Page 20 of Promised to the Satyr

Niko wraps his arm around my waist and eases his finger, then his cock free.

Jerking with the sudden emptiness, a small cry escapes as I collapse on the bed. How have I resisted this for the past two days? More importantly, how will I do so for another two before I leave him?

Nine

Niko

There are no words to describe how good this woman feels or how attached to her I’ve become in such a short time. She thinks she can’t love, but I’m certain she’s mistaken. Having lived a long time, I’m wise enough to know that telling her how to feel is of no use. My biggest obstacle right now is the damned ticking clock that I set in motion. Time is running out.

She stares at me from the now clean and covered Jeep’s passenger seat. “How did you remove your horns?”

“It’s a glamor. A witch taught it to me long ago and it has served me well. Since it’s only for show, it doesn’t work for hiding my legs. The loose trousers and a cane to indicate some infirmary is enough to keep humans from asking questions.” I turn into the parking lot of the large bookstore in a neighboring town.

She tugs her black tee shirt down over the top of the jeans she changed into. “I’ve never been out in the human world. I stay in my woods and when they pass through…”

“You seduce them.” I’m not in the dark about the nature of my nymph.

Shrugging, she blushes. “I have. Though, not in some time. I decided a few years ago that I wanted to find a way to defy my father.” Her laugh holds no humor. “I couldn’t even manage to get myself clothes.”

Reaching across the console, I take her hand. “Looking in the rearview is of no use. Look at all that is before you, Astra.” I point to the large green letters above the store’s double doors.

She laughs and nods.

Once we enter, she stares at the aisle and tables filled with books. “I had no idea it would be so much.”

I stay close without crowding her as she flits from one table to the next, each with a different genre of books. When she looks at one longer than another and seems conflicted, I put it in the basket I’m holding.

A man with gray hair and a white golf cap pulled down low on his forehead stops next to me. “Were you injured in the war, son?”

“No, sir. I was in a car accident. It’s been a while. I’ll likely always have a limp.” I shrug as if it’s of no concern.

He slaps me on the back. “You still managed to catch the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Not even men in their seventies or eighties are immune to Astra. I look up to find her and she’s not at the shelf where last I saw her. “Speaking of which, I’d better find my lady.”

The man chortles and walks toward the history section of the store.

Panic rises in my chest as I search each row. Wishing I’d taken her to a small indie store, I curse. Reminding myself that Astra is not fragile and if she left it was of her own accord, I still continue the search. In the back of the store, I find her sittingon the floor surrounded by half a dozen books with astrological signs on their black covers.

She looks up with bright, excited eyes. “These books are fictional romances based onour stories.” She whispers the last two words. She holds one up to me. “I’d like to read this one.”

Crouching down, I gather up all six and put them in the basket.

Blushing, she stands and gapes at the overflowing books. “You shouldn’t buy me all of those. You’ll spoil me.”

Pressing my lips to her temple, I inhale her floral scent. “That is my devious plan, sweetheart.”

“To lure me in with books and other gifts?” She smiles, but there’s hesitation in her tone.

Leading her toward the checkout, I say, “To see to your happiness despite knowing only you are in control of such things.”

“Am I?” It’s only the faintest whisper, but I hear her.

I pay for her books, then take her hand while balancing the cane and heavy bag in the other. “What would you like for lunch?”

“I always see the tourists eating sandwiches served on long baguettes. Can we try those?” She looks all around the area where shops line the street and a mall backs up to the bookstore’s parking lot.

“I offer you the world, and you want a sub.” This woman brings me pure joy in all things. She only knows of her magical allure, but even without magic, she is spectacular.

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