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“Phara!” She swatted the alpha’s chest, making him laugh. “You never know. Galis was brave enough to say what was on his mind, and he gives very nice foot massages.”

“I do!” Galis grinned.

“I really wish you wouldn’t encourage him, my queen,” Gregis requested with a grimace.

Isa grinned. With every moment that passed, she was learning more about the hive, her hive. They’d taken her in and were sharing more than simply their food and shelter with her. They were sharing a part of themselves, and she felt closer to these alien men than she did anyone back home.

“Can I ask another question?” Galis pulled her from her thoughts.

“Sure.” She smiled at him.

“What about the story of Phara’s big teeth?”

Isa burst out laughing again. Galis was right, they never circled back around to the story of the Big Bad Wolf.

Chapter 11

Queen’s New Clothes

Isabella

“Wait a moment.” Phara held up his hand, and Isa paused her story before it even started. “You can tell us the tale as we wash. You are so petite, it will probably be easier over here.” Phara scooped her up and waded across the pool-sized bath to the stairs cut into the natural rock.

He stretched out on the steps and positioned her so she was reclining on him, like he was a piece of pool furniture.

“That can’t be comfortable.” She tried to get up, but Phara’s arm banded around her middle.

“I am comfortable. Tell us the story of the big teeth,” Phara urged.

“It is calledLittle Red Riding Hood…” she began with an amused chuckle.

As Isa told the story, the trio of consort betas grabbed some cloths that were on the nearby ledge. She held out her hand, and rather than putting a cloth in it, Rego started washing herwith the naturally sudsing washcloth. Gregis did the same to her other hand, while Galis happily took her feet.

“Oh,” she peeped when Phara slid a bubbly cloth across her midriff, the back of his hand grazing the underside of her breasts.

Since the Vorto wanted to do everything else for her, their desire to wash her shouldn’t have been a shock, yet it was. Surprisingly, though, as she continued with an abbreviated version of the fairy tale, everyone was more fascinated with it than anything tawdry. That was a relief, since she’d had more sex today than she ever had—and it was good sex. It was also easier to relax now that much of the weight on her shoulders had been lifted. Soon, she lay peacefully in the hot water. Except, now she felt guilty about the way they were pampering her.

Isa paused the story and looked over her shoulder at Phara. “Are you sure you’re not uncomfortable?” she frowned as she asked again. He had to be fibbing before.

“I am fine.” Phara bopped the tip of her nose with the soapy cloth.

“Fine,” she laughed at the bubbles that clung to her nose.

Phara chuckled and wiped the floral smelling suds off. “Continue your story.”

“Yes, the red queen just asked about the wolf’s ears,” Rego encouraged as he worked up a nice lather on her arm.

Rego, Galis, and even serious Gregis stared at her in anticipation, leaning in to hear what happened next.

“Okay,” she snorted, tickled they were so fascinated. “So, Red said, ‘Grandma, what big ears you have.’ The wolf then replied, ‘All the better to hear you with, my dear.”

“I still don’t understand how the red queen thought the furry predator was her queen mother,” Galis skeptically interjected.

“Because the devious predator was wearing coverings that mimicked the queen mother. We already explained this!” Gregis nudged the other triplet, aggravation apparent on his face.

“Are you going to let our queen finish the tale?” Rego smirked at Galis.

“They weren’t very good coverings if the red queen noticed how big his ears were,” Galis muttered.