Page 60 of Labor of Love

Sandra laughed. “It’s a trip seeing you so unsure of yourself. Didn’t know it was possible.”

“Yeah, well.” Tanner scowled at her. “Neither did I.”

Like some sort of cosmic joke from the universe, the back door Tanner had been apparently gazing at so longingly opened to reveal Bracken, skin glowing, eyes blazing, and wearing an indecently short silk robe. The scent of spiced honeysuckle wafted into the bar.

Was he trying to kill Tanner? Was that it? Was this some sort of elaborate murder plot?

If so, it was proving alarmingly effective.

Bracken set his hands on his hips and gave Tanner his haughtiest look yet. “Barkeep. I require your presence.”

Sandra whistled and nudged Tanner with her elbow. “If you don’t go, I will.”

Tanner tossed a bar rag in her face.

He swallowed hard and began to follow Bracken up the stairs. Tanner could just barely make out Butch’s loudly whispered “I don’t think he broke the couch.” And Sandra’s wry “Not yet, at least.”

When they made it to Tanner’s living room, Bracken whirled on Tanner, his hands on his hips once more. “I am a beautiful fae, am I not?” he asked fiercely.

Tanner blinked. “Yes. Very.”

Bracken shifted on his feet, glancing down at his belly. “Even in my…altered state.”

“Especially now.” Tanner gestured to Bracken’s face and form and…everything. “You’re glowing. You must know.”

That seemed to bolster Bracken’s confidence. He straightened to his full height. “And do I not deserve to have all my needs met?”

Tanner still wasn’t sure what was happening, but he knew the answer. “Of course you do.”

“Good. Get your cock out.”

Tanner wasn’t thrown off often, but that seemed to do it. He froze.

Bracken glowered, but Tanner didn’t miss the hurt that flashed across his face. “You don’t want me?”

“Of course I do.” Tanner rubbed at the back of his neck, confusion making him too honest by half. “I’d kill to fuck you again.”

Bracken sniffed and gestured to the carpet. “And yet I see no corpses strewn about the floor.”

“Maybe you should lie down and take a re?—”

Bracken stamped his foot. “I don’t need to lie down! And I don’t need a bath! Or a massage! Or a godsdamned cuddle! I need to befucked. Forcefully and frequently. Can you handle that?Canyou?”

And it was like a flash of lightning, illuminating every second of the last two months.

Tanner had been so stupid.

Of courseBracken hadn’t asked the question directly before now.Of courseTanner’s prickly, sensitive fae hadn’t wanted to make himself even more vulnerable by stating his desires out loud, risking an uncomfortable rejection. It must have gone against his very nature, approaching Tanner that first time. But he’d been wonderfully brave and done it anyway.

And now Tanner had been keeping his distance, and Bracken thought Tanner might not want him anymore.

Tanner stepped forward, taking Bracken’s lovely face in his hands. “Yes,” he said firmly. “I can handle you, Bracken.”

And then he did what he’d been wanting to do for the past two months.

He kissed his beautiful, ornery fae right on his beautiful, ornery mouth.

7

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