Roommate. They shared a dwelling. If Wycke did intend to seduce Piers, he’d have to continue plying the cockblocker—whatever cockblocker meant—with alcohol so she’d pass out and not listen to all the wicked things he planned for her friend.
Sure, there were easier targets. Even now, Wycke felt their gazes on him. Crook his finger? They’d come scurrying. No fun there. He liked a bit of a chase before running his quarry to ground.
Piers intrigued him, drawing him in. Why? Handsome, nice body, acceptable bulge filling out the front of his jeans, far enough away from Wycke’s self-righteous brother-in-bonding to avoid a good scolding.
But Wycke had seen many good-looking people in his day. Something about this man seemed familiar. Couldn’t be. He’d have remembered. He’d also never been to this particular city before.
The mystery niggled. He’d never wanted anything so badly in his life as a few more moments of this man’s time. What would that pale skin feel like against his fingertips? He could almost feel Piers’ lips against his own. An image appeared in Wycke’s mind: the two of them entangled in the most intimate of ways. Instead of being merely another erotic thought, the vision caused longing the likes of which Wycke had never known.
Wycke asked Jess, “Have you known him long?”
“Since we were kids.”
“Tell me, where is he from?”
“Born and raised here in Asheville. At least, I think so.” A confusion crease appeared between her brows.
So, definitely human, and highly unlikely for Wycke to have met him elsewhere.
Piers came back toward Wycke.
“Do you dance?” If Wycke could lure Piers onto the dance floor, get him close enough… Even without magic, he could cast a spell to ensure they ended up together.
Nope. Wrong. So, so wrong.Duty before pleasure, remember?But something about Piers really niggled at Wycke’s brain.
“Can’t. I’m working.” A brief something flashed across Piers’ face. Desire? Longing? If he wanted Wycke, why hide behind a façade of indifference?
Wycke should be working, too, though his search would end with him telling Saris the sad news. Radre searched also. Would he know someone or something killed the child?
“Aww… C’mon, Piers,” Jess lifted her head from the bar enough to say. A napkin clung to her cheek. “You gotta take a break sometime. Go dance with the pretty man. I would, but…” Her forehead clonked against the bar.
“It’s not my break.” Too late for Piers to answer, based on Jess’s snore.
Wycke aimed a glance behind Piers. There. A man more tastefully dressed. Must be the manager. A little mental suggestion…
“Hey, kid,” the man said. “Why don’t you take a break? Go mingle with the customers a bit.”
Piers whipped his head around so fast Wycke’s neck twinged in sympathy. “What? Max, you never let us mingle during working hours.”
Max the Manager shrugged. “What can I say? Tonight, I’m making an exception. Now go before I change my mind.”
Wycke cocked a brow. “Wouldn’t you say there’s something divine at work here?”
Piers rolled his eyes, hands on his hips. “One dance only. I’m telling you now, I can’t be responsible for any damage done to your toes.”
Wycke flicked his fingers downward, surrounding his feet with a shield spell he’d learned young when an awkward instructor taught him to dance. “You have my word.”Simple magic. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to have complete control of his power, to conjure at will, every spell producing the desired results.
Piers stepped through an open section of the bar.
From her spot face down on the bar, Jess lifted a thumb.
The men who’d ogled Wycke earlier now surged toward the bartender. Oh, no. This dance was taken. Wycke wrapped a possessive arm around Piers’ waist, steering him toward the dance floor.
“Pushy bastard, aren’t you?” The slight smile took any sting from the words. By all the elder gods, Piers’ attractiveness increased when he smiled.
Piers. What an odd name. Then again, human-realm humans always struck Wycke as a bit odd.
His arm tingled where they’d touched. “No, pushing implies I’m behind you.” Of course, since Wycke couldn’t currently see Piers’ gorgeous ass, he definitely wasnotpushing.