Page 27

When he leans back, Pennie’s eyes glow with pride. “You’re perfect, my Lady, better than we could imagine.”

“At sex?” I blurt, unable to stop myself from owning my joy.

“Ateverything.” Pennie kisses my forehead. “For today only, Bastien will prepare you in my quarters. You’ll choose your room during your tour and, after, you can explore all the gifts we’ve accumulated for you. But don’t worry, we won’t let you get lost in them.”

“Lostin gifts—that doesn’t sound terribly unpleasant.”

Bastien chuckles. “Wait until you see them before you say that.” He climbs out of the bed, lowering a hand to me. “May I, Mistress?”

“Absolutely.”

Taking Bastien’s hand is so easy and right and he doesn’t release mine as we walk toward the hall and into a room that is entirely elegant. This is a gentleman’s study, where supplies are already waiting for us. A pile of elegant dresses. Makeup. Jewels. Shoes fit for a princess.

“Did Nico or Archie bring these while we were…busy?”

“Nico did. Archie…”

When his words fall away, I tilt my head like a curious border collie. “What about Archie?”

Bastien nibbles on his lip and I lean and claim his mouth, dragging my teeth over his lower lip and then in an inexplicable growl, I say, “That lip ismineto nibble, Bastien.”

Bastien’s sharp intake of breath precedes a fluttering of his feathers, an obvious sign of his arousal.

“Tell me about Archie,” I command and he sighs, leaning into me as my arms surround him and I feel our hearts hammering together. Our song becomes a duet, like the most beautiful love song any bird ever wooed his lady with, along with her swooning response.

“I will—I’ll tell you anything and everything. But first, a bath or a shower?”

“A shower. That will get us to the others sooner.”

Bastien nods against my cheek, his contentment inspiring our song to reach a joyous, floatiness that feels healing to my heart.

Then Bastien takes my hand and leads me to a stunning bathroom, all white marble and sophistication. He turns on the water in the shower and it immediately creates steam all around us. He then escorts me into the space that is large enough for the two of us, even the three of us if that’s an option at some point. I certainly wouldn’t decline that kind of thing.

Bastien stands with me under the water that lands on us like a steady rain shower from above. With the equivalent of the best loofa ever, Bastien rubs my body while I moan and hold his shoulders to steady me.

Softly, the loofa continuing to move over my grateful body, he says, “Archie is being careful, so he won’t be around when you are at your most… amorous.”

“Careful? What does that mean?” I can’t restrain a sigh at his continued attention to every inch of me.

“We’ve read your favorite books, so we know thatyouknow what arutis.”

My already warm skin grows suddenly hot. “He’s arutter?”

Bastien pauses and searches my face. “Does that trouble you?”

“No… but how… I mean, well…” I pause, feeling knots form on my forehead. “What causes him to go into a rut? Are we talking uncontrollable, dress-ripping, non-consenting type of…”

Bastien’s palms rest against my cheeks. “Hey, are you scared?”

I consider before I answer. “You all said I was safe here and I believe you. I’m not scared, but I want to understand.”

“Of course, you do. The main thing is that Archie wouldneverhurt you. He would never do anything you don’t want…whenhe’s in control of himself. When the time comes, he’ll leave and deal with his urges elsewhere so as not to risk you or me.”

The shade of a grimace lands on him. “That said, you really need to decide what you’re comfortable withbeforethings get beyond his control. Revoking consent after a certain point is difficult. Nico and Pennie would stop him—youwould be fine. But if Archie ever crossed that line with you, he wouldn’t…” Sadness owns his opalescent eyes. “He wouldn’t survive if he ever hurt you or violated your trust. So beingveryclear about what you want is profoundly important.”

I examine my feelings about all of that and all that really happens is my nipples harden and the pulsing in my curious lady parts grows distracting again. “Is itfunwhen he goes into a rut?”

Bastien blushes from the top of his head to his feathered toes, his entire body shimmering. “It’samazingand nothing sets him off like the chase.” He’s reliving pleasant moments but then becomes more thoughtful. “Archie really helped me. I’d run for so long, trying to remain free, that being chased haunted my dreams. For years. When I found true trust with my family here, I begged for Archie’s help and then…” He pouts adorably. “… when he said he wouldn’t risk me like that, I forced the matter. Before that, only Pennie provided the connection I needed.”