Page 105 of A Soul to Touch

“We didn’t state any rules. It was a free for all.” In retaliation, he scooped up a large handful of snow and dumped it on her head, partially burying her for a split second. “I still won!”

Faunus dug his arms around her and squeezed her into his body. “That was fun,” he said. “I have not played in a long time.”

“You’ve played games like this with others?” she asked once she’d pulled her head free.

“Yes. I played with the twins any chance we came across each other. I think they would enjoy playing thissnowball fightwith me.”

A flicker of blue lifted into his orbs. She knew she saw it, even if it was gone within the blink of an eye.

Something is making him sad.Which she thought would have been impossible after the way they’d just laughed.

She crawled to lay on top of him with her legs straight and over his. She leaned her elbow on his chest and placed her chin in her hand. “Well, why don’t you show it to them?”

“I am here with you, Mayumi,” he quickly answered, raising his hands so he could brush his claws through her ponytail. “I cannot show them without leaving.”

That caused her to pout. “I guess that’s true.”

Then he reached down, and from the backs of her thighs, his warm hands glided up her body, over her sides, shoulder blades, and then back down. He let out a sigh when he must have noticed the colour of the sky.

“It is growing dark. If you wish to finish clearing the yard before then, we must resume.”

Mayumi shrugged. “We can do that tomorrow. It’s not like it matters when it gets done.”

After contemplating her words, he let out a single snort of laughter. “You like laying on me.”

He was bigger than most single beds she’d laid on! And he was warm and comfortable. Of course she liked laying on him.

Mayumi reached up and petted his skull like she’d always wanted to, from the middle of his forehead all the way down to his snout. Although she avoided the crack, she danced her fingertips over the rest of the cool bone. His orbs went black as he leaned into her touch.

He’s magnificent.

There were so many aspects of him she adored. His face, his body, those big sexy claws and fangs, but she also found his personality incredible. Who else in the world could say they’d had a snowball fight with a Duskwalker?

He was thoughtful and yet could be so dangerously playful that it was hard not to... fall for that aspect. He was naughty, and his experience from watching humans made him almost devilish at times, but he was also so considerate.

Sure, there were times he appeared baffled by what she said or did, but he was so quick to adjust that half the time, she barely registered it.

He lets me be myself.

Mayumi had never been comfortable just being herself with another. A grown adult conducting herself in snowball fights and bossy tantrums and whorish body thrusts received judgement from many others. With Faunus, she never had to worry about any of that.

He accepted Mayumi as she was. Hot and cold, messy and clean.

There was just one thing she was uncertain of.

“Faunus, would you let me hunt Demons?” She wasn’t looking for permission. She wanted to know what he’d say, especially after the last time they’d spoken about this.

His gliding claws paused in the middle of her spine.

“It matters little on what I say on the subject,” Faunus stated, already knowing her better than most. “But I would prefer if you allowed me to do so with you. I would not interfere unless you asked me to since I know this is something that matters to you, but I would like to make sure you don’t come to harm.”

Mayumi buried her forehead against his chest while gripping the soft fur covering it.

That’s all she could ever ask for.

There had been a lingering worry that he would try to get in the way since he was here to ‘protect her’. She’d been wondering if he would try to stop her from doing something so dangerous, but hearing he would not interfere had her melting on the inside.

“I like you,” she muttered against his pectoral muscle. It was more than just a childish crush, but she’d never been good at expressing her deeper feelings.

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