Dashing Devil Omnibus 2: Books 4-6, page 37
As the final notes of the Old Earth Classical song echoed through the ballroom, Boyd and Hope’s dance drew to a close with a delicate, final twirl. For a moment, as they paused, facing each other with hands still joined, the room fell into a hushed reverence.
Silvie broke the awed silence with rapid clapping, while Raev added a whistled catcall. This got the others going, and cheers and clapping soon echoed through the large room. Hope grinned before leaping up to throw her arms around Boyd’s shoulders and dragging his head down for a kiss.
This kiss was a little more heated than the tender, if passionate, exchange when he had saved her, and her tongue felt hot against his own.
After a moment that was simultaneously longer than was appropriate and yet still much too short, she fell away with a deep blush. Then, the two of them bowed to the still-cheering crowd. As the pair made their way back off the dancefloor, Boyd was glad that none of his other loves approached him for a dance.
He wasn’t ready to be separated from Hope just yet.
The party proceeded in a much more relaxed fashion after their little show. Tinker put on some background music at a softer volume and even joined in with the mingling for a few minutes before retreating back to her corner. Raev spent a little time with her at one point, and Boyd made it a point to check in on her and replenished her snacks.
Boyd got to hear stories of the times Hope had saved the day at one hospital or another. Apparently, each had a method to contact her and knew they only had to keep their worst cases stable long enough for her to arrive. They all went out of their way to ensure Hope wouldn’t let that keep her in New Eden, though, not after what they had learned.
“I’m not making promises; once Hope joins The Devoted, she might not be allowed back into New Eden, and I won’t let her come unescorted. At a minimum, they would have to allow Silver to come with her, but you are within the rapid response range of our ship,” Boyd had replied to offer them hope—literally in this case. “There is no reason she couldn’t come by a few times a week, assuming our assignments permit it.”
Hope threw her arms around him in another hug, so he judged it to have been the right response.
As with all good things, though, the party eventually came to an end.
As was likely with almost any party Victory Seeker ever attended, this one came to an end with his arrival. It was announced by a woosh, as he blurred to the center of the dance floor. The man had changed his rumpled suit out for an exact replica, never having been one for variety in his wardrobe—he thought such things as variety wasteful.
“Hopewing, you are returning to on-call status in a half hour,” he called out with his arrival. “It is time to return to base.” While his words were aimed at the angel tucked under Boyd’s arm, Victory Seeker’s eyes were locked on Boyd in a withering glare. He was clearly in a foul mood.
That was fine by Boyd, especially since the way Hope’s shoulders slumped at the sound of his voice completely upended Boyd’s good cheer. “Good, I was hoping they would send you,” Boyd growled loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “I wanted you to be here when I told her this—just so you know how she means it when it undoubtedly comes up.”
With that, Boyd took Hope by the shoulders and turned her so she was looking at him instead of her scumbag of a Handler. He took the growl out of his voice but made sure it still carried to everyone present, “Hope, from now on, we only follow orders we agree with. If we are given an order we don’t want to follow or don’t think we should, we say no.”
“I can’t disobey orders,” Hope frowned in concern, her golden brows drawing together.
“Yes, you can,” Boyd smiled gently but made sure the words carried his certainty, “if an order doesn’t align with your personal morals, you can say no. We have a responsibility to only use our Power in ways we think best follow the Hero’s code. You know what it means to be a Hero. If anything, following an order you do not agree with would be un-Heroic.”
“Excuse me?” Victory Seeker seethed.
“You are not excused,” Boyd snapped his head in his former mentor’s direction and barked. He continued in a lower growl, “Hold your tongue while we say goodbye and I won’t have charges laid against you for trespassing. This is a private event, and you aren’t on the guest list—nor do you have the right to enter without permission, Handler. A call would have sufficed. Hope is wearing her FDU.”
Victory Seeker looked properly chastised, and by that, Boyd meant enraged. But the man held his tongue, so Boyd turned back to Hope with a much softer expression.
“But, what if they fire me?” Hope looked concerned, “then I’ll never be able to join your team.”
“If it seems like they are going to fire you, just quit.” Boyd shrugged with a smile. “The Devoted could use someone with your talents in our med bay. I imagine Laura would love having you around for all the same reasons these fine people do. We’ll just hire you on for a base-support role until we can get you re-instated as a Hero on our end.”
“W-wait… you can do that?” Hope was clearly shocked by the simplest solution Boyd could think of to protect her for this month.
Her arms clutched at his shoulders, and he could feel that she was doing it to make sure he and his words weren’t a mirage on their temporary Bond.
“Sure, it’s even happened before.” Boyd grinned his devilish grin, turning back to Victory Seeker before he continued. “If anybody gives you an order you don’t want to follow, you can always skip straight to quitting. That way, you don’t even have to wait out the month.”
That should keep her handler polite. He’d also make sure no one did anything stupid, like order Hope to publicly state everything she’d said today was a lie.
Hope pulled herself up for another kiss, Boyd’s hands moving to her waist as his lips met hers. It was as chaste as the others, but he sensed a deep need burning within her—it was as hot or hotter than any he had felt from Silvie. His gestalt told him that he would see the truth of the woman once he had her all to himself, in private.
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, ones he knew to be the result of a sense of relief as opposed to anything negative. She whispered, “Thank you. Having a way out will make this month almost… bearable.”
“I’m glad it helps, but wish I could do more,” Boyd rumbled back.
“You’ve already done so much,” she beamed, took his cheek in her warm and supremely soft hands, and kissed him again.
When Victory Seeker cleared his throat, she pulled away.
Boyd’s head snapped back in the handler’s direction. “She’ll be along after she says her goodbyes. You are excused, Handler. Go wait in the hall.”
The man Boyd had once respected as much as he’d hated glowered at him. The glare that had once paralyzed him now met nothing but contempt. The doors boomed closed as he blurred through them a moment later.
After a stunned silence, the echo of their slamming was met with raucous cheering from Hope’s guests that his loves raucously joined in on.
“Fuck that guy!” a particularly vehement attendee shouted over the cheers.
“Hear hear!” Silvie replied, then broke into a fit of gleeful giggles.
‘While most of them were fooled by the Blonde Buffoon’s public persona,’ Mindy explained while giving him a bemused smile, ‘it would seem Victory Seeker never tried to hide his nature. They all witnessed at least one call over these few months that made them hate the way he treated Hope. You’ve won over the holdouts with that—you are the favorite Hero of each and every person in this room… next to Hope, that is.’
Hope went around and exchanged hugs and farewells, lingering for short, whispered conversations with each of the Devoted. Then Boyd walked her to the doors, each wanting to be together for every possible minute.
“Thank you, again, for… for everything,” she beamed up at him from within his loose hug.
“You…” Boyd started.
But she cut him off. “And don’t tell me I don’t need to thank you, because I already did, and I meant it.”
“You’re welcome,” Boyd finished with a grin, having definitely been about to deny the need for thanks.
Hope returned it with a knowing smirk that faded after a short moment, “I don’t want to say goodbye again.”
“This isn’t goodbye, it’s just a farewell. I’ll see you soon,” Boyd smoothly replied.
“Yes, that’s better.” She grinned again. “I’ll see you soon. Now close your eyes.”
Boyd did as he was told and enjoyed the feel of her as she pressed into him for another kiss. This one lasted for a long moment and while nearly as chaste as the others, he felt the need that he sensed on their Bond through it.
“Keep them closed until I’m gone,” she whispered against his lips before brushing them together again.
Finally, she slipped from his hands and pulled away. He heard the door close much more gently a moment later but kept his eyes closed for a little longer. He knew why she wanted him to keep his eyes closed. Kisses weren’t meant to be that wet or salty. If he’d opened his eyes right away, he risked adding to the tears she’d left on his face.
Chapter 38
Boyd grinned as he let his eyes wander over the table and those gathered around it. Silvie, Raev, Laura, and then Kayla sat on one side with Mindy, Tinker, and Daisy on the other. Sinoe was at the opposite end of the long table, far enough away that he was only getting occasional whiffs of her uniquely heady, floral scent.
His tail wrapped itself around Mindy’s ankle so she could assist with settling him whenever a waft of that amazing aroma overwhelmed his control over his aura. It was worth it, considering that it was the first time he had seen the somewhat feral woman smile. Everyone was dressed in something new.
Their shipment had been loaded onto the osprey when Laura and Daisy had gone shopping in Glorith the other day.
Boyd himself was in a new pair of gray knee-length shorts Silvie had ordered that was a touch silkier than the simple ones he normally selected himself. He’d paired them with a black tee shirt Tinker had made for him. It was snug, but was made of a soft fabric that was more comfortable than he’d expected it ever could be.
Silvie paired a light blue crop top with a pair of snug white shorts that barely hid the globes of her firm ass, and none of her legs. Raev finally had all the yoga pants she could wish for, the ones she wore tonight were a deep green with mesh segments over her thighs that she paired with a cream tank top. Mindy was in yet another black velvet dress that clung to her curves rather than displaying her pale skin. Little Tinker was in an oversized pink silk shirt that hung off her shoulder and served as a tunic.
Each of his women looked amazing but comfortable—which had been his only requirement when they went off to change. Laura had traded out her jeans for a darker pair that clung to her toned legs while a sleeveless deep blue silk blouse showed off arms she clearly put work into maintaining. Boyd had to remind his Gestalt that Laura did not count as his woman, to which he received a scoff.
At least they agreed that Daisy could not be counted as such—she had expressed no interest in being his. His Gestalt was of the opinion that they could change that, if they wished, but wasn’t sure she would be a good fit.
Boyd found the fact that his Gestalt also considered such things important rather… comforting.
‘He considers the same things you do,’ his onyx-haired lover assured him. ‘He just weighs factors differently than you do. We won’t go into any details now, but you two will find a middle ground in how you weigh things as you merge. Your morals should not shift much, but I’ll be here to help guide you.’
Boyd found that to be a comfort, although he also became less and less concerned as the day had worn on and they maintained this semi-merged state, or whatever it was.
He’d thought his Gestalt’s cooperation would be tested with Sinoe, but despite her state of undress, exotic beauty, and literally Powered magmatism, his Gestalt had taken no interest in the mountain nymph. At the thought, Boyd got the impression of a growled complaint about her being in a state of mourning and that such things should be respected. Which made them both blink.
“Kuh-he!” Mindy laughed out loud, but no one commented as Silvie finished telling a story about one of the times they’d snuck out of their rooms in the PAC at night as children. There was a ventilation shaft they could sneak through, making use of Hope’s shields to block a fan, that led to a courtyard in the surface compound.
The courtyard didn’t have a garden or anything, but there were a few trees and some grass. There were no lights, so they could only visit on nights when the stars or moons provided some light. Only a small corner wasn’t covered by cameras but fortunately for Boyd, Silver and Hope, it contained both the exit from the ventilation shaft and an old, inert oak tree that was great for climbing.
‘See,’ Mindy continued privately after glancing around to make sure her laugh hadn’t interrupted the others, ‘just now with Sinoe, that was a moral you held that he agreed with and adopted without even realizing it. Neither of you will have far to bend. One of you will just feel a way about something and the other will pick it up, agree with it, and move along until you find your middle ground.’
Boyd would worry about such things later.
Tonight was to be enjoyed, and enjoying it he was. He was surrounded by smiling, gorgeous women who were all happy to be there. Most of them were giving him looks that ran the range from affectionate to heated. The dancing had gotten Raev a little worked up, but he was going to let her marinate before taking her to bed and enjoying the saucy results.
In addition to the good company, his stomach was full of a rich and hearty meal that fit his tastes much better than the admittedly delicious, but much-too-little morsels available at Hope’s party. Daisy had pulled out all the stops for this feast.
The centerpiece had been a prime rib roast fit to feed fifteen adult men, though he and Raev had polished that off after ensuring everyone else had their fill first. Daisy’s garlicky mashed potatoes went well with the blend of carrots, parsnips, and beets she had roasted to bring out their natural sweetness. She’d served the vegetables with bacon-wrapped roasted brussels sprouts. There was even a Caesar salad for those who preferred a little more rabbit food with their dinner.
Boyd had particularly enjoyed Daisy’s horseradish sauce, only needing a dab to lend a nice kick to the rich prime rib. He decided he should comment on it after the laughter triggered by the end of Silvie’s story died down. Boyd had fallen from a limb while stargazing through the upper leaves of the tree one night, much to Hope’s horror. She’d insisted on using her Power on him, even though he had only torn his shirt.
As the ‘aww how cute’ laughter faded, Boyd grinned. “You have to keep in mind, at the time, that Hope never really talk around me. I’d get one or maybe two words from her, at most, but mostly depended on Silvie to pass along things Hope whispered in her ear. So when Silvie says she told me to sit down so she could heal me, what Hope actually said was—with all the determination of an eight-year-old—‘Sit! Heal!’ while pointing at the ground.” Boyd chuckled along with the resulting round of giggles and laughter.
As those faded, he continued. “Now, before I forget again, Daisy…” He waited until she met his eye before grinning. “This was amazing. You’ve really outdone yourself. A roast that size is no easy thing, especially with that caramelized exterior. And that horseradish sauce added just the right touch… which recipe did you use?”
“Oh… um… thanks.” Daisy glanced down to her plate, then back up to him with a small smile. “That one wasn’t in the database you showed me. I found it on the net.”
“If you saved it, please send me the link. I have a good one, but that one was better.” He gave her a smile.
“Sure.” She shrugged a slender shoulder and looked back down at her plate. “It wasn’t anything special, really, just one of the top recommended search results.”
“Well, I thought it was good,” Raev jumped on board. “I put too much on at first, but once I dialed in on the proper amount to use, I liked it better than the other stuff I’ve tried.”
“Too much heat for me.” Silvie crinkled her nose. “I liked the carrots and other veggies, though. Good salad, too.”
“It was nice if you just added just a bit,” Laura told Silvie, but then gestured at Boyd and Raev. “These two still used too much. If you have the opportunity again, add just a little and let it melt into the juices. I think you’ll like it, then. If you tried copying Boyd, I wouldn’t be surprised about you being hesitant to try again, though. My mouth burned just watching him eat.”
Their trauma nurse gave Daisy a grin. “But in small amounts, this had an excellent flavor.”
“I also liked the meat, but you people over-season everything,” Sinoe said with a sage nod. “You should learn to enjoy the natural flavors.”
“The potatoes were nice and fluffy,” Tinker added quickly, evidently thinking Sinoe should be covered for.
“It was all delicious,” Mindy noted.
“If this is how they eat every day, I can see why they hired you!” Kayla laughed before continuing. “Speaking of which, I was wondering if you would like to sit down and…”
“No.” Daisy shook her head. “I’m staying under the radar to protect my brother. But thank you, everyone. This was a lot of work but I think it was worth it—considering what all of you did today. Speaking of Connor, though…” She turned a look on Boyd that verged on becoming a glare but didn’t quite cross the line—yet. “Surely your media blackout is over. Can you call him soon? He asks every day.”
Boyd let a big grin spread across his lips. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk to the little guy—he was looking forward to it. He just felt terrible having to put it off.
“…having to put it off,” Mindy finished voicing his inner thoughts on the topic.
Boyd chuckled as Daisy gave Mindy a confused look and asked the slip of a girl, “Should I call him now with everyone here, or should it be a private call? I’m not sure which he would prefer.”
