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The desire to touch him and sense his emotions rose up inside of me. I don’t have the best track record with people in positions like his. They were usually smooth talkers who could lie as easily as they could take a shit, but when I touched someone, they couldn’t hide who they were from me.
Even though touching someone like that was an intimate act for someone like me.
Without thinking, I stretched my hand out to him a little. I still had my gloves on, so touching each other like this wouldn’t overwhelm me with his feelings, but it would be better than nothing. It would give me a sense of who he was and what he wanted from me.
His expression instantly changed as he looked at my hand, like he was surprised by what I was offering. For a moment, I felt strangely vulnerable, even though I told myself that if he refused to touch me, it was okay. It likely just meant he had something to hide and would give me the reason I needed to keep him at a distance.
Instead of him ignoring my offering, his hand found a place on mine, which gave me even more to like about him: the weight of it, calloused, nails well kept. But it wasn’t just his hand that I liked, I liked the emotions that flowed from him to me. I sensed that this man was confident, kind, and a host of other wonderful things. Additionally, desire flowed through him so strongly that it ramped up my own.
Heat rolled through my body so pleasantly that I wanted to do a hell of a lot more than hold his hand. A shiver moved through me, one I suspect he felt, and I had to consciously work not to start panting. Was it getting hotter in here? No, damn it.
“And how’s your task going?” His voice rolled through me, smooth and husky.
“It’s going,” I told him in my most nonchalant voice, not wanting him to tell Silver anything before I exhausted my chance with the river spirit.
There was a lull in our conversation, and then he continued, “You’re powerful,” and I was surprised by the flirty note to his voice.
“So are you,” I told him, lifting a brow.
His hand stroked the top of mine, almost as if he was aware of just how long it’d been since I’d been touched by a man. He didn’t know, I mean, how could he? But I liked where this was going. After the last few months, after all the helpless deaths, I wanted a distraction. Certainly the drink helped, but sex would help more.
It was strange though, with his power he had to be as strong and well-trained as a battlemage. Otherwise, my geas would be tap dancing on my brain, warning me he wasn’t powerful enough to be near me like this. But he didn't have the tattoo that nearly all battlemages wore. Why? Most battlemages liked to flaunt their power, while this man seemed determined to hide it.
He was certainly a mystery. One I hoped to figure out.
I smiled and turned my hand so it was palm up and we could join fingers. He laced his through mine with a look that made my heart race. For years it seemed like I was saddled with bad luck, but to find a man powerful enough to sleep with, who also looked this good… maybe my luck was turning around.
The server dropped off his drink and food, shooting me an irritated glance. Walker ate almost as quickly as I had, his movements quick and neat, even though some of his hand was still in mine. Before he took a swig of the drink he let loose a small magic, I wasn’t sure what. When he drank he didn’t cough, though he blinked, then went for another drink. Heh. Cheater. No doubt he was using his magic to help his body process the alcohol.
The toe of my boot found its way up his calf under the table.
This time, he did cough as he swallowed his drink. His eyes wide while he got his coughing under control, until it was replaced by a look of pure surprise. It was more than a little fun to watch.
“Which territory does your family run? You don’t seem like you’re from around here.” Flirting was hard.
“Far southwest. Our district,” his free hand sketched a small space, “is a hill. My family was assigned to guard it, and I continue the tradition. I dine on the story when I’m outside Capitol. Otherwise I work for a living.”
“Interesting,” I said, and from what I could feel from him, he was telling the truth.
“This town is more interesting than my story.” His gaze swept the room.
“It’s not that different from the many others I see on my missions,” I told him honestly.
It was strange. I liked his voice. I liked sitting here, talking to him, holding his hand, but as crude as it might be, I just wanted to get him into my bed. My days were all so long. All I wanted was something nice, something comforting, something no one could take away from me.
“Been here long?” he asked, his gaze moving from me to the room full of people.
“Long enough that I’m ready for bed soon.” My lashes lowered, and he met my sidelong glance squarely. There was no question in that moment what I was implying, now I just had to wait and see if he was interested.
The dimple appeared at the edge of his mouth again. “That’s direct,” he said, his eyes narrowed with amusement.
I laughed. My drink was almost gone, and I’d have a horrible headache if I got another. So, I nursed the dregs as he finished eating. Wishing he’d made it clear what his answer was to my “direct” question. If I just had an answer, I could relax even more, knowing what this evening would bring.
“You alone?” he asked. His hand slid up my arm. Even through winter clothing the contact made my arm tingle.
Of course, I was. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made the offer to him, but I didn’t say that. Pointing out things like that tended to be a pretty big boner-killer for the man-folk. “Yes.” I waited, hope blooming. The geas required that he ask, not me. For his protection.
“Are you interested?” he offered, and hell, maybe it was the fact that I’d gone years without sex, but his words were the hottest I’d heard in a long time.
