Page 3 of Goblin Candy

Leaning once more against the street pole, I lazily scan the crowd in front of me. They are tucked away from sight of the main downtown drag, and it tickles me with anticipation, the little surprise that they are obviously plotting. I could put on a glamour just as wretched as theirs—if not far more realistic—and join in on the fun, but just as I’m considering it, a raven-haired beauty catches my eye, with the perfect curves in all the right places and a little black dress of such daring style that it would fit right in among the fairy courts.

Not that goblins are often invited to such events. Still, among her friends she radiates an aura that draws me to her as if she were a dark goddess herself, and I realize instantly that I have fallen into fate’s cleverly laid trap. It seems that I dismissed the probability of this happening too soon, but I’m not mad. Not even a little bit.

What luck!

I didn’t even have to expend the effort to hunt her out and here she is! Truly the fates must be rewarding me for my great deeds, the kindest and trickiest sorts both. Not only have they brought me right to her, but they have provided a comely, delightfully curvaceous mate for me and I find myself doubly blessed.

My lips curve in delight as my eyes rove over her appreciatively and with no little amount of possessiveness. A few nearby males turn to ogle her, but it takes less than a growl and a flickering illusion of some shadowy creature hovering over them for them to return to their business, my female forgotten. Satisfied, my gaze returns to her, and the tip of my tongue curls around one fang at the sudden rise of a terrible hunger crawling its way from deep within me. It sets my insides ablaze, instantly rousing every possessive instinct.

The sensation is startling. Goblins are fun-loving creatures, and rarely have a possessive or jealous bone in our bodies when it comes to lovers once we reach sexual maturity, but that old life suddenly disintegrates as green eyes the color of the darkest leaves of the fae forests turn to me and meet mine. My skin shivers with awareness. Oh, yes.Mine!

I know that she recognizes me as well, even if she doesn’t know it. Her eyes widen, and I catch the most delicious perfume in the air. Even when her friends distract her, I note that her gaze instinctively seeks me out though I have slipped into the crowd, evading her detection. The disappointment on her face cuts me, but I ignore it as my every instinct burns for the hunt.

There is no hurry. This is not the fae realm where dangers force a male to secure his mate quickly. Here, I have all the time in the world to pursue my female and enjoy the pleasures of the hunt at my leisure. Now that I have her scent, and know that she can’t elude me, I’m discovering the pleasure of watching her tremble with hot need as I close in, unseen and undetected.

The female beside her with a wreath of blonde curls is, however, not so easy to deceive. Although my female senses my presence and seems to pull toward me whenever I inch near, her friend dressed very much like a bone fairy is quick to scowl in my direction and hurry my mate out of my grasp.

It amuses me. I can’t decide if she actually sees me or if she just possesses an uncanny ability to sense my presence. Those humans who possess more than a drop of magic in their blood have this gift. As curious as I am as to the nature of this little blonde human, it is not enough to divert my focus from my mate, or my objective.

The humans suddenly surge out in a flurry of awkward dragging movements, and I bite back a laugh at the wonderful absurdity of it. Humans lurch about with bits of fake flesh peeling from them to the delight of the gathering crowd who pulls out their cellphones. Such marvelous chaos, and my mate is jerking herself so exquisitely that her bottom jiggles with every movement. I privately declare her the best staggering zombie there with her gauzy black wings slapping behind her with every move.

This train of performance goes on for some distance, groans and moans issuing from the humans with their every step. It is unfortunate that my mate’s moans are quite distinct to my ear because as much as I’m delighting in all of this, my cock has stiffened painfully in my trousers. She tempts my resolve to not end the game too quickly. I decide it is time for a strategic retreat but not before she sees me once more and is reminded of who it is who has marked her for his claim.

Spryly, I move through the crowd until I’m in front of the march of the dead. My smile grows as I pick out my mate staggering toward me with her companions. Taller than the blonde at her side and set apart from the clearly mated couple with their offspring, she is a delight for my senses as I zero in on her. I draw in a deep breath, drinking in her perfume. I’m certain that my pupils are expanding with interest as she gets closer and closer.

I duck down and move alongside the group until I slide in beside her, the warmth of my body grazing her own. She looks up at me in surprise and loses her footing, but I don’t let her fall. My reflexes are superior to a human’s, and I catch her arm under the elbow effortlessly, steadying her until she can regain her balance. That brief contact shoots through me, heat pooling in my belly where it feeds continuously to my cock. As fleeting as our contact is before I release her, it is enough to feed the hunger and make my instincts clamor. It would be so very easy to scoop her up and steal her away now. But I won’t.

I lean in so that my lips brush her ear and whisper, “Soon.”

Her pupils blow wide as her breath escapes her in a sharp pant due to that single little promise. My eyes hood with desire as I smile down at her. I want to kiss her, to taste all of her, but not yet. My nostrils flare as I drag her scent in one last time before I duck back into the crowd and disappear.

I could linger and follow her home if I wished to, but I don’t. I relish this hunt too much to take shortcuts. Nor do I wish to disrespect my mate by not properly pursuing her. The game is afoot, and the goblin hunt has begun. What great fun, but this time for the greatest of prizes.

I can’t wait to track her down again and see what tomorrow brings.

CHAPTER3

CANDY

It’s strange. I don’t obsess over men, and yet I can’t get the green stranger out of my mind. He’s too strange-looking to be what I would normally consider “handsome.” Oh, he’s hot as hell with a physique that’s clearly to die for, and there is something almost sculpted about his high cheekbones and angular features. But it is the little things that throw me off even now as I think about him. His nose was a bit broader than I typically see on a human. And then there were the little horns. I’m also sure I caught sight of a tail, but these days nothing is impossible since artificial tails have become all the rage.

Yet I can’t seem dislodge him from the place he’s taken circling relentlessly through my mind. It’s also distracting me from my Halloween celebrations, which is very annoying. I sigh as I climb out of my car and adjust the seam of my witch costume and slap the floppy felt witch’s hat over my wild curls. It’s a good thing I never throw my most favorite costumes away and just cycle through them, because each one is going to get a workout this week. Grabbing a tray with a clear plastic lid—my contribution to the Halloween carnival and bake sale fundraiser—I hustle up to the steps of the library in front of me.

I smile down at the spooky cupcakes I’m carrying as I step inside. They do look good. With thickly piped frosting, a pair of perfectly molded chocolate bat wings stuck in them, and a smiling fanged face, they are adorable little treats straight from a chocoholic’s dreams. They taste wonderful too. I helped myself to two of them this morning with a promise to burn off some extra calories after all the Halloween festivities are over.

Hosting a Halloween carnival to raise funds at the library is a brilliant idea on Lottie’s part. A public event at a library not only draws people here who might have forgotten it even exists, it also funnels money into improvements and new books. Though I never need an excuse to enjoy more Halloween fun, the cause is one I am more than happy to help.

In fact, I’m excited to play my part. I’m running the haunted aisles and finally have a chance to flex my haunted house muscles. Since everything is contained on the library property, the entire third level where much of the adult fiction, especially the horror section, is located has been transformed, at my suggestion, into a Haunted Library for today only. I spent all day setting up before running home to don my costume and pick up the cupcakes, but it’s so worth it.

Spotting Lottie bent over one of the game booths, I practically dance over as quietly as possible with my box of goodies. I definitely like her costume choice. Even from the back I can tell exactly what she’s supposed to be, and that is the mark of a great costume. She’s wearing some white frilly nonsense that is supposed to make her look like a Victorian lady, but the layers of white powder coating her perfectly coifed wig is what sells it. A ghost! How marvelous.

Balancing the box in one hand, I run a finger up her back, startling a yelp from my friend. Thankfully, I am an old hand at Halloween tricks so I remember to quickly step out of the way before she whirls around in surprise. It wouldn’t do to lose my hold on the cupcakes. I laugh at her look of amused disgust and promptly offer my box of delicacies.

“Should have guessed that would be you,” she mutters, taking the box.

“I couldn’t resist trying to spook the spook,” I tease.

She attempts a disdainful scowl like the ghostly lady she is dressed as but ruins it completely when a laugh bubbles out. Glancing down at the chocolate goodness contained inside the box she now carries, a smile lights her face.

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