Page 4 of Bound and Beguiled

“Deal!” I smiled widely. I’d do—or not do, in this case—just about anything to get my mind off of what I’d found that morning. “Thank you so much!”

“Don’t thank me,” she muttered. “Katarina’s going to be pissed. If she yells at me, this was all your fault. You threatened me. I was frightened for my life.”

I laughed, tickled by the ridiculous idea.

“Alright,” Sid said, rising smoothly to her feet. “I’ll go get you that beer, and when you’re done we can—”

A shout and the sound of glass breaking interrupted her, followed by a chorus of hisses and heavy thuds. I whipped my head around in time to see a bottle careening towards my face. It came to an abrupt halt inches from my nose, then rocketed back, catching a Naga square on the chin.

Sid cursed. “I gotta go break that up. Fucking idiots. Just—wait here, okay?”

“Sure,” I said, but she was halfway across the room already, darkness gathering around her as tentacles whipped into the fray.

I was watching the show, chin on my hand, bemused at how happy she looked wading through the middle of a biker brawl, when the padded seat beneath me shifted.

The woman who’d winked at me earlier slid in, close enough that our thighs brushed. I drew in a sharp breath. She was covered in short, silky fur as soft as a rabbit’s. I straightened, opening my mouth to say...something...but she braced an elbow on the back of the booth, bringing her face within inches of mine.

My mind went blank. Her eyes were round and wide, solid black expanses that twinkled merrily within a heavy fringe of lashes. A thick lock of wavy, honey brown hair slipped forward as she tilted her head, and the smile stretching her lips grew, spreading to reveal white teeth with delicately pointed canines.

I was pretty sure she was laughing at me, but I was too distracted by the bird trying to flap its way out of my chest to do anything about it.

“You’re Honey’s cousin, right?”

I blinked. “Who?”

“Katarina,” she laughed, flashing a hint of a tongue piercing. “You’re Katarina’s cousin? The new waitress?”

One of her breasts, covered only by a loosely draped halter top, brushed my arm. My eyebrows furrowed and I leaned back, trying to get a handle on my stampeding libido.You are celibate!I desperately reminded myself.And she’s just being friendly. Do not make it weird.I cleared my throat. “Uh, yeah. Tereza. Sorry, my name is Tereza.”

She pulled back ever so slightly, her smile dimming to just this side of blinding.

I was both relieved and disappointed.

“Good to meet you, Tereza. I’m Mared. I work here at the Broken Crown. They’re going to be at it for a while.” She tipped her head in the direction of the fight that indeed showed no signs of coming to an end. “If you want, I can grab you that beer and show you around?”

My eyes flicked to the long, gracefully pointed ears extending outwards from her hair. Not being surrounded by Humans and their limited senses was going to be an adjustment.

“That would be great, thanks!” I said, scooting after her as she bounced out of the booth.

My eyes followed her generous ass and the dimpled thighs showing beneath the little kilt. Distracted, I stood carelessly. Wincing and gripping the table, I was surprised when a long-fingered hand cupped supportively around my elbow.

“Hey, are you alright?”

I looked up into concerned black eyes set in the face of a heartbreakingly beautiful man: sculpted jaw, high cheekbones, and a mop of artfully tousled hair that draped boyishly over his forehead. He had to be as tall as Sid, with a dancer’s body that hummed with latent energy. His warm tan fur was plush, like cashmere. My fingers twitched, wanting to find out if he was as soft as the horse’s nose that velvety coat reminded me of. I mentally slapped myself.A horse’s nose? Seriously?

His nostrils flared as he looked down at me, well-groomed eyebrows drawing together.

“Yeah, I’m fine!” I chirped, pasting a wide smile over my lingering discomfort.

“Uh-huh.” His expression said he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t comment further as he smoothly tucked my arm into his and led me to the bar, flashing a cocky grin. “Well, New Girl, I’m Emyr. And if you’re looking for someone to show you the ropes, look no further.”

I leaned against a barstool and raised an eyebrow at him. It was either that or start drooling, because his smile was pure wickedness.

He ran a hand through his hair, slowly, sensual confidence radiating from him like rays from the sun. Muscles played across his bare chest as he moved, and I noticed for the first time that rings glinted at his nipples. I swallowed, tearing my gaze away. By the oath, I was going to have to switch to cold showers.

“Nah, Em,” disagreed Mared, sliding a pint of frothy beer my way. “Ropes are Efa’s specialty.” She winked broadly at another Brownie-like fae woman who was casually settling a full cask of dwarven ale into the rack. Surprising red hair shone in contrast to her dappled tan fur.

The corner of Efa’s mouth twitched, and she snagged Mared’s wrist, pulling her close for a kiss so steamy I looked away. Lifting her head, she smacked the shorter woman’s ass and cocked an eyebrow at Emyr. “That’s the way of it, Princeling.”

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