Chapter One
As you are, for all of time
To taste neither love nor death
When you find the one worth more than life
She’ll draw her last mortal breath
Eli dropped his phone back into its cradle, and rubbed his face in exhaustion. He could call the shipping company all day long, and still get nowhere. It wouldn’t matter how many people he reamed for the critical-but-delayed, package. He’d still wouldn’t get it today.
His brother’s voice drifted in from the outer office, and he growled. Loki was the last thing Eli needed. Especially Loki’s jokes, with sexual harassment written all over them. Sometimes Eli wondered how that man actually owned his own company.
“And she says ‘…isn’t choking hazard the warning label they put on tiny objects?’” Loki’s laughter floated through the office.
The laugh that joined in—pleasant but sarcastic—made Eli pinch the bridge of his nose. It was the best way he’d found to suppress any other reaction. For instance, the way his imagination careened out of control and his cock sprung to life when he heard Marley’s voice.
“I bet that ruined your plans for the night.” She must be back at her desk.
“Not really. I have other talents.” The confidence in Loki’s voice never wavered.
Eli stood and made his way into the main office. He needed to talk to her anyway. Kicking Loki out of the office was just an added benefit.
The bad jokes and innuendo continued as Eli crossed the short distance to Marley’s desk. With the four-foot high cubicles, it was easy to see what most of the people in the room were up to. Or at least, if they had their attention on their computers. Most of his people had their heads down, headsets on, to take support calls. Marley didn’t work the help desk, though. She fixed the issues that couldn’t be resolved with a simple phone call.
For instance, it looked like her current task was to keep Loki busy. Or maybe it was the other way around. Marley leaned back with her hands on the arms of the chair. The posture accentuated the way her T-shirt hugged her breasts. She shook her head, attention still focused on the man standing next to her.
Loki looked up. The corner of his mouth pulled into a smirk when he saw Eli. His gaze shifted back to Marley in an instant, and he leaned on the cubicle wall, closing the distance between her and himself.
Her full lips twisted in disbelief. Her voice didn’t carry as far, but the subtle sarcasm was enough to reach Eli’s ears. “Lucky her. I guess that’s why they say, ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t, make up euphemisms about why size doesn’t matter.’”
Eli should tell her to get back to work. Over the centuries, he’d watched his brother destroy countless lives, both literally and figuratively. Loki had never hesitated to kill, maim, or render someone psychologically crippled, if it suited his purposes.
Eli definitely saw the appeal in Marley. With full breasts, round hips, and a narrow waist, she haunted plenty of his fantasies. The way her plump lips pursed when she was annoyed and curved when she smiled short-circuited his thoughts. Her sense of humor and intelligence, though—the sharp wit and ability to think through anything—were what drew her to him the most. And made her far too independent, compared to the women his brother usually preferred.
Eli had gotten used to a lot of things in his long life. That people actually knew who Loki was, where very few even realized he had brothers. That Eli had needed to shorten his name—Byleist—to something easier for modern tongues to wrap their brains around.
But Loki’s repeated attempts to hit on Marley still set Eli on edge. Eli didn’t seen himself getting over that any time soon.
Loki didn’t flinch at her slight. “You’re good. I almost bought that. Have dinner with me.”
Marley’s, “Seriously. Again?” echoed Eli’s thoughts perfectly.
Loki moved around the cubicle wall, and his leg brushed
As you are, for all of time
To taste neither love nor death
When you find the one worth more than life
She’ll draw her last mortal breath
Eli dropped his phone back into its cradle, and rubbed his face in exhaustion. He could call the shipping company all day long, and still get nowhere. It wouldn’t matter how many people he reamed for the critical-but-delayed, package. He’d still wouldn’t get it today.
His brother’s voice drifted in from the outer office, and he growled. Loki was the last thing Eli needed. Especially Loki’s jokes, with sexual harassment written all over them. Sometimes Eli wondered how that man actually owned his own company.
“And she says ‘…isn’t choking hazard the warning label they put on tiny objects?’” Loki’s laughter floated through the office.
The laugh that joined in—pleasant but sarcastic—made Eli pinch the bridge of his nose. It was the best way he’d found to suppress any other reaction. For instance, the way his imagination careened out of control and his cock sprung to life when he heard Marley’s voice.
“I bet that ruined your plans for the night.” She must be back at her desk.
“Not really. I have other talents.” The confidence in Loki’s voice never wavered.
Eli stood and made his way into the main office. He needed to talk to her anyway. Kicking Loki out of the office was just an added benefit.
The bad jokes and innuendo continued as Eli crossed the short distance to Marley’s desk. With the four-foot high cubicles, it was easy to see what most of the people in the room were up to. Or at least, if they had their attention on their computers. Most of his people had their heads down, headsets on, to take support calls. Marley didn’t work the help desk, though. She fixed the issues that couldn’t be resolved with a simple phone call.
For instance, it looked like her current task was to keep Loki busy. Or maybe it was the other way around. Marley leaned back with her hands on the arms of the chair. The posture accentuated the way her T-shirt hugged her breasts. She shook her head, attention still focused on the man standing next to her.
Loki looked up. The corner of his mouth pulled into a smirk when he saw Eli. His gaze shifted back to Marley in an instant, and he leaned on the cubicle wall, closing the distance between her and himself.
Her full lips twisted in disbelief. Her voice didn’t carry as far, but the subtle sarcasm was enough to reach Eli’s ears. “Lucky her. I guess that’s why they say, ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t, make up euphemisms about why size doesn’t matter.’”
Eli should tell her to get back to work. Over the centuries, he’d watched his brother destroy countless lives, both literally and figuratively. Loki had never hesitated to kill, maim, or render someone psychologically crippled, if it suited his purposes.
Eli definitely saw the appeal in Marley. With full breasts, round hips, and a narrow waist, she haunted plenty of his fantasies. The way her plump lips pursed when she was annoyed and curved when she smiled short-circuited his thoughts. Her sense of humor and intelligence, though—the sharp wit and ability to think through anything—were what drew her to him the most. And made her far too independent, compared to the women his brother usually preferred.
Eli had gotten used to a lot of things in his long life. That people actually knew who Loki was, where very few even realized he had brothers. That Eli had needed to shorten his name—Byleist—to something easier for modern tongues to wrap their brains around.
But Loki’s repeated attempts to hit on Marley still set Eli on edge. Eli didn’t seen himself getting over that any time soon.
Loki didn’t flinch at her slight. “You’re good. I almost bought that. Have dinner with me.”
Marley’s, “Seriously. Again?” echoed Eli’s thoughts perfectly.
Loki moved around the cubicle wall, and his leg brushed
Similar Books
