I arrived at the airport 15 minutes till eight in comfy clothes and grumpy as hell. The damn cat was pissed at me this morning and decided to ignore me before I left. It was like he knew life was about to change forever and was giving me the silent treatment. And men thought only women did it. HA!

Why couldn't they have picked a later flight? Oh well, here's to hoping that I can at least curb some of my morning evilness. Luckily, the Paraoffice has its own airport strip, so no going through security. Evilness level, down to two. Now if only they had coffee and a doughnut waiting.

Walking up the strip to the plane that would take us to Florida, I studied the men standing around talking. Apparently they all had the same idea as me to be dressed comfy on the flight. Even from twenty feet away, I could tell they were all just as stunning when they were out of suits. I could feel myself start to heat up at the thought of all of them. No. I had to rein in my crazy hormones. I was just going on a case with them, not going to a group orgy. Not that I would mind an orgy, it just wasn't going to happen. Donovan spotted me and waved me over to their group.

“Hey, glad you are going to join us. We really need the help,” he stated as I got close enough that I could hear him.

“Heads up, I’m not a morning person and I haven’t had my coffee yet. You have now been warned. But I hope I can help too,” I replied, listening to them all laugh like I had just said the funniest thing ever. Men were so weird sometimes: if I hadn’t warned them about my bitchy state and been bitchy, they would have been all pissy. But I mention the possibility of me biting their heads off before I have my coffee and they laugh.

“Good to know. We have coffee and snacks waiting on the plane. So we will just leave you alone till you have had your fill,” Barrett chuckled. All the men wore the same look of amusement, as if appeasing me first before they wanted to interrogate – excuse me, discuss – things was funny.

I, on the other hand, heard coffee and snacks, so I left my luggage on the carrier and headed up the stairs and into the plane. They hadn't lied. There was a table that held coffee, doughnuts, muffins, and oats. They even had my favorite creme-filled chocolate covered doughnuts. I grabbed two of the chocolates, doctored my coffee, and sat down to enjoy my little treasures before we had to buckle in.

As I was scarfing down my tasty treats, the guys made their way to the seats. They were all dressed in jogging shorts and t-shirts, and I could finally see what Barrett’s tattoo was. He had words in some language all the way up to his shirt sleeve on both arms. I love tattoos, they are my weakness. These guys didn't need anything else making them hotter than they already were. They all took their seats in different spots on the plane. I figured they would all sit together. But nope. They all spread out, seated alone, except for Draven. Who plopped himself down right beside me with a big, white toothy smile that showed off his fangs. Fangs? Woulda been nice if what he was had been noted in that file. Now I was gonna spend the rest of the flight wondering what the others were, if anything.

“So, have you gotten enough coffee and treats in your system to have a conversation and not bite my head off for talking to you?” he asked in his silky smooth voice. I took a second before replying, deciding if I was gonna be a bitch or somewhat pleasant.

“You were lucky that there were creme-filled chocolate doughnuts on the plane. I can probably squeeze out a few minutes of pleasant conversation, but tell me how are you out in the day?” I smiled the happiest smile that I could as I talked to him. Fake it till you make it, right?

“How about if I answer a question, you answer one?”

Draven looked eager to talk with me. Almost like we were alone, on a date, and getting to know one another. I honestly hadn't decided if it was super sweet or a touch creepy.

“That seems fair. You have about fifteen minutes till I revert back to evil and need a nap.”

Again, the men laughed. So, they were listening to our conversation! I knew that there was no way they all didn’t want to question me. They had just sent Draven as the sacrifice. Then he could be in the hot seat while I questioned him. Stupid men think they are so slick.

“Okay, well to answer your question, I have a really good witch friend who cast a daywalking spell for me. So I usually keep a regular schedule with the guys. How long have you been a hunter?”

As he was talking, he moved and used his hands. I knew immediately he was going to be an animated talker and would always need room to gesture. But what the hell could I say about it? I was one of the world’s worst about the same damn thing.

“Well, that was nice of them. If you wouldn’t have smiled at me so big, I might not have known you even were a vampire. I’ve been a hunter for a little over three years. I started at the Paraoffice after my adoptive dad was murdered by one of your kind.” After I said it, I cringed. Probably not the best way to get on his good side. “How long have y'all been working together?” Nice subtle change of subject Gwen. Not. I was seriously investing in a muzzle. It was happening.

“I am so sorry about that. Just so you know, not all of us are are like that. We are just like everyone else. Some are bad, some are good. I’ve noticed that that is the way it goes with every species. But it started out with me and Donovan. We’ve been best friends for a very long time. Then came Barrett. It took about a year for all of us to become close. The year after that, we added in Ethane, and we’ve been together ever since,” he explained to me about the situation.

I just sat there listening, his voice was just so smooth. I felt myself starting to doze off as he was speaking to me…

As we landed, I came awake slowly. Apparently I had fallen asleep with my head laying on Draven’s shoulder. How humiliating. Not only had I crashed while he was talking, I had also used him as a pillow. To add to my mortification, I could feel the drool that had leaked out of my mouth onto his t-shirt. Sitting up, I figured I better apologize.

“I am so sorry for falling asleep on you… and for the drool.”

I could feel my face heating up as I said it. He just kinda stared at me with his intense, purple eyes like he was trying to figure me out with a look. And all I could think was that I had to keep my wits about me. Because if I didn’t, when this case was over, I would end up nursing a broken heart. I could feel it with everything I had in me.

“It’s okay. I have been told that my voice is soothing and you said you needed a nap either way,” he finally replied, sheepishly looking away as he said it. Why is it that when he gave that look it was sexy? Probably because it looked sincere, almost like he was actually shy. And that look on this particular man, a man who was strong and muscular, was very distracting.

“Hey, Gwen!” Ethane yelled from the front of the plane. “We are going to take our luggage over to the hotel where we are staying, drop you at your room to change, and then head to the house of the last abduction.”

Oh, so they were serious when they said we were gonna start as soon as we got here. It was a damn good thing that I had taken a nap on the plane.

“Alright, we better get going then. I have a few charms that I would like to try when we get there,” I replied with as much enthusiasm as I could muster up.

It wasn't very much, but hey, a little is better than none, right? The thought of going into the abducted child’s room didn't sit well with me.

As soon as they opened the exit door I could smell the saltiness in the air and started sweating. I headed up to exit the plane, looking through all the windows. I was mesmerized by the view. I had only seen beaches and oceans in pictures. They didn’t even begin to come close to the real thing. It was so beautiful, I couldn't find the words to describe it. Everything was just so bright and vividly colored. Taking my first step out the door, I was smacked in the face by the humidity. So lost in the view and the smothering humidity, I almost stumbled down the stairs. I was lucky that I was fast because if I had been any slower, I would have tumbled all the way down.

The guys were waiting for me by a black SUV. Barrett looked like a bouncer standing there with his arm crossed and a blank expression on his face. I wondered how he fit in the group. He seemed to me like he was eminently serious, but so far all the other guys had been less serious and more playful. I got to the vehicle and Donovan reached in front of me to open the door.

“Thank you.” I said as I smiled up at him.I just couldn't seem to help myself. I was so screwed. I really had to work on that.

He nodded at me as he slid into the leather seat beside me. I was now happily wedged between him and Ethane, which once again gave my body the happy tingles whenever I got near any of them. Being between Donovan and Ethane, plus closed inside of a vehicle, my hormones were once again singing the happy dance. Trying to distract myself and my unruly hormones that were permanently aware these days, I decided to discreetly study the guys while mostly admiring the outside view.

Barrett was driving, giving me the feeling that he liked to be in control, and Draven was in the passenger seat. It seemed that the guys deferred to Barrett, then to Draven. They all had a role to play in the group and was okay with their roles. I wonder how it would be in the bedroom … Damn it! I should have known better than to try and distract myself by studying them.

I happened to glance out the window and was wonderstruck as we drove down the road to the hotel. There were palm trees everywhere, even in the middle of town. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. The farthest I had ever been from Kentucky was to Tennessee where I had grown up. I got the feeling that the guys were letting me get my fill of looking around because the SUV was dead quiet. Not that I cared, as I was soaking in every sight I saw. We turned onto a side street where I could see the ocean between every building. I couldn't wait till we were done investigating today so I could go explore. I was so lost in all the sights, I didn’t even notice at first that we had started to slow down at a huge building sitting right on the beach.

“This is where we are staying?” I asked in wonder looking up the tall elegant building. There were so many windows, my strange brain wondered how it weathered the storms. Looking through the spaces between hotels, I was once again struck by the beauty of the sun over the ocean. It was seriously like something out of a magazine.

“Yep. We always stay beachside when we go on cases near the coast. I like to stay connected to the elements and the best way to do that is to be close.” Ethane replied back to me, then he shot me that sheepish grin that went straight to my core. “Also, I am a view snob. Besides, what’s the purpose of going all these places and not being able to enjoy all of the little things.”

“Yeah, you should have just left that last part out.” I chuckled because if I didn’t I would jump him and that just wasn’t going to happen. At least not right now.

As we pulled up to the valet, the concierge came and took the bags out of the back of the vehicle. The hotel had no check in or check out, just a keycard that went in the door to open it up to the floor with the pool and elevator. Our rooms were on the eighteenth floor, and I could feel my anxiety rising as the elevator got closer to the first floor. I could feel my already sweaty self get even more sweaty when the elevator dinged, letting everyone know that it had finally made it. I could do this, I am a badass, I am not gonna make an ass out of myself in front of my partners. That was my mantra as I stepped into the confined space with all four of the big men who at this moment I was wishing were smaller. There was hardly any space and I got stuck in the back corner with Draven at my front and all of our damn luggage on my left.

Barrett pressed the button for the eighteenth floor and up we went. I repeated my mantra and started my breathing exercises to keep me calm. Damn, I will say it smelled good in here. I could smell hints of chocolate, a woodsy smell, something metallic, and another smell I couldn't really figure out what it was. Either way, my hormones were going crazy enough that it didn't even bother me anymore that we were in a elevator. I had a hard time not accidently scooting closer to Draven. Damn, my burning loins, it was a very good thing that I had brought my B.O.B. or I would be in a constant state of arousal, and I needed to be able to keep my head on my shoulders and not in one or all of my partners laps.

The elevator finally stopped on our floor. Yes, I got lucky enough that the guys were on my floor too, or at least I was assuming that due to eighteen being the only button that was pressed. Filing out into the hallway, which was empty, I was greeted with the most amazing view I had ever seen. There was nothing in the world like seeing the ocean on a bright sunny day. The sun shining on the crisp blue water created millions of tiny reflections like little stars dancing on the water. The water lapping at the beach shore where children ran around building sand castles with their parents relaxing put a twinge in my heart at the fact that I had never had that with my parents. I knew if I ever had kids that one of those lazing parents would one day be me. My children would never go through the things that I have.

I jumped when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I had been so lost in thought that I had forgotten the guys were still with me. Which I must say was a feat in itself because they were all so hot it should be illegal. Looking over at Donovan with a slight grimace because I knew he probably thought I was crazy, I could smell his chocolatey scent and instantly started craving some treats. If I was being honest I would say it made me crave him as well, but yeah being honest with yourself was so lame. “This one here is your room Gwen. Here is your key.” He said pointing to the door in front of me. “We are staying in the ones in front and beside your room. I will be in the room beside yours. Let me know if you need anything, and I do mean anything.” He handed me my key and winked at me before sauntering to the room beside mine. Oh. Damn, this was gonna be a hell of a trip.