Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“That meant everything to me, Everett,” Dax said softly. “Everything.”
Chapter Sixteen
Everett
They stopped packing up his grandfather’s office after a couple of days.
For one thing, Everett had decided to move into this house he did love. But the other reason was that neither of them could keep their hands off each other. And the best part was that Dax seemed to have lost all his hesitance over their size difference. At least, Everett believed he had. He was certainly touching him a lot.
Everett still marveled over the fact Dax was a true ogre, and he was frankly dying to see what Dax looked like without the magical glamour. Not that he wasn’t beautiful as he appeared to Everett, but his heart was now fully involved, and he wanted to know everything about Dax. Wanted to truly see him for what he was.
So every time they started working on his grandfather’s office, they ended up kissing, then hands would wander. He’d never been stroked off so much in his entire life. He loved every second of it. He didn’t want to be apart from Dax at all.
It helped that Dax was too worried about possible warper wizards to leave his side. He even followed him into the shower—which had led to lots of soapy, slithery foreplay.
Tonight, they’d decided to spend the evening together watching a murder mystery. Everett had just ordered food to be delivered. Dax was relaxing in the corner of the sectional sofa, reading one of Everett’s books. He looked up as Everett walked over and stretched out on the couch, then nudged the book aside and put his head in Dax’s lap. Dax immediately dropped the book and ran his fingers through Everett’s hair.
“I ordered subs. Ordered a bunch of extras for your friends, too. And I got you three.” Everett grinned. “You’re going to need all those carbs for later.” He waggled his brows.
Dax grinned back at him. “I look forward to that.” He smoothed hair off Everett’s forehead. “I wanted to check in with my parents tomorrow. Would you be interested in going there with me? I can’t leave you alone. Though we could ask either Emory or Ivor to come inside.”
Everett sat up. “I’d love to go with you. You said you’re close with them. I’d love to meet them. Though…” He paused. “Meeting the folks is kind of a big deal, you know?”
Dax nodded. “It is. But I want you to. Meet them, that is. They’ll love you.”
“They won’t mind that I’m human?”
“Not in the least. They only want me to be happy, and you make me that way.” Dax stared at him quietly for a moment. “You obviously still need a bodyguard until we figure out what spell was triggered in that stone, but even after I’m no longer working for you, I’d like us to keep seeing each other.”
“I want that more than anything. Dax, I already care for you deeply.” He cleared his throat, ready to spill the absolute truth of his real feelings, but the doorbell rang.
“It’s too fast for that to be the food,” Everett muttered as he stood and started toward the front of the house. He hurried through the hall into the foyer, Dax at his heels, and opened the door. He blinked in surprise. His best friend, Trilla, stood on the threshold with her arms crossed across her chest and her high-heeled foot tapping. She was wearing one of her power suits, her red hair pulled high in a tall bun.
“What the hell is going on, Everett?” she demanded. “You’ve been quiet, and I just got a call from the real estate agent I hooked you up with. She told me you’re no longer selling this mansion. Is that right? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Everett sighed and stepped back to wave her inside. “A lot has happened. You might as well come in, and I’ll fill you in.” He shut the door as she stalked past him, high heels clacking. Trilla was the CEO of a local semiconductor manufacturer that designed and made computer chips and went up against long-term bigwigs like Intel and Nvidia. He had met her in college, so they’d been friends more than fifteen years. He loved her fierce personality and tendency to speak her mind. “Which one called you? The one you suggested or the asshole that replaced her?”
“My friend did.” She swung around and lifted one red eyebrow. “Who replaced her?”
“Real piece of work named Allen. He went against my wishes, but it was more than that. He was truly sleazy—made my skin crawl.”
She scowled. “I’ll ask her about that. I don’t understand why she didn’t take care of this herself. Hell, the commission alone would have kept her interest outside of our friendship. Her, I trust. I don’t know any Allen.” She looked at Dax. “Who are you?”