Page 42 of Pulled By the Tail
“Then stop bringing up that tedious idea that I’m property you can trade like… like I don’t know, something tradeable. Goats or some shit.”
Spying a thick towel and a pile of her carefully folded clothes, he extended the towel toward her.
She kicked and swam away from him. “The snow’s not that bad.”
Spoken like a novice. “The snow is not the issue. It is the wind,” he said.
She dipped under the water and reemerged, slicking back her wet hair. “Two ideas,” she said. The coppery green water hid her form. Only the tops of her shoulders were visible. “We should rent out the house for functions and events.”
“We rent rooms to guests.” He would fail if he tried to rush her, understanding that his mate was a stubborn one. She’d dig her claws in and hang on tightly. They still had some time to return to the shelter of the house safely.
“Yes, and the house is amazing. It was built to entertain, you said. People will pay good money, a lot of money, to hold weddings and parties here. You even have a ballroom.”
“That requires refurbishment.” But he could see the potential.
She dipped under the water again. “Then we hire some people to get it finished. The conservatory is a photogenic and intimate place to exchange vows or hold a small event. In the summer, we can set up a marquee on the lawn.”
He made a non-committal noise.
“We have ten rooms if people want to stay the night, which is perfect for smaller events. For the larger ones, we’re not that far out. Besides, I’ve been looking at the market, and there’s nothing comparable in Drac. If someone wants to get married and have a party, they do it in their backyard. It’s a good idea.”
The confidence in her voice was unmistakable.
“And the other idea?”
“We should fuck,” she said.
Chapter 9
Georgia
G,
Get it.
-Freema
This wasn’t like her. This was rash and impulsive, a bad idea in progress, and her heart raced with excitement.
The way he looked at her, like he wanted to toss her over his shoulder caveman-style, made her shiver, in a good way. Naked and wet, she wanted him to throw her down to the floor—okay, maybe onto a towel on the floor—and fuck her senseless.
The day had been so frustrating; she just wanted to feel good. Despite being introduced as the house manager, the window installers refused to follow her directions. Every question, every decision, they just ignored her and ran off to Talen, only to have him repeat her words. The shitshow took twice as long as it should have, resulting in the windows running way past the estimated three-day installation. With the storm setback, it’d take a week, easy. She had to cancel guest bookings, which was lost revenue and a black eye to the house’s reputation.
If she’d been on Earth, she’d order a pizza, eat ice cream right out of the container, and wallow in self-pity.
But she was tired of wallowing. She came to Corra to do something different, something exciting, and right now that excitement stood in front of her and had a sexy-ass tail.
“I like you,” she said, feeling the need to explain herself. “And I’ve been thinking about you, that way, since day one. I know this is a bad idea because you’re my boss—”
“I’m your mate.”
“And I’m not staying. I’ve tried to be good and follow a life plan, but that didn’t work. I tried to be spontaneous, and that didn’t work. So maybe I should just enjoy myself? Today was bullshit and I should have some fun.” The words spilled out. If he said no, fine. She’d have an answer and would stop thinking about him every night, wondering. “Can’t two adults who are attracted to each other have fun without commitments or any expectations? No strings attached, that’s what I want. Me. You. Naked. Sweaty. Fucking.”
He stared at her, his tail frozen and his ears back.
Not exactly the reaction she expected. Her face burned so hot with a blush, she thought she might burst into flame. That was as explicit as she’d ever been in her life and she desperately wanted to claw the words back. “I’m sorry. I thought… but I misread. Obviously. You don’t think of me that way.” She swam toward the edge of the pool, where he still held out the towel.
“I do think of you that way,” he said.
