Chapter 153

Chapter 153
Cora--

I feel sore in ways I never even imagined before today. I know I’m walking around like I decided to learn how to ride a horse by competing in a rodeo. Emory’s crinkled nose and muffled laugh were enough to tell me I won’t be fooling anyone about anything until I can get some gentle yoga in. My morning run was a distant dream today– I got plenty of cardio last night, anyway. 

I’m doing my best to ignore everything except the warm, life-giving coffee gently steaming in my hands when Emory clears her throat. “Rode hard and put away wet, huh?”

The giggles from the cooks in the other room do not go unnoticed, but Logan ignores them as he replies from behind the financial articles he’s reading on his phone. “Probably too dehydrated to be wet by the end. Landon’s smug face is all the guards wanted to talk about in the morning briefing today.”

Emory, fully in on the game now, replies to him in her most reasonable tone. “Well, can ya blame ‘em? He could’ve at least showered this mornin’.” 

I shouldn’t engage, but they didn’t even let me get one sip of my coffee before they started in. “You’re both so incredibly funny. What a shame there isn’t a market for shifter comedians. You wouldn’t have to bother leading the pack– you could take your show on the road and put the rest of us out of our misery!” 

This breaks the act they had going, and the whole lot of them burst into guffaws while I resolutely stare into my coffee, praying for it to cool down faster so I can just chug it and limp out of here with some shred of my dignity.

Of course, Landon would never let me be laughed at like that. He isn’t about to let me be made fun of by anyone other than him. It’s much nicer when I do it, you have to admit. “You’re just mad I beat your high score, bro.” 

Logan’s laughter stops abruptly– first from confusion, but then with dawning realization. “What do you mean, my high score?” From his tone, he already knows. Landon just stares back at him with a steadily widening smirk. “Fuck!”

Emory’s eyes shoot wide, obviously hearing what the guys are talking about. “Logan! Are you fuckin’ kidding me?! What in the Sam Hell?”

Landon and I are both smirking now, watching Emory realize that Logan– at some point, to someone– bragged about the amount of times he got her off in one night. “Now, little rose–”

She puts a hand up and cuts him off. “I don’t want to hear it. We will discuss this somewhere else, after I’ve gotten a handle on myself and you’ve figured out how you plan to fix this.”

It’s so nice to see the tables turn sometimes. See? I’ve got you, mate. Once the door slams behind Emory, Landon picks up my coffee and pulls me to my feet by the hand. As I’m leaning on him to fucking hobble out the damn door, he leans back through the doorway. “Oh, I almost forgot. You’re probably thinking a number around eight or ten, but you should know it’s actually fifteen. Have a good day, Alpha!”

There’s a crash from the kitchen– one of the cooks must have dropped something. That’s two more people that heard first-hand. I watch the door close on Logan’s slowly morphing face– from slack-jawed surprise to steadily mounting irritation. “Was the damn parting shot really necessary?” 

Landon sweeps me up into his arms, impatient with my slow pace now that my limping doesn’t serve to drive his point home. “‘Course not, but it felt fucking great. Don’t you think so?”

“There isn’t much that feels great right now, actually.”

Finally– finally– I see a flash of embarrassment and remorse on Landon’s face. It’s only for a second, but it’s enough to make me feel a little better. “Poor kitten. Let me get you soaking in a tub. I think this might be the actual torture part of orgasm torture. I’ll make it up to you.”

I cross my arms. The effect isn’t quite as powerful with him carrying me. “You’d fucking better. Brownie points, my ass. You just wanted me to be the ruler in your dick measuring contest with your brother. I expect a glass of champagne with my bath and a full body massage afterwards. After another spa day, we’ll talk about it.” 

Landon grins sheepishly down at me as he mounts the stairs. “At least I already know the kinds of products you actually use this time. That should help.”

I exaggeratedly raise an eyebrow. “I fully intend to make up new ones and force you to guess all over again. You’re more sorry when you don’t know if you’ve done well apologizing or not.”

His shoulders relax as he sets me down on his bathroom counter. He knows he’s forgiven. For now. “Of course, mate. You’re so right. I think I heard somewhere that it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.” He bows sarcastically before he turns to fill the bath.

His back is to me, so I don’t have to hide my smile when I reply. “You heard right. Now go get me some supplies, spa monkey.”