Theonly problem was, next to them, I felt inadequate.
Onelook from Dar as he sat next to me, quelled my inhibitions. I couldn't havepried his eyes from me with a two-by-four. "How was work?"
"Busyas usual."
"Howdid Ellis do?"
"Askhim yourself."
"Thatgood?" I felt bad for him. To be thrust into working a mundane job with noexperience must have been quite the culture shock.
"No,I mean ask him yourself. He should be here any moment."
Sheachuckled and set his and another glass of wine on the table. He had purposelynot told me and only put out three glasses, the little shit. One thing was forcertain, I was putting my shirt back on. I reached for the garment, but Darstopped me with a hand.
"Donot tell me you do not desire him, Master. I've been around when you weretogether."
Inarrowed my eyes at him. "So?"
Heleaned a little closer. "I could smell your desire." He rubbed my legfor emphasis.
"So?He's hot. If I bedded every guy I found hot…I'd have a bed full of guys,"I finished lamely. If I were being honest with myself, I had. Except for Jaerenand Ellis. At least the guys weren't pushing Jaeren on me. I would have lovedto know what their obsession was with Ellis, though.
"Whatgives?"
"Pardon?"Dar blinked in confusion.
"Ellis.You're not the only one pushing me at him. What is it?"
Darsighed and looked at Shea who set a roasting pan on the glass topped table. "Youtell her."
"Tellme what?" I was losing patience.
"Yourpower calls to him."
"Mywhat?"
"Heis a dark elf. Your power calls to him. Every one of us can see it but you."
"No.I can feel it. But I can also ignore it." I took another sip of wine,almost angrily, and let the burn add to the fire in my belly. "Besides, Ialready have a dark elf." I rubbed Shea's butt, which had a miraculouscalming effect, I might add.
"Iam only half. And I am your link to the shadows. Yuki is your link to thevampires. Dar is your link to the demons. You need Ellis as much as he needsyou," Shea answered as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Hewill be your link to the unseleighesidhe."
"I'mnot sleeping with Yuki!" There was no way in hell that would ever happen.I liked guys and she liked…anime.
"Butyou love her."
"Yes,but…"
"Thelink does not need to be sexual in nature. Love is enough," Dar said andlifted the lid from the pan, earning himself a swat on the hand from Shea.
"Wait!"
"Butit smells so good."
Itdid. All thoughts of Yuki and Ellis flew out the fucking window as soon as Darlifted the silver lid and a puff of steam filled the air around us. My mouthstarted watering even more. As if Shea and Dar weren't enoughto make a person drool.
"Heis ready," Shea said and walked to the corner of the room, disappearinginto the shadows and returning a moment later with Ellis in tow.
"Greetings,everyone." He smiled at Dar and practically beamed at me.
Icouldn't help from noticing his bulging pectoral muscles unencumbered by anysort of clothing. He was dressed identically to Shea. Leather pants and nakedfrom the waist up. I forgot about the food in front of me. The meal that hadjust walked through the shadows looked way tastier.
"See?"Dar chuckled beside me.
"Fuckoff." I mouthed the words out of the corner of my mouth, refusing to turnmy head away from Ellis. Realizing I was staring, I shook my head and shot Dara dirty look. "What about Jimmy, and Dennis, Chief and Jason?"
"Whatabout them?"
"Uh…hello?Haven't even discussed this with them."
"Ihave."
"Havewhat?"
"Discussedthe addition."
"Youdid?"
"Idid."
"Don'tyou think you should have consulted me first?"
"Towhat avail? You would have balked and procrastinated. I made sure all of themwere okay with it before I invited him to dinner. Now he is here. You are here.You can make a decision without worrying about what anybody else thinks. Theball is…in your court?"
"You'rea mother fucking pimp." I pouted and crossed my arms.
"No.That would infer that you, my master, is a whore."
"No.I'm the john. He's the whore." I pointed at Ellis.
Ellislooked confused. "I'm a whore?"
"Metaphorically."
"Oh,good. For I have not lain with a woman. I did not see how that would bepossible." Shea handed him a glass of wine as he sat.
"Shutthe fuck up. You're a virgin?" I blinked at him. Several times. Maybe evena hundred.
"Yousaw the lack of females in my land? I have had many lovers, but none that werenot male."
Ilooked at Dar.
Helooked at me. And so help me, fucking goddess, he grinned.
"Isuppose I could be a man whore," Ellis added thoughtfully, taking a sip ofhis wine and coughing.
"Arewe going to eat?" I rubbed the bridge of my nose and focused on anythingbut the half-naked dark elf on the other side of the table. It was probablysafer that way.
"Letme get the meat," Shea said and walked back into kitchen.
"Youalready did," I mumbled to myself.
Darnearly choked on his wine as Ellis smiled at everyone confusedly. It was goingto be a very long night.
Youshould have talked to me first, Dar.
Iam not forcing you to sleep with him, Master. I have simply removed anyinhibitions that might have stopped you from choosing for yourself. Bed him ordo not. The choice is yours.
Eatthe steak I have laid out in front of you, or don't. I thought snidely at him. Buthere is a napkin and some utensils in case you're hungry.
I'mglad you understand.
"Wait!I am a steak, not a whore?"
"Youcould hear us?" I stared at Ellis.
"Clearly,"he answered, a blush on his dark cheeks.
"Ascould I, Lady," Shea answered from the kitchen.
Me,too. Yuki'sthought interjected itself into the conversation.
"Dinneris served," Shea said and lifted the cover off the pan, sliding the slicedrare meat atop the delicious looking potatoes surrounded by carrots and otherveggies I didn't recognize.
Themeat gave a little hiss as the cold mixed with the hot. The juices on the venisonbegan to run as they touched the warmth beneath it, bathing the other offeringswith flavor. Over that, he took a tiny metal boat and poured a thick red liquidover everything. It looked like blood but smelled like wine. My stomach growled,or maybe it was just me.
"Fuck,that smells good."
"Thankyou, Lady."
"Dar,would you serve?" Shea ran his hand over Dar's
