Spoiler: show
“So what brings a Tsuirakuan to our little corner of the world?” Mr. Wolf (John, Maduin reminded himself) asked as he set down his wine glass.
“I’m here on personal business.” Maduin smiled back at him, just drinking in the other’s physical perfection. Keeping watch on my best friend’s dad didn’t seem quite like an appropriate admission to make with a gentleman one had just met. “I wanted to get out of the city, see a little something of the world.” Find my true love.
John’s own smile widened. “Lorenzel does have its charms. I could show you around.”
Maduin’s smile turned wistful. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid I’m actually leaving tomorrow.”
John’s eyebrows rose briefly. “That’s a shame.”
They were interrupted briefly by the waiter taking their orders, and for some reason, Maduin felt the faintest hint of . . . strangeness as those green eyes turned once more to his. He brushed it away, dismissing it as nerves.
“I’ve traveled fairly extensively myself around Veracia and Farrel, even to Tsuiraku and the Northern Confederacy. There’s a lot to see.” John took another sip of his wine. “Where are you headed next? I might be able to recommend a few sights.”
Maduin felt unspeakably awkward. He couldn’t exactly say he didn’t know. “Oh, I was thinking Centoriel next. I’ve heard the churches there have some lovely murals.”
John’s brow furrowed briefly, but his expression cleared almost immediately. “There’s a nice little chapel dedicated to Saint Ajora. It’d definitely be worth your time.” He stood abruptly, gesturing towards the open space in front on the musicians. “I was planning to wait, but since we only have tonight . . . may I have this dance?”
Maduin sat where he was for a moment, surprised, but John made a beckoning gesture, almost impatient. Maduin stood, crossing to him, glancing surreptitiously around. No one was looking at them.
John murmured something to the musicians, and Maduin felt a delicious smile curve his lips even as heat rose to his cheeks. They started a samba, the beat brisk. He lost all track of time. He knew they ate at some point, drank more than was probably wise.
And they danced.
No one so much as glanced at them, never looking up from their meals. Maduin didn’t question it, barely spared them a glance, caught up in the feel of John’s body moving in tandem with his own, the tall, handsome brunette confidently taking the lead, every step sure and graceful.
They danced until the room emptied and the staff began putting up the chairs, and Maduin felt desire curl hot through him, complimenting the heat woken by their exertions.
“Stay with me tonight.” John stopped, green eyes intent, tone low, so close to commanding as to make no difference. He lowered his head, bending to meet Maduin’s lips with his own, holding the kiss for a long moment before he finally broke it. “Stay with me tomorrow. Don’t go. I’ll take you to Centoriel myself.”
Maduin almost did it. He was so close to the edge, wavering on it, drawn in completely. Fayna’s stormy gray eyes flashed in his mind. And to his surprise, Argus’s joined them. It was just barely enough.
He tried to step back, but John’s embrace was unrelenting. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
John’s expression darkened. “That’s not the answer I want to hear.”
Maduin felt fear spike through him. The magic was there, almost as though it had been waiting for this very moment, shaping itself not into a shock bolt, but a coy, delicate enchantment, smooth and sweet and compelling.
“Please let me go,” he whispered.
John’s eyes widened, and then he breathed deeply, eyelids lowering slightly, grip relaxing, for all the world as though he were drinking the magic in.
Maduin stepped backward, and then turned and ran for the door.
He was calm by the time he got back to the inn only a pair of hours from dawn, in an almost dream-like daze. He ghosted inside, slipped up the stairs, and laid awake in his bed, clutching his pillow.
“I’m here on personal business.” Maduin smiled back at him, just drinking in the other’s physical perfection. Keeping watch on my best friend’s dad didn’t seem quite like an appropriate admission to make with a gentleman one had just met. “I wanted to get out of the city, see a little something of the world.” Find my true love.
John’s own smile widened. “Lorenzel does have its charms. I could show you around.”
Maduin’s smile turned wistful. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid I’m actually leaving tomorrow.”
John’s eyebrows rose briefly. “That’s a shame.”
They were interrupted briefly by the waiter taking their orders, and for some reason, Maduin felt the faintest hint of . . . strangeness as those green eyes turned once more to his. He brushed it away, dismissing it as nerves.
“I’ve traveled fairly extensively myself around Veracia and Farrel, even to Tsuiraku and the Northern Confederacy. There’s a lot to see.” John took another sip of his wine. “Where are you headed next? I might be able to recommend a few sights.”
Maduin felt unspeakably awkward. He couldn’t exactly say he didn’t know. “Oh, I was thinking Centoriel next. I’ve heard the churches there have some lovely murals.”
John’s brow furrowed briefly, but his expression cleared almost immediately. “There’s a nice little chapel dedicated to Saint Ajora. It’d definitely be worth your time.” He stood abruptly, gesturing towards the open space in front on the musicians. “I was planning to wait, but since we only have tonight . . . may I have this dance?”
Maduin sat where he was for a moment, surprised, but John made a beckoning gesture, almost impatient. Maduin stood, crossing to him, glancing surreptitiously around. No one was looking at them.
John murmured something to the musicians, and Maduin felt a delicious smile curve his lips even as heat rose to his cheeks. They started a samba, the beat brisk. He lost all track of time. He knew they ate at some point, drank more than was probably wise.
And they danced.
No one so much as glanced at them, never looking up from their meals. Maduin didn’t question it, barely spared them a glance, caught up in the feel of John’s body moving in tandem with his own, the tall, handsome brunette confidently taking the lead, every step sure and graceful.
They danced until the room emptied and the staff began putting up the chairs, and Maduin felt desire curl hot through him, complimenting the heat woken by their exertions.
“Stay with me tonight.” John stopped, green eyes intent, tone low, so close to commanding as to make no difference. He lowered his head, bending to meet Maduin’s lips with his own, holding the kiss for a long moment before he finally broke it. “Stay with me tomorrow. Don’t go. I’ll take you to Centoriel myself.”
Maduin almost did it. He was so close to the edge, wavering on it, drawn in completely. Fayna’s stormy gray eyes flashed in his mind. And to his surprise, Argus’s joined them. It was just barely enough.
He tried to step back, but John’s embrace was unrelenting. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
John’s expression darkened. “That’s not the answer I want to hear.”
Maduin felt fear spike through him. The magic was there, almost as though it had been waiting for this very moment, shaping itself not into a shock bolt, but a coy, delicate enchantment, smooth and sweet and compelling.
“Please let me go,” he whispered.
John’s eyes widened, and then he breathed deeply, eyelids lowering slightly, grip relaxing, for all the world as though he were drinking the magic in.
Maduin stepped backward, and then turned and ran for the door.
He was calm by the time he got back to the inn only a pair of hours from dawn, in an almost dream-like daze. He ghosted inside, slipped up the stairs, and laid awake in his bed, clutching his pillow.
