Page 21 of Moonlit Alexandrite

He propped his hands on his hips and thrust his pelvis forward in an obscenely comedic pose.

Deep breath. It was obvious he was trying to make this as easy on me as possible, and I appreciated that. It wasn’t every day you found out you had mates. Plural. My heart began to pound, so I took a step forward in defiance. Tase leaned forward and swept me over the lip and into the tub with him, the shower soaking through my sundress.

“Are you okay?” he whispered, his forehead pressing against mine.

“Don’t ask me that, just kiss me. Please?”

“Don’t have to ask, baby girl.”

His lips pressed against mine in the gentlest of kisses. I melted in his arms as they tightened around me, like he couldn’t get me close enough. I ran my hands over the chest and shoulders I had just been imagining, and tangled my fingers in his hair as he swept his tongue gently along the seam of my lips. Asking. Seeking.

With a groan, I opened to him, and he wasted no time dipping inside. Tentatively, I joined in the play and felt him harden against my hip.

He broke off from my mouth and trailed small kisses, like butterflies, along my cheekbone and to my ear.

“Please say you’ll keep me,” he breathed so quietly, I almost didn’t hear, but the desperation in his words was unmistakable.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I want to.”

He sucked gently on my neck in a way that sent sparks directly to my core. I knew I was soaked, and not just from the shower. I was ready for him. I wanted him.

Even as I had these thoughts, I felt an unnameable panic rising. Tase froze and backed off a step.

“I...” I started.

“It’s okay, babe. We have time.”

The moment was broken, and it was my fault. Why was I like this? I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my wet dress.

“I’ll just... get you a fresh towel,” I said in a low voice as I hurried to the linen cupboard to do just that.

I was still mentally berating myself as Tase cut the water and stepped onto the floor mat.

“Babe, seriously. You are safe with me. And this thing? It’s brand new. It goes as fast or slow as you want it to. The only thing I hope is that you will let it play out.”

How did I end up with someone this amazing?

I nodded my agreement, and left to give him some privacy to dress.

Moments later he emerged, no longer green, but still with those sweatpants slung low over his hips, beautifully displaying his Adonis belt. I wanted to lick it, but thought that might be a bad idea with my chicken succubus in tow.

“My eyes are up here, Baby Girl.”

Caught ogling for the...okay, I had lost count of how many times today, I huffed a relieved laugh at the cheeky glint in his eyes.

“Just kidding, look your fill. I did have one question though, well, two really. What are you up to this afternoon? And do you have any more of that glitter?”

Chapter Thirteen

Ren

I am an intelligent, grown ass man. I am stronger than my animal instincts. I am not going to climb these fucking walls waiting to find out what happened to my mate.

I was on the twelfth lap, and the sixty-third recitation of my new mantra when Colbie returned.

“She’s okay,” the woman yelled as she stepped through the front door. I leaned against the counter, crossed my arms, then dropped them by my sides, trying to look less unhinged than I felt. Counting the seconds as she approached, I wondered if she purposely moved slower to make me lose what was left of my mind. I would not ask what had happened until she was in front of me.

I cracked.

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