Pleasures of the Night(49)
Lyssa leaned into him, grateful that he was letting her off the hook. After years of hoping for a great guy to come along, she somehow ended up with two at the same time.
She was letting go of one. She prayed like hell she didn’t lose the other.
Chapter 10
“Who the hell are you?”
Aidan glanced at Stacey, who stood in the doorway of Lyssa’s office, and raised his brows. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. What do you want with Lyssa?”
He settled back against the desk and crossed his arms. He knew Lyssa cared a lot about her friend Stacey, and it appeared Stacey felt the same in return. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“Sure it is.” Her gaze narrowed. “Chad’s a nice guy. He’s good to her.”
“I’m a nice guy. I’m good to her.”
“I don’t call what you’re doing good for her. You left her before, and you don’t look like you’re planning on sticking around this time, either.”
There was nothing he could say to that. He didn’t know what his next move would be. In the last forty-eight hours, he hadn’t had much time to think about it. Even when Lyssa had been busy with her patients, his thoughts had been more on the rift between them than it had been about the days ahead. He needed to focus. “My work keeps me away.”
“What is it you do? Lyssa said you’re Special Forces or something.”
Clever. “Or something.”
Her foot tapped. “Don’t you think it’s a little selfish to just drop in when you feel like it, especially when she’s got someone steady?”
“I tried to stay away, Stacey,” he said softly. “I really did.”
She studied him for a long moment, then said, “I’m withholding judgment for now.”
“Thank you.” And he meant it. If Stacey took sides against him, it would make an already uphill battle worse.
“In the meantime, we need to get you some clothes.”
“That would nice,” he agreed. Looking “normal” was one way to soothe Lyssa’s nerves.
Taking a second to put the precious books away in the top desk drawer, Aidan snatched up the keys and cash, and gestured for Stacey to precede him out to the parking lot. He was having a hard time feeling so helpless. It was a state of being he’d never experienced before, and it definitely didn’t suit him. He needed to get Lyssa settled, then he could concentrate on the ancient texts in earnest. The day was half over. The evening would be upon them soon. Then sleep, when Lyssa would be most vulnerable.
Time, something he was used to having in endless quantities, was running out.
“For a man who was just promoted to Captain of the Elite, you’re awfully quiet.”
Connor shot a sidelong glance at the curvaceous Guardian sprawled across his bed. Flushed from their recent fucking, Morgan was lovely, tempting him to abandon the polishing of his glaive to take her again. “Cross is captain.”
“He’s gone.” Morgan pouted.
“He’ll find a way back. I’ll make sure of it.” Aidan was a warrior to the core. He couldn’t live without a sword in his hand. “Can you see him driving a mini-van?”
“No.” She laughed and rolled over, baring her body in a sinuous stretch. “But then I can’t see him so attached to one woman, either.”
Snorting, Connor returned his attention to his task. “Temporary insanity. The Elders screwed with him. First they sent him to the Dreamer twice. Then they sent him to the Gateway.”
“Is it as horrible as they say?”
“Worse. He’s not thinking with the right head, trust me. He’ll find the Dreamer and they’ll fuck like rabbits. Then he’ll get over her and do his job.”
“Do you think she’s the Key?”
He paused. “I don’t know. But you’re going to try and find out.”
“What?” Morgan sat straight up in bed.
“I checked the roster. Philip Wager is set to lead the team tonight.” The team that would make a second attempt to enter the mind of Aidan’s Dreamer. He was kicking himself now for switching places with his friend that one night. Now he wished he’d both kept Aidan away from her and checked her out himself. He simply couldn’t picture a woman alluring enough to swear off bachelorhood.
“Philip’s mad at me. He’s not going to tell me anything.” She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. “And I don’t particularly want to talk to him anyway.”
Connor’s mouth curved. “Yes, you do. You’re curious about the Dreamer. You had a thing for Cross for a long time.”