She should be put off by the violence, should reprimand him.
Instead, she went up on her toes and brushed her lips against his cheek, unable to help stealing a taste of him.
His eyes sparkled under the attention, the possessiveness and hunger making her feel almost giddy. She opened her mouth to tell them to cancel the meeting, wanted to spend the night with her mates, but then he stepped away and some of her reasoning returned.
“So you were able to reach your contact and they agreed to the meeting?” Part of her hoped he would say he had been unsuccessful. As much as they needed answers, she didn’t want his family anywhere near him.
“Yes.” His voice was sharp as he went to her closet and began to riffle through the clothing, essentially ending the discussion, and she let him, not wanting to rile him up anymore before the meeting.
Despite all their reasoning, he’d been against the idea.
He didn’t want the fae, especially his family, anywhere near her.
If there was a twinge of disappointment in her chest that he didn’t want her to meet them, she kept it to herself. There was some sort of rift in the family, something that tore them apart. Until he was ready to share it with her, she had to respect his choices.
For now.
She trailed after him, seeing him digging through the clothing.
Which most of the guys had been steadily adding more and more, much to her amusement.
She’d gone from owning only a few outfits to having a nearly bursting walk-in closet. She didn’t have the heart to protest, not when the guys had so much fun finding her outfits and setting them out for her to wear, each claiming a day for their own.
While they spend most of the time together as a group, the guys often snuck off with her at least once a day. That time was sacred, none of the other guys imposing on those dates.
All she could do was marvel at the novelty of being the center of their attention.
Not that they demanded all her attention.
If she retreated to the office or her room and closed the door, they gave her the privacy she needed, knocking before they entered. If the doors remained open, they took it as an invitation to join her. If she was working, they would sit in silence, pleased just to be in her company.
She had to admit she loved those days the most, when they were all near and remained safe.
Too bad those days were becoming fewer and further between.
“The people of Faerie are…particular.” Atlas’s voice was muffled as he spoke. “All people of Faerie are called fae. All elves are fae, but not all fae are elves. There is a distinction between the two that can land you in trouble if you get it wrong. Itmight be best if you just associate everyone from Faerie as fae.”
That information was taught at the Academy.
That he would tell her again meant he was worried. Wanting to ease his mind, she agreed. “I understand.”
When Atlas emerged from the closet, her breath caught at the garment in his hand.
His Faerie blessed shirt.
The one she had borrowed and never returned.
It smelled like him, and she couldn’t make herself give it back.
The light, wispy material looked almost ethereal in his hands.
He stalked toward her, his approach more of a wild animal than human. She shivered, trying to resist the impulse to run in the hopes that he would give chase. Narrowing his eyes in warning, Atlas gave a small jerk of his head.
Hands immediately came to rest on her arms, so unexpected that she startled. She’d been so entranced by Atlas, she had completely forgotten Ryder and Draven were even still in the room.
Not that they seemed upset.
In fact, if the hungry expressions were any indication, they were enjoying the show.
