Page 50 of Pulled By the Tail
Humans havea unique mating concept called “friends with benefits.” At its core, it is mating for pleasure only, either for a limited time or at periodic intervals. It differs from a one-time sexual encounter, called a “hookup” or “one-night stand”, in that the friend-with-benefits is a long-term acquaintance.
If a human proposes this relationship to the reader, the authors strongly advise against participation. Navigating this type of relationship is extraordinarily complex for the novice.
-So You Want to Mate a Human
“God, it’s creepy up here.”Georgia stood in the doorway; arms wrapped around herself protectively.
Talen scanned the attic for any potential threats. The windows were secure, and the room was dry, if dusty. What did she sense that he did not? Perhaps the shadows alarmed her. Humans did not possess strong low-light vision.
“I detect no predators lurking in the shadows. You are safe,” he said.
“No predators? Who says that about their own attic?”
“You are agitated.”
“Oh, and getting more so by the minute.” She pushed past him into the attic and stood proudly with her hands on her hips. “I’m not scared of any attic monsters.”
“Of course.” He adored the bravado in her voice.
“But maybe a little more light? It’s too dark up here.”
He handed her the solar lantern. “It’s fully charged. Pick out the pieces you desire, and I’ll bring them down.”
She wandered through the disorganized maze of old furniture, a hand skimming along the dusty surface, leaving behind a trail. “Where did all this come from?”
“This was here when we took possession of the house.” With the damaged roof and exposure to the elements, most items in the attic had to be tossed, but the items kept under tarps had survived largely intact. “With new upholstery, you’ll never know it came from the monstrous attic.”
She tossed him a sharp look over her shoulder. “Are you mocking me? A huge, dark attic filled with old furniture under drop cloths, a single bare bulb for light… This is classic horror movie stuff.”
Another guest room had been renovated and another two were close to completion. Talen would rather utilize the old furniture in the attic rather than purchase new pieces, even if he did have to strip the varnish and reupholster all of it. The old furniture matched the soul of the house.
Georgia dusted off the seat of a hardback chair and sat at a writing desk. The thin legs seemed impossibly delicate. The moment any weight was added to the desk, it should collapse.
She rested her elbows on the grimy surface, the sleeves of her shirt picking up the dirt. “This one.”
“Are you sure? It is impractical.”
“It’s perfect. We’ll call the room the secretary’s suite.” She frowned. “Okay, maybe not that, but it’ll be decorated around this writing desk. That lamp there with the glass shade. An overstuffed chair and footstool. That bookshelf.” She pointed to the objects as she spoke.
Talen marked each item with a piece of painter’s tape. “And the bed?”
“I don’t know. Not this one.” She brushed a heavy headboard with the carved head of a boar clutching a ring in its mouth. Dust embedded itself in the crevices and coated the eyes, turning them white with age. He agreed. No one needed that beast watching them as they slept.
She twisted her fingers in the ends of her hair. “Actually, this is sort of ugly-cool. One of the other rooms can have a hunter’s theme.”
“Are you sure? I know I told you there were no monsters in the attic, but I may have misspoken.”
A luminous smile graced her face and his heart swelled with joy, along with other parts of his anatomy. “You don’t like it?”
“It is not to my taste.”
“I swear the eyes follow you. Look.” She moved to the right, then shuffled back to the left. “Weird.”
“Weird? My mate, it is disturbing. That beast is unnatural.” And now that she pointed out the trick with the clouded eyes following, he could feel them on him.
She rubbed the beast’s snout and gave the ring a tug. “First, not your mate and it might be fun to hang onto, you know?” She glanced back over her shoulder at him and licked her lips.
“With it judging me? No, thank you.”
