Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Rowan
Watching Ivor fight was like witnessing a dance of grace and skill. He’d leaped and spun, his deadly blades sweeping through the air with unerring accuracy.
Though Rowan had mostly felt fear with that draugr so close, he’d also felt this overwhelming awe and admiration. And not a little lust. To know that this skilled, powerful preternatural was interested in him frankly filled him with delight.
But he was also feeling an overwhelming sense of relief that the draugr was dead. He knew Xavier was disappointed that they wouldn’t be tracking down the lich, but he knew that he’d always be scared the draugr would somehow get to him once let loose again.
Ivor had known that. Had thought the same.
As they walked back into the building, Rowan reached out and threaded his fingers with Ivor’s. Those dark eyes turned his way, and the look they shared sent warmth streaming through him.
Now that the draugr was dead, Rowan didn’t have to stay sequestered in the office.
They would finally have some privacy. Anticipation hummed in his stomach, his heart starting to race.
He’d finally get to put his hands all over Ivor’s beautiful body.
And from the heat in Ivor’s brown eyes, the incubus was thinking the same thing.
Everyone met in Xavier’s office, but there wasn’t much to discuss. Xavier had sent wizards to clear the body they’d left in the parking lot. Rowan was too restless to pay attention to the conversation, eating up Ivor with his gaze before glancing at Xavier to find a small smirk on his lips.
“You are safe to leave, Rowan,” Xavier said as he held up the arm ring. “I know this is a family heirloom, but—”
“I don’t want it back,” Rowan interrupted. “I never want to touch that thing again. Do what you want with it.”
Xavier just nodded.
By the time they wrapped up, Rowan was a mass of nerves. He and Ivor walked back into the main area of the office before Ivor put a hand on his arm.
“Would you like to come to my place?”
Rowan’s nod came embarrassingly quickly. “May I use your shower?”
“Of course. I want you to feel at home there. I’ll order us in some food. I can either set you up in a hotel or if you’d like… You can stay with me.”
Rowan, conscious of all the listening ears around them, gave Ivor a pointed look. “I want to be with you,” he whispered. “Do you want that?”
“More than anything.”
“Then let’s go to your place. I need to stop by a drugstore, if that’s okay.”
“Anything. I’m just happy I’m finally going to get you alone.”
By the time they reached Ivor’s apartment, Rowan was fairly shaking with expectation and excitement.
Ivor’s place was damn nice. He was on the fourth floor, and the apartment they walked into was mainly a wide-open space.
The kitchen boasted state-of-the-art appliances, warm black granite counters, and that room was open to the living room.
There were an overstuffed leather couch and two burgundy chairs, along with coffee table, side tables, and a gorgeous antique display cabinet.
Still holding the bag from the drugstore, he walked to that and looked at the items inside, ones that must have been collected over so many years.
There were several knives with gorgeous handles, and an ancient sword that made him smirk over that first fantasy he’d had of Ivor.
A couple of goblets had a handwoven royal purple scarf draped around their stems.
Ivor stood quietly while Rowan explored, and when Rowan finally looked at him, it was to find heat blazing from his eyes as he stared. His belly tightened, and an answering flush of need sent heat up his neck. “Are you really hungry? For food, that is?’
Ivor’s lips quirked. “Not really.”
“Me neither.” Rowan held his breath as Ivor walked—no slowly prowled—to him. “I want…”
Ivor stopped so close Rowan could feel his body heat. “What do you want, Rowan?”
“I want you to fuck me,” he said softly. “Do you want that?”
“More than anything I’ve wanted in my entire life.” Ivor stroked the back of his fingers down Rowan’s cheek and Rowan shut his eyes.
“Show me to your shower,” he whispered.
A low, rumbling noise left Ivor’s throat, and he leaned in and pressed his lips to Rowan’s.
Rowan opened for him, moaning at the slide of Ivor’s tongue into his mouth.
He pressed closer, his hard muscles wonderful against Rowan’s body.
The kiss was hot, wet, and deep, Ivor lifting his hand to grasp hold of Rowan’s jaw as he angled Rowan’s head the way he wanted it.
They kissed until Rowan’s lungs were screaming for air, and he pulled off to gasp it in.
Ivor turned his head and kissed down the opposite side of his jaw then down to his neck, where he opened his mouth and lightly bit down.
Rowan gasped again, a complete sucker for attention to his neck.
Ivor slid his hand down Rowan’s chest and cupped his hard, aching dick.
It took everything Rowan had to back up, but he did. “I really do need that shower.”
“I’ll show you where it is. You’ll use the one off my bedroom.” Ivor’s eyes glittered as he stared at Rowan. “Want me to join you?”
Rowan shook his head because he needed some alone time to make his body ready for what he wanted.
He wanted Ivor inside him. He was still clutching his bag from the drugstore, and the paper made a crunching noise as he tightened his fingers on it.
Showering with Ivor would probably be one of his favorite things ever, so he put a pin in that thought.
“Come,” Ivor said as he took Rowan’s hand and tugged him toward a hallway.
He walked him into a large bedroom that had a massive California king bed with black and white bedding.
The furniture was mission style, and he had several scenic paintings on the walls.
The whole room was sexy and warm, just like the incubus.
“I’m going to shower in the other bathroom, then I’ll meet you right back here.” Ivor cupped his jaw again before kissing him. “I can’t wait to have you in my bed.”
“Me, too.” He watched Ivor stroll from the bedroom.
The whole time he showered and readied his body, Rowan trembled with excitement.
He’d normally be worried about being a disappointment to Ivor, but he just wasn’t feeling that.
They were too good together, their feelings for each other too intense.
So much so, he couldn’t imagine this would be a one-time thing.
His whole life was in a state of chaos. Apartment destroyed, no job—he had no idea what he was going to do, but he pushed all that aside because he was where he wanted to be in that moment.
He was as clean as he could possibly be.
He hurried out of the shower and dried off, then wrapped the towel around his waist and notched it.
The mirror was fogged over, so he used his hand to clear it, then stared at himself as he brushed his teeth with a new toothbrush he’d found after slightly snooping.
His hair looked dark when it was wet like this, and instead of seeing what he normally thought as a too-skinny frame, all he saw was the flush of his skin and the glittering excitement in his eyes.
He turned, opened the door, and Ivor was standing completely naked right on the other side.