“First time?”

I glanced around the room, wishing my cheeks weren’t burning. “Is it that obvious?”

A low laugh escaped him, and he leaned in with a conspiratorial wink. “The brassiere straps kind of give you away.”

My lips formed a silent O. I shoved the straps back under the gown, feeling like I was in high school all over again, complete with the Barbie twins from hell and the humiliation of making an ass out of myself in front of a gorgeous guy. I finished off the water just for something to do. An awkward silence descended. I gave him a tight smile and then drummed my fingers on the table. He appeared far more comfortable than I did.

“What’s your name?” He picked a grape from the tray and placed it into his mouth.

The tongue curling over the grape and the lips that closed briefly around his finger made me forget the question. “Hmm?”

He laughed. “Your name? I’m assuming you have one.”

“Charlie. It’s Charlie.” I wondered if Hank was having better luck than me.

He held out his hand. “Aaron.”

On impulse, I slipped my hand into his. Immediately, a zing shot up my arm and sent my body humming, as though a switch had been turned on, making me feel more alive, more in tune somehow. A gasp flew through my lips, and I jerked my hand away, rubbing the tingling skin.

Aaron cocked his head, staring at me strangely. “Not a mage,” he said thoughtfully, trying to figure me out.

“No off-world anything,” I corrected, trying to shake off the weird sensation.

His brow furrowed, his demeanor changing from naked warlock to naked scholar. “No … there’s something. Are you in training?”

“Me. In training.” I gave a short laugh. “Yeah, the day Charbydon starts sprouting daisies is the day I’ll start crafting.” I held up my hands in a gesture of innocence. “No superpowers in this body.”

“You look familiar, too.”

Then it hit me, and I blurted out before I could stop myself, “You must know my sister, Bryn. She’s a member of your league.”

Damn, damn, damn!

God! Idiot, Charlie! I wanted to smack myself in the forehead, but instead I pinched the bridge of my nose, wanting to forget the whole thing, wanting to forget the entire day, in fact. I grabbed the wineglass and downed half. I’d just blown my cover.

“Ah. That’s it. I do know her,” Aaron was saying. I glanced over and saw his expression change briefly to chagrin before returning to its calm, slightly amused state. I raised my eyebrow in question. “Alas, she has no desire for the likes of me.”

“Poor you,” I said, fiddling with the wineglass, “I’m sure somehow you’ll cope.”

He shrugged, unable to argue with my prophetic words. “So, you’re the detective.”

The total imbecile, you mean. I never should’ve blurted out Bryn’s name. Just put me in a room with a gorgeous naked man and I lose every ounce of training I ever had.

Aaron’s gaze turned soft. He leaned in. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Right. This wasn’t a game. And if it was, I’d just lost big time.

“Really, Charlie,” he said.

Not that I truly believed him, but what else could I do but make the best of it? I faced him square-on. “Then you won’t mind answering a few questions.”

He sat back in the chair, stretched his legs out, and tucked his hands behind his head, displaying his nakedness in all its glory. “Shoot.”

Oh, boy. “Will you please sit up? How can I question you like that?” Amusement brightened his eyes, but he complied. I continued before I could think about the pose he’d just given me. “Who would you talk to if you wanted to get into Veritas?”

“Veritas?”

I lowered my voice. “I already know it exists, so you can cut the act. I want to know where they meet and when.”

Aaron finished off his water and waved a nymph over to refill the glass. Then he plucked a peach from the fruit basket and took a healthy bite. “I know of it, nothing more.”

“And what do you know about ash?”

“Is that what they’re calling it?”

“Yeah. You know anything about it?”

“Not a thing. I heard on the news it might be a virus of some kind.”

A groan escaped before I could help it. “No. It’s not a damned virus. It’s a narcotic, a drug.” I was getting tired of the media spin and the panic it was causing. Talk about responsible journalism. “Look, I know the drill in places like this. Spend enough money, and The Bath House will cater to anything and everything in its back rooms. Sex, drugs, you name it. Who would I see if I wanted to get a fix?”

“Maybe that’s true for some patrons,” he said slowly. “Not for me. Some of us do just come here to unwind.” He stared hard and unblinking at me until I acknowledged his statement. I dipped my head. “What goes on in the back rooms, I wouldn’t know. Neither would most you see here.”

“Fine. Good for you. But if you were into something like that, who would you talk to?”

“Zara, maybe. She’s head concierge here. Probably knows how to get whatever a client wants.”

I caught sight of Hank coming out of the water. He motioned to me. I turned to Aaron and stood. Showtime. “Thanks for the info.” He bent forward and went to stand, but I raised my hand. “No! You’re fine. Really. Please, don’t get up.” Please, don’t get up.

He eased back down, grinning. “Say hello to your sister for me.”

I shot him an eye roll and then hurried toward Hank. Whatever. I wasn’t a love messenger for my sister, and I sure as hell wouldn’t tell her Aaron said hi. She didn’t need someone like him in her life. He was a player even if he did deny it.

I made my way to my partner’s glistening wet body and equally wet see-through sarong. Great. A woman needed blinders if she wanted to function like a normal human being in this place.

“Anything?” I asked, trying to be all business and not look where I shouldn’t.

“Zara.”

“That’s what I got, too.”

Together we went farther into The Bath House, our bare footsteps silent on the warm tiles. We passed room after room filled with luxury and decadence. Massage rooms, small baths, lounging areas, and banquettes. The scents of massage oils and food hung heavy in the air, and the distinct sounds of pleasure kept my face burning. Reluctant, yet curious at the same time, I scanned the rooms for suspicious activity, but all I saw were males and females flirting, talking, making out, and doing other things that I let my gaze skip over.

“There she is,” Hank said as we came upon another counter hidden among palms, plants, and statues.

A siren looked up from a computer monitor. When she saw us, her face turned red. Good. At least I wasn’t the only one now. “Hank.” Her deeply sensual voice quivered slightly. In a nervous gesture, she swept her straight strawberry blonde hair behind one ear. “It’s been a while. How are you?”

Immediately, Hank covered his discomfort with a stern set to his jaw. Oh, perfect. This was his crush?

He cleared his throat. “My friend and I were looking for something a little more fun than the usual. You have any ideas?”

Zara stared at Hank like he’d just stolen her tricycle, and then the look was gone, replaced by a jaded hardness only another female could detect, the disappointment on her flawless face as clear as day. This was like watching the National Geographic Channel. The first blundering meeting of siren mates.

“We don’t offer anything other than what’s on the services list,” she said tightly.

He leaned forward with a cheesy, condescending smirk. “We all know that’s not true, so—”

I smacked Hank’s bare arm and nudged him over with my hip. “Zara.” I had to step in before Hank made a complete fool of himself. Couldn’t he see she liked him, too? “We’re ITF. And we need you to help us out before we have to close up shop and get the entire department down here with a search warrant.”