Page 44 of Perfectly Perfect Pixie

“I—” My cheeks puffed, and I blew out a heavy breath. “Of course.” I was very worried about Lucroy. What we were doing might be very dangerous to his health and kingship. It was terribly reckless. And yet, we were doing it anyway. I supposed that was the stupid power of attraction.

Leon chuckled. “Come on, you two, let’s head down and see what tonight brings.”

Lucroy still wanted Leon with us. I wasn’t sure when he’d trust himself enough. Maybe after tonight, we could be alone together. I wasn’t into voyeuristic pursuits.

Lizbeth was behind the bar tonight, her hair dyed magenta. She had on her usual studded collar. With a head bob in my direction, she gave her version of a nonverbal greeting. I waved back, and she grinned. I didn’t see Johnny but figured he was there, somewhere. I’d yet to be here when he had a night off and was beginning to think maybe he was a little more than full-time.

The first steel door opened. It reminded me of a bank vault. The second door quickly followed. Leon led the way, and I followed with Lucroy close at my back.

The space was warmer than the first time I’d visited. Immediately, I removed my pixie boots. Lucroy had added a plush carpet and an even plusher backless chair. His fridge was stocked with not only blood but also water, soda, and juice. A basket of apples and oranges sat on the countertop Leon stood behind.

Wings fluttering, I alighted to the backless chair before sitting down. It was like sinking into a cloud.

“Would you like something more to drink or eat?” Lucroy asked, standing beside the counter, ready to wait on me.

I shook my head. “I don’t think so. My nerves are a little too wired to enjoy it.” Or possibly keep anything down. My stomach was doing flip-flops that didn’t seem conducive to that endeavor.

Lucroy’s face blanked. “If you are not ready, if you have too many misgivings, I fully understand. We do not have to—”

“Come over here and sit down.”

Phil had told me once that I was bossy, although he’d said it with fondness and more than a hint of humor. I’d thought he was exaggerating. Considering I was telling a six-hundred-year-old vamp what to do, Phil might have had a point.

While Leon chuckled, Lucroy didn’t hesitate. When he sat in the chair opposite me, I rolled my eyes, got up, and plunked myself down on his lap. Surprise widened his obsidian eyes, but that was the only indicator I’d done something unexpected.

I huffed when Lucroy just sat there, still as stone. “This is where you put your arms around me.” I grabbed one of Lucroy’s hands and settled it on my back, just below my wings. “There,” I smiled, “that’s better.”

Lucroy’s facial muscles relaxed, and his opposite hand reached around my back, joining its twin. “You are a constant course of amazement.”

“I think that’s just because you haven’t spent a lot of time around pixies,” I argued. “We’re all pretty pushy. Well,” I thought better of that, “except Phil. That’s probably because he’s a home-and-hearth pixie. They’re givers to a fault. He’d roll over for anyone, except when it comes to his home and family.” I shivered. “I wouldn’t want to go up against a bonded home-and-hearth pixie.” Hamish McIntyre had found that out when he’d tried to get inside Sedrick’s home. Everyone at the custody hearing had also learned that lesson when Ray had gone full-on fairy assassin and shot raging hot fire toward Ruthie and Dillon.

You did not mess with a bonded pixie. Period.

“Perhaps that is so,” Lucroy answered fondly. “I’m afraid our innate wariness regarding pixie blood has deprived vampires of such amazing company.”

“Here, here.” Leon held up a glass of blood in salute. “The more I hang around Phil and Peaches, the more I think I need to visit a pixie bar. I think that would be one hell of a good time.” Leon drank to his toast, throwing back the last of his blood.

I grinned. “They’d look at you funny but wouldn’t pay much more attention than that. You’d be welcome.” Pixies liked having a good time and generally felt the more, the merrier. Our dust kept us more isolated than we’d like, but there were plenty of tales regaling faun parties and pixies dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Outside, in the woods, our dust wasn’t as bothersome.

Lucroy’s blunt nails scraped across my cheek, drifting down to my neck and pushing my hair away, leaving my golden skin visible and bare. Tilting my head was instinct. Lucroy growled—low, deep, and full of pleasure.

“You are so beautiful,” Lucroy murmured, so low I wasn’t sure if Leon heard or not. “You are far too good for me, but I have never let that thought stop me from getting what I desire.”

I had no trouble believing that. My blood pounded with anticipation. I knew that only fueled Lucroy’s desire. I couldn’t have stopped it if I’d tried.

“I’ll only ask this one last time, Peaches. Are you certain this is what you want, what you’re willing to sacrifice?”

I didn’t see this as a sacrifice at all. As for what I wanted . . . “I’m sure,” I answered with all the confidence I could muster.

“Leon?” Lucroy’s voice went gruff and low, little more than a garbled growl.

“I’m here and ready.” I wasn’t sure what Leon was ready for. Lucroy could and would wipe the floor with him. Regardless, he was prepared to spring into action. He was willing to sacrifice himself for his king.

Lucroy pulled me closer, and I didn’t fight it. I went willingly, forcing my limbs to remain loose. Holding me tight, reverently, Lucroy’s lips brushed against my neck, the barest of touches. His skin was cool against the flush of my own. Wetness cooled my skin, Lucroy’s tongue a whisper against my flesh. I shivered, more from anticipation than cold.

My response spurred Lucroy on, and his tongue pressed down harder, licking a strip along my heated skin. A hushed whimper escaped my mouth, growing louder when the tips of Lucroy’s fangs scraped against my skin. That scrape turned into pressure and then white-hot pain.

I sucked in a breath, eyes wide with shock before that half-second of searing pain morphed into pure pleasure.

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