Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Tristan sits ever taller in the bar stool by the counter. “I most definitely can. Especially after such a hearty breakfast.”
If he really is who he says he is, he has no idea what a washing machine is, so I have to admire his confidence. Viola grabs a pickle from the jar and extends it to me with a knowing smile. Ridiculous. I’m not putting my life on the line because of a jar prophecy.
A sudden flurry of whimpers grabs our attention, and it takes me a second to remember I’m now fostering a puppy. Lady waddles toward me so fast she falls over on the tiles.
“Well, hello,” I chirp, sinking to my haunches as the little rottie approaches me, swung left and right by her own tail. “Looking good today. Did you have fun with Auntie Viola?” I ask, picking up her pudgy form. The puppy’s warm tongue rolls over my chin, and I laugh, turning to face Tristan. “What about her? Do you remember?”
“Oh yes! The pup!” Tristan says excitedly, reaching for Lady with his hand. “Just look at it. No spikes, no horns, baby teeth, and I will go out on a limb and assume no venom either?”
Viola laughs. “The only flaw is how she’s still not trained to pee in the right place.”
“You can teach them that?” Tristan asks in amazement. “My friend has a bat, and he’s not yet been successful in these matters.”
I frown. “Bats aren’t domesticated…”
Tristan shrugs. “Well, he’s the husband of the Lord of the Nocturne Court, so the fiend is flying around in a diaper.”
I scowl, unsure what to think of that, but when Lady pushes her soft muzzle against my neck, I pat her side and approach Tristan so he can pet her with more ease. “Dogs are extremely intelligent. You can also train them to help with hunts, fetch things, and alert people of anything from narcotics to low blood sugar.”
Tristan is so mesmerized with my every word I feel my cheeks heat up, but it’s Viola who speaks.
“So what I’m hearing is that at this Nocturne Court men can marry each other.”
She’s saying this for my benefit. A silent ‘go for it, Nate’ when I need to keep this thing cool and casual. So what if he opened the jar and made me come last night? Just because he’s ‘marriage material’ doesn’t mean he will be my husband.
“Well, yes,” Tristan says, letting Lady play with his thumb. “One must follow what the heart desires.” His tone becomes deeper when he says that, and I swear his words are meant for me alone, and that he’s saying I am his heart’s desire.
Which is impossible.
We met yesterday.
Just because I’m a hopeless romantic doesn’t mean I’m naive.
And yet, when he pulls me close, with Lady stuck between us like a baby, I let him, because it feels so good to be treated right for once.
“I don’t yet know if I want to get married.”
Viola snorts. “Don’t listen to that BS, Tristan. Nate wants a big fat ring on his finger, doves released, a vanilla cake, and Lady as the ring bearer.”
I want to hiss at her like a stray cat forced out of its little nest inside a broken car. But Tristan beams at me, as if none of that baggage scares him.
“Let me introduce you to the rest of the Royal Family first.”
That’s it. I’ll die out of embarrassment. “Well, aren’t we doing that later today?” I challenge, because if he is lying to my face, I’d rather know sooner rather than later.
“We won’t arrive until tomorrow,” he says without a pause and even gives me a chaste, but toe-curling, kiss.
This time Viola looks at me more seriously. “About that. Tristan told me you two are leaving?”
“He invited me to… his,” I tell her and capture her gaze with pleading eyes. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I might need to come crawling back, so there will be no discussion of alternate living arrangements yet. “But we’ll see how it all pans out.”
Viola whistles. “Oh wow, U-haul it is. I always thought it was more of a lesbian thing.” She gives Tristan’s pecs a stare that says ‘I get it’.
Tristan strokes me through the sheet, and I already want him back on top of me. “All will be well, you shall see. You did say we need to go shopping first? My treat.”
“You are taking the dog though, right? I’m happy to puppysit sometimes, but I can’t really foster right now.”
“Of course I’ll take her,” I say and place her back on the floor before zeroing in on Tristan’s bare chest. “Um… do you have a T-shirt long enough to cover your… lower hips?” I ask, raising my gaze from his crotch.
“What he means is that we can see the outline of your dong,” Viola explains, and I dash off, my brain squirming with embarrassment.