Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Ebony woke to the smell of bacon and coffee. She was sure she was still dreaming; she'd never had bacon in her home in her life. She rolled over and felt unfamiliar soft sheets, a bed that was practically enveloping her, and a pillow overstuffed and delightful. She had a moment of panic thinking she'd fallen asleep at work, tucked into someone's hotel bed.

Glick was going to kill her!

She sat up in bed with a gasp, and when her eyes darted around the room she remembered where she was and why.

"Fuck," it hadn't been a dream. She was actually in Lark's guest room, he thought she was his soulwife, and she was going to be flying to Vegas today to try and find her soulsister.

"Fuck," she said again and this time she smiled. She was on an adventure, her first and last.

Her hand went to her chest where she knew the cancer ticked like a bomb, just waiting to take her out of this life. Maybe she'd have a better go of it next time around. She liked to think reincarnation was real and all those who lived a decent life, even as a halfsoul, would be lucky enough to be reborn next time as a fullsoul. It made the sacrifice she was journeying toward all the more acceptable.

She'd dreamed of him last night. Dreams of erotic passion she'd never experienced, but apparently her imagination had no problem coming up with scenarios to make her fill with desire. It probably came from the spicier books she read over and over. Even now her body felt sensitive, and she thought a cold shower might be needed before facing Lark or anyone else.

The thought of bacon was too tempting however, so she threw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt she'd found in the bag and left the room to follow that amazing scent.

She knew the smell well but had never actually eaten bacon. No guests left bacon on their plates, sausage links sometimes, but never bacon. Her mouth watered as she entered a small dining room set with beautiful dishes and trays of eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit. Coffee was in a pot alongside a pitcher of orange juice and ice water.

It was almost distracting enough for her to ignore the three gorgeous men sitting around the table with plates full of food they were devouring.

"Good morning," she said quietly from the doorway.

All three men froze and looked at her. Her face turned red, and she wished she had showered first, but then her stomach growled, and she felt her face get redder.

"Ebony, did you sleep well?" Lark asked, standing, and motioning to a chair at the table. "Come eat, we will have a long day."

"I slept fine," she said as she hurried to take the seat, hoping the other two would stop staring soon. Stone she recognized from yesterday, but the other man was new. He had long black hair and brilliant brown eyes, definitely a fullsoul. He was enormous, muscles bulged everywhere, he was by far the biggest and most intimidating of the three men. Every inch of him that she could see was covered in tattoos, even his neck and hands. His face was clean of ink and freshly shaved, it was a bit of a paradox in her mind and only made looking at him more uncomfortable.

He noticed her staring and winked at her, the action sent a little thrill through her, and she hurried to look away. Unfortunately she turned to Lark who was glaring daggers at the man and gripped his knife like he was about to use it.

"Bacon?" Stone asked, breaking the tense silence, and holding a platter out for her.

Ebony took it gratefully and put a few pieces on her plate. "Thank you," she whispered, afraid to look at the other two men at the table.

"Eggs?" the new man offered, holding out a serving bowl of scrambled eggs.

"Um," she hesitated, not sure what to do. She flicked her gaze to Lark, then chastised herself, he didn't own her. She met the man's eyes and took the bowl. "Thanks, I'm Ebony."

"I know, and I'm Granger," he said gruffly.

"Nice to meet you, Granger," she said as she spooned eggs onto her plate.

She grabbed a piece of toast from a nearby stack and started eating, hating the intense silence in the room. At least everyone had started eating again. She picked up a piece of bacon and took a tentative bite. Flavors of salt, fat, and meat exploded on her tongue and she moaned before she could stop herself.

Lark choked on his food, Granger winked at her again as she darted her eyes around the table, embarrassed by the sound that had come out of her mouth, and Stone laughed.

"If you think that's good, wait till you try the strawberries, fresher than anything the halflings are ever able to get," Stone said and offered her the fruit plate.

She took one large berry, redder than any she'd ever eaten, already anticipating the taste. A halfling maid hurried in then with a big smile. She was carrying a fresh pot of coffee and set it down in the middle of the table, taking the other one, apparently empty. Her gaze flicked curiously to Ebony, but she didn't say anything, just hurried back out to a round of thanks from the men.

"Coffee?" Lark asked after slapping Stone's hand away from the pot.

"Sure, thanks," she said, uncomfortable with the service as he poured some in her cup, then his own and set the pot back to the table for Stone and Granger to fight over. Stone won, grabbing it half a second before Granger could. Everyone settled back into eating silently after that.

"When are we leaving?" she finally asked when she could stand it no longer.

"As soon as you're ready," Lark said.

"What's the weather like in Vegas this time of year?"

"Hot," Lark said.

Okay, so conversation was a no go apparently. She scarfed down the food and burnt her mouth gulping the coffee then stood. All three men were watching her, and her face flamed. "I'll just go get ready then. No time to waste." She fled the room, but not before she heard Granger comment on her appreciatively and then there was a crash, something had been thrown across the room. Stone's laughter followed her as she hurried up the stairs.

Ebony didn't really need a shower, but she decided to indulge anyway. All the guaranteed hot water was a luxury she didn't usually have, and it settled her nerves. That was the most uncomfortable breakfast she'd ever sat through, and it really ruined the delicious food and coffee. Her stomach was currently doing flips and she felt like her nerves were raw from the constant waves of desire that just being around Lark sent through her body. Her eyes drifted up to the removable massaging showerhead knowing that she could do something about one of those things.

Lark didn't bother knocking, he walked right into the bedroom expecting to see her ready to go. She'd been dressed when she came downstairs, so hearing the shower running was unexpected. She hadn't shut the bathroom door and he couldn't stop himself from taking a few steps in that direction, catching the scent of the shampoo coming out on a wave of steam.

He had thought to see how long she needed to be ready to leave but it seemed the answer was probably at least twenty minutes. He turned, ready to go downstairs and tell his men to hold off for another half hour, but then he heard her moan. She'd moaned like that when she had taken a bite of bacon and he'd instantly hardened at the breakfast table. Hearing it now, knowing what she must be doing in the shower, he thought he was going to explode.

His entire body stiffened, and his cock went rock solid, straining against his jeans. Every fiber of his body was screaming at him to go in there, to do all the dirty things that would make them both scream in satisfaction. He wanted to be the one causing those moans to slip from her lips, not some goddamn bacon or a fucking showerhead. He wanted to press his mouth to hers and swallow those sounds, claim them for himself.

He knew he couldn't, not yet. He also knew he should leave and let her have this private moment. She'd probably be pissed if she found out he had heard that one little moan. The way her face had pinked when she'd let one slip at the breakfast table had been one of the most adorable things he'd ever seen. He hated that he'd shared that moment with his men.

Lark knew he should go, but he didn't leave, he stood there and listened to the sounds she made and the water splashing. He shoved a hand down his waistband and gripped himself, stroking to the rhythm of the splashes he heard and when she gasped out a sound that had to be his name, he exploded in his hand and bit his lip to keep back his own moan of pleasure.

The sound of the water turning off had him rushing from her bedroom and to his own. He felt like a teenager hiding his shame and despite his release he couldn't stop his erection from reappearing when he thought of her stepping out of the shower covered in water and flushed with her own release.

"Lark we ready or what?" Granger said through the closed bedroom door.

"Thirty minutes," Lark shouted back as he shoved his pants and underwear down and headed for the shower. He needed the cold water before he could sit in a small space with her.