Page 38 of Lesson In Faith

Violet laid her hand on his arm. “That was good of you. Even though you weren’t exactly complimentary about his dick.”

Merrick snorted. “It was a dick, Vi. Standard, run of the mill penis, perfectly average.”

“Yes, well, not everyone is hung like a horse and adept in how to use it,” she said dryly.

He flashed her a grin that held zero modesty before turning and reaching his arms toward Fordham. “Pass her over, brother, before she accidentally kicks you in the balls.”

“For one so small, she’s feisty,” Ford groused, handing her over without hesitation.

As though she hadn’t seen Merrick in a week, Tamsyn roped her arms awkwardly around his neck and clung. She wasn’t trembling quite as hard now, but her face was waxy with shock, her breathing shaky.

“Ford, mind covering the rest of my shift? She needs to go home.”

“Felicity has it under control.”

“I’ll walk back with you,” Violet told him, straightening her shoulders when he lifted his eyebrows. “It’s not that I don’t trust your temper, Merrick, but she went through something tonight that only another woman can truly understand. I’m coming for Tamsyn, not you.”

Well, when she put it that way, he really didn’t have room to argue, did he? Because she was right—something caused Tamsyn to keen badly enough to scare what seemed like an experienced Dom. Whether it was being under Blake, the situation, the imminent threat of penetration… there were too many variables to consider.

“What about your shift?” he asked.

She just smiled, although there wasn’t much humor in it. “I finished at midnight. I was about to head home when Tamsyn walked in, although I didn’t recognize her until it was too late.” She frowned at Ford. “Remind me to speak to Elias about the lighting situation if he decides to approve a regular orgy night. It might be atmospheric, but it’s far too dark.”

“He’s planning a meeting tomorrow afternoon with all the DMs on duty to discuss the evening. I think he’s talking to some of the participants in the morning, trying to get overall opinions on whether it’s a viable event going forward.”

“Good. I have a few other points to put to him as well.” This time, her smile was full and a little wicked. Stepping to the door leading outside, she opened it wide. “Come on, Master Merrick. Now you’ve terrified the guests, your work here is done.”

“Smartass,” he growled.

Outside, it was colder than he thought. A bitter wind was kicking up, starting to blow through the surrounding trees, and he thought he smelled snow in the air. “I ought to spank your ass raw, darlin’, for coming over here with nothing on but this damn robe.”

“I’m sure she has a reasonable explanation.” Violet came up beside him and set a quick pace toward the residential cabins. “I had several panicky moments myself when I first moved in. It’s really quite eerie at night. The wind, animals, even the damn trees seem to talk.”

Merrick laughed. “Talking trees? Seriously?”

To his surprise, Tamsyn nodded in agreement. She was still clinging to him, her breath warm against his throat, but her muscles were starting to relax.

“They creak and groan,” Violet stated adamantly. “They talk, Merrick.”

“I’ll believe it when I hear it.”

They were almost to the cabin porch when a scream shattered the brittle air. It wasn’t close; in fact, it sounded like it came from further up in the forest, and he rolled his eyes in disgust at the same time Tamsyn went rigid.

From relaxed to stone in a heartbeat, she reared back, slamming her good hand on his chest and shoving away, her face a mask of pure, unadulterated terror. She almost managed to knock him on his ass before he got her pinned back against his chest.

He felt her heart hammering against his.

He felt the fear devouring her.

“Easy. Easy, little owl. It’s just some idiots playing chase in the forest.” Tightening his arms around her as another scream followed swiftly on the heels of the first, Merrick took the last few feet to the cabin at a run, both displeased and grateful to see the front door wide open.

Of course, the whole fucking place was freezing.

Carrying her straight to the bedroom, he heard Violet shut the door. The fire was dead in the hearth; the covers on the bed were thrown back and the lamp was still on. So was the TV, he noted, when he tuned into the quiet hum of voices.

“There’s vomit in the hallway,” Violet murmured from the doorway.

“What?”

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