Page 68 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
Another No-Pants Express rider frowned at Damian’s lack of showing skin. “Dude, rule number one. No pants. If you’re gonna ride, you gotta drop your drawers with pride.”
A low, rolling growl slid from Damian’s chest as he turned toward the hipster, his eyes definitely flashing bright gold. “I’m not taking off my pants.”
Rose grinned. “Itisrule number one.”
He glared at her. “Not happening.”
“Then this is where we say goodbye. I’ll call you later, and maybe we can have that talk.”
The train squealed to a quick stop and she hiked her bag higher on her shoulder, preparing to make the mad dash into the car.
“No way am I letting you ride the subway in your fucking underwear. Alone.”
“I’m not alone. I have all these people.” She glanced to the guy waiting next to them. “And I have… I’m sorry, what’s your name?”
“Greyson.” Grinning, the guy held out his hand.
She shook it. “And I have Greyson here, who seems like a great traveling companion.”
“I’m the best.”
Damian glowered and for a brief, hot second, Rose thought she’d won. Grinning triumphantly, she waited for the train doors to open when Damian’s rambling mumbles turned her to watch him reaching for his pants.
“What are you doing?” Rose couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Giving thanks I washed my damn underwear last night.”
She couldn’t tear her eyes away as he pushed his jeans down… and then she couldn’t contain her laughter. Tears sprang to her eyes as she tried sucking in oxygen—and failed.
Puppy faces, wearing oversized sunglasses, and interspersed with thick, puffy clouds and smiling cartoon suns, decorated Damian’s colorful boxers.
“You think this is funny?” Damian demanded.
She nodded, unable to contain her giggles. “Immensely.”
“Nowcan we talk?”
“Sure.” The train doors opened, and the crowd instantly moved, Rose included. “But you better move fast.”
Never in a million years would Damian have guessed he’d reach this level of desperation, and yet there he was, following a pantslesswoman into a crowded NYC subway car with people who were as equally without clothes on the lower half of their body.
Himself included.
At some point, he’d lost all control of the situation—if he even had it to begin with.
Ignoring the amused glances of the people around them, he followed Rose into the train, happy she did exactly as she’d said, and went to the nearest support pole instead of plopping into a seat.
Damian shifted, blocking the view of her body from as many eyes as possible as he leaned in, dropping his voice for her ears only. “Look, I don’t know what Jules was thinking putting the Hunting idea into your head, but I’m here to yank it right back out. You have no idea what you’d be getting yourself into.”
Her eyes damn near glowed as she drilled him with a hard glare, and damn if he didn’t feel the sharp edge of Magic crackling the air around them. A few of the other commuters must have felt it as well because heads turned their way.
Rose bristled. “Because a woman like me couldn’t possibly understand anything other than the proper way to smile and wave without throwing out my wrist?”
“Whoa. No. Don’t put words in my mouth. You know what I mean.”
“Do I though?” She lifted her chin and turned, facing him from the other side of the pole. “You don’t think it’s a good idea. And you don’t think I’d be any good at it—”
“Again putting words into my mouth,” Damian cut her off.
