Page 26 of Moonlit Alexandrite

“I’ll tell you later. But anyway, aside from knowing that she was using her powers, there is one very obvious tell-tale sign for when a true mate bond is activated for a satyr, say... through a spell.”

Lex cocked her head curiously. She truly was just so innocent. With a wicked grin, I stood and showed the very prominent erection I had been hiding since she walked into the room.

Tase coughed a laugh as Ren snorted in annoyance.

Lex stared.

“Is there a burrito in your pocket? Or are you happy to see me?”

Chapter Sixteen

Lex

A week later, as I sat beside Ren watching a baby wildebeest being born under the watchful eye of a pride of lions, I couldn’t get Dion’s words out of my head.

“There’s more to that story, isn’t there?”

Ren glanced down at me, brow furrowed, as he tried to pick up the thread of my thoughts.

“I think the lions are fairly certain to get their meal, Red. The cubs won’t go hungry.”

I rolled my eyes and swung my feet into his lap so I could face him. “I meant Dion. The story about Tammilyn. Don’t get me wrong, it’s clear she deserves to have her kitty waxed with cold strips for the rest of her life. A real hack job with all the sting, none of the hair removal, but he still seems so cut up over it. Did he...” I ran out of steam as I realized I really didn’t want to know the answer to that one.

“Love her?”

Ouch, yep, even hearing it hurt. I cast around for a change of topic.

“Red, breathe. Dion never loved that girl. He was infatuated with the idea, and for someone who didn’t have much in the way of stability growing up, he didn’t take it well when the ground he thought was solid, crumbled. It’s not my story to tell, but please be patient with him. He needs you more than any of us.”

The suffocating weight on my chest eased with his words. I could do that. Be patient.

We had fallen into a routine these past few days. Ren and Newt came over every evening. He cooked dinner for the four of us, then Colbie took Newt out for an hour or so while Ren and I spent time together. It turned out he shared my love of animal documentaries. And ice cream. We had hours-long conversations about everything from music to art, from favorite places around Moonlit Falls to plans for the future.

Tase, for his part, seemed to appear everywhere I went either as a man or a horse. Several times he had shifted from one to the other, and I had to talk Stone out of arresting him for ‘public indecency’ twice already. On the second occasion, I may also have been playing decoy whilst Tase set a trap for the selkies, but we were well clear before the shaving cream cannon went off.

Dion had been mostly absent. He reportedly worked most nights at Flare, and while Ren had invited him to join us for dinner, he had yet to accept.

I was woman enough to admit it felt like rejection, even knowing Dion’s past.

Ren absently began to massage my feet as the setting changed on the program, sending us to Madagascar and the dung beetle. His hands were strong, the strokes firm, and I felt myself melt under his touch. Back and forth, back and forth, he kneaded until his thumb dug into a spot in the arch, and a jolt flew straight up my leg and to my core. I wriggled discreetly as arousal flooded my senses and tried to suppress the whimper that wanted to escape.

“Is it too hard?” Ren asked, noticing me shifting out of the corner of his eye.

“Not hard enough,” I said without thinking. Ren paused. The air seemed to thicken as my comment registered for both of us. The guys had been respectful of my skittish succubus, and it occurred to me we were all being patient with this new thing. I wanted to try for more. “Can I... is it okay if...?” Jesus, she’ll blurt out the most obscene pick-up lines, but I can’t ask my mate if I can feel him up a little? I really will be a virgin forever.

“Yes, Red, you can do whatever you want to me.”

With a deep breath for courage, I sat up and swung my leg over his hips. Beneath me, his chest barely moved. Predator or prey, though? I had the feeling that given free rein, he would happily consume me. I shivered at the thought and focused my attention on the buttons running down the front of his black shirt. It was the middle of summer and I had yet to see him wearing anything other than a black button-down and pants, just the same as the first night we met. The final button gave way with a muted pop and I slid my hands over the smooth skin of his abdomen, up his pecs, and over strong shoulders until the silky material slid off his arms. He was a work of art, and my fingers itched for a paintbrush. His dark skin reflected a faint blue tinge, lit up by my succubus preparing to feed, which created a color that would be difficult to replicate, his eyes such a bright citrine color he looked like day and night in one body. He was more heavily built than Tase, each of his muscles standing out in stark relief, as though carved by the hand of a master craftsman.

“Red?” Ren’s teeth flashed white, and I noticed amusement in the eyes I had just been admiring.

“You’re beautiful,” I said, by way of explanation.

He huffed a laugh, and the motion made me acutely aware of a large interest growing between us. And by interest, I meant his penis. It was huge. Like, at first, I thought he had moved his leg.

I realized I wanted to see it. Checking in with my succubus, it was a shock to find she was raising no objection, and also appeared curious about what our mate was packing.

My hands had a fine tremor to them as I reached between us and worked his belt loose. He let out a surprised grunt at the latest turn of events but, true to his word, let me do as I pleased, even raising his hips to help as I removed his pants and sank to my knees before him.

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