A deep growl echoed around the room. “They’re not staying in the same suite.” Xan moved around the bar.
Kellen got in front of him. “You and I have some work to do and a lady to find before someone else gets hurt. Taya may not be your mate, but she’s someone’s. Let your sister help Rowan get settled while you use your nose and head.”
Xan inhaled, making me think he was ready to explode, but only his eyes flared and then rested on Lyric, who flushed a rosy red.
“Motherfuckingsonofabitch,” Xan said.
“Exactly.” Kellen slapped Xan on the back.
“Well, all right then. We will go find that clean suite. Err, thanks for the hospitality,” I said. There were some undercurrents going on, but for the life of me, I had no clue how to decipher them.
Lyric grabbed my hand and led me from the room, but not before her friend Syn kissed her cheek and hugged her. I didn’t understand these wolves and their touchy-feely selves. I was onboard for touching and feeling Lyric. The idea sprang into my head as we left the office and wouldn’t leave.
We didn’t go back through the crowded bar. Lyric kept hold of my hand, who didn’t have the duffel bag. I felt a little panicked at not having a hand free in case we came up against any threat. She clearly knew where she was going, taking a few turns through the darkened hallway, steadily going down until we hit a steel door with a keypad. I watched her enter the code, memorizing the number.
I adjusted Lyric’s stance. “You need to make sure you put your body in front of you when you enter the code. That way, anyone around or behind you can’t see what the access number is. I now have the key to get in should I want to come back.”
“Jeezus, what are you, some sort of security expert?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Seriously?” she asked, pushing open the heavy door.
I approved of the security they had in place; they only needed to teach everyone how to enter the code without broadcasting it. To the right of the dimly lit hallway was a reception area manned by an elderly couple.
“Hiya, Mrs. McCartney. How are you feeling this evening?” Lyric smiled.
“Lyric, you know how it is. Today is good. You want a suite for your friend?” Mrs. McCartney asked.
I suppressed my chuckle. “Evening, ma’am. My name is Rowan. Kellen wants us to stay here for a day or two. I hope you don’t mind.” I tipped an imaginary hat at the elderly woman. I was sure she saw all kinds of comings and goings through these halls.
“Well, now, little Missy, why didn’t you say the alpha sent you both down here. I have the perfect suite for you. Not one of the ones the boys usually use, either.” Mrs. McCartney sniffed.
“Now, honey. You know those boys are just playing until they find someone like you. They gotta look under a lot of pots until they find their gold.” Mr. McCartney winked at me.
“Hmm. How many pots did you look under, dear?” Mrs. McCartney opened a safe and pulled out a key.
“Not many. You were waiting right there, my love. I’ve been living in bliss ever since.” The old man winked again.
I turned my head and coughed into my hand. “You okay there, young man?” The older man asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“What? Oh, yeah. Just had a little something in my throat.”
The woman gave us a key and explained that there was water in the fridge. Lyric thanked her and pulled me along the tastefully done hallway. I couldn’t imagine Xan or Kellen bringing strange women past the elderly couple.
“You’re wondering how Xan and Kellen could bring some piece of ass past those two, right?”
“Yep,” I said as I followed her into our rooms.
I looked around the space we were to share for however long Kellen decided. A large living space with a couch and two chairs opened to a kitchenette with a counter doubling as a table and two barstools in the main room. There was a door off to the side, I assumed, that led to the bedroom, and when Lyric opened it to deposit my bag, I saw the huge king-sized bed.
“Are you hungry? There’s a full-service kitchen that will make us anything from burgers, to steak, to mac and cheese and such. Don’t expect gourmet shit, but they can whip up some really tasty barbecue.”
“What are the sleeping arrangements, Lyric?” Heat raced through me just thinking of sharing a bed with her.
“Um, since you’re bigger than me, you can have the bed, and I’ll take the couch.” She nodded.
“What if I wanted the couch?” Her puzzled frown made me want to laugh.
