Page 51 of Pulled By the Tail
The light giggle she tried to hide behind her hand delighted him beyond measure. Did she want to try it now? Sometimes, Georgia could be forthright with her desires, but other times, she left it to him to tease out what she wanted, either through words or by other means, also involving his mouth. And tongue. And lips.
He crowded next to her, staring down at her with heat. She backed away a half-step, still licking her lips, until she bumped into the bed. Carefully, he guided her down to the cloth-covered mattress.
Her legs parted without prompting and he settled himself in to cradle there. Trousers kept them separated but he knew from experience how quickly that barrier could be removed.
“Talen, did you lure me into the creepy attic to seduce me?” Her eyes darkened and color flooded her cheeks.
“Yes, I hoped to impress you by protecting you from the attic monsters and work up a sweat moving furniture.”
“You’d have to take your shirt off if that happened, to stay cool,” she said.
“It’s very warm in here. It’d be necessary.”
“I believe it is very, very necessary for you to remove your shirt whenever the spirit moves you.”
His mouth claimed hers and she responded with eagerness.
He broke the kiss, his gaze landing immediately on the carved boar’s head.
Watching him.
Judging.
“Talen,” she mewled, lifting her face for another kiss. Her lips were swollen and dusty pink, so tender and—
The boar continued watching.
“I cannot.” He rolled away.
“What? Why?” She rolled onto her stomach and looked up, directly into the boar’s cloudy eyes. “Oh, God.” She scrambled away. “That’s terrifying. This bed is a total cockblocker.”
“No, come back. Do not leave me alone with the boar of judgment.” He held out a hand, gasping dramatically. Laughing, she grabbed his hand and tugged. She didn’t have nearly the strength to pull him to his feet, but he took a wild step as if she had. His arms wrapped around her. “Thank you for the rescue.”
“Let’s agree that one stays in the attic. Under a tarp. With some chains and a lock,” she said. “I’d say we should burn it, but we don’t want to upset the curse.”
Talen placed a drop cloth over the headboard, concealing the carved monstrosity. “What else?”
They walked through the attic, Georgia selecting the pieces they could use in the guestrooms. Each required a thorough cleaning, possibly even a full refinishing, but Charl was good at such tasks.
“I will move these to the workshop.” He set up a workspace in the old stables, to keep the noise and fumes away from the house. “Would you like to watch a film later?”
“Um, not tonight. I just feel like reading.” The mood shifted. The playfulness between them vanished, replaced by the cool distance in her eyes.
Talen flattened his ears, hating the feeling he had inadvertently upset her. “What is it?”
Her gaze wandered over his shoulder and her fingers twisted in her hair again. “Nothing. I’ll leave you to it, then.”
Talen started with the items he could carry himself, such as the writing desk and chair. After the third trip, his calves burned and his shoulder ached, which pleased him. He needed the distraction.
He didn’t like the way Georgia avoided him. Something changed. On matters for the house, she remained as professional as ever. When it came to flirting, or sex, that also remained unchanged. When he asked for any piece of her time outside of work or sex, she ran away. She would gaze at his shoulder, like she searched for an escape route, and then dash off with an excuse.
That hurt more than he expected. He thought they liked each other. Yes, sex muddied the waters but even if he never touched her in that way again, they had friendship. That his friend couldn’t stand to be around him if his cock wasn’t involved distressed him.
He needed to prove to Georgia that they worked together on every level, not just in the bedroom.
This time in the attic was the most they had spoken with their clothes on and Georgia not rushing away in weeks.
“Talen, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
