Page 67

That earned a chuckle, and the vibrations stole Cricket’s breath. Oak and ivy, she couldn’t see straight. That metronomic pace consumed all of her, adhering her body to the cadence of Avery’s softly stroking tongue.

Cricket cautioned a glance down, and the sight of blue eyes watching her intently nearly ruined her. Her hand flexed at the back of Avery’s head, and she closed her eyes, soft pleasure easing her features as her tongue stretched along the line of Cricket’s lips, parting her with a steady sweep.

One of them hummed, or both of them, what did it matter, and the buzzing filled Cricket from slit to scalp. She rocked her hips against Avery’s tongue, no longer in control of herself. She belonged to this human and her bewitching song. Belonged to her every breath, her every smile. Belonged beneath her hands and her mouth.

A hand slipped from her thigh, clumsily reaching between Cricket’s legs, and that hesitance filled her heart to bursting.

Her determined Avery. So brave in taking what she wanted, in grasping life by the antlers and bending it to her will. Not that Cricket had antlers, but damn if her human wouldn’t take them in both hands and tug.

A finger pressed against her, shattering Cricket’s last remaining thoughts as it plunged deep. Avery increased the tempo of her tongue, alternating between sucking on Cricket’s clit and flicking the bud. Her finger crooked on the alternate beat and it was all Cricket could do not to cry out and startle the moon itself. She fisted her hand in Avery’s hair, bleating as the human began to hum.

“Aves—“ A shiver rolled up her spine. Her ears swiveled to catch the sound reverberating in her core as another finger pressed within her, filling Cricket until all she could do was moan. With each stroke and the relentless flicking and sucking of her clit, the last shreds of control she’d desperately hung onto dissipated like the rising mist in a breeze.

What had been a slow-building fire in Cricket’s belly transformed into an inferno. She cried out to her Gods, called out to the oak and the ivy and the faeries tucked into the trees, riding Avery’s face and her hand until stars burst beside her eyes. Pleasure erupted, rushing up her front, and Cricket threw her head back, unleashing a deep, rasping cry that startled the birds above.

Avery worked her through her orgasm, only ceasing the pump of her fingers and the Gods-blessed pace of her tongue when Cricket sagged forward, catching herself on her elbows. Avery pulled her hand away, and Cricket’s pussy clenched one last time, missing the stretch of those glorious fingers. She collapsed onto her side, tongue all but lolling out of her mouth as Avery propped herself up on an elbow, gazing down at Cricket, her lips swollen and mouth glistening.

“You said …” Cricket panted, “you’d need … guidance.” Avery grinned and nodded. “Liar.”

“I also said I’d done that before.” She wiped her mouth with the back of a hand. “Just not with an inhuman.”

“Avery Payne, ladies and gentlemen. One shot wonder.” Cricket rolled onto her side, draping her arm over the curve of Avery’s waist and scooting closer. “There should be some sort of scout badge you can earn for that.”

“Badges?” Avery cocked her head, narrowing her eyes. “We don’t need no stinking badges.” Cricket stared at her long enough that Avery’s smile faded. “Blazing Saddles?”

“No, I know.” Cricket nodded. “They show it at the Green Bank library twice a year. But how do you know what Blazing Saddles is?”

Avery chewed her lower lip, eyes dropping. Heat bloomed under Cricket’s palm, and it took her a moment to realize that Avery had broken out in a full-body blush. She mumbled something under her breath that had Cricket leaning closer.

“Come again?”

Avery glared at her. “I said, ‘Madeline Kahn.’” Heat darkened her cheeks. “I don’t know what counts as an awakening in Green Bank, but for me, it was Madeline Khan.”

“Ah, yes.” Cricket slipped her hand under the hem of Avery’s shirt, wriggling closer as she drew the cotton shirt up to reveal a soft pink bra. Avery hissed quietly as cool evening air caressed bare skin. “Madeline Kahn. I think she was an awakening for a lot of us.”

Her fingers followed the swell of Avery’s breasts, eyes intent on her face to ensure she didn’t miss a single quiver of lips or flutter of eyelashes. She hooked her finger into the cup and tugged it down. Soft flesh spilled out, warm and inviting. Cricket ducked her head low and laved the flat of her tongue against an erect nipple. Avery gasped, arching into her touch. Her hand came up to cradle the back of Cricket’s head, holding her face against her breasts.

“What was the line?” she murmured into Avery’s skin. “‘What knockers.’”

“Teri Garr.”

“Hm?” Cricket angled her face up, questioning.

“Inga.” Avery’s fingers pressed into Cricket’s skull as if she could force the faun back to her breast. “Dr. Frankenstein”—Cricket pinched her lips in a smile at her pronunciation: Fronkensteen—“says it to Inga. Teri Garr.”

“Right, Teri Garr.” She raised her head, loving the disappointed sigh that escaped Avery.

A disappointed sigh that cut off as Cricket slung her leg over thick, luscious thighs and rolled Avery onto her back.

“What do you say, Avery?” She grinned, letting all of the heat and desire she felt for this human show in her face, and in the warmth of her voice. “Would you like to go for a roll in ze hay?”