Years after graduation, I want my former academic adversary.Facing mystical monsters is a breeze for me compared to asking out the dude I like, but I know Taz is worth it.
CHAPTER 12- TAZ
DOING INVENTORY INmy bookshop is tedious, and I usually dread it.This morning, however, it’s my haven.It keeps my hands and mind busy so I don’t have to dwell on my interaction at the Union an hour ago.
Luther doesn’t want to hang out.We were just Paris hook-up buddies, that’s it.The sting of rejection is never an easy one to swallow, even at the ripe old age of twenty-eight.
I thought we forged a connection.Guess it was simply one night of hot sex, and back to being work colleagues for Taz and Luther.
Sighing, I continue to stack some books when I hear the entrance bell ring.“Welcome to Tome After Tome Books,” I say with as much customer service cheer as possible.
Turning around, I nearly jump?it’s Luther.
“H-h-hey.”His hand trembles as he gives me an awkward wave.Luther wasn’t even this nervous when we found a human sacrifice in a dark barn.But now it would seem my luck is on the up and up.He’s here in my shop!
Attempting to play it cool, I clear my throat and straighten my back.“Luther Westbrook.You lost?”
“No, no, not at all.”His gaze catches the small wooden table at the front.“I came for, um…books.This one is tagged as the owner’s favorite.”His eyes dart to mine, then back down to the small display.“That you?”
“The one and only.”
“So, you really are a shop owner,” he says, scrutinizing the paperbacks.“I thought you wrote hex books.”
“And where do you think I sell them?”I cross my arms and lean on a table.“A boy’s gotta eat, and this place pays the bills.”
“Do mortals read your hex-breaking tomes?”
“I mostly service the magically inclined.The mortals ignore those types of books.Romance makes me the most money.”
“I see.”He picks up my recent favorite book.“A gay romance?”
“Naturally.It’s about a bloke who thought he was bullied by this one big guy in high school.It turns out, the opposite was true, and the jock was the victim of bullying.”My eyes travel up and down, soaking in Luther’s body in his pristine blue button-down and sinfully tight trousers.“Once they clear up their teenage miscommunication, a romance blossoms.It’s really sweet.”
“Sounds sweet,” he echoes, thumbing through the pages.“‘Redraw Your Hand.’Cute title.”
“You can borrow it if you like.It’s part of a whole series of single boardgame nerds.”
“I don’t wanna take your stock without paying.”
“I’m offering.”My voice grows soft.“As a…friend?”
He glances at me and freezes up.The man seems so rattled, and it takes everything in me not to jump his bones.We’ve already had hot sex, I’m sure he won’t mind.
But I don’t want that.I want Luther to say what he wants from me, to admit he wantsme.
“Speaking of friends, Necia and Girish told me where to find your, uh, shop.”He looks up and around.“Hence why I’m here.”
“Did they bully you into talking to me?”
We share a soft laugh, and he sets the book down.“No.Neesh did, however, urge me to follow my, uh…feelings.”He has feelings for me?Luther adjusts his collar, and even I must admit my shop is getting warmer by the second.My pull to him grows stronger day by day.This man continues to look sexy and adorable.
“Did you tell Necia that we…you know…” I manage not to let my voice lull into a whisper when I continue, “Had sex?”
Luther winces, and I know the answer.“She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.We gossip all the time.”
“I see.”
“Was that wrong of me to tell her?”
