Nat pushed those thoughts away, too.
“Let’s drop the subject. Are you almost done with lunch?” Duke looked at the remaining food. “If you are, we’ll head back soon. I’ll go in and ask Lector how much more time he needs to finish that outfit.”
Nat only relaxed when Duke had disappeared into the shop. As far as he knew, demons didn’t have an enhanced range of hearing, not like dragons, wolves, or shapeshifters.
He gave Wanda a belly rub. She babbled at him for cuddles; Nat stuffed Duke’s cookie into his mouth and scooped her into his arms.
“Gosh, hon. I hope I don’t get fired on my first day. That would really suck.”
She blew a spit bubble and smiled, looking so at ease that Nat felt himself relaxing, too.
Duke was back at the car a minute later. “He has an outfit ready for you.”
Nat frowned. “No one can sew that fast!”
“He probably invoked the Sentient Sewing Machine of Doom. I’m not going to ask. C’mon.”
Nat strapped Wanda into her portable car seat and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Yeah, yeah, I’m not leaving you in the car. I need my emotional support baby.”
Duke coughed lightly. “She’s not an animal.”
“Of course not! She supports me emotionally by being herself. A baby.”
“Until she turns into a little terror,” Duke said dryly.
“She’s perfect,” Nat protested.
Duke rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he hauled Wanda’s car seat along.
* * *
Nat struggledout of his clothes. The buttons were too tiny on his oversized shirt, and he couldn’t slide off his pants because they weren’t elastic.
With his missing fingers, this meant that he took a longer time to strip—time that was supposed to be Duke’s lunch hour.
He almost asked Duke for help.
But Duke hadn’t agreed to sex, or even just touching Nat, so Nat bit his tongue and wriggled until he’d gotten the clothes off.
When he looked over, he found Duke watching him, his eyes dark. Contemplative.
As though he might be reconsidering the no-sex thing.
Nat gulped and ducked his head.
“Here you go.” Lector handed over a folded shirt and pants. “These have been adjusted according to your measurements. I’ve switched out the plastic buttons for snaps.”
That sounded like a time-consuming process.
“How?” Nat couldn’t help asking. “Do you have a sentient sewing machine helping you?”
Lector gave a mysterious smile. “I have my ways.”
Over his shoulder, Duke mouthed,Sentient Sewing Machine of Doom.
Nat stifled a giggle. He stepped awkwardly into his pants; it was easier to work this set of zipper and button somehow; he wasn’t sure if Lector had done something special to them.
He gave a start of surprise when he realized just how snugly the pants fitted him.
