Chapter Two: Magnus
Brooklyn, New York
I can still hear the pounding of the music in my ears as the water runs down my body. My legs move of their own accord, unwilling to accept that the party is over. Sometimes it takes my body a little while to catch up to my brain –a trait that's been known to get me in trouble. The lights still flash behind my eyelids, along with images of the half-naked bodies that were moving together in my loft. The place will be a bitch to clean tomorrow, but hey, nobody can say that my parties aren't the best.
When the last traces of glitter have disappeared down the drain, I hop out of the shower and grab my moisturizer. What I really want is to get back to bed, but no one's face stays like this without a little extra primping.
When the routine's done, I dance through the rest of the apartment, flicking off lights with my legs and hands like some sort of drunken ballerina. There's a shot of tequila on the kitchen table – a body shot that was forgotten in the wake of Adam Lambert-induced giddiness. I did miss out on a delectable set of abs, but we make sacrifices for the things we love.
I'm ready to drop my towel and get into bed when I hear a smacking of lips. A shaggy blonde head pops up from beneath my duvet. "You smell delicious," the guy – Darren? Darrell? – purrs. He slides out – still naked – and makes his way over.
I evade his outstretched arms, and wrap the towel a little more tightly. I so do not want to deal with this right now. My shower was at least forty minutes long – certainly long enough that he shouldn't still be here.
He grins, and reaches his hand out to grab the towel. "Don't be a tease Magnus. You can't come out here looking like that and not expect me to be up for round two. My second wind might surprise you."
I try to smother my snort, but it doesn't quite work. Darwin looks a little miffed, but it's not my fault that he couldn't follow simple instructions. I grab his clothes from the foot of the bed and toss them to him.
"I wasn't joking when I told you to make sure you didn't let my cat out when you left."
His smile falters a little, but he still thinks I'm joking. I look up and down his body: blonde hair; green eyes; tanned, muscular skin, and feel none of the attraction I had an hour ago. I just want him out so I can get some sleep.
"My friends took my coat – I don't even have a cell. Plus, the night's too cold for you to be stuck in that big bed all by yourself. I can be exactly the kind of company you need."
"Uh, Duncan?"
"Daniel," he corrects me, his voice a little harsher now.
"Daniel," I amend. "If you were looking for a boyfriend, you came to the wrong party." I grab my cell from the table and toss it over to him. "Call your friends or a cab, and feel free to wait inside until it gets here. But just so we're clear, there's no sleeping in my house, and there's no round two."
He doesn't answer, just pulls up his pants in awkward silence. This always happens. I give them a chance to get out with their dignity intact, but they always insist on staying. You'd think I could pick up a vibe or something, some kind of signal to let me know which ones are needy. But no, I am constantly surprised by people's need to ruin a night of perfectly good fun with excessive whining.
Daniel opts to wait outside for the cab. Oh well, people do foolish things all the time, and there's nothing I can do about any of them. It's not like I can snap my fingers and *poof* he's sent home. I see a flash of black and white dart toward the front door as it's falling shut, but I reach out and scoop Chairman Meow up before he can escape.
"You stupid fur ball," I coo, burying my face in his fur. "Don't you know it's too cold for me to be stuck in that big bed all by myself?"
