Page 18 of A Bloodline Redeemed

He smirked.“As far as I know you are not currently under the influence of any mind-altering substances?”

At my minute head shake, he grinned.“Good.Then, as I said, I think the logic behind not engaging in pleasurable physical distractions when distraught is flawed.”Then he winked at me.“I’m fully willing to entertain you, if that’s what it takes to get you out of this stuffy library and into a better state of mind.”

Well, then.

I laughed.“Oh, such a noble sacrifice.Purely for my welfare, of course.”

He leaned in and playfully kissed the tip of my nose before releasing me.“Don’t be silly, witch.I don’t particularly enjoy lying.I’d much rather be straightforward.This is as much for my own good as it is for yours.But if you prefer that I recite sonnets in your name, I can.In fact, I know quite a few decent ones from a collection of books I found in—”

I put a hand over his mouth to stop him before I lost him entirely to the memory of his literary find.“No.No sonnets right now.”

He laughed, then licked my hand with that strangely textured tongue of his, prompting me to yank my hand off his face.“Perfect.”

Zhong shifted his feet, reminding us both of his colossal presence.“Should I… clean up the library for you while you’re gone?”he asked, his voice rough and his gaze anywhere but on me and River.

I snorted a disbelieving laugh.“Sure, big guy.We’re going to go fuck now.You clean the place up.Maybe make us some dinner?I think there’s some laundry to do while you’re at it…”

His broad shoulders slumped for a second there until his brain caught up and overcame his weird gargoyle conditioning.He lifted his gaze to mine, the tips of his pointed ears showing a faint bit of pink through his usual grayish skin tone.“Oh.You’re teasing me.”

River shook his head and gave me a chiding look.As if the giant hunk of man before us couldn’t take a little teasing now and then.He reached out and touched Zhong’s forearm, his face full of sympathy.“You can’t honestly believe I would just swoop in here and insert myself between you two then throw you out to dochores!”

I sighed and walked around them, headed toward the door.“He knows better,” I said with a wink at Zhong to let him know I meant it.“He knows he’s an equal with his own voice.He just needs reminding sometimes.I prefer to let him figure it out himself, since me telling him a thousand times hasn’t done the trick.”

Zhong rolled his eyes at me.“I’m not that bad.”I raised at brow at him, and he huffed.“Well, maybe it takes me by surprise sometimes still, but I’m learning.Not everyone sees my kind as second-class citizens.”

Then he looked down at River and seemed to really register what me and the shifter were saying.“Are you… sure?”he said, the confidence fading from his deep voice again.

I shook my head fondly, watching as he and River interacted.Zhong had made it clear that he wanted to keep River around, and I wasn’t blind.I could tell he wanted him for more than just a friend and lap cat.But how did River feel about the situation?

No one in this little harem of mine had expressed any issue with sharing thus far—once they worked through their personal stuff.And riverhadasked about sharing Aahil.But maybe this was different?I got the feeling Zhong wasn’t just being kind and offering to step aside.But I’ve certainly been wrong about things a time or two… hundred… in my life.

River just smiled up at the big gray softie, his citrine eyes sparkling.“Mmm… yes.I do like variety in my bed.And I admit, I’ve been wanting to fuck you since the moment you swept me up in your arms and carried me up the stairs that first day.Do you remember that?Or was I just another chore for you to deal with?”He rubbed his hand up and down Zhong’s arm big, muscular arm, and I had to stifle a laugh at his sly, flirty tone, so different than the way he flirted with me.River really was… versatile.

Zhong turned as red as I’ve ever seen him.It was quite a feat, with his gray skin.His throat worked as he swallowed a few times before he managed to reply.“I remember.”

River grinned, showing his sharp canines.“Yay.”

I lost control then, my laughter escaping me.“Yay,” I said in a similar tone of voice.“Goddess, River, you really are something.”

He glanced at me in surprise, but the hint of wariness that flashed over his features was gone the moment he saw that I wasn’t mocking him.“I do try.”

Zhong cleared his throat and glanced between us.“Should we… um… upstairs?”

And that was fucking adorable.The poor gargoyle still couldn’t make full sentences.He really did have it bad for the shifter.

“I mean…” I said slowly, forcing my voice to soundalmostserious.“I wouldn’t want to interrupt whateverthisis.”I waved a hand to indicate the two of them.

Zhong shook his head at me.But River growled a low animal growl and leapt forward, startling a stupid yelp out of me.“Lead the way, witch,” he purred, his eyes starting to glow.“Maybe run a little?”

It was my turn to stare at him in lusty disbelief.Was he being serious right now?Did he actually want me to act like… prey?And why thefuckdid that turn me on?

Squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin in my best haughty, old-money witch imitation, I turned away from him.“A witch would never run from a lowly animal.As if I’d ever be scared of you.”

Then I opened the library door, and ran like my life depended on it.

Chapter 12

Andy

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