Evan Bartholomew lives life as a gay pagan with a deep interest in magic. Not wise choices in the small town he lives in. When he comes across a book in an old book store, he fantasizes about the portrait of a man named Aidan Loriel within the book. The first time Evan tries to use one of the spells in the book, he finds himself clueless in a world he never knew existed. A world of demons, magic, a queen who wants to kill him, a king who lusts after him, and the man of his fantasies, Aidan Loriel.
|
| Excerpt ~~ Magic and the Pagan |
"There are two hundred and sixty-seven, not including the one you returned to me. You may have your pick," Aidan said. His breath stilled for the briefest moment as their bodies came closer together.
Evan froze, his eyes widening as they fastened on Aidan’s ruby ones. He’d never been this close to a man as fascinating as Aidan and he wanted to get a hell of a lot closer. "Maybe I can find the time to read all of them."
Aidan slipped a finger beneath Evan’s chin and tilted his head up slowly. The depths of his eyes seemed to spark into flames as he leaned down to press his lips softly to Evan’s in a chaste kiss. "I won’t deny you that."
Evan nearly melted. His hands itched to touch Aidan, but he didn’t know where to put them. At eighteen, he’d never even kissed anybody. Not so strange, since where he came from none of the guys were gay and he sure as hell never felt the impulse to kiss a girl. Evan didn’t want it to end and when it did, he turned a somewhat bemused expression on Aidan.
Aidan stepped back and smiled. He curled his fingers around Evan’s hand and led the way out of the room. Evan had a feeling he might be in a little over his head.
Aidan led him downstairs to a set of great double doors and pushed them open. He waved Evan inside. All four walls were lined with shelves and two large tables stood along the sides. A chair which greatly resembled a throne sat at the far end.
Evan let go of Aidan’s hand and walked past him farther into the room. The books caught his attention and he looked at them. "Fucking heaven," he whispered. He hurried to one shelf just to take in the titles.
"You are welcome to read whatever you wish. Should you need further explanation of anything, just ask me."
"These books aren’t like that one where I start reading and end up gods know where, right?" Evan looked back over his shoulder at Aidan. One experience like the last was quite enough, thank you.
Aidan laughed and stepped up, reaching around Evan to pull a book from the shelf. "No, they are not. But I must caution you not to remove them beyond the outer wall of my land. The price is not a pleasant one to pay."
Evan tried to be good, but with Aidan that close, all he wanted to do was lean back for the chance to feel the man against him. He swore he felt the heat behind him. "I’ll remember that."
Aidan took Evan’s right hand in his. He placed the book in it and leaned down to whisper in Evan’s ear, "Should you have questions about anything, do not hesitate to come to me."
Evan shivered with the touch of the mage’s lips on his ear. The soft cadence of the words did damnable things to his insides. He sort of forgot about the book placed in his hand. "I will."
"You are far too enticing," Aidan murmured. He turned Evan’s head with his other hand and touched the tip of his tongue to Evan’s lips. He groaned and curled his fingers to Evan’s left hip.
The vibration of that sound ran straight through Evan, and the touch of Aidan’s tongue drew a soft whimper from him. Uncertainty and arousal filled him as he finally leaned against Aidan.
|