Page 60 of Let Me Win You

“I’ll make a lasagna for dinner—” she paused, noticing me still lingering by the door, because it took forever to drag my fucking tail in, which was one of the reasons I had no doors in my place.

“How are you feeling, my treasure?” Avar asked her.

“I’m good. About to make dinner,” she replied, not taking her eyes from me. “Hello, Invi.” She furtively slid a cautious glance down my tail.

Until now, I had always made the effort to shift to a humanoid form in Madison’s presence, to make it easier for her to accept me. But Nic accepted me just the way I was, and I saw no reason to hide my true appearance from anyone anymore.

“Good evening, Madison.” I gave her a bow like every lady deserved to be greeted with. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Take your fucking pleasure elsewhere,” Avar grumped.

“I’ll be glad to,” I assured him. “But only after I speak with you.”

“Well, I’ll go make that lasagna.” Madison made to leave but then paused to ask me, “Will you join us for dinner, Invi?”

There was no fear or repulsion in her eyes, only some curiosity as she cast another furtive glance at my tail. She must know there was no reason for her to be afraid of me, and with Avar in the room, she clearly felt completely at ease—fearless.

“I’m honored by the invitation,” I replied. “But sadly I’m already engaged elsewhere this evening.”

“Well, maybe some other time then? It was very nice seeing you, Invi.”

I inclined my head as she turned around to leave.

“Stop staring at her,” Avar growled when Madison disappeared up the path. Apparently, I hadn’t averted my eyes fast enough for his liking.

I was no stranger to the feeling of jealousy, but Avar almost had me beat in that department.

“I can’t speak with a woman without at least making some eye contact with her, can I?” I snapped.

“She doesn’t have eyes on her ass,” he retorted.

“I wasn’t even looking at her ass. I—” I brushed him off in frustration. “Listen, Avar, I’m not interested in Madison.”

“Sure you aren’t,” he scoffed.

Avar’s cat snuck in through a small swinging door in the bottom of the front entrance that I hadn’t even noticed until now. Did Avar add a special door for the cat? That was ridiculous. But then again, I had built a dam up the creek near my house, so that my ducks had a nice pond to swim in whenever they wished.

“Ahh, there you are, Keeper,” Avar murmured affectionately, petting the cat with a tentacle. “Run up to the kitchen, buddy. Mommy has some treats for you there.”

“Mommy?”I smirked. “If Madison is his mommy, does that make you the cat’s daddy?”

Avar shrugged, unfazed. “Just the cat’s for now.”

“What do you mean,for now?Don’t tell me—” I stared at him, speechless from the realization setting in. “Are you…”

“Not yet.” Avar laughed, slapping me on the shoulder. “But Maddy and I have talked about it. The ring turns me into a human with all the reproductive functions included. Things are going great at the restaurant. We’re considering trying for a baby at some point in the future.”

He sounded so much like a human man at that moment, it sent chills down my back.

“Well, wow…” I rubbed my forehead, momentarily lost for words. “Are you seriously considering making a new mortal body to house a soul?”

He laughed. “When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound nearly as lovely and magical as when Maddy talks about it. But yes, by having a baby, we would be giving a new body to a soul that we would then get to nurture from birth and hopefully raise into a decent human being.”

“Good luck with that,” I wished him without a hint of teasing or sarcasm.

I had serious concerns about the huge undertaking that Avar was considering. The mortal sins were not meant to birth and raise humans. But we weren’t meant to have mortal bodies, either. Yet Avar had one on a regular basis now, going freely back and forth between the worlds.

That was what I actually came to talk to him about.

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