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“All this sharp pointy shit isn’t going to hang itself.” The wordswere accompanied by a surprisingly strong kick that rocked the loungernoticeably.
Snuggling back into all the wonderful hard heat that all butenveloped her, Shaw decided to ignore the interruption and dive into blissfulslumber once more.
The lounger rocked again.
“Quit that.” Kaleb grumbled huskily. “You know we don’t work foryou, right?”
“I remember you calling and begging me to pull together anextravagant cross species baby shower with only eight days’ notice. No expensespared you promised. Make it grand you said. Oh, and then chose to inform meexactly three days ago to add a dais, and source two elaborate gold thrones forthe festivities. Let’s not forget the theme you insisted upon, the sharp pointyshit. So you two quit with the snuggling and get your lazy asses off thatlounger, hit the showers, grab some breakfast and report to Hank for work.”
Kaleb pulled Shaw in tighter, he wanted to savour this moment, notlisten to Jenna bitch. It felt so right. His arm over her, the way Shaw’s longlength bowed back into him, every inch pressing against him. Perhaps if theyplayed possum, Jenna would disappear, then he and Shaw could sneak away for aleisurely brunch somewhere. Certainly, his Valkyrie appeared in no particularhurry to rise and break their rather intimate clinch.
He’d taken a big chance last night, joining her on the lounger.Very aware he might be in for nothing but a bruised gut if she chose to elbowhim away. But that’s not what Shaw had done. She’d released the slightest ofsighs and relaxed back against Kaleb. Lord Lucifer save him, that acceptancehad made Kaleb’s heart stutter with how right it felt to have her in his arms.He’d… the spray of cold water hit the two of them, sending them scrambling outof the lounger to get away.
Jenna looked smug, and very elegant, in a mint green wrap dress,her dark hair back in a twisty low knot. “Good, you’re up. Like I said. Showersare that way. Breakfast is that way.” She held up the hose threateningly untilboth Shaw and Kaleb raised their hands in surrender, separating. Him headingfor the promised shower. Shaw in need of coffee and sustenance first.
Stephanie was standing by the folded back doors leading into thekitchen, holding a steaming cup of tea. Dressed for the party already. Herblonde hair up in a slick high ponytail. Rocking charcoal capri pants that hada silver stripe down the side, matching her silvery long top. Leopard printsilver espadrilles on her feet. Bouncing rhythmically in time to music only shecould hear.
“I kind of love that woman.” Stephanie sighed, as the sound ofJenna barking orders to her crew drifted their way.
“She’d make a hell of a Valkyrie.” Shaw agreed, rubbing the sleepfrom her eyes. The party planner appeared fearless. “Pity we can’t convert orco-opt her.”
Stephanie straightened suddenly, her eyes narrowing inspeculation, focused upon Jenna. “Actually… that’s a really good idea. OfficialValkyrie Headquarters’ party planner.” Stephanie turned ever so slightly, butit was enough that her enormous belly blocked Shaw from entering the house.“It’s funny. I was expecting to walk out here this morning to discover amissing Demon, and a pile of disturbed dirt out by the oak trees that I wasgoing to have to claim was the result of a mole infestation.”
“What can I say? It was a cool night and I was too tired to go insearch of a blanket.”
“I don’t think that’s the reason you haven’t killed him yet.”Stephanie leaned in closer, which given the size of her tummy wasn’t all thatclose. “I spent most of yesterday with him. That Demon can talk under water.Yet, you haven’t so much as given him a papercut.”
“I’ve been busy, I told you. Besides, there’s the contract, I gavemy word.” Did she sound like she was protesting too much? Even to her own earsher words rang hollow. “Fuck.” Shaw sagged, it was too early. She neededcoffee. And someone to kill. Then more coffee. “What, by Freyja’s Sword, iswrong with me?”
The bouncing stopped, Stephanie’s blue eyes wide. “You don’tknow?”
“Know what?”
“Heavens, was I this oblivious?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about? Is it the baby brainthing? Should I get Galen?”
“No and no. He’s already left for the office. Wants to get somepapers filed this morning. He’ll be back for the shower though… or else. Look,do you remember a while back we had a talk about spoils of war?”
Thinking hard, Shaw could only come up with a vague memory. “Isthis about the talking cow? I never did get to see it.”
“Shit. I’m really bad at this.” Stephanie muttered under herbreath. Wondering if she was just making things worse. Because after all, theywere Valkyries, you could lead them to the ale wagon but then you had no hopein hell of getting their attention after that. “Um… I think you like theDemon.” And what did Stephanie get for her trouble? A sharp bladed halberdhovering inches away from her throat. Shaw all up in her face, lookingferocious as hell.
“You take that back.”
“Okay.” One of the twins kicked out, nailing Shaw in the hip. Ah,Mama’s darlings were going to be awesome badass Valkyries. “I take it back. Youdon’t like the Demon. You don’t watch his every move. Note who he’s talking to.How close they’re standing to him. Seriously? You haven’t done a thing to shuthim up. I mean, there were nail guns lying around everywhere yesterday and youdidn’t even blink.”
“I was otherwise occupied, doing a load of crap foryourbaby shower. Besides, no one ever stands still when you walk up to them with anail gun. He’d have run. I would have had to chase him down. Getting hot.Getting sweaty. No thank you.”
“Sure. Sure.” Stephanie reached up casually, pushing away thehalberd. Watching as four seconds later Shaw magic’d it away. “It’s not likeyou’ve taken him home. To your personal, private, fortress of solitude… whatwas it, three times?”
“He stayed in the guestroom.”
“So you say. And it’s a given you’d be stupid not to use himwhilst he was there to live out that fantasy you told me about. Having sex onthe terrace, at night, overlooking the city lights.”
“I was very drunk when I shared that fantasy.”
“I’d lay money down that you used him to live out a few otherlittle fantasies whilst he was there. Probably had sex all over the damnplace.”
