Page 49 of Enticing the Elf
I’ve seen the surveillance footage, including the way Felix immediately threw the broken hockey stick aside and rushed to check his unintended victim was okay, so I believe that. As for the rest… I’m sure there’s more to the story, hurtful words to go along with hurtful actions. I don’t need to know them.
Raðulfr isn’t going to date Felix and then cheat on him, so while I might not ever want a friend of mine to get involved with Felix Ansas, he doesn’t pose a danger to my king.
Now all I need to worry about is whatever crisis of intelligence Ari’s having. I need him in top form, both here at work and as part of my support team for the Summit of Love.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Dáithí
“You should take Elsking with you,”Eoin orders, appearing in my bedroom doorway. “I’m not planning to use any chemicals with harsh smells or anything, but I’ll be moving stuff around and the noise might…” He blinks, taking me in fully. “Or if you’re going to wear that, I could clean another day and?—”
I laugh and saucily blow him a kiss. “I’ll still be wearing it when I get home and when we go out tonight. Where are we going, again?” I cock a hip, letting the sexy jockstrap highlight some of my best features. Maybe if he’s distracted, he’ll let some of the details slip.
“Hmm.” His heavy-lidded gaze and the little smile on his face as he looks at me make me feel like a god.
“Eoin? Where are we going tonight?” I plant a hand on my hip, letting my fingers frame the good stuff. “Is this dress code appropriate?”
That snaps him out of his lust-induced haze, and his gaze rises to meet mine, brows drawing together. “Not on its own. People drool over you when you’re fully clothed, Dáithí—give my poor jealous brain a tiny break and keep this just for me.”
It always gives me a thrill when he says something like that… well, as long as he doesn’t phrase it as a demand. I’venever liked being bossed around by boyfriends. Of course, before Eoin and I hooked up, I also didn’t like displays of jealousy or possessiveness, but somehow, from him, it’s… not toxic.
I stroll over to him and loosely drape my arms over his shoulders as his hands lightly grip my hips. “I can do that. You’ll be the only one who knows what’s under my clothes tonight at… Where are we going, again?” Leaning in, I feather kisses along the side of his neck, and his breath catches.
“Nice try.” Firming his hold on my hips, he sets me away from him—but still within arm’s reach. The bulge in his pants is proof of how strong his willpower is. “You’re good, but I’m not spoiling the surprise.”
My eyes shoot back to his face and my heart rate picks up. “The surprise? As in…thesurprise from the list of challenges?” He said that tonight was one of the planned dates, but maybe he’s changed his mind and swapped it with something else? Or he could have decided to combine two of the tasks into one.
“No.” He shakes his head, then leans over to drop a kiss on my mouth. “Just a regular surprise. I’m savingthesurprise for another time.”
My adrenaline begins to settle. I’m not sure why the idea of tonight being the surprise task was such a big deal, but my subconscious clearly has feelings about it. To cover that up, I heave a giant sigh and turn to walk back to the bed, putting extra sway into every step. I know what this jockstrap looks like from behind.
The pained sound Eoin makes assures me it was worth every penny of the ridiculously high price tag.
“Well, if you’re not going to tell me anything about tonight, I’m going to get dressed and go out. You really won’t let me stay?” I pick up my jeans and look over my shoulder as I bend to step into them.
Glazed eyes look back at me, and he gives his head a little shake, as if to clear it. “Would you be able to sit back and not try to help while I clean the place from top to bottom? I’m going to need to move your stuff around to do that, you know.”
I open my mouth to say that of course I could, then reconsider. Sitting back and letting other people be in charge isn’t something I’m known for. “Okay, fine. I’ll go out. Jared said he was home alone this morning, and I can go over there.” I zip and button, then reach for my tee.
“Oh. Maybe you shouldn’t take Elsking, then.” He frowns worriedly as he glances back toward the living room. “Jared has a cat.”
“Do cats and rabbits not get along?” I haven’t looked up information like that yet, since I only just let myself get one pet. I need more time before I’m ready for a second one.
He shrugs, but the worry doesn’t fade. “I don’t know, but if they don’t, Elsking shouldn’t have to suffer because of our ignorance. It might be better if she stayed here. I can move her from room to room to keep the noise from bothering her too much. It’s still a disruption, but…” He catches sight of my indulgent smile. “What?”
“Nothing. Just…” I scramble for something to say that’s not “you’re earning so many points on the tasks you don’t know about.” “You know I’d never let her get hurt, right?”
“Pft. Of course you wouldn’t. But she still might get scared, and she shouldn’t have to go through that.”
My heart melts. “I’ll call Jared and ask him if his cat likes rabbits.”
“While you’re doing that, I’ll check Google,” he says, and goes in search of his phone.
Jared answers on the second ring. “Hi. If you’re calling to ask if you can come over, yes, the offer’s still open. I went tothe farmer’s market this morning and got some amazing cheeses and cake, and my garden is flooded with sun.”
If I hadn’t been planning to go before, I would be now. “That sounds perfect. I have a question, though—Eoin reminded me you have a cat.”
“That’s not a question, but yes, I do. Her name is Marge. You’re not allergic, are you?” Concern filters through the question.
