“Sleep? Who needs sleep?” I asked as I tossed the towel aside.
“What the hell.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked hurrying to the bedroom.
“Who in the hell made the bed?”
I stopped beside her. The bed was laid out like a swanky hotel. The turned down sheets looked crisp and clean, nothing like the smelly damp ones we’d just abused. The only thing missing was mints atop the pillows.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I said. “It looks like Rowle has some kind of spell to freshen the sheets anytime you get out of the bed.”
“Really? Are you sure the bastard didn’t sneak in here and change them while we were in the shower?”
I grinned. “Not unless all of his sheets look alike. That’s the same pattern as the ones we started with. No, I think he’s just had enough time to create spells to improve his comfort. Hell, he is something like two hundred and eighty years old. That’s a long time to get creative with your spells.”
Cris was still frowning. “I don’t know.”
“Trust me.”
Her frown disappeared and she smiled. “You know I trust you.”
I took a pair of clean shorts from my saddlebags and then tossed her my dress shirt. She dropped the towel, instantly drawing my full attention. She kicked the towel onto a wing chair near the windows and slipped into the shirt. I pulled on my shorts and went to her.
“Let me do that,” I said as I pushed her hands away from the buttons.
“Are you sure you know how to fasten them on a woman. I know you can unfasten them, but–”
I showed her I could and she rewarded my efforts with a kiss.
We climbed into the bed on opposite sides. I lay on my back and Cris snuggled up against me and rested her head on my chest. I put an arm behind her and let my palm rest where her smooth, round, cheeks stuck out from beneath the shirt.
“Rafe?”
“Yes?”
“What are you going to do if Alex comes with you?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Tess is in his bed tonight, but I don’t see how the three of you can train all the time and not have, ah, issues in the bedroom.”
I was more than a little concerned about that myself. “Well, it’s not going to be like that night we three spent together at the cabin in Georgia. I shudder to think about it. He’s my son and I’d like to see him training as fast as Tess is, but there’s no way I can mesh with him on a daily basis.”
She laughed softly. “I’d volunteer to join the three of you and have you stay in my bed, but I know you and Tess belong together. I don’t see how you’re going to work it out with your son in the mix.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but neither did I.
Chapter 43
Raphael
I woke with Cris snuggled up against me. Her hair was tickling my nose as she snored softly against my chest. I wondered just what had woken me. The curtains were pulled, but I could see a faint glow behind them that hadn’t been there when we’d retired for the evening. Then Cris moved and I felt the pressure against my bladder. Oh, of course.
I triggered my levitation tat and focusing on Cris, I floated her a couple inches above me. Then I slid out from beneath her and slipped off the bed. Barefoot, I hurried into the adjoining bath and shut the door behind me before I relieved myself. I washed my hands. Glancing back toward the bedroom, I wondered if Cris would wake up soon.
After she had fallen asleep, I lay awake for much longer; trying to decide how today was going to play out. While I had been willing to listen to Rowle’s story and consider his desire for mentoring Alex, I had to convince him to let Alex go with me. If he refused, my options were limited. I couldn’t attack him while inside his home. Our invite across his threshold did allow me full access to my magic, but that was conditional on my good behavior. My magic would not be able to beard the lion in his den, so to speak. What would be the odds of him letting Alex make up his own mind? He was strong enough to keep Alex here, if he was willing to force him.
I went back into the bedroom, where Cris still floated over the mattress. She’d stopped snoring. I considered getting dressed and finding coffee, but then I slipped onto the bed, moved under Cris, and gently lowered her back onto me.
When I put my arm around her, she raised her face to mine. “Oh, goddess, is it morning already?”
“I’m afraid so,” I said.
She groaned. “Do you think you could find coffee while I dress?”
“I’m sure I could.”
“Good.” She gave me a quick peck on the cheek and slid out from under the sheet. I watched her bare backside, appreciating the view, until she closed the bathroom door. Then, consigned to my duty, I dressed in full leathers including my gloves. I was going to have to respell my leathers before getting into another fight. I couldn’t have a bunch of mundanes shocking me silly again. Dressed, I went in search of coffee.
Rowle didn’t have
