Page 21 of A Cock and Bull Story
“What the fuck does that mean?” Jack demands, evernotthe diplomat.
Arthur looks at me and I just shrug in confusion, but Elise and Sian are losing it on the couch. Just then, Belle comes out of the bathroom. She takes two steps, sees who’s at the door, and rushes forward.
“Professor Yardley! I. . . I completely forgot about our plans,” she confesses with a gorgeous blush.
The professor sniffs.
“Obviously! It looks like you’re having an orgy!”
“N-n-no!” Belle stutters, looking at us wildly. “I’ve. . . renounced my ways. I have a problem—I can admit that now. These are my friends who are helping me. I can no longer indulge intacos.”
The last part is said with absolute resignation, and I have no idea why she can’t eat the American meal anymore. The Yardley woman raises one skeptical brow.
“Really—then, what arethose twodoing here?” she queries in a narky1tone, pointing at Elise and Sian.
“I swear I’m not tonguing their tacos!” Belle denies loudly.
From across the hall, there comes a groan.
“Dammit, the wee peng Yank isn’t Aussie kissing anymore! What are we going to do on Tuesday nights, now?” the neighbor bloke moans to someone.
Everyone swivels to stare at Belle, who looks down and shuffles her feet nervously.
“I might have let my neighbors film me a time or two. . . or twenty. But who’s counting? And, that’s their major—so, really, I was helping them. But that was all in the past. I promise I haven’t relapsed, unless you count Jack fucking my ass earlier. . .”
“Wow,” Arthur breathes, and poor Belle looks close to tears.
“She’s definitely a nympho,” Sian stage-whispers to me.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I soothe, seeing Belle’s downtrodden expression.
“I’m working on it,” she mutters. “Sort of.”
“We have bigger issues,” Jude interjects, reminding me about the Tertiary attack.
“Ms. Harper, we will talk about this tomorrow,” Professor Yardley huffs. “I want you in my office at 10:00 a.m. sharp.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Belle replies politely, cringing.
The professor gives Jude one last look of disgust and walks away. Ignoring the snotty woman, Jude shuts the door and turns to Belle.
“Don’t worry, no one here is judging you,” he assures her. “What I am concerned with is why a woman was murdered near where we hold our weekly meetings.”
“You think it was a message?” Elise asks sharply.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Jack, Arthur, and I are going to go back to Banbury and investigate. Belle, can Theo, Sian, and Elise stay here with you?”
“Of course—I only have one room, though,” she explains, hooking a thumb toward a closed door that, thankfully, doesn’t have a wanking sign on it, too.
“I can sleep in the bath2,” I offer.
One of the perks of being a small fish, I can easily fit inside one and swim around.
“Perfect,” Jude praises, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll be back.”
With this, Jack, Arthur, and Jude depart. Elise and Sian take Belle and lead her to the sofa to sit. With slumped shoulders, I go to join them, trying not to feel too disheartened. I understand why Jude wanted me to stay behind—what help can a water shifter be on land?
Suddenly, Belle takes my hand and gives me a beautiful smile. She has been nothing but accepting of me and my slippery dick. With that thought, I stop crying stinking fish3—I can’t change who I am.
