Gargoyle (Woodland Creek)(21)

I snorted. “Really? I hadn’t figured that—”

“No,” he stated sharply, interrupting me. Once more, he scratched his chin distractedly. “Again, you misunderstand. I mean you are a human. You are not used to the games and intrigue of a shifter. It is a normal way of keeping ourselves entertained.”

And…I was beginning to feel really ignorant.

Like, massively inept.

My expression instantly blanked, and even though I kept my arms crossed protectively. I peered directly at Jonathan and forced my tone to be bored. “Explain what I am missing. Please.”

His jaw ground together. Glancing once at Isaac, who merely lifted a black brow, he then turned those black eyes back on me. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed in frustration. His voice was more than a tad bit growly. “He’s not just attracted to me, Peanut.” He inhaled and exhaled heavily. “He’s also attracted to you.”

My blink was ever so gradual. “And?”

We’d had sex. It hadn’t been bad sex.

The attraction was normal.

His chuckle was gravelly. “I believe he has it in his mind for the three of us to attempt a relationship.” Both of his red brows rose when my jaw began to slacken. “The three of us. Together.”

My widening gaze couldn’t be stopped. “Uh…” a slow blink on drying eyes, “no.” Like on autopilot, my head turned bit-by-bit to Isaac, meeting his sparkling, stunning green gaze. “No.”

Black brows gradually rose. “Why…no?”

My mouth bobbed for the barest moment, and then my cheeks betrayed me as I blushed furiously. “Isaac, I think it is you who really needs to go to church.”

Jonathan made the oddest sound in his throat, but quickly cleared it, even banging on his chest a few times with one of his fists. He turned his attention to Isaac’s studiously blank countenance, and stated evenly, “Kennedy recently took up faith. She’s been a devoted follower ever since.”

Isaac stood perfectly still…but he also made a bubbling sound. It was odd. It came from his chest I was pretty sure. He started coughing. Hard. He lifted a finger, then quickly turned and headed straight for my kitchen. The refrigerator. He pulled out a bottle of water, twisted the cap off, and proceeded to guzzle the entire contents down.

Wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand, he gently placed the empty on my counter. He gradually turned to face us, his face still as blank after his coughing fit. Sparkling green eyes met mine. “You’re full of faith, yes?”

My chin tipped up further. “I am.”

He blinked slowly. “Well…” another blink, “that is an interesting piece to this puzzle.”

“It’s not a puzzle,” I clarified. “There will be no three of us.” I dropped my arms and headed to my purse on the end table. “You know, I think I have a card in here for the church. They have a helpline you might like to call. There’s always a minister there to answer—”

“Peanut,” Jonathan stated loudly, making me stop in my tracks and peer back at him. He appeared pretty damn amused, even as Isaac reached into my fridge and grabbed a beer this time. Jonathan shook his head slightly, his red hair brushing his cheekbones. “No helpline.”

I pointed vaguely in my purse’s direction. “But the Mayor could—”

“No,” Isaac cut me off. “He’s right. No church for me. I’m far beyond redemption.”

I shook my head. “No one’s past redemption. You only need to have faith.”

He hummed quietly. “Let’s say you are correct. I still don’t want the card.”

I huffed quietly and crossed my arms again. “Okay.” He needed it, though.

Isaac took a long swig from the beer bottle, eyeing me over it. “Just for clarification’s sake, now that I know you believe in God, do you agree or disagree with homosexuality?”

I snorted, completely affronted. Righteous indignation filled me. “Just because I’m a believer doesn’t mean that I’m biased. I believe in love and faith. I don’t care if two people of the same sex are together, but I do agree that it should only be two in a relationship. Anything further is a,” I shook my head the tiniest bit, “…sin.”

Black brows rose. “And you don’t believe that sex out of wedlock is a sin?”

My mouth snapped shut. I didn’t really have an answer for that.

He chuckled quietly, his eyes even creasing with it. “So, you’re one of those people that believe some sins are worse than others?”

Eyes narrowed, I muttered, “It’s not quite like that. Plus, I’m not a saint.” I shrugged. “I merely have boundaries.”

He snorted softly. “And yet, you still screamed my name, not God’s, when I took you to heaven.” He lifted his beer in my direction, cheers to me with the gesture, a wicked grin gracing his stunning features. “Again…and again…and many more agains.”

My jaw dropped. “You are crude.” Still flustered, I quickly peered to Jonathan. “I…that…wasn’t…”

Black eyes held mine without flinching under hooded lids. “Yes?”

My teeth clicked as I slammed my mouth shut, and spoke through clenched teeth. “What happened that night has nothing to do with a threesome.” I turned a glare on Isaac. “I would appreciate it if you would quit bringing it up, too.”