Micaela’s Big Bad by Tijan

22

So Girly

We walked into Bass,and all eyes were on us.

All eyes were on Kieran, but then the curiosity and somewhat hostile attention turned to me. I was having deja vu from when we walked into Quesadilla’s compound.

This time, it was demons.

And this time, I heard a, “MICAELAAAAAA!” before Nikki broke from the crowd and came running at me.

We ran to each other.

We collided. We didn’t care.

Arms around each other.

Bodies hitting each other.

We were laughing, and crying, and being girls.

“Oh, girl! I have missed you so freaking much.” Nikki wound her arms even tighter around my neck.

I squeezed her back.

Kieran was inside of me, feeling the hug through our link. He started to pull out, giving us privacy.

No.I pulled him back. I wanted him to feel how I felt about Nikki.

She’s a good friend to you.

Except for the part where she didn’t tell me Jay was cheating on me.

Well, she’s a demon. And that’s not an issue anymore.

I glanced back, grinning at him.

He grinned back before the Stuck-Up Vampire from the blue velvet room approached him.

I need to go and work.

Okay.

I was still hugging Nikki. We were starting to rock back and forth.

If you go with her, my driver will take you.

What about--

I stopped in mid-thought because I knew. His driver would take me to Nikki’s apartment. He’d return for Kieran, and both of them would come to get me.

Kieran would take me back to the estate he uses here.

Nikki just didn’t know that part.

Your friend understands mates. She’s expecting it.

You’re in her head?

She was worried about you. She’s not so much anymore. Have fun with your friend. I’ll come for you tonight.

After that thought, I felt his own surge of emotions. Possession. Need. Want.

And that emotion I was still scared to label.

I felt him walking away, his mind returning to his other conversations from before.

“I get you tonight, don’t I?”

Nikki pulled back, asking as she did.

I heard the uncertainty in her voice, and guilt speared me a moment.

I didn’t like hearing that in my best friend.

I nodded. “Yes. Your place?”

She laughed, the relief palpable in her tone. “Hell yeah! Ralph ubered me here. I was told that I should expect to ride back with Kieran Raoul’s mate because he’s not likely to let her ride back unattended.” She rolled her eyes upwards, grinning. “I’m lying. I wasn’t told that, but anyone who’s anyone in our world would know that about you.”

We headed out.

I felt Kieran through our link, and I felt his goodbye.

I sent mine back, linked arms with Nikki and we were getting into our vehicle.

“Fancy schmancy.” Nikki climbed in, looking all around.

It was the same vehicle I rode in with Kieran to Quesadilla’s compound. I hadn’t taken it in on that ride. I’d been worried about Nikki and distracted by Kieran, but since then I’d come to appreciate the grandiose of it.

Leather seats.

Blacked-out windows.

There was a whole system where we could push a button, and our drink of choice would roll out. I used it for coffee one time.

Then a latte.

Then a chai tea.

An espresso.

“So.” Nikki’s head was relaxing all the way back. She was watching me. “Do you love him?”

My heart skipped a beat.

I felt Kieran fully through our link now.

You’re eavesdropping.

About this? Fuck yes, I am.

I smiled. “Do you love Brad?”

Nikki’s mouth dropped. “Are you serious? We talked about Brad already. Brad is like old bread by now. He’s old news, even though I love bread and I’ll always love bread. You and Kieran Raoul. Everyone is talking about it. Him having a mate? And him having a mate in our hemisphere? That’s the only thing people are talking about. Or, not people. You know what I mean.”

I felt a nudge from Kieran.

Well?

I nudged him right back, answering, “Yes. I do.”

I could feel him smiling. I love you, too.

We were mates so fast.

Everything happened so fast, but I did.

I loved him.

This is just the beginning, Micaela.

I know.

I was brought back to the vehicle because Nikki was squealing, grasping my arm, and she was kicking her feet a little. I waited a second, then I joined in because this was a moment that I needed to be all girly about.

It was later that night,after Nikki had passed out when I felt Kieran coming for me.

I knew he had business to handle and I was tired so I went into the guest room, but I was awake.

He came in, and bent over me.

His arms slid underneath me.

I was waiting for you.

He tucked me against his chest and turned back for the door.

I’m glad you did.

He took me to his house, and he told me all over again how he loved me.

He showed me too.