Page 32 of Chosen Spirits (The Bartender Mage #4)

"Rudy tells me that Leif dropped off his employment packet earlier," Fang told him as Tucker gently pushed against her lower back, helping her extend her stretch. "Thank you."

"It's not like you haven't been badgering me every day about it, ma'am," he teased. "You even implied I should work my wiles on him, if it would help."

Fang murmured something that was more acknowledgement than apology, and then Tucker helped her flip over onto her back so he could assist with some hip openers, helping his friend and supervisor get warmed up for a run on the elliptical machine.

Keeping his nose open to detect the fine line between tension and pain, he could readily tell that she was smelling a lot less stressed compared to this morning when their work shifts had started.

"You've been worried about it," he said. "Doesn't this thing not kick off until next month?"

"The sooner I have the pieces in place, the better, and there's some preliminary training that needs to be done," she said.

Tucker made sure she heard his dissatisfied wuff, and she would have tossed her head if it weren't lying on the ground.

" Fine . It's because I need Leif to really make the program work. "

Tucker pulled back, waited for her to cross her legs over, then leaned back down. "There can't be that few mages out there looking for a good job. "

"You'd be surprised, especially for a part-time, high-risk position," she said, then sighed.

"Johnson, this co-responder program is small, with a very limited budget for personnel.

I get one additional therapist at DOMA's health clinic to offset any increased work-load, and a handful of mental health professionals to handle paperwork, research, and to respond to the rare non-threatening crisis.

Non -threatening ones.Maybe the occasional minimal. "

Tucker thought back to his recent encounter with I'ari.

Leif had managed to talk her down and see her way to accepting her daughter, but there had been a terrifying few seconds where I'ari's emotions had been at the height of fury.

A mental-health professional was exactly the kind of person that had been needed in that situation, but…

"I understand, ma'am. Can't expect a civilian to go verbal toe-to-toe against an angry royal elf, at least not without some kind of power in the back pocket."

"Exactly.And lastly, the budget only allows for two limited magical assets, plus necessary escorts. Leif has versatile magic, mental health training, he's well-vetted, and he's willing to do high-risk field missions—"

"He doesn't want to, mind you," Tucker said sternly, then helped Fang get to her feet. "He doesn't enjoy aggression or conflict. But he will , because he cares."

Fang started in on some high-kicks and other active stretches, and Tucker joined her.

"I know. Deimos and I will keep an eye out for burnout, and I swear to you that I'll do him better than I did you.

But Leif is the entire package that I need, all rolled up in a ball of part-time salary goodness.

And when he proves the program is worth it, we'll be able to expand operations. "

"Wait, hang on." Tucker leveled a finger at her, and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "Are you saying that you need Leif because he's cost-efficient? "

Wu did a last bounce on her toes, then grabbed her water bottle and moved to the exercise equipment.

"I already did the math. In the last year, his contributions have paid for themselves more so than any agent in the department, Julia included.

And now that I'll have him doing the occasional potion supply and fulfilling duties that would normally take two pricy consultants, I expect this trend to continue. "

Tucker laughed, and he moved to a treadmill to get himself a few minutes of a jog before he started on leg-day. "You are a calculating tyrant."

Wu nodded her head, accepting the compliment. "Thank you for finding him, Tucker. He's been a quality asset since day one."

She spoke curtly, but Tucker could smell the depth of her appreciation.

"Anytime, ma'am."

◆◆◆

May 14th, Rahul

With Leif sitting snug in his lap, Rahul showed off the pending changes to his business website.

"And here's where my different packages are outlined," he said, scrolling down the page. "All depending upon the client's needs. Exorcisms, spirit communications, spirit tracking, and the different fees associated with each."

He felt Leif wiggle. "It's so exciting! I'm glad to be able to help."

"I know you are, cub. And if you look here …"

Leif gasped. "That's my name!"

"Well, of course I have to credit the certified mage that's providing the resources!" Rahul squeezed his adorable boyfriend, trying to get him to settle down; his office chair was sturdy, but could only handle so much bouncing, a fact that he knew from first-hand experience.

On the other hand, Leif was lighter than Tucker, so maybe it wouldn't prove an issue.

"Anyways, you'll get half the profits on any investigation that requires one of your potions."

Leif twisted around, shaking his head.

"Nope!" he declared cheerfully. "You'll pay me a simple flat rate for any potion I make, I'm thinking about forty or fifty each plus ingredients, and that's it.

Not counting the monthly healing potion, of course, that one's on the house on account of you being my amazing boyfriend and I want you to stay safe. "

"You couldn't charge me for the healing potion anyways," Rahul pointed out, attacking him with his beard. "On account of you not having a healer's license."

"I declare myself exempt on grounds of community altruism!"

Rahul pulled back. "That actually could work. Can't discriminate against faith healers, or prevent witches from sustaining their livelihood. You just won't be able to make certain protected claims. But back to your fee…"

Leif shook his head again, shifting around in the seat until he had his ass right on Rahul's lap. A quirk of a smile confirmed to Rahul that his cub knew exactly what he was about, then he lowered his head until he was nibbling at Rahul's ear.

"Flat rate," he asserted, breathing against Rahul's neck. "I know, you'll try telling me that without my potions, you'd lose entire potential clients, but on the other hand, maybe I'll make you three potions for a case and you only end up using one. You'd still pay me for those. "

Rahul dug his fingers into Leif's butt and began grinding his hips upwards. "Cub, you know… hnn! You know I'm just going to pass the costs on to the client, right?"

"Mm-hmm," he murmured, planting kisses along his neck. "I know. But this way, you can earn enough money doing the special cases that you can take on more pro bono ones. Now, no more arguments. Besides, it's about the same going rate as what DOMA pays me for doing my weekly batch."

"True," Rahul said distractedly. He shifted his weight, trying to nudge his rolling office chair closer to his desk, but then noticed Leif, his face still buried in his chest, reach a hand out towards it.

Rahul choked back a laugh as the bottom drawer opened and a bottle of lube flew out and hovered behind Leif. A second later, he felt it as drops of lube fell onto his cock, and Leif reached behind himself to deliver a few strokes.

"Damn, cub, when did you drink a Telekinesis ?"

"Before we came in here to talk shop," he said, aiming Rahul's cock to where he needed it to go. "Now can I have a little less detective bear, please, and a bit more tenderfuck bear?"

Growling, Rahul wrapped his arms around Leif, crushing him in a hug as he thrust himself in a little deeper—just a little, his cub still needed time to accept his girth.

"Mm…!"

"You like that, cub?"

"Y-yeah.Keep going."

"Ha, fuck. You make the cutest faces when you bottom, you know that? Fuck yeah, ride me like you're securing the winning pin."

"Mmm… eep! "

"Shit-fuck!"

"…"

"…"

"Rahul, you good?"

"Yeah. Damn, good save with the TK, cub. Guess the chair couldn't handle all your enthusiasm."

"I'm really sorry."

"It's fine, that piece goes back together. I should buy a new model, anyway. Want to take this to the bedroom?"

"Couch is closer."

"Ha! Couch it is, love."

◆◆◆

May 27th, Leif

Holding back tears, Leif said farewell to Barney and Andre as their shift ended and they went home for the night. Once they disappeared among the crowd at the Rainbow Rooster, he turned back, checking to see if any other patrons needed something.

Sensing his distress, Dennis swooped in from his office, his silken, transparent cloak fluttering behind him.

"There, there, my duckling, don't cry."

"I know. No need to be sad, I can always come back and visit."

"No, I mean don't cry because you'll scare away the customers. Nothing turns the stomach off of booze like the face of an ugly crier!"

Leif laughed, then lurched forward so he could steal what was probably the tenth hug of the night .

His last night at the Rainbow Rooster.

With his upcoming part-time job as a DOMA special operative, his wanting to be available for the occasional case with Rahul, and finishing up the last couple of classes he needed for his degree, he'd needed to find the time somewhere, and quitting his bartending job, painful though it was, just made the most sense.

"I'll try not to let my scary puss ward off customers," he said.

"Leif, champ, I can smell your bittersweet sadness from across the room," Jack said, wandering over. "What happened, did you stir a drink with your favorite stirring rod? Maybe saw a memorable stain on the floor?"