Chapter 5: Mind Sex

“Where were you?” It was Quinn and he sounded annoyed. “I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”

“I was working.” I smirked.

A pause. “Well? Do you have an answer?”

“If I say no?”

“The Dawn is desperate,” Quinn explained. “We’ll settle for whoever will do the job for us.”

“No one can get in the Darkreed Mansion without spirit guides,” I said, snide. “Or blood from one of the family members. Or, to the least, an invitation.

“True,” said Quinn. “But you’re not the only thief who has the goods.”

“Are you talking about Derek Pimentel?”

Although I was wondering how Derek could have gotten hold of Darkreed blood, I knew Derek was more than capable. He remains my toughest competitor. The competition wasn’t healthy, though. For all the times I weaseled him, Derek would kill me if he had the chance.

“Not Derek,” Quinn said. “Claudia.”

Claudia Sandoval was one of the most promising thieves in the Wiccean world. By my standards, an amateur. I once traded blows with her when we were both stealing a manuscript for our own respective clients. My client wanted the manuscript. Her client wanted to destroy it. Claudia’s witching skills weren’t exceptional, but she knew the most treacherous hexes. I made her eat dirt, though. Back then, she didn’t stand a chance against me. I’m not sure how much she has trained and improved since our little encounter. I listened to rumors about her exploits now and then. It’s part of the job, I guess. I have to know the competition, even if they were insubstantial. You know, just in case we crossed paths again. What Claudia had accomplished through the years was no cause for worry. Although, she did have something that neither Derek nor I did. She has a cunt. And she used it relentlessly.

“She slept with a Darkreed?” I asked Quinn. That’s the only possible way that Claudia could have acquired the blood. I let Quinn believe I had a vial of Darkreed blood in storage. He didn’t know all I needed to do is gash my own palm and I could enter the mansion unchallenged. Quinn was quiet. “My, my. That girl knows the stuff that matters,” I said with real admiration.

“So what’s your answer, Hail?” Quinn’s voice had the edge of impatience in it. Somehow, I thought aggravating him and making him lose his cool was kind of sexy.

“Is The Dawn paying her as much as they intend to pay me?” I knew the answer of course, but I pretended to be flabbergasted nonetheless.

“A little less than half,” admitted Quinn.

“Good, because I’d be insulted otherwise,” I cleared my throat. “Did you, uh, also offer yourself as part of the deal?”

The question made Quinn chuckle. An annoying little boyish laughter that men used, I’d imagine, when someone admired the size of their package.

“What’s so funny?”

“Claudia doesn’t need that prod, Hail,” said Quinn. “No pun intended.”

“Unless,” I bit my lip. I always loved to tease him, “you’re just using this as a reason to get into bed with me. Has it always been women, Quinn? Or have you entertained other thoughts.”

Quinn sighed. “Not that I don’t enjoy this thread of conversation, Hailen, but I really need an answer. Will you take the job or not?”

I considered the odds. On one hand, my grandmother. If she found out what I intended to do with the book, she would probably turn me into an amputee toad. On the other hand, The Dawn. If I failed, I probably have to kill myself before they do it themselves. But rising above these dangers is a true challenge. I would be lying if I said it didn’t tie a knot of perverted pleasure in my soul.

“I’m in, Quinn,” I answered. “But you don’t have to sleep with me.” What do you know? I still have residual morals or whatever you might call it.

“Are you saying that’s not the reason you’re accepting this contract?” It was Quinn’s turn to tease me.

“Don’t take it personally, big boy,” I told him. “If you’re going to sleep with me, I’d prefer if you did so on your own volition.”

Quinn laughed. “What makes you think it isn’t? You said it yourself. Maybe I needed the pretense of an excuse.”

“Sex needs no pretense, Quinn. If this was of your own choice, we’d be trashing my bed right about now,” I said. Ever since the mind-reading fiasco, Quinn has always known that I wanted him. The skill had been potion-induced, so Quinn didn’t have the power anymore. But he has always known. I hide it the best way I could, but his constant flirting was enough proof that my desire was still tangible. I know I said I hate being manipulated. But that really depends on who is doing the manipulating. The next time I spoke, I made it sound professional. “We have a job to do. You said you were going to assist me?”

“With whatever you need,” said Quinn. I could imagine him smiling.

He wasn’t going to make this easy. With how my job has taken over my life, I kind of welcomed it. Flirting is the most sex I was getting.