Page 67 of The Firebrand
Braelyn considered how she could get the three women to tell her about Rein. He wasn’t Mr. Talk-Your-Ear-Off. She knew if she played dumb with Sabine, Jez, and Galena, she’d learn nothing about the man. On the other hand, if she acted like a lovesick teen, they’d enlighten her on the tight-lipped vampire. They probably knew a lot.
So, star-struck schoolgirl it is.
Galena joined them on the mat. She straightened her upper body, lifting her arms overhead. “He’s taken a big interest in keeping you alive.”
Sabine mimicked the pose, twisting her head to the side to talk. “And he won’t let any of our well-hungfreronstrain you.”
“He’s frazzled, too. We’ve never seen Control Man in that state.” Jezzi chuckled as she changed up the floor work, lying flat, a knee tucked to her chest.
“Something is goin’ on with you two,” said Galena. “You’re gonna spill.”
“Nothing is going on.” Braelyn dropped a leg out straight, pulling the other in tight.
Sabine jumped to her feet for torso stretches. “But you want it to.”
“Could be.” Braelyn laced her fingers together with her hands above her head. She leaned to the right.
What the hell. I have nothing to lose.
“Rein seems attracted to me one minute. The next, he acts as if I’m a pariah.”
“Hmm. Denial.” Sabine rolled her neck, scrunching her shoulders up and down.
“I don’t think so. Besides, why would he be interested in me when he’s got all of you around him?” Braelyn followed along with the routine.
“Are you kidding, girl?” Jezzi straightened her spine, throwing her hands into the air for a tall stretch. “Have you looked in the mirror? If you’re selling, he’s buying. You just need to sell it with more pizazz. It’s all about advertising.”
“His duty is interfering with his libido,” said Galena, shaking out her arms and legs.
“His duty?” asked Braelyn, pausing mid-stretch.
“Sure. Kole assigned him to keep you safe. It’s the whole male Firebrand duty-and-honor-before-self crap.” Sabine looked at Jezzi and Galena for support. They nodded. “Males are so full of it. It’s the testosterone. Fucks with their brains.”
“What if I wanted his attention?” Braelyn followed the nymph to a rack of dumbbells. “Not saying I do.”
“Of course. But if you did. For God’s sake, honey, he’s a vampire-incubus mix. Wiggle your ass more. Stick your little boobies in his face. Grab his joystick. Take it for a ride. It won’t take much even with his duty standing in the way,” said Jezzi, grabbing an elbow and pulling it across her chest.
“The problem is, he has a reputation,” said Galena.
“As what?” asked Braelyn
“Well,” confided Sabine, as she eyed the rack of weights, “there are stories.”
“What stories?” Braelyn was not sure she wanted to hear about Rein’s exploits.
Jezzi joined them in the free-weights area. “There’s an Amazon who hangs out at the Blood Shed… What’s her name, Galena? Anyway, you know the female, dark curly hair, nose in the air. They hook up, he goes to her place, they fuck, he tells her she’s great, and that’s the last she hears from him.”
Galena rolled her eyes. “You mean, Yvonna? She’s not worth more than a hookup. She’s a viper with candy-red lipstick. And that gives vipers a bad rep.”
“There’s also a shifter he booty-called. She says he promised nothing more than a good time. Amicable. No harm. No foul,” said Jezzi.
Sabine lifted two dumbbells from the rack, handing them to Braelyn. “Start with bicep curls. Anyway, lots of stories, lots of babes, lots of Shed hookups, never mean to them, no promises, no commitments. We thought he was just a stone cold motherfucker until you came along.”
After a few flexes, Braelyn handed the weights back. “Too light.”
The nymph passed heavier ones to her.
Braelyn bent her right arm. Then her left. “Better, but still easy.”
