Chapter Seven
Adonis walked in through the front door of the resort, giving Jett the dirtiest look he could muster as he past him in the lobby. Jett placed his hand over his mouth and blew Adonis a kiss. In return, Adonis held up his hand and gave him the middle finger. Oh, he was still mad at Jett. Deep down he was glad his friend pushed him to get to know Eira, but he wasn’t about to divulge that information quite yet. As Adonis neared his office he heard heavy footsteps chasing after him. He entered the room and slammed the door shut behind him. It swung open before he had a chance to sit at his desk.
Jett sat on the couch and put his hands behind his head, leaning back into the leather fabric. “You can’t still be mad at me?”
“Yes I am. You had no right to butt in my business. You know I didn’t want to see Eira, yet you did anyway.”
“I was trying to help you out. You both like each other, that much is evident. By the way, where were you the other night? And you didn’t come into work yesterday which is very unlike you.”
“That is also none of your damn business.”
“You dog. You sent the night with Eira, didn’t you?”
“Number one, I am not a filthy dog like you, I’m a lion and number two, the day I tell you my secrets will be the day hell freezes over.”
“Aw c’mon, help a brother out. It’s so boring here today. Entertain me a little.”
“I will not entertain you. I have work to do.”
“Does she have a nice body under those baggy jeans and big sweaters she wears?”
Adonis stood from behind his desk and growled as he pointed to the door. “Get the fuck out!”
“Ooo I hit a nerve.”
Adonis picked up the stapler from his desk and flung it at his friend. He watched it fly across the room and into the wall behind the couch, inches away from hitting Jett in the head. “Out!”
Jett turned to leave, but stopped in the doorway. “Oh, I forgot why I came in here in the first place. Someone came into the hotel looking for you yesterday.”
“A guest?”
“No, it was a shifter. A lion. He looked like you, except darker skinned of course.”
“Who would possibly come looking for me? Especially a shifter of my own kind.”
“I don’t know. He was kind of weird actually. Even weirder than you. He wouldn’t leave his name and just walked right out. I told him he could come back today if he wanted to speak with you. I’m gonna be here to back you up though. He didn’t look like anyone that could be trusted. He smelled like trouble.”
“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself Jett.”
“I know you are, but you’re my best friend and I’m going to be here whether you need me or not. That being said, I have some work to do. I have a tour group this morning and another one this afternoon. I should be back before dinner. Then we can discuss your time with the beautiful Eira.”
“We are not discussing her. Now please get out so I can work.”
Adonis sat at his desk for the next few hours wondering who in the hell would come looking for him. He didn’t have any family that acknowledged him and all of his friends were right here in New York. He especially didn’t know any lion shifters in the area. It was irking him so much that he couldn’t concentrate anymore. He shut off the computer and made his way to the lobby where Jett was returning from his tour. He acknowledged his friend with a nod of his head as he walked over to the front desk where Adonis was standing.
Jett leaned against the counter. “Guess who I saw a few minutes ago? Eira said she’d be here soon and that she loves you very much.” He waggled his eyebrows and blew Adonis a few kisses.
Adonis laughed. “You’re an asshole.”
“True. But you’d be lost without me.”
“I highly doubt that.”
Adonis looked at the front door of the lobby and his eyes became transfixed on the one woman who never made him feel like he was different. She was understanding, caring, so full of love and compassion. Yes, his soon to be mate was something special alright. He watched her as every step she took brought her that much closer to him. His heartbeat sped up and an uncontrollable heat flowed through his veins. The scent of her permeated the air around him, making its way into every cell of his body. He could smell her a mile away. He could probably smell her spicy cinnamon scent a hundred miles away.
He bent his head to give her a soft kiss on those perfect lips of hers. He brushed her long blonde hair off her shoulder before framing her face and bringing her closer to him for an even deeper kiss. He didn’t want the kiss to end, but he suddenly realized they had an audience. Adonis peered over the top of Eira’s head to glare at Jett. “What the fuck are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Jett said simply.
“Damn right nothing.” Adonis retorted.
Eira laughed, distracting Adonis for a long minute. He loved the sound of her laughter. He never heard anything so angelic in his life. It filled the lobby and reverberated through his chest, making his heart swell with a happiness he’d never known before. He ran his thumb over her mouth and smiled.
Jett of course ruined the beautiful moment with his wrong timing to point things out. “Is that a smile I see on your face? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so much since…ever.”
“I think you’re looking for a black eye Jett.”
Adonis threw his arm over Eira’s shoulder and was about to turn around to go back to his office so they could be alone for a while until the front door swung open and a scent Adonis hadn’t smelled in years came wafting through the lobby. He pushed Eira in back of him, protecting her from the shifter who just happened to waltz back into his life after all these years. His brother, his half-brother actually was staring him down with all the fucking smugness in the world. He should feel proud, after all Adonis had been run out of the pride and forced to live in a place far from home; his brother was now the leader of the pride.
He could still hear Asher’s words in his head the day he was banished. No one wants you here little brother. I’ve been asked to take you far, far, away and you are never to return ever again.
Adonis took three long strides toward his brother, cutting him off before he reached the counter. “Asher. What the fuck are you doing here?”
Asher tilted his head back and closed his eyes, sniffing the air. “What is that delectable smell?”
Asher straightened and peered around Adonis, settling his eyes on Eira who was standing next to a very serious Jett. Adonis lunged for his brother’s throat, but was quickly held back by his friend.
“Don’t do this here man. There are too many innocent people that could get hurt in the process. Think of Eira.”
Adonis growled low in his throat. “I am thinking about Eira.” He yanked his arm out of Jett’s tight grasp and faced Asher. “What the fuck do you want Asher? Don’t you have everything you need at your fingertips? Family, friends, a pride who loves and respects you. Why did you come here now after all these years?”
“Well little brother it seems that as long as you’re still alive, you are the rightful heir to the throne. Your father was King, mine, well he just happened to knock up our mother and since I was lucky enough not to look like a complete freak I was given the privilege of being next in line to be the leader of the pride.”
“What does it matter if I’m alive or not? I was banished. No one wanted me to be King before, so why would it matter now?”
Asher peered around Adonis again, stealing another heated glance at Eira. “You see, the others have rallied against me because they think they can’t trust me. Don’t blame them though since I was the one who killed your father. That’s beside the point, what I’m trying to get at here is you need to die so there are no more heirs left but me.”
“I don’t want to be King, so you can march your conniving, manipulative ass right back home and tell them that. I don’t belong there. I never have.”
“What you want really doesn’t matter to anyone Adonis. Especially not to me. The pride wants you to come back and take over and that just isn’t going to happen. And when you're gone, I’ll be sure to take care of that beautiful mate of yours.”
How did he know Eira was his mate? Then it dawned on him, of course he did, he was a shifter with impeccable senses. He could probably smell Adonis all over her from where he was standing. Adonis growled, the sound reverberating off the lobby walls. “If you go near her I will rip your fucking throat out.”
“Don’t be ridiculous little brother. You’re too damn weak for that. You’re a spineless freak.”
“Let me make one thing clear to you Asher, I am not the little cub you once knew. Don’t fucking try me. You will not like the consequences of your actions.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Asher turned and walked out of the hotel as Jett let go of Adonis’ arm. There was no fucking way Adonis would ever let his half-brother get anywhere near Eira. She belonged to him. Every inch of her body, every bit of her soul was his. His to cherish, his to love. The fact that they only knew each other for a couple of days made no difference to either of them. Gerri was right all along. They were meant to be together. Two hearts that became one with only a single glance. He didn’t think love at first sight was possible, but that idea quickly changed the moment he laid eyes on Eira.
Eira came running over to him, throwing her arms around his waist and gave him a hard squeeze. “Are you okay?”
Adonis wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. Her scent was drugging. Even now while his blood pressure was soaring from the conversation with his estranged brother, he still wanted to be buried deep inside her. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”
She nodded against his chest and peered up at him with concern in her eyes. “He doesn’t really want to kill you, does he Adonis.”
He framed her face with his hands and stroked her cheek with his thumb. He wondered what he did to deserve such a caring woman as a mate. “I’m afraid he does. Our kind is very serious about our beliefs and he believes the only way he can be King is if I’m gone. He won’t stop coming for me until I no longer pose a threat to him and the only way that that can happen is if I’m dead.”
Eira’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh no, Adonis. We have to do something.”
“You don’t worry your pretty little head about that now. I’ll take care of everything.”
“You can’t handle the situation all on your own. I’ll be right by your side the whole way.”
Adonis’ expression turned serious, very serious. “No Eira. This is something I have to take care of all on my own. I can’t afford you getting hurt. If something happened to you I would never forgive myself.”
“Adonis, I will not take no for an answer. I know how to take care of myself. I am not scared of that raggedy excuse of a shifter.”
“Eira.”
“Adonis I’m serious. I will not leave your side until this whole mess blows over.”
Well, that was one thing they agreed on. He would be able to keep a better eye on her if she were with him at all times. Maybe this was a good idea after all. No. He had to try and convince her to stay away from, at least until he was able to get rid of his trouble making brother. “I think you should stay away for a while until everything settles down. Maybe you should take a few days off from work and keep your father company.”
“Adonis, no!”
He gently framed her face in his large hands. “I don’t want to be away from you either, believe me, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be caught in the middle of a very dangerous situation. You could get hurt. I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you.” He turned to Jett. “You take her home and watch her.”
“No, you need someone here to watch your back. I’m not going to abandon you when you need me most. That’s not what friends do.”
“Jett please don’t argue with me. I’m asking you to please keep an eye on her. She means more to me than you can ever imagine. Drag her ass home if you have to and stay there until I let you know everything’s okay.”
Jett let out an aggravated sigh. “Fine. If you need anything, call me. Or call Ronin’s lazy ass to help you out. Either one of us will be at your side faster than a dog can shake its tail.” He walked past Adonis and stopped midway to the door to address Eira. “Well, you heard the man, let’s go.”
Eira stood on tiptoes, throwing her arms around Adonis’ neck. “I don’t want to leave you.’
“I know, but this is the best decision. Trust me.”
She nodded, placing a tender kiss on his neck. The feel of her warm lips against his skin sent a shiver of excitement down his spine. He wished he could take her right there so he could show her how much she really did mean to him. He would do anything to protect her, he wished he knew for sure if he was making the right decision by sending her away.
He watched the woman he loved leave, not knowing if that was the last time he’d ever see her. No, he couldn’t think about that. Besides, he wasn’t the weak one of the pride any longer. He was a strong, independent lion, capable of slaughtering another if it came down to it. Asher was dead set on eradicating him, so Adonis knew what he was up against. Kill or be killed. He wasn’t going to fight his brother for the throne because he couldn’t care less about being King. He didn’t want to rule over a bunch of hypocrites anyway. No, he only needed to fight Asher for one reason and one reason only; to eliminate him.