“Is that from Sammy?” Barion had tiptoed closer to get a look at the screen of Dre’s smartphone. “Wow, you’re already sending him hearts? You move fast, bro.”
“Get away from me, you menace. This is none of your business.”
Dre turned his bulky body to keep Barion from taking another peek, which was pretty useless, since his brother used his time-bending skills to keep on reading.
“What’s this about a female warrior?” Barion grew out one of his claws and pressed the link Sammy had sent. Since demon fingers were too big to handle the screens of smartphones, all of them used their claws to operate them. Who would have thought this lethal part of demon anatomy would find a peaceful use one day? Dre was sure this was Fate’s way of getting a good laugh. The website opened, showing a picture of a woman with blonde hair, dressed in leather mail reinforced with steel. The headline readFamous Viking Warrior Was a Woman, DNA Reveals.
“Why is your date sending you a link about a Viking warrior?”
Dre grinned broadly. “Because we’re going to visit famous Viking sites in Sweden on Saturday. And Birka, where this warrior was found, is one of our stops.”
“Aren’t there guides who can tell you all about it? Why research it yourself?”
“Because Sammy and I have this little challenge going. Who’s able to gather more detailed information about the places we visit. Rome was a draw. I aced Canada, because Sammy didn’t know a lot about snow. He wiped the floor with me regarding Machu Picchu. There’s little he doesn’t know about the Incas and their culture. We’re both well-versed when it comes to Viking culture, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store. This link is to tell me that I better gear up.”
Barion just stared at Dre open-mouthed. Unlike Dre, he was more interested in the kind of fun one could have in a disco or bar. That Dre and Sammy considered reading up on an old culture as an entertaining way to spend their time was hard for Barion to understand.
“I think you really have found your mate. I’d never have thought there would be somebody who could match your level of oddity.”
As much as Dre wanted to tell himself that this could just be a coincidence, Barion’s words fanned the flames of hope in his chest. He could easily see himself spending the rest of eternity with Sammy, and if Sammy wasn’t the one, Dre didn’t want to find out how he would feel when he found his fated mate. He and Sammy just felt so right together, so perfect. Talking about Sammy woke the need in Dre to visit him. He closed the website and rose from his chair.
“I’m out, Barion. You can, of course, stay here, though I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Barion raised a brow. “Booty call?”
Dre refused to react to the teasing tone.
“Lunch with my boyfriend.”
“Does he know you’re coming?”
“No. But I’m going to make a short detour to Amsterdam to get him apple pancakes, so I’m sure I’ll be welcome.”
Dre winked at Barion and left.
* * * *
Sammy was engrossed with his e-reader when somebody cleared their throat. Startled, he shot out of the leather couch, almost dropping his reading device to the floor. After narrowly catching it, he turned around to see Dre standing next to the couch with an insulated box in his hands.
“Hi, Sammy. I thought we could have lunch together.”
Sammy placed his e-reader on the table with Smaug and Drogon, making sure it was switched off. No way did he want Dre to see what he’d been reading. He would probably die of embarrassment.The Guide to Successful and Satisfying Sex with a Paranormalwas so scorching hot and bluntly accurate that it had Sammy’s body swinging from painfully aroused to completely shocked, like a metronome set on four quarters. And he had only read the foreword and the first chapter about common terminology so far. What would happen once he got to the actual instructions, he didn’t know. His e-reader would probably combust. To hide his nervousness, he pointed at the box in Dre’s hands.
“What’s in there?”
Dre lifted the box. “Fresh apple pancakes from this quaint little café in Amsterdam. Want to try them?”
Sammy perked up. “I love pancakes! Put them down here. I’ll get us plates and something to drink. What do you want?”
“I’m fine with whatever you’re having.”
“Peppermint tea with honey it is.”
Sammy filled two mugs with hot water from the coffeemaker, placed two pyramid bags with peppermint leaves into them, put them together with two spoons, their plates and a pot of honey on one of his trays and brought them over to the lounging area. Dre was sitting on the leather couch, caressing the material with his fingers.
“This is a very nice couch, Sammy. And I love the table.” Dre pointed to Drogon and Smaug.
“I found all the pieces on flea markets. Working on them was fun.”
