Page 8 of Ozma

This was not home. Jack wasn’t her home any longer.

Chapter Four

Jack

Market day had been a success. All of the ripest pumpkins sold—for far less than Mombi would’ve accepted but fuck her—and Jack had traded forgotten potions from Mombi’s hut for a new handcart. Once the rest of the crop matured and Jack sold everything on the farm, he would leave. Find his own place in the world and start anew. The Enchanted Isle of Yew, perhaps, or the Isle of Mifkets. He and Tip had dreamed of traveling to both, and he would love to live by the sea.

But those plans had to wait another week, until he had enough coin.

It was an amazing feeling that the coins in his pocket were all his. He didn’t have to sneak a few out to pay for a tumble because the scraggly old hag had been gone for a fortnight now.Bless whatever happened to bring the barrier down. It had to be related to how weak Mombi had become lately, but he didn’t give a damn. This little taste of freedom was only a drop in the bucket. After buying a celebratoryrealbottle of ale—none of that homemade pumpkin shit—there was only one thing missing before he left town.

A body to warm his bed. And he knew just the one.

“Elidyr,” he greeted as he approached the male leaning against the corner of a pub. A hanging lamp swung lightly over his head with the gentle night breeze. The elf was shorter than him and taller than Tip, but height didn’t matter when he was pressed into a bed. The dark hair and blue eyes were what made this particular prostitute a favorite.

Elidyr smiled coyly and played with the ties holding Jack’s shirt closed. “Hello, Jack. It’s been a while.”

Jack shrugged. “You’ve been busy.”

“Aye.” Elidyr’s smile widened. “I have. Some trooping faeries passed through and decided to continue their revelry here for a few days.”

“Who could blame them?” Jack closed the distance between them and lifted Elidyr’s chin. “With a face like this.”

Elidyr lightly ran his fingertips up Jack’s torso and slid inside the loose ties crossing over his chest. The skin-to-skin contact made him shiver. He wanted more. Needed it. He leaned in and flicked his tongue over Elidyr’s bottom lip. The male’s fingers curled into his shirt in response.

“I want you for the entire night,” Jack breathed. What did he care if it cost more than he could truly afford? He meant to save as much as he could, but desperation clawed at his chest, erasing all reason. A quick fuck in the back alley wouldn’t cut it this time. He wanted someone to sleep beside him all night, and be there when he woke in the morning, just so he could pretend he wasn’t completely unloved. “I can pay.”

“A whole night is expensive,” Elidyr said.

“I can pay,” Jack repeated and held the bottle of ale up between them. “Help me celebrate.”

Elidyr’s brow lifted. “Celebrate what?”

“Freedom.” Jack tugged at Elidyr’s waistband. “Come home with me and I’ll pay extra if you wake me up with your mouth.”

Elidyr reached up and rapped on the window behind him. “I’ve got a client for the night.”

A portly redcap flung open the window and stuck her head out. “Ah, Jack!” The madam’s pleasant expression turned to a scowl. “You can afford an entire night? What will Mombi say? Elidyr is one of my best males and I can’t have him injured.”

“Mombi’s gone.” He dug into his pocket and tossed her a silver coin. “Half now. Half when he leaves in the morning.”

The redcap caught it midair, bit the coin, and nodded. “Where is Mombi then?”

“Damned if I know,” he said with a shrug. After fourteen days, he hoped she was dead.

The redcap licked her lips and stared at him as if trying to detect a lie. Finally, she waved them off with a quick, “have fun.”

Oh, we’ll have fun.Jack’s cock stiffened slightly at the thought of Elidyr’s lips wrapped around his length.All night.

“Lead the way,” Elidyr said with a playful grin.

Jack turned on his heel and started out of town with Elidyr trailing behind him. His heart thumped wildly at the promise of pleasure, but it was tainted by something darker—longing. For Elidyr to be Tip. For someone to tell Jack it was all a lie. That Tip had never left him and was alive somewhere. Waiting for him. Wanting him as badly as Elidyr wanted his money. That Tip needed him with every bone in his body.

But no one could tell Jack those things.

Because Tip didn’t choose him. Tip chose to abandon him to a life enslaved to Mombi, so fucking someone who closely resembled his ex-lover wouldnotmake him feel like he was betraying their relationship. He wouldnotfeel guilty.

Not even a little.

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