“You’re back,” the redheaded bartender said, grinning far too eagerly.

“Yes.” He supposed that meant he needed yet another drink. “Can I try a bourbon?”

Her teeth appeared. “You can try anything you like.”

Okay… “Then I’ll try a bourbon,” he replied slowly. “Any brand.”

“I know just what you need.” She winked and picked up a glass.

He sensed she meant to flirt, but he couldn’t fathom why. Humans were bizarre. Ichorians, too, for that matter.

“What time do you close?” he asked, curious as to how long he could wait here for Ezekiel. For whatever reason, this encouraged the redhead to grin widely again.

Oh. Right. She thought he wanted to know when she would be free from work.

Not quite.

“One o’clock,” she murmured. “But if it’s slow, I can close up early.”

“One o’clock is fine,” he replied, eyeing the time. That gave Ezekiel just over nine hours to appear. Should be enough time. And if he didn’t, Gabriel would return tomorrow. It may require fornication with the bartender, though; otherwise, she might be a little put out by his constant visitation to her bar.

He eyed her curves as she went up onto her toes to grab a bottle from the top shelf. Long legs, too.

It could qualify as research—comparing the human experience to the Seraphim experience. The redhead was pretty enough, if a little too bubbly for his liking. Maybe he could gag her or give her mouth something else worthwhile to do.

But only if Ezekiel didn’t show.

Or maybe after the Ichorian left. He did recommend Gabriel take her up as a pastime. His lower body seemed fond of the idea, especially as she leaned over the counter in a gesture meant to display her ample breasts. Why else would she wear such a low-cut top?

A brazen move.

One he should ignore but wouldn’t. Gabriel never could ignore a reasonable learning opportunity.

She poured the drink in front of him. “What’s your name?” she asked, hazel eyes smiling seductively.

“Stark,” he replied. “Just Stark.”

16

Playing House

“I’m done,” Sethios called from upstairs. “Come up here when you’re ready.”

Caro’s heart fluttered with excitement as she set the knife down on the kitchen counter. Dinner would have to wait. It would need Sethios’s fine touch anyway since all her meals lacked flavor.

Seraphim prepared and ate perfectly balanced meals. If it lacked nutrients, there was no point in cooking it. Caro used to agree. Then Sethios introduced her to chocolate. He followed that up with a myriad of delicious flavors she would never forget. Now she just had to learn how to cook them.

Later.

She washed the vegetable residue from her hands and met Sethios in the hallway outside the bedrooms.

“Show me,” she demanded.

He’d spent five days in that room without allowing her entry. He claimed the paint fumes were bad for the baby, a lie they both saw right through, but she didn’t press. If he wanted to surprise her, she’d allow it.