Page 217 of Bride of Choice

“One of them? Oh? I’m just one of them now?” Rosa grinned, probably expecting what I was going to say next.

“Of course. All my little niece-y, nephew, cousin-baby-god-children and then you.” Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I smirked. “Don’t be jelly, Rosie-o-la.”

“Argh.” Rosie’s nose crinkled. “Rude.”

Knowing Tokre wanted to leave and, honestly, I was unwilling to divulge anything else to her this day— I’d blabbed enough for one gab fest —I clapped my hands together loudly, ignoring Rosa’s jumpy ass jerking and Tokre’s warning rumble that he didn’t like his mate feeling alarmed, I announced, “Well, it’s been fun, kiddies, but I’ve got somewhere to be in a bit here and you all have things to do, children to chase, more cousin-baby-god-children to make for Auntie Jojo, so, c’mon now, let’s scoot!”

Rosa’s nose wrinkled, her whole face getting in on it until she looked like she smelled something funky. “You just can’t help yourself.”

Shaking her head at me, she snorted when I quipped, “It’s a curse and a gift, I know,” and looked to Tokre.

“I have one more thing I need to do before we head back home,” she told him, signing as she spoke.

Tokre nodded, and with one more quick good-bye, they left.

The second they were gone I locked my door and walked back towards my bed.

A loud knock at my door sounded not a second later and I groaned. Why?! Why today?!

Walking back to the door, I leaned in to listen and waited. “Jo?” Doogie called.

“Fine. Whatever. We can do this now.” Rolling my shoulders and then my neck, I shook my hands out as I did a little dance on my feet. Taking a few calming, deep breaths, I opened the door.

“What did you mean when you said I smelled funny?” I started without preamble.

Blinking down at me, it took Doogie a minute to collect himself. He wasn’t ready for the Spanish Inquisition right out the door.

“Smell like Rek…” With a sweeping motion down towards his groin, his point was made.

He’d smelled Rek’s baby juice on me.

“Did you tell anyone?” I bit out.

“No tell no one,” he replied quickly.

“Good. That’s good.” My head bobbed along in a nod as I spoke.

“Jo still mad at Doogie?” he grunted out, wincing as he spoke.

“Yes,” I said simply.

He nodded like he’d expected as much. “What Doogie do, Jo not be mad anymore?”

Eyeing him, I muttered, “You really wanna make this better?”

“Jes,” he said simply.

“Okay.” I shrugged. “Close your eyes and open your hand.”

Looking skeptical, he was hesitant at first but slowly complied.

He frowned when several minutes passed and nothing happened.

“Now bend your knees,” I instructed.

Doogie frowned but bent his knees until he was standing there in a half kneel.

He took one right to the kisser, eyes flying open as he toppled to his ass and slid a ways back in the mud.

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