Don't Touch My Men - Helen Scott Page 0,42

now. When I said we’re okay, I meant it. We’re okay. I’m okay. And you should be okay too.”

So even when I tried, I still sounded like an angry unicorn.

He nodded slowly. “All right.”

“Now go to sleep. The morning will be here before we know it.”

He just kept staring at me.

I’d never been very good at this stuff, so I took one hand, reached down, and held his hand. Then I squeezed it, trying to give him comfort the same way Mae had for me. Sometimes, there were things words simply couldn’t show.

“Are you holding my hand?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I laughed. “I wasn’t sure how…men do this kind of thing.”

To my surprise, he laughed too. “I don’t think they hold hands in bed.”

“You sure?” I asked. “I feel like this is super normal.”

And then, we were both laughing like idiots.

I released his hand and put my own back behind my head.

“I guess you must really forgive me to do something weird like that,” he said.

“See if I hold your damned hand again,” I mumbled.

Then I watched his eyes flutter shut, a smile on his face. Faster than I thought possible, his breathing grew even and he fell asleep. I stayed there beside him, staring up at the ceiling, until light peeked between the curtains.

Then, unable to sleep, I went to my room and quietly showered and dressed for the day, careful not to disturb Mae. I went out into the living room and ordered groceries, which were delivered a short time later, then made everyone breakfast.

I was just putting the bacon and eggs on plates when everyone came out, looking like a pack of zombies. Alastair was still looking a little green, but he wasn’t leaning against the wall. Hunter looked tired, but not like he hated himself. And Mae? She was wearing just my shirt, her hair messy, her eyes locked on the food.

Damnit, I thought I might love her.

She came into the kitchen, wrapped an arm around me from behind, her hand lingering on my lower belly. Then, leaning up, she kissed the side of my neck.

I shuddered and felt my dick harden in my jeans.

“Thanks for making breakfast,” she whispered.

My gaze slid over her in my shirt and down her long legs. I suddenly wanted to fuck her more than I ever wanted to eat in my life, but I forced myself not to act like a horny teen.

“Food’s ready,” I said, maybe a little too gruffly, then pointed to a pile of plates. “Everyone grab a plate and eat. We have a long ass day ahead of us.”

“Maybe after we eat, you should take care of that,” Hunter said, pointing at my not so subtle erection.

I laughed. “Fuck you.”

Mae was suddenly grinning. “You two made up!”

I rolled my eyes. “And pointing it out doesn’t make it awkward at all.”

We were all laughing, and even Alastair grinned. We loaded our plates, sat at the table, and ate like pigs. Well, Alastair ate slowly, like he was seeing if his stomach could handle it, but the rest of us were barely chewing. After we were done, everyone went to shower and get dressed, and I set up Alastair’s laptop at the table and pulled out all our old books.

When everyone drifted back out, I grinned. “Ready to track down a head?”

Mae’s amusement faded away. “And kill the asshole. And get Grim back.”

I nodded, feeling something cold run through my veins. “That too.”

20

Mae

We were all in an SUV, tearing down the highway. Alastair was still in the back on his laptop, devouring everything he could find on the store’s website. I closed my eyes as the wind whipped around me, and I felt our speed slow down as we pulled off the freeway. We’d been driving ever since Alastair came across the store, and now anticipation was making all of us antsy.

As we came to a stop at a light, Hunter turned to me from the driver’s seat. “We have to be careful here. We can’t make a deal we’re not prepared to follow through with.”

I lifted a brow. “I’m familiar with Rumpelstiltskin.”

He gave a sharp nod, his gaze going back ahead of him. “I just didn’t want anyone thinking this would be easy, epic powers or not.”

“You think I’m getting cocky?” I said, half teasing.

“No,” he corrected me in a rush, “I just want to keep you safe.”

“So freaking whipped,” Ellis mumbled behind me.

I laughed. It was so nice to see everyone getting along again.

“I’ve bought several items