"A virgin, Harry, really?" says Lara's voice in my memory. "Is he a gift?" I look over at Ramirez once more and wonder what it is about wizarding that just doesn't bring in the babes. I mean, he's a good-looking guy, and so am I for that matter, even if neither one of us is in Thomas' league.

"Hey, Harry, are you listening to my golden wisdom here or what?" says Ramirez, and I realize I've been staring at his mouth.

It's been longer than I want to admit if I'm starting to look at guys this way. "Sorry, I was so distracted by the pure tone of your voice that I lost track," I say, and he blushes attractively.

I am so screwed. "You're the one that wanted to do the east meets west thing," he says, taking a swig of Mac's beer. His mouth wraps around the neck of the bottle and I swallow reflexively, then take a sip of my own beer. Which I nearly choke on, thinking of what else I might end up wrapping my lips around if this line of thought goes on any further, and I'm disturbed by how much the idea doesn't bother me.

"What can I say," I reply, as nonchalantly as I can, "I just like to have you around to brighten up the place."

Ramirez takes a look around my spotless apartment and snorts. "I will admit, I'm the prettiest thing in here," he says, and I can't help but laugh.

"I just can't get enough of your masculine pulchritude," I say, sucking down another mouthful of beer and wondering what he would taste like, or feel like in my mouth. Nothing like a woman, that's for sure, but it's not like I'm all that familiar with a woman's touch these or any other days, with sadly rare exceptions.

He's picking up on my vibe, or something, because his eyes are on me again and he's looking thoughtful in a way that probably means trouble for me later. "What's rattling around that empty skull of yours, Dresden? You keep looking at me like I'm steak and you ain't had a meal in days."

I shrug. "What can I say, even a wizard has needs," I quip, though of course there's that damnable note of truth in it that pings his radar. I really need to learn to lie better -- now that Lash is gone for good, I've lost the knack again.

"That is true," says Ramirez thoughtfully. There's a long enough pause that certain parts of my anatomy start to get hopeful, but he dashes that quick enough when he adds, "What I need is a beautiful woman who isn't a sex vampire, and about fourteen hours."

I can't help it. "Don't you mean fourteen seconds?" I ask, and then pause a heartbeat before adding, "Virgin."

He flips me off, but that's all right. I deserve it.