Page 70 of Pulled By the Tail
“I’m sorry I dropped the book,” she said. That hadn’t been her intention, but she had been distracted and her grip slipped.
“We’re doing this again. You can fling any damn book you please.”
Chapter 16
Georgia
Sister,
Obedience is a name that has a fine history in our family. I suggest you give it proper consideration.
-Quil
Georgia studied her cards, looked at her diminishing stack of chips and back to her hand, and decided her meager pair of nines was not worth the risk. They played for bragging rights, but still. She had her reputation to consider. “I fold.”
A gust of wind tossed rain against the window. The fireplace kept the drawing room warm, casting a cozy glow over the wood-paneled room. Georgia found herself drawn to the arch of the fireplace. In lieu of a mantle, gold leaf covered the ornate scrollwork framing the opening. It gleamed and promised a warm haven from the soaking rains outside.
Little wonder they used the drawing room as the guest lounge. Everything from the plush overstuffed furniture to the thick carpeting was designed to be comfortable and cozy. Fresh bouquets of flowers from the conservatory decorated the tables, perfuming the air with a heady floral aroma. It was the perfect place to snuggle up and read by the fire or spend an evening chatting over drinks.
Winter kicked and gasped but finally released its icy hold. They had a day of warm sunshine, followed by a week of rain, but thankfully no snow. The day had started promising enough with a bright morning, but gray clouds rolled in, bringing a cold spring rain to soak the grounds. Tomorrow’s forecast promised more of the same. Georgia looked forward to seeing the sun once the rainstorms finally broke. She didn’t realize how much she enjoyed sunlight on her face until she didn’t have any.
After dinner, Quil suggested they retreat to the lounge for cards and a brandy-like alcohol. With the house void of guests during the ballroom construction, she saw no harm in an evening of cards and drinking. Well, a non-alcoholic beverage for herself.
Poker, despite its Earthly origins, gained rapid popularity in the Interstellar Union and beyond. Travel was long and slow, especially in the early days when humans first left Earth, and a deck of cards were the perfect traveling companion. The other members of the IU had their own games, but the standard fifty-two-card deck soon infiltrated every ship and station. That illustrious history of colonizing the stars with spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts explained why Georgia sat at a table playing poker with three aliens, one of whom she was certain cheated.
She played a few hands until Fiona arrived and complained about never being included. They dealt her in, even though she knew nothing about poker and constantly demanded Quil’s opinion on her cards.
That totally defeated the purpose of poker, but Georgia kept her mouth shut. Eventually, Fiona grew bored and wandered off to the plush sofa to watch a talk show on her tablet. The scandalized hoots and calls of the audience drifted over from the device.
Georgia nursed her drink—apple juice—determined to enjoy herself. The juice was cloying and left a sticky residue in her mouth. She missed booze, not that she had ever been a big drinker, but nothing compared to the way liquor spread through her like soft, liquid fire, leaving her with a pleasant heat. She needed to relax but it was so hard because everyone got on her nerves.
Pregnancy hormones swung her rapidly from overly sentimental to raging asshole in an instant, and it sucked. She hated being out of control of her own emotions.
“You need a refill,” Talen said, topping off her glass.
She took a sip, aware of his gaze on her mouth. Her tongue licked up any stray drops on her lips and his eyes tracked the movement. The moment stretched between them, as soft and sweet as the drink itself.
She still hadn’t given him an answer yet regarding his marriage proposal. In that moment, she saw how desperately he needed an answer and she saw his struggle to be patient. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to believe that a kit would bind them forever and no one would ever abandon her again. The desperate longing made her choke up, like she needed to sob and scream all at once.
Yup, those hormones were playing with her head.
Quil cleared his throat and spread his cards on the table. “I’ll call. Straight flush.”
Georgia stared at the nine of diamonds, an impossible card for Quil to play as the nine of diamonds was in her hand.
She set her glass down, the heavy cut crystal making a satisfying clinking noise. “You sure you want to play that?”
“Oh, that’s interesting,” Talen said in a tone that was at the same time playful and threatening, like a tiger toying with prey. He leaned forward, his tail brushing against her leg. “Why wouldn’t he want to play those cards?”
“Because I had them first,” she said, flipping over her hand. She leaned back in the chair, smiling broadly. “Someone’s been a naughty boy.”
Quil did not protest but instead fished out the suspect card. “I’m out of practice.”
“You’re shameless is what you are,” Georgia said, not bothering to suppress a grin. He had all the moral fiber of a wet paper bag, but he was entertaining.
A moan came from the sofa. “Ugh, stop flirting with my husband. It’s tiring and so not cute,” Fiona said.
“I’m not flirting.” At least not with Quil. Gross.
