Page 14 of A Queen and Her Knight

If she wanted an intelligent response, Zoe didn’t have one. Her brain had momentarily frozen at hearing her mate talk about sex.

“The uh, sex etiquette thing?” she got out at last, in a higher voice than usual.

The expression that crossed Cleo’s face was wicked. Her heart was faster again too, as if she knew what she’d done to Zoe. Zoe’s eyes had probably glazed over and her skin had likely flushed red.

“The sex thing,” Cleo repeated, with an alluring shiver. “I know it’s why the town is famous, and a lot of people come here for that, but have you seen yourselves? It’s a bit intimidating to knowwehave to askyouguys out.”

“Only the first time,” Zoe answered blankly, then shook away some of her mental fog. “But you know the traditions aren’t only about… that, right?” Self-preservation meant Zoe stopped herself from sayingsexin close proximity to an interested Cleo.Zoe’s instincts were already urging her to bare her throat again and whimper.

“Sex?” Cleo rocked the ground beneath Zoe’s feet with another delicate, flirtatious wriggle, this one accompanied by a cute wrinkling of her nose. “I didn’t expect you to be so shy about it, considering the town’s reputation. But it’s kind of sweet to see you looking less fierce because I said one tiny word.” She inclined her head toward Zoe and lowered her voice. “Should I say it again?”

“So you and Tim seem friendly!” Zoe desperately moved away from the subject of sex before she fell back against the truck and whined for whatever kisses her mate might give her.

“So odd.” Cleo let out a noisy sigh. “You aren’t at all what I thought you’d be.” Zoe wondered if she looked as hurt as that as she was, because Cleo shook her head and went on. “You, well, cops in general are people I avoid. And you always seemed very serious when I saw you around town. But you’re a marshmallow, aren’t you?”

“I am not!” Zoe nearly howled indignantly. She straightened from her slouch against the truck. “Nathaniel Neri relies on me and calls me pack mate. Deputy. Friend.” She pushed out a breath and lifted her chin to make it clear she would stand her ground.

From Zoe’s full height, Cleo seemed even tinier. But though Cleo’s heart was pounding and she had to tilt her head up to stare at Zoe, she didn’t take a step back.

Zoe could have scared her. The realization had Zoe ducking her head down, although the wolf in her was thrumming with pride to note her mate hadn’t run away.

She peeked over. “You’re not afraid?” Every human in her high school had been happy to taunt Zoe until the moment she’d lether eyes flash, delighted to call her names when they were in groups, but they had all tried to run away the moment they were alone with her. “That’s why Wolf’s Paw has the rules. It’s why so many wolves live here. But you aren’t scared?” Her voice went soft. “Really?”

“I’m small. Pretty much anyone could take me in a fight. I can’t be afraid of everyone.” Cleo spoke slowly, with her gaze intent on Zoe. “Besides, Tim said baring the throat was important, and you’ve been baring yours to me since I came over here.”

Zoe stopped moving. Oh, her mate was smart, so smart, and Tim hadn’t warned her. “Yes,” she admitted, and clenched her jaw. Apparently, Zoe was going to act as petulant as Little Wolf, and not even her mate’s presence could stop her. “So?”

Cleo lifted both eyebrows, and then cracked a wide, wide smile.

Zoe raised her head again. It was humiliating enough that her attempts at flirting had been noticed and it hadn’t mattered. Of course, something else was probably wrong as well. Zoe had probably misbuttoned her uniform, or looked as awkward around someone so delicate and fairy-like as she always did. Cleo continued to stare, so Zoe wiped at her mouth and cheeks. She’d eaten dinner not too long ago and she was a famously messy eater. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

“Just those cute freckles,” Cleo answered without hesitation. “You have some all over the rest of you too. I noticed that the other day. It was another nice surprise after getting to see you close up with your shirt off.Verynice.”

Zoe opened her mouth, then closed it. She thought she might burst into flames.

Cleo stepped closer, surrounding Zoe with herhealing/warmth/allurescent and flower softness. “I figure, since you’ve been letting me know it’s okay if I ask, that I should go for it.”

“Go for it?” Zoe repeated blankly and bumped into the truck. Somehow, even with the town’s rules, she’d thought more wooing would be required before this might happen.

She stayed flustered the longer Cleo considered her. “Zoe,” Cleo pronounced her name carefully, “this is me expressing interest first.” She paused there. “Thatishow it’s done here? I’m not being too formal or anything? I don’t want to get my sex etiquette confused.”

Zoe’s heart kicked against her ribs. For one moment she’d been soaring. Hitting the ground hurt. She swallowed and looked away. “‘Sex etiquette,’” she echoed quietly.

“Oh.” The fall of Cleo’s shoulders made Zoe turn to her again. “You aren’t answering. Did I do it wrong? Or maybe you don’t like humans? Or girls? Or…?”

“I like girls,” Zoe interrupted. She was an idiot, but she couldn’t allow her mate to go on without at least knowing Zoe desired her. “I like you,” she added, although even her feelings for Tiff hadn’t matched the up-and-down storm of emotions from merely speaking to her potential mate. “I like you a lot. But you didn’t say.” She had to clench her hands into fists to keep going. “I’ll say yes. But you didn’t tell me what you were asking for. Sex, or… more.”

She didn’t quite plead for Cleo to ask for more, but her softly hopeful tone made her feel as small and delicate as the human in front of her.

Cleo’s smile returned, big and bright. Zoe stood up to bask in it like it was moonlight.

“A date?” Cleo offered. “Dinner?”

“Yes.” Zoe had the word out before Cleo’s second question was finished.

“Great!” Cleo was so happy. Zoe would do anything to keep her that way. Which, at least for the moment, involved standing there while Cleo dug a cellphone from her bag. “Did I ever introduce myself to you?” She stopped. “Please don’t think I have no skills. I’m not usually like this.”

Zoe nearly asked if Cleo was magic, but held it back. Humans touched by magic were supposed to be able to feel the mating bond faster, but Zoe remembered a lot of humans could be touchy about that subject. Anyway, nothing about Cleo made her nose itch. “Are you a healer?” she wondered instead, because many of the human “natural” healers used magic in their practices, even if some called it by other names. “I don’t need an introduction,” she changed the subject quickly. “Tim told me your name.”

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