“You’re brilliant,”Zilo says with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen the brooding man possess.
He’s…cute when he smiles.
The approval on his face sears through my chest like warm chocolate, and I can’t explain why he has that effect on me suddenly.
Strange indeed.
“Thank you,” I beam at him, and Avian nods along with his normal sweet, sincere smile.
Too bad when I peer over at the third little puppy, he isn’t as kind.
“Could have gotten yourself killed,” Roman spits, his arms folding hard over his bare chest as he looks me up and down.
“And you three could have made me look better instead of trying to cock block my bonding time.”
“Bonding time!” Rome lashes out and is storming over to me from across the bedroom with rage booming into his every step.
Each of these men have a love-hate relationship with logic. Logic tumbles out, and rage rolls right on in during the blink of an eye.
It’s true for Roman, and it’s true even for Avian. Speaking of, Avian flashes between myself and his friend so fast I don’t know if I could spot his superhuman speed if he warned me first.
Not that he ever does.
His palms slam into Roman’s chest, and his fingers spread wide as the two of them seethe unshed aggression into the heated breaths between them.
“Move,” is all Roman says on a gravelly growl.
Avian’s glare becomes slightly less violent, and his silver eyes sparkle with the affection he always hoards in that shining knight heart of his.
“Calm down,” Avian whispers, and I can feel the moment his hands turn from being a defense stance to an intimate stance. It’s in how the tension in his hard lined shoulders and back melt into total calm. It’s like he just wants to feel Roman’s heartbeat against his fingertips rather than nearly shoving him away.
Maybe it’s both.
Roman’s pale eyes are still hard piercing when he looks at me from over his friend’s shoulder. I hold that stare for as long as he lets me. I hold it for so long the anger between us fades, edging little by little into begrudging understanding.
But the real thing is, why does he care? Why does he care if I die? If I die, they continue on. They find a new me. And their ultimate goal is still intact.
I’m the one risking something.
I have a purpose here. And I’m not about to fail it.
“We need real plotting. I need in on the actual destination for this little adventure you’ve pulled me in to.”
“No,” Zilo says, surprising me with the gruff rumble of his tone that I had nearly forgotten he was capable of. We were making such progress with his kindness.
Where are his glasses? Why has he taken off his reading glasses that were clearly what helped with his personality.
Right now, it’s shit. This personality is shit; I much prefer the other.
“No?” I cock my head to the right like I can’t fathom holding it up while he disrespects me so blatantly.
“No,” he enunciates. “You’re not authorized. Another person knowing our full plan, is another person willing to repeat it.”
“You think I’d rat on you?”
The synchronization of all three men shrugging at the same time burns disgust all through me.
Wow.
