Page 103 of Beau and the Beast

“Morning,” she said. “Would you like some pancakes?”

Beau looked around himself before answering her.

“No but… have any of you ever seen a perfect pancake flip?” he asked, his voice steady and serious.

James laughed. “No, but I have a feeling you’re about to show us.”

Beau smiled and stepped forward. Violet had one pancake in the pan and it was just about ready to be flipped so she moved out of the way.

“Be my guest,” she said, gesturing to the pan.

With a flourish of his wrist, Beau removed the pan from the stovetop and stepped away from the heat.

“There’s a special trick to it,” he said, looking up to the others at the bar. “If you don’t look closely you’ll miss it.”

He waited there, holding the pan out from his body, and Violet wondered what he was waiting for. Then she turned to the others and realized Song and Alfie weren’t paying attention. Apparently Beau was very serious about his pancake flip and wasn’t about to start the display until all eyes were on him.

She cleared her throat and then hitched her chin toward Beau once she had their attention.

“Don’t blink,” Beau said. “Just wait for it…”

He moved the pan around in the air in small circles, as if to warm up. They all leaned in, waiting to see.

Finally, Beau flicked his wrist, popping the pan up a few inches.

Nothing happened. The pancake stayed stuck to the surface of the pan.

“Huh,” Beau said with a shrug. “I guess it only works whenImake them.”

He set the pan back on the stove and stepped back.

“What—that’s the whole thing?” Alfie demanded. “After that build up?”

Beau laughed. “Sorry. Maybe my magic wore off.”

And with that, Beau left the kitchen, striding out down the hallway toward Wolfram’s wing.

* * *

Beau almost collidedwith Wolfram in the hallway, the man crouched and shaking with laughter, a big hand clamped over his mouth.

"What are you doing?" Beau demanded. "Go!"

They both laughed as they sprinted down the hallway, racing around a corner and down the wing until they reached Wolfram's study. They sped through the door, Beau shutting it behind them before leaning back on the wall to double over, almost crying with the force of his laugh.

"That was so stupid—they all think I’m a moron," Beau said in between laughter.

"You're absolutely ridiculous. And I adore it."

When he straightened up, Wolfram was there, close to him and then closer, propping himself against the wall as he stooped to kiss Beau.

God, it felt good—felt right to kiss him there in the study just the way he'd fantasized about. He couldn't remember being happier, more thrilled, and his heart beat harder with the pleasure of it all, the silliness of their sneaking around. It was innocent and stupid and exactly what he needed, what he wanted more of out of life.

"You're good for me," Wolfram said when they broke. He stayed close, running his hands up and down Beau's sides. "Not just last night but—always. I needed this. I forgot what it was like to laugh."

"Which is a shame," Beau said, dragging a fingertip up the center of Wolfram’s body, "because you havesucha good laugh."

He caught Wolfram in another kiss, this time hungrier.

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