girl, I’m fucking Fae!”
“Okay… are you a Fae then? Or are you fucking a Fae?” Ariana asked cheekily.
Jazzy threw her head back and laughed. “Both!”
Ariana turned back to the room, shaking her head with a small smile on her lips. It slid right of her face when she noticed the guys looking at her like she had just grown a tail. Since it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility, she glanced behind her just to make sure.
Nope. No tail. So why are they looking at me like that?
She frowned. “What?” Taking a large gulp of her coffee, Ariana forgot that it hadn’t cooled yet. She cursed a blue streak in her head as it scalded her mouth.
Aiden
His mind stuttered and quit working. His conversation with Gray dissolved under the weight of what Ariana had just done. She had saved her coffee with a simple flick of her wrist. How the hell was that possible? He had never seen Easton do anything like that, and the blue flame signaled that she was using Light magic. Her magic was different than East’s though, Easton’s was just blue flames. Hers had lightning mixed with the blue flame, and it looked like a beautiful storm. Like the woman herself. Her hair had flared out and flown around in an invisible wind, and her eyes had darkened to storm clouds. She was breathtaking.
Aiden had felt the surge of her power, and it had nearly knocked him on his ass.
Aiden desperately wanted to know what she had meant by “Okay.” Did that mean she was agreeing to come to the cabin? To let them protect her? Aiden certainly hoped so. Maybe then they could conquer her fears. Aiden and his wolf were dying to know the feel of her.
This woman was going to drive me insane. She was such a mystery. Something about her drew him in, and not just his wolf, which prowled around growling all the time whenever he was near her. It wanted to lash out and hurt the person stalking her now as well as the one who had hurt her in the past. Maybe it was because of his own dark past, that forced him to make sure Ariana was tough enough to handle all the shit life threw at her. He had to see that she could bounce back and fight whenever something terrified her. He wouldn’t let this sweet family be slaughtered like his own.
Seeing his family murdered by a rogue pack of wolves when he was six, while he hid behind the grate his mother had shoved him into, had left its mark. His wolf had raged then to protect them. As it raged now. Aiden hated that he had to fight his wolf for control every time she was near. It made him surly; he was constantly snapping at everyone. Right now, it was worse. As if his Wolf sensed a threat nearby. Aiden told his wolf to calm the fuck down. Ariana was right in front of them, safe and sound. But he continued to prowl around in circles.
Looking at her now with her curls flying all around her heart-shaped face, his heart skipped a beat before accelerating. Her t-shirt was just loose enough to not be plastered to her, and her jeans were hugging and caressing every curve of her ass and legs. She was a vision, and when she laughed, his heart nearly stopped beating.
“Ariana, what the bloody hell was that?” Easton was the first to break the silence of the room. To Aiden’s ears, his voice sounded like a bomb going off.
Aiden tore his gaze from Ariana and finally glanced at everyone else. Roman looked unaffected, like always. Easton was curious, like he usually was when presented with something he didn’t already know. Mateo’s mouth was slightly parted, his eyes wide with shock. Not the usual look for the Fae. However, it was Jayden’s reaction that was the most intriguing to Aiden. He wore a smug and yet proud look on his face. Narrowing his eyes, Aiden let his wolf bleed through just a bit, scenting the air subtly and looking closer at Jayden and Ariana. Both of their lips were slightly swollen, and he could smell a hint of desire from both.
The reason hit him like a ton of bricks. They had kissed! It was the only explanation he could think of. Instead of being angry, his wolf rumbled his approval that someone was finally breaking through her walls. Even if he remained agitated.
“Hey, Jazz, I’m glad you came here today. The girls and I are going to be going away for a vacation when Avery gets out of school next week.”
Aiden was jolted from his thoughts at Ariana’s words. So, she did mean to go with us. Aiden was surprised that she actually agreed to go. He thought for sure they were going to be having another argument. He liked their arguments; they got his blood pumping, and he got to see the fiery side of her. Now he had to call the chief and let him know they would be leaving soon. He frowned when he realized she had said next week. That did not fit with his plans. He had to get them out of there now, before someone got hurt.
“Oh, cool! Where y’all goin’?”
Ariana shrugged. “Just gonna do some camping. Get away for a bit. Things have been pretty crazy here.” Aiden didn’t know why she seemed reluctant to tell her friend where they were going, but since it was a safe house it was probably for the best. The fewer people who knew the better.
“Awesome! Let me know when y’all get back, okay? We’ll have us a girl’s night!” Jazzy clapped her hands and jumped in place. Jazzy had energy in abundance it seemed, unlike Mateo who was calm, cool and collected. Aiden’s eyes slid to the man in question, wondering what his take on Jazzy was. To his surprise, Mateo held a sneer in place, scowling fiercely at Jazz. Now that was interesting. Aiden made a mental note to talk to Mateo later. Mateo briefly glanced his way and inclined his head once.
“Sure thing, Jazz. But we need to pack and make some reservations and all that. Call me later, yeah?”
“Of course!” Jazz then leaned close and whispered in Ariana’s ear. “Then you can tell me all about these hunkalicious men you have!” Jazz waggled her eyebrows at Ariana, causing her to laugh. Jealousy spiked through him. He had heard her laugh more in the last twenty minutes than the entire time he had known her. Not that he instilled happiness and warm fuzzy feelings in people anyways. He was Mr. By-the-Book for a reason, though all of that changed when he met Ariana. He had already lied to his chief and broken a number of rules for her.
But dammit, I have to keep them safe.
Twenty-One
Ariana
As she led Jazzy back to the door, Ariana’s head was spinning. How could she not know her best friend was Fae? What else had she missed about the people around her? All this time she could have gotten some answers, but because she was too busy being scared to let people in and reveal herself, she had to fly blind all these months. What a waste of time! Maybe she could have harnessed her powers instead of only knowing a few measly tricks.
Well, that was going to be another stipulation. The guys had to train her. Ariana walked back into the living room, only to get bombarded by questions from all sides.
“Mom, what do you mean we’re leaving?”
“How did you do that?”
“What else can you do?”
“We can’t wait a week to leave. We need to leave today, Ari.”
“Lass… there is a smell coming from Zoey… what do I do?” Roman was holding Zoey out at arm’s length and crinkling his nose. It really was adorable and funny. Ariana snorted a laugh.
“Avery, honey? Could you show Mr. Roman where Zoey’s pull-ups and wipes are please and help him?” Looking at her daughter, Ariana was suddenly worried for Roman. Avery was known to be a bit of a prankster, and by the gleam in her eyes he was going to get it. She smirked at Avery and nodded her head once. Avery gave her the biggest smile; she looked like she wanted to rub her hands together with glee, possibly even cackling like a witch.
“Sure thing! Follow me, Mr. Roman! I’m a great help, you’ll see. There’s nothing to it.” Ariana shook her head and laughed as they headed off to Zoey’s room. Poor lug, he was in for it now. If the men really were serious about her being their mate, then they would have to get used to the girls and love them like their own. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.
“Ariana!” Aiden rumbled at her when she didn’t turn back around to address them. Sounds like his wolf is close to the surface. Turning slowly, Ariana saw Aiden’s eyes had gotten bluer and his features sharper. Yep, there it is. She wasn’t afraid, instinctively she knew his wolf would not hurt her, none of their animals would. Ariana really wanted to see them change again. Preferably when they weren’t fighting someone so she could get a good, long look. Maybe they would let me pet them. She giggled at that, flashing Aiden a grin when he growled again.
“Yes, dear?” Ariana put as much sweetness into her voice as she could, trying to stave off the fight Aiden seemed to be gearing up for. She had already said they would go to this cabin of theirs. What the fuck else did he want from her?
Everything… a small voice in the back of her head whispered to her. Ariana ignored it and once again focused on Aiden. All of the others remained still, like predators stalking prey. Everyone’s focus was on Aiden, waiting for him to blow up. Except for Jess; she was lounging on the couch flipping through a magazine. But Ariana could tell from the set of her shoulders that her focus was also on Aiden, but she was just more casual about it. Aiden, it seemed, had the worst temper out of all of them. Ariana would have thought that Roman would have been the one with the short temper. Ariana knew that her temper was lethal and deadly when she got really pissed. The boys had yet to see anything as she was careful to let only a little of her anger t
hrough while holding a good portion back.
“What did you mean by a week? We need to leave now.”
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen, Aiden.” Holding up her hand, Ariana stopped Aiden from speaking… again. If the growl she got in return was any indication, Aiden hated when she did that. Too bad for him it was one of her new favorite past times. “Hear me out. If you really want the girls and I to go with you, I have some conditions. They are non-negotiable, Aiden.”
Aiden gritted his teeth and snarled, “Fine. What are they?”
Now that every eye was on her, Ariana fidgeted. “First, Avery has a week left of school before summer vacation. She finishes before we go anywhere. Second, I want you each to train me. Third, we all get separate rooms. Well, the girls can bunk together, but I need a room of my own.”
Aiden resembled the Greek statue David in a three-piece suit, he was that still. The only thing that let her know he was still alive was the low growling coming from his chest. Ariana had just thrown in the last request. Her kiss with Jayden had been on her mind, and if she was going to move forward in her life then she would need a room of her own.
Suddenly, Roman’s voice boomed from Zoey’s room, “Oh good god!! What did you eat child! Oh, that’s horrid!” They could all hear Roman gagging, “Ave… Ach… Avery what do I… Ach… Do!” Ariana smirked at the guys, setting them off into chuckles that quickly turned into peals of laughter. “Zoey! Stay! Avery, no I don’t think we need that much baby powd… AHHHHH! Shit!”
Everyone, including the rigid Aiden, doubled over in laughter when Roman walked back in. He was covered in baby powder and holding a giggling Zoey like she was a sack of potatoes.
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