Eye of the Beholder

hunt there was no pulling him back from it.

He growled and took everyone’s empty plates and glasses, and she knew the fight was over.

Looks like I’m going to Norway. She leaned back into Travis with a new worry. How were they supposed to survive the ultimate pissed-off werewolf?

“Time for bed, sweetheart.” Travis held out his hand, gratified beyond belief when Jamie took it.

“Wait, I have something for you.” Logan dashed off to the spare bedroom and came back with, of all things, their luggage. “Here.”

Travis looked at it. “You’re kicking us out?”

“Damn skippy.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Pick a condo, any condo.”

“Logan.” Jordan barked at her husband, looking mortified.

“What?”

“You can’t kick them out!”

“Why not? I’m kicking everyone out. It’s not like I’m singling them out.”

“Where are they going?”

Good question.

“They’re staying on this floor, but, babe, this place is too small for all of us. If it makes you feel better, I got the M and M’s and Jeff a place here too.”

“Is that what you were working on all afternoon?” Jamie was smiling as she took one of the keys Logan held out.

“Hell, yes. I love you guys, but I’m tired of people walking in on my naked time. I sure as hell don’t want to walk in on your naked time.”

Jeff reached out and snagged one of the keys. “And I’m getting tired of seeing your naked time.” He looked up, his expression serious. “Is the entire floor safe?”

Logan nodded. “Saw to it while we were waiting for the pizza.”

“I’ll reinforce it in the morning.” Two elements would be stronger than one, and Travis and Logan, thank goodness, weren’t opposing elements. If Logan had been a frost Jotun rather than fire, they might have had issues when they tried to twine their magic together.

“What happened to the neighbors?” Jamie returned to his side, standing close to him. Once again he put his arm around her, his cock twitching as she snuggled in close to him. If he was reading the signals right whatever bug had been up her butt earlier today was mostly gone now.

“Oh, they’re all still in the building, just in different, previously empty condos. Let me tell you, I’m pooped from changing all that paperwork and all those memories.” Logan snorted. “All except Dick Head’s personal log, that is.” He snickered when Jordan smacked his arm.

“Who’s dickhead?” Jamie was laughing, her arm was wrapping around his waist. Suddenly he really couldn’t give a crap what Logan had done to get them the condos, he was just grateful no one would be walking in on his naked time.

“The building manager. He’s a little, um, uptight. He and Logan have clashed before.” Kir handed a key to Morgan and Magnus and another key to Val. He looked down at the key in his hand, grinning when he saw the Tiwaz rune etched on it.

Morgan held up their key. It had a cartoon peanut M and M etched onto it, complete with legs, arms and eyes. Magnus had a matching one with a plain M and M. “Very funny, asshole.”

“I thought so.” Logan smirked as everyone laughed.

Travis was startled to see the wolf’s head etched into Jeff’s key, and could tell that Jeff was too.

Neither one of them said anything, however, as Jeff pocketed the key and grabbed his bag.

“Which one are we in?” Magnus was already heading for the door, key and luggage in hand.

“Pick one. The keys will turn into what you need and then they’ll stay that way, so don’t change your mind.”

“Oh, cool.” Jamie grinned up at him. “Ready to go?”

Travis’s dick throbbed behind his jeans as her breasts rubbed against his side. “Hell yeah.” He was planning on picking the first door they came to. The sooner he got her alone the sooner he could get her naked.

“Who are the extra keys for?”

He looked at the keys still held in Kir’s hand. Jeff had a good question.

Kir looked down at the keys in his hand. When he looked back up, his pupils were white. “I don’t know yet.”

“Oookay. Outta here.” Jeff hugged Jordan and Jamie, waved bye to the others, grabbed his duffel bag and headed out the door. “Later, weirdos.” He didn’t bother shutting the door behind him.

“And on that note…” Morgan grabbed his bag and walked toward the door. His brother was long gone. “Thanks, Logan.” Morgan turned back briefly. “Tomorrow night, our place? No sense in making Kir clean up two nights in a row.”

“Works for us.” Kir smiled and waved the men out the door. “Night, guys.”

“Go. Leave. My clothes are coming off in two seconds. One.” Logan crossed his arms and glared at Travis and Jamie, his lips twitching as his two lovers groaned.

Jamie grabbed Travis’s arm and began running for the front door, laughing as their bags landed at their feet. The door to the Tait-Saeter condo shut with a snap on the word “Two.” laughter sounding through the door until it was abruptly cut off.

“C’mon, let’s find out where we’re staying.” Travis tried to pick up all of the suitcases but Jamie was having none of it. She grabbed three pieces all by herself, leaving him with the last, and heaviest, bag.

In the end they didn’t get the first door. They were about five doors down from the Tait-Saeters’, which bothered him not one little bit. He followed his woman into the living room, enjoying her gasp of pleasure as she took in the warm, romantic feel of the decor. He could feel the lingering traces of the spell Logan had placed on the door washing over the rooms, acknowledging the new owners and setting the fire jotun’s wards in place.

“Can you feel that? What is that?”

He looked at her, noticing her confused expression. “Protection spells, wards meant to keep Grimm out.” As soon as he had a chance he’d add in his own protections, putting Jamie behind a double barrier.

He still had to explain to her how she could sense what was going on.

“So why do they do that bright light thingy whenever…I…Oh my god.”

She was looking toward the living room, a dreamy look on her face. Taking his eyes off her he got his first real look at his new home. The condo was done in warm, rich tones and dark woods with bright pops of color here and there that spoke of a vibrant personality. A turquoise-colored, overstuffed chaise was positioned to enjoy the wall to wall windows, a reading lamp strategically placed nearby. The traditional sofa was a soft tan color with high, rolled arms and a loose pillow back. It had more of the turquoise color on it in the form of throw pillows. The dark wood coffee table and end tables matched the intricately carved wooden legs of the sofa. The hardwood floors were dark oak, giving the place a timeless feel. The dining set was in the same dark wood, with chairs upholstered in the same fabric as the sofa. Wine cooled in an iced bucket next to the dining table, which had been set for two. The brightly colored dishes popped against the plain placemats.

He watched indulgently as she drifted into the kitchen, her groan of pleasure rekindling his interest.

He wanted her to make that sound while he was buried so far inside her she’d be able to taste him in the back of her throat. He wished it was his skin those delicate fingers trailed over rather than the granite countertops, that soft sigh of pleasure something he’d teased from her throat. As soon as he got her attention he planned on doing just that.

“Wow.”

He came back through his lust-induced fog to find she’d moved into the master bedroom. Leaving the luggage where it was he followed.

She had her hands over her mouth, her wide eyes taking in the bedroom. The walls were that turquoise color she seemed to love so much. The bed, a large, dark canopy bed with an ornately carved headboard, dominated the room. Soft drapery hung from the canopy, turquoise, tan and black blending together in a surprising harmony. The bedding was rich, brocaded silk in a creamy color that toned the rest of the bedding down a notch.

“You like it?

Her eyes were wide with wonder. “It’s everything I ever dreamed of.”