Daniel Rose should be having a good night. He’s a bestselling author; he’s had film adaptations of his books; he’s met movie stars. And there’s a storm outside tonight, electric and wild. Dan’s always liked storms. Tonight, though, he’s stuck staring at his computer and suffering from writer’s block, out of ideas and inspiration. But when an adorable young man knocks at his door, asks to borrow Dan’s kitchen spices, and announces witchcraft’s real and their apartment building needs an exorcism, Dan’s dark and stormy night takes a turn for the magical. Sterling Friday’s among the youngest qualified practicing members of the coven, and this haunted building’s only his third assignment. He’s a very good clairvoyant but less good at proper spellwork, and he could use some help with both ingredients and psychic anchors. He also happens to be a fan of those Daniel Rose novels, and he’s hoping Dan, as a writer, will believe his story and not turn him away. On a night drenched in magic and rain, as ghosts hover in the background, the attraction between them is immediate and elemental.

Elemental

He said, “Don’t get up yet—let me just take care of—” and swiped tissues over fair skin and tattoos. He freed Sterling’s ankles. He let one hand rest over one ankle; those socks had stayed on, silly blue and white stripes in the night. He stripped those off too; no objections, only a tiny wordless smile.


Sterling even had adorable toes. And more tattoos: that ankle, and the top of one foot, done in rich onyx and ruby and sapphire colors. Alchemical symbols. Intimations of power. Another world. The world Dan wasn’t a part of, had only barely met, and wanted to never leave.


He knew that wasn’t only because of the magic. He knew that he’d never be the same, after this night; he thought that might’ve been true when Sterling had first turned up at his door.


He got up. Held out a hand. “Shower?”


Sterling took the hand. Regarded him thoughtfully. Hopped to both feet, stepped in close, went up on tiptoes. Kissed him. Fierce and indisputable. “You looked like you needed that.”


Chapter 14