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Chapter three

Clara

I tried to stay up as long as I could. Even though my body felt like a tub of melted butter, and I couldn’t remove myself from the tangle of Pineo’s wooden arms, I did my best to keep myself awake.

Pineo fell asleep quickly after he touched me to completion, and I watched him, studying the way his chest rose and fell.

As weird as it sounds, I thought of my father.

He made Pineo when I was a little girl. Maybe he sent magic from heaven down to Earth to turn him into a real man just for me. It was a comforting thought.

I couldn’t keep my hands off him as I snuggled close, tracing the grain lines on his arms and over his cheeks.

I was mesmerized by him, a living, breathing, life-sized wooden man.

My fascination with his form couldn’t keep my eyelids from drooping, though.

My body felt too good and drifted off to a restful slumber.

Now, I’m afraid to open my eyes. Afraid that Pineo won’t be lying next to me and that everything that happened was just a dream.

I can’t lie here forever, though. The rumbling in my stomach won’t allow it.

I open my eyes and turn to the spot next to me—the spot Pineo lay as he ran his wooden fingers down my cheek while I fell asleep. Except now it’s empty.

Tears form in the corner of my eyes. Of course, it was only a dream. This is the real world where puppets don’t turn into men, and young women who dream about falling in love with toys become lonely spinsters.

A bang sounds from my kitchen. I’ve never been so happy to hear the clattering of pans. I jump from my bed, pull a blanket around me, and shuffle out of my room. Pineo stands at the stove, hands on his hips as he looks down at a pan.

I rush toward him, wrapping my arms around his middle and resting my head on his back.

He rubs my hands on his chest. “Good morning,” he says, turning and kissing me on the lips.

I kiss him back, less gentle than him, darting my tongue into his mouth.

I’m just so happy he’s here and not a figment of my imagination.

He returns my hunger tenfold, grabbing my face and deepening our embrace.

Yes, I’m starving, but his wooden lips elicit a deeper hunger.

Fooling around was magical and perfect and everything I dreamed of, but I want more.

I want his long wooden dick pounding inside of me, especially when it grows as long as it did yesterday, even if it’s dangerous.

My hands trail down his torso, fumbling over his crotch. “Oh no,” I pull away, looking at the torn fabric. “Your pants are still ripped.” I fall to my knees, assessing if I can sow the hole myself. His wooden nob pokes out.

“Clara, seeing you on your knees like this is too much, too early.”

I look up. His eyes are clenched, and I chuckle, pushing back up to my feet. “I don’t mind getting on my knees for you early in the morning.”

He holds my shoulders, pushing me back a smidge. “Yes, but you need to eat first. I can’t have you withering away on me.”

My stomach grumbles on cue. I sigh. “Okay, fine. Real food first.” I move around him, glancing at the two unbroken eggs on the unlit stove top. “Um, do you need help?”

His cheeks blush, and he drops his eyes to his feet. “It seems cooking is one of the many things I don’t know how to do. ”

I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his cheek to my lips. “It’s okay. It’s only your first day. Besides, there’s one thing I know that you’re excellent at,” I whisper into his ear.

He moans, digging his fingertips into my backside.

I pull back before my desire washes over me, preventing any other tasks from happening today.

I pat his chest. “Let’s go into town. We can get you new pants and pick up something to eat.

You’ve never eaten food before. I think your first time should be something amazing.

” I can’t help but think how I want my first time—not eating, but something that will bring me even more pleasure—to be amazing too.

I want it to be with Pineo, but don’t want to rush.

I want us to both be rested, full and ready to exert as much energy as it takes until we're sated, and judging by the need rushing through my body, it will take a while.

Pineo nods with a smile. “Is it okay to go out like this?” He looks down at the hole in his pants.

I tap my lip, glancing around the kitchen.

He’s already a giant wooden man. He doesn’t need even more attention on him.

Although, he will be with me—the invisible girl.

Maybe our effects will cancel each other out.

A heart-stitched apron hanging on the wall near a cabinet catches my eye.

“Here we go.” I tie the fabric around his waist, stepping back to take a look at my handiwork .

He gives a twirl, and I giggle. “Well?” he asks.

“It will do.” I kiss him on the cheek and lead him toward the door.

***

I was wrong. I thought being constantly ignored and bumped into was the worst fate.

Being perceived? So much worse. As Pineo and I walk hand in hand through the town square, my cheeks burn bright, and my skin crawls on the back of my neck.

Every eye is on us. Mouths wide and whispering once they take in Pineo’s wooden form.

It doesn’t help that he’s so tall and handsome.

Even if he was a normal man, I figure people would notice him, but now it’s like he’s a walking spectacle.

We were able to dip into the garment shop and purchase him a pair of pants, although they didn’t have the right size, and his wooden ankles stick out.

Now as we try to weave through the masses to the cinnamon roll stand, I fear we won’t make it.

Men and especially women stop us every few steps.

They ask questions, smile brightly at him, and even touch his arms to feel if he’s real.

I’ve never been a jealous person. There was so much I didn’t have that if I was, it would drive me crazy.

But now I know the true meaning of the word.

As I watch a beautiful, busty blonde rub up against Pineo as she comments on how strong he seems, I can’t take it.

To Pineo’s credit, he can’t take his eyes off me.

He never looks at the person speaking to him.

He just searches me as my cheeks heat and I panic.

I pull away from the crowd, bustling off the cobblestone road and toward the woods.

My heartbeat pounds in my ears, and I steady my breath, letting the quietness of the forest wash over me.

It’s not until I hear Pineo calling my name and stomping after me that I realize I left him in a place totally unfamiliar to him.

It’s a shitty thing to do. It’s not his fault everyone is drooling over him.

I can’t help my broken heart, though. Watching him come after me, women trailing behind him, my heart chips.

People will never leave us alone. Will Pineo really want me when he realizes how many other options he has?

I was foolish to think this was the start of my happily ever after.

This is just a dream I’m about to wake up from.