Page 9 of Too Sexy for My Hooves (Inn or Out #2)

Farley volunteered to take Lord Alfred and Prince Robin to Assjacket for lunch.

With Zelda and Mac both in town today, he assured me they would be safe.

He mentioned a sandwich shop with outdoor seating where a centaur with a rabbit companion would feel right at home.

The porch was finished, so Paul and his mates offered to join them in their half-forms. There was safety in numbers, so I sent them off with well wishes.

Since I was confined to the inn's border, I decided this was a good time to head down to the basement. A very quiet Peace trailed along with me. At the last minute, I’d relented and grabbed the inn’s wand from the kitchen counter.

My arms still hurt from shoveling, so I wasn’t about to move furniture by myself.

“It’s dark down here,” Peace said as we descended the stairs.

I nodded. “Yes, it is. This is my first time checking it out. I recall someone saying that vampire guests stayed down here. I might leave one room set up for dark-loving creatures, but the others need to have some daylight. Hopefully, Paul and his mates can put in some windows.”

Peace stood in the dark hallway and sighed. “This place is depressing.”

I opened the first door and found a dark room with no windows. Door number two featured a large transom window that revealed the interior of a rain grate at ground level. Some light filtered through from the grate area, but not much. It must be why there were no curtains.

“Let’s keep this one on the short list and hope for a better one,” I said.

The fairy princess sighed loudly. “I don’t like sleeping below the ground. Can I sleep in the horse stall next to Robin’s?”

A grin took over my mouth. “Sure. However, since you’re now a member of my staff, you would have to clean out the stall for yourself. Why don’t you just shrink yourself and sleep in Prince Robin’s luxurious mane? I doubt he would mind.”

Peace shook her head. “Lord Alfred would never allow such intimacy between us. He would think it was inappropriate of me to even ask.”

I glanced at her and saw disappointment in her expression. “I know he’s not quite three hundred years old yet, but Prince Robin seems plenty old enough to make his own decisions about such things. Forget Alfred. The two of you should do what you want.”

“Robin would never defy Lord Alfred. He has been a second father to him.”

A thought occurred to me. “Was there ever a Lord Alfred in your life?”

“No,” Peace said, hanging her fairy head.

“I kept running away from my assigned guardians because I hated following their rules. Mother eventually took me in hand herself. She forced me to sit at her side until she began giving me assignments outside our kingdom. In hindsight, I would have experienced more freedom if I had not pushed my caregivers away. Lord Alfred does not interfere with Robin’s choices unless they involve me. ”

I paused with my hand on door number three. “Is it because Robin is allegedly betrothed to you?”

“Yes,” Peace said softly. “Lord Alfred believes I will still choose Robin as my husband. He does not see my flaws or my unworthiness.”

Her sad tone made me look at her. “Hold on... why are you unworthy? You’re three hundred years old. Were you supposed to be abstaining this whole time?”

“Mother never asked that of me. She rarely agrees with my decision-making, but she finds no fault in the males I take to bed.”

I blinked in surprise, but managed to nod.

“Good for her, then. I’m not condoning your sexual choice to sleep with my former almost-fiancée, but in general, I think women should be able to do what they feel is necessary for their well-being.

Deciding to share your body with someone is a very personal decision. ”

“Sleeping with Ethan felt like a seduction game. I wanted to prove I could enjoy being with him without giving him what he wanted. It was not a good reason to share myself.”

“What is a good reason? Isn’t that a personal decision? Farley’s family says he’s been waiting for me all his life because of a dream he had during puberty. He tells me he’s dated no one else. I want to be with him, but his chastity puts a lot of pressure on me.”

Peace bit her lip. “Do you worry that he will be disappointed and regret waiting?”

My laughter echoed down the hallway as I pushed open door number three. The room had multiple transoms along the top of one wall. It was the only bedroom that had light so far. “I think this one will work for you.”

“The room is fine, Selene. I would like to hear your answer. Why did you laugh?” Peace asked.

I smiled at her. “I laughed because my desire for Farley is stronger than my concerns that he’ll be disappointed.

It also doesn’t hurt that he already kisses me better than anyone else ever has.

Farley and I both agree we are destined to be together, no matter how many unexpected guests show up or how often Jezel tries to stop us. ”

“Does she not think the bear is worthy?”

I shrugged. “Maybe Jezel thinks I’m not worthy to be with him.

I’m a woman with experience. Why would I pretend to be a virgin?

If his male ego is that fragile, we’re doomed before we start.

I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve done. You shouldn’t be ashamed of yourself, either—not even of being with Ethan.

He told me it was not the first time he was unfaithful.

It was just the first time I caught him. ”

“My situation is different. Robin is not a virgin.”

I braked in front of door number four. “Did he tell you that?”

“No,” Peace said, sighing heavily. “I know it because I seduced him when we were young. I wanted to get it over with. He was my first... and I was his. I did it to irk my mother... and his. He was a wonderful lover.”

I stared at her. “I’m weirdly happy for both of you.

I would rebel, too, if my family ever tried to marry me off.

They never liked Ethan, and I never told them about my almost-engagement to him.

But I wasn’t ashamed of the sex we had. I was only ashamed because I was with him only because I was lonely.

Everyone makes mistakes, Peace. Ethan was my worst one. Maybe he was yours as well.”

“He was,” she admitted, nodding her head.

“Prince Robin, though, was not a mistake. However, when we were first together, I did not share his elation at how compatible we were. When I refused to make us official back then, he threw himself into his work. Our paths seldom crossed over the last century. I never asked him to be celibate, Selene. Why would he allow that to be his fate?”

I smiled at her question. “I asked Farley that same question, and he said he didn’t want to start something with someone who would never be me. I believe he felt it was too much trouble. You would have to ask Robin to be certain of his reasons.”

The fourth bedroom was another dark, cramped space. There were no windows, just solid walls.

“Room three is the only possibility,” I said.

Peace drew in a sharp breath. The innkeeper’s outfit appeared on my body before the doorbell even rang. I glared up at the ceiling. “Goddess damn it, Jezel. Now, I have to walk upstairs in these stupid skirts.”

“Would you like me to answer the door for you?”

I held up a finger as I closed my eyes. I allowed myself to remotely view the person asking to be let in. It was a sturdy woman who wore a deep frown. “What will your mother’s spy look like?”

“I have no idea. My mother is the queen. She is the sneakiest fairy in the whole world. Her spy might not even announce her purpose in being here.”

I huffed. “So your mother’s spy could be the one ringing the doorbell.”

“Yes,” Peace said contritely.

I shook my head. “Stay down here and choose the room you want. When I return, we will get the inn to move some furniture in for you.”

Peace sighed. “Fine—if I must sleep down here.”

“You must,” I said, lifting my clothes out of the way to retrieve the wand from my panties.

Jezel always left my underwear on when she put me in this dress, but she took my pants every time. The wand had been in the back pocket of my pants, and now it rested against my bare backside.

If Jezel was trying to kiss my ass after our fight, she was positioned perfectly.

* * *

Wand in hand, I hurriedly climbed the stairs. Well, no, I actually didn’t get to hurry, because I was trying the whole time not to trip on all the layers of fabric covering my feet.

By the time I finally reached the entryway, I was breathing hard. These clothes weighed a ton, and walking around in them was like wearing ankle weights during a workout.

I pulled open the door.

“Greetings, Innkeeper. The fairy queen has sent me to check on her daughter, Princess Peace and Harmony. Do you have a room for me?”

“Greetings. My name is Selene. What is yours?”

Her gaze shifted away from mine at the question. I suddenly knew with certainty that whatever she said was going to be a lie. I automatically didn’t like her because of it.

“My name is Gertruda.”

“Okay, well, welcome, Gertruda. My accommodations are modest due to recent renovations. I do have a room available if you can overlook the daily work being done.”

“I understand you provided sanctuary to the princess during her business travels. I would be most happy with the room you offered her.”

I smiled. “That room is not available. I have another you can use. You will be the first guest to use it since it’s been redone.”

It was difficult not to smirk when Gertruda the Barracuda’s eyes lit up with pleasure.

I mentally asked Jezel to put the worst mattress in storage on her bed.

It was petty of me, but I didn’t care. She was here to spy on Peace.

I would prioritize Peace’s well-being over this woman’s sleeping comfort any day.

I opened the screen door we’d been speaking through and held it open. “You will need to wait in the parlor while I make final adjustments to your room, Gertie.”

“It’s Gertruda.”

I grinned as I led her into the drab parlor. The chairs I’d used for Peace were still there. My new guest frowned at them before looking around to frown harder at the room.

“This room is too shabby for visitors. When will this room be done?” she asked.

“You’d have to ask the actual owner. I’m just the temporary help.”

I smiled a little when Gertruda’s eyes narrowed. “Are you not the innkeeper now?” she asked.

“Yes, but not the permanent one,” I said, lifting my chin. I smiled wickedly at her. “Excuse me. I need to see to your room. The princess is moving into staff quarters downstairs.”

“It is good to hear she is taking her mother’s advice.”

I barked out a short laugh. “I think it rather shows a weakness in her character. Peace and I settled our personal account long ago. If I had my way, she’d be staying in her original room upstairs, but then what kind of report would you make to your queen?”

Gertruda the Barracuda’s face reddened. “The queen has her reasons for what she’s done.”

“If you consider a profound disrespect for her daughter’s well-being, then perhaps you speak the truth. However, I am not pleased with the situation. That said, I like Peace enough to allow her to decide what she wants to do.”

Gertruda the Barracuda lifted her double chin. “You speak of things you do not know, innkeeper. One does not disrespect the fairy queen.”

“I would rather disrespect her than the princess. If the queen came here herself, I would tell her the same thing. She’s not being a good mother. She is being unnecessarily cruel.”

“You are being impertinent about matters that are none of your business.”

“Perhaps I am, but you’re here to steal my friend's happiness. Do not think that you will be allowed to criticize, coerce, or cause trouble for the fairy princess while under this roof. I may only be the temporary innkeeper, but I take the role very seriously. If you want to know how seriously, speak to The Baba Yaga.”

I touched the wand to my clothes, which disappeared in an instant. Luckily, my pants returned before I revealed too much. I glanced at my fuming guest, who now watched me cautiously.

“I’ll return to collect you shortly. In the meantime, I will put on the kettle to make you some tea. Please take this opportunity to reflect on our discussion. Or you may simply consider yourself warned. I will not mention it again unless you give me reason to do so.”