Page 28 of Truth
I pulled away, embarrassed that I failed to control my magic, but his hand tightened in my tunic. “Don’t.”
His head tilted to the side as he watched me, and I had to wonder what it was he thought when the beauty of a human was washed away and all that stood in front of him was me. The ogre. The green skin giant who is visibly nothing like the wolves or the vampires. He didn’t speak as he let go of my shirt, his fingers rising slowly until the stroked slowly down one of my tusks. I swallowed, closing my eyes as the onslaught of euphoria overwhelmed my senses.
“Does it hurt when I touch you?” He asked and though he wasn’t specific, I knew he was referring to the tusk his fingers were still grazing.
I shook my head, “It is a bliss.”
He dropped his hand back to my clothing before pulling my body back to his, my hands falling back to the counter on either side of him. His head tilted back to look at me, “If you are more comfortable, you don’t have to wear your glamour around us at all.”
“I fear if I don’t wear it repeatedly, I will fail to remember to wear it when it matters.” I admitted, my face dipped on its own accord, my nose grazing against his jaw, savoring his scent. Behind us, the kettle began to whistle its impatience, urging us apart. “I thank you for your acceptance of my natural form. I must bring our mate tea; she’s worked hard and needs to be soothed.”
I tried to pull away, but his fingers didn’t release my clothing. His eyes focused on a spot behind me as he spoke, “Then around me, there is no need to glamour.”
I nodded once, “I will try to honor your wishes.”
His fingers flexed a few times, grasping and releasing my tunic as the whistle of the kettle grew more insistent, the water hissing angrily through the spout. I opened my mouth to speak again, when he tilted his head back and stood straighter, stretching his body to match my height. His tongue ran quickly up my tusk, ecstasy shooting through my nerves, before he laid a quick kiss on my lips and ducked under my arm, leaving the room before my mind and body could catch up with what exactly happened.
Chapter 14
ELLIS
Liberty sleptlike the dead between us, and I was positive it had to do with whatever concoction the ogre gave her. By the time she finished her tea, she was yawning. Ten minutes later, she had curled up in the middle of us, wrapped an arm around Sterling, tossed her thigh over mine and she was out. When she woke, she was rejuvenated as fuck and I sort of wished Lenin would start making me tea too.
In the kitchen as I stood by the stove, Liberty leaned over my shoulder and inhaled deeply, “Pancakes. Are you making pancakes? Please tell me you used that Madagascar vanilla that tastes so fucking good.”
“I’m using Madagascar vanilla.” I nearly beamed. Anything that made her happy made me feel content to my core.
Her nose nuzzled into the crook of my neck before her teeth grazed my shoulder, “You are my favorite.”
Sterling strolled in from the kitchen doorway. “No, he’s not.”
He held up a to-go cup of coffee and a bag, which I could only assume held those fucking cookies they loved so much. She squealed with joy and I couldn’t even be angry about it, because she was happy, and that made me happy. She bounced over to him, snatched the offered cup and bag and carried it over to the table where she promptly removed the lid from the cup before diving into the paper bag and producing a massive cookie.
“Are you going to have room for these pancakes?” I asked, knowing full well that she had a healthy appetite.
“Will I have room?” She rolled her eyes, “I’ll probably eat more than you, Lenin and Oak combined.”
As if mentioning their name summoned them, Oak and Lenin walked into the kitchen. It appeared they were together a lot, and though I wouldn’t admit it out loud, a part of me was jealous of whatever friendship they had formed. I’ve known Oak and Sterling nearly all my life. When our friendship failed, I missed both of those jackasses.
I should have been the bigger person. I should have sucked it up and apologized for the things we said in anger. Taken back the untruths I spoke about them in the heat of the moment and offered an olive branch in that one moment we needed each other the most. Instead, I let it go, we all let it go, and each moment that passed, a greater distance grew. I thought I hated them, but I don’t. I never really had. And being here with Liberty, fighting for her, with her and with them, made me realize that.
“I doubt you could eat more than me, Kitten.” Lenin replied in that odd pattern of speech he uses.
“You haven’t seen her eat pancakes then.” Oak replied as he approached her from behind. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before he strolled to the coffee pot. “Anyone want coffee?”
A chorus of male grunts went up before the sound of the coffee grinder filled the air. Justice shuffled in, followed by his friend Horo. The wolves' eyes sought Liberty before falling to the ogre. I held back a smirk. He could deny it all he wants, but the fates knew best, apparently.
“Horo, I’m happy you made it.” Liberty said as she dipped her cookie in her coffee and took a bite.
He bowed his head, “I’m happy to be here.”
“I trust you’ve caught my mate up on the past years?”
He nodded, “I have, and he’s caught me up on the last . . . four days.”
She laughed, the rich sound making all the heads turn and the air fill with the scent of lust and need, “You mean, Lenin.” She winked at the ogre and I swear he blushed. “He caught you up on Lenin.”
Horo’s throat worked as he swallowed, “That development was definitely a shock.”