“How about if they were the opening act for Everybody Gets Laid and Free Beer?”
“Boooooo! How many movies did you just reference there?”
Fox flashed him a cheeky smile. “A couple. I’m impressed that you recognized I did.”
Winter rolled his eyes as he walked over and opened the door, checking on the pizzas. “I have been around for a few decades. It’s given me time to watch a handful of movies.” He closed the door again and straightened, folding his arms across his chest. “But to answer your first question, we wait. We need to hear from Zelda and uncover more information about this prophecy. It will help us figure out what Damon is likely planning when it comes to my family.”
Placing his elbow on the counter, Fox dropped his chin into his hand and sighed. “Are you as good at waiting as I am?”
“Probably better.”
Fox sighed extravagantly. “Yeah, probably.” He spun around on his stool and rested his elbow behind him on the counter as he stared at the living room. This was going to take a while. It had been his experience that if a witch didn’t want to be found, then she or he wasn’t going to be fucking found.
Being cooped up in Winter’s loft wouldn’t be a bad thing if the vampire showed any hint that he wanted to have some naked time in the bedroom. But that was unlikely to happen. What the hell were they supposed to do? There was only so much rejection Fox could take before his poor ego shriveled up into a ball and rolled into a deep, dark hiding place.
Fox wasn’t accustomed to sitting and doing nothing. His life was filled with work and constant movement. He worked long hours at the dispensary, surrounded by his funny coworkers and nice customers. When he had some free time, he was out hiking through Colorado’s vast wilderness. He kept too busy to feel lonely most of the time.
Now there was only Winter. The sexy Winter he wasn’t allowed to touch. There had to be something else they could do that would distract his frustrating libido.
“Any chance you know how to use these gaming systems?” Fox called out.
The low chuckle from Winter had Fox quickly spinning around. That wasn’t one of Winter’s normal noises. He was a growler and a mumbler.
“Oh, you don’t want to challenge me.”
Fox’s grin spread slowly across his face. “Bring it, Big Sexy. I can take you.”
Winter tilted his head toward the oven. “You handle the cooking. I’ll set up the system. I’m thinking a first-person shooter.”
Fox’s smile never wavered. He had devoted serious-ass time to nearly every first-person shooter game he could lay his hands on. Winter didn’t have a shot at beating him.
Once the pizzas were ready, he cut and plated them. He carried them into the living room and got everything set up while Winter brought up the game menu.
In between slices of pizza, Winter and Fox battled it out in a series of games that included other online players. It didn’t take long for Fox to realize Winter was a sneaky bastard. He was damn good at waiting and hiding. He moved and struck when the odds were most in his favor.
Fox preferred bold moves and big risks. Sometimes they paid off and sometimes they didn’t, but they were always fun. Of course, the best part was when those big risks paid off and he actually beat Winter. It wasn’t often, but they always left Winter a mix of shocked gasping and laughing. At least his companion was a good loser. He never hesitated to congratulate Fox on a good match and to graciously concede defeat.
By the time the pizza was gone, they’d agreed to team up and take on some online players. The loft was filled with their laughter and shouts as they beat team after team. The trash-talking was intense, and Fox was sure he would have thrown a controller already if they’d been in his apartment, but in the end, they defeated a bunch of cheaters. Fox tossed his controller safely to the cushion beside him and jumped to his feet, his hands in the air.
“There! You don’t mess with a vampire and his witch!” Fox shouted, pointing at the TV.
Winter’s laughter became choked, and Fox turned to find his eyes wide. “My witch?”
Fox snickered and jumped back onto the couch, crawling onto Winter’s lap before the man could escape him. The hours of easy camaraderie and laughter had made him brave. Even if Winter rejected him, Fox was sure he’d do it gently. “Well, sure. Aren’t I your witch? You don’t have another witch locked away in a closet somewhere, right?”
The most adorable flush brightened Winter’s pale cheeks, and he placed his hands on Fox’s hips as if he’d meant to push him off. Except he wasn’t pushing at all. He was just holding him in place, each digit feeling like it was burning through Fox’s jeans. Excitement sizzled through Fox and sent butterflies winging in a swirl in his stomach.