Lilly's Torment(21)

"On a landline? I have not used one of those since I was five. I do not  think I would even know how to use one." That was all kinds of  confusing. How in the hell would she use a landline? For that, where  would she find one? "Then we need to ask Briar to go over everything  with a fine-tooth comb."

"She is," he assured her. He pushed his empty dish aside and drew his  mug closer. "For now, we need to report to the captain. After that, you  and I are going to see if we can figure out what set you off. I had  Briar take pictures of the body, close-ups mainly. You're going to go  through them, one by one, until we see what it is that made you insist  on making a call from the landline."

"Oh boy. Are you sure that's something you want to do? I mean, really,  is it something that you would be willing to do with me? What if it's  the body and not the images?" she asked with a frown. "I don't recall  what was on the body, I know that you said tattoos, but for the life of  me I can't think of what kind they were."

"I'm willing to risk it. I think the photos will work. If they don't,  then we go back to the body. But from what Briar said, it was the tattoo  that got to you. So we'll start with the photos and go from there. I  know I can get you back out of it, I did it before. It's keeping you  from a landline that might be tricky at the office. There are a couple  there, so I'll post agents at each one to keep you from getting there if  you get past me."

"Sounds good. I trust you." Lilly looked up at Artaxias and gave him a  smile. "If you say that you can do something, I believe you completely.  Just make sure that I'm unarmed. I don't want to hurt someone if I go  under again." And anything could be a weapon. Lovely.

"We'll be in a clean room, you'll be in nothing more than your jeans and  a shirt. No shoes, no bra, and no jacket, and I'll pat you down."  Artaxias grinned. "Though I will admit, I'll likely enjoy that part a  little more than the rest of it."

"Oh, I think I will enjoy it, too. Are you sure that we can't maybe be  naked? I would totally vote for that one. I think that I would very much  enjoy it, and I can't see how I would be pulled into any kind of trance  with you naked, with me. Yum."

"No, we need to remain dressed. One never wants to be caught with their  pants down in that place, let alone naked. The last person that it  happened to still is on mental stress leave. And it's been four years."

"Okay, why? I am more than a little confused. Why in the world would  anyone be upset because of being naked or whatever in the clean room?  I've never seen one so I'm lost." She admitted. "Really and totally  lost."

"It's not the clean room that's the issue. It's the fact that the last  guy, the one on psych leave still, was caught with his pants down.  Photography and humiliation quickly followed. Plus an ad on an internet  dating site. Not for his choice of dates though," Ax told her. "He was  very annoyed after the fifth time Darrel called for a hookup."

"Oh dear god in heaven, are you serious?" Lilly looked Artaxias up and  down and grinned. "I'm sure that you would get a hell of a lot of  interest, Ax. Then again, I would be naked with you, so … " She trailed  off. "What do you think would happen then?"

"Many things, but I'd hate to think we were cutting Gavriel out. We  can't do anything without him or he'll never have the bond." Reaching  over. he took her hand in his. "As much as I'd love to have you all to  myself like that, we can't until after the bonding. And since we are  getting to know one another first, per your request, no getting naked."

"Right. Wait, huh?" And then it came back to her. "Oh yes, because if we  were to make love without Gav, it would cut him out and I don't want  that. And I only want to get to know you guys because I'm a total freak.  I really am. I don't know how we will be able to find peace. I ramble, a  lot, and I'm more often than not working on some new kind of weapon. I  don't sleep a lot. I eat like a horse. I'm really not that girly, I'm  not. I'm … well, I'm weird."

"You are not weird, you are you. You are Lilly, our mate and perfect for  us, to us. So, no more of that weird talk. We happen to like and adore  you as is. All you do when you speak like that is make it seem like we  don't know what we want. We do need you." He leaned in and kissed her  fingers.                       
       
           



       

"As long as you are sure. I just wanted you to know before we did  anything too intense, okay? I like you, a lot. More than like, honestly.  You turn me inside out and backward, and so does Gavriel. I want to  know what life would be like with you both. Sleeping with you in the  same bed, sharing meals with you, heck, even meeting Gav's mom. I want  it all."

"And you'll have it all, Lil, promise. We will take this as slow or  quick as you determine. You can also ask me anything you want. I'll tell  you absolutely everything you want to know. Some of it's not pretty,  but that's a part of life."

"Thank you for that. I want to know all about the men that I love.  Pretty or not, it has shaped you into the men that you are and I love  you for that. I like who you are. No matter how you got there, I like  who you are now."

"Gavriel's life has been relatively mundane in comparison. But I do have  a few"-he coughed into his hand-"a few years on him." His crooked grin  said he knew it was more than a few. Which, given all Gav had told her  before, meant a hell of a lot more than just a few years.

"All that matters is that you are here with me. All that matters is that  you love me, honey. That is what matters. I don't care how old you are,  Ax, all that matters is that you are with me now. You care for me and I  care for you. That's what is important, right?"

"‘Course it is," he told her. "Though you might appreciate the age I  have. Seen and learned a lot in my time," he said with a wicked grin.  Then he got up. "Finish up while I clean up a bit. We should get moving  in the next fifteen minutes. The captain wants to see us before we do  anything else today."

"Oh, hell no. You cannot say something like that and then walk away from  me. You are killing me here." She moaned and followed after him like a  lovesick puppy. "What have you learned in all your years, Artaxias?"

Chuckling, he shrugged. "This and that. I'm sure you'd love to hear it  all, but … " He shrugged. "It's likely best I not share it until we're  ready for more. Wouldn't want to wind you up for any reason when I can't  do anything to help you. I will say this, though, I learned this trick  with my tongue." He smiled slowly and turned away from her.

Her whole body shivered. Just that fast, she was wet and horny. "Gods."  She breathed out slightly and licked her suddenly dry lips. "Right, yes  that needs to wait until all three of us are together because something  tells me that we will not be waiting long before we complete this bond.  Sooner rather than later, and yes, I know that's a dramatic one-eighty  from earlier but come on, don't you feel it, too?"

"I've felt it since the moment I saw you at the security desk, Lilly. I  recognized you immediately, not just because of your name and the  markings, but because of you. When I was close enough, your whole being  cried out to mine and vice versa."

"Thank god it's not just me, then," she whispered softly. "Because the  minute I saw you I wanted you. Of course I was scared, what girl  wouldn't be when faced with not one amazing and larger-than-life man,  but two, that pull her in so deeply that there is no her without them?"

"Only the smart ones are scared. The rest, well, I'm not going there,  because I really don't want to be quoted later." He wiped down the  counter before stacking dishes into the dishwasher. "But you also have  to know we'd never hurt you. It would be like cutting off our own arm to  cause you harm. You're much too important to us, which is also why we  have no problem giving you whatever time you need. Or answering whatever  questions you may have."

"Thank you for that. I will be satisfied if you just tell me everything  about mating, bonding, whatever it's called. Tell me about it. What's to  be expected of me, what's to come of us. How it would work for all  three of us to be together. You know, everything," she teased with a  grin.

"You really want to start this conversation before we have to sit before  the captain? Honestly, this might be a topic we should discuss while  I'm keeping you from making that call. I'm thinking it will be a lot  easier than any other plan I may have."

"Crap. Good point. All right. After the meeting with the cap. When we  are in the clean room and you are trying to keep me from making the  call. That's when we will discuss this. As long as I will retain the  knowledge, that is."