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Zane failed to hide his smug grin.

Okay, then. I was in the company of a legend. Be cool, Marcus. Be cool.

I forced my attention back to his office. The other half belonged to a gamer. A creative. I barely knew Zane, but that seemed to be his special place. A cozy gamer chair, giant screen, several consoles and a desktop with a clear shell and color-changing lights. There were more framed prints on the walls—renderings of characters and settings from the game. I wanted to examine each in detail, but the messy corkboard on the wall caught my attention.

Zane hovered at my side as I hobbled over to the board covered with torn pages with sketches and Post-it notes covered in scribbles.

“What’s this?” I turned toward him, and he was even closer than I realized. His body heat rolled off him, inviting me to close the distance.

“My ideas board. It’s where I keep whatever things come to me to use later or not use at all. Most of my work is digital, but for certain things, I like to go analog.”

I brushed my finger across a paper with a sketch that appeared to be an early version of Empress Whisker. This version had bigger horns, sharper teeth, and harsher angles. The final version of Empress Whisker was more mischievous.

“I have so many questions.”

“I’ve got so much time,” he purred.

He was so close I could almost feel the sound in my chest.

I wanted to ask was why he lived all the way out here. Wasn’t he lonely? One didn’t move to the middle of the woods without a reason, but it seemed rude to ask. Instead, I grilled him about his work.

Zane helped me over to his gaming chair, then wheeled his office chair close enough so he could prop my foot on his knee. He enthusiastically answered each of my questions. We riffed about the game mechanics, storyline, the player’s influence on gameplay, and the behind-the-scenes decisions he and his team had made.

The longer we talked, the more I wanted him. There was no doubting my attraction at this point with the way my skin buzzed simply by being near him. Zane was undeniably gorgeous. He had more raw sex appeal in a single bicep than I did in my entire body, but it was also the way he spoke with endless passion. I’d never been able to nerd out with someone to this level, especially not someone who was so fucking sexy.

Even his horns seemed normal now. It would be weird to see Zane without them, not that I ever expected to get the chance. Though maybe I could beg him to let me be a beta tester on the sequel and we could keep in touch.

As the wee hours approached, one question sifted to the top of the pile. “Why this lore? The incubi and succubi, the demons?” That was what had drawn me to the game to begin with. Supernatural beings had always fascinated me, and come on, sex demons? So hot.

A complicated expression played out on his face. I’d assumed it was a simple question, but the longer he went without answering left me wondering if I’d stepped into something.

Zane’s piercing stare untethered me. Like he was trying to read my soul, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out.

“When’s the sequel coming out?”

Zane latched onto the topic change and told me all about the game in development.

An hour later, I was yawning.

“Why don’t you get some rest? It would be safest to wait until sunlight to head back to your car,” he said.

“I don’t want to impose.” I really want to impose.

“Trust me, you’re far from an imposition.” His suggestive tone gave me hope that the night might be going in a different direction.

If I could have my first sexual experience—outside of my dreams—with Zane? Holy shit. I’d be the luckiest guy in the world. But why would a guy like him be interested in someone like me? He had everything. Looks, personality, money, and an amazing career. I shared a mediocre apartment, had a boring desk jockey job at a health insurance company, and my personality was probably best described as “mid” by most people.

“I appreciate it. The couch was comfy.”

He helped me to my feet. Before I could take a step, he hoisted me over his shoulder. “My bed is much comfier.”

“Your bed?” I squeaked.

“I’ll take the couch.” He held me in place with a wide palm at the flesh of my thigh, right below my ass.

“Oh.” I failed to hide my disappointment.

Zane chuckled and closed his office door behind us. When he opened another door, a sconce flicked on, emitting a warm glow. He set me down and held onto my hip as the blood rushed from my head. It took me a second to take in the room. When I did, I gasped.