Page 95 of Her Males

“This one’s good.” He lifts the limbs to get a better look. “You won’t get a full set, but this should be enough for a top.”

I beam as he flips the animal over and continues his evaluation.

“You think Echo will like it?” I ask.

Kato nods, his shoulder bumping mine as he holds back a smile.

“She enjoys fox leather, and she’ll love that you’ve gifted her something so special,” he says. “You’ve done well, Charlie.”

His praise makes my heart race, and I clear my throat before turning back to the animal. Emily enters through the back door a second later, her cheery expression growing as she notices the animal I’ve haphazardly thrown on her counter.

She’s quick to copy Kato and evaluate it, loud compliments slipping from her lips as she picks it up and orders Kato to lock the doors so Echo doesn’t come over and ruin the surprise.

“We usually do this outside, but we’ll do it here since this is a present,” she explains, grabbing a tarp from the closet and sending Kato to collect several knives.

I grab the fox and set it on the tarp, and Kato returns quickly before kneeling to my right and explaining how to skin it. Emily politely ignores my wet eyes, but she grabs a tissue to wipe at my cheeks when the animal in front of me begins to blur.

“It’s okay,” she whispers, grabbing my hair and pulling it out of my face. “Chev cried so hard, he vomited the first time he did this, and it took Echo a good year before she could do it without Kato’s help.”

Kato’s voice is comforting as he helps me through each step, the even tone helping to soothe my guilt-ridden heart. Thankfully, my tears stop by the time we’ve finished removing the skin.

Emily grabs the meat and moves it out of my view.

“Kato, why don’t you ready the chemicals while Charlie and I remove the fur?” Emily suggests, grabbing a bucket from underneath the sink.

She fills it up and returns to the tarp. “Come here.” She gestures for me to drop the skin in the bucket. “We’ll soak it for a bit, then remove the fur with a knife. Help me massage the cleaner in.”

Her hands cover mine as she shows me how to clean and wring out the skin, washing all the excess blood and guts off. It feels gross between my fingers, but her touch distracts me so much that I don’t mind.

We continue to work the fur until the water’s red, and I spread the skin on the tarp while Emily dumps the bucket. She’s back seconds later, her body wrapping around mine as she shows me how to remove the fur.

I hold in a gasp as her fingers lace between mine, her teaching intimate. I’ve learned that shifter women tend to be big on hugs and physical affection, but I usually avoid Emily. I was around Gray long enough that her natural scent doesn’t throw me into a frenzy, but it still calls to me.

“You did amazing today. Everybody’s been talking about how impressed they are with you,” she whispers. “We enjoy having you here.”

My jaw clenches, and I let my eyes slip shut as my body reacts to hers. Her breasts push against my back, and when coupled with her sweet scent, it has me holding back a shiver.

She hums quietly in my ear and pulls away as we finish. Emily has been nothing but kind to me, and it’s wrong for me to lust after her like this. She turns to me with a soft smile, her eyes ever-knowing as her nostrils flare.

I feel the blood rush to my cheeks, and I turn away to hide my shame.

“It’s okay, Charlie. Honestly,” she says, helping me to my feet.

I shake my head, overwhelmed with guilt as I follow her to the sink to clean my hands.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as she tries again to assure me I’ve done nothing wrong. “I don’t mean to, and I know you’re mated to Kato.”

Emily laughs. “Kato doesn’t mind.”

I doubt that very much.

I drop to my knees and begin cleaning the tarp. My guilt refuses to let me acknowledge that she’s a succubus and probably gets this all the time.

It’s not nearly as embarrassing for her as it is for me.

Kato returns shortly with the chemicals. He grabs the skin from Emily and coats it with the smelly liquid. I move to help him, but he waves me away with an exaggerated huff.

“The chemicals are strong,” he explains as Emily steps out of the room to put some things away.

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