CHAPTER 90 Day Drinking, Rufus?

CHAPTER 90

Day Drinking, Rufus?

Brownie

Brownie rolled over and threw one arm across her eyes, trying to block out the midmorning sun.

The birds were chirping, the wind was rustling, the city was in full festival mode … and Brownie wanted to go back to sleep instead. She wasn’t feeling the desire to go anywhere, and she didn’t want to speak to anyone—even her fluffy boyfriend.

Sometimes, when things were hard, she wanted a little bit of alone time. That wasn’t too much to ask for, was it?

The longer she stayed in bed, thinking, the longer she realized she was hungry, dehydrated, and in need of the washroom.

Sigh . It was past time to get up.

When she came downstairs, her beastman was in his nonfluffy folk form, leaning back casually in the big armchair beside the banked fireplace. He was drinking a glass of wine, and as much as he looked relaxed, she could tell from the pinched crease around his eyes as he read his novel that he was anything but. He sadly didn’t have a tail to give away his emotions, but she knew him well enough by now to get a good feeling.

“Day drinking, Rufus?” she asked, having walked up to the commander general of the Dark Lord’s army without him noticing.

Rufus, to give him credit, didn’t spill his wine on the book. Just everywhere else. “B-Bronwynn?”

The glass shook, sloshing liquid onto the hand holding the wine and splattering droplets onto his white shirt and tan vest. He stood hurriedly and placed his book and glass out of harm’s way on a small table beside the chair .

“Don’t stand up for me.” She laughed, pulling out her kerchief. “Here, let me get that for you …”

Brownie stopped because Rufus had lifted his hand and licked the red wine off the inside of his wrist. Her mouth went dry. Drier? She was already thirsty … but this was next level. He had no right to be that attractive. Beastman form or folk form.

“Thank you,” Rufus said, taking her kerchief and running it over his hands. He dabbed at the splotches on his shirt but finally decided, “I’m going to change into something new. Wait for me?”

His golden eyes were still dark with anxiety and a nervousness she wasn’t used to seeing. Brownie nodded. Rufus didn’t wait, rushing to the bathroom to go and quickly change.

It was too bad he didn’t just strip his shirt right there in the lobby. She was still curious about his chest hair.

When the thought crossed her mind, Brownie shoved it away and turned to stare at the book Rufus had been reading so intently. The Wizard Needs a Lady , book fourteen in the Berkshire Belles series.

He really was reading all of Her Eminence Feliwyn’s lurid romance novels! Brownie picked up the book and flipped through it. He had a glowing bookmark with a grimalcat on it tucked into the middle of the novel. To her surprise, there were markings in the book. Paragraphs were circled; dialogue highlighted.

“Don’t leave. Please, Rebecca. I know you thought that I proposed because of the love potion … but the potion was a lie! I was afraid of showing my true feelings too soon, when dwarven culture is so meticulous. I can’t live without you. Food is like dust, water like acid slime on my throat. I can’t cast an air spell strong enough to fill my lungs—because I cannot breathe without you. Please, I will do anything, just … don’t go.”

She flipped through a few more pages until another highlighted section caught her eye.

“From the moment you fell out of that tree and landed on me … I knew.”

“That’s ridiculous, Zach. You couldn’t have known—”

“I knew. I might be a cat, but I am still a beastman. If you don’t want to live in this Wizard Tower, then we can move to Peldeep or Gren’s Keep or anywhere you want. As long as we are together, that will be my tower.”

“But—”

“Shh, love, no buts.

The following paragraph wasn’t highlighted, but it was … spicy. Brownie found herself enthralled reading through an intimate scene on a garden bench.

“Bronwynn? ”

The bard flinched, snapping the book closed and slamming it on the table a little too excitedly.

Thank goodness she’d turned the page, reading to a spot with no highlights. Even if he’d caught a glimpse of her page, it wouldn’t be obvious she had been reading his notes …

Just the racy scenes.

“Rufus! Wow, this is such an interesting book. I—” Brownie stopped when Rufus, wearing a new black silk tunic open at the throat, stood close enough that she could just kiss him. Since his folk form was slightly shorter, she finally got to see his chest dusted with golden hair.

He reached forward, his hand resting on top of hers and the book. Why was he so close?

“Bronwynn.” The book disappeared into his spatial ring as he wrapped his hand around hers and drew it toward himself.

He frowned, searching her face and probably spotting the telltale sign of last night’s tears.

“It’s not what you think,” she said, trying to explain to Rufus that he actually had little to do with her current state, and in fact was one of the shining moments of her day so far.

He didn’t let her finish, but she forgave him the interruption, if for no other reason than he was baring his heart sincere. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, and I’m sorry you had to find out from Ross and I wasn’t strong enough to tell you myself. I’ve been hiding the fact that we’ve known each other already this whole time. When I said I’ve been stalking you for a year, I meant it. I’ve been obsessed with your music, I’ve followed you across the continent, and I even ran that catastrophic event in Sumbria—”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Brownie found herself smiling genuinely for the first time since yesterday, amusement pulling her out of her anxiety and woe.

“I was trying to keep my personal life separate from my work life. But that wasn’t fair to you.” He lifted her hand and kissed it, sending shivers down her spine. Brownie wondered if she should let him continue or just jump him.

She was feeling more vulnerable than usual.

Rufus finished with, “Do you forgive me?”