Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(83)

“What took you so long?” I demanded as Arys swept me into his arms.

He kissed me before I could utter another word. It stole my breath and left me weak in the knees.

“Happy birthday, my gorgeous wolf.” He chuckled, a low sensual sound that got my blood pumping. “You’ll get your gift later, back at your place. Which is what took me so long to get here.”

“Gift?” I raised a brow, suspicious and curious. “Why does nobody honor the no gift rule?”

“Trust me. You want this gift. Me and the wolf pup are even going to play nice tonight. Just for you.” The wink and the fang-revealing smile he gave me spoke volumes. “Are you ready to abandon the drunken human festivities yet? Looks like Shaz is about as drunk as I like him to be.”

Arys was in a devilish mood. It practically oozed from him. He didn’t even sound angry when he said, “Sinclair was here. I can smell him on you.”

“He was only here for a minute. Don’t you dare bite me in here.”

“No. I’ll save that for later.” Arys’ rare eagerness was refreshing and infectious.

Shaz and Arys locked eyes, sharing a look before Shaz turned back to his game. They had something planned. That much was apparent. I was intrigued. This didn’t happen often, not with Shaz’ personal issues regarding Arys and the intimacies that arose when the three of us were together. I was certainly looking forward to the rest of my evening.

Kylarai sunk the eight ball, and there was a whoop of boastful shouting as she celebrated her victory over Shaz. “You owe me a drink. I kicked your ass just like I told you I would.”

Shaz tossed his cue down on the table and feigned a dirty look. “No fair. My game was sabotaged by the ass**le.”

“I’m almost ready to call it a night, Lex.” Ky sidled up next to me, nodding in greeting to Arys. “I’ll take the two crazies back to my place for the night. I assume you have plans with these two.”

I followed her gaze to where Zoey and Jez were challenging a table full of guys to a shot-for-shot contest. Those guys had no idea what they were up against. Jez would drink them all under the table and still be able to walk a straight line in her heels.

“Thanks for coming out, Ky. You’re a good friend.” I hugged her close, sensing the inner pain she was masking so well on the surface. What I wouldn’t have given to take it from her. “I love you. And again, I’m so sorry about Julian.”

“Forget it.” She waved me off, keeping that strong outward facade firmly in place. “I love you, too, Lex. I’m so happy to know you. You’re an amazing person. Even if you are a little scary sometimes.” Her laughter was musical, bringing a smile to my face. “I’ll go round up the rowdies. Come by tomorrow for your gift.”

After being forced into a few last birthday shooters and a series of last drunken birthday wishes, goodbyes were said, and my intoxicated friends made their way out. The DJ shouted that it was last call, sending a flock of people rushing up to the bar.

Arys turned to Shaz and me with fire in his eyes. “Now, if you two are successfully liquored up and finished with the meager entertainment,” he gestured to the dance floor and pool tables, “let’s go get the real party started.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

As I pushed open the door to my house, I was greeted by the warm glow of dozens of carefully placed candles. The front sitting room walls were decorated in shadows that danced with the flames from floor to ceiling. I paused to admire the welcoming warmth. It was serene and more than a little romantic.

A vase of wild flowers sat on the table near the door. I leaned in to smell them, savoring the heady scent. “Aw, did you guys do all this? It’s so sweet.”

“Arys did it, but it was my idea.” Shaz grinned and gave me a light smack on the rear.

I dropped my purse on the table and reached down to pull off my heels. Arys stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Leave them on.”

The desire in his midnight blue eyes made it impossible to deny his request. Leaving the stilettos on, I followed the candles through the house. It must have taken Arys hours to arrange them all. The aromatic concoction of cinnamon and vanilla was tantalizing. I had a weakness for the scent of vanilla.

The glow of the flames lit up the path to the bedroom downstairs, leaving everything outside the immediate area dark. It created an eerie contrast of light and dark that left me wanting to search the darkness though I knew nobody lurked within it.

In the doorway to the bedroom, I stopped and surveyed the mass of candles adorning every table top and dresser in there, too. The bed was layered in red, pink and white rose petals. Two bottles of champagne sat in a tub of ice on the dresser. The ridiculously cliché setup would normally have me laughing at the sappy romanticism of it. But, I seldom got the chance to be silly and cliché, so I was going to enjoy it.

“It’s totally cheesy, isn’t it?” Shaz slipped an arm around me from behind and kissed the back of my neck.

“Yes. I love it though.”

Arys swept past us, entering the room with a smooth glide. He regarded me for just a moment before reaching to free my hair from the pins that held it. Tossing them on the bedside table, he nodded his approval as my blond locks tumbled down around me.

“Much better.” With a hand under my chin, Arys lightly kissed me, the briefest touch.