Page 30 of Rubbing One Out

Tess grumbled but moved around, leaving Dae able to pull the blankets around him as he lay down. “That’s better, you bed hog.” He closed his eyes but every time he did, he heard Ben’s angry voice saying he wasn’t as special as he’d thought he was.

How wrong you are, Dae thought with a pang. You’re special to me, Ben Sinclair. I wish you weren’t, but it seems once again I’ve fallen for the wrong man.These wonderful times we’ve hadtogether will soon stop and I’ll be going back home.

He had to have a conversation soon about Ben’s wishes—or rather, the lack thereof. These last two weeks was the longest Dae had ever spent on Earth to grant wishes, and he knew sooner or later, he’d have to insist on Ben using them. Lady Mage Elicia would be starting to get impatient, and of course, somewhere out there was another person with wishes to grant. The lamp needed to move on.

This time, though, Dae thought with a pang, things were different. He loved this world, he lov—liked Ben, and while Earth was filled with humans who never ceased to surprise Dae with the depths of their frailty and mistakes, they were also kind and compassionate. The ones who tried to make the world a better place outnumbered those who didn’t.

“I could be happy here,” Dae muttered drowsily to Tess as she snuffled in her sleep. “I truly could.”

***

Dae woke up to the sound of a coffee grinder, a raucous sound that shattered his sleep and assaulted his ears. He groaned and pulled the pillow over his head, trying to drown out the racket.

“Honestly, this early in the morning?” He peered blearily at the clock and blinked. Oh, not that early. It was already ten am. He frowned. If the noise was Ben, and he hoped to God it was and not some serial killer grinding coffee beans, then why wasn’t Ben at work? He looked beside him and sighed. It seemed Ben hadn’t graced him again with his presence last night. He’d probably slept on the couch. Dae sighed. It was the most uncomfortable place he knew to sleep on. Ben must be both knackered and aching. Serves him right.

Dae clambered out of bed, pulled on a soft pair of joggers and a matching sweatshirt, and marched into the kitchen. He’d brush his teeth and have a shower later. He found Ben making coffee from the grounds he’d noisily prepared, no doubt a move to irritate Dae.

“Good morning,” Dae said deferentially. He’d be the bigger man this morning and make the first overture, even though he dreaded the answer. “How is Honey?”

“Better, no thanks to you,” Ben grunted. He was bare-chested, wearing only a loose pair of jogging bottoms that highlighted his spectacular arse.

Dae raised an eyebrow. So this was how it was going to be then? Fine. He could be as dramatic as the next person. Indeed, he had many degrees in drama and was the most dramatic-ist person who ever lived. Ben Sinclair was so going to lose at this game.

“That’s wonderful news. Was it what you suspected?” Dae watched as Ben took his coffee cup over to the kitchen island and sat down on a stool. I suppose I’llhave to make my own coffee. Tut-tutting under his breath, but loud enough for Ben to hear, Dae made a great show out of getting a cup and making his drink. Ben wasn’t the only one who could employ churlish antics.

“No. It was a false alarm, thank God. The tests came back negative. It was something else, a bacterial infection. Alison has her on antibiotics and says she should recover.” Ben pulled the morning newspaper towards him and spread it open, reading as he sipped his coffee.

“Excellent. I’m glad she’s going to be well.” Dae poked at the newspaper and Ben looked up, scowling. “Anything interesting in there?” No answers. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Alison and I have the day off. We got home about seven am.” He ran his head through his hair. “I’m reading the sports page. Know anything about rugby?” Ben cocked a challenging brow at Dae, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh yes. Big men in tight shorts with hefty arms. What’s not to like?” He shivered. “And that thing they do when they all get together and huddle while touching each other’s backsides…I find it rather a turn-on.”

Ben’s lips twitched, and with a sense of satisfaction, Dae knew he was trying to hold back a smile.

“There’s more to rugby than beefy blokes.” Ben continued to read his paper and Dae moved it once again. “What do you want now?” Ben growled. “Can’t a man read his paper in peace?”

Dae pursed his lips. “I heard there was a funfair in town.” It wasn’t a lie, there was a fair in town. Dae had seen the flyers plastered all over the shop windows. There was also one on the bottom of the page Ben was currently reading. “I thought perhaps we could go there on the weekend. I love funfairs.” He pursed his lips. “You’re not going to talk to me at all, or for a while?”

The fleeting wince on Ben’s forehead mollified Dae somewhat. It seemed Ben was at least a little sorry about his harsh comments last night.

“Don’t be such a cock,” muttered Ben. “Of course I’m going to talk to you.”

Dae ignored him, pretending to read the news over Ben’s shoulder. A shoulder that appeared to be aching given the amount of rolling and rubbing Ben was doing to it.

“I saw you didn’t come back to bed last night when you got home,” Dae said. “Were you too late? I wouldn’t have minded. You could have woken me.”

“I didn’t want to disturb you. I crashed on the couch for a couple of hours then had to get up for a bloody pee.” He shrugged. “I thought I might as well stay up for now.”

“Sleep well then, did you? I notice you’re rubbing your shoulder.” Dae sat back, his final repartee in place. There’s no point in antagonising the man any further. My work is done.

Ben ignored him but Dae noticed his hand drop away from the aching shoulder to frame his paper instead. Dae stood up and pecked a kiss on the top of Ben’s head. “I am glad your bird is better,” he said softly. “I know how much she means to you. All those animals have a special place in your heart. You’re a good man, Ben Sinclair.”

“Yeah, well, we were lucky it was nothing worse.” Ben pushed the newspaper aside and looked up at Dae standing with his hips leaning against the kitchen sink. “I’m sorry I went off the handle with you this morning,” he said gruffly. “I was worried about Honey. I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

Dae waved a hand, relieved by the apology. “Consider it forgotten. Humans have a way of emoting that sometimes makes no sense, but it’s an endearing trait most of the time.”

“Of course we can go to the funfair. I like them too,” Ben muttered.

Dae grinned. “Wonderful. We had them all the time in Calado’r and my homeland. Wonderful affairs with lights everywhere, attractions that take your breath away, and magic sparking everywhere. I spent a lot of time in them as a child.”

Ben snorted. “Don’t get your hopes up for ours. The best you’ll get is a soggy hot dog, cotton candy that’d make your teeth rot, kids running around misbehaving, and the local lads starting a fight.”

Dae shook his head sadly. “Trust you to take all the fun out of it. Surely there must be something you enjoy, something you loved doing as a child?”

Ben cocked his head. “The Haunted House. I loved riding the train through the dark, seeing what was coming out to scare us. I knew they weren’t real, but every time they jumped out, I screamed. Good times.”

Dae wasn’t sure what was so fun about being scared to death, but he’d be prepared to suffer it if it made Ben happy. And maybe, just maybe, he could conjure up an extra-special something in there for Ben, to make his evening. He hugged that thought to himself and smiled.

“Then it’s a date. Cotton Candy Tooth Destroyer, here we come.”