Freshly changed and cleaned up, Lola walked into the living room and bit back a smile at the sight that greeted her.
Puca and Bodach lay sprawled together, a tangle of long arms and legs. The slants of sunlight highlighting the muscles on their chest. She creeped closer to the sleeping men, taking a moment to admire their beauty.
It wasn’t often that she got to see these two peaceful and not arguing. Though she supposed now that she knew it was foreplay and not actual fighting. It made it more intense as she thought about the fights she had witnessed between them in the brief time that she had known the fae men.
“Want to join them?” Merrow asked as he stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Merrow,” Lola chided.
“Trust me, when I say th
Lola exited the small half-bath and walked down the hallway, an open doorway catching her attention.She’d never been in this part of the shop before, and her curiosity got the better of her as she pushed the door open.Taking in the small, open roll-top antique desk.Running her hand over the smooth, polished wood. She wondered if this was Erik’s office.Picking up a letter, she read his name to herself before sitting it back down.She knew she should just turn around and respect his privacy.A framed photo tucked into the corner caught her attention and she moved closer.It was a photo of her mother sitting outside of the antique shop. The wind ruffling the hem of her floral sundress as the sun shone down on her honey-blonde wavy hair.Lola bit her lip as she picked up the mother-of-pearl frame for a closer look. Her mother was smiling in the picture and Erik stood behi
“What happened between you and Erik?”Lola asked Puca as they strolled towards her apartment. She’d caught him shaking his hand again. She hated that he had chosen to get himself hurt rather than just let her open the door for him.“Just letting him know where he stands?”“What do you mean?”Lola asked. She had hoped to have a minute to talk with the handsome shop owner.“Lola, he cares for you.”Puca said, stopping to turn, his angry gaze meeting hers. “He’d keep you for himself if he could.”“I know, I’d like to let him know that I’m-”She stopped, unsure of how to say it. How would you tell someone that you were interested in four men, that you were okay being shared between them? More than okay, that you longed for it with every f
Walking down the hallway, Lu dragged his fingers through his curls. He was stressed, his emotions were all over the place. He walked onto the sidewalk, tilting his head to the side. Closing his eyes, he let his feet guide him in the direction he hoped would lead to a strong drink.He pulled open the heavy steel door open with a grimace. Lu didn’t know how his kind functioned in a world like this? All the steel and iron everywhere, it hurt. The unfamiliar stench of cigarette smoking making him scrunch his nose. Under that scent was the smell he longed for.Alcohol of all different kinds. He stepped inside the dimly lit bar with a frown.He could feel the magic of shifters sweeping over him. There weren’t that many right now at this early hour. The lingering presence was still there, moving over his skin.The call of ale was greater than his fear as he took in the bar
Walking up to the bar, Lola felt her heart clench at the laugh that Lu let out. It was deep and full, more carefree than she had heard before from him.Merrow’s arm brushed against hers and she glanced at the other man. Watching the tense way he held himself as he looked between Lu and the other patrons.“Lu,” Lola said as she stepped closer to him.He turned, she could see the flush of his cheeks and she wondered how much he’d had to drink.“Ah, there she is. Mo nighean bhòidheach.” He said with a wide smile, Lola stepped closer to him and he snaked an arm around her waist pulling her into his lap.Lola sat stiffly perched on his knees as she looked between him and the bartender.“I was worried about you.”&ldqu
Pulling the blankets over a softly snoring Lu. Lola smiled before leaning over and kissing his forehead.Standing, she moved to pull the curtains closed, blocking out the bright afternoon sun.Worrying the inside of her cheek, she thought about the sob of relief he had let out at Merrow’s words.His kin was alive. She truly hoped that the older Annwn was his sister and not someone with a similar name.Softly closing the door and letting out a sigh, she rested her head against the door.She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a quiet moment to herself.“What’s on your mind?” Puca asked as he moved down the hallway, filling up the narrow space.Walking up to him, Lola brought her arms up to wrap them around his waist. Her cheek resting against his chest as she breathed in his scent.Lettin
Lola pondered Merrow’s words as they pulled up to the beach house. The sun was fading beyond the waves of the water.Painting the waves of the ocean in hues of orange and purples.Lola turned off of the keys and this time Merrow was out of the jeep before she’d undone her seat belt. This time he was half-jogging towards the cozy-looking beach house.Sighing, she pulled the keys from the ignition and slid out of the jeep.Closing the door behind her, she walked over to the passenger and nudged it closed before she headed up to the porch where Merrow stood staring at the door.“Are you going to knock?”Lola asked as she touched his forearm, pulling him from his thoughts.“What if she is mad at me still?”“Won’t know until you knock.”Lola said,
Nodding her head as she accepted the black coffee, Lola took a sip of the black liquid before grimacing at the taste. It was bitter, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Hyster had ever made coffee before. Given the amount of grounds, she doubted it.“What happened to the child?” Merrow asked.“Which one?”Annwn said with a soft smile, before she accepted her mug from Hyster.“You had more than one?”Merrow asked. Lola could hear the sadness in his voice that he had missed this time with his sister and her children.“I birthed a healthy, beautiful boy.” Annwn answered before she sat her mug down and reached towards the coffee table, grabbing her phone.Looking over at Merrow, Lola saw his frown as he watched his sister swipe open the small device. She leaned closer,
Worrying her lip, Lola glanced over at Merrow as they drove. Her mind on what Annwn had told her. Merrow’s nephew was trapped in a box. She had taken that box to Erik’s shop with Merrow and Puca’s help.How the other woman had hinted that Erik was fae.Lola wasn’t quiet, sure what that meant, but she intended to find out.She and google had a date tonight, well if she could get free of her fae men.“You okay?” he asked, and Merrow looked over at her with a sad smile.“I am, I just wish there was something I could do to help my sister and her child.”Merrow said with a sigh.“I know I can not interfere, that good things would not come from it.”“I wish I could help you Merrow, I don’t understand how things work with the fae.” Lola said as she pulled the