Page 88 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

The next six hours passed painfully slowly. Bastian’s muscles were aching and tense. Every new interaction between Eleanor and her customers had him fighting the urge to jump from the shadows and interfere. His eyes darted to every face, every head of shaggy blond hair, searching. Luke did not appear. He wasn’t sure if he should be furious, or relieved.

When last call was announced, the club’s patrons began filtering out. Then the music died down, and the remainder of lingerers were ushered from the building by Eaden’s bouncers. They’d given him one look and steered clear, leaving him to the shadows where he waited as Eleanor did her closing duties and side work.

When she emerged from behind the bar, untying her apron and hanging it up, he crept out. She stood speaking to one of the other servers. Both their eyes fell on him and her co-worker’s widened; she elbowed Eleanor.

“All done, sugar?” he said at the same time Eleanor whirled to face him.

“Oh. Bastian, this is Kaylee. Kaylee, Bastian. Kaylee is one of my friends,” she added, by way of explanation.

“Nice to meet you, Kaylee.” He held out a hand, which he didn’t usually do around skittish females. Kaylee eyed it for several moments, swallowed, then tentatively reached forward. He gave her a gentle shake then turned back to Eleanor.

“Ready?”

“Right. Yes. See you around Kay?”

“You’ll be here tomorrow?”

“Yup.”

Kaylee nodded, then reached forward and pulled Eleanor into an embrace. “Take care of yourself, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She threw a glare at Bastian as she said it, as if he were some kind of liability to Eleanor.

He snorted and started walking away. Eleanor caught up a moment later. He nodded at several lingering bouncers who waited around to walk the employees to their cars. Awareness crawled over his skin, and he glanced over his shoulder. He caught sight of Eaden in the shadows near the back hallway, his arms crossed. The club’s owner watched him, then nodded. He gave one in return, then placed a protective hand at Eleanor’s lower back and ushered her from the building.

“No Luke, I take it?” she asked, once they were out of hearing distance. The street was silent. His bike appeared and he pulled on a bit of magic to summon her helmet and then his. She fitted it onto her head. She always looked so damn sexy in that thing. He summoned his jacket next, even though there was no danger of crashing. She’d been worried about it the first night. What he hadn’t told her was that his magic was capable of protecting her if anything were to happen. So, technically, she didn’t need the extra gear. The helmet was great simply for the com system. But the jacket? He just liked seeing her in his clothes. He made a point of helping her into it, knowing she could damn well put it on herself. It smelled like him, and the idea of her wrapped in his scent triggered something primal in his brain.

She huffed but didn’t complain. After spending an entire evening watching her, he wanted to put his hands all over her—could hardly wait to get her home.

“All set?” he asked, his words strained. She nodded.

They sped through the city. He took the curves gently, even with her arms wrapped around him, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Every shift of her thighs against him, every time she tightened her arms, or rubbed her palms up and down his abdomen, he practically growled, tempted to pull over and rut her on the side of the road.

When her hand sank down and palmed his cock over his jeans, she discovered the truth. He was hard as iron; it was entirely her doing. “If you’re trying to tease me on purpose,” he bit out, “it’s working. Obviously.”

Her gentle giggle made him shiver with anticipation. He revved the bike and accelerated. She squealed. A grin spread across his face.

They entered Kentwood and soon he was pulling up the tree lined drive, then into the garage. He hit the button to close the door behind them.

His heart kicked up a notch as they climbed off and he removed his helmet. She removed hers, shaking out her hair. His cock twitched. He studied the sensual movements of her neck, his mouth watering at the sight of her.

“I’ll take that,” he said, his voice gruff. The helmet disappeared, followed by the jacket, which he hadn’t bothered giving her time to remove.

“Fancy trick for a fancy goblin,” she cooed. “Are my clothes next?”

“Saucy female,” he purred. The thought of removing her clothes with the sweep of a hand was too tempting. His glamor wavered. Before he could stop himself, he pulled energy from his metals and channeled it into magic.

She shrieked as her clothes melted into nothing. “Bastian! I was—fuck. I was joking!”

Her hands went to cover her breasts, and her legs crossed together, thighs pressing tight. A brief flash of regret overcame him. Had he gone too far? Damn it. “I’m… I shouldn’t have done that. I can give them back.”

She blinked a few times. Then a grin spread across her features. She dropped her arms and closed the distance, sauntering up to him. “No need.”

The sight of her naked, standing beside a two-hundred-thousand-dollar car, made him groan. His glamor wavered for a final time before disappearing entirely.

“Oops,” she pouted, looking him over, taking in the changes like his pointed ears and gray skin. “Did I do that?” She ran a hand down his chest lower and lower, her path obvious.

He slapped a hand over hers, halting her motions, pinning her palm against his abdomen. “That’s far enough,” he managed.

Her eyes lifted to his and she caught her full bottom lip between her teeth, suddenly looking shy.