“Will do, consort.”Allea saluted.
“As you wish, master’s beloved.”Andrea bowed.
Quentin sighed, but he didn’t complain.He appreciated the extra protection for his mother, even if she wouldn’t.If they were as good as they claimed, she would remain safe and unaware under their watch.
“Ladies.”Jaks’s appearance had Quentin perking up.Damn, he really was becoming conditioned like Pavlov’s dog at hearing his lover’s voice.“Come to give your report?”
“Yes, Master Jaks,” they said in unison.
“Go to my office.I’ll meet you there shortly.”
They bowed and scampered off like children rushing to recess.
Jaks turned to give Quentin his complete attention.“What are you doing up here?”
“I came to check out the lab space you promised me.You said I had a room on the third floor?”
Jaks flashed him a sheepish smile.“Ah, I moved you.Sorry, love, I forgot to mention it, but I know you’ll like the new location better.”
Quentin’s shoulders slumped.It was a good thing he ran into Jaks.He could have been wandering for hours.“To where?”
“We have an outbuilding that used to be the carriage house.I thought it would be perfect for your experiments.It’s stone.If you have an explosion, it should hold steady, or if not, be easily repaired.”
It did sound perfect.“Great!Lead the way.”
“Is this it?”Quentin eyed the stone cottage tucked between towering trees.Vines crawled up the outer walls, adding to its rustic charm.“I feel like I’m on a movie set and I’m either going to find dwarves or a serial killer inside.”
Jaks’s laughter scared a flock of tiny birds.“I’m hoping you’ll like it despite its potential for serial-killer dwarves.”
“Hmm, we’ll see,” he teased.
Despite the old-fashioned look, a glowing screen was located to the right of the door.
“Handprint security lock?”
“Yes.It currently only has us programmed into the system.You’ll have to add anyone else you want to allow unrestricted entry.”
He didn’t bother asking how Jaks got his handprint.Some things were better left undiscovered.“Thank you,” he said sincerely.His lover had put a lot of effort into protecting Quentin’s work.He’d have to make sure to thank him later properly, possibly enthusiastically.
“I’m sure you’ll add your own magical protections as well.I thought a separate building would make that easier, considering some of the safeguards you mentioned before.”
Quentin didn’t even try to hide his mischievous smile.“You know me so well.”
“I like to think so.”
The happy beep of his handprint’s acceptance had Quentin almost dancing through the door.His eager gaze took in his new space.“Nice, very nice.You did very well.”
Jaks’s pleased smile warmed Quentin’s heart.Other than his mother, no one else had ever really taken the time to pay attention to his needs.His few relationships hadn’t lasted long enough to worry about likes and dislikes.For Quentin, a lover who knew him deep down was far more romantic than a roomful of roses.
The workshop was as over-the-top as he’d been expecting after his boyfriend mentioned he had prepared a workspace for him.Jaks wasn’t the type to skimp on anything, especially when he was trying to keep Quentin focused on research instead of bounty hunter work.The gleaming counters, large whiteboards, and dozens of shelves filled with jars of ingredients were tempting bribes.
“You like it?”
Quentin nodded.“I do.I like it very much.”
“Do you want to check out the courtyard?”
“There’s a courtyard?”A giddy thrill rushed through him at the thought of having a little patio table where he could have a cup of coffee while planning his next invention.
