Free Loving Ean (The Fae Guard Book 2) by Elle Christensen

woman has an obsession with funny t-shirts and loves to make us wear them. She knows we’ll do it too, just to make her happy. I almost snort in deprecation. The women in this group have us guys by the balls, and while Aden may be content with being pussy whipped, and Brannon may want to find it, Kendrix and I are of the same mind. Heaven forbid the day we fall victim to the talons of a woman.
    “What?” Kendrix looks down at his shirt and grins, “I think it rocks. Besides, Laila said I remind her of Captain Awesome.” At my blank stare he laughs. “Seriously? She’s never made you sit through Chuck? Captain Awesome is the ridiculously good looking brother-in-law. In essence, I’m hot.” His eyebrows wiggle suggestively. Seriously? Does he think I’m one of the girls? I roll my eyes and punch him in the shoulder. I pick up two of the beers follow him when he grabs the others and back tracks to the door of the den. As we get nearer, there is a sudden cheer and the decibel in the room threatens to break the sound barrier.
    The room is huge with a massive flat screen on one end, flanked by a bad ass stereo system. There are two rows of black leather couches and recliners, each set in a half circle, facing the TV. Behind them are pool, ping pong, and air hockey tables. I told you, Brannon likes to party. His house is the place we gather the most, next to Rock Falls.
    Right now, the seats are divided into two sections on either side of the room, each with a crowd of trash-talking, morons in matching jerseys. It’s ridiculous and it almost makes me smile. Moments like this keep me from truly losing myself all together.
    Kendrix walks in ahead of me. “Yo! I found this loser skulking around in the front yard,” he yells. “Which side of the room wants to claim his rotten luck for your team?”
    “We’ll take him,” Aden bellows as he tosses me a New York Giants jersey. “We’re crushing their asses anyway.”
    “Sold!” Kendrix grabs the beers from my hands and shoves me to the right. I trip over someone sitting on the floor, landing me in Hayleigh’s lap. To my shock, she laughs and gives me a push. “I don’t expect a lap dance unless we win, Ean.” I roll to the side and sprawl on the couch next to her. I’m trying not to stare, but I’ve never seen this side of Hayleigh. She is always reserved and almost stoic, if I weren’t so in love with Laila, I’d almost think she and I would be a good match. It’s become clear over the last couple of years that she is extremely jaded. It keeps her guarded and she holds herself at a slight distance from everyone. Laila and Shaylee have mentioned that she is more open and fun when they are together, but I’ve never seen her that way.
    I laugh at her joke but quickly look away, afraid that my intense perusal will make her uncomfortable, and she’ll crawl back into her shell. For Brannon’s sake, I hope this change isn’t temporary. She has been inadvertently breaking his heart for as long as he’s known her.
    All of the sudden the opposite side of the room lets out a monstrous groan as this side of the room erupts with triumphant cheers. “How are we gonna win this thing?” somebody complains.
    “Let’s open up a can of kick ass and kill ’em all. Let the paramedics sort ’em out!” Laughter breaks out at the statement and though I don’t know the reference, I’m sure it’s a movie quote—as sure as I am who said it.
    Scanning the room, my eyes land on Laila. She’s so damn cute. Her blonde locks are pulled up into a messy looking bun thing on her head, surrounded by an orange and blue ribbon to support her team. A temporary tattoo of Chicago Bears logo adorns her cheek, and she’s curled up on the couch in a jersey that is two sizes too big. I watch her yell at the ref on the television and want to laugh at the sight of a pixie bawling out the big, tough guy. As if she can feel my gaze, her head turns in my direction and our eyes meet. Despite