Page 186 of Bride of Choice

When I turned my head far to the right, thinking to thwart him, he dove for my throat, making me squeal as he playfully bit down.

Odix jerked to attention and moved closer.

“It’s okay,’ I assured him, smiling as I tried to scrunch my shoulders to make it harder for Gopher to torture the already sensitive flesh.

Still frowning, he grumbled softly, “Have to share.”

Patting Gopher, I motioned for him to sit up.

Holding my arms up, fingers wriggling, I got one look at the mess we’d all made as Gopher reluctantly slipped free of me and it uncorked an even bigger mess to rival what Odix and I had accomplished, and I cringed. “You sure you want to snuggle up with me right now, big bad Griz? It’s a bit…” How did I put this? “Sticky.”

Odix was on me, scooping me up to cuddle me in his lap. I made an ew sound as he sat right in the wet spot.

“You’re going to be getting a lot of funny looks if that shame of dust concoction fails or a super sniffer catches a whiff of you,” I pointed out with a cackle.

Odix just shrugged. “No mind.”

“Worf it,” Gopher muttered, wetting two cloths and tossing one at me and Odix.

Odix caught it and would have just yanked my legs spread eagle and started to swab my deck if I didn’t snatch the cloth from him, wriggle from his arms, and stand to take care of business myself.

“So… any other plans for today?” Small talk like this wasn’t my forte but I wasn’t averse to spending the rest of my down time with either of these two.

“Ready for hunt,” Odix grunted out, not catching on I was inviting him to stay if he wanted to.

Gopher’s eyes widened comically as he gave Odix a funny look.

Odix frowned, staring at him curiously. “Go’ eyes funny. What wrong?”

“Nothing,” Gopher huffed out, flat out scowling at this point.

“We could have a movie night- well, day and maybe into night, but you know what I mean.” My hand lifted to wave. I was trying to be casual, cool.

My stomach dropped when Gopher hesitated at the invite. “You know what, it’s okay. I’ve got stuff to do too. I just thought it would be kinda fun. No big.”

Busying myself getting dressed, I gave them my back as I quickly changed my clothes. Avoiding eye contact with Gopher, more or less waiting for them to leave, I shooed Odix off the bed and pulled the comforter free to give it a quick spot clean for now, and cleared the table to hang it over it to dry.

Gopher dragged Odix to a corner while I worked, the pair quietly grumbling at each other in their language.

Snapping my fingers, I made a noise. “You know what, I totally forgot I had something to do!”

Going to grab my boots, Odix walked over and closed his hand around mine over them. “Broken,” he rumbled out softly.

“I’ll wear two pairs of socks. It’ll be fine for now,” I assured him. Reaching out with my free hand, I gave him a pat that might’ve come across as patronizing.

Frowning down at me, he slowly lifted his hand away.

“Jo?” he rumbled out softly as I slipped on several sweaters and my favorite hoodie in lieu of my coat, and then snatched up my sewing basket and purse.

Looking to him askance, his brow knit with confusion as he glanced from me to the awkwardly squirming male beside him. “Jo ‘kay?”

“Yeah. Fine. Peachy.” My hand lifted and I flicked my wrist on my way past them out the door.

Gopher’s eyes looked a little buggy at that but I was lost as to how.

Gopher hissed something at Odix that had the large male clearing his throat as he followed me out. “No… no go Rek’s, yes?”

Something like a curse left Gopher.

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