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D om peeked in on Madeline when he returned. The sheets and blankets were rumpled, but she wasn’t tucked into them. The bathroom was empty. No human.

As he strode into the salon, his boots thumped on the stone tiles. Fashion magazines meant to give Dom ideas for Madeline’s clothes floated through his open roof and into his arms. Thanks, Ohngel , he pathed.

You’re welcome.

He smiled, something he was getting the hang of, and set the magazines on a nearby table. Sounds drifted in from the kitchen. The human was singing a tune, off-key but with enthusiasm. Dom found her at the stove, her back to him, her hips swaying to the rhythm. He didn’t recognize the song, not surprising since he wasn’t into music. Or books. Or...? Much of anything except corralling or killing Scourges.

Pausing in the doorway, he enjoyed the sight of Madeline.

She twirled around. After winking at him, she returned to her task. Over her shoulder, she said, “Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns. I think that’s what this stuff is. Okay by you?”

Dom nodded but guessed she couldn’t see him. “Sure.”

She chatted while shutting off the burner and searching the cabinets for plates. Finding them, she piled food high. Pulling out drawers, she located forks. After laying those out, she poured two cups of coffee.

Joining him to eat, she went on about something. “...since I got up so early and couldn’t find you. Anyway, I came into the kitchen to explore. I thought a breakfast might help both of us. I know it would me.” She paused, ruffling a hand through her choppy blonde hair. “I also re-organized a few things. Your flatware and plates should be closer to your dishwasher. Stuff like that. You don’t mind, do you?”

“No.” Dom dug into the food. Good. Great. The eggs were sunny side up, as he liked. The bacon was crisp. He’d never had hashbrowns, but now they might be his favorite potato recipe. Between mouthfuls, he asked, “What got you up so early?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “Can you snap your fingers and have any shit happen?”

“Pretty much.”

“Why do you bother to cook or clean house? I mean, I’ve seen you light a fire or drop an invisible covering around the house. You claimed joy of the experience, but there must be more.” She reached across the table and rested her free hand on top of his. It was warm, soft. He liked the tender gesture more than he should.

“When you live an eternity, it’s good to slow the roll,” he said.

She nodded, drawing away to eat.

“Besides, if I snap my fingers too much ... and by the way, I don’t need the gesture ... my body weakens.” When she turned shocked eyes to him, he added, “Not literally. Figuratively. I like to stretch my real muscles. You didn’t answer my question. Why did you get up so early?”

“Too much swirling around in my head. Why I’m here. What I’m gonna do. Everything. I’m very unsettled and don’t like the feeling. My solution is to re-organize stuff or take some action to control my environment. Lucky for me, your place needs a lot of work.”

“Glad to be of help.” He glanced around. His place looked good to him.

She stopped eating, propped an elbow on the table, and tucked her chin into her palm, staring. “You’re quite handsome. In a raw, scary kind of way.”

Dom set his fork beside his plate. He grunted, finding the direction of the conversation strange. Sudden. But welcome. Her eyes radiated a touch of lust. That was also welcome, but a reason for caution.

Madeline shoved her plate and coffee across the table, rose, and walked to Dom. Snagging a chair, she sat beside him. Close. He caught her scent. It was fresh, female, and interested in him. He scraped his fingers through his long, black hair.

He wanted to flick out his wings and show off, but he resisted.

Madeline dragged a fork through her potatoes, eventually shoving a bite into her mouth. When she finished chewing, she broke off a piece of crisp bacon and popped it in, licking her lips. “I was thinking about going home, but when you came into the kitchen, I realized how much help you need around here. You probably don’t pay enough attention to yourself. Like eating regularly. Your laundry. Cleaning house. I could organize stuff. Take care of your place.” She winked again. “And you.”

She tilted her chin, a strand of hair feathering across her cheek as she slipped him an irresistible smile. He followed the sweep of her tongue across her lower lip again.

Damn . Things were taking a definite turn toward strange.

Finished, Dom pushed his plate away. He gripped the handle of his coffee mug, taking a sip. Good . Brewed just right. He cleared his throat, searching for something to say. Conversation wasn’t part of his skill set.

Madeline scooted closer, thigh to thigh, a hand caressing his shoulder, floating down to clasp his bicep. “Don’t you like having me here? I could be very convenient to have around.”

When her breast brushed his arm, his heart pounded against his ribs. She was coming on to him.

Dom escaped her grip and moved out of boob range. “Be careful, little female.”

As she leaned close, her whispery breath puffed across his ear. “I’m not so little.”

“Uh-huh.” He swallowed hard. What the hell was she doing? She’d gone from scared to distrusting to cautious acceptance. Now this? Was this typical human behavior?

She inched nearer again, heat radiating off her body. He never turned down an offer from a female, and this one was cooking more than breakfast. But Dom was cautious. He didn’t like not knowing the game.

Madeline tilted into his chest and crushed her lips to his.

To hell with caution.

Not about to allow her to control the situation, Dom yanked her onto his lap, her legs straddling him. He took over, forcing her mouth open and caressing her tongue with his. As she melted against him, his cock got with the game.

Dom shoved his hand under her t-shirt. As he fingered her nipple through fabric, it tightened into a hard bud. Pausing the kiss, he tore off her shirt and bra. For such a slight female, her breasts were heavy, spilling over his hands.

She ripped his shirt from neck to hem as her ass ground against his aching erection.

Grind. Grind.

Dom kissed her again, the points of her breasts scraping his chest. When he rocked his hips forward, she moaned. He was hard and ready. He’d never fucked a human before and hoped she wasn’t fragile.

He thrust his tongue in and out of her mouth, succumbing to her keening moans. Grabbing her ass, he lifted them both from the chair.

Madeline’s feet dropped to the floor, her fingers seizing the snap on his pants.

Hell, yes.

Despite her unexplainable, sudden-onset desire for him, Dom was on board with the action. He wasn’t a damn choir boy, singing the praises of the goddesses in Vast and abstaining from sex.

She unzipped him, shoved his pants down, and curled a hand around his swollen erection while he lowered his head to draw a nipple into his mouth. Responding aggressively to his sucking and licking, she demanded, “Harder.” She arched into Dom, continuing to stroke him.

Maybe humans were not so breakable. Madeline was a greedy participant. Lusty.

He obliged. When she dropped to her knees, fixed on his gaze, and squeezed his cock, he nearly spilled. Dom pressed his palms to each side of her face.

She sighed, saying, “You’re bigger than I thought.” Madeline’s tongue flicked out to lick the crown of his dick as she angled her chin up to watch him.

A warning wormed its way into Dom’s mind. Something was very wrong. Her eyes, usually as incredibly blue as the sky of Vast, were vacant. He saw only ash where there should have been fire.

He released Madeline’s head. The whole let me take care of you, organize your place, and suck you off was disquieting. He checked out her eyes again.

Yep. Hazy.

Holding her at arm’s length, he yanked up his pants.

Damn. Damn. Damn. Fucking choir boy time.

“Don’t you want this?” She squeezed her breasts, plucking at her nipples. Suddenly, she blinked and glanced down. As if seeing she was bare for the first time, she blushed.

He removed her cup from the table, shoving it into her hand. “Madeline, sit down and drink your coffee.”

“Okay.” After she returned to the chair, she scooped a level teaspoon of sugar into her mug and stirred. She raised the cup to her lips and drank.

He shoved his empty at her. “Get me another coffee.”

She jumped out of her chair to do as ordered while he ignored her gorgeous bouncing breasts.

After she set it in front of him, he said, “Madeline, sing for me.”

Like a diva, she belted out a tune. Off-key again.

Dom interrupted her performance. “Go into the salon and put on some clothes. They’re on a pillow.”

She glanced down at her perfect breasts with the pointed nipples. “Don’t you want to fuck me?” She slapped a hand over her mouth and tried to cover herself with the other.

“No. I don’t.” He lied. His body was so primed that he had to adjust his pants.

The blushing female raced from the kitchen, returning dressed in a new bra, top, and shorts. “Is this better?”

He nodded. “Much.” Not really, but safer. “Sit across the table from me.”

“Of course.” She did as ordered.

Dom rubbed the patch over his blind eye, which constantly ached when he was troubled. “Damn. Clean up the kitchen while I take care of something.”

Did he feel guilty about nearly going through with the blowjob? Not entirely. At the time, he had been unaware Madeline wasn’t quite right. Maybe he’d suspected something, but not this. Besides, a little action from the human was ... welcome. In his defense, she’d driven off Mora, and he’d needed big-time relief.

Fuck .

He should kick his own ass.

Dom telepathed the OneCreator, who responded, Busy. I’ll take your calls when I’m ready.

This is a new development, pathed Dom.

No response.

In the salon, he walked to the edge of the room and onto the deck, looking over the cliffs onto the shoals below. The sky was gloomy, but he could see a bit of Remi’s house across the bay. He aimed his thoughts at all his Feard brothers.

I think we’ve got a problem.

Across the sea, a bird of prey swooped out of the sky, snagging some critter on a rock. He waited for an answer.

Yeah? What? asked Remi.

I’m getting strange vibes from the human female. She came on to me. Get over here and bring your ideas?

Remi responded immediately. Already got one. Get laid before she changes her mind?

Dom snapped, Be serious.

I am. I volunteer for the job if you don’t want to get your rocks off.

When Dom didn’t respond, Remi pathed, with a mental chuckle, “Dawg, you already got some.”

Dom refused to answer.

Wish I’d found the human first, said Ely.

Ohngel, who had a mate, seemed disinclined to join in on irritating Dom. On my way with Indy, he pathed.