Page 66

Week One

“I ’m nervous, Prez,” I murmur as I step out of the shower. The steam has fogged up the mirror in front of me, but I can feel his grin on my back. “If she really is a mate, I don’t want to screw it up by fumbling around like an idiot.”

His hands land on my shoulders and the warmth of his naked body presses against my back. “Lucy, you’ll be fine. When I met her at Zelda’s, she was saucy, but Z deserved it. Jolene didn’t give off the haughty prima donna vibe most of the ex-debutantes in this town have—she seemed down to earth.”

Leaning into him, I turn my head and run my nose up the column of his neck. Even after a few years together, his touch always calms me in the best way possible. “I got that impression at Hazel’s, too. But I’m usually not the one to run the show; you know I prefer someone else in charge.”

“I do indeed,” he says, turning to nip my jaw. “It’s part of what I love about you, baby. But we don’t know all of her back story yet, and given the whispers about her living in Europe for so many years, she might be a tad more… adventurous than the others we’ve played with in the past. Just be yourself and have fun today—the rest will come when it comes.”

My lips curve up at his serene confidence, and I capture his mouth for a slow kiss. It doesn’t take long for our bodies to heat again, and when I turn in his arms, he pulls back with a sexy smirk. A finger taps my nose as his arms hold me against his tattooed frame, and I move to kiss him again, but he shakes his head.

“Ah, ah, Lucy. You have a date to get ready for and I have appointments this morning. We’ll continue this when we come home this evening.” He punctuates the gentle command with a firm slap on my ass and I groan as the sting travels straight through my dick.

Pulling back, I give him the pout I know he loves. “Tease.”

Presley lets go of me, walking over to grab a towel off the rack, shrugging his shoulders. “Dom’s purview, my darling. Now get dressed and let’s have breakfast before you head to the farm for work.”

I watch as he dries himself quickly and tosses the towel aside, heading for the bedroom in the nude. I sure as fuck hate to watch him go, but I love to watch him leave.

Of course, it’s even better when he lets the wings loose, but now is not the time.

Grinning to myself, I wipe the mirror clean and reach for the shaving cream. I can’t help but wonder what kind of dynamic the sassy raven haired woman would bring to our relationship—or if she’ll be comfortable with that at all.

Date today, the rest later , I remind myself. But that doesn’t mean I can’t imagine it while I wait.

* * *

Jumping over the fence, I head to the main office with nervous energy running over my skin like electricity. Times like this make it hard to control my father’s contribution to my powers—keeping the wings and ears in is a struggle when my emotions are high. I’ve never kept as tight a hold on that side of my supe blood as I do my mother’s powers. Maybe it’s because I know my biological mother just enough to want to keep them in check and don’t know a damned thing about my father besides his species. If I knew more than Unseelie Fae, possibly royal, it might incline me to hide that as well, but since I don’t…

Regardless, she’s unemerged, and you have to lock it down, Wolfgang.

I run my free hand over my face, picking up my pace so I can stop at my car to grab the basket and blanket. A surge of energy pulses through the air and I stop for a second when it makes the hairs on my arm stand up. Frowning, I wonder what could be the problem until I remember Agatha. That woman has been hunting me for years and despite Presley’s repeated polite declarations, she refuses to take the hint.

And now she’s doing something with her siren shit to Jolene. Fuck.

Jogging to the door, I open it with my supplies in hand and a smile on my face. When I see the girl I’ve been thinking about all week, she’s sitting on the overstuffed couch with a satisfied grin. My eyes cut to Agatha Harper Claiborne as she stands with her hand on her hip and tendrils of power radiating towards Jolene. That’s an obvious violation of Council law, and if I report it, she’ll be lucky if she’s not packed up to go home to her family by the end of the night.

“Jolene!” I force a chuckle as I shake my head at Agatha, letting her know I see her little game. “It must have been a trial growing up with that name, huh? Every single time I hear it, I want to sing a little ditty from the Tennessee Titan herself.”

Her laugh is warm and rich, filling the room with her essence. “No harder than Wolfgang, I’d imagine.”

A loud grumble comes from Agatha, and I turn to see her prowling towards me like she’s got the scent of dinner. When she gets close, she bats my shoulder with her hand, simpering in true Southern style. “Oh, Wolfie, darling! You know you’re supposed to let me know if you do interviews for the clinic cleaning crew. I must know about all visitors on the property for Mr. Cantwell’s records. You don’t want to get me in trouble, do you?”

I couldn’t care less about if Agatha gets in trouble. When I tell Eliot how she’s behaved, she’s going to be lucky if all she gets is fired.

Backing up from her, I try to make it clear to my date that this woman is not who I’m interested in. “Now, Agatha. I registered her with security and the gate guards myself. She’s not on your schedule for staffing because she’s both my personal guest and Eliot’s. The Cantwell’s don’t register their personal guests with you, do they?”

That did it. She ships her head around to give Jolene a dirty look and then pouts at me. “I thought we would have lunch together again today.”

These fortune hunting debs kill me. I’ve had lunch with Agatha zero times since she started; this is a show to put Jolene in her place.

“Sorry, Aggie. Dr. Wolfie and I made this date earlier in the week. I got all gussied up for him and everything, so we’ll be on our way. Catch ya on the flip side!”

I put a hand over my mouth to muffle the laughter that almost spills out. Once I’m under control, I nod at Agatha. “She’s right. I’m told she has some companions I need to look at. We have to eat, and then we’re touring the stables for her commitment to Eliot. We really must get going. Have a lovely day, Agatha!” That said, I grab Jolene’s hand and practically drag her into the parking lot to get away.

She takes her hand back when we get a suitable distance from the door, wiping it on her breeches. Her two servals come bounding up to her from Mab knows where, and she clears her throat. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that. No, wait. I’m not sorry about her attitude. Why didn’t you warn me there was a viper in the waiting room? This is your fault, buster.”

Heat spreads up my neck to my face, and I sit the basket down for a moment as I feel the flush take over. “I try to interact with Agatha as little as possible. She’s had this… thing… for me since high school, and it makes everything awkward. Sometimes, I have to be pretty sneaky to get past without getting cornered.”

A furious expression crosses her face. “That’s sexual harassment, and you need to tell HR. Or, since you’re close enough to Eliot to call him that, talk to him.”

“He knows.” I sigh and shrug, not wanting to explain but feeling like I should. “He can’t do anything about it because of her family’s legacy. They’re new to the Hollow to found families, but their wealth and influence in the racing industry is unparalleled. His parents guaranteed their child's job exchanges here to learn the business.”

“That sucks giant goat balls, and I’m sorry you have to deal with her. She didn’t bother me because I’ve dealt with bitchy women WAY above her pay grade for years. She’d have to add quite a few zeroes to her net worth to compete.” Jolene turns to glare at the main office for a moment before giving me a sympathetic smile.

I can’t help it—my discomfort seems to melt away entirely and a huge smile forms on my lips. I don’t know why this girl makes me feel so light, but every sharp witticism makes something inside of me come to life. “You know, darlin’, I think we’re gonna get along just fine.”

“ Mow !”

One of her cats interrupts us, and she looks down at the noisy feline with a smile. The cat gives her one of those cheesy cat smiles, fangs bared, and she laughs. I’m not sure how an unemerged supe gathered two companions. But she’s definitely connected to them, and that’s probably the clearest path to her favor.

Letting a bit of my fae magic vibrate in the air, I look at the animals. I can feel their energy, and once I have their attention, I use the same skills I do with animals in my practice. “Are you the scamps that chose our sugarplum? Let me see you, gentleman. Stand and be counted.”

The nickname makes her blush a gorgeous primrose color, but I ignore it as the servals rise on their hind legs and hold a paw out to me. When the loud one yowls, Jolene looks like her jaw is going to hit the ground. Hiding my grin, I walk around them, looking to make sure they don’t have any obvious physical issues.

“I… they don’t normally…”

I wink at her as I bend down to check their bellies and hindquarters. “I’m a vet, sugarplum. Animals love me.” Once I’m done, I pick up the picnic supplies and cock my head. “The good news is that they seem healthy, though I’d like to do a full exam later in the month once you’re fully settled. The bad news is that Hyde is a girl, and they aren’t fixed.”

She flushes even redder and I know I’ve got her completely flustered. She takes a moment, but she finally stammers, “Um… well, I will not do that to them. They’re a bonded pair, it seems, and I don’t feel like I should make that decision for them. It feels like I’d be intruding on their privacy.”

Be still, my heart. She’s an animal lover, and I don’t think she knows it yet.

“I agree! So many people want to prevent their companions from living normal lives to make it easier for them. I applaud your willingness to allow them autonomy, sugarplum. I’ll help you get what supplies you may need when I do their visit.”

Looking relieved, she gives me a shy smile that melts me even more. “That sounds good. Should we have lunch? I don’t want to keep you all day.”

“Oh! Yeah, we should. I have a slow day today, but I bet you’re itchin’ to get to your studio and work a little. Word at the diner is that you’ve stripped the house pretty bare.”

Jolene looks annoyed, but I can tell it’s not at me. I seem to do well so far—not an awkward moment except for the bullshit with Agatha. Prez will be proud of me.

“I am. I want to make sure the equipment is installed properly, so once I get my feet under me at school, I can start lessons and showings there.”

Feeling brave, I reach out and take her hand again, waiting to see if she’ll pull away. When she doesn’t, I lead her over to one of the golf carts and drop the picnic stuff in the back. “I’m going to take us out to a spot the tourists don’t get to see, if you don’t mind. We’ll eat there, and if it’s late when we finish, we can do the stables tour later. Eliot instructed Fidelia to make you a badge, a parking decal, and shirts and have ‘em delivered to your house, so next time you can just text me and head on over.”

Her hand comes up to wave at the cats and I smile when she shoos them off to explore. Maybe she wants to be alone with me? I hope so because I’ve been looking forward to this all week and every second I spend with her reinforces that butterfly feeling inside of me. I maneuver the cart out of its spot, heading towards the trail to the fields.

“So, Eliot’s folks still hold the reins—literally. He’s the go-between for the staff and the family, but he can’t pry the title out of his daddy for anything. It makes him crazy because he has tons of innovative ideas for modernization that would not have included backhanded deals like the one with Agatha’s family. He’s got contacts in the Middle East, which I’m sure you know is a hotbed for sheikhs with money to burn on luxury items like racehorses.”

Her snort is knowing. “Yep. I’ve been around that scene enough to know how shark infested those waters are, though. There’s a lot of protocol involved, and he’ll need a cultural liaison to help the deals go smoothly and not get outwitted by their London barristers.”

I nod, navigating around the bumps in the road as I continue, “Word on the farm is that he heard a certain sugarplum might help with that. I think that’s why he was eager enough to get you squared away on his payroll—even starting out as a horse helper—before some other founding family approached you for their own business dealings.”

Jolene’s brows furrow, and she shakes her head vehemently. “Well, I came here to settle down for a while, Wolfie. I’ve lived the life of the glamorous fixer for years, and when I moved back to the States, I set that aside for other dreams. That eventually led me back home to the Hollow. They’ll be disappointed if they think money will get me to hop on their jets to negotiate their troubles.”

Her spunk is hot as hell, and I love she doesn’t seem concerned who she pisses off. Maybe she is a little more…in charge like Prez said?

“I told Aldous that yesterday, but he was quite smug in his assertion that he and the mayor are very persuasive. Though, he had Poe and Parker with him and when he schemes with those sphinxes in his arms, my brain goes straight to a Southern Dr. Evil, and I almost laugh in his face.”

A single giggle slips from her lips and before long, she’s doubled over, clutching her stomach as she laughs. I’m so busy congratulating myself on the joke that I almost miss the turn to the meadow I picked out. I love this corner of the farm—it has grassy fields and flowers and this old rope swing. I’m hoping she finds it as charming as I do; I’ve had every detail of this date planned since Tuesday.

When I stop the cart, I hop out and get the basket and blanket, leaving her there while I set up. She watches me as I put out the food and drinks, making certain every piece is placed with care. I stand up, scratching my stomach as I study my work and that’s when I feel the difference in her gaze. My Fae emotion sensors go absolutely bonkers when her gaze goes from watchful to heated.

I turn back, biting my lip as I hold out my hand. She’s blushing, so she knows I caught her looking at me. It feels like a good time for a little gesture, so I brush my lips over her knuckles briefly and wink at her. Jolene’s eyes widen, but she follows me to the blanket and drops onto it. Nervous energy fills the air, so I pour her a glass of the champagne.

I’ll do anything to get her to look at me like that again, that’s for sure.

* * *

“So, the whole thing ended up being a complete disaster and my mother was furious with me as if I’d arranged the popular kids pulling one of the meanest pranks in the history of the Hollow,” she says before she sips her third flute of bubbly.

I shake my head, giving her a sheepish smile. “I had no idea you were part of the ‘Cotillion Catastrophe’. People talk about it at the start of every season, but they only whisper. They never mention names before some old biddy shushes them as if speaking it aloud could will it into existence again.”

Her flush is back as she looks away and murmurs, “Well, I’m sure they’re terrified that some dumbass kids will try to recreate it. Edgar, Ophelia, Benjy, Reese, Jillian, Amy, Blake, Dylan, and their cronies on the football and cheer squads made sure that it was legendary. I know I’ll never forget it.”

I could throttle every one of those motherfuckers for putting this look on her face.

Scooting closer, I reach up and cup her jaw, turning her face back to mine. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing, but I know it feels right. “Sugarplum, I can promise you I’d kick Edgar square in the nuts if it’d make you smile after that story.”

That makes her even more embarrassed, it seems, because she dips her chin. “It’s okay. I mean, I won’t forget, but it doesn’t actively hurt me anymore. You know how the politics in this town go—I don’t think it was about me. I got in the way, and I was collateral damage. I’ve stood in front of the firing squad to protect people who can’t protect themselves and that was one of those times.”

I can almost hear the therapist’s voice reassuring her that she wasn’t at fault. The way her entire demeanor changes when she talks about that time tells me she’s probably worked hard for a long time to try to move past it. Being home must really be stretching her acceptance thin. I move closer still, tipping her chin up so she’s looking at me. “I like that about you, sugarplum. In fact, I like a lot of things about you.”

Jolene opens her mouth to speak, but I kiss her instead. I don’t know what changes or why, but suddenly, she pushes me on my back and crawls over me. The submissive part of me loves that move and I rumble against her lips. Her confidence is back; she grins and nips my lower lip, tugging on it playfully. I shift under her, adjusting our bodies until they fit together like they were made to do so.

“You’re offering yourself to me, little Wolfie?”

Oooh. I like that.

Sliding my hands over her bum, I squeeze lightly as I look up at her. The question trips something inside of me and I have to pause for a second to fight the urge to drop the human guise. My ears are tingling like hell and I know that means this is a very important moment. The response tumbles off my tongue like it’s instinct. “Are you accepting, Jolene Athena Whitley?”

She nods. “I am, Wolfgang Lucien Fletcher.”

“We’ve been drinking,” I whisper carefully. My eyes meet hers, searching for signs that she’s too tipsy to make an informed decision about consent. I have a feeling deep in my gut that if we start, we won’t stop, and I’m not sure what will happen after that.

I couldn’t live with myself if she regretted being with me.

Shrugging, she smiles up at me. “Not enough to make a difference in my thought process. Or are you all bark and no bite?”

I look at her in surprise. How could she possibly think I’m trying to fob her off?

“Look, if you don’t want?—”

Before she can finish her self-conscious declaration, I wiggle my fingers under her tight riding shirt and peel it off, tossing it aside with a smirk. Her answer is to push her body into a plank position, balancing on one leg as she works to help me get her boots off, then mine. Once they’re taken care of, I wiggle out of my scrub shirt. Her fingers work the knot on my scrub pants and before long, I’m kicking them off as well.

Those moves were impressive as hell and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t have some serious core strength.

“You’re going to have to get those damned breeches loose, sugarplum. I’m aware of how tightly they cling to legs like yours.” I lean up to kiss her before I lay back in my boxer briefs and let my eyes roam over her curvy frame. She’s absolutely stunning, even with her breasts bound in riding undergarments, and her hips jiggling as she starts to work on the skin tight breeches.

“Son of a bitch.”

I groan as she keeps wiggling and rubbing against me until the pants are finally off. Her head drops, the cascade of hair in her ponytail covering her face. Muttered curses escape the mass of hair, and I frown, trying to figure out what’s stopped all the fun. “Jolene? Sugarplum? What’s wrong?”

Her head lifts and she blows the strands out of her face. “So. Embarrassing.”

My hands slide up her back to her shoulder blades and I tilt my head curiously. “What’s embarrassing?”

“I’m dressed like a confused granny mummy!”

Laughter spills from my lips as I shake my head. “You’re dressed like a woman who knows how to ride like a pro. If I’d found a thong and a lacy wisp under here, I never could have taken you seriously with my horses again.”

The tension in the air metals away as she whispers, “Really? This isn’t like… a major turn off? My boobs are bound, and I have on lady boxers.”

“Women who dress for function and form are sexy as fuck, sugarplum. I’m a vet—I can’t deal with a lady who’d get grossed out if I came home covered in unmentionable gunk.”

Oh, there’s that gorgeous smile.

Her hand comes to her side and she tugs the clip open on the binding, allowing me to unwind the rest of it until I reach the sports bra. My fingers slip under the band and I pull it up and over her head, tossing it aside as well. Our hips bump, drawing a low, throaty moan from her as my eyes crawl over the beautiful artwork wrapping around her ribs, the glittering belly ring on her soft tummy, and the glittering nipple shields that make my mouth water.

Hot. Fucking. Damn.

“Sugarplum, I don’t think the first time is gonna last awfully long. You’re dolled up like a pin-up girl in a tattoo mag under here. It’s making my dick do backflips.” I give her a playful smirk, and she rolls her hips, the thin layers of cotton between us doing absolutely nothing to hide her wetness.

“What, country girls around here don’t have body piercings and tats?”

This time, she moves more deliberately, and her pussy slides over my dick teasingly. I pinch her ass and she snorts, scooting down my body before I can react. I try to get her to come back, back she’s damned and determined to do as she pleases. When she tugs my boxer down with her teeth , I give in and let her take control.

After all, that’s my thing and who am I to stop her?

When my cock springs free of the boxers, her perfectly pouty lips form an ‘o’ when she takes in the hardware. Her eyes run up the metal of my Jacob’s ladder to the intricate tattoos on my pelvis. She doesn’t know they’re part of my species marking, but she seems to enjoy the view regardless. Her head drops and she breathes deeply before licking the tip of my dick like a lollipop.

Sweet merciful Aed, I really might not last long.

I hear a husky chuckle and then she swallows me down in one quick move, her tongue flicking over the bars like a pro. It’s not her first rodeo with piercings, and I thank the heavens for it. Her head bobs as she experiments with different tempos, humming while I squirm under her helplessly. Jolene seems to be determined to learn what I like, and I gasp when she manages to take me so far down that I can feel the back of her throat. When I can’t take it anymore, I try to get her to lift up before I explode, but she refuses.

An orgasm hits me so hard that I actually shout, and she continues working her mouth over me, swallowing greedily. I’m completely unable to move for a moment—she might have actually killed me. But when she crawls back up my body and grins at me like a cat that ate the canary, I know I managed to survive.

“Holy Horned God, Jolene. Where in the hell did you—never mind, I don’t wanna know. Just… give me a few and we’re back, sugarplum.”

Her smirk is teasing. “A few?”

“Darlin’, I’m only twenty-two. I definitely meant a few.” Now that I’ve caught my breath, I reach up, grabbing her hips and flipping us so she’s underneath me.

Now it’s my turn to make her scream…