Page 66 of Gambling with Time

She sniffed and looked at the ribbon as if it was a string of gold instead of pink silk. I could see her need to snag it from between my fingers, but she hesitated.

“What kind of message?”

“Just that her best friend needs her help. And she can text me for my location once she is back in this realm.”

She eyed the ribbon and then my face as she decided if the payment was enough.

“I’ll send her back with three more rolls just for you once she comes.”

Her face lit up, and she fluttered her wings excitedly. “Deal, little mortal. Don’t forget, Fae deals are binding.”

I held the ribbon out for her, and she flew over and lifted it into her arms. It was almost the same size as she was, but she carried it back into the tree without a backward glance. Now we only had to wait for her to get the message to Brook.

“That’s it?” Raiden asked when I turned back the way we had come.

I smiled. “Yeah, pixies are easy.”

“Dangerous. You used the wrong word. If they will do the bidding of anyone for a roll of ribbon, do you even know what kind of things people could have them do?”

“They still have brains. They might want the ribbon, but if it is something they know is wrong, most of them won’t accept the deal.”

“Most,” he huffed. “Does Brook know what they are like?”

I laughed. “Yes, she is the one that taught me, well, her guys were the ones that taught me, but same thing.”

He shook his head as he walked beside me through the underbrush. “I think I should warn them.”

“You’re cute.”

“Cute?”

“Yeah. All protective and shit, it’s sweet. I mean it has always been sweet, if not a little annoying, but now that I know you don’t see me like a little sister it is mainly nice.”

“Well, I can show you how nice and protective I can be when I have Alastor lock you up in his tower to keep you safe.”

I scoffed. “Alastor wouldn’t.”

“He would.”

Rai was probably right, if given the right incentive he would do it in a heartbeat, and if Raiden had a good enough argument, like me growing a baby… I was still surprised it hadn’t happened the second they found out. They handled the news like champs, it could be because of the other two though.

I hummed, not really having a defense to his words, and he chuckled, that low and deep sound that I loved so much. It bounced off the trees and back to us, making me laugh too. Even in the middle of all of the chaos our lives have become, I could laugh with him. It was freeing and filled me with so much love, I thought I would burst open from it overfilling.

Our conversation stayed teasing and a little flirty until we reached the hotel again. When the penthouse elevator opened, the others glanced over from the living area, varying questions on their faces.

“She will get the message soon. We just have to wait.”

“Lucky for her, I have learned a pastime that makes me super patient,” Bellamy said with a grin that told me I was the pastime, and he wanted to eat me up. He even swiped his tongue over one of his fangs for added effect.

“You’re incorrigible,” I informed him as I crossed the room.

His tail wrapped around my waist and tugged me down to his lap as soon as I was within range. Cerberus took the opportunity to shove two of his heads into my stomach and sniff loudly. The hellhound was obsessed with the life growing inside of me. If all of the guys hadn’t already found out, they would have grown suspicious quickly with his actions. I patted him on his heads as Bellamy nudged them away from us.

“Sorry, pup, she is mine right now.” He nuzzled his face into my neck, his teeth grazing my sensitive skin and working a half-moan and half-mewl from me when the tip of his tongue joined in. Without urging or touch, I could feel my nipples pebbling beneath my shirt, already begging for the attention they knew they would get.

“Mmmm,” I hummed as he ghosted his hands over my curves, settling on my hips. Shifting I placed my knees on each side of his legs, straddling him. He captured my lips and kissed me like he was fucking my mouth, eliciting another low moan from me. I was already losing myself in him. He was right, as far as pastimes go, this was top notch.

“Not to be a cock block, but your phone just received a text from Brook,” Raiden said, breaking into the descending haze of lust. Damn, she was fast today.

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