Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Andrew
My life has turned upside down.
Seconds. That’s how long it took. Literally only seconds for me to go from having a lovely, well-ordered life to suddenly having a roommate. Do you know the last time I had a platonic roommate? Let’s just say the printing press hadn’t been invented yet.
This is not good. And not just because I selfishly like my own space.
Did you see the way Noah blushed? Of course you did—that red glow could have lit up a night sky.
Now, Noah’s not the shy, retiring type. He doesn’t like being social, but he’s got a smart mouth and biting wit.
Safe to say I’ve never seen him blush and never really thought he was the type to blush over a little sexual innuendo.
It makes me wonder how much sexual experience he has.
I don’t think he’s a virgin, but there’s a difference between hand jobs and blow jobs and a few fumbled attempts at anal sex while listening to make sure your parents aren’t coming home from work early and hours-long no-holds-barred sex marathons every night.
And Noah hasn’t exactly had a lot of opportunity to explore sex as an adult, what with being kidnapped, experimented on, and traumatized.
Listen to me, talking in circles about all kinds of crap to avoid admitting the truth to myself.
I want to help him explore that side of himself.
No, wait. That sounds far too altruistic.
The dirty truth?
I want to fuck him.
I want to make it so the next time he blushes, it’s because he’s remembering all the things we’ve done together.
Fuck, just think what sex could be like between us. It wouldn’t be roses and moonlight, that’s for sure.
It would be wild. There would be biting. And I’m not talking about me.
The morning after would be awkward, though.
Really awkward. Because Noah’s never hidden the fact that he doesn’t like me.
Which is going to make being roommates hard enough even without adding sex to the mix.
Plus, he’s just discovered he can use magic and has a whole new side of himself—unfortunately, not the sexual side—to focus on.
So… I’ll be responsible and not say anything. Or do anything. But should Noah ever decide he needs someone to experiment with, I’m definitely not going to say no.
“What are you grinning at like an idiot?” Gideon demands, shoving my feet off my desk for no reason other than he’s a dickhead.
“I was just imagining how glorious it will be when Sam finally ditches you and runs away with me.”
Instantly, he’s growling and looming over me. It’s so easy to push his buttons.
“Gideon, leave Andrew alone,” Sam demands exasperatedly from his desk, not even looking up. “You know he’s only teasing you. If you didn’t take the bait every time, he’d stop.”
I don’t bother to tell him I wouldn’t stop. It would be less fun, though.
Before either Gideon or I can say anything else, David walks into the office, directing two maintenance men who are carrying a smallish sit-stand desk.
It doesn’t have a lot of surface space but will hold a laptop and a notebook—and most importantly, will fit in our office with the six desks that are already here.
“What’s going on?” Elinor asks curiously. She didn’t give a damn when Gideon was on the verge of beating me up, but suddenly now she wants to be part of the conversation. Bloody hellhounds.
David looks at me. “You didn’t tell them?”
“Tell us what?” Gideon’s back to looming over me. I sigh, heave myself to my feet, and shove him out of the way as I go to move a potted palm out of the way.
“No. I’ve been busy.”
“Busy staring into space with a stupid smile on your face?” Elinor demands.
“Okay,” David interrupts hastily. “Noah’s going to be working in here with us. He’s helping me with some research.”
“What research?” Elinor pries as the maintenance men set the desk down per David’s very fussy instructions. Seriously, it wouldn’t be any drama if it was a few inches out of place. It’s not a heavy desk, and most of us have enhanced strength anyway.
Neither David nor I answer until the men have gone, because there’s no way either of us are going to say the words “human magic” in front of anyone outside the team.
The news would rip through the organization faster than ice cream through someone with lactose intolerance—and if we do have a leak, as Percy fears, Tish will hear about it and be certain to come after Noah.
Even if we don’t have a leak, information like this is sure to get out. When you spend a lot of time and energy keeping your true self a secret from humanity, the idea of them gaining yet another weapon to use against you is daunting, to say the least.
But as soon as it’s just us, David gives the others a quick rundown of what we learned this morning.
“And Noah’s happy about this? Being able to use magic, I mean,” Sam presses like the overanxious mother hen he’s become lately.
“Thrilled,” I tell him. “I have no doubt that as soon as he gets the hang of it, he’ll be lobbing fireballs at me on a regular basis.”
He smiles. Any other time, he would have laughed and quipped something about how I deserve it, but—
“So Tish has a spy,” he says heavily, an edge of fear in his voice. Gideon takes his hand.
“We don’t know that,” Elinor replies, injecting a note of fake positivity. “But if he does, at least this time we’re more prepared. It won’t be like last time.”
Nobody says anything. Last time was… Well, losing Lily broke a little part of all of us.
Noah walks in on the awkward silence and freezes. “Um… I’ll come back.”
Sam leaps to his feet. “No, it’s fine.” He smiles again, this time a little more genuinely, and says, “Your desk is here. And congratulations on your new ability! Although please don’t set me on fire.”
Blinking, Noah asks, “Why would I set you on fire?”
Is it weird that I suddenly remember I need to renew my porn subscription?
“Never mind.” Sam waves dismissively. “Go ahead and get yourself set up. I’m going to go find out where Alistair is and make sure he’ll be back before we meet with Percy.
” He takes two steps, then turns back around.
“Oh! Um, until things are… um, more settled, you should probably stay with me and Gideon. It would help me sleep better.”
Gideon winces.
“That’s a great idea!” I declare enthusiastically, and I swear, it’s entirely possible Gideon will manifest the ability to telekinetically liquefy my insides, his glare is that focused.
“Unclench, Gideon,” party pooper David says. “Percy’s already decided that Noah’s staying with Andrew.”
“With Andrew?” Elinor’s eyes widen. “Poor Noah. Although, the pool is great. It’s heated almost like bathwater—you can swim in it year round.”
Noah’s smile is a weak, twisted thing. “Thanks for the tip.”
“We’ll go with what Percy wants,” Gideon says almost cheerfully. Sam’s frowning, though, so he adds, “And we can always visit Noah at Andrew’s place. It’s great for hanging out. I think Andrew should host us all for dinner this weekend.”
Oh, how the tables have turned.
All eyes focus on me. Sam looks like a hopeful puppy. Noah looks like a pissed-off house cat. It’s ridiculous. And I’m definitely not hosting the team for dinner at my beautiful home. My sanctuary. Not after what happened last time.
“Would you, Andrew? That would be so great. I haven’t seen your place yet,” Sam says with big eyes.
I sigh. “Sure. Sounds good.”
When we’re done for the day, Noah and I go to his place so he can grab some stuff to bring back to mine. As a result, it’s later than usual when I finally let myself into my sanctuary. I feel the wards brushing over me in their creepy semi-sentient way when Noah tries to follow me in.
He scowls, trapped in the doorway. “What the fuck?”
“It’s the wards.” I think my most reassuring thoughts about Noah, making it clear he’s an invited guest. “They won’t let you in without my permission.” I can tell the second the wards clear him for entry, because he staggers forward.
“Am I going to have to go through this every day? And what about leaving? Can I leave without your permission, or am I a prisoner here?”
I close the door, waving dismissively. “These wards were designed to keep people out, not in. You can leave whenever you want. But we’ll have to get David to tweak the weaves before you can just enter without me.
I didn’t think of it earlier, sorry.” Which was really dumb of us.
We were even talking about the benefits of having him behind stronger wards.
He doesn’t look happy, and I can’t blame him.
I make a mental note to send David a message.
He was still at work when we left, and knowing him, will be for a while longer.
Maybe he can drop by on his way home. Although, given how much he’s taken on lately, it’s probably best he get some rest. This isn’t critical.
Noah’s unlikely to go out again tonight.
“Tour?” I ask, not bothering to wait for him to respond before heading into the main living area and pointing everything out. It’s mostly open-plan, anyway, so he’s not likely to get lost.
“You’re welcome to use the pool anytime,” I say, gesturing to it through the wall of glass sliders that lead out to the terrace-slash-roof garden.
“Just no glassware in the pool enclosure, and remember that those doors are warded too, so make sure I’m home before you go out or you’ll be stuck there until I get back. ”
It’s late twilight and hard to see outside, but Noah goes over to the sliders and peers through them. “Wow. That really is a great pool.” He seems to have forgotten his pissiness over the wards. “How do you have actual trees and garden beds up here?”
I shrug. “Clever design? I don’t know. I bought the place after it was built. Come on, I’ll show you your room.”