Chapter Seven

Silas

“Silas, Silas. Hold up a minute, please.”

Sighing, Silas turned and made sure he was smiling as a young lady approached, catching him just before he made his way around to the dressing room of the club. He was running late. Dougal had mentioned something about the demon in Wanda’s hearing, and she had been particularly annoying about trying to stop him from leaving for his regular Friday singing session.

Fortunately, when he arrived at the club, Lucas was busy with patrons who didn’t have ID, and there was no sign of Branson anywhere. Branson’s absence wasn’t unusual. It wasn’t like he lived at the club. Crave can announce me, Silas thought… or he was thinking that until someone called his name.

Being late was no excuse for being rude. “Hey.” Silas tilted his head slightly. “Are you having a nice night?”

“I’ve been waiting by the door. I was so hoping I’d see you arrive.” The young lady was hopping about on one foot and then the other. “I’m Jennifer. I was here last week. I saw… I saw that lovely top you were wearing. Such a change to your t-shirts.”

Glancing down at his current white t-shirt, Silas’s smile widened as he looked back up at her. “I did get a few comments about my other top,” he agreed. “I should probably wear things like that more often.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you said that.” Jennifer rummaged around in a large shoulder bag she had under her arm. “Look, you can totally say no, or you can throw the thing in the rubbish, and if you don’t tell me about it, I won’t mind. But I’m a wearable arts student, from over at the design school.”

She pulled out a package, her gaze hesitant as she handed it over. “You’re going to think I’m totally silly. I know my friends did when I told them. But when I listen to you singing, it’s almost as though I can see nature bloom before my eyes.” She ducked her head to the side. “I know, I’m in a club, and nowhere near a garden, but there’s just something about your voice, and after I saw your top last week, I got inspired to make something for you. I hope you don’t mind. It’s a gift, I swear. I don’t expect anything in return.”

“A gift for me?” Silas was genuinely touched. “That is truly sweet of you.”

“I’ve been learning about cloth and natural fibers,” Jennifer spoke quickly as if she was afraid Silas would cut her off. “I’ve always been fascinated by nature and how things grow, but trying to incorporate living plants into something that could be worn is so difficult. I never wanted plants to die just so someone could wear a fancy top for a night.”

Silas was warming to his new friend. “I totally agree. So with this… Have you copied flowers, or… Can I open it?”

“Please.” Jennifer was back to hugging herself as Silas neatly undid the ribbon of the tissue paper that was covering his gift. The gentle smell of orchids greeted Silas’s nose.

“Vanda Orchids. You embellished a mesh top with Vanda Orchids. How incredibly clever.” Silas really hoped his joy at the thoughtfulness of the gift was showing.

“They have the most incredible root structure.” Jennifer’s cheeks were bright red. “But if you don’t have a pot, or something like that you can put them in, I’ve created the mesh behind the plants, and all you need to do is mist that with some water every ten days or so, and they’ll just keep growing.”

“This is just beautiful.” Silas lightly touched the purple and pink flowers that covered what looked like a breastplate. The back was in mesh, as Jennifer had described it, and it seemed like the top could be tied around a person’s torso with straps made of natural cotton.

“Here, could you hold it for a moment? I want to wear it.” He handed it over and then tugged his shirt off, tucking it in the back pocket of his pants. “Careful now,” he added as Jennifer came closer.

“You can always just get a partner, or significant other to close the back for you, if you want to wear it again after tonight.”

Silas heard the question and ignored it. The breastplate curved nicely under his collarbone, covered his whole chest, and was shaped down to a V that skimmed the waistband of his pants. “The straps are sturdy, but not uncomfortable. This is a very clever design.”

Jennifer clapped, her face bright with excitement. “Do you mind? Can I get a picture?” she asked, grabbing her phone out of her bag. “The girls I do the course with didn’t believe you’d even open the gift or talk to me, but to see you wearing something I made… it’s a dream come true. Your songs are so inspiring to me.”

She’s a kindred spirit. Silas waved her closer. “Here, you get in the picture, too.” He might not have a phone himself, but he understood the selfie trend.

He grinned widely, posing in different positions, showing off the top, and hugging the design student as they both smiled together into the camera.

“Don’t let anyone crush your dreams,” he said softly when he handed the phone back. Jennifer would have at least a dozen pictures to show her fellow students. “The way you keep things natural, and beautiful,” he stroked down the petals on his new top, “that’s exactly the sort of designs the world needs right now. I promise you, these flowers will flourish. I have the perfect spot for them to live after tonight.”

“I can’t believe it. You’re as sweet as your singing.” Jennifer lunged over, kissing Silas quickly on the cheek before disappearing into the club.

Silas was still smiling as he made his way to the dressing room, his senses picking out the different vibes from the customers at the club. The demon’s not here. Silas’s heart stuttered—despite what Dougal had said, he still hadn’t stopped thinking about the intense man.

That’s not why I’m here, Silas reminded himself as he perched his butt on a stool. I’m here to sing and help people feel better. He’d said as such to Wanda just half an hour before.

Was he attracted to the demon? Yes.

Did he believe the demon was capable of loving him the way Silas believed he deserved? Absolutely not.

Did he think the demon could give him a night he’d never forget? Probably.

Most likely.

Okay, definitely.

But Silas wasn’t the type of person who would ever indulge in a one-night stand, and that rule stood, no matter how impressionable a demon might be. It was part of his nature as a wood nymph—as he shared his spirit and magic with the forest, so he was careful about where that energy got spent.

The demon could likely wring a dozen delicious orgasms from his body, but if he wasn’t feeding Silas’s heart and soul, then that energy remained wasted. Likewise, Silas feeding a demon’s ego wasn’t going to benefit his tree, or the forest where he lived. A sexy dream, but that’s all he’ll ever be.

Silas looked up and smiled as Morticia ducked her head around the door. “Great, you’re here. Love that top. I’ll tell Crave to announce you after his last song.”

“Brilliant. Thank you.” Standing up, Silas straightened his pants, and stroked his new top one last time. You’ve given me the perfect armor to protect my heart against a demon, Jennifer. He smiled fondly at the thought. Although, there’s a good chance he won’t even show up.

After all, it wasn’t like Silas was anyone important, or special, or the type of person who could get a demon to commit, and as he definitely wasn’t a person to settle for a fling…

Maybe I’ll get pizza for us all on the way home. Silas made his way to the stage.