Thirty-Eight
“What happened between you and Erik?” Lola asked Puca as they strolled towards her apartment. She’d caught him shaking his hand again. She hated that he had chosen to get himself hurt rather than just let her open the door for him.
“Just letting him know where he stands?”
“What do you mean?” Lola asked. She had hoped to have a minute to talk with the handsome shop owner.
“Lola, he cares for you.” Puca said, stopping to turn, his angry gaze meeting hers. “He’d keep you for himself if he could.”
“I know, I’d like to let him know that I’m-” She stopped, unsure of how to say it. How would you tell someone that you were interested in four men, that you were okay being shared between them? More than okay, that you longed for it with every fiber of your being.
“That you are what?” Puca asked, bringing his hand up to the back of her neck and moving closer to her.
“That I’m with you.”
Puca lips slowly spread into a smile at her words and he watched the blush spread across her cheeks, “Well, I’m with all of you. I need to talk with him about that and well, I found a picture of him and my mom. I have so many questions and I’m not sure what to do.”
“Why would he have a picture of your mother?” Puca asked with a frown.
“I don’t know, but that’s not the weird thing. He looks the same as he does right now and that’s-” Lola looked up at him, her emerald eyes shining with unshed tears “My mother died almost twenty years ago. There is no way he should look like he’s in his early thirties.”
“Lola, I don’t think he’s human.”
“Then what is he?” Lola asked, worrying her lower lip as she brought her hands up to tangle them in the front of his shirt.
“I don’t know.” Puca said as he pulled her closer to him. His thumb caressing the soft flesh under her ear.
“Why did he have my mom’s picture?” Lola whispered as she rested her cheek against his chest. His strong, steady heartbeat giving her strength.
“We’ll figure it out, go halainn. Let’s get you home.”
***
Lu diced the carrots and then added them into the pot to simmer with the potatoes. He picked up one of the spices from the spice rack and twisted off the small metal lid.
It had a picture of a garlic clove on the front. It smelled nothing like fresh garlic he frowned, adding a quick shake of it to the stew. He hoped it didn’t mess up the taste. Glancing over, he looked at Merrow as the other man kneaded the dough on the floured surface of the counter. A smear of flour dusting the top of cheek.
“You’ve got something…” Lu said, gesturing to his face before turning away from the merman.
“Are you going to get all weird about what happened this morning?”
“Wasn’t planning too. I mean, you and Puca have shared women before.” Lu said as he pulled the meat from the fridge. “The relationship is different, that doesn’t have to make it awkward.”
“Yet here it is, all awkward.” Bodach drawled as he leaned against the door frame, watching the two men cook together.
“Was going fine until you got here.” Merrow said with a shrug as he put the balled up dough back into the bowl, carefully placing a dish towel over it before moving to the sink.
“Are you sure?” Bodach said with a half smirk, “I know your type is any port in a storm. Lu, Lu needs the feelings, the connection.”
“Hey now, I feel something for Lola.” Merrow said.
“Lust isn’t what I’m talking about.”
Lu wished he was anywhere but here right now as he tossed the cubed stew meat into the mixture.
“She isn’t Gwragedd. You and she were close.”
Lu tensed at the mention of Merrow’s sister’s name.
“You don’t get to bring her up.” Merrow said as he turned to look at the other man his teeth barred. “She’s my kin.”
Lu moved to the sink to wash his hands with the full intention of slipping out unnoticed. So these two could have their little spat.
“It’s your fault that I was away from her. That she went through the birth of her child with none of her kin by her side.”
“If you think that it’s my fault, that is your problem. You chose to come with me that night. The allure of being with a succubus pulled you from her side. No one forced you.” Bodach said as he pushed away from the wall and Lu slipped past him. Hoping that their fighting wouldn’t ruin the meal that the leprechaun was trying to make for Lola and the others.
He sat on the couch, not even bothering to turn on the television. There was already enough drama going on right now. He hoped they resolved it before Lola got home.
A smile spread across his face as he thought about what had happened this morning. He hoped he got plenty more mornings waking up with Lola. It really didn’t bother him that Merrow had been with him. Sure, he would have preferred to have her to himself. Lu wanted to take things further than they had, but he didn’t want her korrigan to arise and feed off him and Merrow. He’d heard that it would be a pleasurable experience, if you survived.
“Can not blame me for everything thusa asal a ghoid sonas.” Bodach’s booming voice filled the small apartment, followed by a loud thwack as a fist met flesh.
Lu leaned over, peaking into the kitchen. The loud sound of a pot falling to the floor made him cringe as he dragged a hand over his face. He needed a drink. He needed several. It had been so long since he’d had a real drink.
Standing, he frowned as he made his way back into the small kitchen. He saw the mess they had made. Bodach was holding his blistering arm under the faucet. The remains of the stew were scattered about the floor.
“Had to ruin our nice meal, didn’t you?” Lu growled out, “We can’t have anything nice with the two of you, can we?”
Merrow looked away from the other man as Bodach looked at his arm, “Sorry Lu.”All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
He turned, leaving the others to clean up the mess before Lola and Puca got home. He was going to get that drink.