“That’s just the beginning.Let’s get your crew taken care of, and then you and I can do our own tasting and girl time alone.”
Persia finished fixing a large tray full of goodies while El made each person a cup of coffee, making sure to add creamers and sugars to the tray since she was unsure of exactly how everyone took their coffee.
“Your treats await,” Persia called as she pushed through the swinging doors and headed to where Marcus, Willow, and Adam had taken up residence.
“Oh, hello, Willow,” Persia said.
El noticed a slight hitch in Persia’s step.
“Persia,” Willow greeted in return with a slight dip of her head.
Marcus had already swiped a muffin off the top and bit into it, drawing everyone’s attention as he praised Persia.
“I’m going to steal my friend now for a bit if you don’t mind,” Persia told them after she quickly thanked Marcus for his praise.
Everyone was too busy eating to be bothered to respond.El giggled and followed Persia back to where they typically sat and talked.El had just sat down with another new muffin flavor and her coffee when Willow appeared next to her.
“Everything okay, Willow?”El asked.
“She cannot go, Persia,” Willow said calmly looking past El to where Persia was standing, stalk still.
“Do you two know each other?”El asked.
“El—” Persia started, but Willow interrupted her.
“Persia, it’s not time,” Willow said more sternly.
“I never told you Willow’s name,” El stated when she realized that Persia and Willow hadn’t officially been introduced, but Persia had been calling her by name.
“You know as well as I do that it is in fact time,” Persia growled.
“She’s too delicate now.”
“Hi!Remember me, El, the person you’re talking about.How the freaking crap do you two know each other?”El demanded.
She could feel both her lioness and her panther beginning to stir.If she would have been in either of her beasts forms, the hair on the back of her neck would have been standing up.Something big was going on.El stood up and moved from where she had been perched in between the two women who were silently sizing each other up.
“She’s leaving with me,” Persia growled, reaching out and wrapping a tight grip on El’s arm.
“What the hell, Persia.I’m not going anywhere with you?Also, would anyone like to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Don’t do this, Persia.You know the consequences,” Willow stated again.
“Bring it.I’ll do anything to save my—” Persia didn’t finish her sentence she simply looked at El briefly her eyes showing a flash of regret or longing, El wasn’t sure which.
El pulled on her arm, wanting to get away from the two women, but Persia’s grip was tight, unnaturally tight.
“Persia,” El snarled, her lioness growing tired.
“I’m sorry, El.You’ll understand why soon,” Persia said, and then with that everything with black for El.
Chapter 22
Marcus
As Marcus polishedoff the last sweet treat that Persia had placed on the tray, he got up to go get himself more coffee.He glanced at the clock on the wall, wondering how long El would stay holed up with her friend.It had been so long since she had visited Persia, and he didn’t want to give her any restrictions, but he knew it wouldn’t be long.Ryan, Shawn, and Trip would be getting anxious for her to be back at the compound.
Marcus thought then on Willow’s words about trusting the process to make sure El wouldn’t get pregnant.Just the thought of laying with El the proper way made him have to adjust himself in his pants, and he knew his Triad brothers and Shawn were probably feeling the same way.
