Missing the Night Read online

  Thomas squeezed Sallen’s hand and nodded, “I can open up some time. Do you have a project?”

  “Nessa does, but she has to schedule time away from her guys right now. She is looking for a four-suite bed and breakfast with a small spa on the main floor. She is interested in a small fertility clinic on the manor grounds.” She checked with the boss. He nodded. “Right. The designs are being drawn up, but the pay is ridiculously good, and you would get to stay close to home for a few months or however long it takes.”

  Thomas grinned. “Send me the specs, and I will work on quotes.”

  She nodded. “The architect is getting us preliminaries this week. Then, we will double-check it with an engineer before we bring it to you. But, she will be in touch shortly.”

  Sallen smiled. “It sounds like you are a business partner.”

  “Me? No. I am just good at administration and logistics.”

  Cale cocked his head. “You have a business degree, right? I would like to discuss opening a second shop for accessories.”

  She opened her mouth and closed it again.

  Acker nodded. “If you know anything about the medical field, I wouldn’t mind an overhaul of my books and streamlining the patient experience.”

  Thomas spoke slowly, “If you have time, I would like help organizing my business. It is occasionally awkward finding the permits and paperwork in an efficient manner.”

  She looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I would be happy to take a look. As Stovos creeps toward retirement in his old age, I will have all kinds of time.”

  “A little more firmly anchored. Hah. And I will get you for that old-age crack later.”

  She smiled brightly. “I am counting on it.”

  She was wrapped in shadows and laughed.

  * * * *

  Sallen stared at the spot where the couple had been sitting, the bright laughter hanging in the air. “Was it something we said?”

  A tendril of shadow reappeared and wrapped around the bag on the table. It disappeared as well.

  Sallen and her mates laughed until they cried.

  Nessa and her men arrived and joined their group. Nessa smiled, “Have you seen Orvis and Stavos?”

  Thomas murmured, “I believe they left to have dessert.”

  Sallen and Cale leaned against each other as they laughed. Being supernatural meant that they viewed sex as an experience to bind to their partner or for entertainment or win a fight. It was hard to stay mad when you were face to face with someone and giving and taking pleasure.

  * * * *

  Orvis laughed as he pulled her onto him. “I am never going to dance if you keep grabbing me the moment my hips move.”

  “Wear the belt and nothing else, and I will try and contain myself.”

  She snorted and climbed off him, removing the rigging and the dress. The sandals took a long time, and he was making grumpy sounds by the time she was free of them.

  Orvis put the hip scarf on, set the music, shimmied, and yelped when he pulled her toward him again, rolling her to the bed.

  “Atolica, I do love you. I didn’t know I was waiting for you until you were here, and now that I know who and what you are to me, I want to keep you with me always.”

  She stroked his wide jaw and white hair. “If I didn’t love you, I would have left after your temper tantrum three years ago.”

  “Temper tantrum?”

  “When you almost decked the CEO from that construction firm.”

  He grimaced. “He mentioned borrowing you in a very man-to-man manner. I was not fond of his suggestion.”

  She blinked. “Oh. I knew he was a grabby bastard but had no idea that he had said that to you.”

  “Were there any other men who grabbed?”

  She stroked his jaw. “Not since we declared ourselves, love.”

  “Are you handling me?” He looked at her with suspicion.

  She grinned. “That is what you pay me for, dearest.”

  He rolled until she was astride him. “You need a raise.”

  “You are right. I absolutely do.” She leaned in to take his lower lip between hers carefully.

  “Where is your normal frenzy?”

  “You like slow. I am moving slow.” She ran her tongue up his neck.

  “I like to move slow. I like you to move fast.”

  He rolled and pinned her hands above her head. She arched against him, and the clash of beads and coins punctuated her movements. “Maybe we should skip the dancing until an anniversary or something.” He muttered it as he used his mouth on her breasts.

  She chuckled. “I will film something and send it to you when you are on a business trip.”

  He groaned. “You are a horrible woman. What did I do to deserve you?”

  “You chose a harpy, and she chose you back. You are doomed, Boss.”

  He grinned and moved down her body. “Just one final kiss.”

  She closed her eyes and gasped. “Where did you get that feather?”

  His laughter warmed her as they played. Work hard, play hard, it worked for them.

  Author’s Note

  So, this one started as Missing the Night, and it was just going to be Nessa’s story, but then, Stovos appeared, and Tolly was there, and the whole boss/assistant relationship was too hard to resist. My first full novel since Pixies in the Park.

  There are so many characters in here who need their own stories. For example, what happened with Stinger when she was abducted from the stagette party? I never got to talk about her. I want to talk about her. Lol. Perhaps one day. (Like the next book. Unexpected Sting is the next book up where Stinger and Orion settle an old conflict.)

  As my Stand Alone Tales have fairy tale bases, this one began with the twelve dancing princesses... in case anyone was wondering.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  About the Author

  Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

  An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around, and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

  In real life, she is now engaged in beekeeping, and her adventures can be found on the YouTube channel, Mystery Bees Apiary. Just look for the cartoon kittens.