Page 16 of Elf Shot

"Instant boner," Arne whispered, and Layla cracked up laughing.

"Shut up or I'll stop."

Arne grabbed onto her, making her jump. "No! Don't… This is the best I've felt in weeks."

"Okay, but this is going to be an additional cost on my contract," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Mercenary."

"Damn straight. Girls shouldn't work for free."

Arne loosened his grip on her legs but didn't let go. She could smell the heady scent of fir trees coming off him, and she wanted to press her nose into it. She shook the image away before it could do any more damage.

"Can I ask you a question? Now that we are friends again?" he said softly.

"I guess?"

"Why didn't you want to come and have a drink with me after Killian's party?"

Shit. Layla didn't want to tell him, but she did. "I panicked."

"Why? We fought together and got along."

"I panicked when you asked because I didn't think someone like you would ask me out."

"Someone like me," Arne said slowly, his golden eyes opening. "You have something against elves?"

"Gods, no. I love elves. I was just sideswiped by the offer. I didn't think you would be interested in me."

Arne frowned. "Because you are human?"

"No. Because I'm Layla."

"That doesn't even make sense."

Layla cringed at the thought of explaining it to him. "Don't worry about it."

"I probably will, but I'm glad you love elves." The flirtatious grin was back, and Layla's head started flashing a red light of warning. She still couldn't help poking him.

"Yeah, I do, and you just invited me to an all-you-can-eat buffet, so thanks, friend," she said, patting both of his shoulders and stepping out of his grip. "Make a mental list of all the hot cousins you can introduce me to."

"Wait, that's not…"

"You should get some sleep. It'll make the tablets work better," Layla said, talking over him. She paused at the door, shooting him a smile. "Feel better!"

6

Arne woke with his head clear and the captain announcing that they would be landing in twenty minutes. He didn't know whether it was the pills or Layla, but his migraine had finally broken. What had Urd said? Something about being fed to Fenris unless he apologized? He could almost hear the old crone cackling with glee because she had been right and saying sorry had been the answer all along.

Of course, she was right. It's her sole purpose.

Arne sat up and rubbed his hands over his face, trying to dislodge the grogginess from his head. To be fair, he'd had every intention of apologizing long and profusely to Layla Ironwood. Except that plan had dissolved in red heat and alpha male bullshit as soon as he had seen her in the restaurant, laughing brightly with a male who wasn't him.

Fuck that guy. Arne had gone from having a cool head to burning with ridiculous mating fury in the blink of an eye. He had wanted to stab his sword into every male who had looked over. And there had been plenty because her curvy body swathed in that tight black dress had looked so fucking good, he wanted to cry.

Gods, those red lips smeared in cream would haunt him until Ragnarök finally wiped them out.

Arne groaned, trying desperately not to get hard thinking about it. It wasn't an easy task because her scent was everywhere. It was like chocolate and nectarines and pheromones. It was probably a good thing that his migraine had impaired him because he would have lost his fucking mind if she touched him like that with a clear head.

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