Chapter 10: Chemistry
So here is chapter 10 of this. I am very sorry it took me so long; I had a really hard time with it for some reason and kept getting distracted and writing other things (2 request fics (1 Fire Emblem and 1 Xenosaga) and a story for my 
30_lemons claim, if you are curious).
Chapter Title: Chemistry
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Pairings: Rhys/Titania, Oscar/Kieran
Other characters: Boyd, Rolf, Mia
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Mostly smut, but some character and relationship development in here, too.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Fire Emblem or these characters.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Rhys smiled as he watched Ike walk towards his tent determinedly. It was good to see him looking reassured and he felt confident that his argument with Soren was over, even though they had yet to really talk. He doubted either would stay angry any longer; they were too much in love right now to hold a grudge, at least over a simple misunderstanding like this.
In a good mood due to his success, he walked back towards the fire. When he saw Kieran still sitting there, he raised an eyebrow at him and then glanced significantly at Oscar, who appeared to be teasing Boyd about something. Kieran sighed and nodded and he felt inordinately pleased with himself as he watched him go speak to him. Maybe he shouldn't feel so optimistic, but right now it felt as though everything were working out. They were winning the war and his friends were happy. He was even feeling pretty well himself tonight despite being tired, which was uncommon enough that he was grateful for it.
He was also grateful for the strong hands that settled on his shoulders, kneading the stiff muscles. “You let everyone rely on you too much,” Titania said as she rubbed his back and neck. “Let them settle their personal difficulties themselves sometimes. It will be good for them.”
Rhys let her massage him willingly, sighing as he felt some of the tension release. “I can't do that, at least not for all of it. I doubt you'd want to be around either of them if Ike and Soren continued to fight; none of us would. They would be miserable and would make all of us miserable as well. Nor can we afford for them to not be speaking to each other, not right now.”
“I suppose that's true,” she admitted. “Soren especially is a pain when he's angry.” She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, teasingly. “But I think the real truth is that you just can't say no when someone asks you for help.”
He laughed. “I suppose that is probably true, too. I hate to see anyone in pain and if they ask me to help, I feel obliged to at least try.”
“Well, I think you've probably done enough for one day.” She hauled him to his feet as though he were weightless, reminding Rhys that she could pick him up completely just as easily. Not that he was afraid of her and she certainly never forced him to do anything, but it was an uncomfortable reminder of his own weakness at times.
But it was reassuring, too, he thought as he followed her into their tent, shivering a little at the cold as they left the fire behind. Titania made him feel safe and gave of her strength so freely that it was almost as though it were his own at times. And weak as he was, she valued him and felt he had something to contribute.
Rhys had his doubts, which was part of why he was always so willing to give advice or comfort. That was something even he could do and he wanted so badly to be useful. Ike was so soft-hearted and intent on making the mercenary company into a family that he would never say anything even if Rhys really were more of a burden than an asset. So it was up to him to make sure that it was never true.
“Not only do you do too much, you worry too much, too,” Titania said firmly, wrapping her arms around him. “And you're freezing! You wouldn't get sick so much if you spent half the energy you expend worrying about others on yourself.”
“You,” Rhys replied, “hardly have room to criticize about worrying too much.” He turned in her arms and kissed her, loving how warm she felt against him.
She laughed, and rested her forehead against his, green eyes gazing deeply into red ones. “True,” she said, but it sounded as if she meant something else, something deeper. “I can't help worrying about you, though.” This time she kissed him, her lips warm and soft, the inside of her mouth and her tongue even warmer.
His knees feeling weak, Rhys sat down on the bedding rather suddenly. Titania followed him gracefully, her arm still around his waist. “I don't think,” he said, a bit breathlessly, “that you only worry about me.” He kissed her again before she could answer, more seriously now, sliding his hands under her shirt.
Titania shivered and pulled away slightly. “Your hands are cold,” she murmured apologetically as she scooted under the blankets and reached to pull him under with her. “I don't know how you manage to get so cold when you wear so many clothes,” she commented as she removed his sash and outer robe and dropped them to the floor.
“Lucky I have you to keep me warm, then, isn't it?” he asked and pulled her on top of him, kissing her as his hands caressed her over her clothes.
At last she conceded that his hands might be warm enough now and took off her shirt, along with his under robe. “That's a little more like an acceptable amount of clothing,” she whispered, caressing his bare thighs gently.
Rhys moaned, spreading his legs in invitation as her hands moved to his inner thighs and slid higher. He still had trouble believing that this beautiful, amazing woman wanted him. He was nothing special: too weak, too delicate, unable to say no to people in need, while she... she was almost everything he was not.
He rolled them over, licking and sucking a nipple while his hand caressed her other breast. Her fingernails scraped his sides lightly as she gasped in pleasure and he shivered.
Did she love him? He didn't know, not really, but he hoped she did. He was certain that he loved and admired her. Not only was she strong and beautiful, she was also nearly as soft-hearted as he, although she didn't like to admit to it. She could be difficult: moody and overprotective, but ultimately the good outweighed the bad by so much that he was amazed he didn't have more rivals for her affections.
She squirmed underneath him, and he moved to let her take off her pants, watching the movement of her hips with desire as she slid them off and kicked them to the bottom of the bed. Titania was so graceful in everything she did; he always enjoyed watching her move. Not even her heavy armor could completely hide it, at least not from him.
He wet a finger and stroked her clitoris lightly with it, listening to her moan and continuing to watch her, her eyes closed and head thrown back, feeling her hips move as she tries to make him touch her more and stop teasing. At least he can give her this and maybe it's enough. Enough to repay her for all she did for him; enough to make him feel like a man Titania could maybe love.
Rhys loved the cries she made, the way she thrust into his mouth, the way she tasted. He loved to watch her body shudder in the throes of orgasm; enjoyed continuing until she cried out his name. Giving, after all, was his nature and the only thing he was really good at.
Tonight, though, it seemed she wasn't willing to accept that. She stopped him, pulled him up into a kiss, then pinned him beneath her. “You always give, Rhys,” she said, her voice soft in both tone and volume. “You should learn to take more often. I know you have needs, too, and you shouldn't be ashamed of them.” She silenced his automatic protest with a kiss, sliding her hands over his body seductively. “Shhh,” she whispered. “It's my turn now.”
* * *
Kieran couldn't believe he was doing this. He'd been crazy about Oscar since, well, since he'd met him when they were both knights, really, although at the time he had mistaken the feeling for competitiveness. And maybe things would have even worked out between them then, had Oscar not left. He liked to think so, at least.
Now, however, it had been years and the whole thing was awkward. He really had no idea what Oscar thought of him. He seemed friendly, but then he was friendly with everyone, so it might mean anything or nothing at all.
As Rhys had pointed out, watching and wondering wasn't getting him anywhere. Nothing to do but go and ask. And hope no one would notice he was hurt if he were turned down.
He planted himself by Oscar determinedly. “Oscar! I, Fifth Platoon Captain Kieran, have something I must ask you!”
Oscar raised an eyebrow at him and he thought that he saw right through him: knew that Kieran always emphasized his rank because his identity as a Crimean knight was all that gave him a sense of worth. Most people never saw through his facade of arrogance, but he thought Oscar always had. At one time, it had made him angry. Now, he thought he loved him for it.
“I must insist that we talk away from these others.” His voice was bold, giving no hint of his uncertainty. But then he was good at that. A knight had to be able to sound bold and unafraid even when facing certain death! This couldn't be worse than that. Could it?
“Sure,” Oscar agreed, easily enough. He seemed relaxed and untroubled as always. Kieran wondered if Oscar suspected what he would ask.
“I'm beginning to think Oscar is going to have private conversations with half the army by the time this night is over,” Boyd complained. “Are you planning to take up a new occupation as the company sex counselor or something?” He was completely oblivious to Kieran's glares. But it wasn't like anyone really listened to Boyd anyway.
Kieran led Oscar to his tent, tied the flap shut and sat on the bedding, glad that all these tasks meant he wasn't looking at him. It made his nervousness easier to hide. But now he had no excuses left. He wracked his brain for the perfect thing to say.
“'Ne'er have my eyes beheld one so fair...' Damn it, I forget the rest!” Kieran sighed. And it had seemed such a good idea, too! “What I mean to say is, you may be my rival and a mercenary, but I have come to realize I'm crazy about you. Please, say you feel the same!”
He eyed Oscar hopefully. His eyes were open wide for once, and he admired their beautiful green color while trying to read the expression in them. At least he had provoked a reaction! That was often difficult to do when it came to Oscar, so he regarded it as a positive sign.
“I'm... not sure how I feel,” Oscar said hesitantly. “I haven't really thought about it much.”
It was true, he hadn't. After the comments others had made to him about the way Kieran looked at him, Oscar had been expecting an offer of sex or a seduction attempt of some type. He was fine with that; it would be an enjoyable way to spend an evening and it wasn't as if Kieran were unattractive. But love... that was something different, something he wasn't sure he was ready for. He hadn't loved in a long time and when he had... he ruthlessly cut off his thoughts. He would not think of that now!
“Then give me a chance! I will win your heart!” Kieran was less certain about it than he sounded, but he told himself that this was not a bad response. Not equal to his fantasies, but much better than outright rejection. At least this way he had a chance!
Oscar hesitated again. He didn't love Kieran, at least not right now. But then truthfully, he hadn't known him that well to begin with and had no idea how the years apart had changed him. He didn't know that he could love him, but he didn't know that he couldn't either.
And he was lonely, even more so when he saw how in love Ike and Soren were, and being courted sounded nice. Not knowing someone well enough to love them wasn't the same thing as not being able to love them, after all. Surely it couldn't hurt to give it a try? Maybe he would fall in love with Kieran if he were given a chance to really get to know him.
“I – yes, let's try it. I don't want to be alone anymore, either.”
“You won't regret it!” Kieran bounced to his feet, then sat down again abruptly, leaned over, and kissed him. Surely kisses were a good start to a campaign intended to lead to true love! Not that he had that much experience kissing, really... but that shouldn't matter, right? It was fairly self-explanatory, after all.
“Mmm,” Oscar murmured when the kiss ended. “If that's what you had in mind, I am definitely in favor of it.” He kissed Kieran again and Kieran realized he clearly had much to learn about kissing. He felt hot, as if he were melting. But then there was no one he'd rather learn from... as long as no one else knew.
“No one should bother us here the rest of the night,” he whispered hopefully. “Unless your brothers will come looking for you?”
“They know better than that.” Oscar's lascivious smile took Kieran's breath away and the hands unfastening his pants drove out the last vestiges of thought that might have considered the implications of the statement.
“Oscar, wait,” he tried to say as Oscar seemed to be removing both their clothing far more quickly than he had anticipated. Kieran wanted this, of course he did, but it seemed to be moving way too fast and was completely out of his control. He didn't like it when things were out of his control.
“Isn't this what you wanted?” Oscar breathed and kissed him, long and hard.
By the end of the kiss, Kieran had decided that maybe he did like things being out of his control, or at least didn't mind it. Sometimes. And this was what he had wanted, even if he had planned to be the one doing the seducing.
“Yes,” he breathed in almost a moan and Oscar took it as permission to suck on his earlobe and slide a hand over his erect cock. And Goddess, but Kieran had really never expected this, never been prepared for it and the way he felt made him suddenly realize that he had expected to be turned down. He had wanted Oscar in his bed as he was in his fantasies, but he had never thought it would really happen. Now that it was, he wasn't sure what to do.
Luckily, Oscar seemed to have no such doubts. Kieran did his best to follow his example. And it wasn't like he didn't enjoy touching him, after all. Even though he felt confused and overwhelmed, it was still more than he had expected, better than he had expected. He was half-afraid this might be a dream and any minute now he was going to wake up. He didn't want to wake up.
* * *
Boyd sighed and shook his head at Rolf. “I suppose we shouldn't expect Oscar to come back tonight.”
“No, probably not.” Rolf seemed more amused than anything else, whereas Boyd felt envious and annoyed. He had to vent.
“At least with Ike, I knew he really was just going to talk. I mean, everyone knows Soren would kill him if he tried anything. But with anyone else...” He gave a disgusted sigh.
“Why do you care, Boyd?” Rolf asked curiously.
“I just don't see what's so irresistible about him, that's all. And what's wrong with the rest of us. Why is no one ever eager to get into my bed?”
Mia was walking by and happened to overhear. She stopped and gave him a grin. “You're just not charming enough, Boyd,” she said, punching him in the arm in a friendly sort of way. “Maybe you should ask your brother to give you lessons.”
Boyd scowled at her as she walked off into the dark, whistling cheerfully.
30_lemons claim, if you are curious).Chapter Title: Chemistry
Fandom: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Pairings: Rhys/Titania, Oscar/Kieran
Other characters: Boyd, Rolf, Mia
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Mostly smut, but some character and relationship development in here, too.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Fire Emblem or these characters.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Rhys smiled as he watched Ike walk towards his tent determinedly. It was good to see him looking reassured and he felt confident that his argument with Soren was over, even though they had yet to really talk. He doubted either would stay angry any longer; they were too much in love right now to hold a grudge, at least over a simple misunderstanding like this.
In a good mood due to his success, he walked back towards the fire. When he saw Kieran still sitting there, he raised an eyebrow at him and then glanced significantly at Oscar, who appeared to be teasing Boyd about something. Kieran sighed and nodded and he felt inordinately pleased with himself as he watched him go speak to him. Maybe he shouldn't feel so optimistic, but right now it felt as though everything were working out. They were winning the war and his friends were happy. He was even feeling pretty well himself tonight despite being tired, which was uncommon enough that he was grateful for it.
He was also grateful for the strong hands that settled on his shoulders, kneading the stiff muscles. “You let everyone rely on you too much,” Titania said as she rubbed his back and neck. “Let them settle their personal difficulties themselves sometimes. It will be good for them.”
Rhys let her massage him willingly, sighing as he felt some of the tension release. “I can't do that, at least not for all of it. I doubt you'd want to be around either of them if Ike and Soren continued to fight; none of us would. They would be miserable and would make all of us miserable as well. Nor can we afford for them to not be speaking to each other, not right now.”
“I suppose that's true,” she admitted. “Soren especially is a pain when he's angry.” She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, teasingly. “But I think the real truth is that you just can't say no when someone asks you for help.”
He laughed. “I suppose that is probably true, too. I hate to see anyone in pain and if they ask me to help, I feel obliged to at least try.”
“Well, I think you've probably done enough for one day.” She hauled him to his feet as though he were weightless, reminding Rhys that she could pick him up completely just as easily. Not that he was afraid of her and she certainly never forced him to do anything, but it was an uncomfortable reminder of his own weakness at times.
But it was reassuring, too, he thought as he followed her into their tent, shivering a little at the cold as they left the fire behind. Titania made him feel safe and gave of her strength so freely that it was almost as though it were his own at times. And weak as he was, she valued him and felt he had something to contribute.
Rhys had his doubts, which was part of why he was always so willing to give advice or comfort. That was something even he could do and he wanted so badly to be useful. Ike was so soft-hearted and intent on making the mercenary company into a family that he would never say anything even if Rhys really were more of a burden than an asset. So it was up to him to make sure that it was never true.
“Not only do you do too much, you worry too much, too,” Titania said firmly, wrapping her arms around him. “And you're freezing! You wouldn't get sick so much if you spent half the energy you expend worrying about others on yourself.”
“You,” Rhys replied, “hardly have room to criticize about worrying too much.” He turned in her arms and kissed her, loving how warm she felt against him.
She laughed, and rested her forehead against his, green eyes gazing deeply into red ones. “True,” she said, but it sounded as if she meant something else, something deeper. “I can't help worrying about you, though.” This time she kissed him, her lips warm and soft, the inside of her mouth and her tongue even warmer.
His knees feeling weak, Rhys sat down on the bedding rather suddenly. Titania followed him gracefully, her arm still around his waist. “I don't think,” he said, a bit breathlessly, “that you only worry about me.” He kissed her again before she could answer, more seriously now, sliding his hands under her shirt.
Titania shivered and pulled away slightly. “Your hands are cold,” she murmured apologetically as she scooted under the blankets and reached to pull him under with her. “I don't know how you manage to get so cold when you wear so many clothes,” she commented as she removed his sash and outer robe and dropped them to the floor.
“Lucky I have you to keep me warm, then, isn't it?” he asked and pulled her on top of him, kissing her as his hands caressed her over her clothes.
At last she conceded that his hands might be warm enough now and took off her shirt, along with his under robe. “That's a little more like an acceptable amount of clothing,” she whispered, caressing his bare thighs gently.
Rhys moaned, spreading his legs in invitation as her hands moved to his inner thighs and slid higher. He still had trouble believing that this beautiful, amazing woman wanted him. He was nothing special: too weak, too delicate, unable to say no to people in need, while she... she was almost everything he was not.
He rolled them over, licking and sucking a nipple while his hand caressed her other breast. Her fingernails scraped his sides lightly as she gasped in pleasure and he shivered.
Did she love him? He didn't know, not really, but he hoped she did. He was certain that he loved and admired her. Not only was she strong and beautiful, she was also nearly as soft-hearted as he, although she didn't like to admit to it. She could be difficult: moody and overprotective, but ultimately the good outweighed the bad by so much that he was amazed he didn't have more rivals for her affections.
She squirmed underneath him, and he moved to let her take off her pants, watching the movement of her hips with desire as she slid them off and kicked them to the bottom of the bed. Titania was so graceful in everything she did; he always enjoyed watching her move. Not even her heavy armor could completely hide it, at least not from him.
He wet a finger and stroked her clitoris lightly with it, listening to her moan and continuing to watch her, her eyes closed and head thrown back, feeling her hips move as she tries to make him touch her more and stop teasing. At least he can give her this and maybe it's enough. Enough to repay her for all she did for him; enough to make him feel like a man Titania could maybe love.
Rhys loved the cries she made, the way she thrust into his mouth, the way she tasted. He loved to watch her body shudder in the throes of orgasm; enjoyed continuing until she cried out his name. Giving, after all, was his nature and the only thing he was really good at.
Tonight, though, it seemed she wasn't willing to accept that. She stopped him, pulled him up into a kiss, then pinned him beneath her. “You always give, Rhys,” she said, her voice soft in both tone and volume. “You should learn to take more often. I know you have needs, too, and you shouldn't be ashamed of them.” She silenced his automatic protest with a kiss, sliding her hands over his body seductively. “Shhh,” she whispered. “It's my turn now.”
* * *
Kieran couldn't believe he was doing this. He'd been crazy about Oscar since, well, since he'd met him when they were both knights, really, although at the time he had mistaken the feeling for competitiveness. And maybe things would have even worked out between them then, had Oscar not left. He liked to think so, at least.
Now, however, it had been years and the whole thing was awkward. He really had no idea what Oscar thought of him. He seemed friendly, but then he was friendly with everyone, so it might mean anything or nothing at all.
As Rhys had pointed out, watching and wondering wasn't getting him anywhere. Nothing to do but go and ask. And hope no one would notice he was hurt if he were turned down.
He planted himself by Oscar determinedly. “Oscar! I, Fifth Platoon Captain Kieran, have something I must ask you!”
Oscar raised an eyebrow at him and he thought that he saw right through him: knew that Kieran always emphasized his rank because his identity as a Crimean knight was all that gave him a sense of worth. Most people never saw through his facade of arrogance, but he thought Oscar always had. At one time, it had made him angry. Now, he thought he loved him for it.
“I must insist that we talk away from these others.” His voice was bold, giving no hint of his uncertainty. But then he was good at that. A knight had to be able to sound bold and unafraid even when facing certain death! This couldn't be worse than that. Could it?
“Sure,” Oscar agreed, easily enough. He seemed relaxed and untroubled as always. Kieran wondered if Oscar suspected what he would ask.
“I'm beginning to think Oscar is going to have private conversations with half the army by the time this night is over,” Boyd complained. “Are you planning to take up a new occupation as the company sex counselor or something?” He was completely oblivious to Kieran's glares. But it wasn't like anyone really listened to Boyd anyway.
Kieran led Oscar to his tent, tied the flap shut and sat on the bedding, glad that all these tasks meant he wasn't looking at him. It made his nervousness easier to hide. But now he had no excuses left. He wracked his brain for the perfect thing to say.
“'Ne'er have my eyes beheld one so fair...' Damn it, I forget the rest!” Kieran sighed. And it had seemed such a good idea, too! “What I mean to say is, you may be my rival and a mercenary, but I have come to realize I'm crazy about you. Please, say you feel the same!”
He eyed Oscar hopefully. His eyes were open wide for once, and he admired their beautiful green color while trying to read the expression in them. At least he had provoked a reaction! That was often difficult to do when it came to Oscar, so he regarded it as a positive sign.
“I'm... not sure how I feel,” Oscar said hesitantly. “I haven't really thought about it much.”
It was true, he hadn't. After the comments others had made to him about the way Kieran looked at him, Oscar had been expecting an offer of sex or a seduction attempt of some type. He was fine with that; it would be an enjoyable way to spend an evening and it wasn't as if Kieran were unattractive. But love... that was something different, something he wasn't sure he was ready for. He hadn't loved in a long time and when he had... he ruthlessly cut off his thoughts. He would not think of that now!
“Then give me a chance! I will win your heart!” Kieran was less certain about it than he sounded, but he told himself that this was not a bad response. Not equal to his fantasies, but much better than outright rejection. At least this way he had a chance!
Oscar hesitated again. He didn't love Kieran, at least not right now. But then truthfully, he hadn't known him that well to begin with and had no idea how the years apart had changed him. He didn't know that he could love him, but he didn't know that he couldn't either.
And he was lonely, even more so when he saw how in love Ike and Soren were, and being courted sounded nice. Not knowing someone well enough to love them wasn't the same thing as not being able to love them, after all. Surely it couldn't hurt to give it a try? Maybe he would fall in love with Kieran if he were given a chance to really get to know him.
“I – yes, let's try it. I don't want to be alone anymore, either.”
“You won't regret it!” Kieran bounced to his feet, then sat down again abruptly, leaned over, and kissed him. Surely kisses were a good start to a campaign intended to lead to true love! Not that he had that much experience kissing, really... but that shouldn't matter, right? It was fairly self-explanatory, after all.
“Mmm,” Oscar murmured when the kiss ended. “If that's what you had in mind, I am definitely in favor of it.” He kissed Kieran again and Kieran realized he clearly had much to learn about kissing. He felt hot, as if he were melting. But then there was no one he'd rather learn from... as long as no one else knew.
“No one should bother us here the rest of the night,” he whispered hopefully. “Unless your brothers will come looking for you?”
“They know better than that.” Oscar's lascivious smile took Kieran's breath away and the hands unfastening his pants drove out the last vestiges of thought that might have considered the implications of the statement.
“Oscar, wait,” he tried to say as Oscar seemed to be removing both their clothing far more quickly than he had anticipated. Kieran wanted this, of course he did, but it seemed to be moving way too fast and was completely out of his control. He didn't like it when things were out of his control.
“Isn't this what you wanted?” Oscar breathed and kissed him, long and hard.
By the end of the kiss, Kieran had decided that maybe he did like things being out of his control, or at least didn't mind it. Sometimes. And this was what he had wanted, even if he had planned to be the one doing the seducing.
“Yes,” he breathed in almost a moan and Oscar took it as permission to suck on his earlobe and slide a hand over his erect cock. And Goddess, but Kieran had really never expected this, never been prepared for it and the way he felt made him suddenly realize that he had expected to be turned down. He had wanted Oscar in his bed as he was in his fantasies, but he had never thought it would really happen. Now that it was, he wasn't sure what to do.
Luckily, Oscar seemed to have no such doubts. Kieran did his best to follow his example. And it wasn't like he didn't enjoy touching him, after all. Even though he felt confused and overwhelmed, it was still more than he had expected, better than he had expected. He was half-afraid this might be a dream and any minute now he was going to wake up. He didn't want to wake up.
* * *
Boyd sighed and shook his head at Rolf. “I suppose we shouldn't expect Oscar to come back tonight.”
“No, probably not.” Rolf seemed more amused than anything else, whereas Boyd felt envious and annoyed. He had to vent.
“At least with Ike, I knew he really was just going to talk. I mean, everyone knows Soren would kill him if he tried anything. But with anyone else...” He gave a disgusted sigh.
“Why do you care, Boyd?” Rolf asked curiously.
“I just don't see what's so irresistible about him, that's all. And what's wrong with the rest of us. Why is no one ever eager to get into my bed?”
Mia was walking by and happened to overhear. She stopped and gave him a grin. “You're just not charming enough, Boyd,” she said, punching him in the arm in a friendly sort of way. “Maybe you should ask your brother to give you lessons.”
Boyd scowled at her as she walked off into the dark, whistling cheerfully.