Page 37 of Tempting Her Grumpy Protector (Kindred Tales Spicy Shorts #7)
SUNNY
“Doll, tuck this Think -me under your hair,” Kat instructed briskly as they finished stringing the last of the lanterns around the reception tent.
“ It’s a multi-signal one. The other girls helping are wearing one too.
That way, if I need any of you during the party, I can bespeak you quick without running across the whole park. ”
Sunny slid the slim golden band around her temples and arranged her hair to hide it.
“Got it.” She couldn’t forget the last time she’d worn one of the little telepathic devices, and how Greer had come to her rescue.
She’d never worn a multi-signal one, though.
Did that mean she could speak to Kat and everyone else at the reception at the same time?
She wanted to ask, but Kat had already bustled off to attend to something else and it was time for the wedding to begin…
It was a beautiful ceremony in the Sacred Grove with a white-robed priestess Joining the happy Couple at the altar of the Goddess . When it ended, everyone moved to the tent, which was buzzing with laughter, music, and chatter.
The air smelled of roasted pantha meat, sweet olly bread, and the faintly floral tang of the drinks being passed around. A server handed Sunny a tall, thin glass filled with pale blue liquor.
“Woo,” Kat swooped in to explain with a grin when Sunny sniffed suspiciously. “ Careful , doll—it’s stronger than it looks.”
Sunny took a cautious sip. Bubbles of warmth popped over her tongue, fizzy and deceptively light. She took another sip. Then another. Wow —the Woo was really good. Woo -woo, choo-choo—it’s delicious! The thought struck her as funny for some reason and she giggled.
“Excuse me,” said a woman to one side of her. “ But did you say something about a choo-choo train?”
“What?” Sunny looked at her blankly. “ Sorry , do I know you?”
“No, sorry.” The woman looked embarrassed. “ Excuse me.” She got up and left.
Sunny thought nothing of the strange interaction but it wasn’t long before her glass was mysteriously empty, and someone refilled it. Then she had another after that. It was so light and sweet and it went down so easily.
Before she knew it, she found herself seated at a long table near the front of the tent, as Kat had asked, in case she needed help.
The bride and groom were seated at the head table and Kat was busy greeting guests and getting them to the correct tables.
There didn’t seem to be anything to do at the moment and unfortunately, Sunny happened to be sitting next to a human man she didn’t recognize.
He asked her name and though she really didn’t want to give it, she did anyway, trying to be polite.
“So… Sunny , is it?” he drawled, leaning too close. His breath smelled of Woo and unbrushed teeth. “ You’re not married, right? Because I can’t imagine a guy letting you out of his sight.”
Sunny forced a polite smile and inched away. He had long, greasy hair and dirty fingernails that desperately needed a trim. Plus , he smelled like he had never even heard of deodorant. All the Woo in the world couldn’t make him attractive, even if she hadn’t already been in love with Greer .
“That’s very kind, but I’m here helping my friend tonight,” she said coolly.
He didn’t take the hint.
“I’m George — George Summerville . I’m on the bride’s side. I’m her second cousin,” he said. “ So tell me more about you…”
No matter how cool and distant Sunny was, he kept on trying—little compliments, attempts at jokes, nudges against her arm. Sunny wanted to move, but Kat had specifically asked her to stay put.
So she was stuck.
She sighed and took another long swallow of Woo instead. It was the only thing making this experience bearable. How many glasses had she had of the pale blue liquor? Honestly , she’d lost count.
At least the reception seemed to be going smoothly. No disasters, no interruptions. Soon she could slip away and find Greer . Maybe finally force him to talk to her…
“Want some cake?” Summerville asked, interrupting her train of thought.
“Sure.” Sunny nodded, eager to get rid of him for a few minutes.
“ But I want the pink one—the one with the flowers. Not the other one,” she said firmly.
It wouldn’t do to eat Bonding Fruit cake unless she was certain Greer was willing to help her out afterwards.
And she certainly didn’t want to eat any around the grubby George Summerville .
Summerville grinned and made a clumsy bow.
“I am at your service, my Lady . I shall get you the prettiest slice for the prettiest woman here.”
Then he went weaving away into the crowd. Sunny breathed a sigh of relief but it was short lived. Summerville returned much too soon, with a plate filled to overflowing with cake.
Sunny barely glanced before taking a bite.
The pink frosting melted sweetly on her tongue, a little too sweet, but it paired well with the sharp fizz of her Woo .
It had a strange aftertaste, she thought—like strawberries and ripe peaches and…
was that a note of buttered popcorn? Strange but tasty, she decided, taking another bite. And then another.
She didn’t notice until halfway through the second slice he’d brought her that her head was swimming a bit more than before. The music seemed louder, the laughter closer, and her body was heating from the inside out.
Oh no! What was wrong with her? Had she had too much Woo ?
Her nipples tightened under the bodice of her fitted red dress. She shifted in her seat, thighs pressing together. All at once she missed Greer with an ache that bordered on pain. She wanted his hands on her. His mouth. His tongue?—
Her mind wandered and she began to fantasize vividly—remembering how hot it had been, sitting on the Queening chair while her Protector tasted her.
She’d liked it that all the Thropp’ians were watching…
she’d even liked being topless, her bare breasts on display for everyone to see while Greer licked and sucked her pussy, making her so hot and needy…
I don’t know why I liked it when they watched me, she mused. But it was so hot, knowing everyone was looking at my breasts while Greer licked me…
She took another gulp of Woo to cool down, but then froze. George Summerville , who was sticking to her like glue, was staring at her oddly.
“Did you…say something just now?” he asked.
“No,” Sunny said, frowning. What was his problem? Why wouldn’t he leave her alone?
Her tablemate raised an eyebrow at her.
“Are you sure ? I could’ve sworn I heard you say you got naked somewhere and let people watch you.”
Sunny nearly choked on her Woo .
“What? I am not a stripper, thank you very much! I have a PhD in Xeno - Sociology .”
Honestly, what is he thinking? Like I would tell anyone but Kat what Greer and I did. Her mind slipped back into fantasies again. The way he used that toy on me—he had me on my hands and knees and he was fucking me so hard… God , that was so hot!
“He used what on you?” Summerville shook his head, looking confused. “ Look I know this sounds crazy and I didn’t see your mouth move but I swear I heard your voice in my head just now.”
“What?” Sunny demanded. “ What are you talking about?” He must be crazy, she thought.
But when she glanced around, she saw more than a few guests glancing up from their cake, frowning, fingers pressed to their temples. Some were scanning the crowd as though trying to locate the source of a voice they’d all heard.
“Did you hear that?” Sunny heard one of the female wedding guests murmur to her mate—a big Beast Kindred with black hair and golden eyes.
He snorted.
“Yeah—somebody had a little too much of the Bonding Fruit cake and forgot they were wearing a Think -me, I guess.”
“That was the one with the pink flowers, right? It’s a good thing they decided to have a child-free wedding,” the woman returned. “ I think whoever it is needs to go find her husband and get her itch scratched.”
Sunny’s stomach suddenly dropped.
Oh no. Oh God , no.
The damn Think -me—the multi-channel one Kat had insisted she wear. It wasn’t just carrying private bespeaks anymore—it was broadcasting her lust-soaked thoughts like a public announcement.
Everyone at the reception had probably heard her thinking how much she liked it when Greer fucked her with her bunny toy!
Also, apparently the cake she’d been eating was the one with the Bonding Fruit icing—no wonder she felt so strange.
Sunny ripped the Think -me from her head and tossed it onto the table. Then she stood quickly, her chair digging into the grass.
She had to get out of here.
Before she could slip away, her pesky tablemate caught her arm. “ Why don’t you show me the ship?” Summerville purred in her ear. “ Let’s go take a tour—just the two of us.”
“I don’t think that’s?—”
But she didn’t get to finish. Before she knew it, he was tugging her firmly away from the table, steering her toward the darkened edge of the Sacred Grove .
Sunny found herself going with him. The amount of Woo she’d consumed made her unsteady on her feet and she couldn’t seem to say no as he led her away from the reception.
Around the far side of the Grove , away from the music and laughter, he stopped.
“And now we can finally have some alone time.”
Sunny didn’t like the look on his face—it was sly and lecherous at the same time. But she still felt so dizzy from the Woo , she didn’t dare to try running away because she was afraid she’d face-plant right on the grass.
“I don’t think—”she began.
“Now that we’re alone, let’s get a little more friendly ,” he said, taking right over her.
As he spoke, Summerville slid his hand right down the front of her dress and grabbed one of her breasts.
“Hey!” Sunny jerked back, but he only tightened his grip, squeezing so hard it hurt.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he muttered, pressing closer. “ I heard what you were thinking. You want this.”
“No, I don’t! At least, not from you!” Sunny twisted, shoving at his chest. But her body was betraying her, warmth pooling between her thighs as the Bonding Fruit made her pulse race with need. The Woo wasn’t helping either.
Panic grabbed her by the throat and squeezed like an iron fist. What if she couldn’t hold him off? What if her drugged, desperate body gave in despite her mind screaming no?
She had never needed Greer more in her life…but he was nowhere to be found.