Page 37 of Swords and Curses

"Who's bake—argh, dear God!" Saul exclaimed as he came through the door in a singlet and flannel pajama pants. "Seriously, you guys, this is a food preparation area, and people eat in here. It's not a place for your weird chocolate sex games—you made cupcakes!" His attention was instantly distracted by the trays.

"Your timing sucks," Rosa said, her mouth tasting of Balthasar fudge.

"Not my fault I couldn't sleep," Saul answered through a mouthful of red velvet and creamy icing. "Do you always bake in the middle of the night? This is great."

"I couldn't sleep either," Rosa admitted, and she checked the oven temperature.

"Bal, you're failing in your husbandly duties. Although, if this is the result of you underperforming, I'm all for it," Saul said, reaching for another cupcake.

"Bal doesn't underperform in anything he does."

"Thank you, my love. Saul, what's the matter?"

"Same thing that's worrying everyone else. Nimue. Something is seriously not right with that girl. She's hot, but she's crazy." Saul shook his golden curls.

"She doesn't seem all that crazy," Rosa replied.

"She's spent a thousand years at the bottom of a lake. She's certifiably crazy, and she sure as hell doesn't like you, Rosey."

"I convinced both Eli and Eldon not to kill her. She should like me better than anyone. What makes you so sure?"

"I saw the way she looked at you and Eldon today. She was pissed and jealous as fuck."

"Me and Eldon? I was convincing him to stay."

"You were touching him," Balthasar said, poorly hiding his own feelings on the matter.

"I'm an affectionate person, and I touch everyone."

"My balls certainly remember when you touched them," Saul said. "We all know you are affectionate, Rosey, but she's obsessed with Eldon, and he likes you. You can't argue with crazy chick logic."

"Saul's right. You're Eli's favorite too, so that won't make it easier," Balthasar said.

"And you'remyfavorite." Saul squeezed her tightly.

Balthasar growled as Saul kissed her cheek with sugary lips.

"Will you both cut it out?" Rosa complained, untangling herself from Saul's arms.

"You'd better watch her. Next step in crazy girl logic is to try to steal your man," Saul warned.

"If she tries, I will bake her into a fucking pie and feed her to Caruthers," she snapped.

Saul grinned. "Ouch."

Balthasar reached for her and brought her back over to him. He kissed her fingers gently. "Mia bella Rosa,no woman could steal me from you."

"Oh, please." Saul rolled his eyes. "I never thought I'd see the day when the Tin Man would canoodle someone in Italian. Rosa is hardly threatened by this nymph."

Rosa hesitated for only a second before giving him a beaming smile. "That's exactly right."

Balthasar, who knew her better, brushed his lips on the underside of her wrist before releasing her to save the cupcakes.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Are you concentrating, Rhosyn?" Eldon asked, jolting her out of her daydream.

"Yeah," she said noncommittally.

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