by Kay, Sharon
“I wanna be red.” Dash picked up a checker and rubbed it between his thumb and first finger. “Mom can be black.”
They played several games, Garnet and Aden trading off playing against Dash, both of them going easy on him. He grinned broadly every time he made it all the way across the board to earn a king. But after an hour, despite his enthusiasm, Dash’s eyes grew heavy.
“Time for little boys to go to bed.” Garnet leaned down to kiss his head.
“Aw, Mom.” Dash started to protest but his words trailed off into a huge yawn.
Voices outside drew Garnet’s attention to the porch, where three Deserati demons were striding up the front steps.
“That’s my cue to go. Good job tonight, Dash.” Aden held up a hand for Dash to give him a high five.
“Are you expecting guests tonight?” Garnet asked.
“No, but I’m not surprised. It’s a bad night to be traveling. I’ll get them settled, then I’ll help you finish up in the kitchen.” His voice was relaxed and warm as he stood.
Garnet left him to take care of the new arrivals while she and Dash marched up the stairs. She caught a passing glimpse of the three as they stood in the foyer with Aden. Loud and soaking wet, one of them said something about a fight while another said something about a drink. Dash tightened his grip on her hand.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” she whispered as they hurried the rest of the way. Reaching their room, she ushered him in and closed the door quickly behind her. Dash knew that the inn was a place where people came and went, and so far all the guests had been quiet and polite, but he still tensed when unfamiliar males entered the room. Especially if they were big, like the Deserati. “Those men just need a room to stay in, to get out of the rain. And we can lock our door, remember?”
Dash wrapped his arms around her legs. “Snuggle with me.”
“Of course I’ll snuggle with you.” She helped Dash change into his pajamas and got into one of the double beds with him. Their room had two, but Dash had wanted her to sleep next to him and, at least for now, she was happy to oblige him. His world had turned upside down and, even though it was for the better, she wanted to keep some things consistent for him.
Her sweet little boy was so tuckered out from getting to stay up late that he fell asleep quickly. Garnet lay quietly, inhaling his little-boy scent, listening to his breathing as her heart swelled with love. We did it. We’re safe. No more close confines with filthy men, no more drab, sunless home. No more taking orders and hoping not to anger Draven. Dash would grow up playing in the sunshine and shrieking in delight with his friends. Happy and carefree, like kids should be.
The noises of the inn’s newest guests drifted up through the floor. They were still loud, but she hoped Dash would sleep through the commotion. She got up and crossed the room silently, opening and closing the door before any of the boisterous male talk could filter in. She was locking it when she registered footsteps coming up the stairs. With one hand on the doorknob, she tensed.
Aden appeared at the top step. “Hey,” he said softly. “Little guy asleep?”
“Yeah.” She let out a breath, flooded with relief at seeing him and not one of the new arrivals. Not that she had specific reasons to be suspicious of them. But all the reasons why she was vulnerable zipped through her mind. She didn’t know them, she was small, they were big—
“We never even made it to Battleship.” Aden’s voice was a low pitched rumble as he neared.
“He fell asleep almost right away.” She leaned against the wall next to the door and looked up into eyes of molten steel. “The games were a good idea. He really enjoyed them.”
“Good.” Aden stood close enough for her to inhale his delicious masculine scent, but kept his hands in his jeans pockets. “He’s a smart kid.”
“Thanks.” Her heart warmed as she pictured her boy’s sweet smile and the way he slumbered now, clutching a stuffed green dragon she’d bought him in town. “So, are those new guys settled in?”
“They’re downstairs, drinking and talking.”
“Do you know them?”
“No. But I didn’t get any bad vibes from them. They say they’re on their way to the southern forests and, based on all their gear, I believe them.”
She searched his face in the dim light. Short horns protruded from thick dark hair, and his tail gave a lazy twitch across the polished wooden floor. Power radiated from his frame, but never once had she felt threatened by him.
“So.” He took a half step closer. “You say I’m your boss now?”
“Yes.” She tried not to grin, but couldn’t stop it. It felt too good to have a say in how she spent her days. “I’ll take the job.” It was a cooking position, true. But Ivydale and Stroehm may as well have been in different galaxies. This was where she belonged.
“Damn, I’m glad to hear you say that. Best news I’ve heard all day.” One of his hands settled on the wall above her head. “I hope you stay. Long term.”
Heat rolled off his body. She swallowed. That word again, Stay. “Long term?”
His other hand landed on the wall near her waist. “You’re employed at will. That means you can quit if you choose. But I don’t want you to quit.”
Her eyes widened. “Okay.” The word came out part whisper, part squeak as she tried to understand. He was so near, so strong. She wanted to melt into him. Part of her brain realized that she could scoot away from him if she wanted. He would allow it. But away was a word that she couldn’t fit into the same sentence as Aden.
He dipped his head. “Stay.” The warmth of his breath skated across her lips.
She looked up into the intensity of his eyes, her cheeks heating as she remembered how good his mouth had felt on her hand. Any lingering hesitation in her mind crumbled as she made another decision with utter clarity. She pushed up on tiptoe to meet his lips.
“Garnet.” He murmured her name with a reverence she couldn’t understand, but she wasn’t about to stop and question it. One hand grabbed her waist, the other slid into her hair as he took over the kiss.
The warmth of his lips was exquisite and soft, sensual and teasing. She ran her hands up his arms to his shoulders. His muscles were hard. Such a contrast to his mouth, working against hers with lethal intent. The hand at her waist dropped to her bottom and pulled her even closer. She gasped, and he stole her breath, taking the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. Oh god. A thousand different sensations bombarded her. She wanted his touch everywhere.
His fingers stroked her jaw in a gentle contrast to his hungry kiss. His skin was hot as his fingers worked down her neck to trace her collarbones. She rubbed against him, feeling the hard length of his erection pressing into her stomach. He groaned.
A surge of something new and profound shot through her. He wants me. It was a different feeling, knowing she had the power to create this reaction in this huge brawny male. He was aching as much as she was. At least she hoped so. Still enjoying being in control, she dared to drop a hand to the waistband of his jeans.
He angled her jaw to deepen the kiss. She couldn’t do anything to stop him, and she didn’t want to try. She’d never been kissed like this. His hand dropped to her throat, skimming down to the tops of her breasts. Touch me, she willed him, as if that would help.
His hand slid lower, until the length of his finger dragged slowly down her nipple. “Okay?” His voice came out in a strained whisper.
“Yes.” Pure pleasure shot from his hand straight to her lower belly, where an intense ache was making her crazy. “Don’t stop.”
He palmed her breasts through her thin cotton T-shirt. A soft moan escaped her lips. She threaded her fingers into his hair, running them over the short horns above his ears. His hips flexed into her. Hard. He let out a soft curse and let go of her.
“What?” she gasped, startled.
He took a step back, breath sawing in and out. “We need to stop while I’m still able to. You touch these,” he gestured to his hor
ns, “you may as well stroke my dick.”
Garnet’s mouth dropped at his blatant words. “I’m sorry. I didn—”
“No need to apologize. I liked it, sugar.” His eyes danced with mischief and hunger. “But you just got out of a shitty situation. And as bad as I want you, I’m not gonna take you like an animal.”
Garnet’s head spun. He wants me. But he won’t force me. The newness of it all made her legs weak and she sagged against the wall.
“Ah, hell. I shouldn’t have—”
“Oh no you don’t.” This was her choice and she didn’t regret a second of it. “No. I kissed you, remem—”
A burst of raucous shouting from the lower level startled her and her eyes darted to the stairs. A second, loud voice followed the first.
“Mommy!” Dash’s tiny terrified shriek cut through the wall and straight to her heart.
“Dash!” Garnet unlocked the door and yanked it open. Running across the room, she sat on the bed and gathered a shaking Dash into her arms. “Shh. It’s okay. Mommy’s here.”
“M-mom, I’m sc-scared.” He buried his head against her chest. “Those guys are too loud.”
Garnet twisted to Aden, who stood silhouetted in the open doorway like a dark guardian.
“I’ll tell them to be quiet or they’re out of here. No warnings. I will throw them out in the rain if that’s what it takes.” His voice resolute and strained, as if he were fighting to keep it free from anger. “I promise. No more noise.”
“Thank you.” Garnet took a deep shuddering breath and turned back to Dash. She squeezed him tightly, hating the traumatic memories brought back by loud unfamiliar male voices. Shouting had been common at Stroehm due to rudeness or torture, or maybe both. All the men there had been hardened and rough. The best she and Dash could hope for was to be ignored and blend into the woodwork, but they had both heard profanity-laced tirades just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She kissed Dash’s hair. “Shh. It’s okay. They’re going to stay quiet now.”
His breath came in choppy gasps and his arms tightened around her waist. “S-stay with me. Don’t leave, Mommy.”
“I won’t. Let’s lay down now.” She kicked off her shoes and swung her legs onto the bed, shifting closer to cuddle him in her arms.
“I don’t like those guys.”
“I know, sweetie. I don’t like them either. Hopefully they’ll be gone in the morning. Want me to sing to you?”
He nodded and sniffled.
Garnet softly sang one of the lullabies common among the plant pixies. It was about crops and flowers and how the sun helped all things grow. She’d sung it to him since he was a baby.
Dash sighed and, bit by bit, his shoulders relaxed and his breathing evened out. Garnet lay quietly, only fully relaxing when he’d fallen asleep. Even then her mind was bombarded with conflict. Things had gone so well this week, and then this…Was this what she should expect whenever loud males traveled through? Maybe they’d need to live somewhere else in town. She could find a sitter for Dash on the days she had to work. She’d provide whatever he needed. She hadn’t expected their transition to be flawless—after all, being kept as a slave had torn apart her own sense of self. And Dash had never known anything different.
This is a new start. We’ll figure it out.
And Aden?
She blinked in the dark room, breath hitching. Her lips still tingled from the most sensual kiss of her life, one she didn’t regret for a single second. She only hoped he didn’t decide she and Dash had too much baggage. A tiny voice reminded her that he had been patient and understanding this far. But he didn’t know the whole story. And once he did, would he change his mind?
CHAPTER NINE
GARNET HUMMED AS SHE WEEDED the herb garden behind the inn. Three weeks into her new employment, the inn’s restaurant had been consistently busy. And thankfully, the travelers who’d stayed overnight had been more quiet than the three Deserati males. Garnet and Dash still occupied their room on the second floor.
She’d been in the garden every day, talking to the plants. All the pixies did so during the growing process, so she had no qualms about doing it in front of Aden. The herbs had been half-heartedly growing when she started with them. A little less water, as Aden had flooded the poor cilantro, and a lot of love later, and she would have fresh salsa and a perfect enchilada sauce for tonight.
Aden hadn’t kissed her again. She was partly relieved and partly disappointed. Working in the kitchen was one thing, but his physical proximity made her heart flip-flop. She’d feel giddy when he’d wink at her, then all hot and bothered when she’d catch his hungry gaze on her. I want you. She couldn’t get his husky words out of her head. She didn’t think his mind had changed. Was he giving her time and space?
Ty and Cole helped her with dishes. And sometimes Aden would step in and help her with a heavy roast or pot of boiling water, and she’d marvel at how well they worked together.
She tugged out a stubborn wormwort. “Out you go, before you choke my sage.” She tossed it in her weed pile and wiped her arm across her brow. Fall was delightfully warm in Ivydale.
She closed her eyes and inhaled, the fragrance of her herbs drifting up to her nose. My herbs? A smile tugged her mouth. Yes, mine. Nothing sounded more perfect.
It was so peaceful back here. She heard occasional shouts of children playing in the schoolyard. And Aden had been working on the roof all day. The steady tap-tap-tap of his hammer had accompanied her gardening.
The toll of the school’s bell roused her, and she stood to stretch. An herb-coaxing lesson was on the schedule for Dash this afternoon, and she couldn’t wait to see him. She was taking longer to adjust to the long hours of separation than he was. But that was okay. He’d adjusted to school as if he’d been here all his life.
Scuff, scuff, scuff. Small feet approached on the dirt path. She beamed as he turned the corner and crossed the soft grass.
“Hi, Mom!” He ran and hugged her.
Garnet hugged him and kissed his head. “Hi, nihjo. Did you have fun in music today?”
“Yeah, we sang a silly song about a goat. It was in a bakery!”
She handed Dash a water bottle and an apple and listened to his animated version of the song. “Wow, that is silly!”
“Yeah.” He giggled.
“Ready to learn about herbs?”
“Yep.” He took a giant bite of apple.
She spent a few minutes showing him how to identify the plants by sight and smell. He knew several already, from helping her at Stroehm. Then she moved on to show him how to coax the leaves to unfurl and widen, using their pixie-given talent.
“Wow, cool!” he exclaimed as she encouraged a sage plant to produce a new leaf along its central stem.
“Now you try. Concentrate on that leaf. Picture it growing taller and uncurling.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. “Did I do it?”
“Not yet, sweetie. Try for a longer time.”
Dash tried again, and this time the leaf did as asked. “Awesome!”
Garnet hugged him. “Great job! See, you can do it!”
“Can I do it to all these plants?”
“Not all at once. We don’t want to waste anything. And some don’t need special help. Some are just happy to be here in Ivydale.”
“Not Stroehm,” Dash said. “Plants didn’t like it there.”
“No one liked it there.” Garnet wasn’t sure if she should say more or leave Dash’s thought alone. It was a brief, accurate statement. Sometimes less detail was better.
The scrape of heavy boots on metal drew her from her thoughts. Aden. The ladder at the side of the building rattled and then he was striding around the cor—
Shirtless. Garnet’s throat went dry. My god. She stared, unable to look away.
Thick biceps curled up into broad shoulders that looked strong enough to lift a tractor. His pecs were slabs of muscle that begged to be licked. Below, his abdominal m
uscles tapered down past the waist of his low-slung jeans. A wisp of hair beckoned in that sweet space between his navel and the button of his fly.
“Hey, you two.” He winked at her.
Her cheeks heated. Oh my god. This wasn’t the first time he’d caught her staring. And again, he didn’t seem to mind.
“Hi, Mr. Aden,” Dash said. “Guess what! I made a leaf get big!”
“That’s great, buddy! High five.” Aden knelt next to Dash and held up his palm.
Dash went to smack his hand against Aden’s. Aden moved his hand up. Dash giggled and reached higher. Aden moved it to the side.
Dash laughed out loud. “I’m gonna get you!”
Aden moved his palm down low and let Dash smack it with all his six-year-old strength.
Aden mock-frowned and shook out his hand. “You’re strong.” He winked at Garnet over the boy’s head.
Dash bent his arm at the elbow. “Yeah, feel my muscles.”
Aden obliged and patted Dash’s bicep. “Ah, a tough guy. You can protect your mom.”
“Yep.” Dash nodded and put his hands on his hips.
“Hey, wanna see something cool?” Aden asked Dash. He looked at Garnet. “Right here in the yard.”
She nodded. “It’s fine.”
“What?” Dash asked, bouncing.
“A fox and a rabbit were here last night. You can still see their tracks. I’ll show you.” Aden led Dash across the yard, where they squatted next to a bush. Aden pointed to something and Dash leaned down, his nose almost touching the ground, to get a better look.
Garnet smiled. Dash was always eager to show Aden something or other, and Aden had obliged him every time. Aden had never mentioned having kids, but he seemed like a natural with Dash.
Muscles rippled in Aden’s back as he raised his arm and pointed to a nearby elm. He murmured something Garnet couldn’t make out, and Dash was hanging on his every word. They both stood to walk to the tree.
With Aden’s back to her, Garnet didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed about looking at his rear. He, like the other Deseratis in town, kept their lethal tails hidden. She bit her lip. He was breathtaking. I want you. His words were still there, having taken up permanent residence in her frontal lobe.
