Page 25 of By the Fae

Incredibly, Holly laughed. “And tell me, how exactly is that any different from human men?”

I shrugged. She had a point there. “And you’ll be competing against fae women for his affections. Fae women who are externally perfect. Women who look like they were designed on a computer by every horny tech-genius.”

“I know,” she whispered. She cleared her throat again. “This is why I need your help.”

I scrubbed my hand down my face.

“Please,” she said.

It was a good job I was already seated. It felt like the rug was being ripped from beneath us. Who knew outside of the bedroom begging would have this effect on me? I couldn’t believe I was actually going to say this. “Okay, I’ll help you.”

“You will?” Holly's face lit up again in that smile.

“Only because I can’t stand to see your helpless, sad, little face looking like that.” And because getting tenure would mean an end to the Golden Rule. I’d be free to fuck whoever I wanted. Seth would be livid. I couldn’t lose.

She squeezed my hand. An “Eeee” escaped her lips.

“On one condition. You won’t be upset when Seth proves me right.”

Holly blew out a shaky breath. “I’ll really try, I promise.”

I slapped my palms onto my lap. “Right, well, I’ll teach you how to fuck, and you’ll help get me tenure.”

Gods, I was an idiot for agreeing to this.

Though my dick was in complete disagreement with that last statement. It leapt in my pants, pushing against my fly. After last night’s regrettable encounter with the succubus, I was beginning to worry he was broken.

“Deal.” She held out her hand, and I shook it. I tried not to notice the clammy softness of it. The little bumps of hard skin at the top of her palm. Tried not to suck in a lung full of raspberries and violets.

“First things first, you’re going to have to learn to use the word ‘fuck’.”

Holly winced again, and I trapped my smile between my teeth.

“We’ll start tomorrow. Your place, or mine?” I said.

“Tomorrow?” Panic flashed across her face. Okay, so maybe the cat would have a little fun with the mouse first. “Uh.”

“Or not, whatever,” I said, putting my coffee-soaked feet onto the table and crossing them at the ankles.

“Yeah, cool. Tomorrow is totally cool.”

“Totally cool?”

A bubble of nervous laughter escaped her throat, and she pushed her hair behind her ears. “What’s your address, then?”

“Give me your phone.” She did, and I dropped a pin on my place. “Apartment 15A. Get there for four. Bring your overnight stuff.”

I handed the phone back, and she tucked it into the front pocket of her clown dress. I barely suppressed my eye-roll.

“Do you still hate me?” she asked, though smiling.

“Of course.”

“Good. I mean, because I still hate you.”

I laughed. “Good. Actually, keep it that way. I have another condition for our little deal.”

“Yeah?”

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