Arcane Entanglement (The Mage and His Brute #1)

Chapter 25

It was a while before Viggo found the strength to move.

He lifted his face from the crook of Evander’s neck and met the mage’s languid blue gaze.

“That,” Viggo panted and swallowed, “—was something else.”

Evander smiled, his chest heaving. He squeezed Viggo’s waist with his thighs. “I’m glad you found the experience satisfactory.”

“Yes. It was extremely satisfactory.” Viggo nipped at his lower lip. “Give me a minute and I’ll be ready to go again.”

Evander stilled, his smile fading a little. “Go? Go where?”

Viggo flashed him a sly look before slipping his fingers beneath his balls and lightly stroking his taint and hole. The mage’s eyes almost rolled into the back of his head.

“I think you know exactly where I’m going to sink my cock next time,” he whispered seductively in Evander’s ear.

The mage sucked in air, recoiled, and grasped his wrist. “No! You can’t!” He shook his head vehemently to emphasise his words.

Viggo froze. He stared uncomprehendingly at Evander, unable to grasp his meaning at first. Confusion gave way to understanding as he watched the mage bite his own lip. He kissed him softly.

“Don’t worry. I know I’m big, but I’ll be gentle and make sure it doesn’t hurt.” He caressed Evander’s opening again and was rewarded by a twitch and a low whimper.

The mage shuddered. “It’s not your size I’m concerned about.” He removed Viggo’s hand where he was still exploring him and put it firmly on top of the vanity, his expression hardening. “We can’t have sex until this case is solved. You’re a witness and potential collaborator, Viggo. And I’m the investigating officer. Sleeping with one another is a conflict of interest.”

Viggo’s eyes rounded. “What?”

His shocked mumble did not move Evander one iota. The mage pushed him away, jumped down from the vanity unit, and rearranged his robe.

He looked remarkably composed for someone who was moaning and panting in Viggo’s arms mere minutes ago.

Frustration churned the Brute’s belly.

“You are jesting, right?!”

He was about to run his fingers through his hair when he realised they were still coated with the evidence of his and Evander’s pleasure. Viggo scowled and washed them in the sink.

The mage had the decency to blush. He cleared his throat while Viggo dried his hands jerkily on a towel.

“What brought you here tonight? You said you wanted to talk.”

Viggo pinned him with a sharp stare. “Are you changing the subject?”

“Yes.” Evander sighed at Viggo’s irritated expression. “Look, I don’t like this either, but it’s the right thing to do. I don’t want our relationship to start on a bad note.”

All of Viggo’s protests came to a screeching, stomach-flopping halt.

“You—you want a relationship with me?!” he said numbly.

Evander stared. “Of course I do.” Wariness crept into his face. “Don’t tell me you’re only after sex.” His shoulders slumped. “I am not into that kind of?—”

Viggo closed the distance to the mage and cut him off with his mouth.

“Of course I want a relationship with you,” he whispered hotly against Evander’s lips.

The mage swallowed, his hands trembling slightly where he clung to Viggo’s chest. “You do?” He squinted a little, as if he didn’t quite believe him.

Viggo kicked himself for being a fool. “Yes.” He shuddered and pressed their foreheads together. “You’ve cast a spell on me, mage. I will gladly follow you into the fires of Hell itself if it means I can be with you.”

Evander’s eyes widened at his heartfelt confession. He took hold of Viggo’s face and kissed him sweetly before wrapping his arms around his neck. They stayed like that for a moment, hearts thundering against one another.

“Let’s go into my study,” Evander murmured. “It will be more comfortable to talk there.”

Viggo reluctantly let him go. “What about your manservant?”

Evander smiled. “Jasper won’t come up to my chambers again tonight.”

He grasped Viggo’s hand and guided him through his dressing room and into his bedroom. It was a spacious and elegant space. A large, four-poster mahogany bed draped with heavy velvet curtains embroidered with a delicate pattern of silver and gold threads dominated it.

Evander stopped to get rid of his bathrobe.

A shiver danced through Viggo at the sight of his enticing naked form as he wrapped himself in a dark, silk dressing gown. The Brute directed a hopeful look at the bed.

“How about we just test the mattress?”

Evander chuckled at his fervent words and led him through another door and into a cozy room where a fire crackled. Viggo took the glass of whiskey the mage poured him before studying the enchanted map above the mantlepiece.

“Looks like you take your work home with you.”

Evander shrugged. “The same could be said of you.”

They exchanged a small, intimate smile.

“What did you have to tell me?” Evander indicated an armchair.

Viggo sat down and leaned his elbows on his knees. He stared into his glass and swirled the golden liquid inside, still amazed at where he found himself and all that had happened tonight. His stomach fluttered when he lifted his head and met Evander’s inquisitive gaze.

I can’t believe the Ice Mage who is known for being cold to anyone who approaches him is willing to be mine.

The enormity of what had passed between the two of them and the unspoken promise they’d made to one another made Viggo fairly lightheaded. He focused on what had brought him to Evander’s townhouse.

“ Nightshade is looking for sources of Noctis Bloom . And I wanted to apologise again. For how I treated you back in Winterbourne’s office.”

Evander’s throat constricted at Viggo’s tormented look.

It was clear his actions that morning had been weighing heavily on his mind.

“You had every right to say what you did, Viggo.” Evander put their glasses on a side table and leaned forward to take the Brute’s hands. “You are a thrall whose entire family was killed by mages. I would have been more surprised if you had forgiven us and embraced us.”

Viggo shuddered and closed his eyes. “But I cannot keep blaming all mages. I realised that when I met you and the people you work with today.” His dark eyes gleamed hotly when he opened them. “Your kind is not all evil. You are not evil.”

Evander’s mouth lifted in a lopsided smile. “I don’t know about that. I’ve done some pretty wicked things in my time. And you should see what Shaw gets up to.”

Viggo laughed. “I like that about you. You don’t take yourself too seriously. And you treat your subordinates with kindness.”

Evander’s stomach clenched. The Brute’s face when he smiled from his heart was simply breathtaking.

Viggo’s expression turned puzzled. “What?”

“You are magnificent.”

Viggo startled at Evander’s earnest words. His expression softened.

“I think the magnificent one here is you.”

Evander shook his head, his chest full to bursting. “No. You truly are incredible, Viggo.” He turned the Brute’s hand over and kissed his knuckles. “You overcame so much pain and devastation to get where you are today. Not many men would have been able to conquer those obstacles and rise to a position of power.” He squeezed Viggo’s fingers and met his dazed stare unflinchingly. “Yet, somehow, those awful experiences did not corrupt your soul. You are kind and smart and just and generous to a fault. I only need to see how Magnus acts around you to know this.”

Colour stained Viggo’s cheekbones. “Evander,” he mumbled thickly.

“I know what Nightshade means to the non-magical community, Viggo. I’ve spent enough time in the slums to see the effect your organisation’s presence has had on the magicless.” Resolve tightened Evander’s face. “You are a beacon of hope for thralls in England and throughout the Empire. And I am determined to see to it that your flame is never extinguished.”