Page 45 of Simon

Lucy settled into a deeper sleep—one that would soon be free from fever or pain—and I allowed myself to rest too, lying beside her under the protective canopy of our branches. The desire to claim my mate still throbbed within me, but I needed to get her well.

She would not have gotten sick if it weren’t for me, but I would show her I could take care of her.

Chapter Sixteen

Lucy

I’mnaked.

I was as naked as the day I was born, lying in an enormous ball of fluff.

I pushed the large blanket away, which had been a type of leaf with a massive amount of cotton underneath. It had been snow white and so soft that I would have sworn I was sleeping on clouds. Beneath me had been more of the cotton but no leaves. Whoever had made this bed had ripped the cotton from the leaf and laid it beneath me.

Simon.

But why was I naked?

Did he rip my clothes off?

I covered myself with the blanket leaf, making sure my breasts were no longer exposed.

Did it really matter right now? I rubbed my forehead and cursed myself.

I let him touch me before; of course he would think he could see me naked.

And when I mean touch, he licked me.

There.

Sweet Rosalin Franklin, what the hell was I thinking?

I pinched the bridge of my nose. What would my father think of me being with a faun? What would any respectable human think of this? I just entered this Bergarian Realm knowing full well shifters and other species existed. They had a human form. But there was nowhere in the texts of Bergarian about Simon.

He was an evolved goat/human hybrid who had no full human form.

Would our species even be compatible if we had children?

I gasped and covered my mouth. Why was I thinking about that? There was no relationship here. Simon was curious about my body, that was all.

Right?

I saw my dress hanging in the tree. It had been washed free of mud. Then, there was this bed he made for me in the tree. Would an animal go to such lengths just to see and touch my body?

He speaks, Lucy. He has thoughts and desires just like any complicated being. His speech is just limited because he’s never tried to talk.

I nodded my head.

This is fine. Everything is fine.

I’d get to know him better, figure out more about his life and how he knew this other woman in the Wood, along with her mate. Perhaps I could get answers from them, too.

I took a quick look around the tree to make sure Simon wasn’t near. I put my dress on, minus my underwear, because those were back in the cave. Crap, I went commando, and I was sure Simon loved every bit of that.

I leaned over the tall, sturdy branch, feeling the rough bark beneath my fingertips. From my elevated position, the panoramic view unfolded before me. It was a beautiful mix of jungle and forest vegetation.

The acrid scent of burning wood and ash filled my nostrils, making my eyes water. The smell was so strong it tickled my nostrils, bringing tears to my eyes and a slight cough. I squinted and saw the orange glow of a fire flickering just a few meters away. Its flames danced and crackled.

I thought about calling Simon, but I wasn’t about to have him hold me and jump down the tree with those hooves.

---