“So let me get this straight, you’re a merman,” Lola said, looking at Merrow as he turned his head to the side, brushing his hair away from his high cheekbones. Letting her scattering of scales across the top of his cheeks, framing his eyes. She sat her teacup onto the coffee table and leaned forward to study them intently.
“Aye,” he answered.
“And you’re a leprechaun? I thought you guys were a lot smaller.” Lola asked, turning to face Lu as he finished his wine.
“I can shrink if ye’d like,” he said with a slight slur as he sent a wink Lola’s way. She blushed, looking down before glancing over towards Bodach.
“And you’re, well, a child thief?” Lola frowned, she didn’t really like that.
“I like to think of it as a child rescuer. I rescue children from homes where they are not loved and take them to homes where they will be cherished.” Bodach said as he watched her with his red eyes, studying her in a way she’d never been looked at before. She looked at her hands before glancing back up again.
“Looks like you’re not very good at your job,” Lola said, motioning to his former prison.
“Accidents happen,” he said, shrugging his shoulders as she turned to face Puca.
“And you, you’re a-”
“Bringer of good and bad fortune, yes,” Puca said, smiling down at her from his spot in the oversized red chair that sat in the corner. He steepled his fingers under his chin, resting his elbows on his crossed legs as he watched her interacting with his brethren.
“Okay, well now that that’s cleared up. I’m going to go take care of our cups.” Lola said, standing up from her spot on the floor. She looked around at the men in her apartment and covered her mouth as she fought back a yawn. This day had been long. The adrenaline was finally wearing off. She placed her teacup on the tray and started picking up the empty ones from the coffee table. She picked up the tray. Her shoulders stiff and painful still, she turned ready to take the dishes to her kitchen.
“I’ll take that for you,” Merrow stood up from his spot on the couch and stepped forward. His fingertips grazing her hand as he took the wooden tray from her.
“Thank you,” Lola said, looking up at him with wide eyes. She was used to doing things herself. It was strange to have two men offer to help her in one evening. Merrow turned towards the kitchen and Lola followed him. He gently set the tray down as she moved to the sink.
Lola turned the water on and put the stopper in. She added dish soap and watched the bubbles foam up. She let out a soft sigh, picking up the first cup to carefully wash it.
Merrow leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he watched her. She could feel his gaze on her and feel the burning in her cheeks. She wasn’t used to so many men paying her so much attention, watching her like they were dying of thirst and she was a glass of water.
“You can go back and sit with your friends if you’d like,” Lola said, looking over her shoulder at the blonde-haired merman.
“The view is better in here,” he chuckled. She reached for one of the bright orange dish towels folded neatly under the sink. Turning, she tossed it towards him.
“You can help me then,” Lola said with a smile as he caught the brightly colored towel. Merrow stepped closer and she could feel the heat of his body radiating against her skin. His smell enveloping her, making her feel almost drunk.
Peeking at him through her dark lashes, she must be more tired than she realized. She studied his sharp features, high angular cheekbones with hooded eyes that were now watching her as well.
She handed a teacup and gave him a nervous smile as they made short work of the dishes. Merrow stacked them on the counter, unsure of what to do with the cups and teapot.
Lola let the water out of the sink before drying off her hands. She reached over, watching as Merrow sucked in a breath at her nearness. “Here, let me.” She said, taking one of the cups and opening the cabinet above the sink. Placing it inside,
After she was done, they made their way back into the living room. Lu was lying on the couch, his arm tossed over his eyes as he snored softly.
Bodach and Puca were talking softly in the corner.
Covering her mouth as she yawned again, Lola made her way to the hallway to get some blankets for her guests. They would have to make do with her living room floor, although they were pretty she wasn’t up for sharing her bed. Trying to hold in a giggle at the thought. She grabbed several quilts and sat them on the chair in the corner before heading back towards the closet to grab them some pillows.
Grabbing one of the handmade quilts and shaking it out, she covered Lu’s sleeping form up. Turning to look at her other guests, a slight frown marring her delicate features.
“I’m sorry I don’t have anywhere else for you guys to sleep. I can help you guys make a pallet.” She said nervously, not feeling like a very good host.
“We could always join you,” Bodach said as he prowled closer. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. Lola felt her heart beat faster at the promise in his eyes.
“A world of no,” Lola said, thinking about the three men in front of her. They were all handsome, and she had no problems imagining herself with them. What their hands would feel like trailing softly over her pale skin as they undressed her, lips teasing, tasting as they went.
“Are you sure?” Merrow said, moving closer. Lola backed up a step and bumped into the couch, tripping and falling onto Lu. She let out a small yelp.
Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer to his chest as he felt her soft curves pressing against his body. He mumbled in his sleep, tightening his grip as she tried to pull herself away.
“Lu,” Puca said roughly, rousing the other man from his sleep. “Let her go.”
“Soft and warm, she is.” He said sleepily as he brought his hand to her hair, caressing the silky strands.
“Aye, but she wants up.”
“You ruin all me fun, Puca.” He said with a loud yawn, untangling his arms from around Lola and letting her stand up as he rolled over.
“Thank you,” Lola said, as she straightened her shirt.
“You should go to bed, Go halainn.” Puca said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lola looked up at Puca. Her cheeks flaming red, her wild purple hair a mess. He was right. She was tired even through the embarrassment she felt at falling on Lu and the way he had held her. She bit her lip as she turned away from the men and trudged down the hallway to her bedroom.“Let me know if you need anything,” she said over her shoulder.Lu’s body had been surprisingly muscular underneath her. She shook away the thought and opened the door to her bedroom. Reaching into the darkness, feeling the smooth white wall for the switch. Finally finding it, she flipped the switch on. Letting out a sigh of relief.Lola knew it was a silly fear for an adult to have. Being afraid of the dark, but that didn’t make it any less real for her. She closed the door behind her as she stepped into the softly lit room and fell face first onto her bed. Burying her face into the handmade quilt, her body sinking into the soft surface as she thought about the quilt beneath her. The one she and her gra
Lola rolled over onto her back as she scrubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She’d been having the strangest dream.In it, she had been trapped in a dark room. No way to get out, just endless darkness. The only sound was her ragged breathing and the frantic pounding of her heart as she desperately dragged her hands across the smooth walls. Trying to find any way out.She bit her lip as she looked around the bright sun-filled room and let out a deep breath. It was quiet and still. She wondered for a moment if she had imagined everything that had happened yesterday.A loud bang came from the kitchen and she sat up, eyes wide. Either someone was breaking in or there really were fae creatures in her apartment. She untangled herself from the warm bedding and her feet hit the floor. She grabbed the baseball bat from under her bed before opening the door.The polished wood and leather laces feeling comfortable in her hands as she brought the bat up. Ready to swing hard and fast at any intruder.
Lola placed a pan over the open flame with a bit of butter stepping over to the toaster she added bread to it. Moving back to the pan to give it a swirl. The steady thwack, thwack of Lu chopping the chives at the counter was soothing as she moved about the kitchen.The toast popped up and Lola grabbed it from the toaster, moving it between her hands as she grabbed a plate.“What magic is that?”“The toaster?” Lola asked.“Toaster.” Lu repeated, watching as Lola added more slices to the slim silver device and pressing the little lever.He did the next round, picking up the toasted bread and studying it closely. He grabbed two slices and add them to it, moving closer to watch as it went down and the coils inside of the device turning orange.Lola smiled to herself as she added the eggs to the pan before dumping the chives in. She stirred the eggs until they were fluffy. The smell making her mouth water, she glanced over at Lu, “Would you mind grabbing the plates with the toast for me?”W
Lola walked down the sidewalk, looking down as she touched her cheeks. Thinking about the kiss that almost happened with Merrow. She didn’t know if she had wanted him to kiss her or not when Lu had interrupted them. His bright eyes studying them intently before he raised a thick eyebrow at the merman. “Cleaning, aye?” He asked as he stepped into the kitchen breaking up the moment, Lola looked back up at Merrow as he studied her lips before stepping back. His sea-green eyes moving to her eyes as she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Lola couldn’t help but wonder what he would have done if they hadn’t been interrupted?“Aye, we are.” Merrow frowned as he looked over at Lu with a scowl. “I guess I’ll be heading out then,” Lola said stepping away from the handsome man, “If you get bored, you guys can watch some television. I’ve got Netflix.” She said missing their confused gazes as she headed into the living room.“Are you ready?” Bodach asked as he
“Would you like to come in with me?” Lola asked as she tucked her cellphone into her bag.“Nay,” he said, shaking his head as he looked at the chimes beside the door. The thick iron bells clanging in the slight breeze.“I’ll be quick then.”“Take you’re time, I’ll be waiting for you.” Bodach said as he leaned against the porch railing. Looking out over the yard, he let out a sigh as the door closed behind him.***Lola stepped outside, the brown paper package clutched close to her chest. The redwood jewelry box wrapped up nice and safe. She glanced around the porch for Bodach. He had chosen to stay outside, Lola could understand that. If she had been trapped for as long as he had in that box she wouldn’t want to be indoors more than she had to either.Debating with herself about planning a picnic for the men, she wondered if they would like that? Maybe they could go for a hike on one of her favorite walking trails.Looking out onto the well-manicured lawn, she frowned. Bodach wasn’t th
Opening the door to her apartment, the cool air hit Lola in the face and she let out a soft sigh of pleasure as she walked in. Slipping off her shoes. Bodach stepped behind her, his body responding to the sound she made as his eyes moved along the exposed skin of her shoulders. He found himself wanting to hear that sound again. “Where shall I put this?” He asked, shifting the box in his hands. Bodach had a strange feeling about it, but didn’t want to say anything to alarm Lola until he was sure. “Oh, um. On the coffee table is fine.” Lola said over her shoulder as she walked to the kitchen. She passed Lu, Puca, and Merrow smirking to herself as she caught sight or what they were watching with a roll of her eyes. “Really guys?” “Your scrying mirror seems to be broken.” Merrow glanced over to Lola as he spoke, his face flushing at being caught in this act of voyeurism.“The television?” Lola raised an eyebrow, “Seems to be working just fine to me.” “But these men, they’re all her
Walking down the sidewalk, Lola was lost in thought. Unaware of the four men that followed her. She turned down the street, stopping to wait at the crosswalk as she waited for the light to change.Shifting the box to her side as she clutched it with one arm. Smoothing her ponytail. Before all but skipping towards the antique shop as the light changed. An older gentleman with red hair and deep chocolate eyes held the door open for her. His toothy grin sent shivers down her spine.“Thank you,” she whispered as she hurried past him, unable to shake the eerie feeling he gave her.The bells twinkled above the door as Lola walked into Erik’s antique shop. It was quiet except for the whistling of the kettle. “Erik?” Lola called out as she stepped up to the cash register. Sitting the box down gently on the counter, she brushed her hands over her top, smoothing the material down. She couldn’t wait for Erik to see it. Walking out of the back room with his nose buried in a book. He moved towar
Stepping out of the kitchen, Lola walked towards the front with a frown.Why would she have a visitor at Erik’s shop? Then she saw him, his golden eyes blazing as he looked at her and her mouth went dry.Puca stood stiffly by the front door, his jaw clenched as he looked from her to Erik. She knew that he found her attractive, that he may have said that they wouldn’t sleep with her. The look in his eyes said something else, that he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and drag her back to the apartment. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she tried to quash down the thrill that thought sent through her. She knew she shouldn’t feel this way for someone she’d just met. “Erik, this is my friend Puca.” Lola said introducing the two before she turned back to look at Puca, “Puca, this is my boss Erik. What are you doing here?” She said barely holding her smile in check as she spoke through her teeth.“I came to offer to escort you back home.” Puca stood taller. Smoothing the front of his s