Page 24 of The Mating Frenzy
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He gotno answers from the wizards when they materialized later inside Xavier’s condo to take him todinner.
Both Gideon and Xavier avoided his questions. Instead, they grilled him on his manners at the dinner table, and warned him to go lightly with flirting withElla.
They seemed unsurprised that he’d found the secret archives forOthers.
That, more than anything, convinced Kieran of the dire necessity of his mission. Ella was needed, much more than the wizards hadindicated.
No pressure. None atall.
He insisted on driving to the restaurant where Ella worked. As payback for their silence about what he’d read, Kieran drove at breakneck speed, the wizards in the back seat growing pale at each sharply-turnedcorner.
When they climbed out of the car, Xavier looked nauseated and Gideon wiped hisforehead.
“And I thought you were bad driver, X,” Gideonmuttered.
With his heart pounding like a war drum and his palms sweaty as he pulled open the restaurant door, Kieran knew he could use a little reassurance. What if he screwed up and Ella reacted as badly as she had at their first meeting? It was critical he enlist her trust in order to coax her into accompanying him to find thecrystal.
“It will be fine,” Gideon murmured, squeezing his shoulder briefly. “We’ll be here withyou.”
Xavier was more pragmatic. “Don’t screw up, Kieran. Try to impress Ella instead of driving her away thistime.”
Resisting the urge to hiss at the wizard, he considered as Gideon asked the hostess to be seated at the bar area. “Should I show her my cock? It’s quiteimpressive.”
Xavier clasped his shoulder, but this wizard’s grip was not reassuring. Instead, a fiery tingle of pure energy shot through Kieran. “Ow.”
“Watch your mouth, cat,” Xaviermuttered.
Pine walls surrounded them as they entered the bar area. One wall was made from mirrored glass, with glass shelving holding a variety of liquor bottles. The delicious aroma of grilled beef filled the air, mixing with cloying perfume, sweat, the musk of human arousal and dozens of other odors he did not care toidentify.
They slid into a booth in a quiet corner. Kieran looked around. “Where isshe?”
“She will be here,” Gideon assured him. “This is her table. I arranged for us to haveit.”
But there was no need for any more explanations, for suddenly he caught the most exotic and intriguing and heady scent. Kieran knew it washer.
Ella.
Lovely, headstrong, fascinatingwoman.
His senses stirred, and he felt an excitement and anticipation he had not experienced in such a long time, he could not recall when. His cock stirred in his trousers, but Kieran had only to think of losing his sister, and that doused his erection more effectively than icewater.
Long hair tied back, Ella bustled around the room. She wore black trousers and a white shirt, and had a black apron tied around herwaist.
She worked too hard. He knew little of her life, yet he could see lines of exhaustion etched into her face. Suddenly he wanted to sweep her off her feet, carry her away to a soft bed. Not to make love, but to let her relax in sleep, and guard her while sherested.
Gideon and Xavier studied him as if he were a new species of fairy. Kieran rested against the wall, his feet on the bench. “What?”
“Feet on the floor. This is a civilized place,” Xavierwarned.
“I could be jumping on the table. Or into your lap.” He locked gazes with thewizard.
“How the hell does Tristan handle your sort?” Xavier wondered. “I thought ogres and trolls weredifficult.”
Gideon nudged Xavier as Ella came over to the table. Her gaze was on the two wizards, and at first she didn’t see Kieran. He ducked behind the large leather-bound menu the hostess had givenhim.
“May I take your drink order?” sheasked.
