My cheeks pulled into a beaming smile before I could help it. Finley was a handsome devil, clad in a forest-green suit. Golden hair was swept to the side. I had to recoil my fingers, urging them not to reach up and ruffle his hair.
“Oh good,” Pogue’s voice dripped with irritation. “Here I was afraid I’d have to take her all by myself.”
I suddenly wanted to bury myself in the garden or maybe cram into the Brownie’s hidey-hole.
Finley strode calmly to my side. In one swift movement, a hand cozily found its way under my chin, and tilted it up. His lips found home on mine, inhaling, stealing my breath. My heart, along with the very moment around us, stilled.
All the emotions from our night together instantly resurfaced, possessing my every thought.
He released me, but his eyes still clung to mine. Unspoken images of us at the ruins flashed between us, a reminder of what we’d shared—physically, spiritually.
Those eyes then slid to my pink-tinged cheeks and creased with a smirk of satisfaction.
A cinderblock plunked down in my stomach as I reeled back to reality, to the company standing in front of us.
Finley turned to Pogue. “Excuse me?” he said, politely. Though his eyes were anything but as they staked him. “Did you say something?”
Door-battered knuckles were now white as death as Pogue’s fists clenched at his side. Those too-seeing eyes darted back and forth between Finley and me. Once, then twice. His expression distorted to fury. Sharp and punishing. As if he saw beyond the kiss, to something more condemning.
The air started to thicken, heavy like gravy. It churned in my stomach like a meal gone sour.
I shouldn’t have fought David on picking me up himself . . .
“She needs an escort, not a babysitter,” Pogue snapped, voice low and grating. For a fraction of a second, the space around us darkened, shadows stirring with rage. A hand outstretched to me. “Ready, Carwynn?” Those icy eyes blazed like an inferno ready to unleash.
My breath caught, lips parting for words of rejection, but they’d suddenly run away.
Finley knocked Pogue’s hand away with force, rushing forward to invade his space.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it’s time ya leave.” Finley may have had a few inches on Pogue, but something inside made me nervous for his safety.
“Funny.” Pogue’s laugh was brutal. Smoky tendrils curled off his body. My nerves knotted. “Thought playing games was yours and Lochlainn’s specialty?” His voice dropped even lower, face horrifyingly lethal. “Tell us, Finley—how are all yourbusinessclassesgoing?”
His stare was a loaded message I couldn’t decipher. What the hell was he talking about? Had he lost his mind?
A guttural snarl rumbled through Finley’s chest in challenge.
“Back off.” Finley threatened, inches from Pogue’s face.
The two men were one pissing contest away from shadows meeting claws. I couldn’t take any more.
“Okay! All right!” I wedged between them. My palms methard chests, and pressed back, creating distance. “We’re not doing this!” My eyes volleyed between them. “Both of you, in the carriage. We don’t have time to compare dick sizes, and I’m all out of measuring tape . . .”
Dead. Silence.
Finley blinked, as if irritated I’d even mention Pogue had a dick.
Pogue in turn arched a brow, but the look he gave me only intensified.
Well, at least it got them to pause. So I’d say that was a win. Toddlers redirected. Momentarily.
51
DAVID
“She should know, David,”Faelad said.
The weight of his words pushed down on me. He stood in front of the arched tower window, thoughts drifting off into the distance.
