Page 15 of Shaman

He’d texted Alec earlier, letting him know that he was on his way. Leaving out the fact that he was bringing a…gift. Of sorts.

The problem, he’d realized earlier today, was that Alec had stopped having chances to flirt with the opposite sex, and that, if presented with an attractive woman, would realize he didn’t really want to be with Ian and would leave on his own.

In some part of his mind, Ian recognized this as an insane conclusion, but he was so frightened and desperate that he was clinging to straws, feverish in his need to remove Alec from the constant threat that was his life.

Hating every damn thing about himself, he swiped his keycard, pushed open the door to the suite, and ushered Mandy inside.

The living room was dark, save a puddle of soft light coming from the bedroom.

“Alec?” Ian called, pulse pounding in his throat. “Where are you? I’ve brought you something.”

Mandy giggled, and followed him into the bedroom.

Alec was propped up on a small stack of pillows in bed, reading a novel – an actual paper one, his hair beautifully mussed. He glanced up with a lopsided, but hopeful smile…

And then his gaze landed on Mandy.

He sat upright. “Ian. What.” Not even a question, just a stunned breath of sound.

Ian wanted to die. Mostly because he hoped this worked.

“Mandy, this is Alec, who I was telling you about. Alec, darling, this is Mandy.”

Mandy waved and smiled and blushed. “Hi.”

Alec slowly closed his book and set it on the nightstand. “Hi, Mandy.” He looked absolutely gobsmacked. “Um…”

“Do you want a drink?” Ian asked.

Both of them said “yes” at the same time.

Ian went back to the living room and poured three whiskeys from the mini bar, neat since the ice bucket wasn’t full. He threw his back and refilled it before he returned to the bedroom.

Many had progressed to sitting on the side of the bed, legs crossed primly, clutch handbag held in her lap. She and Alec regarded one another with the wariness of stray dogs. Only…Mandy looked eager, beneath her nerves. And Alec looked devastated.

Ian went to the bed and set the drinks down on the nightstand.

“Thank you,” Mandy said, letting her slim fingers caress his knuckles when he passed her a glass.

When he passed one off to Alec, his lover grabbed his wrist. “Ian.” His voice was calm, but his gaze was hectic. “What’s Mandy doing here?”

Ian took a beat too long to answer, his glib response catching in his throat.

Just long enough for Mandy to say, “Wait. You said you two did this all the time.”

“Dowhatall the time?” Alec asked, anger starting to color his voice.

Ian cleared his throat. “Invite a lovely woman to join us for a – what is it you Yanks call it? – a playdate?”

“Ian said,” Mandy started.

“Yeah, well, Ian’s full of shit these days,” Alec snapped, jaw clenching, eyes flashing as he turned his gaze on her. “Get out.”

Mandy jumped to her feet.

“Don’t be rude,” Ian admonished.

Alec ignored him. “Get the fuck out!” he told Mandy, shouting now, vein popping in his throat. His face was growing red and his respiration was accelerating, and oh shit, Ian had made a terrible, terrible error in calculation.

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