Chapter Six
Where would they go?
They looked like they were headed to some LARP convention or something. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought about the errand she was going to run for Erik tomorrow. What would she do with her new guests while she was busy?
Shaking her head as she looked about the room, she’d worry about that tomorrow. Maybe she could claim they were cousins or- who was she kidding, no one would believe that?
They looked like models off of the covers of the cheesy romance novels she liked to read. While she with her wild purple hair, piercings, and curvy figure would never be considered a traditional beauty. Mostly, she was fine with that. Something about the looks they cast her way had made her wish she had put more effort into her clothing choice and makeup today.
She sipped her tea, trying not to think about the way Bodach’s eyes were trailing up her body as he sat close to her. Her face flushed and she didn’t want to understand why.
“What are you?” He asked, his voice a low grumble as his eyes met hers.
“I, I don’t understand what you’re asking.” She said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You are not a mere mortal, I can smell it on you,” Puca said from where he sat on the couch.
“Pretty sure I’ve been human my entire life,” Lola said with a frown. She didn’t have any family she could ask. Her parents had passed away when she was younger. Her grandmother had raised her until she too had passed away last summer. Lola felt a pang of loneliness. She was the last one left of her bloodline. Even if she had wanted to ask her Nana about this, she wouldn’t be able to.
“Aye, I smell it as well,” Merrow said, his elbows on his thighs as he leaned forward to study her.
“Must be the hair,” Lu said before taking another pull from the wine bottle.
“Oh, that’s just dye.” Lola said, “I don’t like my natural color and I think this suits me better.”
“What is your natural color?” Puca asked, his lips tilting in a half-smile as he watched her with his golden eyes.
“Um, it’s strawberry blonde. So not really red, not really blonde.” She answered, running her fingers through her hair nervously. She wasn’t used to having so many eyes on her.
“I bet it looks like spun gold in the sunlight,” Puca mumbled as he thought about how she would look with her natural hair color spread on the ground. The sun shining through the trees, painting her pale flesh brighter as he watched Merrow worshiping her. His head buried in between her thighs as she panted his name. He felt his c**k twitch in response and he looked over at the other man with a knowing glance.
He knew he had said they wouldn’t lay with her, but something about Lola called to something in him. He had felt it the moment he had healed her, felt it when his magic had touched her. Dancing under his fingers, tasting him as his magic had tasted her. He knew he wanted to taste her as well. To see if she tasted as sweet as her magic, like honeysuckle flowers that perfumed the summer evenings in his childhood.
***
“So let me get this straight, you’re a merman,” Lola said, looking at Merrow as he turned his head to the side, brushing his hair away from his high cheekbones. Looking at the scattering of scales across the top of his cheeks, framing his eyes. She sat her teacup onto the coffee table and leaned forward to study them intently.
“Aye,” he answered.
“And you’re a leprechaun? I thought you guys were a lot smaller.” Lola asked, turning to face Lu as he finished his wine.
“I can shrink if ye’d like,” he said with a slight slur as he sent a wink Lola’s way. She blushed, looking down before glancing over towards Bodach.
“And you’re, well, a child thief?” Lola frowned, she didn’t really like that.
“I like to think of it as a child rescuer. I rescue children from homes where they are not loved and take them to homes where they will be cherished.” Bodach said as he watched her with his red eyes, studying her in a way she’d never been looked at before. She looked at her hands before glancing back up again.
“Looks like you’re not very good at your job,” Lola said, motioning to his former prison.
“Accidents happen,” he said, shrugging his shoulders as she turned to face Puca.
“And you, you’re a-”
“Bringer of good and bad fortune, yes,” Puca said, smiling down at her from his spot in the oversized red chair that sat in the corner. He steepled his fingers under his chin, resting his elbows on his crossed legs as he watched her interacting with his brethren.
“Okay, well now that that’s cleared up. I’m going to go take care of our cups.” Lola said, standing up from her spot on the floor. She looked around at the men in her apartment and covered her mouth as she fought back a yawn. This day had been long. The adrenaline was finally wearing off. She placed her teacup on the tray and started picking up the empty ones from the coffee table. She picked up the tray. Her shoulders stiff and painful still, she turned ready to take the dishes to her kitchen.
“I’ll take that for you,” Merrow stood up from his spot on the couch and stepped forward. His fingertips grazing her hand as he took the wooden tray from her.
“Thank you,” Lola said, looking up at him with wide eyes. She was used to doing things herself. It was strange to have two men offer to help her in one evening. Merrow turned towards the kitchen and Lola followed him. He gently set the tray down as she moved to the sink.