Page 48 of Slaying With Sylphs

He straightens, rolling his shoulders back. The leather straps across his chest tighten, accentuating his cut musculature and the lightning that flashes across his pale skin. “Och now, Connall. I can be quick when the occasion calls for it.” His smile grows dark, a tongue the color of the sky peeking out to run suggestively along his lower lip.

My cock kicks in my pants, still hard from playing with Lou and touching her. But this? I don’t know what to do with this. But despite that, I’m curious.

“Tonight.” I let my eyes drop to his chest again, admiring him. I thrum the backs of my fingers over one of his leather chest straps. “Does this ever come off?”

Dirk’s nostrils flare as his hands fall loosely to his sides. His body is tense, poised as his gaze locks onto me. “Only for you ‘n’ her. I’ve not taken it off since I was a teen.”

Goosebumps cover my skin, and I can’t help but take a step closer, bringing my face closer to his. “I’d like to learn more about that tonight, on our date.”

Goddess, I’m going on a date with another male.

“I’m an open book.” Dirk tilts his chin up as he gazes into my eyes.

“Good,” I return, reaching down to rub my cheek along his. It’s an affectionate gesture that’s common among shifters, but at the rough scratch of my stubble against his smoothly shaven cheek, he tenses.

I nuzzle my way along his skin, testing how he feels about this sort of touch. But to my surprise, he sighs and lets his head fall back, inviting more. I’m standing in the doorway to my office on Shifter Hollow’s main drag, but for some reason, I can’t stop touching the male in front of me. I tell myself it’s the affectionate cheek rub I’d give anyone, but as the edges of my lips touch his neck, I know that’s a lie. I recognize it, sit with it for a moment, then let the thought float away.

Dirk’s skin is colder than mine and Lou’s, refreshing and calming against my much hotter temperature. Realizing I’m standing there with my mouth hovering above his neck, I pull back and straighten.

He stares into my eyes, his look almost a challenge.Do it, he seems to encourage as his mouth pulls up in one corner.

“I’m looking forward to tonight,” I share. “I’m excited, Dirk.”

“Good, Wolf,” he barks. “Because I cannae wait to put my mouth all over that gorgeous body.”

Fuck. I don’t know if he’s talking about Lou or me. But either way, I think I’m down.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LOU

“Right there, Lou,” Bellami directs as I lift a mushroom the size of a throw pillow above my head. I hold my breath as I set it down on the top layer of logs. Somehow, the gnomes managed to place three additional “stories” since I helped them a day or two ago.

Bellami appears on the top log and brings out a compass, checking something. Shaking his head, he turns to me. “Nah. Move it so the door faces that way a little more.” He points toward the sidewalk outside gnome village.

I don’t bother grumbling anymore about his obsession with directions. It’s important to the gnomes, and they asked for my help, so here we are. Reaching high above my head, I grasp the mushroom by the front door hole and tug it slightly to the left. Bellami waves his hand for me to continue going until it’s far enough.

“Right there, that’s it! Stop!” He beams at me with a tiny thumbs-up. His gaze softens at the edges. “You’re doing a great job, Lou. Thank you.”

I feign shock, throwing a hand over my heart. “A compliment, Bellami? I don’t think you’ve ever given me one of those.”

He rolls his eyes, crossing his chubby arms over his broad chest. “Enjoy it. I won’t make a habit of it.” Without another word, he hops off the top story and onto my shoulder.

I’ve gotten accustomed to the gnomes assuming my taller frame is a ladder. It seems like the second I agreed to come into gnome village, that was a given. Another tiny male crawls up my leg to join Bellami on my shoulder. The snarky comment on the tip of my tongue dies as they stare at the mushroom.

“It’s perfect,” the second male, Penn, says. I resist the urge to look over at them and see what they’re doing. So I stand quietly while they stare at the mushroom. Bellami uses my ear like a handle, holding himself steady.

“It’s the perfect spot for a family,” Penn continues, his tone soft.

“It really is,” Bellami returns, his tone thoughtful and tender.

The next sound is definitely a kiss. The second it sounds spicy, I whip my head toward them. “Are you two making out on my fricking shoulder?”

Bellami removes his tongue from Penn’s mouth and gives me a superior look. “Just celebrating with my husband, thank you, Lou.”

“I’m gonna have to put my foot down,” I bark. “I put up with y’all using my body like a ladder, but I have to insist I not become a mattress.”

Bellami pinches my ear and hisses like a cat. Then he grabs Penn’s hand as they leap off my shoulder and land on the flat part of the log next to where I placed the mushroom. He slips an arm around Penn and levels a glare at me. “We weren’t gonna have sex on your shoulder, Lou, it was just a kiss. Geez, are all humans so…” He waves his hand dismissively at my body.

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