His eyes light up with heat. “I decided Peaches suited you better.”
“Why, because we’re in Georgia?” I tease, ready to bust his balls about lackin’ originality.
“No, because you’re just ripe for the pickin’,” Flint answers instead, and I swallow my initial retort.
He is layin’ it onthick.Desire swims in Flint’s eyes and pools low in my stomach. I clear my throat to try and dispel the sexual tension that’s brewin’ in my belly, but I’m findin’ out that every minute spent with these two is a rollercoaster for my libido.
“So,” I say, needin’ to change the subject before I do somethin’ impulsive like grab one of them by the hair and drag their lips to mine. “I asked for a drink, and you made me leave the house. Should I be offended?” I say with a dry chuckle as I motion around the dark, grassy yard. All I can see in this lightin’ is a wall of trimmed hedges down a slight slope, but other than that, all I can see is a neatly kept lawn.
“We don’t have alcohol in the house,” Alder explains as he starts leadin’ the way. I fall into pace beside him.
“Okay...so where we goin’?”
“Our bar,” he replies. “It’s just a short walk from here.”
“Y’all live next door to your bar?”
“Yep,” Flint says, comin’ up to walk on the other side of me. “Well...technically, we live next door to the Hellgate,” he corrects, and I look over at him with my brow furrowed.
“Y’all live next door to a gate that leads to Hell?” I ask nervously.
It’s clear they’re amused by my horrified tone. “We wouldn’t be very good Gate Guardians if we didn’t.”
Well, shit.
I made Alder promise that I wouldn’t wake up in Hell, but I’m technically awake now, so does that mean all bets are off? Are they trickin’ me?
For the love of peaches, please don’t tell me that the drink I’m hopin’ for is in actual Hell and not the bar, because that would be just my luck.
Heaven knows I can’t handle that right now. Or maybe it doesn’t, since I don’t exactly bat for that team, but still. Ireallydon’t wanna go to Hell in a jean mini, my clubbin’ makeup, snakeskin cowgirl boots, and a head missin’ lots of information.
Nothin’ good can come from an impromptu trip to Hell, I’m sure of it.
12
Nervousness is suddenly crawlin’ all through my chest. I wish it wasn’t so dark out here so I could see their faces better. Surely I’d be able to tell if they’re bein’ sneaky?
But maybe not. Maybe all this flirtatiousness and attraction between us is just them trickin’ me? Bringin’ me into a false sense of trust so they can lure me to Hell?
Lord help me, I hope that’s not what’s goin’ on.
“Um, look, I’m not ready for Hell, if that’s where you’re really takin’ me,” I declare, my boots sinkin’ into the trimmed lawn as we make our way to the hedges and slip out through the archway. Ahead, I can see a slightly slopin’ hill and a ton of trees and wayward weeds.
“No, that’s not on the agenda for tonight. Promise,” Alder reassures me with an open smile.
I discreetly release a relieved sigh and a whole lot of tension as the three of us start headin’ past trees on a small, windin’ trail that leads further down the hillside.
“Good,” I say with a nervous laugh.
“But...it will be at some point,” Alder goes on, and I dart a look at him. “We want to be up-front about that, Medley, because it’s our job to guard the Hellgate. And...we think it could very well be your purpose too.”
I trip over the grass, more from his words than any divot in the ground. His blossomed arm comes shootin’ out to catch me around my waist before I can stumble. “Thanks,” I say shakily.
He lets go, albeit slowly, his fingers draggin’ over my waist, and even through the layer of my top, my skin prickles at the contact. “You’re welcome,” he says quietly before we start walkin’ again.
“What was that you said?” I ask nervously.
“Alder…” Flint warns. “Don’t overwhelm her.”
