“Oh, you all! You leave him alone!” Aster called once he’d gotten into his car and left, slipping out of her office to rejoin the living. Their gentle spirited Marsh woman fairly glowed. The green oaf made her heart sing.
“Don’t know what you’d be meaning, little bud,” Glittaria called, ruining her antics when she laughed. “Pleasant as a peach, we are, yes?”
“You’re all horrible.” Aster burst out laughing at the resounding, “Aye,”s that followed. Shaking her head, she admitted, “Green pastures know why, I love you wild lot anyway.”
They’d whip her mate into shape, or the man of green would find himself neck deep in cow shit. He’d be worthy of the Marsh woman they’d come to work for, care for, respected as if she were one of their own, or so help them he’d go missing.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Pricklypants announced. Their hand went to Glitt’s shoulder and they offered her an arch look.
Leaning in, she gave Prickly’s hand a sniff. Her fangs descended as her mouth opened wide and she closed them down over Prick’s wide, fat palm. A grunt left Pricklypants, silvery eyes filling with heat.
“I’ll sign us off and get my truck,” Weevil said quickly, and rushed off. His Calling could not have been grander. A throuple! Blessed beards be!
Chapter 13
Greniv
Body sore, to the point I’d be shifting some time before the night ended or I’d end up limping tomorrow, I practically danced up the walk to my house. Granted, it was a little awkward trying to move about and I winced with every step, more of a shuffle, grunt and groan, but my heart was light. Lord of the dance, I was not. The stupid grin I’d had on my face since my mate had claimed her price wouldn’t quit. She was strong yet gentle, unless I got demanding, then she matched me tit for tat. I’d never considered just how much I’d enjoy a female who was a veritable angel in the streets and a demon in the sheets. Hmm. Aster would like that one, I’d have to tell her later.
As if ruminating about my flower had conjured her up, my phone began to ring. With her ringtone set, I knew it was her right away. “Hello, my flower, miss me already?” I tried to purr, and failed quite horrendously. She laughed, so I considered it a win in the end. “Rethinking how far you’ve put off our date?”
“No,” she got out between adorably snorted laughs, “but you forgot your wallet and sweatshirt in my office.”
“Did I?” I asked innocently. Convincingly, I hoped.
“Hm.” She made a noise. “You didn’t happen to leave them there on purpose, did you?”
“Me? What?”
“You’re a horrible liar,” she chortled out.
“You are correct. I did it on purpose. I was hoping for an excuse, any excuse, to see you again during my days off from the nursery.” My voice deepened until it was rumbling, my words tumbling out gravelly and gruff. “You should punish me.”
Her laughter was loud, almost too loud, but infectious. Sobering, she murmured softly, “Do you need to concoct a reason?”
“Would you not hide from me if I simply showed up just to see you?”
Her silence was telling. My flower was still skittish. I still had my work cut out for me. This wasn’t going to just be better overnight like magic and all would be well. I’d cut her deep.
“Thank you for seeing me today,” I said instead of the hundreds of things that popped into my mind to try and impress her. Aster wasn’t the kind of woman who was swayed by impressive feats or boasting. I knew that much about her.
“I liked seeing you today,” she whispered.
“Why are we whispering?” I whispered back.
“I- I don’t know,” she admitted slowly. “I’m in my car. Seems a bit silly, doesn’t it?”
“It’s a private matter. Whisper sweet things to me all you like, I- Did you say you’re in your car?” I blurted, perking up at the idea of her maybe driving over here. I’d admit I left the sweatshirt on purpose, the wallet was completely by accident. I must have lost it when she tore off my pants and had her wicked way with me on her desk. Damn. Now I had the mother of all boners, again. The things she did to me…
“Driving home,” she stated primly, “my home, but I can drop off your wallet if you like?”
“Yes!” I blurted, before she could finish that sentence. “I mean,” I cleared my throat, “ah- I mean, yes, thank you, I’d appreciate that.”
“I like when you’re nice to me,” she said suddenly, then made a noise like she’d regretted saying that, possibly because, like me, she was immediately thinking of how nice I hadn’t tried to be.
“I like that you’re sweet, kind,” I complimented as I unlocked the front door, wanting to hurry in and change into something nicer than her borrowed clothes before she showed up, “forgiving,” I added, opening the door to step in and flick on the porch light and the one in the sunroom, “you have a lovely set of stems,” I teased, to turn, eager to see if there were any new buds or vines, leafy anything on our love blossom, to find the spot it was supposed to be in empty.
A scream left me. It wasn’t manly. I was just going to stop pretending I was capable of a man-scream when shocked panic took over. “Good green gods! Ass green earth! Fronds of Falarmia,” I garbled out, not quite sure what I’d just babbled as everything in my hands tumbled to the ground and I rushed the spot my blossom should be. “Where is it?! Where is it?!!” Screaming? I was beyond that. Ducking to check shelves, spinning around in the room, crawling as I checked under the plant racks, it couldn’t just grow legs and walk away! Could… it?
