“Oh,” she said, her expression softening. “So that wasyouunmasked?”
Gideon let out a chuff, his own expression softening. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
“In that case, nice to meet you.” She leaned forward to hug him again. “I know how hard it is to let people see how you really are. Thanks for showing me. For saving me. And you know, don’t be upset. My sense of fairness overrides my gross-out reflex. I’m just so grateful you didn’t get hurt. Wait…”
Now she drew back and cupped her hands around his cheeks. “You’re not going to be blamed for this, are you? Please tell me this falls under one of those exemption laws Callum was telling me about—ommmpph!”
She cut off when Gideon did something I never had. Kissed her. So passionately, it made my gut roll with jealousy and even more regret.
Why had I let myself be so scared of falling for her? Why had I held back? Why, instead of walking out of that hotel room, hadn’t I explained that what I wanted most for Christmas was to bring her home to my maul and give her the baby she so desired, along with forever?
“Well, well, well,” Callum said, finally speaking up. “Look who’s the messy one now.”
Sweetiebird—Lark—pulled back from the kiss with snort.
“Don’t make him feel bad….” She started to chastise Callum with a teasing smile.
But then she saw me.
And the smile slid right off her face.
I’d been so relieved to find her, unharmed and in the arms of my second maul.
But when the scent-match human I’d been trying to resist for three years looked up at me…
There was nothing but hatred in her eyes.
torture
. . .
rysak
2summers ago
July 15, 5:16 a.m.
Mr. Good Time: Hey, sweetiebird, in town next week. Up for a good time?
July 16, 5:18 a.m.
Mr. Good Time: sweetiebird?
July 17, 5:15 a.m.
Mr. Good Time: Remember, you never have to say yes. But communicating no is in the contract.
July 18, 5:20 a.m.
Mr. Good Time: I’m getting worried. You’ve never taken this long to answer. I don’t need a yes or no—just let me know you’re alright.
July 18, 7:27 a.m.
sweetiebird: I’m not sure how to ethically answer this within the parameters of our agreement. I’m in burnout, and that makes communication difficult. I’m sorry.
Mr. Good Time: Okay, I just looked up ASD burnout. Did something happen at work? Grad school? Home?
sweetiebird: Two out of three. My sister’s boyfriend moved into our apartment. She didn’t ask me first.
