Free United Eden by Nicole Williams Page A

hug. Youve got to be one of the most thoughtful, sweetest, kindest men Ive ever known.
    Eh, yeah . . . he said, sounding stern. Thats one rumor we dont want getting out into the public. Keep the lid on that one, wil ya, sister? I mean, woman I love,”he shook his head once”I mean, my brothers soul mate”another head shake”I mean, my future Betrothed. One more head shake, fol owed by, I dont know what to cal you any more.
    I smiled against his chest. Bryn works.
    Stil trying to sweep my girl off her feet, the voice I loved most cal ed out behind me. Hows that working out for you? Wil iams voice was light as can be, no seriousness in it.
    I think Im gaining ground, Patrick answered, giving me a final squeeze before releasing me. You better watch your six, brother.
    Wil iam chuckled, aware of nothing that had transpired between Patrick and me other than our embrace, although his ignorance wouldnt last long. I couldnt keep something like this from him.
    I leave you alone for five minutes and a guys already tried to step into my place. He shook his head like he didnt know what to do with me, although I knew from experience he knew exactly what to do with me.
    Wil iam, wow, nice digs, Patrick let out a cat-cal sounding whistle. You real y outdid yourself getting dressed tonight.
    Id been so obsessed with staring into his face, I hadnt noticed anything else. Letting my eyes slide south, a light blue crew-neck shirt had replaced the black jacket, a pair of dark blue boardshorts replaced the black slacks, and a pair of sandals were where a shiny pair of black leather shoes had been minutes ago.
    He did a twirl for us. Yeah, wel , everyone I saw was in casual wear, so I decided to take the monkey suit off and join the crowd.
    My brows slanted down as he slung his elbow behind my neck, pul ing me to him. Im the only one out there in casual wear, or cotton and non-designer for that matter.
    Exactly, he lowered his voice. Everyone I saw was going casual.
    I cast a quick look down at my outfit and then did another not so quick look at Wil iams. I was more business casual where hed taken it down a couple notches more to beach casual.
    You did this to deflect attention from me, didnt you? I said, pul ing on the hem of his tee.
    Nothing ashamed about it, he answered, Maybe.
    There was no maybe about it. Everything Wil iam did was intentional. Thank you, I said as my lips thanked him with a peck on the cheek.
    Its not as noble a gesture as you might think, he began, the partial wince of chagrin setting in now. I didnt want you to feel uncomfortable of course, but more than that, I didnt want to give every un-United guy in our Al iance an excuse to be checking you out al night. He cupped his hand over the canyon of my back. Thats my job.
    Patrick shifted, looking away from us. Il leave you two alone. Nice talking with ya, Bryn. He flashed a smile my way as he started down the hal way.
    Wait for us, Wil iam cal ed after him, fitting his hand over mine. Ive been waiting for this night for two hundred years. Im not about to miss it.
    I laughed as he threw me piggy-back style on his back and jogged up to Patrick, whod turned to wait for us in the hal . He was stil smiling, but his eyes refused to look at the two of us gal oping and laughing down the hal .
    Eager much? I said, turning my attention back to Wil iam. I wasnt going to let Patricks and my conversation ruin the time I got to share with Wil iam when he was like this.
    Carefree and hopeful and bursting at the seams with happiness. These were rare moments life didnt give out readily”they were not meant to be experienced half-heartedly.
    Like you wouldnt believe, Wil iam answered, tilting his head back towards me just enough I was able to connect my lips with his. However, no matter how much I wished the hal would have been infinite, we were yards away from spil ing out into the tent fil ed to capacity with Immortals that would not look favorably on two unBetrothed members of their