You keep that kind of talk up and prude wil be the one thing Im not, he warned, tucking our bodies into a more tame, less tempting position.
Fine, I complained, knowing my cause was a lost one now. This is coming a little late, but Im sorry your night was ruined. Im sure you had a mil ion different plans for how you wanted to spend it with me. My voice was back to its normal, sex-kitten-free tone.
The front of his body pressed into my body, sweet and seduction free. I only wanted to spend it one way. His arms curled around me, squeezing me to him so there wasnt even a strip of air separating us. This way. His voice was sleep heavy and my body fol owed his lead, saying a silent prayer that tomorrow night wed be promised an eternity of fal ing asleep in each others arms.
CHAPTER FOUR
BUSTED
Wil iam Hayward! a voice shrieked us awake. What do you think youre doing?
Good morning to you too, sunshine, Wil iam replied, fol owed by a yawn.
Dont you sunshine me, Cora warned, her index finger bobbing at him in agitated fits.
Whoa, Wil iam said, propping up on one elbow, keeping me tucked to him with the other. Back it up a few finger wags. Why are you so upset?
Why am I so upset? Why am I so upset? She was as close to fuming as Id seen her.
Wil iam nodded his head, the look of earlier amusement gone from his face.
I expect this,”she pointed both hands at the tangle of Wil iams and my bodies”from her, but you know better. For crud sake, Wil iam, give me a break. I cant keep the whole of the traditional world of Immortals together single-handedly. A little help would be appreciated since Bryns under the impression that tradition is a dirty word. Her face was flushed and she could barely look at me.
Wil iam paused, likely as confused as I was. I mean this with no disrespect, Cora, but I dont know what the heck youre talking about.
My sentiments exactly.
Coras eyes couldnt have popped any farther without dislocating out of their sockets. Dont you dare play games with me, Wil iam Hayward. You know darn wel what Im talking about.
More silence, nothing but the tapping of fingers as Cora pounded them against the stable door. Its early and Im a blundering, forgetful idiot at the moment”you can blame her for my current state. Wil iam glanced down at me in accusation which was received with an elbow to his side. Please show mercy on me in this weakened state and remind me again what Im supposed to know.
I smiled at the way only Wil iam could diffuse a bomb of female emotion. Coras eyes narrowed into slits at me. My smile disappeared as quickly as it had formed.
Because my husband idolizes you and my best friend loves you beyond repair, Il remind you.
Wil iams body relaxed some. Youre a dol , Cora. Whats it again I need reminding of?
Her eyes pointed from me to him, and back again, everything purposeful about it. Its bad luck to see the Betrothed before the Betrothal, she said as if it was the most obvious thing.
I gave up on the hope that Wil iam and I could kiss the morning away; it seemed circumstances outside of our control would be preventing this.
Were not technical y supposed to know were being Betrothed. No one is. How can that be an ancient Immortal custom, tradition, saying . . .
whatever? I asked her, not mincing words in her fit. Cora and I could handle each others temper tantrums, whereas the boys went running at the first sign of a female uprising.
Dont you start with me too, Bryn Michel e Dawson. I felt Wil iams stomach tighten from the laugh begging to be released, but he kept it down. He was a smart man. Today is a big day and I cant orchestrate the most massive event our Al iance has put on in ten years if I have to keep your attitude of epic proportions in check as wel . Her hands flew to her hips. So put on your big girl panties and throw me a bone, wil ya?
Leave it to Cora to fly off the handle over some sil y outdated tradition that had been likely made up in her mind, a girl whod remained calm in the midst of death, persecution, and Immortal war. I could give her one thing, though”Cora knew her priorities and held to them.
Easy, Cor, I encouraged, wiggling out of Wil iams vice-like hold. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Heheho . . . I demonstrated for her as I stood up. I gripped my hands over her shoulders. Heheho, heheho.
She mimicked my masterful breathing techniques Id picked up on television and, despite the recuperative oxygen being a moot point to Immortals, I witnessed the tension melting from her face. Melting slowly.
My big girl panties are firmly in place. I glanced back at Wil iam, sharing a look. Al too firmly in place, actual y.
His cheeks had begun to redden when I turned back to Cora. Im sorry from the very bottom of my heart that we shunned such a revered, time-honored, well-known Immortal tradition. When her eyes narrowed this time, there was no anger in them. What can I do to remedy this atrocity?
Brushing back the shorter layers of hair that had fal en out of her braids, she shot me a partial y appeased look. For starters, you guys need to high tail it out of here. Like now. She looked down at Wil iam like she was waiting for him to figure something out. Man, you real y are an idiot whenever Bryns around. She puffed out a gust of air when Wil iams face stayed ignorant of whatever she was trying to relay to him. Let me spel it out to you . . .
Wil iam grinned, enjoying this game. Better say it nice and slow just to be safe.
The Council members are wandering around the farm. Theyre not saying it, but theyre looking for you since you missed breakfast and your bed remained neatly made. Cora rol ed her eyes. I mean, real y. You put together the most intricately woven plans and you overlook the most obvious things. She looked to me to back her up, but she was on her own.
Theres something seriously messed up with a bunch of old men being so concerned with protecting my chastity, Wil iam said, trying to sound unconcerned, but he could never disguise the way he was truly feeling in his eyes.
Youre special and al , but this isnt any kind of special treatment theyre trying to torture you with. They treated us al like we were a bunch of hormone drunk teenage boys that couldnt be trusted up until the day we were United, Cora said.
The Council final y got one thing right when it comes to Bryn. Wil iam looked at me, his grin growing broader when I crossed my arms in a huff.
You, Cora stomped, pointing at Wil iam. Get out of here. Wel wait here for ten minutes before we go. And dont be obvious when you leave. Go out on a ride or something. Cora nodded down the rows of stable. The horses are getting fat.
Yes, maam, Wil iam said, shooting her a salute after he came to a stand.
And you . . . She grabbed my elbow, steering me towards the doors. Youre coming with me. You cant be trusted to your own devices for an event such as tonight, so you wil be makeover putty in Abigails and my capable hands.
Wil iam lunged through the stal just in time to brush a kiss over my lips. Il see you soon. Il meet you on the dance floor. He winked, his expression confident.
I swal owed. Save me a dance, I cal ed after him as he jogged down the barns wide hal , heading for the pasture.
For goodness sakes, woman. Cora came to a screeching halt. Why are you wearing Josephs sweatshirt? Her eyes roamed down lower. And his underwear?
I sighed. Its a long story, Cor, and trust me when I tel you its one Il never repeat.
Its a darn good thing my purse slash oversized luggage lives by the adage, always be prepared. She slung her purse forward, propping it up with a knee, rifling through its contents. She bit her lip, her arm disappearing up to her armpit in the bags depths. Aha! she exclaimed, pul ing out a trench coat so lightweight it was paper-thin.
Why do you have a trench coat in your purse? I asked as she shook it open.
Shrugging, she said, A beige trench coat is this fal s must-have outerwear accessory. Turns out its todays must have accessory for getting you out of the barn without making it blaringly obvious you and Wil iam were up to no good last night. She circled her eyes around my morning attire.
These are Josephs, I said, pul ing at the sweatshirt. Not Wil iams.
I know that and you know that, but do you think anyone else would?
I peered at the bulky Stanford sweatshirt and equal y bulky boxers. Nope, no difference, I admitted, impressed. Cora real y had thought this al out. Except my man smel s a hundred times better than yours, I added, taking a whiff of the sleeve.
Regardless of the season, Joseph always smel ed like fresh-cut grass and a summer morning. It was a pleasant smel , but even if he smel ed like one hundred percent kona coffee and my favorite kind of dark chocolate, Wil iam stil would have smel ed a hundred times better. Nothing smel ed better than love.
Take those off. She nodded at my pajamas. Put this on and . . . She went on another scavenger hunt through her purse, retrieving a pair of classic black flats that were way too big for her tiny feet. She tossed them to the floor and I slipped my bare feet in them. They couldnt have fit better if theyd been hand tailored.
You knew this would happen, I said, pul ing the sweatshirt over my head.
Of course I did. She grabbed the sweatshirt and tossed it in her bag. I had a feeling the Council would be showing up early, so I armed my trusty bag”she patted the yel ow leather purse”and when I found your room absent of its occupant this morning, and Patrick cal ed to let me know Wil iams was the same, I started the search.
She grinned at me. It didnt take too long. You guys werent exactly very creative . . . or romantic, she said, curling her nose at the barn.
Yeah, wel , sometimes circumstance and resourcefulness makes up for creativity and romance when thats al youve got to work with, I said, pul ing down the boxers, now standing basical y nak*d in front of Cora save for the pale pink lace panty and bra set. It seemed wrong two people other than Wil iam had seen the scanty excuse for underwear Id picked out with him in mind.
Hot mama! Cora exclaimed, looking me head to toe. Wil iams going to bust something when he sees you in that.
Hey, Cora, the coast is clear, a new voice shouted right around the corner. A teleported voice that was going to be rounding the corner quicker than I could duck behind the mountain of hay bales off to the side announced. Holy lingerie! Patrick exclaimed, braking to a stop the instant he saw me. I mean, he shook his head, trying to look away, but he wasnt successful. I mean . . . holy boobs” he shouted, his face instantly red.
Patrick! Cora and I both yel ed out at him in disapproval, but his roaming stare had me frozen where I stood.
Wow. Just . . . wow, he breathed, his eyes final y moving north until they met mine. Youre perfect.
A flying apple hit him right in the nose, clearing his expression of everything that had just been there. And youre a perv, Cora scolded, shuffling through the barrel for another one.
Patrick lunged behind the nearest wal , fearing for something more important to him than his life”his facial bone structure.
That was just a warning shot, or apple, Cora yel ed, winding her arm back with the next one ready to launch. Come around that corner again and youl suffer the wrath of my speedbal , speed apple.
This is the thanks I get for helping you out? Patrick shot back, but his voice had dimmed. He was leaving. Those Haywards were smart men when it came down to it. Although Id say I received my thanks seeing Bryn in nothing but her scivvies. He chuckled the one he was most known for.
Now thats my kind of thanks. Catch you girls later.
Not if I catch you first, Cora grumbled, handing me the trench coat. Sorry about that.