“But the soul mates—”
Baer broke off when Grey loudly groaned and dragged his fingers over his face. “That bullshit.”
“What? How is it bullshit? Clay and Dane are soul mates. The aunts said they were. The bonding ceremony proved it.”
Grey dropped his hands into his lap. “I’m not saying they aren’t soul mates or that soul mates aren’t real. The problem is that the idea of soul mates has you all tied up and second-guessing yourself.” Grey looked over at Baer, one eyebrow raised. “In Colorado, if you’d met Wiley at a bar, what would you have done?”
“Flirted with him, and if he was interested, fucked him silly.”
“Lovely image. Thanks.”
Baer smiled and shrugged. It was the truth.
“What’s stopping you now?” Grey asked when he could wipe the sour look off his face.
“I want him and he wants me, but I don’t want to lead him on. What if he’s not my soul mate? Since you’re not volunteering any information on that front.” Baer narrowed his eyes at the Soul Weaver, and Grey glared right back at him.
“I’ve already been quite clear on that matter. I refuse to say anything one way or the other. I’m not going to be responsible for you fucking things up.”
Baer groaned and flopped onto the cool grass, scrubbing his hands over his face. Just a couple of hours ago, he and Wiley had agreed to pursue what they had. Enjoy it. But now that he was away from Wiley and no longer letting his dick influence his decisions, guilt was starting to gnaw at him.
Dropping his hand, Baer opened his eyes to see Grey leaning over him so he could meet his gaze.
“But out of curiosity, what makes you sure he’s not?” Grey inquired.
Baer put his palms on the grass and stared up at the dark-green leaves above his head. “I don’t know. When we met, I thought he was just this cute guy. I mean, I felt something, but I thought that was the Weaver thing. Clearly something else must have been screwing with my head that day.” He stopped and frowned. “Well, I mean I felt attracted to him, but he’s this adorable, hot guy. Of course I did. I was just working up the courage to get my flirt on; then the pestilents attacked and he’s talking about this old lady sending him there. I was sure he was a brother and not a guy I could screw. It all…it just all got fucked up. I guess when I started hearing about soul mates, I thought I’d know when I met mine. It’d be this…this thunderbolt.”
“Huh.”
Baer turned his head and stared at the Soul Weaver, wishing he could read the man’s thoughts. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. It was just a sound.” Grey leaned down on one elbow and stretched out in the grass as well. “You’ve spent some time with the guy. What are you feeling now?”
Baer rolled his eyes, but it was directed at himself. “Pretty much the same. He’s cute and funny. So damn smart and strong. The things he says. His brain works so freaking fast. I can’t get enough of him. It drives me crazy not to spend all my time with him.” He paused and licked his lips, adding because he just couldn’t help himself, “And I want to know all the sounds he makes when he’s coming.”
He got another look from Grey, but he couldn’t quite read it. He thought it was irritated disgust, but there was something more to it.
Grey heaved a heavy sigh. “And what’s stopping you?”
“What if my soul mate does come along while I’m fooling around with him? It would kill me to hurt Wiley. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“Are you planning to tell him he’s your soul mate or otherwise string him along?”
Baer lurched upright so that he was half sitting. “Fuck, no!”
“Then be up front with him. You know, tell him something like ‘Hey, I like you. Wanna screw around and have some fun?’ Or maybe ‘Hey, you want to try dating and get to know each other?’ I don’t understand why you’re making this so complicated.”
Baer’s grin spread wide across his face and he chuckled, dropping back to the grass. “I know. I am, aren’t I?”
“Very,” Grey replied, all irritation and prickles.
Reaching over, Baer gave Grey’s arm a playful shove. “This just seems easy because you know how everyone’s feeling.”
“Regardless, you’ve got to take chances in life. Wiley is a good guy, but you already know that.”
Baer’s smile faded away, and he looked over at the Soul Weaver as a little sliver of fear cut its way through his building confidence. “I know you won’t tell me about soul mates and shit, but…would you at least tell me if he’s only interested in me because I have magic? Because of who I am?”