Page 59 of Elf Shot

Arne pulled her close. "That's the plan."

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Layla woke to a warm kiss on her cheek, and steaming coffee wafted under her nose. She cracked an eye and was greeted with the mouthwatering sight of Arne in a pair of black pajama pants and no shirt.

"Morning, vennen. How did you sleep?" he asked, stroking the hair from her face.

"Like the dead. Someone banged me unconscious," Layla mumbled, reaching for her coffee. It was hot and perfect. When she groaned, the tips of Arne's ears went pink in the most adorable way. "What time is it?"

"About eight. We should probably get a move on. We can grab some breakfast when we get there," he said. He looked over her. "I would prefer to stay in bed with you, but my mother has already been sending me insistent messages."

It was Layla's turn to blush. "Ah, responsibility calls."

"Yes. She's going to open a portal for us to get us there sooner. It's a twenty-hour drive otherwise, and she's impatient."

"Portals are so handy," Layla yawned. She sat up and stretched. Arne stared at her bare chest with a hungry eye. "Hey, don't look at me like that, or we will never get anywhere."

Arne shook himself. "You're right. I'm going to go shower in the other bathroom. If I go with you, I'll have to fuck you again." He kissed her forehead and quickly moved out of the room, a telling bulge in his pants. Layla grinned, happy that he had that reaction to her even when she was looking like a tangle-haired witch.

They showered in record time and were getting ready to leave when Tor came in.

"Woah, gods what did you do in here," he complained. His eyes went straight to the armchair. "You're going to have to throw that thing out. It smells like fucking in here."

"Try not to be too jealous," Arne said and grabbed his keys.

Layla giggled at Tor's expression. "What are you doing here?"

"I had Alruna ring me to come and make sure you two were awake. I'm going to come with you through the portal, and then I'll go see the Ulfheðnar. They are getting twitchy now that they know that Varg is working with Vili," Tor replied.

"Try and get them ready for a teleconference this afternoon. We need to get Kian and the Ironwoods online too and make a plan," Arne said, taking Layla's hand.

"Have you heard from Ciara how her hunt went?" Tor asked.

Layla raised a brow. "No, but she tends to fall off the grid when she's working. Why? You're not worried, are you?"

"Not even a little," Tor said, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's just that Varg saw her, and we need to assume that he will target her too."

"Good luck to him if he does. She'll make a great rug for the Ironwood mansion out of his hide," Layla replied and took out her phone. "I'll text you her number. Maybe send her a message. She might be more inclined to answer you because you aren't family."

"I doubt it, but I will anyway." Tor went back to his apartment to grab his gear, leaving Layla smiling after him.

"I suppose you better call your mother. It seems like she's waiting."

"She wants to see if we are mated and is going to be nosy about it," Arne huffed. "Just ignore her if it gets too much."

"Ignore the queen? Never." Layla gasped playfully.

"You have no issues ignoring me, and I'm a prince."

Layla pulled him down for a kiss. His hands moved over the curves of her ass and squeezed in a way that made her brain hazy.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Just because." Layla stroked the tips of his ears and pressed another kiss to his lips. "We better get going."

Arne let out a tight breath. "The sooner we get there, the sooner I can get in you."

"How confident of you that you will get another shot at all of this," Layla teased, gesturing to herself. "I might make you work for it."

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