Then again, now that Nolan came with a side of Oswald, he was less appealing.
Even as a human, Ozzy freaked me out a bit.
It was the memories of all those times he’d taunted me with the threat of attack.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Shan hissed, glaring.
“You do, clearly,” Nolan said.
He sat down in the chair beside me with his legs crossed. I watched his movements with probably a bit too much interest.
“If you’re going to be picking fights with my staff during a time when we need all hands on deck, I’ll have to watch you.”
“Don’t you have Oswald to deal with?” Shan grumbled. “The asshole seems like a full time job.”
“Oswald is… busy,” Nolan said, exchanging a glance with Emmett.
With their bonds, they knew what both Freya and Ozzy were doing. Having sex, apparently. Possibly bonding each other. It was only a matter of time before Nolan was a permanent part of our pack, though it had been written in the stars the second Ozzy bit him.
Shan grit his teeth. “I hate that fucking cat.”
“You hate everyone right now,” I said softly. “And he’s not a cat anymore.”
Was I having trouble coming to terms with that? Yes. ButIwasn’t taking it out on him.
“Caspian and I are going to go spend some time training,” Emmett declared. “Nolan can make sure Shan doesn’t blow the place up.”
“While I wish babysitting wasn’t top priority, I do prefer all my employees alive and in fighting condition. I also like this building as it is, without any additional holes,” Nolan said dryly. “I’ll shadow him until one of you people can deal with him again.”
“You’re all talking about me like I’m not here,” Shan growled.
“Because your opinion is irrelevant,” Nolan replied. “I understand very little of whatever shit you have going on, but you’re clearly over-emotional.”
He was. Shan hadn’t been like this in the entire time I’d known him, but he was still recovering from meeting Freya and having her taken from him. I wished there was something else I could do to help him, but nothing was coming to mind. I wasn’t a registered therapist, and that’s what he needed. Until he worked through his feelings, his temper would be thin and he’d constantly be a second away from snapping.
Getting up from my chair, I walked over to him and leaned up to kiss his cheek. He wasn’t having any of the chaste affection, grabbing my ass and dragging me close to him. Our lips smashed together and I gasped, trying to fight the arousal rolling through me. Being half-incubus was a curse in more ways than one. A simple kiss was enough to have my eyes darkening, threatening to go black until I’d fed from him.
After the possessive display he let me go and I brought a hand up to brush my swollen lower lip. He watched the motion intently. “Please don’t do anything stupid,” I requested quietly, trying to keep the conversation private.
We weren’t the only group in this cafeteria, and Nolan’s employees were casting glances over at us, obviously eavesdropping on everything they could. “I don’t do stupid things,” Shan muttered.
“That’s a lie.”
He sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly. “Fine. I just… don’t like fallen angels, and I don’t like Freya being in danger and relying on one.”
“You don’t like many people, Shan. Besides, she’s not relying on him. She’s relying on us.”
“It doesn’t feel that way.”
“Your mind is playing tricks on you again. Go do something non-violent to get out of your head. Maybe Nolan can show you a thing or two about how things work around here.”
I glanced over at Nolan as I spoke. He was smirking, but tense. These two probably needed to smooth out the tension between them before we began our task of killing Kylan. Them spending an afternoon together would be a good thing, and I’d be able to spend time with Emmett, and then maybe Freya, if she was done with Oswald.
“I’d really rather not have Nolan show me anything,” Shan said.
“Too bad. Kiss me goodbye one more time.”
His hand landed on the small of my back and he tugged me close again, letting my body rub against his. This kiss lasted a bit longer, long enough Nolan let out an irritating wolf whistle.
