Page 12 of The Mating Frenzy
Xavier gestured to the sofa. “Sit. We need totalk.”
Kieran sensed the wizard’s sincerity in wishing to help him. If Xavier’s aid meant completing his assignment and getting the hell out of here sooner, he’d gladlyaccept.
“Thank you for helping me out,” he toldhim.
Xavier shook his head, his mouth thinned. “I don’t have much choice. You’re like a lost puppy right now in the Skinworld.”
He drew himself up with dignity. “I am not a dog,wizard.”
“It’s an expression.” Xavier sighed. “Never mind. Let’s get down to basics. I’m not very familiar with the courtship rituals in your world. I need to know so we can use what you’re comfortable with, in order for you to get to know Ellabetter.”
This sounded interesting. If there was intimacy involved, he was quite happy to oblige. “I would enjoy getting to know herbetter.”
Like getting to know what she looked like nude. Those curves, big breasts, yum. Kieran enjoyed all types of women, but he really liked a female with a full, lush figure. More to caress andlick.
“How do you initiate a relationship with a female in the Winterkingdom?”
Odd question. Kieran shrugged. “I get naked, she gets naked, and then I mount her. Usually from behind. That is how jaguar shifters doit.”
Xavier covered his face with his palm. “This is going to be harder than Ithought.”
“What? Females on earth don’t get naked when they have sex?” Kieran frowned. “Skin to skin contact is most pleasant, but if they prefer under clothing, I am very good at liftingskirts.”
“You’re such a tomcat,” Xaviermuttered.
Kieran folded his arms across his chest. “Your pointis?”
Xavier ignored the question. He waved a hand. “Gideon!”
A red puff of smoke filled the air and when it cleared, Gideon, the Crimson Wizard stepped forth. His gaze whipped between Xavier andKieran.
“I see my services are required,” Gideon murmured. He stepped forward and embraced Kieran’s left arm in a show of warrior brotherhood, the same as the wizard had done back when Gideon was mortal and Kieran was hisbodyguard.
At least some things had notchanged.
“Xavier asked me how I initiate a relationship with a woman, and I believe my answer bothered him,” heexplained.
“A relationship,” Xavier said through gritted teeth. “Is not merely aboutsex.”
Kieran frowned. “My relationships with femalesare.”
“There’s companionship, tenderness?hell, cat, what about sending roses or courting them? There’s much to be said for being with a female that has nothing to do with sex,” Xavier gratedout.
Ah. Now he got it. “You’re talking about a mating, finding my one true mate. That’s not thesame.”
Gideon and Xavier exchanged glances. “Not exactly. Haven’t you courted a woman to find out if she could be your mate? That’s a relationship with a woman,” Gideon toldhim.
Kieran’s chest felt too tight. For a moment, he wished he were settled, with a mate such as Gideon had. He tired of these sexual conquests. The pleasures were delicious, but he wanted something more and deeper. Richer andlasting.
Not for me, he thought, grief pinching him. Settling down with a mate in the Winter Kingdom was impossible. He was the last of his kind. His entire family had been killed in the Fae Wars hundreds of years ago and other jaguar shifters in the Fae world opted to live as Skin or they’d retreated to the Dark Kingdom, where they could shift without worrying humans would seethem.
“Not since I last came here to the Skin World. I gave up trying to find amate.”
Sex had been easy, and women enjoyed being with him, even if only for a night. It had left him feeling empty and even more alone after they left his bed, but he’d resigned himself to that fact. After he’d last come to earth and his sister had been killed, he resolved to avoid finding hismate.
No mate was worth losing a belovedsister.
“Here on Earth it’s called dating,” Gideon said gently. “You woo a woman and eventually, have sex with her. You spend time doing things like walking on the beach, seeing a movie, attending a music event or thetheater…”
