Page 18 of Badmouths & Bards

Knowing their manager, Seira really did need to go over some contracts. If there was one thing she was always dead set on, it was having some kind of parchment trail. It was something Seira always made sure she had on hand, especially when local authorities were involved. The fact that she had inadvertently given them an opportunity to speak with their personal bodyguard alone was just an added bonus.

Fuck, it really had been that long, hadn’t it? The anticipation was making his head thicker than it already was. Eagerness was good, but socially speaking it probably wasn’t polite to be thinking so many indecent thoughts about someone he just met while standing next to the man he had been in love with since he was sixteen.

Taldesa’s jaw tensed, her tongue peaking out to trace a canine as she eyed them both. Her gaze flitted toward Seira and Cercel—who had sat at the dining table— before she turned her heavy stare back to them.

“Okay, listen up, because I’m only gonna say this once,” Taldesa said, holding up a chipped finger nail in their direction. “I’m your bodyguard, not your babysitter. I don’t pick up after grown warriors at the temple, I’m sure as fuck not gonna start doing it now. I’m not your—whatever the fuck she is for you. I’m not gonna baby either of you, but I’ll keep you alive—as much as I need to. That’s my job. If you two are looking for a babysitter, I suggest going down to the Tipsy Top Inn. Got it?”

She was blunt.

But so was Ameriden.

“Hey, we’re big boys,” he said with a grin. “We know how to carry our own stuff.”

“And by we, Ameriden means he’ll carry our stuff,” Casimine supplied.

“Can you blame me? I’m kind of built for it,” Ameriden replied, lifting the arm nearest to Casimine and flexing his bicep.

He noted the way Taldesa’s eyes trailed the muscle before immediately training in on his abs. Lingering eyes said volumes when mouths wouldn’t. Water Mother knew Ameriden’s own eyes betrayed how much he wanted to pull Casimine aside and see how sold he was on the idea of seducing their bodyguard.

He has to, Ameriden thought. It’s written all over his face, right?

“Let me guess, you princess carry this one, too?” Taldesa asked, gesturing to Casimine with her thumb.

Ameriden laughed, “I mean, I can—”

“If you even think about carrying me across the stage, I’ll shave your eyebrows off,” Casimine replied with polite sweetness.

It was the voice Casimine used when he disapproved of something. Ameriden had heard it enough when they were forced to talk to diplomats and political figures at the parties they performed at. Casimine would never outwardly be hostile toward anyone, but he was ruthless when it came to malicious civility.

Yet, Ameriden couldn’t turn down a challenge when there was something to be gained. Something that would be beneficial to everyone if Ameriden played his cards right. Ameriden caught Taldesa’s eye.

“And if I did ‘princess carry’ him”— Ameriden raised one of his sharp eyebrows at her— “what would I get for it?”

Taldesa shifted, coming up from her awkward position so she was fully seated with one leg still hooked over the arm of the chair. She slung her arm across her knee, and gestured for Ameriden to lean in. He did so, eagerly, as she stared straight into his eyes. Plush mouth opening—

“My fist to the back of your head if you’re implying what I think you’re implying,” she murmured.

What was it about a woman threatening him that got Ameriden so damn hot? And not just any woman, but her? If there was any proof that Ameriden stopped thinking with his brain, it was right then because he was completely unprepared for Casimine pulling him by the arm. He almost tripped, even as his partner rattled off an excuse to discuss lyrics as he was shoved into the bedroom.

Casimine barely closed the door before whirling on Ameriden.

“What was that?” he demanded.

“What was what?”

“That!” Casimine huffed. “I’ve never seen you so forward with someone before—you know, outside of the performance.”

Ameriden was glad that Casimine had clarified, because he was damn sure he had been way more forward at some of their other venues. In fact, Ameriden had an entire routine where he would play the lute on his knees, torso thrown back as a lucky fan poured water from a goblet all over his chest.

“Um, it’s this thing called flirting, Casi,” Ameriden chuckled as he hopped up the dais and sat on the edge of the bed. “Where have you been?”

Had Ameriden misunderstood? Had something changed in those few short moments with their new bodyguard? Whatever the issue was, Ameriden wasn’t so tied to the idea of being with Taldesa if it meant jeopardizing his relationship with—

“Watching the two of you and losing my mind!” Casi replied, closing the distance between them and pressing his body between Ameriden’s legs. “Or can you not tell?”

A sly grin crossed Ameriden’s face as he felt Casimine through the layers of their pants.

“Oh, I see,” Ameriden hummed, leaning to press a chaste kiss to Casimine’s throat. “We were driving you wild, huh?”