Lucy guffawed. “Right, like you go to church.”
A smile tugged at her lips and Tori smiled. “Okay, I’ll wear it to the gym.”
“Nowthat’llget you attention from all the gym rats that do nothing for you.”
“Absolutely nothing,” she agreed.
An abundance of muscles and cockiness was a turnoff. And in her experience, the first always came with the second.
Now someone like James, who got his fit physique from running—stop.
You are not thinking about James.
What was he doing this weekend? Oh right, hanging out on the Oregon Coast. Probably running on the beach, scowling at toddlers, and kicking over sandcastles.
Maybe not that bad, but he was likely living up to his grumpy James persona.
Her lips quirked into a small smile beneath her mask and she picked up the pace to walk with her group.
By the time they got inside the convention center, the adrenaline was coursing through her blood.
The air hummed with energy. And just like in Seattle, her costume quickly attracted attention.
In between checking out exhibits, she posed for pictures.
“Thanks,” a tweenage Pikachu said after taking a picture with Tori. “Did you know your mate is here?”
“My mate?” She glanced around, looking for anyone who might be cosplaying from the comic,Ash Masters. “I don’t see—”
Oh wait. Yes, she did.
Holy... whoa.
Whoever was cosplaying as Aidan had knocked it out of the park—if she wanted to use a term she’d learned at the Mariners game.
That outfit was like Aladdin meets dragons. The fabric and sequins were stunning and convinced the eye they were dragon scales.
The matching vest was open, revealing a hard-looking chest and six-pack covered with a smattering of chest hair. His arms were discreetly muscled, and the wings on his back seemed to fold up, but extend when he moved his arms a certain way.
Wow, those were impressive. Her wings were dainty and sewn to the back of her corset.
Just like with her, you couldn’t see his face. It was all shadows under the mesh and fabric. Which somehow made him even hotter.
Stop.
When had she ever ogled cosplayers? That wasn’t who she was. That wasn’t why she was here.
Maybe it was because he was her mate in the comic. He was Aidan, and she was his Nadia.
They were enemies. They were lovers. And they were each a force to be reckoned with.
And it warmed her heart to know there was a guy out there who lovedAsh Mastersas much as she did. Or, at least, enough to cosplay as Aidan.
She continued to stare, completely entranced by how incredible he looked.
He turned and saw her. Or, at least, she figured he did, because it was hard to tell with that mask on.
For a moment, he didn’t move, just seemed to be staring at her while lots of people nearby were pointing between her and him and talking excitedly.