Daniil had only left my side twice, and that was when he had gotten drinks for us, and now was the third time. Grigori was standing guard by my side, and I had been keeping tabs on Merc this whole while. He was here with my family, standing next to Katie, who was leaning against Artur—whoa, more surprises—and signing with my mom. I really wanted to talk with him because I noticed the glance he gave Eva at one point…who was studiously ignoring Stash, where he stood clear across the room, speaking with Zane and Brent. It was like a game of Clue—who done it. Or, rather, who done whom?
“I’ll be back in just a second,” I told Grigori, already moving away from him. “Bathroom calls.” Hell, he should believe that. I peed all the damn time now.
He nodded, sipping his drink, but I felt his eyes on me as I moved toward Merc. I was short, so everyone hid me after a certain point. I yanked Merc’s hand, jerking my head toward the hallway. His eyebrows rose, and my mom sputtered for a minute, but I shushed her and pulled Merc behind me. I wound our way through endless hallways and tons of people, and finally opened the door to the music room.
I pulled him inside and glanced up and around, finding the cameras and placing my back to them. I could hear people talking outside the door I had shut, so I hurried and started signing, “You slept with Eva.”
His eyebrows rose, and he signed back, “And?”
I scowled, signing, “You said you never sleep with hearing people.”
He sighed, nodding, but slowly, he grinned. It was a little naughty, and he shrugged, signing, “It was only a few times. She wanted nothing serious. I wanted nothing serious. It was just sex.”
I waited for a second and signed, “You don’t want anything more from her?”
He shook his head. “It was just sex.” He grinned again, and signed, “Good sex.”
I chuckled then. “Oh, I’ll never let you live that down.”
His grin widened. “I may try it again if she wants it.”
My chuckle died off. “Merc…I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
He cocked his head. “Why?”
I bit my lip and stared at my belly.
He lifted my chin lightly with his fingers, making me look into his eyes. His dark eyes scanned mine, and he signed, “She’s already with someone?”
I nodded, and started signing in a hurry, “It won’t bother you?”
He shook his head, signing, “I told you we were only having sex for the pleasure of it. Nothing more.”
I grinned. “Can you keep a secret?”
He nodded, his smirk mischievous.
“It’s not like you could tell anyone here,” I signed, laughing, and his shoulders shook. “All right. I walked in on her tonight.” I made the gestures grand. “Fucking! She didn’t see me, but she and…” I leaned forward, “she and Stash were going at it.” I fanned myself. “It was pretty damn hot. And I think it’s been going on for some time.” I paused. “Daniil is going to want to know, but,” I paused, “he’s her dad. And dads can be scary, as it is. Daniil’s the scariest dad out there. I think her and Stash might have a chance if no one bothers them. What should I do?”
Merc stood there thumping his leg with his thumb and finally shook his head, signing, “Don’t lie to him. That’s never the option.”
I sighed, knowing he would say that. I hugged him, and pushed him toward the door, signing, “You always know what’s right.”
He grinned, walking backward toward the door. “You know, I don’t always do what’s right. Now that I’ve had sex with a hearing person,” his grinned widened, “if you weren’t taken, I always thought…” He stopped abruptly, his smile dropping as he stared over my shoulder.
I stilled and ever so slowly turned to the side.
Daniil and Grigori stood in the room right outside a damn hidden door. Grigori’s face was blank, but Daniil’s eyebrows rose, and he stared at Merc, saying and signing at the same time in a lazy motion, “Oh, please. Do continue what you were going to say.”
I turned toward Merc, and signed, “Get the fuck out.”
Mercs jaw hardened, and he looked past me, signing, “I was only joking around. We’ve been friends since we were small. She knew I was kidding.”
“Wonderful,” Daniil stated, walking forward slowly, talking, and signing. “Now, do as she said and get the fuck out.”
“Daniil,” I hissed. “He was only kidding.” Hell, everyone here knew that.
Daniil’s calm broke, and he yelled and signed at the same time, “Whether he was joking or not, it doesn’t mean that I want to fucking see it. Have you already forgotten how my wife had behaved?”
