Page 51 of Labor of Love

But he’d been intrigued by Bracken, a rare stranger passing through. The petite fae had come by three nights in a row, drinking dewdrop essence by himself at the bar each time, and then he’d looked up at Tanner on the last night, frowning ferociously.

“Well?” he’d sniped, a green brow arched haughtily. “Aren’t you going to try and have your way with me?”

It had seemed rude to do anything else.

Besides, Tanner had found Bracken fascinating, even in that short time together. All fae had a certain kind of arrogance—that part wasn’t anything new—but usually there was nothing underneath it. The arrogance ran all the way through to the bone, and it was boring to bear witness to. But Bracken’s pride was a thin veneer. It was so obvious even after one small conversation that it did something strange to Tanner’s heart.

Bracken was soft underneath the condescension. Easily wounded. It made him snarky and defensive and rude, none of which were boring in the least.

Not to mention that, after his initial prickliness, Bracken had responded beautifully to tender words and a commanding touch. Tanner had taken him four times before their night together was done.

It hadn’t felt like enough.

And now Bracken was back. Right after Tanner had finally let go of the hope that he was ever going to return.

Bracken was scowling, one long-fingered hand on his hip. He was wearing silk pants with a matching tunic, something like a waistcoat mixed with a corset on top. “Surprised to see me?”

Tanner leaned over the bar, unable to help wanting to be as close as possible. “Very.”

“I thought as much,” Bracken said, his lyrical voice laced with satisfaction, like he’d just caught Tanner out on something.

He sauntered over to the bar, then sneered at the barstool like it was covered in filth instead of freshly wiped down. He took a seat gingerly, letting as little of his body touch it as he could.

Tanner’s grin was wide enough to hurt. “What can I get you?”

“A rabies vaccine, possibly. This place reeks of wild dog.”

Tanner had to keep his hands folded in front of him so he didn’t do something stupid, like touch Bracken’s pretty face. “Are weres particularly prone to rabies, do you think?”

Bracken gave him a fierce look. “Please stop your leering and fetch me an essence of dewdrop.”

“Right away.”

Tanner couldn’t stop grinning as he turned to get the nonalcoholic beverage for his newest patron. This was turning into the best night he’d had in months.

Four months, to be exact.

2

The human bartender was as insufferable as ever.

What right did he have to be—to begrinninglike that at Bracken’s unexpected arrival? He should be shocked! Ashamed! Horrified!

Really, after all he’d done, Tanner should be hiding under that bar, not traipsing about like the cock of the walk.

Of course, Tanner didn’tknowwhat he’d done. Not yet.

But still.

The traipsing.

The bar looked the same as before, a backwater dive with little to no charm. Still, Bracken supposed it was clean enough. And the decor was…adequate, all dark wooden furniture and soft, warm lighting.

Bracken folded his hands demurely on his lap as Tanner set the small teacup of dewdrops in front of him. He was pleased to be affecting a certain disinterest, but in reality Bracken’s stomach was roiling, and he was unsure if he could sip the beverage and keep it down.

The uncertainty made him snippy. “I assume it’s on the house. Seeing as how you took advantage of me and I never heard from you again.”

Tanner leaned over the bar again, his forearms resting mere inches from Bracken’s drink. The human’s biceps bulged obscenely with the gesture. Or at least, Bracken assumed they did. They were hidden by the hideous flannel Tanner was wearing.

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