Crashing into Fate (Maple Grove #25) - Lynn Hagen Page 0,26

think he would rat out his world.

Little did Lewis know that Arlan was as loyal as they came.

“And everything about you turns me on.” Lewis wiggled his brows.

Arlan laughed. “Now that we got that out of the way, let’s eat and try to put your house back together.”

They spent the next few hours hauling the broken items to the trash and sweeping. At one point Lewis pulled out his laptop and started typing.

Arlan, being the nosy person he was, looked over Lewis’s shoulder and saw the guy was purchasing not only a new mattress but a couch, too.

And the items weren’t cheap. Not that the cost was any of Arlan’s business.

They’d ordered from The Diner Train, and Kenny was nice enough to deliver the food. He also offered to help clean up the mess, but Lewis had declined.

At last, the mess was cleaned up, and except for the missing couch and mattress, everything seemed to be back in order.

And now Arlan was wiped out. He’d had one hell of a night, had cleaned at the motel, and now he’d helped Lewis get his house together.

“You look like you’re going to fall over any second.” Lewis stood by the kitchen door but closed the distance and pulled Arlan into his strong arms. “It’s almost eight. I’ll drive you back to the motel.”

One of Arlan’s brows arched. “How did you know that?”

Lewis tapped his ear. “Shifter hearing. I also have excellent sight at night and the strength of ten men.”

“So you eavesdropped on my conversation?” Arlan wasn’t sure he liked that.

“It’s not like I was actively trying,” Lewis argued. “I can’t help that I can hear so well.”

“How well?”

Lewis looked sheepish. “Both sides of the conversation.”

Jesus flipping Christ. Arlan didn’t see a down side to being a shifter. Too bad he wasn’t one. Some of those abilities would be cool to have. He still didn’t like the fact that Lewis had been so nosy. Then again, Arlan was the nosiest person on the planet.

“Okay, I’ve been thoroughly fucked, fed, and your house in clean. I earned my superhero badge today.”

“In spades.” Lewis kissed the side of Arlan’s neck, making him shiver with desire. It was as if Arlan couldn’t resist the man’s charms. Or the way he smelled. Or his deep, erotic voice. Or the fact that he fucked like a god.

“Are you always this sweet, or is this the side you want me to see?” Arlan looked around, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. Then again, he hadn’t brought anything with him.

“I can be a real bastard,” Lewis said with a lethal tone that gave Arlan pause. “But never toward you, handsome.”

They walked to the front door. “So tell me about the vampires who tried to run me over.”

Lewis stopped walking and cocked his head. “How do you know about vampires?”

“I overheard Mike talking about your attack.” Arlan swirled his hands, telling Lewis to get on with an explanation.

“I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

Arlan looked incredulously at Lewis. “Did you join a fight club? I think I deserve to know since they were after me.”

That seemed only fair.

Lewis looked around, as though someone were in the house with them. “You can’t repeat this to anyone.”

Arlan crossed his heart. “I promise not to breathe a word.”

Lewis leaned against the wall by the door, crossing his arms over his chest, and looked toward his feet. “I was working with the Ultionem to help them take down a nest of newborn vampires.”

“What is an Ultionem?”

“A leader from each species.”

Each? Just how many different species were there? Did he really want to know? He shook his head. “Sorry, but I’ve had enough mind-blowing revelations lately. Don’t give me any details about them.”

“Wasn’t going to give you any,” Lewis said. “Things went wrong, and some innocent vampires got killed. The man creating the vampires got away, and now he’s out for revenge.”

Arlan staggered backward as his head spun. “Didn’t I tell you not to blow my mind?”

“Jeez.” Lewis looked up. “You wanted to know what was going on. I couldn’t explain it any other way.”

“You’re right. You’re right.” Arlan held up a hand. “You just have to spoon-feed me this. I don’t think my brain can take any more.”

Lewis reached out and pulled Arlan close. “You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. You haven’t run from town screaming your head off.”

“That’s only because I don’t have a car,” Arlan said, trying his best to hold back a smile.

Lewis tightened his arms around