Belladonna

too long or too hard about why Glorianna might be primping. If primping was, indeed, the reason she'd asked Sebastian for the key to his room in the bordello.
    Primping was good, wasn't it? It meant a woman wanted to attract a man. Or arouse a man. Or ... Maybe he should borrow the room key and do a little primping himself if ... He looked into Sebastian's eyes and knew it was really time to think about something besides primping and Glorianna and what could be done behind locked doors in a bordello.
    So he focused on Teaser, who seemed to be having some kind of "discussion" with Lynnea.
    "What's he doing?" Michael asked, raising his chin to indicate the pair, who looked like they were going to start throwing more than words at any moment.
    Sebastian glanced at his wife and friend. "He's learning how to be more human."
    Michael cocked his head but he was only catching the tone and not the actual words. "Sounds like a cranky older brother to me."
    Sebastian gave him a bland look. "He's learning how to be human." He waited until Michael was swallowing a mouthful of ale before adding, "He's using you as a role model."
    "Ripe bastard," Michael said when he stopped choking.
    Sebastian bared his teeth in an insincere smile. Then his expression froze. His eyes heated. He pushed back his chair — and Lee dropped into the other chair at the table and said, "Mother says if you do the stupid thing you're thinking of doing, you will have to apologize three times to every woman in our family — and the apologies will include flowers, candy, and groveling —
    before there is even a chance of you being forgiven."
    "But ..." A noise rumbled up from Sebastian's chest that didn't sound remotely human. "Did she explain —"
    "She's my mother and your auntie," Lee said. "She doesn't need to explain anything."
    Since Sebastian looked ready to choke, Michael focused on the street to figure out what had caused that reaction. All he saw was Glorianna.
    All he saw was Glorianna.
    A dark skirt and a dark jacket with embroidery at the neckline and cuffs. A light shirt. Her hair up in a simple knot. Lovely to look at on the surface. But under the lady-attending-a-luncheon clothes, she moved as Woman. Potent. Primal. Sexual.
    "Lady's mercy," he whispered. Then he looked beyond her, though it pained him to take his eyes off her as she crossed the street and moved toward him — and saw what had set Sebastian on edge.
    Saw the difference between human men and incubi.
    The human men, coming to the Den for something more tasty than the women they knew, glanced at Glorianna and looked away, seeing someone too much like them to be of interest. The incubi stopped in their tracks, entranced by the prey. This was the kind of woman whose emotions and desires would be a feast for them, whether they were dream lovers or physical lovers.
    Then she got to the edge of the courtyard and looked back at them, and they realized who — and that — she was. All of them scurried away, nervous now about showing interest in Belladonna, who might not find their interest appealing.
    "What's wrong with them?" Glorianna asked, turning back to the table. The tiny frown line between her eyes deepened as she studied Sebastian. "What's wrong with you?"
    "He swallowed something that didn't agree with him," Michael said, keeping his face bland but letting his voice ring with amusement. Which was a fine bit of work since just looking at her stirred up a messy stew of wants and needs that were neither bland nor amusing.
    "Watch your step, Magician," Sebastian growled. "We paid the Merry Makers two goats for you, which is something we can rectify by giving you back to be the second course."
    "Sebastian," Glorianna sounded shocked.
    Lee popped out of his chair, slipped an arm around her waist, and herded her away from the table. "Philo set up some food inside. Thought we'd prefer to keep this discussion private. Let's round up the others."
    Michael pushed his chair back, intending to follow Glorianna and Lee.
    "Sit," Sebastian said quietly, watching the others head for the indoor dining room.
    "But ..." Michael said.
    "Sit."
    Teaser, being the last one to reach the door, glanced back at them. Before Michael could decide if he was or wasn't going to ignore the command, he was helped to his feet by Sebastian grabbing a fistful of his shirt and hauling him up.
    "Not here," Sebastian said, the threat in no way softened by the fact that it was said quietly. Especially when Michael