Page 9 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

My two sisters, who couldn’t be any different from one another, have arrived. I completely ignored them last night, wanting to dive into my new romance book and desperately needing to jerk off. Talking to my sisters would only have killed my hardon and given me excruciating blue balls.

It took me a few minutes to figure out the one-handed read, but once I did, I think that book was better than porn. Far more graphic and detailed, way more intimate and sensual than the bad acting and gorilla grunting you get from online porn. I kind of wish I’d made her pick out one of those monster books. Even so, the book, plus my imagination and placing Daisy in the position of the main female lead, made me nut harder than any other solo session I’ve had.

This morning I’m better prepared to deal with my sisters. Freshly showered and rested after a late night of reading, and more than one intimate encounter with my hand has given me a little pep in my step.

“Good morning siblings,” I greet, walking into the kitchen where three of my siblings are in various stages of making and eating breakfast.

“You are here. I was beginning to think Endo made the whole thing up. And I hear you’ve been getting familiar with the locals,” Airi, my older and very pregnant sister says.

Wow, small towns really are something else, aren’t they? I’ve done far more provocative things in my time abroad and not once has anyone ever commented on those escapades, but you take one local girl out to a bookstore, and everyone’s interested.

“Nice to see you too, Airi. I’ve been great. How have you been?” I retort sarcastically.

We’re not exactly the warm and cuddly kind of family, but it’s fun to irk my sister. She’s a rare mix of fire and water magic. Her temperament is just as stable, fluctuating from hot headed to go with the flow, depending on her mood. Today seems to be leaning towards hot headed.

Airi brandishes a sharp, dark eyebrow at me, her crimson markings flaring on her pale blue skin.

“Don’t sass your older sister. Especially your pregnant older sister. I’m as likely to burn off all your hair as I am to give you a polite greeting.”

Which is to say very likely. She’s done it before.

“Don’t you dare touch my hair. I’ve got it just the length I like it.” I give my hair a little dramatic toss for good measure.

“I think your hair looks lovely Kai.”

“Thank you, Keiko.”

My youngest sister, and the only one of us with an ounce of humility and tenderness, crosses the kitchen to give me a genuine hug. It always seemed to me like the more children our parents had, the less they were like them in personality and disposition. The oldest two very much subtle clones, me the middle child wavering between their righteous stubbornness and actual emotions, then the two youngest who are as far from our family’s typical spawn as possible.

“I’m so glad you were able to make it for the celebration. Mother and father will be so pleased to see you.”

“Not once they get the bill from the house I rented in Greece.”

Keiko only smiles, not at all capable of believing anything bad about anyone, including our parents. Keiko is too kindhearted. A trait none of us know how she got. Being a water nymph, she’s already predisposed to being calm and chill. Our mother is a water and animal nymph, and although she possesses a chill calm that could put ice in your veins, she’s never been as easy going as Keiko.

“Still, we’re all happy to see you. It’s been too long. Will you be staying through the equinox?” Keiko asks in her gentle voice; one I’ve never heard higher than a conversational pitch. It conveys her happiness and joy. I always love being around Keiko. She’s grounding in a way that always frightens me in any other situation.

“Of course. It’s why I came after all.”

“And bringing a date, I assume?” Airi interjects. Looks like my plan is already working. If Airi’s already heard about Daisy and is asking about her, mom will know in no time. “If the scant information I’ve been able to pry from Endo is true.”

I look to Endo who gives me a blank stare. He wouldn’t have told her the part where none of it is true, at least the mate bond part. Not sure if he actually told her that bit either. Might be better to save that part until mom arrives and I can tell her directly. Convincing my parents and extended family I’m planning on bonding with Daisy is one thing. Starting rumors in the town where she lives and has to deal with the aftermath when I leave, is another.

“Yes. Her name is Daisy, and she’s an earth nymph.” For a moment I contemplate if I should reveal Daisy’s half human status now to my sister. It was always my intention, that was the reason I pursued her in the first place, isn’t it? I’d rather they hear it from me than learn about it later. This way I can control the situation. “And half human.”

Leaning a hip against the kitchen island I wait for my sister’s inevitable disapproval. Unfortunately, she’s bought into my mother’s ramblings of pure blood importance and tainting the line bullshit. It doesn’t come as explosive as I expected. It could be the pregnancy hormones, because Airi laughs . Laughs. Like hysterically as if I’ve just told the funniest joke in history.

It takes her a full two minutes to calm down and stop laughing, wiping the tears from her eyes and holding her rounded stomach.

“Oh man. I thought you were serious for a minute there. You wouldn’t dare bring a half-breed as your date to an equinox celebration. Not even you’re that stupid.”

My jaw flexes under the strain of the effort it takes me not to bark out all the things wrong with not only her statement, but her beliefs. Daisy is ten times better than the majority of pure-blooded nymphs I’ve met in my life. She would never laugh or belittle another because of their mixed blood or family. Just look at how she’s easily accepted me with who I’m unfortunate enough to be blood related to.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I decide to convey my disapproval of her in a different way, a way no nymph can ignore. “I guess I am that stupid.”

Airi freezes at my words, absorbing all the emotions I allowed to imbue that short statement. Disgust at her prejudice, anger at her blatant dismissal and disregard for myself and Daisy, and the protectiveness over Daisy that’s been growing since the moment I met her. I knew there would be prejudice. That was the point in dating Daisy. But I find I hate seeing it directed at Daisy now.

Her expression goes flat, then her features pinch in displeasure, and I want to smack the look right off her face. “Well, I’m sure mom will just love that. You’ll be disowned before the equinox and then we won’t have to deal with your ridiculousness anymore.” Airi stomps from the room, undoubtedly, to call mom and tattle on me.

One hurdle down. The next one will be mom and that one won’t be so easy to clear. Her disapproval won’t be as swift and fleeting. It’ll linger and she’ll try to convince me that her way is what’s best for everyone. She’s wrong of course, and I’m more than willing to let this play out all the way to my disavowal from the family. This family can suck it for all I care. I am so done pandering to their sensibilities and outdated ways.

I should have done this years ago. The feeling is freeing.

Endo sighs and returns to eating his omelet, while Keiko doesn’t even flinch at our sister’s outburst or my announcement.

“I’m sure she’s a lovely girl.”

“She is. I think you two will get along great.”

“Then I look forward to meeting her.”

Keiko’s kindness smooths out the wrinkles in my anger caused by Airi. I knew it would be an unpleasant experience using Daisy to force a severance from my toxic family. It’s only now just dawning on me how much I’m going to have to protect Daisy from them, and I will. With whatever small amount of decency I possess, I’ll use it to ensure my blossom remains as sweet and happy as she was today, and not let their derision taint her.

Over my dead fucking body, will I let that happen.

~Daisy~

“And then he kissed me!” I tell Delphi. I’ve been regaling her with the story of Kai and I’s adventure to the bookstore yesterday and she appears to be hanging on every word.

Delphi’s little fanged mouth drops open as if shocked by my revelation.

“I know right? I couldn’t help myself, I had to kiss him back. His lips were so soft and warm, I just melted into them. I’ve never been kissed like that before. Like if he didn’t do it right that second, he may disintegrate from the lack of my touch. It was…” I sigh loudly, “amazing.”

It's midafternoon and all day I half expected to see Kai strolling through the gardens and was only mildly disappointed when he didn’t. Okay I was very disappointed when every male I heard wasn’t him. I want to see him again but thought better of knocking on his door. I don’t know who else is staying there with him, or how friendly they are. They are still the Kingsley’s and I don’t want to risk encountering one who is less than accepting of non-pure-blooded nymphs.

I hadn’t thought about the fact that his family normally doesn’t associate with us. Being with Kai is so different than with anyone else. Sometimes it’s a little hard to think straight around him.

Delphi crawls over my lap and plucks a grape from the bowl on the table next to me. Sitting on the back porch my view is of our private gardens and the forest beyond. I decided it was time for an afternoon snack break and when I saw Delphi sniffing around the tree line, I decided to sit back here so I could visit with her out of sight.

I grab a few grapes and pop them in my mouth, sitting back in the bench swing hanging from the back porch rafters. It creeks quietly as I listen to the sounds of the forest and tune out any of the chatter from the nursery on the other side of the house.

The soothing sounds lull me into a hazy doze while Delphi crawls into my lap and curls up inside my oversized cardigan. She tucks in and we both settle for a peaceful nap in the balmy autumn afternoon.

Nearly silent footsteps rouse me from my half-asleep state not ten minutes later and I open one eye to see flaming red hair appear from around the side of the house. My heart instantly picks up its lazy beating, waking Delphi when I shift to get a better look.

She perks up and makes animated noises that sound excited to see Kai. She likes him almost as much as I do. Jumping from my lap she bounds towards Kai and scurries up his leg and around his body like a tree trunk stopping only once she’s in his arms at his chest patting her little clawed fingers across his cheeks. Kai smiles and laughs.

“Hello Delphi, it’s nice to see you again too. Have you been behaving yourself lately? No? Well, I can’t blame you for that. I don’t like behaving either,” Kai chats with Delphi as he carries her all the way to me on the porch.

Pulling the sides of my cardigan together, I readjust my tail up my back and over my shoulder, the most comfortable way to carry it when wearing fitted denim jeans, the knitted coverage easily concealing it.

“You are not an easy girl to find. You know that?” he says in greeting, his eyes sparkling like flickering fire.

“No. I never leave so it should be fairly easy to find me.”

“I searched every bush and corner of your greenhouse before I thought to check the house. If you weren’t back here, I was going to start knocking on doors to find you. This would be a lot easier if you just gave me your cell number. Then I could just text you to find where you’re hiding.”

Delphi leaps from his arms and positions herself on a stool next to the bench swing. Kai makes himself comfortable next to me, sitting back in the seat as if he’s done this a hundred times before.

“Wow, this is a really nice view. Your land is beautiful. I guess I shouldn’t expect any less from a talented earth nymph like yourself and your brother.”

I blush at the compliment. He’s always doing that, and I don’t always know how to respond.

“Thank you, but I don’t have a cell number to give you.”

Kai turns away from appreciating the backyard to frown at me. “What do you mean you don’t have a cell number? Don’t you have a cell phone?”

“No.”

“Seriously? I didn’t know there was anyone left in the world who didn’t have a cell phone. How do people get ahold of you?” Kai asks this as if I have tons of friends constantly trying to reach me. When in reality, I don’t think anyone has called for me since mom and dad last called to check in on things a few weeks ago.

“We have a landline, but no one ever calls for me,” I admit.

Kai’s frown only deepens. I distract myself by picking at a stray thread on my sweater. At least today I have on something thicker to conceal my reaction to Kai’s virility.

“What have you been up to today?” I ask, doing what I do best and redirecting conversation away from myself.

“Mostly dealing with my family. A few more of my siblings arrived last night. My sisters.”

“You don’t sound very excited about them being here.”

“One of them I’m happy to see. She’s the best of us all. You remind me of her. The other, not so much. She’s far too much like our mother, and let’s just say is a handful on the best day and a knife in the back on others.”

I don’t have any sisters and my relationship with Sage is nothing like what he just described. Their family dynamic is way different than mine.

“I see.”

“But don’t worry, I won’t let them keep me from seeing you, Blossom.”

Kai reaches up and caresses the flowers in my hair. From my periphery they look to be geraniums and of course fucking jasmine. Thank goodness he doesn’t know jasmine’s mean I’m sexually aroused.

Fuck, what if my brother sees me with Kai and then notices the flowers? Does he even know what they mean? It’s okay. Just get it together Daisy. Think about something else and maybe stop staring at his throat and broad shoulders, and definitely do not look down into his lap.

Trying to compose myself I alternate looking at his face and out to the yard, hoping the jasmines fade soon. Before I have a chance to formulate a thought the back door bangs open and Sage stomps out, not looking happy at all.

Delphi leaps from her stool in surprise and hides under the bench swing. I can feel her little hands holding on to my ankles protectively. She knows Sage won’t hurt either of us. I wager the banging of the back door scared her is all.

“What are you doing here?” he sneers at Kai, who thankfully doesn’t flinch at my brother’s harsh tone.

“Just came to see Daisy.”

“Why?”

“Am I not allowed to? She’s never told me to leave before.”

My brother scowls and prowls closer, arms crossed over his chest, the calm sage color of his skin darkening in anger.

“What do you want with my sister? Sleeping with all the single humans in town wasn’t enough for you? You just had to get your hands on the innocent half-breed, didn’t you?”

“Sage!” I gasp in horror and embarrassment at the vehemence in his words. I’ve never seen him like this. He’s usually a pacifist, hates confrontation of any kind. And I’ve most certainly never heard him refer to me in such unpleasant terms.

“What? It’s true. He’s just looking to put another notch on his belt so he can brag about it to his friends, and maybe even rub it in his family’s face.” He turns his ire from me to Kai and continues. “I know how males like you operate and I will not let you drag my sister through the mud with you.” Sage points an accusing finger directly at Kai, who to his credit doesn’t flinch.

“I have no intention of dragging Daisy through the mud, as you so eloquently put it. She’s a beautiful, smart, and interesting female, and I could care less if she’s a half-breed. I don’t let things like that decide how I treat a person,” Kai speaks in a level but firm tone, meaning every single word he speaks. He can’t fake that and Sage knows it.

Jumping from my seat I place myself between Kai and Sage and face off with my brother. He’s taller than me and easily looks over my head at Kai, who I can sense standing as well.

“Sage, that is enough. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Unfortunately, I know exactly what I’m talking about. Even if he speaks pretty, flattering words.”

“No, you don’t.”

At the stubborn tone in my voice, my brother stops scowling at Kai and looks down at me. Face still stern but questioning.

“You’ve never spoken to him or spent time getting to know him. You’re judging him based on rumors, gossip, and predetermined beliefs based on who his family is.”

Sage’s face drops, along with his arms, in shock and defeat, realizing he’s doing the very thing he always told me not to.

“We don’t judge people without getting to know them first, right?”

He grumbles and looks down at the ground, his face twisting in regret.

“Right?”

“Right,” he finally admits. Looking back up at me he sighs, and one corner of his lips pull in a faint smile. “When did you become the reasonable level headed one? I thought I was supposed to be the big brother giving you guiding life advice, not the other way around.”

“Sometimes we can forget our own advice and act purely on instinct. Especially when protecting a family member, and I love you for that. But you have to remember I’m also an adult and can make decisions for myself.”

Sage glares at Kai who remains silent and still behind me. Hopefully not doing anything to make me regret my words. I don’t think Kai is what people see him as. He’s more than what they see on the surface level, he just doesn’t like to share it with everyone. His extroverted, outgoing personality masks his inner gentleness and vulnerability. I’ve seen it in the moments between us when no one else is looking. The layers beneath his outer shell.

“Fine. But I’ll be watching him very closely.” To Kai he adds, “Daisy is my only concern, her happiness and safety. Do anything to risk either and I’ll make sure you never touch another female in your life.”

I look over my shoulder to see Kai nodding his head in agreement, a stern determined look on his face. “I would never intentionally hurt Daisy, it’s the last thing I want.”

Sage stares at him a few moments longer before accepting his words and the emotion he heard within them. Not a lie. Sometimes being a living lie detector comes in handy. Both male’s postures remain taut but far less aggressive now.

“What are you doing here today?” Sage asks again, far more calmly than before.

“I wanted to ask Daisy to dinner at Dottie’s tonight. If that’s okay with you?” Kai doesn’t sound condescending or patronizing, he’s actually asking Sage’s permission to take me to dinner, and my heart warms.

Shifting from foot to foot, Sage appears taken off guard by the honesty in Kai’s tone. I give Kai a beaming smile and try to hide my pleasure. I’m sure my flowers give me away but neither male is looking at them right now, only each other. Each sizing the other up, both finding they reluctantly like the other, I think.

Sage nods and Kai visibly unclenches, letting out a quiet breath. Was he worried Sage would stop me from going out with him? For the first time in my life, I actually want to go out with a guy and no matter what Sage said I would have, one way or another.

Looking to me, Sage smiles and places a strong hand on my shoulder. “You’re my little sister Daiz, I have to be the big brother sometimes. I just want you safe and happy.”

“And I am both of those things. Don’t worry, if he steps out of line, you’ll be the first to know.”

At that he grins, a little maniacally, far more calm and relaxed than when he first burst out of the house.

“If I don’t have to castrate you first, maybe you could come over for dinner sometime? Have a proper introduction, maybe prove my sister right?”

Kai looks shocked at Sage’s offer, but that’s just how he is. Willing to admit his wrong and make it right, or at least try to. He’s willing to let Kai prove himself to be more than his rumored reputation.

Kai stutters for a moment, looking as if he’s never been invited over for dinner before.

“Sure. I’d like that,” he finally says.

“Good. Tomorrow night then?”

Tomorrow is Friday, a prime evening for going out to the bar and picking up girls. Sage is testing him already. It’s strange to have my big brother testing a male for his right to…what? Court me? Date me? I have no idea where this is going but I’m just going to let it take its natural course and find out.

“Tomorrow sounds perfect.”

Sage seems satisfied with Kai’s dinner acceptance and gives me a kiss on the top of my head before returning back inside the house without another word.

“Well, that was…”

“Intense?” I finish for Kai.

“Something like that. I don’t think I’ve ever had a showdown with a big brother before. It was oddly nice.”

I chuckle and shuffle on my feet, folding my hands inside the sleeves of my sweater.

“Nice? Why was it nice?”

For the first time since we met, Kai blushes, his cheeks reddening, complimenting his crimson stripes. “I’ve never had to meet the family of anyone I’ve dated. It’s nice to see a family that’s protective of one another out of love. I kind of like it. Gives me more reason not to fuck up.”

Realizing what he’s saying, my heart flutters and a heated knot forms in my stomach. I am different from all the rest.

Taking the few steps to Kai, I reach up on my tip toes and press a tender kiss to his cheek, which he wasn’t expecting either.

“So, you mentioned dinner at Dottie’s?” I ask coyly. I’ve never been the bold one, but I feel braver around Kai. Like I want to be more outgoing and playful.

Kai smiles and rests a hand on my back, his thumb stroking up and down, a sensation I still feel through the knit of the cardigan.

“I’d take you anywhere you wished, if you kiss me like that every time I see you.”

“Just a peck on the cheek? That’s not asking a lot.”

“Seems like a fair price to me.”

The knots in my stomach snap and become butterflies flying up my lungs and throat, choking me with their beating wings.

“Come on, Blossom. Let’s go get dinner before your brother comes back and chops off my tail.”

Delphi takes that opportunity to hop from her hiding spot and plop her fluffy little body directly between us, forcing Kai to release me and hold her or risk dropping her. Of course he catches her. She chitters wildly at him.

“Sorry Delphi, you can’t come with us. Maybe you can join us tomorrow when I come over for dinner though. How does that sound?”

Delphi responds in her sprite language I can’t understand.

“Alright then, it’s a date.” Kai sets her down and she stands on her hind legs looking up at us both.

“I’ll see you later Delphi. You can hang out in my room and if you’re good I’ll bring you back something from Dottie’s.”

At the promise of treats, Delphi’s ears perk up and she hurries over to the back door where she expertly opens it and squeezes her fluffy butt inside.

Kai and I both laugh at the sprite’s antics.

“Are all sprites like her?” Kai asks. “I haven’t spent much time with them and now I think I’m missing out.”

“I don’t think so. I think she’s just like that from spending too much time with me.”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad thing.”

Kai lets his words, and their meaning, linger in the air and I have to clear my throat and force myself to look away or we’ll stand here all night like this.

“So, dinner?”

“Of course. Lead the way.”