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twenty-one

RHETT

“So, you think they’re going to pick us to lead the Society with Cameron and Molly,” Erin said, lifting a spoonful of chili to her lips.

The same lips that had been wrapped around my cock twenty minutes ago.

Fuck, I was getting hard again already.

We’d gone flying earlier, and it had been a blast. The flying had been followed by sex. So fucking much sex.

Our need would ease when her pheromones faded, but until then, I would enjoy every minute of it. We were already a week into the bond, so it was easing up slightly for her, at least.

I didn’t think it would ever ease up for me.

“They will,” I agreed. “We’ll get voted into the second or third position. The vote is still a few months out, though.”

“Who else will get chosen?”

I shrugged. “No one else has the connections Cam and I have, so it’s hard to say.”

Erin nodded slowly. “I can’t say it’s what I wanted to do, but I guess it’s better than sitting around and doing nothing. Or being rejected for promotions because there are humans who want it.”

“They shouldn’t have done that to you.”

“It’s fine. It got me to you, which is what matters, right?”

“Yes.” I put my hand on her thigh, squeezing.

“What do we do until then?” she asked. “You can’t guard for the game shows anymore, unless you leave me.”

The hesitation in her eyes told me she thought that was an actual option.

“That’s not happening,” I said bluntly. “You’re mine, remember? I’m not walking away.”

Her hesitation disappeared.

Her shoulders lifted a little higher.

“I promised I’d find Kyle’s sister a mate,” I said with a grimace. “She’s… difficult.”

“More difficult than me?” Erin lifted an eyebrow.

“She’s had hundreds of years to perfect hers, so yes. And you’re not difficult; you’re stubborn.”

“Stubborn is just another way to say independent and confident. Difficult is too. ”

I chuckled. “Usually, I would agree with you, but Kenna is a different kind of difficult. The kind that occurs when you’re one of very, very few fae women, and both spoiled and adored by everyone you meet.”

“Oh.” Erin’s forehead creased. “Then why isn’t she mated yet? Isn’t Kyle pretty old?”

“She’s about fifty years younger than him, so she has about fifty years left. Most male fae have heard stories about her, and avoid her because of them. She had men chasing her before the war, but now that there are compatible humans…”

“Ah. Well, you know someone who could make her happy?”

“I know a few guys who haven’t met her, who could probably get along with her,” I agreed. “While Kyle’s on the island, it’ll be much easier to pair her off. He’s protective.”

“I did get that vibe from him.” Erin took another bite.

Damn, those lips…

She said, “So, we’ll spend the next few months finding Kenna a mate. But there are still a lot of things we haven’t talked about. Like kids. I’m on birth control now, and don’t intend to get off it anytime soon.” She eyed me, like she was waiting for me to protest.

“It’s very difficult for fae to have kids. It usually takes a century or more for a couple to get pregnant. Even in the days when I wanted to take a mate, I never planned or expected children. If you decide you want to try, then we’ll try, and see what happens. If not, we won’t.”

“I can get behind that plan.” She took another bite. “What about hobbies? You haven’t mentioned anything about those.”

“My only hobby has been work.” I lifted a shoulder. “I watch movies when I need to decompress, if that counts.”

“It does.” She nodded approval.

“What about you?”

“I like to keep busy, and my job wasn’t where it’s at, so I’ve tried a lot of things. My favorites are cooking and this Pilates class I used to take.”

“Pilates?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I know it doesn’t sound fun, but it is.”

“We’ll sign up for a class here, then.”

“We?” She lifted her eyebrows at me. “ You’re going to do Pilates?”

“Sure.”

Her lips split in a grin. “I’m holding you to that, even if you get embarrassed.”

“I don’t get embarrassed. Even if it’s ridiculous, I’ll get to watch your body move as we do it.” I reached over and pinched her nipple lightly through one of my t-shirts with a cutout for the wings. It was far too big for her, so I could see her entire ass through it when she walked around. It was fucking gorgeous.

“You do know what it is,” she tossed back.

“I’ve never done it, though.”

“That’s acceptable. You’ll be disappointed by how well my sports bras do their job, though.”

“A month on an island forced me to get used to that.”

She laughed. “I guess it did.”

We were halfway through eating when there was a knock at our door.

I looked at Erin.

She looked at me. “Any idea who it is?”

“No, but I’ll answer it. You need to eat.”

I crossed the house with my mate close at my heels. I shouldn’t have expected her to stay at the table. When she was interested in something, her determination was unmatched.

All she had on was one of my shirts, so I tucked her against my side as I pulled the door open.

When I found Cameron, Molly, Christina, and Charlie on our porch, I blinked.

It had only been a week.

“We couldn’t wait any longer to meet you and congratulate you! You guys were adorable on the show!” Molly exclaimed, stepping into the house and throwing her arms around Erin without touching her wings. Erin’s gaze jerked to me, a little panicked about the sudden physical contact.

I shrugged. I hadn’t seen much of Molly being her genuine self, given how she and Cam had been playing the game when they were on the island.

“Also, Christina got us the first episode of the third season,” she added. “Keep it on the down-low, because it’s kind of an abuse of power.”

“It’s not an abuse,” Christina protested, stepping into the house. She gave me a quick hug, then engulfed Erin, who was finally free from Molly. “It’s an advantage . There has to be some advantage to the thankless work we do.”

“Well, this advantage is worth it. I’m dying to see who wins the next season. Kyle has to pull it out one of these times,” Molly said. “We’re waiting to watch it with you guys. Christina made dinner, if you’re up for joining us at their place?” She looked at Erin with what could only be hope.

Erin looked at me again.

I gave her a small smile. It was her call. I didn’t mind either way.

“Sounds like fun,” Erin finally said, her voice more confident than she really was. “Give me a few minutes to put on some pants, and we’ll head over.”

Molly smiled widely, and hugged Erin again.

Erin was more prepared for it that time, and hugged her back more than she had before.

“Awesome! Welcome to the family!” Molly exclaimed.

We closed the door as they all headed to Charlie and Christina’s place a few houses down, and Erin looked at me.

“We don’t have to go,” I told her. “I can tell them I’m not in the mood.”

“I know. But I kind of want to,” she admitted. “It could be nice to have a family. And we have to watch, considering what Kyle and Chris did for us.”

“Then let’s find your pants. And a bra.”

We’d have to tie the shirt beneath her wings, but we’d done it earlier when we went flying, so I knew she wouldn’t mind.

I captured her hand as we made our way to the bedroom.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” she asked, as she pulled the waistband of her leggings into place.

“They’d be stupid not to.” I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, slowly. “But it doesn’t matter whether they do, because I love you, Chaos. And that will never change.”

Her eyes flooded with tears, and she pulled my face down to hers, kissing me hard before she released me. “I love you too, Rhetti Spaghetti.”

I snorted, and she laughed.

Tugging her harder to my chest, I kissed her deeply until she pushed me away.

Breathlessly, she said, “We’ve got a family to win over. Let’s go.”

My lips curved upward as we walked out together.

I’d been a moron for thinking I didn’t want to find love.