“We’re going to get married, and have little pixy giants.” He stroked his finger over my jaw.
“Yeah? You’re going to be a pain in the ass when I’m pregnant, aren’t you?” I asked him picturing him being a hovering boyfriend.
“The worst, and you’re going to love every bit of it.”
Banshee got up, stumbling to the bathroom to pee. I stared at his ass clenching as he walked through the door. He was fucking beautiful. Banshee climbed back in bed and I lay my head on his chest, listening to his strong heart beat. My mind whirled with thoughts and pictures of little Banshee babies running around. We’d teach them to fix any engine, and how to read dirty books in any language they wanted to learn. My future was so easily attainable that I couldn’t stop smiling. Until I thought of Flame.
“I need to talk to my brother.” I waited for him to blow up, to tell me I wouldn’t be leaving the compound to talk to anyone. There was one thing the shifter books got right, and it was the protective almost stalker nature, when you found the one you’re supposed to be with. Banshee was going to absolutely hate that I wanted to go talk to Flame, but he also loved me enough that he wouldn’t refuse. I just assumed he’d argue that I wasn’t going without him. I was still waiting for him to blow up, and get all growly on me.
A loud snore made me jump. Banshee’s mouth was open in an alcohol-induced sleep. Well, there was that, I thought to myself coming up with a plan.
Guilt surged through me as I grabbed my phone, sneaking down the stairs so I didn’t wake up Banshee. Even though I didn’t think a zombie attack would wake up Banshee. Of course, I tripped on the last step too busy listening for Banshee’s movements to pay attention to where I was walking. I smacked the side of my face on the wall, hard. I rubbed my already swelling cheek and the sting in my eye. I glanced up listening for a sleeping Banshee, hoping I didn’t wake him with my clumsiness. A snore filtered down the stairs, making me smile, but I stopped when I felt the sting in my face at the movement. Knowing Banshee was still sleeping, I texted Flame that I wanted to talk to him. I switched my phone to silent before Flame responded, not taking any chances on waking Banshee up.
Sure enough, Flame responded immediately. I wanted to punch my brother in the stomach for finally answering me. As soon as one of his men was killed he broke his silent treatment. If I didn’t love him so much I’d want to beat him up for how he treated me the last couple weeks.
“Come over, now,” was his immediate response.
I glanced up the stairs. Shaking my head, I texted Flame back. “It’s late. How about breakfast tomorrow? You pick, I’ll buy.”
“Come over to our house. I’ll cook you pancakes.”
A small smile hit my cheeks. I learned quickly not to do that. My swollen cheek and eye was really starting to sting. Fuck, I bet it was going to leave a mark.
The text reminded me of the Flame I knew and loved. His pancakes were my favorite thing ever, and he knew I couldn’t say no to them. He’d make them for me when we were poor, and our mom left us alone for weeks at a time. They were my favorite comfort food. I knew Flame loved me, and that he’d accept Banshee one day. His pancakes wouldn’t fix everything, but it was the first step to getting us back to our relationship.
“Sounds like a plan,” I texted back.
“Get here as early as you can.”
I cocked my head to the side, Flame hated waking up early. “Six?”
“5:30.”
My mind screamed inside of me, waking up that early seemed wrong, especially since it was already so late. “I’ll see you at 5:30. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Upstairs, I set my alarm, my body crying inside when it informed me I had two hours and thirty-five minutes before I’d have to climb out of bed. Snuggling against my snoring giant, I passed out, taking advantage of every minute before I had to wake up.
I swore I just closed my eyes when my alarm went off. Swiping at my phone, I silenced it before it woke up my still sleeping Banshee. He was still snoring not even budging when I climbed out of bed.
Slipping into the bathroom, I changed into a pair of jeans and a hoodie as fast as I could. Guilt hit me when I walked out of the room past Banshee.
When I got outside I texted Banshee, telling him I was going to talk to my brother, and that I loved him, and not to worry, I’d be home later.
The security guards looked panicked when I drove up to the gate on my motorcycle. “He knows I’m leaving. I’ll be right back,” I explained
Hell even the security guards knew how mental Banshee was going to get when he realized I was gone. Maybe I could shovel pancakes into my mouth, get Flame to see reason, and get home before Banshee even woke up.
Flame was outside on the porch when I pulled up. “You’re late,” he said gruffly.
I took off my helmet and he was grabbing my shoulders before I could even get off my bike.
“What the fuck?” He was so loud I startled almost falling off my bike. He tilted my chin surveying my face. It was early, and I was fucking tired so it took me a second to figure out what he was pissed about.
“I’m going to fucking kill him, and the rest of those cocksuckers,” he swore as he moved my head around
I grasped Flame’s sleeve to stop him from moving my head. “I fell down the stairs, and smacked my cheek.”
