Esme pulled away from her friend with a sigh, feeling guilty for the way she acted towards him, but that guilt then turned into anger once more as she looked up at the cut on Leo's cheek and ear. He'd barely dodged one of the knives she'd thrown at him, and although she purposely missed so as not to have killed him 'yet', it didn't mean she was against hurting him. Damn, she was such a spiteful bitch.
"We didn't know he was on our side," Isana commented, trying to calm her down.
Esme placed her hair behind her ear. "Did you want to get a milkshake?" She asked nervously, wanting to make it up to him though it certainly wasn't all her fault that this all happened.
"Honestly, Es.. I think I need a beer," Leo chuckled, and the left side of her mouth twitched into an amused smile.
"Should we head back to ONYX? I'm pretty sure GABRIEL," Esme gave her mate a sidelong glance. "Will be more than happy to provide a VIP room on the house."
"Will I now?" Gabriel murmured softly as he sauntered to her side, his hand snaking around her waist, pulling her closer to him as his face went into the side of her neck, and he left a lasting kiss on her sensitive skin.
Oh, was he marking his territory right now in front of Leo?!
Esme watched as Leo's eyes widened, and he looked between them, shock written all over his features. Esme released a long breath, grabbed his hand on her waist and spun around, her temper flaring as she looked up at him. "Yes, you will," Esme said, putting her hands against his hard chest, but only to put a little distance between them. She was angry at him right now; he didn't deserve any of her attention.
"Er.. If I'm being honest, Es.." Leo spoke up from the side, a little awkwardly, as his eyes flicked to Gabriel and back to her. "I'd rather go to Freddie's."
Esme blinked back in surprise, then remembered the quaint bar they went to with Hana and Rory, and she nodded with a small smile. "That sounds great." She pushed away from Gabriel, her attention back on the vampire hunter; she shook her head at the casual use of the title in her mind, then added. "How'd you feel about me driving?"
The she-wolf didn't know how to act around him just yet; she had nearly killed the man after all. "It's not your driving that'll kill me," Leo smirked, making Esme's mouth flop open. "It's that killer smile of yours." He winked, making her gape even more, especially with Gabriel standing right beside her. But then she couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth as she glanced at her bristling mate and back at Leo, whose hazel eyes were lit up in amusement. He did it on purpose.
Serves Gabriel right.
"No, don't be too hard on our mate," Isana whined, making Esme roll her eyes. Of course, she was always going to take her mate's side.
"Mind if I tag along?" Marcus appeared by her side, almost making her jump. Esme was usually too alert for such an occurrence, but if anyone was going to sneak up on her, it would be Marcus.
"Ah, I should have known you were a werewolf," Leo spoke up before she could reply to her friend. "Do you not trust me still, or are you afraid of losing your bestie spot by her side?" He grinned boyishly at Marcus, who growled at him in return.
"Actually, Marcus.." Esme turned to him. "I kinda just want to be alone with Leo."
Marcus' brows went up in surprise, and his eyes flicked to the vampire standing behind her. "Are you sure about that? Gabriel did nearly let you kill Leo for rumours about you two.." He trailed off as he looked back at Esme's unimpressed expression.
She spun on the spot again and smiled up at her mate. "Oh, I think Gabriel will be fine with this, and if he doesn't.. Well, he brought it on himself." Her hand trailed up her mate's chest and to his sharp jawline. "After all.. I owe my friend a drink after trying to kill him.. It's the least I can do. Don't you think?" Esme's eyes were locked with Gabriel's, challenging him to say otherwise.
Marcus cleared his throat, and she heard him pat Leo on the back. "Why don't we go back to the car while they have a moment?"
"He was never in any danger," Gabriel began in his velvety smooth voice that meant he was trying to wiggle his way out of it. Not only that, but by using his divinely good looks, his honeyed voice and everything else about him that would usually make her succumb to him. But not this time.
Esme slid both her hands up Gabriel's chest and into the nape of his hair, pressing her body against his, letting his hands roam down her back and to the top of her backside. "But what about me? Were you not at least a little concerned that I might get hurt?" She asked in a sultry voice, her eyes twinkling darkly.
Gabriel pulled her closer to his body as he lowered his face to hers. "My love, I never thought you'd be in danger." His hands slid up her back, and one went into her hair as his lips hovered over hers, his captivating eyes ensnaring her. "You. Are. A. Dangerous woman," He drawled with corners of his mouth twitching up.
Yes, she was..
Esme closed the small distance between them, pressing her lips against his, clinging onto his luscious locks. He deepened the kiss, his tongue dominating her mouth, but she sucked and bit him making him groan, inciting her own desire as she felt his growing erection against her stomach. Her hand slid down, and she caressed him lightly before biting him roughly on his lower lip making his eyes snap open in shock before his eyes hooded and stared at her feverishly.
Esme licked her lips, her mouth feeling dry and wanting more after seeing how she affected him so but now was not the time. She stood on her tiptoes, her hand still on his large length and whispered. "Remember this the next time you piss me off. I'll drive you insane," She nibbled his ear, then abruptly moved out of his arms and walked away, smirking.
"That teasing little minx.." Gabriel murmured. She could feel his gaze burning on her back and going down to her ass, making her smile even more. But she didn't look around; that was what he wanted, and she liked him being left aroused and unable to release his.. stress.
"I'll see you tonight," Gabriel purred darkly, sauntering behind her in a lazy gait. She knew his hands were probably in his pockets as he checked her out.
Esme stopped in front of the exit and looked over her shoulder at him, doing exactly what she knew he was doing. "After blowing your mind a dozen times last night to make up for my date with Einar.. You think you'll get any?" She raised a brow before opening the door and strutting outside.
Just before the door closed behind her, Esme heard Gabriel reply deliciously. "Hmmm, I have my own ways to get out of the 'dog house'. You'll be screaming my name with that delectable tongue of yours by the end of it."
Esme stopped and bit her lip from his sexy voice and the visions he incited in her mind about their evening together. Oh, she was looking forward to it.
"Es, are you okay?" Leo's voice snapped her out of her horny daydreaming, and Esme blushed, looking away from where he sat on the bench next to Marcus. Her eyes then darted to the werewolf, realising he must have heard Gabriel's comment. Indeed he had, his brows were furrowed, and he couldn't look at her.
"Yeah.. I was dealing with.." Esme trailed off, wondering how much she should divulge to the hunter. "Gabriel. He should have told me from the start, and none of this would have happened." She stepped towards Leo, an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm sorry about this."
Leo stood up and raised his hands. "Hey, you didn't kill me, so you know.. it's fine. You actually let me try and explain, so that's something. I knew you were a decent she-wolf."
A decent she-wolf.. Esme didn't expect to hear such words from a hunter's mouth, let alone anyone's mouth.
"Well, I don't like acting on my emotions.. Otherwise, Marcus here would have died long ago," She replied casually, making Marcus smirk and Leo look between them with raised brows.
Leo whistled. "I don't know how you make killing your friend so.. sexy?"
Marcus smacked his shoulder. "And you want to be alone with him?" He growled, directing his question at Esme.
She shrugged. "Meh, I'm kinda used to it now. I'll be fine, Marcus. I mean.. did you not watch our little fight? I had the upper hand the whole time."
"You did not! I was letting you. I didn't want to hurt you!" Leo exclaimed as he followed her to the car and climbed into the passenger seat.. Esme saluted her friend with two fingers before putting the car in gear and set off to their next destination, feeling more relaxed in this car journey than the one going to the Battle Bar.