Page 50 of Simon

Simon’s ears pulled back, and his arms wrapped around me. It felt good to be hugged. The only person I allowed to hug me was my father, but this was surprising. It was just like the night the ogre scared me.

I’m so screwed.

“Anyway, she was pregnant. Heavily. My father took her to the hospital, but they couldn’t save her. Her heart stopped beating, but they managed to save the poor baby inside her.”

Simon whimpered and pulled me into his lap. I didn’t stiffen, instead I laughed as I got up close and personal with his face. He had such soft hair on his cheeks. His nose was slitted, different from mine, eyes big and wide, but I could read his emotions like an open book.

“My father asked what was going to happen to me. They found out who the woman was, but she had no contacts. Judging by herclothes, she was poor and homeless. They told my father I would be just another child amongst others in a broken system. Being an orphan on Earth isn’t a good thing, Simon. It’s hard to find parents to love you. I’m sure there are others that have a great life, but the odds weren’t in my favor.”

Simon put his nose into my neck and took a deep breath. I tried not to laugh as his whiskers brushed my cheek.

“Dad adopted me then and there. Well, he said he would take me. It took months to get the paperwork right, but from the very beginning, he’s always been my father.”

“He is a good male.” Simon threaded his fingers through mine. “Without him, I would not have you.”

I felt a rush of emotions as Simon held me close; his sincerity warmed my heart in a way I never thought possible. His simple words meant more to me than he would ever realize. My father was a goodmale.Selfless, caring, and kind.

Would my father mind if I began to care for a faun who had those same qualities? A person other than my species?

Father had kept me away from men for so long, that I had developed a strange fear of other men and had never had much connection with men anyway. Now that I had met Simon, it was different. Simon wasn’t a man—or animal. He was a lot more than I gave him credit for.

As I gazed into Simon’s eyes, I saw a reflection of my own feelings mirrored back at me. It was a strange sensation, realizing how much we both had a physical and, dare I say, spiritual connection? I never thought of myself as spiritual. It was just the facts, but I couldn’t deny this. Despite our differences, we had forged a connection that ran deeper than I could have ever imagined.

With a soft smile playing on my lips, I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Simon’s cheek, feeling his warm fur beneath my lips. In that moment, surrounded by the crackling fire behind usand the soothing sounds of the birds chirping, I knew I was in over my head.

I was falling for him.

And I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop.

Simon’s back tensed up; his face flushed with a deep shade of crimson as I gently pulled my lips away from his warm, flushed cheek.

I tried to hide my smile, but Simon grew flustered and let out a long bleat.

Simon’s embarrassment made me laugh harder, the sound echoing through the quiet forest around us. I tried to compose myself, but every time I looked at Simon’s adorable red face, another peal of laughter bubbled up.

Finally, when I caught my breath, I reached out and gently touched Simon’s cheek. His fur was soft beneath my fingertips, and I felt a surge of affection for this gentle faun who had stolen my heart.

I hope you or your goddess won’t break it.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” He cleared his throat and coughed. “Here, I will show you how to obtain the root.” He took me off his lap, and I saw that his shaft had popped out of his pouch.

In the daylight, it looked impossibly larger, and since I had decided to embrace whatever connection Simon and I had, I couldn’t rip my eyes away until he turned his body to hide it.

This is for science, I told myself. Yes, for science.

One could enjoy the fruits of a well-endowed faun before he found his real mate.

“For science!” I squeaked, and Simon turned, his body looking every bit delectable with water trailing down his muscular body.

I covered my mouth and stood. “Yes, for science. I need to know how to retrieve it.”

Simon kept his problem hidden and nodded. “Come this way, I’ll show you.”

Chapter Eighteen

Simon

Shegracefullybentover,her body lowering towards the dark pit that I had dug. The rich scent of damp mud filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the tantalizing roots I had discovered. As she hovered above, the sound of her gentle breaths mixed with the rustling of leaves near her. Her plump ass was up in the air, and I tried my best not to look.

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