Page 35 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

Chapter Seven

Perianwoketothefeeling of being warm and comfortable, and it took a moment for the events of last night to come back to him. He had literally fallen asleep on Brannal and then needed the other man to take him to bed—and not in the fun way. He lay there and pondered if that was completely weird and unacceptable. Without really thinking about it, Perian had imagined they’d be having sex every night, but it wasn’t like theyhadn’thad sex yesterday. Perian had really enjoyed the night they shared, and perhapsthatwas what was actually making him feel a little awkward this morning.

Cozy cuddles were definitely not something he was going to get down at the pub. This had always been more than those fleeting encounters, and that left him both uncertain and wanting to greedily keep it forever.

And he was maybe a little worried that less sex would mean Brannal would tire of him sooner. It was true that Brannal hadn’t suggested yesterday evening end the way it did, but he hadn’t seemed irritated when he’d woken Perian and led him to bed, not that he’d really been been in a fit state to notice. Maybe—

“I can hear you thinking over there.”

Brannal’s voice was a bit lower than normal, scratchy with sleep, and it made Perian smile to himself. Whether or not Brannal had been irritated yesterday, he didn’t sound irritated this morning.

“Is that one of the abilities that is conferred with controlling elements?”

Brannal huffed a breath. “It’s too early for that many thoughts.”

Perian twisted around so they were facing one another.

“Out of curiosity, how early is too early for how many thoughts? Is there a specific number that is acceptable, and at what time precisely are more allowed?”

Brannal made a disgruntled face. “Too early for all ofthat.”

Perian could only snort with laughter, imagining what everyone would think of this delightful version of yesterday’s formidable man.

“Well, if it’s too early for thinking, what could we possibly do to pass the time?”

“Sleep?” Brannal asked.

But there was a gleam in his eye. Perian pressed closer.

“Oh, I think we can come up with something a little more enjoyable than sleeping.”

“Like what?” Brannal asked with mock innocence.

Perian took this as an invitation to crawl on top of the other man. Perian rocked against the hard body beneath him, enjoying the way Brannal sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers coming to dig into Perian’s hips.

Yes, this was definitely a nice way to begin the morning.

Once they cleaned up and dressed, they had breakfast in the sitting room. Perian wasn’t sure if this was a standing arrangement that dated prior to his injury or if it had been instituted then, but he was very much enjoying all the one-on-one time. It had been good to separate yesterday, though; it showed that Perian had some independence and that he could—mostly—fend for himself. He didn’t want Brannal to think he had to keep him constantly entertained.

As they were finishing breakfast, Brannal said, “I have business I must attend to again today.”

Perian widened his eyes. “Your very important work in your very important position keeps you busymultiple days in a row?”

Brannal rolled his eyes. Perian grinned at him.

“I can keep myself occupied, I promise.”

Brannal rose to his feet. “Well, let me show you the lending catalog, at least, so we don’t keep you trapped in the library. Only the elements know what you’d get up to.”

“I’ll have you know I’m very well behaved in the library,” Perian told him primly.

Brannal’s lip curled up. “I’d like to see that.”

Perian winked at him. “You wouldn’t, actually. It’s very boring.”

Brannal shook his head, but he looked amused.

The library was once again deserted, and it was but the work of a moment for Brannal to show Perian where the catalog was, open it to the current page and point out the entirely prosaic way that books were signed out: author, title, who borrowed it and on what date, and the date when it was returned.

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