"Love you, too," I answered and watched him nod at Remy as he walked by.
"My turn." He strode over to me as the next song started and immediately fell into a groove that I found difficult to keep up with. He was better at dancing than I was, maybe even Hiroki.
"Holy shit. Can your brother dance like you?"
He shook his head. "He is more of a Tango and Waltz kind of guy." He winked to let me know he was joking. I hoped.
He put his hands on my hips and pulled me closer. "I don't bite."
"Yeah. Pretty sure you do."
"Not in this form. Unless you ask nicely," he said with a wink.
A tingle of pleasure wound its way down my spine. It was rather unexpected. He was hot, but his words shouldn't have given me such a thrill. I needed answers.
"Would you?"
"Bite you? Here in this club, in front of all these people?" He leaned in closer, practically whispering, but I could still hear him over the din of the music. "Take your flesh between my teeth, pressing down until just before the point of piercing you, blurring the line between pleasure and pain. Is that what you want?"
I mewled as the tingle transformed into a torrent. Pain wasn't my thing, and I had never been a fan of biting, but apparently my pussy was. From his words alone, I felt myself become wet and wanting. He had bought me a dress but hadn't purchased me panties. I guess he drew a line at shopping for women's undergarments. If he didn't stop, things were going to get pretty damn uncomfortable.
"You liked that thought, didn't you? I can smell it."
"That's kind of a rude thing to say. Especially since you didn't buy me panties…"
He blinked at me. "That made you wet?"
"Isn't that what you were saying?"
"No. I meant I could smell your desire…" He chuckled. "Right here," he said and let his teeth graze across the skin of my neck, just below my ear.
I practically shuddered in his arms. "Remy…"
"Yes, Kaede?" He kissed the spot after his teeth left it.
"I have a boyfriend…"
"Yes, Kaede?"
"That doesn't deter you?"
"No. In fact, it excites me more."
I turned my head and pressed it against his chest, unable to take anymore. "But I love him. And won't cheat on him," I said with way more conviction than I felt at that moment.
"And he loves you. But I'm not asking you to cheat on him."
"What are you asking me?"
"To let me in, too."
"Let you in where?" I looked up and cocked a suspicious eyebrow at him.
He chuckled. "Your heart." He traced the front of my dress with his finger over the heart that was threatening to beat its way out of my chest.
"You want me to love you, too?"
He nodded. "Only if you want to."
"What about David?" I protested.
He smiled. "See. That is the thing about love. It isn't a finite resource. It knows no limits. If you can love him with all of your heart, there would still be room for you to love me, too."
His argument was very convincing. He should join the debate team. If the academy had one. "But…"
"I'm not asking you to now. Just think about it. Discuss it with David and Hiroki. I know he loves you, too. Probably the most out of the three of us."
"Wait. You love me?"
He nodded without even thinking about it.
"Why? When?"
"I suspect from the first time you were brave enough to verbally berate my brother. I knew in that moment that you were the fox for me."
"You liked that, did you?"
He nodded. "That was one of the bravest things I've ever seen."
"Or dumbest."
"Yes. That, too." Finally, the song ended, and we gave up the pretext of dancing. He took my hand and gave me a gentle tug toward our table. "I wish that song had lasted a little longer."
"You were enjoying teasing me that much?"
"I didn't tease you at all, but that's not the reason."
"What is?"
"To have had the opportunity to find out how you feel about me."
I gripped his hand and stopped moving. He got the hint and froze where he was. "We don't have to be dancing for that to happen."
"I know. But I liked dancing with you."
"And you want to do it more often…"
He nodded.
"I would like that, too. I like you. A lot, Remy."
"More than my brother?"
A bark of laughter escaped me. "Your brother is fun to tease, but I imagine he was angrier at Sabine for trying to steal his opportunity of throwing me overboard."
"Spend more time with him. As I said, once you get to know him…"
"Uh huh. You keep wanting me to take your word on a lot of things…"
He stepped closer to me, leaning down and letting his lips hover just above mine. "Would you rather I prove things to you instead of asking you to trust me?"
Staring at his lips, I wanted to nod. My kami, I wanted to nod, but I didn't. I reached out and put my hand on his chest. "I need time."
He smiled and it reached his eyes. "That makes me happy."
"That I'll think about it?"
"Yes. Of course."
"You're not upset?"
"Why the hell would I be?"
"I don't know. Guys are usually like kids on Christmas when it comes to women."
"You've been hanging around the wrong guys."
"Apparently, I have."
His smile got a little bigger. Taking the chance, I leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. "That's for being so fucking sweet."
"I bet you taste sweeter."
I blushed, a million dirty images flashing through my one-track brain.
He rolled his eyes and pointed at my neck. "Was talking about there again," he explained patiently.
"Yeah. I figured that out. Eventually."
He leaned over and kissed my cheek. "That's for being so ridiculously irresistible."
Chapter 19
"David, he wants to be my boyfriend, too!" I gave him a shocked look and he just laughed. I was sore, and tired, just a tad bit tipsy, but it had been one of the best nights of my life.
"He can hear you, you know." He pointed at Remy walking next to Hiroki on our way back to the hotel.
"What's he got, dog ears?" I snickered at my own joke.
"Yes, he does," Remy answered from up ahead.
"And a sexy butt," I said a little louder. He shook it for me.
"I was talking about Hiroki!" I called back.
Hiroki ignored me. The bastard.
"And how do you feel about that?" David asked curiously.
"Hiroki's butt?"
"No. Remy as a boyfriend."
"How the hell should I know? You're the first serious relationship I've ever had."
He slowed his pace, stopping me with him. "Go ahead, we'll catch up," he said softly into the night air. Remy and Hiroki both waved over their shoulders. Then he turned to face me. "About having Remy as a boyfriend. What are you thinking?"
The giddiness of the few drinks I'd had left me in a fit of fear. "It scares the fuck out of me."
"What? Why?"
My breathing quickened as I shifted from foot to foot. "Because."
David reached over and put his hands on my shoulders, steadying me. "Talk to me, Kaede. Why are you afraid? Is it of Remy? Because I was telling you the truth when I told you I would have no trouble laying my life on the line to protect you. No matter what…"
I violently shook my head, making myself a little dizzy. "No! I'm not afraid of him. Or you. Or any of you, honestly. I trust all of you and know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose."
"Then what are you afraid of exactly?"
"I'm…" I paused, sucking in some air and pursing my lips. "I'm not good enough."
"What did you just say?"
"I suck as a human being. A kitsune. Whatever. I don't deserve you. Why the hell would I deserve your best friend
, too? Can't we just keep it simple? You and me."
"You really think that?"
I nodded in embarrassment. "It's the truth."
"No, Kaede. It's not. The truth couldn't be further from what you're thinking right now. You. Are. Amazing." He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his face against mine. "Why do you think that?"
"Because… Because it's what everybody has always told me."
He pulled back. "Who? Your parents?"
"My parents are disappointed in me, but they're not assholes. Most of the time. No. The few guys I've…slept…with." I trailed off in a mumble, not really wanting to talk about it.
"Let me get this straight. You're judging your self-worth based off the opinion of guys who only wanted one thing from you?"
"Maybe."
He kissed my forehead. "I know you're smarter than that, Kaede."
"Not usually, no."
"Well, you are. And funny. And beautiful. And perfect. Just be you. Everything else will fall into place."
"Unless the world gets eaten by the evil god sleeping beneath us."
A strange look passed over David's face.
"What?"
He shook his head. "Nothing."
"You don't think he's evil."
"Do you?" He tilted his head.
"No. Angry, yes. Evil, no."
He nodded and shrugged.
"Come on. Let's go back to the hotel, I'm literally freezing my butt off here."
"We can't have that." He reached down and slid his hands up my legs, under my dress, palming my ass in his hands. His extraordinarily warm hands. Times like that, I was glad he was a werewolf.
"Mmm." I nuzzled his neck.
"Come on. This will be even better in a warm bed."
"With four of us?" I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"We have two rooms. We all just slept in there to keep you warm."
"And you were going to tell me this when?" I playfully punched him in the arm.
"When you started to panic."
"Men." I stomped off slowly, waiting for him to catch up.
"You're telling me you didn't like waking up in the middle of a man blanket?"
"It had its finer points."
"Well, invite whomever or no one to join us tonight. It is up to you."
"If I do, it will be just to sleep. I kind of like the megasnuggles."
"I could tell."
"How?"
"You were smiling in your sleep."
We made it to the front door and David pulled it open, letting me get into the warm lobby. Thankfully, our room was on the first floor and we didn't need to deal with the stairs since the hotel didn't have an elevator. He went to stick the key in when the door opened from the inside and Hiroki motioned us in.
"Were you two warming up the bed?" I grinned at him and got an eyeroll back.
"Why, did you want to watch?"
I nodded back at him, wiggling my eyebrows. "I'd even hold the video camera."
"I bet."
"Might even pay to see it happen," I said with a laugh, turning toward my boyfriend. He was staring at us incredulous. "What?"
"Seeing guys being…intimate? That would excite you?"
I blushed in response. "Yeah. I think it's kind of hot. Does that bother you?"
He shook his head. "No! It's just…just when I thought you couldn't be any more perfect, you surprise me."
"Don't tell me you're bisexual?" It was my turn to be shocked.
"No! I've never. Let's just say the thought doesn't disgust me."
Remy stepped out of the bathroom, drying his hands. "What about you?" I grinned at him.
"Like guys?"
I nodded.
He shook his head. "Sorry to disappoint you."
"I'm not."
"Uh huh. You should see the look on your face."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'd totally watch you make out with another guy. But to each his own."
"What about you? Ever had sex with a girl?"
"Once. But we were both really drunk."
"Now that I would pay to see," David said in awe.
"Most guys would. Not gonna happen, though," I answered with a wink.
"We should probably get to sleep. We need to be back at school tomorrow." Remy sounded a little disappointed, but maybe that was just me.
"Maybe we should go back tonight. We do have class in the morning." As much as I wanted to be in the middle of a puppy pile, the thought of getting up extra early to get a cab back to school to get ready was mighty unappealing.
Remy sighed. "We can't."
"Huh?"
"It is why we did not go back today."
"Why?"
He motioned for me to sit. "When we found you, we called for a cab. The driver refused to take you back to the academy."
"Am I in trouble?"
Remy shook his head. "No. But you were technically dead."
"So?"
"Where do Charons ferry the dead?"
"To the underworld…"
He nodded.
"But I'm not dead now."
"No. But the smell of it is still on you."
I sniffed my armpits. I didn't smell dead. "How do you know?"
"What am I, Kaede?"
"A hellhound."
He nodded. "Guardian of the underworld. Trust me, I know. I'm hoping it is gone by the morning and we can get you back. Otherwise we're going to have a long walk."
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, but Roki was standing behind him, nodding. "Okay. But no funny business."
"What do you mean?"
"Sex. We can all sleep in here. I won't make you go in the other room if you want to stay, but no…you know."
He chuckled. "Furthest thing from my mind."
"You have a dick. I doubt it."
He just smiled and started unbuttoning his shirt. I meant to go to the bathroom, but I couldn't. My eyes wouldn't let me while they were glued to his chest as the shirt slowly opened.
"Do you need help getting undressed?" David's voice broke through my fascination.
"No. I need to pee. I'll get undressed in the bathroom."
"Okay," he said softly.
Practically running, I closed the bathroom door and put my back against it, giving my head a moment to clear. Finally, I slipped the dress over my head and used the toilet before washing up at the sink. I didn't have any of my toiletries and made do with what the hotel had left for us.
When I stepped back into the bedroom, David and Remy were in the bed and Roki was waiting patiently for me, holding the blanket. I guessed he planned on keeping my legs warm again. I think he might have been taking one for the team to keep the situations from getting out of hand. Damn it.
Remy smiled and motioned for me to get into my spot between them. "Awww, but I wanna see you spoon David."
"I cannot protect you if you are not between us," he answered smoothly.
"Fine, fine. You just don't wanna be the little spoon." Instead of climbing up from the foot of the bed, I crawled over Remy, straddling him for a moment to tease him. His eyes were feasting upon my flesh as I slowly dragged myself over him, chuckling as the desire in his eyes became quite apparent.
"Little tease," he said with a chuckle. At least he was a good sport. Not that I trusted him completely, but enough.
Rolling off him, I landed on my back between them. Hiroki crawled up over my legs and brought the blanket up over us before curling up over my hip and putting his arm over my thighs. I sighed contentedly. Going back to school and sleeping alone was going to suck.
David rolled on his side, sliding his arm over my chest just under my breasts, burying his face in my neck and kissing me softly. Remy turned and kissed the top of my head and put his hand on my stomach just above Roki's head. Lifting the blanket, I checked on him to make sure he was comfortable. David's cock was practically in his face and he grinned at me. I couldn't help it, I busted out laughing.
"You can sleep up here with the big k
ids if you want."
"I am fine."
"Okay. Night, Roki."
"Night, Kaede-sama."
∞ ∞ ∞
Waking up in a bed full of naked guys is completely different from falling asleep in a bed full of naked guys. I couldn't lie still and kept fidgeting. Finally, it got to the point where David rubbed my bare chest just below my neck. It wasn't sexual in nature, just meant to be calming and he whispered, "Relax. We won't do anything to you while you're sleeping. I swear to you."
That kind of hurt my feelings. I twisted my neck to look over at him. "I know you won't. I wasn't even worried about that. If I didn't trust everybody in this bed, I wouldn't be here."
"Oh. Sorry. Just seemed like you were worried."
"No. I'm…anxious?"
"For tomorrow?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I'm lying in a bed full of naked men. What the fuck do you think I'm anxious about?"
He chuckled, Remy chuckled, and even Roki gave a short bark of laughter from under the covers. It was a good thing it was almost completely dark in the room or they would have seen the furious blush on my cheeks.
"Would touching us help?"
"Huh?"
"We each have a hand on you. Yours are balled tightly beside you trying oh so hard not to touch us. Is that what is bothering you?" Remy wasn't teasing, merely being observant. Too observant.
"I don't know. Maybe?"
"I do not mind, if you wish."
"I bet you don't." I sighed and lifted my hands, unclenching my fists, unsure as to where to put them that wouldn't be completely awkward, I settled for their hips, draping a hand over each of them.
Guys feel different from girls. Most of the time. Their skin just feels thicker, rougher, or at least it did to me. The skin on their hips, however, was a completely different story. Soft and smooth, I had intended to just rest my hands on them. Almost instantly, I found myself letting my fingers glide over their hips in fascination.
Remy was the first to squirm. "That tickles."
"Oops. Sorry."
"No, you're not."
"Nope, not in the slightest. If I had known you were ticklish, I would have taken you prisoner long ago."
"I think you already might have," David said with a little chuckle.
"Pardon?"
"He's already your prisoner."
"Shut up, David," Remy warned.
"What does he mean?" I asked Remy.
A Tail of Woah: A Reverse Harem Academy Tail (The Fox and the Hounds Book 1) Page 17
