Page 25 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

My eyebrows raise to my hairline in surprise. “Bloody hell.” I lift my now-healed hand slowly and look it over, flexing and unflexing my fingers. “Okay, that was—yeah, neat sums it up nicely. Nice job, Sandwich. I owe you another thanks.”

“That one was kind of cheating, what with the special mix and all. It’s easier than some alternatives. Besides, what kind of mate would I be if I left you wounded and achy?”

“A sexually unfulfilled one?”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”

“Are you saying that I toast your crackers, baby?” I leer at her, but she doesn’t know that when I ask like this, it’s because I’m worried that I’ll never live up to all the weird shit she’s been up to for years. Hell, I’ve been with Talia most of my life. She’s been with more people at once than I’ve been with in total.

“I’m nothing if not astute.”

“Astute is good. All hail astute,” I mutter, nipping her shoulder.

“Uh-oh. Reverting to cave talk—you must be having a manly ‘Thag the caveclone’ moment.”

I roll my eyes, grinning as I pound my chest. “Me, Taurus. You, hot little hussy I love.”

“You are so silly,” she chides, her eyes soft.

“One of the many reasons you are ass over brains for me, baby.” Talia would laugh me out of the house if I played like this with her.

My minx is an enigma wrapped in a riddle with all her complexity and simplicity at the same time.

The Bird Makes A Mistake

TAURUS

She blinks. “Oh! Did I mention? The rest of my family went out on a beach trip to cheer up Rafe and I was there alone picking up stuff. Rhea tried to pop by my place right after I arrived. I didn’t answer the door, but she left a note. I didn’t read it because it’s probably full of bullshit.”

“That wouldn’t surprise me.” I shake my head, wondering how the chit who had simply been a little insecure—but basically a good person—became so twisted in the year we were away. Talia remained friends with her on the other side of the Rift, but Brenda’s a different person than the woman living here. Rhea’s been a sodding wrecking ball to everyone around her for the past month.

Maybe longer, as I think there are things the kitty is holding back.

I’d understand if she was. She’s been burned to a crisp by people she loves. But I feel—especially since the mating—that she’s got deep darks we’ve not shared yet. I figure that it’s up to her when we share something that’s aching her that badly. I don’t want to push her away.

“I’ve got a mind to poke at Blondie now—get her all worked up, then tell her I’ve got to see a woman about a tail.” I grin evillyand bob my brows, but I’m only half kidding. I’m ready to throw our happiness in her face if only for the pain she’s caused my mate.

“She’s probably too busy pretending nothing is wrong or trying to sleep with Constantine. He’s the last one she’s not completely alienated.”

“Talia did promise I’d stop by and see Rhea next time I had a chance. It would be positively rude of me to snub her now, wouldn’t it?”

I’m going on record now saying that this might not be my brightest idea. I’m just so bloody angry at the change in a woman I once considered family that I’m feeling vengeful.

It might be clouding my judgment; sue me.

“You’re bad.”

I can’t tell if she’s forcing her chuckle, but she doesn’t say no. I shrug, looking unrepentant. “I’m so bloody good at it.”

“I guess it would be gauche to tell you that Sari said she’d buy you mouthwash, floss, and shower stuff if you’d eat Rhea and get it over with.” She snickers and I laugh, shaking my head. “Oh, I almost forgot—‘manly scented body wash’.”

Laughing harder, I shake my head. “Bloody hell, I might start liking that little gnome.”

“Occasionally, when the insane level is low, she’s not so bad to be around.”

That’s probably the closest thing to truth she’s willing to admit about the little snot. Sari’s been the bane of both mine and Talia’s existence since we met her, and her foppish mate isn’t any better. I’ve always believed that a deep, dark ugliness is hiding under her ‘let’s all be family’ credo. I haven’t been able to suss out if I’m right because her people never leave. Inspires loyalty to a fault, that one. I’d be willing to bet it’s through a painful ‘take and take’ relationship that her ‘family’ doesn’t realize they’re part of.

My minx is mated to her, though, and I promised to be civil. “The runt has a decent sense of humor. She was also quite the host when I dropped by to thank her for the cookies she sent Talia. I’ll have to pick her up a little something when I head to Milan tomorrow.”

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