out from next to me, as all of our mates converge on us.
“Well done, Medley,” Jerif compliments as he reaches our sides.
Delta and I just lay on the mats as though we’re doin’ our best pancake impression.
Delta growls. “And my asshole mate is handin’ out compliments now. Yep, I’m so done that if I were a steak, Gordon Ramsay would send me back to the kitchen. I give the fuck up!”
31
Jerif helps his peeved mate up, while strong arms reach under my armpits and haul me to my feet too. I can already tell it’s Alder. He has a real gift for the whole armpit lift thing he always seems to be doin’. I inhale deeply as he checks me over, appreciatin’ his scent that can only be described as bouquet of man. It’s floral, yet masculine, and...crap. Maybe I’m gettin’ the itch again.
I banish my needy thoughts about how good Alder smells, looks, and feels, and focus back on Delta instead.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“Am I okay? No, I’m not,” she announces as she swipes away the sweat on her forehead with a rueful smile. “I’m jealous as shit. How the hell did you do that? By the time I figured out which end was my ass and which end was my head, you already had a scythe to my neck.”
I smile, and she shoots me a teasin’ glare.
“I would also like it noted that it’s completely unfair that you get a cool, user-friendly scythe that has an Annulus business end and a party cutting end,” she goes on. “I feel for the sake of camaraderie and just because I don’t want to suffer alone that you should also have to call on your inner medieval times and learn how to use a sword. Although with my luck, you’d kick may ass at that too! How are you so good at this?” she says with exasperation.
I shrug, and Delta looks over at Crux, whose gaze is very intent on her.
“I didn’t injure my boobs, so you can stop inspecting them,” she announces with a look. The shit-eatin’ grin that crosses his face is too funny.
“I’m just being thorough, Jeter. One can never be too careful with things that are so precious.”
Delta slaps his hand away with a laugh, and seein’ that she’s fine, Rafferty, Crux, and Echo disperse, goin’ back to what they were doin’. Jerif hands her a water bottle, and she shoots him a witherin’ glare. “You’re all complimentary of my sister, but where’s the love for me?” she challenges.
“I’ll shower you with just as much praise when you get out of your head and embrace your instincts like Medley does,” he counters gruffly.
“Well, excuse me if the sudden plummet to the ground scrambled my brain,” she snarks.
“Next time, trust that your body will be just fine and go for the kill,” he tells her, kissin’ the tip of her nose. His fiery gaze is heated as he fixes it on her; it’s as though her irritation is a potent aphrodisiac to him.
She stares at him for a beat and then sighs. “Fine. We’ll work on that again tomorrow, but you have to promise to massage my wings today and every day until I get it,” she tells him.
He rolls his eyes at her. “When do I not take care of you after training?” he asks evenly, but there’s a hint of heat in his tone that tells me they’re not talkin’ about simply rubbin’ out sore muscles here. Maybe Delta gets the itch too?
“Now get back to it.” He turns and slaps her ass hard, which elicits a squeal from her, and then walks off to join her other mates.
Alder chuckles next to me, and I whirl, immediately coverin’ my ass with my hands. You’d think my wings would be enough protection, but Jerif just proved they’re not. That butt slap was so loud I know Delta will have his hand print on her cheek for a while. That’s probably what the gruff demon wanted, but I’d like to sit down on my ass with zero discomfort, especially after the hours and hours of trainin’ we’ve been doin’ today.
Flint cracks up at my alarm too, and I back away slowly, not fallin’ for their charmin’ smiles and too innocent eyes.
There will be no monkey see, monkey do. With crooked grins, they both saunter off to join the others. Delta rubs her ass and laughs at me as she hands me a water before gingerly sittin’ on