Page 35 of Riding A Cock-Horse
“It’s a great honor to be offer—” the Laird begins.
“I know it's an honor,” Belle interrupts. “Listen, where I come from, it's rude to take someone’s room like this. I understand you're just trying to be hospitable, but you're only doing it because you think he's the Loch Ness Monster.”
Alastair stares at the Yank.
“Lass…. heisthe Loch Ness Monster.”
“Yes, I know he is,” Belle huffs. “What I'm saying, though, is he doesn't deserve any more special treatment than the rest of us. We're all equal—just like I assume you don't think you're any better because you have a penis and I have a vagina.”
Alastair appears thoughtful and opens his mouth to say something, but Arthur quickly shushes up his uncle.
“Belle, love, this is a different time and different era than my uncle and dad grew up in,” he attempts to rectify. “How about we just all go in for the night and get some sleep?”
I stifle a grin at his redirection of the conversation.
“Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea,” Nestor purrs, sounding like Harry.
Belle looks like she's ready to deck him again when, suddenly, a sinister smile wreathes her face.
“You want to mate with me?” she demands of the Tertiary.
Nestor’s eyes light up gleefully.
“Yes, I do; although, we are alreadymated.”
“Well, if you would like to finish the mating bond, I have a stipulation.”
Nestor nods eagerly, ready to agree with anything to slip between her thighs—not that I blame the bloke.
Belle has some pretty lush thighs.
“Ifyouwant to mate withme, then I need to bond with Arthur, Theo, Jack, and Jude, too.”
“What about me?” Harry cries, making me snort.
“Down, boy. One arse is enough for her,” I tease.
Although, if anyone could handle more, it would definitely be Belle.
We all gape at the outrageous Yank, but I don't know why we’re surprised by anything that Belle says anymore. Granted, this isn’t nearly as outrageous as it sounds for the sheer fact that she simply just doesn't understand how shifters mate. I run a hand through my blonde hair in agitation as I try to explain this to Belle.
“Is it because your mom and dad aren't going to see the wedding?” she wonders.
I laugh.
“It's not a wedding. It's something different… more profound andpermanent, depending on your species. Although, my mum would love for me to have a wedding. She's Irish—very Catholic and churchy—but my dad's North Irish.”
“I thought the Irish hated the North Irish and vice versa,” Belle says with a crinkle of her adorable nose.
“Eh, they have a love-hate relationship,” I smirk. “Besides, things are different when you're a shifter—your animal identity comes first. Arthur here is a little bit different. I've noticed that he and his clansmen put their ethnicity first before their shifters.”
Belle hums thoughtfully.
“So, you're a slippery dick before you are a North-South Irishman?”
I nod, trying not to chuckle.
“Yes, that's how I see it—I’m a fish first.”
