Chapter 6: Page 3

Neak dragged Dewi outside after his latest round of touches, thankful the pub was closed for the next two hours. She couldn’t take it any more and she was going to demand he stop. Except she had to stop herself from jumping him when he smiled at her.

“Dewi…”

“Neak.” He picked up her hand and started playing with her fingers. “Have I tempted you then?”

She blinked. “What?”

“Have I tempted you to sneak into my bed?”

“I thought you weren’t expecting anything from me. I was pollinating and…”

“I’m not expecting anything,” he smiled again, “that is, unless you want me to.”

“You’re confusing me.”

“I’m trying to tempt you, not confuse you.” He laced their fingers together, liking the way they looked, her green ones, his tan ones, twined just so. “So, are you tempted?”

“Yes.” She slapped her free hand over her mouth, tried to jerk the one he held from his grasp, but he held tight.

Dewi pulled her up against him. With a quick check to see if they were alone, he leaned down and nuzzled the hand still across her mouth. “Will you sneak into my room tonight and ravish me?”

“Dewi.” She dropped her hand and he kissed her lips. She couldn’t help it, her eyes closed and she parted her lips, kissing him back. “You make me so wet.”

“Keep talking like that and I’ll have your skirt up around your waist and…”

“I’m wearing shorts.”

His hands dropped to investigate the matter and found she spoke the truth. Why hadn’t he noticed it sooner? He had been staring at her ass most of the afternoon. “Dammit, Neak! How can I fuck you if you’re wearing shorts.”

“You’ll have to wait to see if I sneak into your room tonight.” She stepped away from him. She was going to have to go change her underwear before she went back to work.

“Bring your toy, that was fun.” He felt satisfied seeing her blush. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “This time when I mount you, you’ll know it wasn’t only the pollen making me want you.”

“This is ridiculous. If I caught, our pups might be green.”

He went still, quietly breathed her scent. She wasn’t pregnant, but he truly liked the idea of pups with Neak. He especially liked the way she said our pups. “I would love them regardless. Are you afraid that I wouldn’t?”

“I know you’ll love them, but green Wolves?”

“You never know, they might not be green. They might be normal. But it doesn’t matter, I’ll love them.”

“Dewi.” She turned around and looked up into his eyes. “Do you think it would be wise for us to have an affair?”

“Is this because I’m Lobo?”

“No…maybe a little. We’re friends, I don’t want to lose that. If something happened…”

Dewi kissed her, deeply. “Because we’re friends I want you more, but I won’t push. I thought to tempt you, but if you don’t want this, that’s okay. I’ll…” He would rip out the throat of any male who thought to come near her.

Shit!

He was in serious trouble.

He recalled thinking of her as mate when he fucked her in the kitchen. Each time he had made love to her while in her bed, the word mate kept blaring in his mind. She was the only woman, Wolf or other, that had ever happened with. But he wouldn’t, couldn’t know for certain until he changed into the half-state during the next Frenzy. If he changed into the half-state. But then again, he didn’t think he cared; she was his with or without the half-state.

“Uncle Dewi!” Sabelle ran down the steps, her little arms held out, a huge smile on her face seeing her uncle. She was hoping that he would turn into a wolf and play with her, let her ride on his back. She liked it when he did that.

Milmar and Romie flew around Sabelle, giggling. Romie was in a much better mood since Neak stopped pollinating. As happy as that made Milmar, he hid his frustration about Romie’s refusal to recognize his being Sabelle’s Fairy Guide.

Oben exited the Tree House not far behind Sabelle and the Dew Drops. Though he checked his step seeing the way Dewi was hovering around Neak. Was Neak blushing? And were those daggers Dewi briefly shot at him. Did that mean Dewi already made his move?

Dewi turned a smile on Sabelle as he scooped her up and swung her around, tossed her up in the air. “Hello, Pup. Up from your nap I see.”

“Uh huh. Play Wolfie!”

Dewi laughed. “I think I can manage that.”

Sabelle sang a happy howl and was delighted further when both uncles joined in the song.

Neak watched and listened to the impromptu lupine concert. The joy in their voices was contagious and she grinned, wishing she could join in their song. She wasn’t sure her voice would harmonize with theirs, or if it would sound natural, or worse she sang the wrong notes and insulted them.

“If that isn’t a pretty song.” Ruby and Toff came up to the small group holding hands.

The two Centaurs had spent every free minute they had together since their walk in the Groves. Though this was the first time they had ventured out amongst the residents of Oak’s Holm. Most nights Ruby stayed in Toff’s stable, disliking being away from him. She knew some of it came from her symbiont’s reaction to Toff’s. There was an instinct there, to search out a stallion, a protector. Their season was coming and her symbiont was most eager to breed. She couldn’t deny her own desire to breed with Toff.

“Toffy!” Sabelle offered another joyful serenade seeing the Centaur. “Uncle Dewi’s gonna play Wolfie.”

Toff laughed. “Sounds like fun, little Pup. What about your Uncle Oben?”

“Him too!” She sang another wolf song. Sabelle then saw Ruby. “You’re like Toffy!”

Ruby laughed. “I am, indeed. I’m Ruby, what’s your name?”

“Sabelle.” She leaned over and held her arms out towards Ruby.

Ruby gladly took the pup into her arms; it was rare for a Centaur to hold a child so. Centaur children, once connected to their symbiont, were unable to separate from them until they came of age, which for a Centaur was around one hundred and seventy-five, which limited any cuddling down to hugs.

She brushed sapphire hair off Sabelle’s little face. “Aren’t you a pretty little thing.”

“Are you and Toffy hubbies?”

Ruby blinked. “Um…”

“Not quite, little Pup.” Toff reached over and stroked his hand down Ruby’s back and over her withers. He snuck his hand under the red sarong she wore and gave them a scratch knowing how much she enjoyed it. He was rewarded with her stepping closer to him.

“But… There two of you, like Romie and Milmar.”

“Ruby and I would be considered mates.” His eyes were serious when Ruby looked at him. “Mates.”

Ruby nodded, blushing with pleasure. “Yes, Toff and I would be considered mates.”

“Oh. Is that the same as hubbies?”

“Pretty much.”

“Oh.” Sabelle looked and found Dewi and stretched out to him. “Wolfie, Uncle Dewi.”

Dewi took his niece from Ruby, giving her a quick toss in the air, before handing her over to Oben so that he could change into a wolf. Once changed, Oben placed Sabelle on Dewi’s back and then changed himself. The two wolfs trotted off.

Dewi stopped and looked back at the Tree Nymph. “You coming, Neak?”

“I’m coming. I’ll see you later, Toff. It was nice…well not meeting you, Ruby.” Neak grinned with her teasing and then started after the two Wolves, admiring the handsome beast Dewi was. Well that settled it, she would be sneaking into his room that evening and ravishing him as he desired.

“Neak, could I speak with you a moment?” Toff shifted, the shuffle of his hooves silent in the grass. He laced his fingers with Ruby’s and kissed her knuckles.

Neak stopped and looked back at the Centaurs, nodded, then called to the Wolves, “I’ll be right there, Dewi.” She turned towards the couple. “What do you need, Toff?”

“First: Neak, this is Ruby. Ruby, the infamous Neak Silverplum.”

“So I’m infamous now, am I, horse boy?” Neak raised a brow at Toff.

“Ha! You just proved my point, Nymph. Now say hello to Ruby, hmm.”

Neak held her hand out to Ruby, grinning, excited. “You have no idea what a pleasure it is to meet you. I was so jealous knowing Meria met you while I was stuck in my room.”

“Meria said you were a huge fan.” Ruby shook Neak’s hand, pink tingeing her cheek. She still couldn’t believe that she was becoming a famous author.

“Most of us females here in Oak’s Holm are fans. Meria, JoJo and I are the envy of the village for having signed copies of your book.”

“I…” Ruby cleared her throat. “I would be happy to sign anyone’s book.”

“Shhh, they don’t need to know that.” Neak wrinkled her nose, her eyes filled with mischief causing Ruby to laugh. Neak looked at Toff, her head tilted to the side trying to decide what was different, but then she saw it. “I like the kilt, Toff, it suits you.”

Toff brushed his hand over the kilt. “Ruby created it for me.”

Neak thought it sweet the way the two of them were together. Hearing the happy howls coming from Dewi, Oben and Sabelle, she got down to business. “So what was it you wanted to speak to me about?”

“Ah yes. The Tree Nymph in charge of The Sacred Grove at Cherry Hill is retiring. Claims she can’t take another season of tending the trees for the Gemini brothers; they’re apparently driving her crazy. The thing is, she doesn’t have an heir so the Grove is up for grabs. Nymphs from all over are offering their services.”

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