Just. Noel.
His mind stopped tripping over the new name because it didn’t really matter. This was the man who’d made him feel more than he ever had in his over two hundred years.
But…fear crept in to chase all that away. Fear over having his heart broken again.
He put his hands on Noel’s chest and pushed, causing Noel to stumble back a couple of steps. They stared at each other, both breathing hard.
Noel’s eyes were hot with lust, heavy-lidded, and his lips were red and puffy from the ferocity of their kiss. “I knew it would still be like that.”
“This…can’t happen.”
“It can,” Noel insisted. “Please, just give me a chance.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “I’m saying it won’t. I’ll work with you because I need to find out who’s taking the magical items, but that’s all I’ll be doing with you.”
Something bleak passed through Noel’s eyes. “Are you trying to convince yourself? Because that won’t work with me.”
“It’s going to have to.”
Daniel had no choice. Noel Banner had the power to rip his life to shreds, and he just couldn’t let that happen.
Chapter Four
Noel
It was fucking hard to step back from Daniel when all Noel wanted was to keep kissing him. Hell, he wanted to cart him off somewhere more private and do a lot more. Five years of longing had swamped his entire body, and he was fairly shaking with need.
But Daniel didn’t trust him, and he had good reason. Noel was going to have to rebuild that trust, and he had every intention of doing just that. Though keeping his hands off him during that build was going to be difficult.
There was a knock on the office door, and Daniel swept past him to open it and let Xavier into his office. Xavier paused and cocked his head, obviously taking in the tension.
“Everything okay in here?” he asked.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Daniel grumbled. “But I still don’t want to work with him.”
“I need you to do this, Daniel. I have confirmed through my own sources that the Aurulus Amulet has officially been stolen.”
Daniel’s head snapped up. “That’s the requested item in that post I showed you. They really got it?”
Xavier nodded. “You know the power it wields. We have to get it back.”
Daniel walked to his desk and sat down. He pushed his tangled emotions over Noel aside to focus. “You guys better settle in, because this is going to take a while.” He pulled up the list of everything they knew that had been stolen. “So, they’ve got the amulet. Now some of this other stuff is making more sense.” He read off the list that included a crystal of divination, a staff of invisibility, and a sword that was reputed to be forever sharp—one that could cut through anything. He sat back and sighed. “Talk about a recipe for ultimate power.”
Noel cleared his throat. “From what I understand, the Aurulus Amulet can give its user the power to control the magic of anyone near them. Does it also have the power of suggestion?”
“It does,” Xavier answered. “It should have been destroyed long ago, but the sorcerer who protected it is a good man. Trustworthy. And powerful. I still say he would have accounted for the possibility of someone who could mist through walls. He would have had wards in place.” Xavier stared at the list of stolen items as he crossed one ankle over his knee. “I suspect it’s another sorcerer.”
Noel looked between the two. “According to Warner, whoever did thishad to havegone through the walls.”
“I need to speak to him,” Xavier said. “Maybe he knows more than he thinks.” He stood. “I’ll get Lake and warp to him, talk to him in person.” He gave Daniel a pointed look. “I suggest you let your tracking programs do their thing while you take today to talk with Noel.”
Daniel scowled but didn’t look his way. “I’ve got too much to do. This isn’t the only job I’m working, you know.”
Xavier leaned down and placed his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “It’s more important than you realize.”
Daniel’s eyes went wide as he stared up at his boss. It was like they were having a silent conversation because Xavier gave him a slow nod, which made Daniel’s gaze fly to Noel.
“What am I missing here?” Noel asked.
