Chapter Eight
When Delia and Den left, Sern looked down at Eudora. “So, you know what I am going to ask you?”
“The ingredient list for the steak sauce?”
He smiled. “Maybe. That seems like something to ask after a honeymoon.”
Eudora blinked slowly. “Uh, that is an interesting social acceleration.”
He was finishing the cleanup and smiled. “Is it? What do you see when you look at me?”
Mine. The thought burned in her. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I reserve the right not to incriminate myself.”
His grin was wide. “That is a telling statement.”
“Is it? I barely know you. I mean, I know you better than I do a lot of the guys I have dated in the past, but this feels a little rushed.”
“I have waited. Centuries. Hoping for a match of my own once we were loose, but I am a tricky fit, and I have a champion of the empire to look up to. I am mostly djinn. I also want a woman who sees me, no matter what I present to the world.”
She swallowed. “Oh.”
“What do you want in a man?”
She blushed. “That’s a little awkward.”
“Try.”
“As strong as I am, I want a man who knows when I need someone to come to my rescue. Someone who makes me feel safe.”
His eyes went soft, and he touched her jaw with his thumb, settling his fingers on her neck. “That is a lot to live up to.”
“You are doing better than anyone else so far. The bar is currently in the basement.” She leaned into his hand.
He moved in to kiss her. And she whispered, “Did you finish the dishes?”
His lips touched hers, and she felt a surge of magic that ended up with clattering in the cupboards.
She smiled and reached up to touch his neck as the kiss continued, and he lifted her to sit her on the counter. Eudora looked up at him during a small break in the make-out session. “We are not going all the way tonight.”
He chuckled. “Any particular reason why?”
“First, I said no.”
“Fair.”
“Second, everyone is going to be watching us tomorrow, and my hips shifting differently when I walk is going to be noticed and commented on. That is a little much for my return to the community.” She looked up at him with an impish grin. “We can save it for the night after the event.”
“Tomorrow night.”
She nodded. “If you can wait that long.”
Sern looked at her and smiled. “Will you move in with me?”
“You already moved all my stuff here while I was at the grill, so sure.”
He smiled. “I thought I was more subtle than that.”
“I would have thought so, too, but I still felt the surge of magic with your flavour to it.”
“You can taste me?” He looked delighted.
She was resigned. “I can taste you. The heat of your skin, the tingle of magic, the hum of your moods.”
He gripped her waist and spun her around. When the spin stopped, they were in his bedroom.
She looked at the wonder in his expression. He said, “I love the fit of your waist. It gives me all kinds of ideas.”
“The mind boggles.”
He smiled. “Will you share my bed tonight? We have to leave at noon for the event.”
“You brought my dress over?”
“Of course. Everything that wasn’t furniture or a fixture is here. The makeup you purchased this morning is on your dressing table.”
Eudora smiled. “Well, I do enjoy a man with a plan.”
Sern chuckled. “Oh, I do have plans for you.” He confirmed. “May I put you in something for bed?”
“So early?”
He grinned. “We can go play billiards if you like, but we are still getting ready for bed first.”
She looked at him. “Fine. Go nuts, you giant pixie.”
Sern laughed. “I actually know a pixie, or the equivalent by your standards. They are bloodthirsty. Trustworthy but bloodthirsty.”
Eudora stared. “Do they have wings?”
“Yes, but they aren’t cute wings. They look like djinn with bat wings in one of their forms.”
“Oh. Right. Sure. That makes sense.”
He grinned. “There were only four with us. Like most djinn, they don’t share mates. We can protect our own.”
“A little arrogant.”
“I will always be there when you need me and probably when you don’t.” Sern’s smile was full of delight and relief. “Occasionally, when you want me gone for a while.”
She shook her head and felt something whisper against her skin. When she looked down, she was wearing a maroon nightgown and a black robe. She was wearing some cute black slippers that felt soft and comfy.
“Very cute. Thank you.” She looked at him, and he was now wearing black silk with maroon piping. “Pyjama party.”
He smiled. “Shall we go to the billiard room?”
“Sure. I am getting the urge to hit your balls with a stick.” She beamed.
He hugged her, and they were in a dim room lit by a glow.
“You are going to have to explain the rules. I only like trying to knock the balls into the pockets.”
Sern chuckled. “Well, I enjoy playing, so we will work on getting you the correct terminology.”
She glanced down at him. “Will you be hitting the ball with that?”
He wrapped an arm around her and set her on the edge of the table, kissing her gently. “You have an interesting sense of humour.”
“Get used to it. We aren’t going anywhere.” She held his head and kissed him. “Now, show me how to play the game.”
He gave a shuddering sigh. “I think you are doing extremely well.”
She laughed and slid to her feet, pressing against him. “Let’s distract ourselves, shall we?”
He sighed, and they set about the serious business of playing with balls.
She came out of her dressing room, fastening the clasp of the necklace as she walked. “Sern, can you give me a hand with this? The clasp is funny.”
He walked out of his bedroom, settling his jacket, and he froze. “Oh, hell.”
She glanced down, suddenly unsure. “What?”
“You are stunning.”
She blushed. “Oh. Um, thank you.”
“Thank you for accepting the compliment.”
“Yes, well, you wore me down last night.” She turned her back to him. “The clasp?”
His fingers smoothed the hair away from the back of her neck. She felt him kiss her before he took the edges, and there was a tingle of magic.
She froze. “How badly am I going to need to kick Pandora’s ass for that?”
He laughed. “It will change with your clothing. I was surprised one of my people was making that sort of thing here, but it is very adaptable. I get to be responsible for earrings and bracelets.”
She sighed. “Right. How do I look?”
Sern looked at her, and he grinned. “Like Likon is the biggest idiot in the city, possibly the continent, and I am the luckiest man.”
She blushed. “Right. Ready to go?”
Sern chuckled. “You have no idea.”
He held out his hand, and they walked downstairs and out to his car.
The drive to the hotel hosting the event was accomplished with Sern holding her hand as they travelled, and she recalled the feel of those long fingers until she called a halt the previous evening.
She also understood why he was successful in court.
He was good with his mouth and excellent with his tongue.
He glanced over at her and smiled, squeezing her hand before continuing to the hotel.
Kern was speaking to her, and she blinked. “Uh, sure. One project of five minutes or less. I can do that.”
Her boss grinned. “Excellent. We are going to show the Women’s Day video as proof of skill. We might be able to get some funds for the school meals project.”
“By pimping out your employees?”
He paused. “By outsourcing talent and resources.”
“Uh-huh. Oh, the buffet is open.” She watched the white-clad staff move aside.
“Right, so you are good for me auctioning off your editing services?”
“Yes. For this event only. Send my lawyer a memo.”
He glanced over at Sern and nodded. There was a nod in return. Kern pulled a thick envelope out of his pocket and brought it to the auctioneer, who took it with a grin, setting it in front of the tablet that had been set up. The tablet started to play quietly on a loop, and it was the video.
A small crowd gathered around it, and Kern came back rubbing his palms together. “This is going to be good. Ford is already checking his bank balance.”
“That sounds suspiciously as if you were taunting him with it beforehand.”
Kern grinned, and his lenses gleamed. “It does sound like that, doesn’t it? This is a very good cause.”
“I agree.”
Sern joined them and slid his fingers around hers. “Everything good?”
“Yes.” She looked up at him and saw the ladies who had greeted her when she arrived. They were giggling and looking at the joined hands.
She looked around and saw Likon staring at her in her rich red dress that followed her unlikely waist and flattered her curves.
“Come on, Duran wants to introduce you to Emhara.”
“She and I have met, but sure.”
They crossed the room to where Art was standing with her three mates.
Emhara looked at her, and her eyes went wide. “You.”
Eudora waved. “Me.”
“You saved me.”
“I called a number, gave you strength, and kept hold of your hand until the emergency services arrived.”
Sern said, “You gave her strength?”
“Yes. She needed it. I am not good at first aid and shitty at fighting, but I can give strength.”
The three males all bowed to her, and Duran said, “Thank you. Is there anything we can do for you?”
“Um, nope. I am good.” Eudora smiled. “I am just glad she made it. I could give strength but not blood.”
Emhara asked, “Why were you there?”
“Because I needed to be? Not a clue. I had parked up the street and was walking for half an hour when you showed up.”
“And you waited until I got onto the easement.”
“Yes. Sorry. I needed you off their property, and I didn’t know why.”
Sern murmured, “It meant you weren’t trespassing. You were within your rights to stand your ground.”
She smiled. “Hey, I had one good legal instinct. Yay, me!”
Sern slid his arm around her waist. “The auction is about to start.”
“What about snacks?”
“Snacks afterward.” He laughed. He handed her a paddle. “Whatever you want.”
She looked at the display table and bit her lip. There was one thing she wanted, but she had no idea how much it would go for.
Sern followed her gaze and smiled. “Just keep going until you have what you want.”