Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 31
“I’d be angry if this dessert wasn’t so fucking good,” Ash said, scowling. He took another bite. “Not fair, Luca.”
“I know you put a lot more effort into your meals than Luca did. Does that count for anything?”
Ash lifted his chin. “I suppose it will have to.” He grinned. “Honestly, had I known he had this in him, I would’ve made him cook more often.” He met Luca’s gaze. “And poor Graham. He’s run ragged cooking for you.”
“Whatever,” Luca said. He licked his spoon. “My power is a lot stronger now, and I can manage all this with ease.” He lifted one brow. “This would’ve depleted me before.”
“And you just broke the curse, too,” Ash said. He whistled. “You really are supercharged. I suppose I’ll have to adjust to a whole new Luca now.”
Luca reached across the table and took Ash’s hand. “Same Luca you’ve loved.” A wicked grin formed. “But we need to wrestle again soon.”
Ash lifted a brow. “I dunno about that.”
Luca cast a glance at Colby. “We were almost toe-to-toe, but he’d always win in the end.” He focused on Ash. “But now…”
Ash sighed. “I’m gonna get my ass beat.”
Luca barked with laughter. “Yeah ya are.”
“First Daniel. Now you? My ego can’t handle much more defeat.”
Colby rolled his eyes. “You’ll always be stronger than I am.”
“That’s true!” Ash said with a grin… but it soon faded. “Does that worry you? That we’re stronger?” He leaned some over the table. “Did we… did I… hurt you tonight?”
“No.”
“You said rough, but were we too rough?” Ash asked.
Colby lifted a palm. “No, I swear.” He lowered his hand. “It was the perfect amount of rough. Could’ve been even a fraction rougher.”
Ash released a breath and sat back in his chair. “Yet there is a power imbalance. We have strength that you don’t. Does that worry you?”
“I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t thought about it and felt a sliver of apprehension.” Colby held Ash’s gaze for a couple of seconds before capturing Luca’s. “But you’ve not shown me any reason to fear you.” Colby considered that thought a second. He looked between them. “Don’t for one minute think I won’t walk away if I ever have reason to fear either of you.”
“We’d expect nothing less,” Ash murmured.
“You won’t have a reason to walk away,” Luca added. “But if you did… I’d want you to put yourself first.”
“Suitable answers,” Colby whispered.
Heat zipped through him—but the sex earlier and the full belly prevented it from going much further. He was more than ready for some cuddling on the couch. For some reason, the thought of them not being close didn’t sit well.
He trailed his finger over the mark on the inside his forearm. “You say the mark kicked everything into gear, right? Lust-wise.”
“Yeah,” Luca said. “Why?”
Colby lifted his gaze. “How long does it last?”
Luca leaned closer. “It never goes away. Not fully.”
“Shit,” Colby said. “We’ll never leave the apartment.”
Ash and Luca chuckled.
“That said, I don’t think I’m up for a round two tonight.”
“It’s been a long few days. I think we’re all ready to relax a bit,” Ash replied.
“Yep,” Luca murmured, waving his hand.
Colby gasped, finding himself seated on the floor of Luca’s studio, naked and sweaty. “Did we—have sex again—and I forgot?”
“We never left this spot after the last round,” Luca whispered.
“So, I didn’t actually taste all that food?”
“Oh, you did… but we were right here the whole time.”
“How?”
Luca smiled. “Magic.”
Colby rose to his feet, dragging his pants and briefs from the floor. “Well, Magic Man, I need to see how Daniel’s first day of work was. Mind if we check in, at least?”
“Gideon’s at the apartment with Daniel,” Luca said. He waved a hand, and they were all three dressed again. “I made sure someone was still hanging out with him while we were here.” Luca floated to his feet. “He’s fed and in his jammies.”
“And you know all this how? You were with us the whole time.”
“Except for that minute I popped up there to check in them and popped back,” Luca said.
“Portal?” Ash asked. “That’s Cassius-level magic.”
“We’ll have to see if I can open one large enough for all three of us,” Luca said, waving his hand in front of him.
Colby turned to witness a swirling circle of light appear.
Luca grinned. “Yep. Head on into the apartment.”
Colby panicked, unable to move. Ash hedged beside him, but ultimately shrugged and walked through. A second later, he popped his head out. “All good, Colby.”
He met Luca’s gaze. “I won’t get fried or sent into outer space, right?”
“You’re perfectly safe,” Luca said. He lowered his hand, the portal wavering. “But we can use the elevator, if you’d prefer.”
Colby gave him a look before rushing through the swirl of magic—exiting inside their bedroom. Once Luca appeared and the portal closed, Colby exited into the living room to check on Daniel.
Daniel looked at him a second, frowning. A smile formed. “The curse is gone.”
“Yep. The curse is gone.”
Daniel jumped from the couch and wrapped his arms around Colby’s middle. “I’m so happy.”
Colby hugged his brother tight. “Me, too.”
Daniel stepped back, immediately noticing Colby’s mate’s mark. “Does this mean?”
“What?” Colby asked.
“It looks like the ones Ash and Luca have,” Daniel said, grinning. “Are we a family now?”
Colby attempted to hold back his smile—he didn’t want Daniel to get too far ahead of himself—but failed. “Maybe.”
“I’m so happy!” Daniel screamed. After hugging Colby again, he ran to give Ash and Luca hugs, too. “We’re a family.”
“I said maybe,” Colby added.
“Maybe means yes,” Daniel contended.
Colby sighed. He didn’t want to fight too hard, either. He wanted that sense of family and recognized he might get to hold onto it with his mates. Instead of arguing the point, he relented and changed the subject. “How was your first day decorating cupcakes?”
“Fan-tastic!” Daniel raised his hands in the air. “It was the best day ever. The very best day of my life.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. What did you do today?”
Colby slid onto the couch beside his brother and listened to his brother’s recounting of the day. Ash and Luca sat on either end, focused on Daniel. He watched each one of them as they sat, grateful knowing his mates had an open heart for his brother, too. He smiled as Daniel finished. “Sounds like an adventurous day.”
“It was very adventurous,” Daniel replied. “And the day after tomorrow, Graham is going to let me design my own cupcake. I get to pick all the flavors.”
“Well, you are the Head Cupcake Designer,” Luca said. “Of course you get to design your own. We’ll have to come down at the end of your next shift and try it. I know it’s going to be the best thing Graham ever sold in his cupcake case.”
“Oh yes,” Daniel said, confident. “It will be the best thing Graham has ever sold.”
Luca’s lips curled into a smile. Ash’s did, too. Colby glanced at both men, his chest tight.
“It’s been a long day, Daniel. Is it okay if we head to bed?” Colby asked. “Gideon, you don’t have to stay all night.”
“Whatever—I’m trying to win my fifteen dollars back,” Gideon said.
“Win your…” Colby gasped. “Are you two betting on video games?”
Both Gideon and Daniel stared with feigned innocence.
“Are you?”
“It was his idea,” they both said in unison, pointing at the other before convulsing into laughter.
Colby shook his head.
“A quarter a game,” Gideon offered once the fit of giggles had stopped. He wiped a tear from under his eye. “That’s all.”
“And you’re down fifteen bucks?” Colby asked.
“Fifteen-seventy-five,” Daniel corrected.
“You’ve lost sixty-five games to him?” Ash asked.
Gideon rolled his eyes. Colby had noticed a bit of coldness from Gideon where Ash was concerned and wondered what had happened. “I was up a dollar and a half but got too confident. He moved in for the kill after that and I keep thinking I can get it back. I’m so deep in this hole, I dunno if I can get out.”
“You can’t,” Daniel said, punching the buttons on his controller.
“Shit,” Gideon said. “I guess it’s an even sixteen now.”
Daniel giggled. “Yup!”
“Well, I’ll leave the two of you to hang out—it’s been an eventful day,” Colby rose. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“K,” Daniel said.
“And don’t take all his money,” he said to his brother.
“Well, if Gideon accepted the risk, it’s his own fault for losing it,” Luca mentioned.
“Thanks a lot, Luc!” Gideon cried seconds before dying again. “Man! That one was all your fault, Luca.”
“Tell yourself whatever lies you have to,” Luca said, rising. “Whatever you have to say to soften the blow of the truth. You suck at video games.”
“I’d like to see you beat me,” Gideon snapped, flipping Luca the bird—and dying again. “Shit!”
“Sixteen and a quarter!” Daniel announced.
Luca tugged at Colby’s shirt, urging him to come to bed.
“Night, Daniel.”
“Night, Coby.”
Luca followed Colby, trailed by Ash. They returned to the bedroom, and he wrapped one arm about both their chests. “I know I said I didn’t have it in me for another round, but I think I was wrong.”
They were naked again with the wave of Luca’s hand.
Colby grinned. “I think I like this magic of yours.”
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Colby woke up alone in the gigantic bed he’d been sharing with Ash and Luca. He checked his phone and was shocked to realize it was quarter past eleven. He’d never been that late of a sleeper, but his mates had been keeping him up into the wee hours of the morning every night. He should likely be grateful they allowed him the sleep.
After a check on Daniel, finding the bedroom empty, he meandered out into the kitchen and found Luca and Ash seated at the counter, drinking coffee. Luca was also on his phone, scribbling away furiously with his free hand.
“Morning,” Ash whispered.
“Morning. Where’s Daniel?”
“Work.”
“I thought he worked tomorrow?” Colby murmured.
“He wanted to design his cupcake. He’d dreamed up a new idea last night.”
Colby smiled and poured himself a cup of coffee, glad Daniel was enjoying his new job so much. It was a minor miracle that his brother had adjusted to their new life so calmly and easily—he’d adjusted better than Colby had, if truth be told.
By the time he’d added his sugar and cream to his coffee, he recognized Luca was talking to a client. When Luca ended the call and tossed his cell onto the surface of the counter, he sighed.
“What’s the matter?” Colby asked.
“I’m trying to reschedule all my appointments I postponed when I was without magic. I’d hoped Atlas could do it, but he claims he’s too busy—and our new receptionist Betty called out today.” He slurped some coffee. “I’m ready to get back in the game.”
“Can’t you just magic the appointments?”
Luca frowned. “Not sure, but I’ll have to look into it. There might be a spell out there for that. Making phone calls is literally the worst.” He hedged. “Although, if one existed, Atlas would’ve already found it and implemented it at the reservation desk, I’m sure. Since he hasn’t, I’d guess that’s a no.”
“Spells are created all the time. Maybe you and Atlas can work on that,” Ash said with a grin.
“Me? Work with Atlas on something?” Luca scoffed. “We’d kill each other before we created anything.”
“You contacting clients reminds me,” Colby said. “Is there a computer around here I can use? I need to check my store site and shoot those refunds out before too much time passes.”
“I can manifest a laptop,” Luca said, lifting a hand.
Ash nearly spat his coffee out, stilling Luca. He trained his gaze on Colby. “While their tech is far superior, don’t do it. Witches make human hackers look like kindergartners. If there’s an enchantment anywhere on your computer, a witch can use it as a way in to get personal, damaging information out of it.”
“It’s a store site, not his entire history,” Luca argued.
“Which would have his banking information and other personal details,” Ash reasoned. He focused on Colby. “You can use my department laptop.”
“Now? Aren’t you going to work?”
“I’m off today,” he murmured, smiling. He slid off the stool, crossed the room, and lifted the laptop out of his tote bag. After opening it and entering his passwords, he slid it closer to Colby. “There you go.”
“Appreciated,” Colby said.
“You realize we can hack human computers, too?” Luca asked. “This won’t stop a witch.”
“I’ve already had this conversation with Cassius a long time ago,” Ash said, eyeing Luca. “Witch tech uses magic. Human tech uses code. Most witches can’t be bothered to learn it, so there are few witches who’ve mastered it enough to hack a system well enough to get anything.” He turned to eye Colby. “Plus, hobgoblins and gremlins can literally live inside witch tech. You think your old laptop was cursed? Witch tech brings a whole new level to glitching.”
Colby slid Ash’s laptop closer. “No offense, Luca… I think I’ll just use this.”
“I’ll pick up a new laptop for you at Best Buy on my next shift. Any preferences?”
“No, don’t do that.” Colby pulled up his sale site before digging for his cellphone to search for his passwords stored there. He met Ash’s gaze. “I’ll figure something out.”
“Well, since you have an iPhone and I think I noticed a MacBook in the studio, I’ll get you one of those.”
Colby sighed. “Ash, no. That’s too expensive. I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.”
Ash moved closer and pressed a kiss to Colby’s forehead. “You need a computer to run your business.”
“I no longer have a business, remember? Once I do these refunds, I probably won’t have any need for a computer for a while. I can use my phone for most things—and I’ll get a computer down the road.”
Ash leaned closer. “We take care of one another, Colby. It’s part of being mates.”
Colby gazed at him, warmth filling him. He fought a smile coming to his lips. “Sure, okay… but I don’t need it now.”
Ash grumbled under his breath. “I’m headed out. Gonna take a shower…”
“Headed out? I thought you were off today?” Colby asked.
“I might be off, but there are things that need to be done.”
Luca lifted his phone. “I best get on this next call so I can help you.”
Colby focused on the laptop. After checking that all items were no longer available for sale, refunding a few orders already paid for, and returning a deposit for another, he jumped to social media on his phone. It broke his heart to refuse the orders, but there was no way he could fulfill them. He made note on his site that he was closed indefinitely and mentioned the fire on his Insta and TikTok. Hopefully word of mouth would get around and he wouldn’t lose too many followers.
Once done, he shut it all down and returned the laptop to Ash—who was just exiting the bedroom, smelling fresh. Colby inhaled the man’s scent before Ash dragged him closer. He searched Colby’s face and frowned.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes. No. It will be.”
“Is there an issue?” Luca asked from the counter.
“No, I just hate promising something and not being able to fulfill those promises. Refunding orders hurt my bank account, too.” He had little left before the refunds. There were only pennies and moths left behind.
Luca waved a hand, and the pieces appeared. Clay, unfired. “Contact them back… we can finish these.”
“While I appreciate that, I don’t have a studio or a kiln to finish them.”
“We’ll find you the space,” Ash said.
“Space is great, but a kiln the size I need is thousands of dollars. Add in the wheel, the clay, all my other tools, and it’s going to be impossible. Not for a while, at least.” Colby stared down at his hands. They were fixed, yet he still couldn’t work. It was frustrating. “Perhaps I should talk with the stores below and see if they might be hiring?”
“You realize that there really isn’t any pay?” Luca murmured.
Colby grimaced. “No pay?”
“All funds go into a communal pot,” Ash said. “I mean, I have a bank account in the real world. I have to for the city to pay me. But that money sits there mostly and is used when we have the need.” He elbowed Colby. “Like a laptop.”
“The coven provides a home, food, and all our needs,” Luca said. “We work to ensure the magic flows, and that all are protected.”
Colby groaned. “Well, shit. There goes that plan.”
“Work, and magic can bring you all you need,” Luca said.
“It’s too much. I can’t ask the coven to buy me a kiln and a studio and… I can’t.”
“I can mani—”
“Luca!” Ash cried. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” He focused on Colby before his gaze flicked back to Luca. “Alone?”
Colby frowned. “If we’re mates, shouldn’t I be involved in a conversation that is clearly about me?”
“Just give us a moment,” Ash said, tugging Luca into the bedroom.
