Page 35 of Tempting Her Grumpy Protector (Kindred Tales Spicy Shorts #7)

SUNNY

Sunny sat cross-legged on the big, overstuffed couch in Kat’s cozy office, hugging one of the throw pillows to her chest like a lifeline.

Kat bustled around, fussing with a tray of teacups, her auburn hair piled in a messy bun, her curvy frame wrapped in a bright blue dress that brought out her eyes.

“Now spill it, doll,” Kat said, plopping down across from her with a steaming mug. “ Start at the beginning. What in the world happened between you and Greer on Thropp’ic Sigma ?”

So Sunny spilled. She told Kat everything—even the embarrassing parts. She explained about the mating festival…about awful Chief Lowhung who had drugged her…the green slime wrestling pit…the Queening chair…the skuttlers— everything .

Kat never once interrupted, just listened with wide eyes and an occasional sympathetic nod of her head.

But when Sunny reached the part about Greer shutting down after tasting her in “the Chair of Female Pleasure ,” she couldn’t hold back anymore and all the emotions she’d been suppressing rushed to the surface.

“And then he wanted nothing to do with me afterwards,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. “ He wouldn’t even talk to me on the way home. Just grunted when I asked him questions and tried to make small talk—it was like I didn’t even exist!”

Kat sipped her tea and raised one auburn brow.

“Hmm. So he was extra grumpy? Maybe he was just thirsty.”

Sunny blinked at her.

“Thirsty? What are you talking about? He had water on the shuttle.”

“No, doll.” Kat leaned in, lowering her voice like she was about to share a scandalous secret. “ I mean thirsty . You do know he’s a Pitch Blood Kindred , right?”

“Well, I knew he was some kind of Blood Kindred because of the fangs,” Sunny admitted. “ But what’s a Pitch Blood Kindred ?”

Kat set her mug down with a little clink and gave a sigh.

“It’s hard to explain. Pitch Bloods are…

different. See , normal Blood Kindred give their mates a rush of pleasure when they bite—in fact, my friend Sophie says it causes an instant orgasm when Sylvan bites her.

But that’s because he can inject his essence whenever he bites.

But Pitch Bloods ? They actually need blood to survive.

And they can’t inject their essence when they’re biting to drink from someone. ”

“So…they actually drink blood? Like vampires?” Sunny asked, surprised. She’d never seen Greer do any such thing and he’d never mentioned needing blood before, either.

“Yes, but they keep it secret. It’s shameful to them, you see.

The Blood Kindred all believe that biting your mate should only be a blissful, pleasure-filled experience for her.

You know how protective the Kindred are of their mates.

Why , either one of my guys would rather cut off a finger than hurt me in any way!

So the idea of biting your mate over and over and hurting her every time is…

well, let’s just say it’s hard for the Pitch Bloods to deal with. ”

“But who is Greer biting to get his blood?” Sunny demanded. She frowned. “ He ought to be biting me!”

“I’m sure he’s thought about it,” Kat said dryly. “ Biting —whether it’s for blood or to inject their essence—is extremely sexual for all the Blood Kindred . But because the Pitch Bloods can’t bite for blood without giving pain, I’m sure he never even dreamed of asking you to let him bite you.”

Sunny nibbled her lower lip.

“Poor Greer . I never dreamed he might need me in a whole different way. That he might need my blood. I would have offered if I’d known.” She frowned. “ How much blood do they need? I mean, how often do they bite their mates?”

Kat frowned.

“Not much and not too often, but every once in a while they’ve got to bite a willing female and drink, or their health starts to fail.” She shrugged. “ So maybe your big, grumpy Protector was just cranky because he hasn’t fed in a while. You know how men get when they’re hungry.”

Sunny’s heart leapt.

“So… you think that’s why he’s been keeping me at arm’s length? Because he’s afraid his bite would hurt me?”

“Could be.” Kat gave her a sly smile. “ Could also be that he’s terrified of falling head over heels for you, but hey, what do I know?”

Sunny scrambled up, nearly dropping the pillow.

“I have to go talk to him. I have to let him know I don’t care— I’ll let him bite me if that’s what he needs!”

“Whoa there, doll.” Kat caught her wrist before she could bolt. “ First off, maybe don’t barge into his quarters shouting ‘ Bite me, Greer .’ That might give the poor guy a heart attack.”

Sunny flushed.

“Well— I didn’t mean literally ?—”

“Second,” Kat cut in, eyes twinkling, “ You promised to help me get ready for the wedding I’m directing tonight. Remember ? Decorations , centerpieces, the works. You can track down your moody Pitch Blood Protector later. Right now, we’ve got tulle to fluff and lanterns to hang.”

Sunny sank back down, torn between frustration and guilt.

“All right. I did promise.”

“Yes, you did—that’s the spirit.” Kat grinned, reaching for her tea again.

“ Just one more thing—you’d better keep your wits about you at the reception.

They’re serving two kinds of cake, and one of ‘em’s frosted with Bonding Fruit icing.

If you don’t want to get busy with someone tonight, you’d better steer clear of it. ”

Sunny’s eyes widened. She’d heard rumors about Bonding Fruit before, but this was the first time anyone had told her it was real.

“Wait—a fruit that can make you horny? Is that actually a thing?”

Kat gave her a wicked wink.

“Oh, it can do a whole lot more than that. Trust me—you’ll know it if you taste it. But take my advice and just don’t. I still remember the first time I had Bonding Fruit — I ate like seven of them all at once.”

“Oh my God —what happened?” Sunny asked, eyes wide.

“Well, let’s just say that Lock and Deep had to ‘help’ me all night long.” Kat giggled and sighed. “ That seems like such a long time ago now. But we still use Bonding Fruit when the three of us want to Bond all over again.”

“You do?” Sunny asked. She lowered her voice. “ Is it true that Bonding Fruit makes you able to, er, take a Kindred -sized dick? Because I’ve seen Greer’s and it’s huge.”

Kat laughed.

“How do you think I get with both my guys at once? Bonding Fruit doesn’t just make you horny—it makes you stretchy too. But once you eat some, you have to get busy. So like I said, be careful and avoid it tonight, okay?”

“Okay,” Sunny promised. She’d already been drugged with one aphrodisiac in the last week—she didn’t need to try another one.

She made a mental note to avoid the Bonding Fruit cake at all costs.

She was going to help Kat with this wedding, like she’d planned.

Then , after the reception, she would go over to Greer’s suite and have it out with him.

She’d let him know in no uncertain terms that she didn’t mind if he bit her.

In fact, she wanted him to bite her. And then, hopefully, they could?—

“Come on, I can see the wheels in your head turning but for right now we have to go,” Kat told her.

Sunny sighed and pushed her plans out of her head. Later …she’d talk to Greer later, she promised herself.

She just hoped the wedding went quickly because she couldn’t wait to see her big, grumpy Protector again.