Page 6 of Foxin' Around

“Wow,” she whispered in awe just as something brushed the side of her leg.

She jumped and quickly sidestepped in response to the ticklish sensation that teased her skin through her freshly ripped leggings. She glanced down, her eyebrows flying upward in surprise.

Jasper’s ears flicked and his head tipped back to look up at her.

“Wow—again. I guess living here with Syrix, you guys are all really friendly, huh?”

She reached her hand toward the fox and hesitated, only for the fox to learn forward and lean his head in her hand. Her smile widened excitedly, and she gently pet him, her fingers scratching and stroking his cheek before sliding over his ear and down the thick ruff of fur around his neck. Every bit of him was incredibly soft. She couldn’t believe she was actually petting a fox.

“You are a beauty, Jasper,” she told him and sighed as she reluctantly straightened, her hand falling away. Although he allowed her to pet him, it was a good idea to not get too overexuberant with it. He was still a wild animal, not a pet. Turning forward once more, she scanned the trees before locating one that had a big, soft patch of grass in front of it. “Jackpot.”

Pursing her lips, she began to whistle a little melody from her childhood as she made her way over to the tree. She might not have anything on Jiminy Cricket, but it definitely felt like a “wish upon a star moment” to her.

Upon arriving at the tree, she dropped into the grass and settled back against the tree’s trunk as a spray of pink cherry blossoms fell over her like a fragrant rain. Her eyes slippedhalf shut and she smiled, soaking it in as the sun warmed her. Syrix must have thinned the forest a bit right in that spot before planting his little grove. It certainly felt like a little bit of paradise, indeed.

The fox dropped his belly and quick-crawled toward her. She startled a little by his sudden movement, but quickly relaxed when he settled against the side of her thigh, his body offering additional warmth as he draped his head across her lap. She smiled, her eyes drifting closed.

“It’s like a dream,” she murmured, and Jasper sighed heavily as if in agreement. “I hope it lasts. I’m so tired of nightmares.”

She just wanted to dream. Just a little longer. She wanted to keep this beautiful moment forever.

Chapter

Five

Syrix stared at the darkening sky outside the window. He had only just returned a short while ago, but he did not understand what was taking his mate so long to arrive. Had she decided not to come back after all? His hands clenched tightly at his side as his imagination ran wild with all of the possible reasons for her delay. How did human males so casually court females when the uncertainty of everything was something he personally found distressing?

A soft rumbling sound trembled in the air around him that seemed to drag him deeper into the overwhelming feeling until Fixi suddenly yipped, startling him from it. His gaze shifted down to the fox as the small male darted out the door in a streak of silvery red. Syrix blinked slowly after him. The cabin was silent now and his hand rose so that the tips of his claws brushed his throat. Had the sound come from him?

He drew a deep breath and allowed it to release with a slow shudder. He simply could not be growling without even the slightest provocation and be so entirely unaware of it, not when he was trying to pass as a human for Krystal. Gods, she was already afraid of him, what would she do if she discoveredthat he was not even human? His stomach twisted in response and he pushed the thought away as bitter bile filled his mouth. The possibility did not even bear thinking about. She could not discover the truth.

She would not.

He startled, his tail stiffening in surprise when a small light sprung to life and danced in the near distance. as if emerging from the grove. He took a step forward, bristling. If there was a fairy hunting in his territory and trying to lure away his mate, he was going to personally tear his wings off. His tension fled, however, when Fixi yipped excitedly and Syrix slowly expelled the breath he had not even realized he had been holding when he heard her responding laughter. There she was. Finally.

His tail lifted in excitement, but he quickly tucked it tightly against his legs once more. Tails peeking out were a notorious give away. He had to keep it contained. But he did not bother to hide the pleased smile curling his lips as he stepped out onto the porch, his robe catching the slight breeze and flaring around him as he peered down at the little human female. She paused just in front of the bottom step and gave the cabin an uncertain look.

Syrix glanced back at it and gestured to her invitation. “You must be tired. Come, take your rest. I will prepare our meal.”

Her pink tongue swept over her bottom look, the uncertainty in her expression deepening in a way he found greatly unpleasant. His head cocked as he regarded her with concern.

“What is wrong, sweetheart? Are you still afraid, even after wandering safely and unaccosted through my territory?”

Her lips thinned slightly with displeasure, but her fear waned in the face of it, just as he hoped that it would.

“I would like to remind you that just because you are here does not make it yours,” she replied, her voice calm despite the disdain behind each and every syllable.

He inclined his head in acknowledgment, but his smile grew as he peered back at her calmly, unruffled by her attempts to dislodge him from his new home. “As you like, but it does not change anything, and my offer still stands.”

“Of course it wouldn’t,” she muttered sourly. “And stop calling me sweetheart.”

“You did not provide me with a name,” he reminded her and chuckled quietly at the fleeting look of frustration that crossed her face.

She certainly was a delight. He enjoyed bantering with her almost as much as he had enjoyed curling up with her beneath the cherry tree throughout the afternoon. He would happily enjoy the passing centuries with her in his den. He even enjoyed the adorable way she was crossing her arms over her chest in an attempt to communicate her dominance. She had yet to realize that dominance games with a fox mate were not so much about winning. It was a clever little dance that could give much pleasure to both of them.

A tiny, exasperated huff escaped her, and her eyes rolled in a way that greatly amused him. Humans were so expressive! Or at least his human was. He loved it! He would have to try the expression in the mirror at the first opportunity.

“It’s Krystal,” she muttered. “My name that is.”

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