Page 65 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

“Uh…this sounds like experience.”

Lirion sighed. “One of those disastrous sea voyages I tried as a younger man. I prefer not to relive that memory. Anyway, don’t feel obligated to provide food for me; I can fend for myself.”

That wasn’t really something Fenric was comfortable with. He wasn’t about to let the man starve, not in either sense. He had the feeling Lirion was trying to cause as little trouble as possible. Perhaps to offset the demands he’d made to rescue his sister? Well, whatever the reason, Fenric didn’t want him to feel obligated to make himself feel small.

“All of this said, you don’t need to have full-blown sex with me every time, either.” Lirion gestured toward Fenric’s groin. “I can give you a blow job and be fed just fine from that.”

“Like you did in the alley?”

“Er, well, yes.”

Fenric considered his words. Decided naw, that didn’t sit well with him. “I’d prefer to reciprocate. Rather, I’d feel awkward not reciprocating. I try not to be a selfish lover. Also, please don’t feel awkward approaching me. I rarely get regular sex. Between traveling so much and moving as a group, I might have sex maybe three times a year.”

Lirion’s eyes crossed, and he spluttered for a full minute before managing to say, “That’s all?!”

Fenric shrugged. “Don’t know what to tell you. Just works out that way.”

Lirion’s eyes were still in danger of falling out of his head. “But you’re stunningly gorgeous. You can’t tell me people don’t make offers!”

“Well…to be honest, I’m bad at the whole flirting thing if it’s not related to a job. For some reason, I’m not as good at it when I’m actually trying to get laid.” Fenric winced and scrubbed a hand through his hair nervously. “Hapi likes to point out that I rarely notice when someone’s flirting. Which is part of the reason I wanted to have this conversation. Just be blunt, don’t be subtle.”

Lirion dropped his head into one hand, laughing, but it sounded incredulous. “Of all the things to tell me, I never expected you to say that.”

“I guess that’s really weird to you, me not having sex often.”

“Inconceivable to me,” Lirion corrected, lifting his head again. This time, his eyes seemed to study Fenric like he was seeing him anew. “But I think I understand how it happens? Because you’re not pushy.”

Fenric shook his head and swallowed hard. “Not in this, no.”

Was it hot in there? It seemed to suddenly become ten degrees hotter. Above him, he could hear the rain starting to pound on the roof, drowning out the rest of the noises around the house and wrapping them in a private cocoon. All his friends were a million miles away, and there was just Lirion staring at him with those deep blue eyes and his soft pink hair calling to him to touch. He wanted to run his fingers through it and know at last if it was as soft as it looked.

Lirion softly hummed, his head dipping into a nod, like he’d just realized something. What, Fenric had no clue, but whatever it was seemed to be good? Lirion’s smile returned, but there was something hotter about it, something that flashed in those perfect eyes and made Fenric’s mouth go completely dry.

Everything about Lirion was so artless and easy, conjuring up a siren song of lust. Was this what it meant to be an incubus? A push of his magic that fogged up all of Fenric’s thoughts and got his heart racing?

“In that case, why don’t I seduce you properly to make up for the last time?” His voice dipped seductively low, becoming a caress in Fenric’s ear. As he spoke, his right hand, which had been resting at his side on the bed, slowly moved up his chest to the top button. He plucked at it, sliding it out of its hole. One after another, he worked his way down. Fenric couldn’t tear his eyes away, his heart speeding up with each new bit of skin that became visible.

But they were talking.

Questions.

What the fuck had he been saying before? It was becoming difficult to pull a single thought together, but he had to get the words out. He couldn’t take advantage of Lirion just because this was how the guy survived. He deserved Fenric’s respect.

Fenric swallowed hard and licked his lips. “I’m certainly not going to say no, but one…one more question. What’s better for you, a quickie or…?”

Lirion shrugged and his shirt tumbled off one shoulder. Gods help him, Fen was going to start crying if he couldn’t kiss his shoulder.

“Fundamentally, there’s no difference.” The words sounded casual as they left Lirion’s lips, but his eyes roved over Fenric like a hunter would prey. “Like having a quick sandwich on the go or sitting down to a banquet. You’re full no matter which you consume, though one would be more satisfying than the other.”

“Ah, okay, makes sense. Also, I feel like I just flipped a switch in you.”

“You may have,” Lirion murmured. The incubus stood and let his shirt fall carelessly to the floor. “I can’t remember the last time I had a partner who was genuinely interested in what I need. It makes me want to reward you.”

Fenric translated “reward” to “hot jungle sex.”

Lirion stood over Fenric, looking as if he were prepared to devour him whole, but Fen was never one to be passive in the bedroom. If Lirion wanted to feed, Fenric was determined to provide a feast.

Fenric stood and their mouths crashed in an almost violent kiss that felt as if they were both starved for this moment. Clothes were pulled roughly off, the sound of ripping seams lost to the pounding of Fen’s heart in his ears. A hiss escaped him when Lirion’s hot, bare skin met his for the first time, and Lirion echoed it. His rough hands ran down Lirion’s smooth back, molding the other man against him, pulling him in as tightly as he could. Their tongues tangled and fought for dominion. Fenric tried to give as good as he got, but honestly, it was hard to focus. The energy pouring out of Lirion was warm, reminding him of times he’d taken a sun-dried blanket off the clothesline and wrapped it around himself.