Page 17

O nce Luke was in the bathroom, he braced his hands on the countertop and dragged in a deep breath. The one thing he hadn’t quite dared to ask for was his, and Luke was in disbelief. He lifted his gaze to the mirror. His hair was a mess thanks to Richard’s questing fingers. There was an unrecognizable wildness in his eyes.

But he was smiling.

His soul had reached for Richard’s, and it’d been glorious. It made sense to him now why he’d been so attracted to the necromancer. Richard had crept into his dreams. Luke nearly laughed at his own foolishness. How had he ever believed soulmates didn’t exist? Or that he’d somehow miss the sign when discovering his? There was no mistaking the vision, nor the tug of his essence touching Richard’s.

Forcing himself to stop mooning in the bathroom, Luke grabbed a plush washcloth from a shelf and ran it under the tap. As he washed their essence from his skin, he wondered what the future would hold.

Did Richard regret anything? Was he happy about finding his soulmate? There was only one way to find out. Luke turned the water on again and ensured it was toasty warm before dunking his cloth beneath the faucet. There was no way he’d allow himself to use a cold towel on Richard.

As Luke returned to the bedroom, he tried not to notice the thong tossed haphazardly on the carpet. Richard’s choice of underwear had been surprising, and Luke mourned that he’d been denied a view of the necromancer’s backside in them. Luke walked toward Richard and ignored his outstretched hand.

Instead, Luke gently wiped the mess off Richard’s firm abs and the dark curls above his pretty cock. His gaze met Richard’s, and he grinned at the necromancer’s blush.

“I’ll be right back,” Luke promised as he reluctantly left Richard to drape the rag at the edge of the tub.

Luke returned to find Richard digging things out of his suitcase. He tried not to think about possibilities as he grabbed his underwear from the floor and tugged them on. Across the room, Richard pulled on an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and matching shorts that barely hit him mid-thigh.

Everything the man wore made him delectable.

Richard faced him, and his extraordinary face was impassive. Swallowing thickly, Luke felt the first wave of fear hit him. To deal with his sudden bout of vulnerability, Luke shrugged into his shirt but didn’t bother buttoning it. His knees were getting shaky, so he sat on the edge of the bed.

“I could use a glass of wine,” Richard said. “Can I get you anything?”

Luke wondered if he was being punished as the necromancer bent to peer inside the small fridge hidden among the built-ins beneath the television. Richard’s little shorts tightened to give Luke a lovely glimpse of his firm cheeks. Saliva pooled in his mouth.

“Is there any beer?”

“Um, a couple of choices,” Richard replied, rattling off a few brands. Luke picked one at random and thanked the universe when Richard stood. If Richard had remained in that position much longer, Luke would’ve lost his mind. Despite his recent intense orgasm, Luke wanted to pounce on the man, but he had no idea if that would be welcome despite having just discovered they were soulmates.

Was Richard displeased? He was expertly hiding his emotions, so Luke had no inkling what was in his heart. Luke took the beer from Richard and downed half of it in one swallow. It did nothing to calm him. He was both turned on despite just having had a blistering climax and horribly frightened that he was about to be abandoned again.

He wasn’t sure how to handle being rejected twice in one day. First, Foxe wanted nothing to do with him. If Richard demanded distance too, Luke swore he’d have his bags packed by morning and he’d restart his life without leaving a forwarding address for either necromancer. In fact, he’d swear off sorcerers entirely until he slowly faded to bone and died.

Richard fished a wineglass out of a bag; both items had the date of his brother’s wedding and Gabriel and Eric’s initials on them. The wine splashed into the small goblet, and Richard grabbed a seat a foot away from Luke on the bed. He’d take that as a marginally good sign.

“So, wild night, huh?” Luke ventured.

“Definitely unexpected.”

Luke finished his beer and rose to set it on the dresser. “It’s okay. Neither of us was expecting to find out we were soulmates. I’m assuming this was supposed to be a one-night thing. We’re attracted to each other. We both wanted it. But we couldn’t have known about the whole destiny thing.”

Richard crossed his legs, and Luke tried not to think about being between those thighs, but it was impossible. It took so little effort from Richard to wind him up.

“I take it you aren’t interested in being soulmates,” Richard said. His voice was oddly shaky, so Luke forced his gaze from Richard’s naked limbs to his face. Richard quickly raised a hand to his cheek, but Luke didn’t miss the tears.

Luke went down on one knee in front of Richard and rested his palms on either side of the necromancer. “Richard, I’d like nothing more than to be your soulmate.”

His pale blue eyes lifted, and despite the makeup smudged beneath them thanks to their feisty romp, he was as gorgeous as ever. “I don’t know how to do this soulmates thing, but I’d like to figure it out. Together.”

Relief swept through Luke, and he kissed Richard gently. Then he shifted so both knees were on the carpet. Richard uncrossed his legs, and Luke laid his head on his lap. Burrowing into him, Luke smiled as Richard held him and toyed with his hair.

“We have a little experience in teamwork,” Luke murmured into Richard’s soft sweatshirt.

“Yeah, at least I know you’re easy to bribe with cookies.”

“Don’t forget to bring me coffee too.”

“Mari basically dared me to ask you to come upstairs with me.”

“I’ll buy her some cookies,” Luke replied.

“This doesn’t feel real.”

“No,” Luke agreed. “But I like the way I’m feeling right now.”

“Me too. Lucas?”

“Yeah?”

“We have a lot to figure out, and we need to get to know one another better.”

Luke lifted his head and smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I have to tell my family,” Richard said. “Eric kept it from my parents for months, and I don’t want secrets. But can we wait until at least tomorrow night? I don’t want to make this weekend about anything but Eric and Gabriel. We’re surprising them with a honeymoon after dinner. Once they leave, we can tell my parents and Mari.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

Richard narrowed his eyes. “I have a feeling you’re not always going to be so accommodating.”

“Hello, that’s where the cookies and coffee come in.”

“Thanks for not making this awkward.”

“Like it was downstairs when I didn’t figure out you were asking me upstairs for sex?”

To Luke’s delight, Richard blushed. “Don’t remind me.”

“I sort of have to.”

“Great, like I want to hear about that for eternity.”

“Richard, inspirits don’t live forever.”

Richard smiled. “Inspirits who have necromancer soulmates do.”

Shaking his head since he couldn’t process that information, Luke brushed his lips against Richard’s tasty mouth. “Gabe forgot to mention that.”

“Lucas?”

“Yeah?”

“If you change your mind in the morning, don’t tell me. Just don’t answer the phone or text me back. I’ll take the hint. I don’t think I can stand hearing the words though.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

“Want to watch a movie or something?”

Luke nodded. “Don’t be surprised if I have to get you out of those shorts before I sneak out of here.”

“I’d like to feel our souls touch again.”

“Does that happen every time we have sex?” Luke asked, delighted and surprised by the idea.

“Gabriel is terrible at explaining things. Yes, it’ll happen every time we have sex.”

Luke traced a finger over Richard’s forearm and smiled at the way the necromancer shivered. “I love your tattoos. Why dragonflies?”

“Mari’s mother was Japanese. She died when we were little, but my mother insisted on teaching us everything she remembered about Japanese culture. She told us that dragonflies symbolize strength, courage, and happiness. I, famously, as a child, announced to everyone that I was a dragonfly. Once I decided to get inked, it made sense to add them. They’re a part of me.”

“Richard the dragonfly. I like it. They remind me of that shirt you wore that night at the club. It was very sexy. Your body is incredible.”

“While we’re handing out compliments, you’re the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.”

“Want to skip the movie and make out?”

Richard laughed and nodded. “Absolutely.”

???

They’d forgotten to pull the curtains closed, and the brilliant Vegas sun woke Luke. He had a naked necromancer sprawled across him, and although the last thing Luke wanted to do was leave, it was for the best. Since Luke had worked extensively on the planning for the Wolfebrier-Marwood wedding, he knew Richard had to attend a breakfast downstairs with his family. The newly married couple would be opening gifts afterward, and a photographer had been hired to capture those memories for the Marwoods.

Luke had no argument with waiting to announce the news that had altered the course of his and Richard’s lives until Gabriel and Eric were on their trip, so he dropped a kiss on Richard’s mussed hair and eased out of bed. Richard grumbled a protest but never opened his eyes as he rolled over. Luke plucked his clothes off the floor and decided not to shower until he got to his condo.

Vegas was a city of non-stop parties, no one would care about a rumpled inspirit with bedhead. There was a pad of paper and a pen on the smooth surface of the desk, so Luke scribbled a note to Richard.

Dragonfly,

You talk in your sleep. Call me later when you get the chance.

I’ll be thinking about you,

Luke

There was more Luke wanted to write, but he didn’t want to terrify Richard. It’d only been a matter of hours since they’d learned they were soulmates. They had plenty of time to get to know one another and figure out how they felt about each other. Luke didn’t have to give his entire heart away in a single day.

Luke finished dressing, stuffed his tie in his pocket, and studied Richard. He hadn’t moved. The man was exhausted. Luke’s grin was feral. It was his fault Richard had stayed up nearly all night. Walking to the bed, Luke gave in to the temptation to bend and kiss his head again. He whispered a goodbye, placed the keycard to the suite on top of the note, and left.

Since he was a sucker for coffee and cookies, he grabbed both at an almost-empty shop near the lobby that had just opened. He nibbled on his treats as he headed to the garage. It took him a minute to recall where the hell he’d parked, and his good mood carried him nearly the entire trip home.

But as the distance spread between him and Richard, fatigue set in. Despite the coffee he drank as he drove, he yawned plenty as he entered another garage—this one in the same building as his leased condo. Luke trashed his cup and napkin, then took the elevator up to the fourth floor.

Once he’d let himself into the empty apartment, he distinctly recalled the telephone call he’d taken before he left for the Wolfebrier-Marwood wedding. What would Foxe think about Luke finding his soulmate? He wasn’t likely to find out anytime soon. Despite the seismic shift in the course of Luke’s future, nothing had changed between him and his former best friend.

Plus, Foxe would be interested in one thing, and that was Richard’s wealth. Perhaps someday Foxe would be ready to tackle his addiction. That was the only aid Luke would ask Richard and his family to provide for Foxe. With another yawn and his heart aching for the relationship lost between him and Foxe, Luke headed for his bedroom.

Foxe would have to come to his senses on his own.

As for Luke, he had a soulmate to get to know. Everything was different now, and Luke wished he knew who to thank for such a bountiful gift. Was destiny a goddess of sorts? If so, Luke owed her a wealth of gratitude.

He planned to do whatever it took to build a future with Richard. After stripping to his underwear, Luke fell into bed and was asleep within seconds.