Page 31 of Love Potion

“Is it?”

Bane nods, leaning across the table closer to me. “I like my life. I have everything I need.”

My stomach flutters, and for a second I think I feel a twinge of interest in my dick. That’s… interesting. “Good.”

The expression on Bane’s face is new to me. It’s intense and sexy. Why is he looking atmelike that?

“Are you still gonna go to the other workshop?” he asks.

I nod, blinking slowly. “I think so. Couldn’t hurt.”

“No, not at all.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. “Just remember, there’s nothing wrong with you.”

“I remember.”

“Good.” He sits back, releasing my hand. “We should finish up and help the guys out.”

“Yeah.” I nod, happy for the distraction of eating.

Bane might be the perfect guy, but I’m not the perfect guy for him, and I have to remember that before I do something stupid and mess everything up.

When I glance up, Bane is watching me. He smiles, his eyes filled with things he doesn’t say.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” I say softly.

“Always, Jerr. Always.”

TWELVE

BANE

I’d say courtingJerryn is going pretty well. He’s a little suspicious, but that’s okay. He’ll get used to this new version of me, and when he does, I’ll finally be able to tell him that it’s been him all along.

You’d think after being as close as we are for as long as we have been I could tell him directly that I’m into him and we can work around the sex thing, but it’s our closeness that makes it clear that’s exactly what I can’t do. His insecurity runs deep, and there’s no way he’d believe I wasn’t acting out of some misguided loneliness.

Thing is, I’m not lonely. I never have been. I have the man of my dreams in my life all day, every day, and sometimes at night. The early days I spent rotating in and out of new beds weekly don’t do much to prove that I’m not some sex hungry fuckboi, but I would think the recent celibacy should be proof.

I guess I’ll have to tell Jerr that all those other men were nothing but an attempt to get over what I believed was a useless crush on him. I almost laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of my plight, but before I can dive deeper into my musings, Florian shows up with a grin.

“How are the drinks? Do you guys approve?”

Jerryn smiles at him. “Really good. I approve.”

“Me too,” I say, though Florian already knows. I arranged the whole drink presentation before Jerryn got here. We put our heads together to come up with a suitable drink and a suggestive name, and one of these days, I’ll tell Jerryn the whole plan I concocted to woo him off his feet no matter what I had to do, even naming a drink after my goals.

I stand and gather the nearly empty plate of pasta. “Ready to do some work?”

Jerryn nods, standing too. “I’m ready. Running to the bathroom real quick, then I’ll be out.”

“Cool.” He walks off, and I watch him for a second before turning back to Florian. “Thanks for the assist.”

“Did it go well?”

“Well enough.”

Florian grabs the empty glasses as I scoop up our silverware. “It’s about time you made the move.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I grin. “Better late than never, right?”

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