Page 100 of Beyond the Cottage

River braced her arm above his shoulder and leaned over him. After taking a pull from the cigarette, she brought her pursed lips close to his, releasing a thin stream of smoke.

Closing his eyes, Ansel inhaled. The smoke hit his brain quickly, and his head fell back on the cushions. The years had clearly eroded his tolerance because his vision fluctuated, and his body grew light. But it wasn’tunpleasant.

“What do you think?”

“I’m not sure I can think at all.” To test the theory, he mentally recited prime numbers and got lost at nineteen. Math as whole suddenly struck him as amusing. He grinned, resisting the urge to laugh at its absurdity.

River grinned back. “Not bad, right?”

“Not bad.” In fact, everything feltfine. It didn’t matter if he’d be able to sleep, it didn’t matter that the band’s guitar was out of tune. It certainly didn’t matter that three nereids had begun fondling each other near his feet.

Propping on his elbows, Ansel watched them in fuzzy-eyed fascination, wondering at the logistics.

River ashed into an empty cup. “Do you find us shocking?”

“No.” When she smiled knowingly, he amended, “Well, perhaps somewhat. But I’m not judging you. I’m merely out of touch with all things carnal.”

She shook her head, sea foam curls bouncing. “To us, sex isn’t about that. Carnality is flesh and lust, an empty vessel that can never be filled. We believe inlove.”

“I suppose,” he snorted.

“You don’t?”

He believed in love as a concept. It was a biological equation, a series of chemicals the brain released upon exposure to specific stimuli. He knew he’d felt it for Gretta in the cottage. However, when he’d grown up, that part of his brain had withered,atrophying like an under-used muscle. And he wasn’t convinced that was such a bad thing.

River cupped his cheek and turned his face to hers. “Welove you. We love all the goddess’s children.”

“How terribly rational.” At her wounded look, he sighed. “Forgive me. I’m a skeptic and an asshole.”

“You’ve been hurt.”

“Everyone has. Such is life.”

One of the nereids at his feet whipped off her dress, letting the other two palm her breasts and ass. Her male partner produced his pale blue cock for her to tenderly stroke.

Ansel’s groin heated, but his wits were too addled for shame. Like a fool, he looked at Gretta, but Heron had her full attention.

River glanced over her shoulder. “Do you have a special attachment to her?”

“Yes. But she doesn’t share it the way I do.”

Sympathy infused River’s concerned expression.

Ansel sank deeper into the cushions. The smoke was already wearing off, and his brief euphoria faded to gloom. He’d been trying not to think too hard about his life or his future, but it hit him that he only had the barest grasp on either. Finding Gretta had turned everything upside down.

“Ansel…” River took his hand. “Will you let me love you tonight?”

He barked a maniacal laugh. When his eyes returned to Gretta, he found Heron’s arm draped across her shoulders.

Hell, maybe he should accept whatever fleeting comfort River’s arms offered. It wouldn’t be love, at least not by his definition, but he liked her. God knew nothing would stop Gretta if she felt inclined to indulge.

What if tonight she saw someone she liked—good old Heron, perhaps?—and decided to avail herself of a little freely-shared nereid cock?

Would she at least have the courtesy to do it where he couldn’t see?

Ansel’s chest started pumping, and black shadows crept into his mind. They did nothing to block out images of Gretta bent over with someone else’s dick in her.

“Are you okay?” River asked.

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