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She pressed the buzzer. “I need to see Aston Wellman.”
“Are you deaf? We’re not open.” The voice wasn’t so sleepy this time. It was downright rude. “So fuck off.”
She tilted back her head, glaring at the security camera above her. “Tell him it’s Peri Sanguis.”
“Look, you—” The angry words were abruptly cut off. Was the intercom broken?
Before she could press the button for the third time, there was a loud beep and then a click as the door was unlocked. Peri waited, preparing herself for the annoyed receptionist to appear and punish her for being a pest.
Instead, the ridiculously handsome fairy suddenly appeared, his copper hair spilling down his back and his muscular body in glorious view. Only the loose dogi pants hanging low on his hips obstructed the view.
A shame.
She tried not to stare at the broad chest that tapered to a narrow waist or the bulging muscles of his arms.
“Hello, Aston.”
“What a lovely surprise.” He flashed a charming smile, waving her forward. “Come in.”
Entering the building, Peri breathed a sigh of relief as the AC washed over her sweaty skin.
“Sorry, I know it’s early.”
“No problem.”
Aston escorted her across the marble foyer that was split by two separate staircases. One headed down to the basement and the other angled up to the upper floor. They moved upward, entering a large lobby complete with marble columns, a crimson carpet, and a massive chandelier hanging low over their heads. It looked like a place where she should be singing opera, not meeting with a half-naked fairy.
Passing by the reception area, her attention was captured by a young male fairy who was kneeling next to an ornate desk with his head bent so low his face nearly touched the carpet.
“Good help is so hard to find,” Aston mused as Peri sent him a questioning glance.
She grimaced. She was assuming this was the rude receptionist. What had Aston done to him? Probably best not to ask.
“Yeah, I’ve heard,” she muttered.
Aston waved his hand toward another flight of stairs. “Let’s go into my office.”
Peri shook her head. “Actually, I was hoping to use the playroom.”
Aston turned to face her, his expression impossible to read. “An expensive request.”
“I have money,” Peri assured him. Since joining Maya at the Witch’s Brew, she’d acquired an impressive bank account.
“So do I. Lots of it.”
Peri stilled, studying the fairy with a sudden wariness. She’d been prepared for Aston to demand an outrageous sum. The room was perfect for a mage to test new spells without causing damage. Or to defuse dangerous magical artifacts before they could harm anyone. Or best of all, a place where a mage could come and play with forbidden spells without getting caught. There were some mages who were willing to pay top dollar for the pleasure.
She hadn’t expected to have to barter for the privilege.
“What do you want?”
Smoldering magic prickled in the air as Aston slid his gaze down the length of her bare legs.
“An interesting question filled with all sorts of possibilities.”
Any other day Peri would have enjoyed the flirtation. Aston was a master at making a woman—or man—feel beautiful. And just imagining what he could do with that powerful body was enough to bring a smile to her face. Today, however, she had too much on her mind to play.
“My body is off the table.”
