Page 41 of New Nebraska Home

“Ostrich? Do you mean Osric?” Cal asked, regaining my attention.

“Yeah, maybe?” I shrugged. “Who’s Osric?”

“A member of the Fae royal family and generally a nice guy. As far as the Fae go, anyway. He’s in London, the last I heard, but I know he’s been looking for a reason to leave. I wonder if he’ll consider the threat to a halfling Fae a good enough reason. Seems he thinks sending Amelia is enough.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I shrugged and turned my attention back to watching everyone in the backyard.

Amelia put her hand on Malik, and he took a step back, brushing her off. Then, he pointed towards Leif. It was impossible to tell what exactly had just happened, but the pout on her lips was pretty satisfying.

“So…” Cal started.

“So?”

“Have you thought any more about working as a donor?”

“Not really,” I said with a sigh, wishing for the millionth time I had upgraded this house with better air conditioning. I promised myself I would do it every year, but I still hadn’t. It was so humid that I knew I must have looked like some kind of gutter rat. My hair was no doubt frizzy as could be, and I could feel the sweat drop down my back, occasionally beading and breaking down my collarbone and between my breasts.

Was there anything that made a woman feel less attractive than boob sweat?

“Didn’t like the experience?” he asked, his eyes finding the spot he’d claimed me.

“It’s not that,” the tops of my cheeks started to heat, and I blamed that damn humidity. “It’s just that it was more… personal than I expected, and it made me feel…”

“Feel what?” Cal turned his chair, so he faced me directly.

“A lot of things, and I don’t know if I’m the type of woman who could go around feeling that way with multiple men or women. Well, it’s not the number of people. It’s not knowing them, the intimate acts with strangers. I’m not exactly a one-night stand or even a first date is okay for more than a kiss kind of girl. Not that I would look down on anyone who did. I mean, sometimes I envy women who can do that. But I…” I wondered if I should stop.

“Want something more traditional?” Cal finished for me.

“No, it’s not about tradition or traditional values. I couldn’t care less about that. When I am with someone, I feel like I can give them a piece of myself. I know sex doesn’t have to be a part of feeding, but it’s still just so intimate. Maybe I’m silly, but I want the people I share something intimate with to be people I know and care about.” I sounded sappy and ridiculous.

Cal stared out the window, and I was sure he had stopped listening to my crazy ramblings when he looked at me and said, “Actually, I get it. What we shared was very intimate. Even more so than with most anyone I’ve fed on before.” He swallowed hard and looked away. “And even with others, that’s why I stopped sleeping with my donors, and I rarely visit diners, but sadly, I still need to feed. Can I ask you something personal?”

“You can ask, but I might not answer.”

“When you’re with someone, do you get possessive?”

His question threw me. My first response was no, that I had never been overly jealous or possessive of my one and only ex-boyfriend. Then I looked outside and saw Amelia, who should have been focused on Leif, talking to Brock, her hand on his chest.

“I’m not sure,” I answered as honestly as I could.

Cal nodded, staring outside like I was, watching this woman hit on Brock.

“I was never jealous or possessive before. I was with Pandora for decades, but we were both free to see other people, and I never had a problem with it.”

“And now?” I asked as he stood up and moved to go back downstairs.

“Now, I want to break the fingers of anyone who touches Brock except you. For some reason, I quite enjoy the idea of watching you touch him and vice versa. I’m not attracted to the dragon the way I am with you or Brock, but the way he looks at you and you watch him… doesn’t bother me. The way the cop looked at your ass when you stood up and made me want to stake him. I don’t know what to make of that.”

Just like that, he dropped that bomb and then went downstairs before I could even process what he said.

What the hell was I supposed to do with that information?

Malik

FAMILY IS CLOSE

Once I was sure the little one was safe with Brock and the handsy Fae, I decided to go on patrol around the area. Partly because I wanted to get away from the Fae woman—I didn’t like the way her eyes traveled over my body like I was a meal. If Brock wanted to deal with being petted by her that was his problem—but mostly because I could feel myself getting stronger. My dragon pushed against my ribs, wanting to be let out to play and explore.

---