Page 63 of The Safest Place She Knows

She walked toOren and patted his arm. “It doesn’t have to be the same day.”

Oren turned asshe passed him. “What if I want it to be?”

She saidsoftly, “You would have to wait until you could get in. I am prettysure I am swollen shut.”

He smiled. “Oh,I can help with that.”

“Can you? Hm. Iam still going to find a snack. Denel, Bennet, where do you thinkYmer hides chocolate? I think we should find out.”

The boys randownstairs ahead of her, the dogs followed, and she moseyed behind.She left the elves behind her.

* * * *

Ymer snorted. “Really,Brexel?”

Oren pausednext to him. “Ymer, she’s in early heat, she’s been lusting afterBrexel for six years, and you got there first. She was upset.” Hesmiled. “Now, she’s a bit sore but no longer upset.”

Brexel nodded.“She wasn’t crying, but she was upset. She’s only activated as anomega recently, and she’s not a child. She’s a woman with pastexperience, and she’s comparing that with what is happening now. Itis a jarring difference. Her body is not consulting her mind forthe first time.”

Ymer winced andsighed. “Right. I just caught the scent of her heat, and that wasit. She reciprocated, and all other thoughts were gone.”

Brexel sighedhappily. “Yeah. That was... wonderful. Not enough butwonderful.”

Oren didn’t sayanything; he just headed down to where the boys had managed tolocate some peanut butter cups, including some white chocolate onesthat they were sharing with the dogs.

Iris wasnibbling at a chocolate and had another waiting on her palm. Hecupped the back of her neck and kissed her temple. He pouredhealing through her to remove the raw skin and inflammation but wascareful not to interfere with her hormones.

She blinkedslowly, looked up at him, and then laughed. She reached up andstroked his jaw. He leaned in to kiss her, and the boys made noisesof disgust.

The boys gotquiet as the kiss continued, and when Oren lifted his head, Ymerand Brexel had the boys’ eyes covered.

Brexel laughed.“Well, now, we know what their reaction is.”

Iris spoke, andher voice was husky, “The reaction may vary depending on who I ammaking out with and how much chocolate is available.”

Oren smiled andstroked her back through Brexel’s T-shirt.

“Is there anypart of the property that we haven’t defiled yet?”

Oren chuckled.“There is a spot by the lake.”

“Okay, but walkslow.”

He pulled heragainst him. “Who’s going to walk?”

She blinked,and the cool breeze suddenly touched her cheeks while the sunset.

“Brexel saidyou are going to explain that.”

“We will.” Orenwalked with her to a gazebo that had a bed fit for a fairy tale inthe middle of it.

“That seemsunusual.” They walked to stand next to it.

“I can save thefucking against a tree for a later time. You are tired, you haveput up with a lot, and I remember putting those stitches into yourscalp. I will be careful.” He smiled gently.

She grabbed hisarms and tripped him onto the bed. She jumped onto him and said,“But I don’t have to, right? I don’t have to becareful?”

He blinked insurprise. “No, you don’t. I won’t break.”

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