Curiosity stirred and I couldn’t help asking, “So how old are you? You’ve never actually said.”

“In elven terms, I’m two hundred and seventy-three years old.”

Elves as a race were very long-lived, and it wasn’t unknown for their elders—or statesmen, as they were called—to reach their millennium year before death finally took them. It also put him right on the cusp of breeding age for elves, which was generally between the three and five hundred years old.

Of course, there was a quasi-fertile thirty-year period before they hit the three-hundred-year mark, which, given I was nearing my own fertile period, was why I’d always ensured I was fully protected. Aside from the fact I’d seen firsthand how elves treated half-bloods, I had no desire to bring a child into this world just yet.

We pixies weren’t as long-lived as elves, but at sixty-two, I was also close to a fifth of the way through my lifetime—although given the seed of a storm god had given me life, there was no saying how much that would affect my lifespan. Especially given we Aodhán tended to be longer-lived anyway.

“Any plans for tomorrow?” Cynwrig asked.

“Lugh and I have to check out a standing stone in the morning, but other than that, no. Why?”

“Shall we try to go out for dinner again?”

“That depends,” I said, dropping my voice a notch, “on what dessert is.”

“Dessert can be anything you wish,” he said in that low and oh-so sexy tone again.

“Anything?” I drawled. “That could get dangerous.”

“I’m very well equipped for dangerous.”

I laughed and was tempted—very tempted—to invite him over tonight. But as much as I burned for his touch, I also needed to rest. Just because I felt fine didn’t mean my body had fully recovered from the aftereffects of lightning containment.

“I’ll ring you tomorrow to confirm a pickup time, then.”

“Perfect,” I said. “Sleep well.”

“As if I could,” he drawled, “given the overwhelming impact the mere act of speaking to you has on my libido.”

I laughed again. “I’m sure you’ve plenty of lovers in the wings more than willing to give your libido a hand.”

“A harem is of little use when there is only one your body aches for.”

His comment not only had all sorts of wanton images stirring but also enflamed the fires of wanting. And not by accident, I suspected. The man was a dark elf, after all, and they were well known for their sexual appetites.

“Oh, I bet that line has worked a treat for you over the years,” I said, deliberately keeping my voice light.

“Given it’s not something I’ve ever said before, I wouldn’t know. Sleep well, dear Bethany.”

With those oh-so-sexily said words ringing in my ears, he hung up.

Ensuring that I didn’t, in fact, sleep well.

The minute I jumped into the car, Lugh handed me a coffee and a paper bag containing an egg and cheese McMuffin and a couple of hash browns. “Thought I’d save some time.”