Page 27 of The Mating Frenzy
“You must, if you’re to help stop the Dark Lord,” Xavier putin.
“Stop the ruler of Hell? Is that all? Anything else you’d like from me?” Kieran sighed. “I should have been a traveling snake oil salesman like my mother wished. The most anyone would have expected from me would be making their bowel problemsvanish.”
“Enough, Kieran,” Gideon warned. “Let’sorder.”
A snap of his fingers and everyone came to life once more. He shut up as Ella placed the drinks beforethem.
He was too busy admiring her to talk. With her long, dark hair pulled back, her peaches and cream skin soft as kitten fur, and her lush figure, Ella was a temptation. She’d stir any sane male’s blood. How she had remained untouched for this long intriguedhim.
And delighted him aswell.
“Thank you,” he toldher.
She gave a curt nod. “Ready toorder?”
He glanced at the curve of her hip, and his blood heated as he imagined holding her steady inbed.
Kieran looked at Xavier and Gideon. “Is sex on themenu?”
Gideon sputtered, nearly choking on his cocktail. Xavier did that face palm thing again. Ella tapped herpen.
“Look, I’m dead tired. I have another five hours on my feet tonight and I’m not in the mood for your nonsense. Now, are you going to order food? Because I have ten other tables I have to take careof.”
He thought quickly. If he didn’t recover from this, she might never talk to him again. He tried his best to look contrite. “My apologies, Ella, for being blunt and crude. It has to do with my friends here. I am staying with them and if they are planning a night together, I’d rather have a long and relaxing meal here and sleep elsewhere than their guest sofa. They can be mostnoisy.”
Gideon’s jaw dropped. Xavier put both palms on his face. “Kieran,” the Crystal Wizardstarted.
“What?” He tried to look innocent. “There is nothing to be ashamed of, my friends. I wish to give you privacy when you express your love for eachother.”
Gideon looked ready to turn him into cat flambé. Xavier’s shoulders shook. The wizard was laughing, and trying to hideit.
“Oh!” A most becoming blush suffused her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you two were gay. I thought he was trying to pick meup.”
“My apologies, Ella, if I gave that impression. We were involved in a very serious discussion about wine pairings and gluten-free food at renaissance fairs.” He grinned at the wizards. “Do not forget to drop off your jousting equipment later at the smithy, Gideon. You do not want your lance to become rusty. Xavier would be mostdisappointed.”
Xavier kept his face hidden, loud chuckles coming from beneath his hands. “Kieran, you are one badcat.”
“It will never grow rusty. But your own weapon is in danger of getting cut off if you don’t quiet down,” Gideonmuttered.
She laughed. “So you really are actors in a renaissance fair? Cool! Okay, now can I take yourorder?”
They ordered?three steaks, very rare for Kieran, with a baked potato and salad. When Ella left, Gideon stared daggers at him and Xavier wiped his streaming eyes with the cocktail napkin beneath hisdrink.
“You have to admit, Gideon, he’s quick on hisfeet.”
“Yes. It’s a good skill for what you expect of me. What exactly would this crystal do if Ella cannot find it and destroyit?”
The question made them both look away. His jaguar intuition warned there was more to this than what Xavier had toldhim.
Ella came over to check on theirdrinks.
“If you’re not doing anything after work, how about taking pity on me and having a drink with me?” he askedher.
That line usually worked with Skins, Xavier had assured him. A drink was safe. Not adate.
Ella pushed a lock of hair away from her face and sighed. “Why would I want to drink after working in a bar for eight hoursstraight?”
Good question. He thought quickly. “Because it’s withme.”
