He’s going to amend our contract again.I wonder if he’ll try to ram sexual exclusivity in there if I work here.Theo considered that.I wouldn’t mind.No, actually, I don’t want anyone else.I want… MaybeIshould make sure we put sexual exclusivity in there, because…what if he sees some hot vampire at the office?
Theo set his jaw.The realization was odd.He’d never thought much about monogamy or who Peter might come across at his law office.His personal theory—one that had earned him a C in an essay once because the professor liked the execution but not the conclusion—was that monogamy was something concocted by the patriarchy and enforced through media.He’d blamed the Greeks and Hallmark movies alike for promoting it.
And yet, when it came to Peter, Theo didn’t want to imagine him holding another man like he held Theo.Didn’t want to imagine Peter being as kind to anyone else or bundling anyone else up as they settled down in the basement for a movie night.
“Should we do early lunch?Brunch?Celeste, do you want to come?We could help Theo learn how to use his credit card.”
Corvin tapped Theo on the shoulder at the bottom of the stairs.Celeste unlocked the door to the Boudoir for them.
“Wish I could, but I have an early client today.You two go enjoy yourselves though.”
“I like the sound of that,” Corvin said, sneaking an arm around Theo’s shoulders.“And for dessert, there’s this bookstore where you can have wine while browsing.”
“Isn’t it too early for wine?”
Corvin snorted as they walked back into the Boudoir.“Did you learn nothing during your studies of old-timey literature?The Victorians gave us breakfast wine.Who are we to snub our heritage?”
“Yeah, they also gave us lead poisoning.”
Corvin groaned.“Oh-em-gee, are you doing this on purpose?”
Celeste looked back at them, her eyes twinkling.Theo was pretty sure she was chuckling away and using her beard to hide it.
“Doing what on purpose?”
“You sound like Peter.”
“I—what?”
Celeste clapped.“Took the words right out of my mouth, Corvin.”She leaned on the bar.“You two are heading out?”she asked Theo and Corvin.
Before Theo could answer, Celeste turned.When he followed her line of sight, surprise and the feeling of being caught made his stomach pull tight.
Theo saw the witch Peter had called to the house a while back, his flip-flops noisy even on Celeste’s fluffy carpets.It had been right after Peter had gotten hurt…because he’d protected Theo.Shit, what was this guy’s name again?Basil?
The werewolf witch was following Basil too, and when he saw Theo, his eyes went wide.Then he saw Corvin, and he flushed and hid behind Basil.
“You two got here,” Celeste said to the newcomers.
Theo looked at her.“You know them?”
“John?”Corvin pointed.“John!Wow, are you okay?You were just gone after that night.Pineapple Mike said Peter had taken care of you, but he wasn’t sure what that meant.”
“Um.”The werewolf hunched his shoulders as if he wanted to make himself small.He was clinging to the back of Basil’s shirt.
Celeste raised a perfectly shaped brow in surprise.“John?You mean Will.”
The flip-flop witch crossed his arms.“What’s going on here?”He narrowed his eyes at Corvin.“What do you want with Will?”
Corvin cocked his head.“Will?”
“Uh, John’s just what Peter said my name was.He had me stay with Corvin and some siren lawyer.”He gave Corvin a tentative smile.“Sorry.I didn’t mean to lie.It’s Will, actually.”
Corvin shrugged.“Peter the Terrible strikes again.No worries.But didn’t you promise to make yourself available for another movie night?”
Will looked at the floor.“I’m sorry.”
“Will, sweetcakes, you never told me that.Anyway—” The witch’s attention turned to Theo.“—didn’t expect to see you here, Theodore.”
