Page 9 of Handcuffs and Hexes

Somehow, I’d managed to fit most of it into my stomach. The two of them had helped with the third meal, but I’d polished off the first two on my own. I’d felt self-conscious at first, but they’dboth assured me that I should eat as much as I could and that it would help me recover from whatever the spell did.

I still didn’t understand how I could have a magic hangover—which apparently happened when a magic user overextended their magical abilities—when I hadn’t been the one to cast the spell, but every bite seemed to make me feel better, so I kept eating.

It was only now that I finally stopped shoveling food into my mouth for long enough to take in the loft I was sitting in.

Seth and Liam lived in one of those newly renovated loft buildings, the ones where they kept most of the old-world factory charm intact while adding tons of luxury features, like granite countertops and real brass fixtures to complement the exposed bricks, beams, and pipes. It was exactly the type of man cave I expected someone like Seth, with his alternative style, to be in if he had all the money. And clearly, he did.

I bet Desmon and the EA paid a lot better than the police. Or was this Liam’s old demon money? I didn’t know too much about him aside from the few times I’d met him on a call. Unlike Seth, he’d always been quite courteous, proof that you should never judge a book by its cover.

The daisies Seth had brought for me sat in a vase at the center of the table. It didn’t seem to fit in the home at all. This was a man’s living space, and I didn’t mean that in a bad way. Yes, there were a few beer bottles lining the counter wall and takeout containers in the garbage, but everything else was well cared for.

The loft had super high ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling window along one wall, which also had sliding doors that opened out onto a fully furnished balcony. The entire place was outfitted with industrial-grunge style décor; the edgy grittiness of it totally screamed Seth, but there were occasional accents that were a little softer, like the high-plush rug over the sealed concrete floors. I wondered if those were Liam’s contribution.

There were stairs along the adjacent wall that led up to a lofted area, which I assumed were the bedrooms. The opposite wall housed a huge tropical enclosure. I couldn’t see anything moving in it, but if I had to guess, it was probably home to a reptile of some sort. Whatever lived in it was spoiled. The vivarium looked like a little piece of paradise, with craggy rock walls covered in moss, vines, and exotic plants. There was something that looked like a hollowed-out log in the leaf litter below, which I assumed was where the occupant was currently hiding.

My eyes drifted up to the industrial pendant lights that illuminated the kitchen. I found I rather liked the style even though it was the complete opposite of the place I lived in. That was, if there was such a thing, as the opposite of no style at all. I’d done the bare minimum after moving into my grandparents’ old place. Here, the juxtaposition of raw and refined made grunge look expensive.

I was suddenly very self-conscious when I realized the two of them had their eyes on me.

“Feeling better, Babygirl?” Liam asked.

“I’m not your Babygirl. But I do feel a lot better. Good call on the noodles.” I finished the sentence with a yawn.

“You’re going to probably need a lot of sleep now,” Seth said, stretching his arms over his head in a way that highlighted his toned muscles, which were probably courtesy of the private gym I saw in the corner of the loft. “Do you have anything important that you need from your place? A pet you need to take care of or electronics you need for work?”

He stood and started collecting all our trash into the takeout bag. But when I tried to help him, he shooed me away. Liam guided me to a leather couch that ended up being much more comfortable than it looked. I sank into it and didn’t even complain when Liam wrapped an arm around me and pulled me against the warmth of his body.

Maybe it was the furry earmuff head massage or the fact that I’d woken up earlier from my nap cradled in his arms in the elevator, but I didn’t have it in me to tell him off for overstepping the conventional set of professional boundaries.

“I’ll need my laptop eventually,” I answered after a quick think. “But it can wait as long as there’s a charger for my phone.” I looked down at my uniform. It had been the only thing I could change into when being discharged. “Clothes. I need clothes.”

Seth sent me a grin from the kitchen that really shouldn’t have been as sexy as it was. “You don’t need clothes, Hazy Daisy. They’re overrated.”

For a moment, I swear I saw his clothes go transparent a little, showing me a glimpse of the broad, muscular shoulders and some yummy pecs underneath. Were those pierced nipples? But when I looked again, it was gone, and I wasn’t sure if it had been magic or if I’d only imagined it.

Huh, too bad I hadn’t had the foresight to check out the rest of him.

Just as I scanned his near-perfect form, it happened again. But this time, my eyes were a little lower. I didn’t get an eyeful of anything naughty though, just a set of black boxers with... pink hearts on them!

Seth was doing it on purpose!

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Now look here—”

“Oh, I’m looking... ”

“I’m sure Seth can spare some of his silk shirts for you to sleep in and hang out,” Liam said, diffusing the situation. “We’ll go pick up your stuff in the morning.” He pointed to Seth. “You, stop teasing the poor thing. She’s exhausted. You can do that tomorrow.”

“He can’t do that ever!” I huffed.

“Oh, come on,” Seth sing-songed. “You were hoping to catch more than a little glimpse. Admit it.”

I pressed my lips together. I hated that he was right. Ugh! He was so infuriating.

“Go write your report!” Liam said sternly, pointing to the large wood and metal desk that was partially behind a room divider. “I’m going to get this one settled in the guest room.”

Seth stuck his tongue out at the demon but moseyed on over to the desk.

I chuckled inwardly at their interaction. At first, I wondered if one of them would lead and the other follow, but it seemed like they took turns bossing each other around. Nothing conventional about these two.

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