Page 2 of Unwrapping Chase

I hadn’t worked this hard in I didn’t know how long. Cutting, hauling, and setting up trees was hard work, not to mention splitting firewood with an axe to maintain the atmosphere, and walking all over the dome to service our customers.

“A new couple is checking in. They reserved the Evergreen Cabin. You’re going to escort them.”

I groaned. I loved orders normally, as I hated taking charge, but not this one. I was far too tired.

The Evergreen Cabin was the nicest, and therefore most expensive, but what concerned me was the remoteness. It was tucked halfway up the sole mountain in the dome. I’d have to walk or ride forever to reach them, to take care of them, to deliver their meals if they didn’t like the food options or if they requested something special. This whole thing was going to suck, but this was my job, and I was lucky to have it. After everything that happened with Elijah, it was miraculous that Jared was in a position to help me at all.

“Where are they?” I asked.

“Out front,” he replied, then grinned as he leaned against the door jamb. “And they wish to walk to their cabin without a horse accompanying them.”

“No,” I moaned, closing my eyes.

Normally, I’d jump at being away from the four-legged devils that were way too tall, but walking the whole way? I usually brought new people in the carriage to wherever they were staying, for atmospheric reasons as well as sheer convenience, but that wasn’t going to happen here. I was going to have to drag their luggage on a sled as we walked over the cobblestone path lined with wrought-iron lights. Also, it was uphill. Up the fucking hill.

I fought the urge to complain long and loud. My back and arms were already throbbing in protest. However, I silenced myself.

“Have fun,” Jared teased, ducking out of the kitchen before I could throw something—in a good-natured way, obviously—at him.

My head flopped back as I groaned once more. Why? Why did I have to do this? I didn’t want to have to work this hard anymore. Working, yes, I got that. But literally breaking my body to make a living that was immediately ripped out of my fingers? No, thank you. I wanted to be loved, and maybe not taken care of exactly, but at the very minimum, soothed a hard day’s work.

I wanted someone who’d provide support, care, and love. Someone who would kiss my forehead and maybe give me a massage while telling me that I was doing a good job. That my contribution mattered. That I mattered.

With a shake of my head, I banished the thought. I didn’t need or want another Daddy. The last one had fucked me over so badly that I’d never recover. The rest of my life was going to be clouded by him, and I’d spend every day regretting putting my trust in a man who didn’t deserve it.

Also, I’d made a promise to myself. No Daddy. No feelings. No romance.

I took a deep breath, then forced myself to stand again. I shoved my throbbing feet into my stinky work boots before heading out into the frosty air. The sooner I escorted these guests, the sooner I could take a break and rest.

I smoothed my hand over the back of Tam’s head, and they leaned into my touch, smiling and showing off their pointed teeth. They’d begged and begged to come tothisdome vacationwith me, and I’d had an impossible time refusing them anything they truly wanted. Tam knew that, of course, so they’d pestered and begged repeatedly until I relented. I’d first told them that they should go alone and have fun, but they’d refused. We had to go together. It had been utterly important to them. They hadn’t stopped begging for us to take a vacation together until I agreed to go.

Tam looked up at me with their luminescent silver eyes, the pink strands of hair falling over their face. “Anything I want?”

“Yes, dear one. Anything you desire is yours on our vacation.” I would give them whatever they wanted for the next three days. It was the least I could do for my coupling. They put up with a lot being mated to me. I was a workaholic, cranky, and not always the most communicative.

They bounced, and I smoothed my hand over the back of their head again. Tam was so beautiful. We’d been a couple for over thirty years, and I still thought they were the loveliest thing I’d ever seen in my entire life, with their light gray skin, bright pink hair, silver eyes, and lithe form.

Tam took a sharp inhale, and I followed their gaze. A human male moved toward us, and I fought a smile. I didn’t fuck many people outside of my bond with Tam, though I did occasionally enjoy playmates or secondary relationships. Sometimes, I’d join Tam and whoever they’d picked up, or one of their secondary partners, but I didn’t require it the same way or with the frequency that Tam did. My Tam loved to fuck lovers, friends, and strangers.

This human appeared to be next.

He was attractive for a human. His white-pink skin was dotted with brown marks in varying shades, and his nose was prominent and long on his small face. I quite liked the round ears that stuck out from the sides of his head, and his full lips were pleasing. His light brown hair was wavy, to the point thatcurls threatened near the nape of his neck, and his deep blue eyes were ringed in dark marks that spoke to his exhaustion.

This human needed someone to take care of him. But what I liked most was his not-quite-muscular-yet-not-slight form. I’d need to see him naked to be completely certain, but he appeared to have very little muscle and had a softness around his middle that I adored. Perhaps I would fuck this one with Tam. I wasn’t certain yet.

Tam grabbed my arm, tugging. “I want that one. I want him.”

“I did say you can have anything. Take what you need, dear one.”

“Do you think he’ll want me?”

“Who wouldn’t?”

A bright smile grew on their face. “I’ll have him, then.”

two

How are you so special?