Page 31 of Bottoms Up (Mythic Beast #4)

Julian

We were okay. Silver and I were okay. I’d been telling myself we’d be fine, but I’m not sure I’d completely believed it.

She showered and put a compression shirt on, meaning she wasn’t in girl-mode at the moment, though she didn’t smell especially male to me. I stepped into the shower, knowing I’d have to make it quick because my Silver can be ready in minutes when she dresses as a man.

And maybe that was the entire reason for her clothing choice, if she was hungry.

By the time I got out of the shower, maybe three minutes later, Silver wore jeans and a T-shirt with a ball cap. I donned clean dress pants and a dress shirt, took her hand, and we headed out to find this TexMex place.

It was supposed to be close, so we’d planned to walk, but someone exited a limo and opened the door for us.

A quick trip in his head showed me Gavin had told him to take us wherever we wanted, so I aimed Silver inside, and I followed.

The driver nodded as soon as I mentioned where we were going.

“One of Lauren’s favorite late-night spots. ” A few minutes later, we were there.

It was nearly three in the morning, so there wasn’t as much traffic, though still way more than I expected. I guess the statements about Vegas never sleeping are accurate.

Silver ordered a ton of food and kept the margaritas coming — with extra salt on the rim — so she was fairly tipsy when she abruptly changed the conversation from where she wanted to go shopping.

“The thing about having a pet, instead of just playing with people from the flock,” she licked the rim of her glass and took another long drink.

“I mean, if it was someone who is ours , we could maybe let them see me naked. I don’t know if they should see you hurting me or ordering me around, but letting them know what parts I have could make things more fun. ”

“Agreed, but I’m not sure how we’ll go about finding the right person — a shapeshifter masochist who wants to be a pet without the relationship stuff?

I know there are such people out there, but it might take going through a few dozen who say that’s what they want until we find someone who actually does. ”

When we returned to our room three margaritas later, I could see in her head that she wanted to sleep a long time without hurting.

I’d probably wake around five in the evening, and if she went to bed now, she’d likely only sleep until two or three. They’d offered her a separate room so she’d be in the sunlight, but she’d told them we’d be outside enough, she’d be fine underground.

* * * *

Silver

I ordered Epsom salts and a gallon of apple cider vinegar to be delivered when I woke around two-thirty the next afternoon, and I texted Atlas to tell him it was coming. I’d been told to text him if I ordered anything, or if I wanted to leave the room.

I soaked for hours while reading a historical romance set in Italy about the time Julian would’ve been human. This author’s reviews talked about how accurate she is with her historical stuff, so I hoped maybe it would give me a little more insight into Julian’s life as a human.

Julian rose an hour and a half earlier than expected, and he assumed it was from the sexual energy he’d taken in.

We had tickets for two shows that night, one inside the building we were in and another offsite, but it wouldn’t start until well after dark.

While Atlas walked us through the tunnels to the theater, he made a phone call to see if anyone was in Gavin, Lauren, and Nick’s personal box. It was empty, so he took us to it.

Best seats in the house.

It was a Cirque-type show, and we both loved it, but he was beyond amazed by the acrobatics, and I got caught up in his excitement and awe.

It was dark when Atlas drove us down the street to the other theater, this one also full of acrobats and showmanship, but with a ribald theme.

By far, I enjoyed the second show more, but both were excellent.

We went to Circus Circus next, and rode roller coasters one after another, over and over.

Atlas was with us but wasn’t a pain in the ass about guarding us.

It was just him at the theaters, but he had a team around us at Circus Circus.

It wasn’t annoying, though. We barely noticed them — he’s damned good at his job.

I was exhausted when we returned to our room, so I double-checked everything I’d already put into place for the following day, and thought I was going to bed.

Julian had other ideas, though, so I found myself a well-fucked limp noodle when I finally managed sleep.

And honestly, it’s good he put me to sleep so I didn’t have to think too much about the following day.

I was so nervous about introducing Benji and Julian.

I mean, they’d met before, but that’d been business.

Julian had been assistant to the guy Benji had been meeting with.

Off to the side, not part of the discussion.

But first, my brother and I would have a few hours on our own, before Julian rose.

I wasn’t feeling particularly male or female the next morning, so I put jeans and a T-shirt on, pulled my hair into a high ponytail, and applied minimal makeup.

I’d called the hotel’s concierge service the night before to request a driver to take me to the airport, so I was surprised to see Atlas waiting outside my room when I stepped into the hallway.

“I don’t need a guard,” I told him. “You’re here for Julian, and he probably won’t rise for hours.”

“He’s safe on the premises, and my instructions from Gavin are that I’m to be with you when you leave this floor. The limo is waiting for us.”

I shook my head. “The limo is overkill. A car or SUV will be fine.”

He gave a brief nod. “As you wish.”

He walked a few steps behind me in the hallway, but then we were in the elevator alone.

Just the two of us, looking straight ahead, but since the door of the elevator was reflective, we had a slightly blurred view of the tableau we created, standing side-by-side.

He’d been in the background the day before, tailing Julian and me, but now, alone with him, it felt awkward.

Probably best to just talk about it. Right? “I feel the need to say how much I enjoyed our evening, and I’d like to check in with you. I know you don’t want to deal with it when you’re on duty, so let’s deal with it now, so we can drop it the rest of the day.”

He lifted his chin in the reflection and met my gaze. “It isn’t often people understand what it is I need, much less figure out how to give it to me. I feel at peace today. Still . Thank you for giving it to me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Another of those short nods. “The private terminals have their own pick-up area. Do you wish to get out of the car, or will you wait for your brother to come to you?”

“Get me there, and we’ll see how long until he comes out. I may step out so I can hug him properly, but I won’t get far from the car.”

“I’m told he’s traveling without security?”

“He usually does, unless there’s a specific threat.”

Once we were in the SUV, I opened my phone and clicked on the link I’d sent myself to track his flight.

“It’s estimating he’ll land in twelve minutes,” I told Atlas. Those estimates aren’t always accurate for private planes, but it’s usually close.

“Depending on the traffic lights, we should be there in nine to twelve minutes.”

Benji’s plane landed as we pulled up, and minutes later, I could text him we were waiting outside the terminal. I shared my location with him, he shared his back, and I watched him walk to me on my phone’s screen.

I got out when I saw him for real, and our hug lasted forever, which it usually does when we first see each other. Atlas opened the back, Benji slid his bag and backpack in, and I climbed into the backseat with my brother.

“Atlas, this is my brother Benji. Benji, this is Atlas — our driver and security.”

Benji nodded to Atlas in the mirror and told me, “You look good. Happy. What are the plans for the day?”

“We have a few hours until Julian rises. Are you hungry? Lauren gave me some restaurant recommendations.”

“I could eat, absolutely, but I know where I want to take you.”

He took me to a fancy French place. I wasn’t even close to dressed for it, but neither were the two A-list celebrities we spotted across the room.

The menu didn’t have prices, but I could tell from the staff’s attitude, it was one of those places where if you have to ask, you don’t belong.

“I have a helicopter pilot who takes me into the Grand Canyon,” Benji said while we ate. “I’m thinking maybe we can skydive into the canyon tonight with Julian, and then climb our way out. The moon rises around sunset, and it’ll be full.”

“Ooooh. That sounds fun.” I sat back. “But I didn’t bring any of my climbing gear.”

He shrugged. “We’ll buy what we need, and then you’ll have new to ship home.

I talked to a local outfitter last week and had him order everything in, to make sure he has anything we might need in the right sizes, just in case.

I didn’t purchase anything yet — you can still pick what you want based on what he has in stock. ”

“Gavin assigned Atlas to us, and I have a feeling he’ll want him to go, since Marco put Gavin in charge of Julian’s safety.”

Benji lifted a shoulder. “The copter seats six, so that shouldn’t be a problem, even if we have to count Julian as two people. Atlas seems like the kind of guy who knows how to both skydive and climb, but if he doesn’t, we’ll get Gavin to assign someone who does.”

Benji’s phone opens to a tablet, and we spent some time zooming in on the area we’d land, and the route we’d take to the top.

We’d hike the lower part, only climbing the top third, which is how we’d manage it in hours instead of days.

Well, that and the parachutes. Seven extra pounds strapped to our backs on the way out, but shit, I’d carry twice that for a jump like this.

I felt Julian rise as Benji was paying — a full hour earlier than expected.