Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39991 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Rowan looked back down to find Ivor still watching him, only his expression was more thoughtful and not so…smoldering. “Why is that interesting?”
“No reason,” he said, but Rowan could tell he was lying. “It’s just fun to see the incubus fixated on one person. It’s not his norm.” Daniel straightened up. “So, do you still want to help me today?”
“Sure. It’s either that or play Subnautica.”
Daniel blinked at him. “And you pick highlighting text?”
“What I’d really like to have is a kitchen.”
“I’ve heard about how wonderful your desserts are. You should stick around Seattle after this is all over. Bake a little something for us.”
“With everything everyone is doing for me here, I’ll bake a lot of somethings.”
“It’s not your fault that draugr got out. That lies with this company.”
“I’m sure it was an accident.”
“Nevertheless, everyone here wants to make it right—especially Xavier. And from what I just saw, Ivor is glad to have you here for other reasons.”
Since Rowan couldn’t deny that, he said nothing. “Come on. Let’s see if I can actually find what you’re looking for in all those chatrooms today.” He started walking toward Daniel’s office but couldn’t resist one last glimpse of Ivor, because that heated gaze was back, and he could feel it burning under his skin.
Chapter Thirteen
Rowan
That evening, Rowan was settled in a rather comfortable office chair near a wall with the laptop on his lap. He’d been playing the game, but his attention kept wandering to all the preternaturals gathered. It was still wild being in this office with so many of them, and Rowan had noticed that a lot of them watched Ivor like they couldn’t help themselves. He certainly understood because it was hard to look away. Especially when he moved. Ivor had this sort of sultry prowl as he walked that made Rowan’s mouth go dry.
Rowan was watching him walk between the cubicles now, and everything around him faded away.
Rowan trembled as he was led with the others onto the bigger ship. The pirates had easily overtaken his small group, and now he knew they’d either be sold off as slaves or forced overboard into the endless sea. They shouldn’t have braved trying to sail through to another continent. They’d been warned that pirates ruled this section of the world.
“Who do we have here?”
The deep voice sent shivers down his spine, ones that didn’t entirely feel like fear. He watched with wide eyes as the most beautiful man he’d ever seen walked toward them. His long black hair was loose about his face, dark brown eyes narrowing on Rowan himself. The ship shifted on the moving water, yet the obvious captain didn’t miss a step as he confidently strolled across the deck until he stopped right in front of Rowan.
“Such pretty red hair,” he murmured as he reached out to rub a strand between his fingers. “Whatever shall I do with you?”
Another shiver wracked his spine. Desire blazed from those dark eyes, and Rowan knew he wouldn’t have a sea death until this man had his fill of him.
A loud snort brought him out of the fantasy, and he blinked the real world back into focus to find Emory standing right in front of him and staring at him with complete amusement.
“Have a habit of just drifting off in your mind, don’t you?”
Rowan looked past him to Ivor, who was regarding him with amusement of his own. Only Ivor also had a thoughtful expression on his face, head tilted to the side.
Shutting his eyes, Rowan inwardly struggled not to show his humiliation this time. He really had to get a handle on this fantasizing thing.
Emory laughed again. “I came to get you because Xavier ordered a bunch of food and everyone is going downstairs to the big conference room to eat. You like Chinese?”
Rowan nodded at Ivor’s question. “Love it.”
“Come. I’ll show you the way.” Ivor nodded his head toward the elevator.
When they reached the door to the conference room, Rowan hesitated because the table was mostly full. He recognized a lot of the preternaturals, but there were a few humans like him in the room he hadn’t met. One of them came forward and held out his hand. He had black hair, and Alaric, the elf he’d already met, was standing close to him with a hand on his back.
“Hi, I’m Ezra, and you’ve met my boyfriend, Alaric. Alaric says I’m not friendly enough, so here I am. Introducing myself.” He rolled his eyes toward his boyfriend, who chuckled.
Rowan couldn’t help but grin himself. He liked nothing better than a straightforward person. “I’m Rowan.”
“I’ve heard you bake like a dream. You must be going nuts stuck here like you are. I’m really sorry about that draugr.”
“So am I. Thing is ridiculously scary.”
“So, you’re like us?” He waved his finger around at the other humans. “We can all see through their magic. Has Ivor told you what that could mean?”