Page 73 of Daniil
“Aw, come on, you guys…” Marcus mumbles.“Can’t you do the eye gazing stuff on the helicopter?I’m missing the party.”
“Give us a minute,” I grunt without looking away from Courtney.
“There’s a party?”she asks, eyes twinkling.“What kind of party?”
“A regular party.There will be alcohol, music, people milling about, dancing, talking and whatnot.Sometimes people get frisky.Other times they just get drunk.Most of the Protectors work six or seven days a week.It’s a huge responsibility and a lot of pressure, so once in a while we throw a party that allows everyone the opportunity to relax.Let their hair down, so to speak.”
“But then who’s on duty to make sure the palace isn’t attacked?”
“Sandor and Lennox always have Sundays off to have family time, so they’re working, along with Ace and maybe Xander.The trouble with Xander is that if he leaves Elen at home alone, she has no protection.Like I said, it gets a little complicated.And that’s exactly why we do it.”
“Oh.”She tilts her head up.“Were you going to invite me to said party?”
“I was.”
“I’m waiting.”
I chuckle, throwing an arm around her shoulders.“Would you like to go to a party with me tonight, sweetheart?”
“I would.”
Chapter30
Courtney
“Most of ushang in the pool or the hot tub,” he tells me once we’re in his suite.“So, we should stop by your place to get your suit.”
“All right.”
Once we make that stop, we head up to the rooftop pool.It’s enclosed, but there’s a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that afford us the most incredible view of the city.There’s even two-way glass so we can see out, but no one can see in.
As he predicted, everyone is hanging out when we arrive.Marcus and Harlow are in the hot tub, Joe and Jesper are laughing about something with Jonas, and Vivian and Gunnar are in the pool.There’s a group of younger women pouring glasses of champagne, along with a few other people I recognize.
“Is everyone paired off?”I ask curiously.
He shakes his head.“Marcus and Harlow are on-again, apparently, but that changes regularly.I don’t know their current status, but Marcus was eager to get here because of her.Joe and Jesper are together, as are Gunnar and Vivian.Cooper and Natalia are also a couple.”He motions to the bar.“The two ladies giggling over there are maids here at the palace—Violetta and Graciella.Jonas takes turns with them, and sometimes he and Marcus tag-team them when he and Harlow are on the outs.”He pauses.“Look, there’s a lot of sleeping around.Like I told you earlier, they all work hard, so when they have a chance to let loose, they do.”
“What about you?”
He shrugs.“I partake sometimes but that’s over now.”
“Is it?”
“Absolutely.”He takes my hand and squeezes tightly.
“And what happens when I go back to Vegas?”
“That depends on how we leave things.If we’re in a relationship, then nothing happens.I spend a lot of time jerking off until the next time I see you.”
“And I guess I’ll be spending more time with BOB.”
“Did you bring it with you?”he asks after a moment.
“Of course.I bring him everywhere—a girl has needs.”
“I’ll bet you do.”
Our eyes lock for a beat but then he just reaches for my hand.
