Page 69 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

Ronan grappled for another line. This was far from his usual MO, but now it was a matter of pride. Anything Bast could do, he could do a thousand times better. Resting an elbow on the bar, he leaned down, his voice a seductive purr, “Do you have a mirror in your pocket? Because I can easily see myself in your skirt.”

“Ugh, it’s like you’re not even trying,” Bast scolded. Taking the girl’s hand, he ran it down his torso. “Go ahead,mon ange,feel my shirt. Can you feel it?” She gave him a jerky nod, her teeth biting into her lower lip. He pulled her lip free as he whispered, “It's made of boyfriend material.”

The blonde swooned. “Are you sure? Feels like husband material to me.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” He tapped her playfully on the nose when she fisted her hand in the velvet and tried to pull him down for a kiss. “Not yet,ma petite. Bet first, then kisses.”

She pouted and looked to Ronan.

Oh, fuck it all.

Pretending it was Reyna’s green gaze peering up at him, he gave it another go. “Your eyes are bluer than the Empyrean Ocean, and I don't mind being lost at sea.”

This time there were no giggles, just a soft, “Oh.”

Running a thumb along her cheekbone, Bast lowered his head and whispered, “Je rêve de tremper ma baguette dans ta soupe.”

The blonde licked her lip. “Stars...”

“Oh, come on, you’re cheating. Everything sounds better when—”

“When I say it,” Bast interrupted with a laugh.

“When it's foreign.”

“What does it mean?” the blonde asked.

Bast wrinkled his nose. “It loses its magic when translated, but roughly I said, ‘I dream of soaking my baguette in your soup.’”

She giggled. “You’re right. It sounded much sexier the first way, but I suppose it still has a certain kind of charm.”

Ronan inwardly groaned. How in the Mother’s name could she findthatsexy?

Clearly enjoying this little game far more than he was, the girl looked over at him with a wide smile. “Your turn.”

Channeling his inner Bast, Ronan lowered his voice once more. “Do you remember me? Oh, that’s right, I’ve only met you in my dreams.”

She pressed a hand to her chest and swayed toward him.

Not to be outdone, Bast breathed, “I was wondering if you had an extra heart... because mine was just stolen.”

“Mine too,” she fervently agreed, looking up at him like he hung the moon. This poor, sweet girl. She had no idea what she was getting herself into.

Too into this game of theirs to feel foolish, Ronan tipped her face back to his. “If I had to rate you from one to ten, I’d give you a nine, because I’m the one you’re missing.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

“Oooh, he’s getting better, isn’t he, mon ange?” Sebastian asked with a grin. The blonde gave an eager nod as he tucked some more hair behind her ear. “All right, since he’s gotten the hang of it, I’ll give you one last one, and then you pick your winner. Okay?”

She nodded.

Ever the consummate actor, Bast blinked a few times, pulling away from her and then leaning in close. “There must be something wrong with my eyes.”

“Oh, no! What’s wrong?” she cooed, leaning into him.

“I can't take them off you,” Bast finished with a wink.

Ronan barely suppressed a groan. He wasn’t sure it was possible, but Sebastian sounded stupider with every line.

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