Page 36 of His Eternal Temptation

Rowan handed Lane his money. “Go nuts.”

Lane seemed unsure what to do. “Would you believe I’ve never been to a strip club?”

“Yes.” Something else occurred to Rowan. “The dancers don’t know about the magic world. Only the club managers are aware. We usually explain the rules to any witches at the door.”

“The bouncers were a bit distracted when I arrived. Must have slipped their minds.”

Rowan wasn’t fond of the reminder, or Lane’s forced lightness. He might feel safe with Rowan now, but there was no ignoring how dire his situation remained.

“Do my eyes deceive me, or is Rowan among us?” Charity, one of the floor managers, called as she sauntered over.

Rowan exchanged air kisses with her. “Darling. How are you?”

“Good. Good. It’s so nice to see you. Are you performing tonight?”

Dammit.

Lane’s eyes went comically wide before he got himself under control. He cleared his throat. “You dance?”

“Not tonight.”

Lane’s face fell, and Rowan couldn’t help a flush of excitement. Lane liked the idea of watching him perform. Maybe…

Rowan got an iron grip on himself. He didn’t want Lane to appreciate this side of him. Nothing too real or vulnerable. Rowan already craved Lane’s favorable attention far too much, the desire mixing with his physical attraction, spawning fantasies of Lane’s hands not only pleasuring him, but holding his fragile heart.

Needy, that evil voice reminded him. Clingy.

Rowan had no desire to embody those unattractive qualities. They pushed love away, and the speed with which he went from Lane might like to see me take my clothes off, to Lane might love me, alarmed him. He hadn’t changed at all in the last hundred years, no matter how much he tried to shove his neediness into a dark corner where it couldn’t hurt him.

It was usually easier to ignore his soft side. Why was it surfacing so relentlessly? What was it about Lane that brought out every single one of his hidden desires?

Charity smiled. “Next time you’re on stage, be sure to let me know. Now, I won’t keep you from the ladies.” She gave Rowan a parting air-kiss and headed toward the private rooms, hips swaying.

“Drink?” Rowan asked Lane.

His gaze raked over Rowan, and Rowan told himself not to react. “Sure, why not?”

At the bar, Rowan ordered bourbon, and Lane grabbed a beer. They settled at the tip rail, the dancer on stage pulling some impressive moves. Lane threw money on stage, so did Rowan, but Lane couldn’t seem to keep his attention on the show. He kept sneaking glances at Rowan, their gazes catching like magnets.

Once the show ended, Rowan returned to the bar for another drink, Lane at his side. His fixed attention was like a brand, and Rowan desperately wished he hated it. Instead, he basked in it.

Why did Lane find him so interesting while surrounded by gorgeous women wearing next to nothing?

“Are you uninterested in women?” Rowan asked, hopefully hitting the casual air he intended.

“What?” Lane glanced around as if their surroundings surprised him, his drink halting halfway to his lips. “I’m bi. I like women. Why? Do I seem uninterested?” His gaze landed on the stage, horrified. “Was I being rude?”

“No.” Lane’s distraction could have been easily missed. He’d tipped well, and surely no one was as attuned to his movements as Rowan.

“Phew.” Lane gave a lazy smile, fixing the full weight of his attention on Rowan. “You like women too, right?”

“Yes. I used to say gender didn’t matter to me, but in more modern terms, I’d say I’m bisexual rather than pansexual, since I experience attraction to a person’s gender expression.”

The urge to ask about non-modern times was written all over Lane’s face, but he didn’t say anything. He was awfully considerate, taking vampire customs seriously, for which Rowan was glad. If Lane asked too many questions, he feared he’d give in and answer.

One of the dancers approached and captured Lane’s attention, leaving Rowan to sip bourbon and observe his companion in peace.

Lane had a remarkably expressive face, as if it had never occurred to him to withhold his feelings. He smiled at Star, the dancer, as they chatted, his gaze lingering appreciatively on her barely covered chest. He seemed to have an easier time not focusing on Rowan, but the second his gaze drifted Rowan’s way, the appreciative glint in his eye intensified.