The Wicked (Elder Races #5.5)(26)

“Like Tony?”

“Yes, exactly. Tony’s human, but he’s a great fighter, he has a little bit of magic, and while he might not be a doctor, he is a damn fine field medic. All of that makes him a strong, versatile member of any crew.” He shrugged, his shoulders shifting fluidly underneath her stroking fingers. “And of course we could have done all of that in New York too. But that’s where the answer to your other question comes in. Sun, warmth, sandy beaches, endless beautiful water. Hell, we based the company in Jamaica just because we could.”

She grinned. “You must get a lot of applicants for job openings.”

“Quite a few,” he said dryly.

“How many people do you employ?”

“Almost a hundred. We’re still technically a small company.”

She blew out a soundless whistle. “It sounds like a big company to me. I had no idea.”

He chuckled. “Sometimes having so many employees is almost like having that many children.” Then he paused. “Don’t tell any of them that I said that.”

“I won’t,” she told him. “Probably.” He bit her forefinger in retaliation, and she laughed. “And anyway, employees and children are nothing alike.”

He sighed. “I’m sure you’re right. At least none of my employees need to be diapered.”

She chuckled, and he rolled her over, reversing their positions, so that she lay on her back and his head rested on her shoulder. Then, lazily, he played with her nipple, and even though they had made love through the night until she had fallen asleep out of sheer exhaustion, she felt arousal stir at his touch.

“How about you?” he asked. His voice had turned very quiet so that she almost couldn’t hear him. “Have you ever considered having them? Children, I mean. Not employees.”

She went still, turning her face into his hair as she listened to the nuances in his question. Then she whispered, “The right relationship never came along, and I never wanted to have children on my own. But if I found the right partner…”

Dare she say it?

She realized that he had gone as still as she had. That he seemed to be holding his breath. That gave her the courage to whisper, “With the right partner, I would adore having children.”

Then he moved and sighed, and pressed a kiss against the side of her breast as he spread one hand over her flat abdomen. “I love children,” he said simply. “And you would make a beautiful mother.”

Luminous emotion filled her as she imagined him with his own children. He would make an incredible father, strong, protective, patient and loving. The image was so compelling, it made her chest ache. She covered his hand with hers and pressed her lips against his forehead.

They fell silent and lay like that for some time, until he stirred and said, “Tell me more about Louisville.”

It was hard to let go of the moment, but then she followed his cue and talked of her life and friends in Louisville, and Brutus her cat, who was currently staying at her parents’ house.

Neither one of them broached the subject of how they would continue seeing each other when they left the island, although they came close to it several times. She wanted to talk about it, but each day she fell further and further in love with him, and she grew more and more afraid of what might happen next.

She could leave her life and friends to live with him in Jamaica, and she could build a new life there that would make her very happy. But what she couldn’t do was live Sebastian’s life of constant adventure.

She knew she could never ask him to settle down and hope that he could change that completely. Sooner or later, even if he did grow to love her too—even if he did mate with her—she was afraid that he would get tired of being in one place and end up feeling trapped. And that would be intolerable for the both of them.

Still, despite her growing trepidation for what the future might hold, she couldn’t turn him away when he came to her room. He drew her too powerfully.

During the daytime hours, the symbologists methodically worked from section to section and room to room in the library, handling works from all nationalities and races—French, medieval, Chinese, Hungarian, early American, and Greek and Roman auguries. Light and Dark Fae works, Elven, Nightkind and Demonkind. Books on Wyr magic, Other lands and the Elder gods, and books upon books on Vampyrism.

Finally one morning they reached the Egyptian section, which contained the papyri collection, and Steve’s attention grew sharper and more focused.

Olivia wasn’t the only one who noticed. Dendera asked him, “Have you studied Egyptology or Egyptian magic?”

“My employer has,” Steve replied. “He’s talked quite a bit about it, and it’s piqued my interest.”

“Don’t you work for Edinburgh University’s Magical Depository?” Dendera asked.

“Currently I do,” he said. “I’m talking about another employer.”

Did that sound odd?

As she locked the lid of one container into place, Olivia frowned, drawn in spite of herself into the conversation. “Do you mean a former employer?”

Steve didn’t reply, and her frown deepened.

She had grown used to Steve being a bit of a dick, but this was something entirely different. To get hired for this job, he had to have gone through the same thorough background check as everyone else, but she couldn’t help but wonder what Sebastian would make of Steve’s behavior.