Page 22 of Minotaurs and other Magic

“I accept your protection and understand the responsibility.” His lips remained parted as if he sensed something different in the words.

“You tasted magic on your tongue for the first time.” He tapped Nate’s chest. “If you speak with your heart instead of trying to think of the right word, you will not stumble so often.”

Nate touched the collar and the disk with the red flower stamped on the center. “You make it sound easy. You have lived your entire life with magic and think nothing of it. It is like…like air.”

“Magic is a part of all of us. Part of our society. The gods are direct conduits and are very powerful. They see the world differently than the rest of us. The Strega are connected to the magic, and together, they have the power of a god. Elves and vampires can draw little threads of it while the rest of us can sense it, taste it, and appreciate it. You will learn.”

“I want to learn, but every question leads to ten more.”

Rohan smiled. At least Nate was curious and wanted to learn. Unlike some of the others the Strega had told him about. “That is usually what happens. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you do not know.”

“I have one more collar-related question.”

“Then ask it. No one will reprimand you for asking, though they may not have the answer, or they may not have the time to explain in that moment.”

Something flickered over Nate’s face. Was it shock or a memory that he didn't want to share?

He touched the collar again. “This isn’t a sex thing?”

Rohan laughed. “No. Though, there is a place in the city that allows people to surrender control. It is run by vampires. Some people go for the bite, which can be euphoric. Others enjoy taking the experience further.”

“Euphoric?”

That was the bit he got stuck on?

“Would you like to experience the bite?”

“No…” Nate shook his head, but the color of his cheeks and the scent of his skin told a different story. He winced. “Maybe? Have you?”

“Yes. Though they do not like my blood.”

“And you’d let me?”

“You are not mine to control.”

His eyebrows pinched together. “You paid my debt but don’t own me. I sleep in your bed, and…and more? But then the bath? And you’d let me be bitten?”

“You are confusing me, human. Dress so we can have dinner.” Before he was tempted to make sure Nate went to dinner smelling of him.

“What is between us?”

Rohan cupped Nate’s jaw, enjoying the smoothness of his skin. “There is an attraction, is there not?”

Nate gave a single nod. “Why?”

“My brother will say it is because I like my men small and pretty. Which is true.” He was glad his brother was king, not him, and already had two heirs. “Or was that a question for yourself?”

Nate closed his eyes. “Both.”

Rohan lowered his head and kissed him. It was more like a whisper than a proper kiss, giving Nate the time to pull away. He didn’t. His lips parted, inviting Rohan in. And he took the invitation. He stepped in closer. One hand cupping Nate’s jaw and the other on his hip. It had taken everything he’d had not to do the same in the bath. To touch him and ask to be touched.

Nate’s hands pressed against his chest, finding the gap in the robe. That wasn’t the only thing that found the gap. His erection brushed against Nate’s robe as if seeking an opening in his. Nate made a little noise and moved his body to rub against Rohan’s cock.

“You either pull away now, or you go to dinner smelling of my cum.”

CHAPTER 11

The smart thing was to pull away. Nate knew that, but he seemed incapable of taking that step back. Rohan’s tongue slid against his, fucking his mouth. Instead of breaking the minotaur’s hold, he reached for the hard length pressing against his stomach, running his fingertips over the hot flesh, before finally grasping it. His breath caught, even though he’d known his fingers wouldn’t meet.

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