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Something in the way my words move him moves me. A rightness I haven’t felt in a long time, if ever.

“I’ll talk to you soon.” I end the call and stare at the sweet monster standing in my bedroom, still holding his birth certificate. “I believe you, about your name and all those delicious syllables, so you can put that away.”

He blushes—a furry monster can blush—and rolls the parchment, using a ribbon to secure it. “May I escort you to breakfast?”

It’s then that I realize I’m in bed, when I distinctly remember snuggling on the floor with my super fuzzy rug. If Nicodemus wanted to hurt me, he could have. But he brought me fully dressed to my bed and covered me.

“Yes, please.”

He steps forward, offering me his giant furry hand. I only hesitate for a second before setting my hand in his and feeling his warmth teasing through me. When I stand beside him, I realize he’s even bigger than he appeared when I was seated on the bed. A foot or more taller than me and three times as wide. But he holds my hand so delicately, like all that brawn would never injure someone, no matter how tiny they are in comparison.

Together, we leave my room and I instantly notice my spotless house, the boxes now actually organized, without items sticking out from between their somewhat folded tops. All of them are labeled beautifully.

It’s then that I grasp that we’re approaching my kitchen, which I’d already labeled a disaster area.

“You cleaned my house?” I murmur as we reach the kitchen, which is sparkling, and then proceed to the dining room that is set with my favorite plates, a gift from my grandmother.

Nicodemus pulls my chair out for me and then moves it closer after I’m seated, like in an old movie. Then he takes the seat beside me, clearly attempting to bestow his weight as gently as possible, his tail—he has a tail with a furry tip—resting on the floor.

“Of course, I cleaned—I hope you don’t mind. I probably should have explained more on the phone, but courting means a lot to my clan and to my family.” Nico nods for me to try the food and I do, moaning over how exquisite everything is. Nico seems pleased, but he’s not eating.

“Do you eat food like this? Or do you eat… the heads of ex-boyfriends?” I realize the question is a bit abrupt, but the answer is important nonetheless.

He appears bashful. “I eat food like this… but I’m too nervous right now.”

“You’renervous?!” I gape at him. “Why?”

“Because I am in your presence, Lady Bianca, and you are my heart’s greatest desire.”

I stare at Nicodemus so intently that he becomes uncomfortable and is about to apologize when I reach and set my hand on his. “Don’t apologize. It’s just that no one—not a single member of the one-syllable brigade—ever looked at me like you’re looking at me, and certainly never said anything as deeply felt as what you just said.”

“I’m not lying,” he declares. “Icanlie, unlike Taran, but I will never lie to you.”

“I believe you.” I blush, finally. “How long have you been watching me and what did you see?”

Chapter9

Nicodemus

Oof. I really don’t want to answer that question. That would be like learning to swim in a pond teeming with stinging eels—if I didn’t have older brothers, I would have to imagine that experience instead of vividly recalling it. But Bianca is still touching me, her fingers teasing me with light petting. The sensations inspired by her touch are like nothing I’ve ever felt, as though a mighty waterfall is crashing through me, washing away everything but this moment. Everything but Bianca.

I don’t know whether she notices, but each hair on the back of my hand is caressing her, seeking to lull her into remaining close. In response, she deepens her contact, her fingers digging in, a subconscious movement that causes my hopeful fragrance to intensify.

Still stroking my hand and holding my gaze, she gently commands, “Tell me, Nico. What did you see?”

My words emerge as though she’s already my princess, worthy of absolute devotion. “You—we saw you.”

“Doingwhatexactly?” she asks in a mischievous tone.

I clear my throat and then do it again. Then I blush and blather, “We only saw you do… your bathroomself-matingritual one time—I swear it. We respected your privacy after that. But, in truth, we didn’t know… we just didn’t know… and… well, your moans were so inviting and the expressions, the sighs, those rasping little breaths… we had to know you weresafe… from… thewater?”

Bianca’s expression twists strangely before she barks a laugh that sounds on the edge of hysteria. Then she hunches forward holding her belly while convulsing with giggles. “Self-mating rituals?!” Chortling. “Oh, wow… I’mgoodat those. I’ve had to be with my less-than-stellar boyfriends.” She continues laughing in the most lovely, carefree way. I want her to do that forever.

Bianca shakes her head, to herself it seems, and then calms and grabs another piece of bacon. After consuming more than half, she grins at me with sparkling eyes. “So, doyouhave any self-mating rituals?”

I blush so powerfully, I’m certain my face is bright blue. “I… uh…no, my kind don’t do that. Only the touch of our true mate bringsthosesensations and parts of our body to life. So… uh… so, no, I don’t. With Pennie and Archie… um… they…yes, they do, but for Archie, he doesn’t have the option not to, where for Pennie, it’s more of an enjoyable way to pass the time.”

Bianca appears entertained and intrigued. “What about Taran?”