Page 8 of Jinn

When he parked and got out, Ivor opened the front door, greeting him with a wide, white-toothed smile. He had dark brown skin and long, thick black hair he was currently wearing loose. He stood as tall as Finn, but was built leaner, with a wiry, toned frame currently in tight jeans and a gray Henley. He reminded Finn of Xavier with his elegance, not to mention the hair. But that’s where the comparison ended. Ivor, unlike Xavier, was an open book, his genuinely friendly personality always on display.

“Hey, Finn, enjoy your weekend?”

“It was fine. How’s Ajax?”

“That very sexy man is inside singing like an angel. I wouldn’t mind hanging around here more than two days at a time. He’s a feast for the eyes and the ears.”

Finn had to resist the urge to growl at his friend, but did throw him a fierce frown.

Ivor cocked his head and studied Finn closely. “I take it you’re not immune?”

He sighed because he was kind of being a dick, and Ivor was a good friend who didn’t deserve the repercussions of his mixed-up thoughts. “I’m well aware. Have you seen him on stage?”

Ivor nodded. “Been to two concerts. I’ve been a long-time fan. The stuff I’ve heard this past weekend is so different—but just as good.” He shut the door behind him and lowered hisvoice. “Did you know that the human Callan is with is his true soulmate?”

Finn nodded, thinking of his demon friend and his new human mate. “Wild, isn’t it? It’s the same for Bain and Alaric. Gotta wonder how long Xavier has known that humans can bond with us for life.”

“I’m so intrigued. Just knowing this has opened up, well…everything. Anyone could be my soulmate. I wish I had some way of knowing, but incubi don’t have a signal as far as I know. Not like Callan and his horns. I wish my parents were alive to ask. I haven’t even seen another incubus in many years.”

“It’s the same for me. No parents, no others like me around here. Surely there’d be some way to tell, but I have no answers for you, my friend.”

“I don’t even know if my kind could live with one mate. Any mate I have would have to be okay with me feeding from others.” A sort of bleak sadness flitted through his expression. “It would be nice to not be alone so much, though.” He cocked his head, sending his long hair to slide over his shoulder. “You prefer being alone, don’t you?”

“I did,” Finn answered, then admitted, “But seeing our friends so happy has me rethinking that.”

“Same, though as I said, I see no way past the feeding thing. Having a true partner for me is probably not something that could happen.” He tucked his hair behind his ear. “Anyway, it was all quiet here. Just music and me getting a kick out of guarding Ajax Craig himself.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice even more. “But damn, he can’t cook.”

Finn had to chuckle because he’d come to that conclusion himself. He hefted his bag of clean clothes higher on his shoulder and walked up the steps. “So, see you next weekend?”

“Yeah. Look forward to it. I just have to grab my things then I’ll be off.” Ivor opened the front door, and the sound of Ajax’s guitar filled the air with a haunting melody.

The music chased away Finn’s restlessness instantly, and he halted in the entryway because for some inexplicable reason, he felt like he’d come home. This was a rented house, and he was on a job, so that made absolutely no sense. Until he realized that just being in the same place as Ajax could be causing the feeling. A need to see him filled Finn, and he barely held his patience as Ivor grabbed his bag out of the guest room and then took his time leaving. Finn wanted to shove him out the door.

But he didn’t.

Once Ivor was gone, Finn slowly followed the sound of the music, finding Ajax in his favorite spot in the nook at the back of the house. He was strumming his guitar and humming, curled up in the big, beige chair in the corner and dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt. This one was a deep green that complemented the eyes that lit up when Finn stopped in the room’s doorway.

“Hey, you,” Ajax said softly, a smile tilting his lips. “Enjoy your weekend?”

“I did,” Finn lied. “Just wanted to let you know I was back. Everything going okay?”

“I got a lot done over the weekend, so all’s good with me. Wrote some killer lyrics.”

“Can’t wait to hear them,” Finn admitted. He started to shuffle his feet but forced himself to stay still. He wanted to stay in this room with Ajax and just breathe him in. As it was, he couldn’t stop his gaze from running over the man, like he’d been away longer than two days.

Fuck, his feelings were confusing the hell out of him. So, he gave Ajax the dorkiest salute ever and left to patrol the grounds.

That night, he walked into the living room to find Ajax sprawled onto the rug in front of the fireplace with one ofthose sexy, bare feet propping up a leg. His T-shirt had ridden up, leaving his flat stomach exposed. He’d closed his eyes and draped one arm over his head, which threw his biceps into an intriguing curve.

Did the man have no inkling how unbelievably sexy he was?

Finn stood, leaning against the wall, unable to take his gaze off the rock star, who kind of reminded him of a sloth. He always moved so slowly, and he seemed to drape himself over furniture and often just stretched out on the floor. He had this inherent provocativeness that had Finn’s body staying highly alert.

“Why don’t you sit and play with me?” Ajax asked, opening one eye to look at Finn.

Play with him? He wanted nothing more.

“How’s your knowledge of bands?”

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