Page 93 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

Perian made a face. “Too soon?”

Brannal sighed, sounding a mixture of exasperated and entirely fond. “May I hug you?”

“Yes, please,” Perian said immediately.

And there on the floor, tucked in the corner by the wardrobe, Brannal widened his stance so that Perian could shuffle in between his legs and Brannal could wrap his arms carefully around him. Perian sagged against the man’s chest and brought his arms up—the right rather gingerly—to wrap as far around Brannal’s shoulders as he could. Brannal leaned his head against Perian’s, getting as close as he possibly could. Brannal was still rather wet, and Perian was kind of damp too, but he didn’t care.

“I’m sorry,” Brannal whispered against Perian’s skin.

“I know you are,” Perian said. “I’m sorry too.”

“You don’t need to be sorry.”

He huffed a laugh. “Well, we’ll have to agree to disagree. I mean, I do think you havemoreto be sorry for…”

And Brannal snorted a laugh, which was exactly what Perian had been going for.

They stayed there for a long time, just hugging one another and basking in the connection.

Eventually, though, Brannal made a sound.

“I’ve lost all feeling in my ass.”

Perian pulled out of the hug, snorting with laughter. “That’s a serious shame. It’s such a nice ass.”

Brannal smiled at him, something still a little vulnerable about it, but closer to normal than it had been.

“Let’s get up,” Perian said definitively. “There’s a perfectly nice bed right next to us, and it makes far more sense to be in there.”

Perian then made the mistake of trying to get up with the aid of his right hand. Although his hand wasn’t burned, his arm did not appreciate the stretching that was required, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

Brannal’s face fell, and he managed to stand up between Perian and the wall and then offer his hand.

“Let me help?”

Perian put his left hand in Brannal’s and braced himself better, allowing the other man to help pull him to his feet. He let out a pained groan as his muscles protested.

Brannal looked immediately alarmed. “Fire and water, did I hurt you? I’m so sorry!”

Perian shook his head. “That wasn’t you. That wasn’t even Cormal. That was deciding it was a wonderful idea to ride like the wind for an extended period yesterday after not having ridden in quite some time. My legs were just letting me know I should maybe try some more regular forms of exercise.”

Brannal did not look the slightest bit amused. “Is there any part of you that doesn’t hurt?”

“Most of me, actually,” Perian said.

“Except for your legs and your arm,” Brannal said flatly. “I think that’s more than half of you.”

Perian regarded him with bemusement. “That is definitely not how that adds up. There are two incidents, one of them self-inflicted. I’ll be fine.”

Brannal blew out a breath. “I really hate seeing you in pain.”

“I’ll get better,” Perian assured him. He yawned suddenly, surprising himself, and realized he was exhausted. He was pretty sure this was the emotional crash from everything that had happened. “I’m sure it will be helped by some sleep. I neither know nor care what time it is, but I definitely need sleep.”

He was pretty sure it wasn’t even dinner time yet, but he could tell he was reaching the end of his reserves.

And just like that, Brannal looked awkward again.

“Oh, of course. Did you want me to get anything ready for you?”

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