My Summer Girl

Chapter Fifty-One

Dulce

Another Love – Tom Odell

The sky is bright;the sun kisses me. My skin heats with the rays blazing down and I know it’ll deepen my skin and I’ll enjoy the way it allows me to wear dresses forever.

Forever? What about the end of summer?

I shake the negative self-talk and focus on mi reina.

“What are today’s plans?” I ask Vera, wishing I could be the clothing encasing her. Whenever she wears tight clothes, I want to bite every inch of her flesh and hiss at anyone who admires her.

Shaking my possessive thoughts, I think of what today’s plans should be. We’re supposed to figure out the dragon problem, and I have a surprise to show her, and hope Dormir doesn’t mind me using what connection we have for the betterment of Solera.

After leaving her to her own devices after concocting my plan earlier, she’s been actively avoiding me. It’s been hours of her drowning herself in work.

Now, when her eyes meet mine, there’s a bit of apprehension there. Like she isn’t sure if I’ll truly stay and want her. Part of me wonders if that’s the lack of pollination or if it’s more to do with Vex warning her it was a summer thing and not the forever kind. Because this all happened from a kidnapping gone wrong and a bucket list thrown out the window to just experience everything thrown my way.

I need to go back to Amantes, even just to have closure. It’s not permanent, though. There’s absolutely no way I can abandon what I’ve only just found.

“I want to take you somewhere, if you’re free,” I express, not wanting to assume she’d sacrifice her busy schedule for my whims. Between her eyebrows, anxiety is etched there. I understand that look. For every day of my life, I sacrificed each moment I could have enjoyment—no matter how miniscule—just to make my world spin for others.

“It’s no big deal if you can’t get away,” I tack on, feeling an ache build in my chest. Her expression softens as she sits down at her vanity, starting to brush her beautiful green hair.

“I’ll make time, princess.” The words aren’t forced, but I know how anxiety-inducing it is to say them, even if she means every word. I put out my palm, silently asking for her brush, and sigh in relief when she hands it to me.

There’s this part of me that’s a caregiver, a need to soothe and fix while also forcing others to enjoy things. I am aware that it is likely a coping mechanism due to the dysfunctional nature of my family, but regardless, I find myself unable to control the urge when it arises.

Parting her hair into sections, I take the brush, starting from the bottom of her hair and working my way upward. There aren’t many kinks or knots, but I’m still gentle. Much more than my mamá ever was for me. She broke several brushes on me and Di growing up, treating our curls like Val’s softer ones, not realizing his were much smoother and easier to contain.

When she starts to twist some floral pieces into her hair and onto one of her horns, I stop her, remembering what I wanted to ask her.

“Let me,” I suggest, reaching forward. Adoration sparkles in the greens of her eyes at me. My fingers hold onto the floral vines she has, twisting them around her horns. Each one has thorns and vines wrapped and I weave the little flowers through them.

When my fingers linger too long on the horn, she shudders, and I just know they have a keen sensitivity like Vex’s do. “So beautiful.”

Her cheeks darken with a flush. Seeing her soften for me is my favorite thing about her. “Thank you, princess.” Emotion fills her voice and I lean forward, reaching for her mouth. She doesn’t pull back, but closes the distance. Her palms slide to my chin, gripping with reverence. “The sweetest creature.” It’s a coo, soft and meaningful.

“Just wanted to help, mi reina,” I whisper, my breath coming in heavier pants. Something about how close we are and how her eyes are entirely focused on me makes me feel like goo. If she lets go, I’ll simply fall to the ground in a plop.

“You’re so good at it.”

The praise makes my heart hammer quicker. I know I need to ask her about the newfound flowers sprouting from her vines. She’s not mentioned them, but I think it’s more of realizing they’re there than anything else.

“Have you always had flowers on your vines?” I ask, breaking our little moment. As if just noticing for the first time, her eyes widen and she peers at her arms, spotting the yellow flowers. They’re a bit more unfurled than when we were in bed together.

“W-when did these show up?” she stumbles over the question, her breathing coming faster, almost shakily, reminding me of my own panic attacks.

“Ver?”

Her chest rises and falls more and more rapidly, her eyes blinking as tears escape. “How long, Dulce?”

I eye her, my gaze dancing over her panicked one. Pressing my hands to her shoulders, I try grounding her by holding her.

“They came the day we... you know,” I breathe out, not sure why I’m not saying the words. It’s not like I’m shy or a prude, but saying we simply fucked when it meant so much more to me seems to cheapen it.

“This is...” She pauses, touching the flowers as if they’re the answer to every question she’s ever had. “Something to deal with later. Where did you want to take me, princess?”

Her tone is suspiciously calm, almost like all her emotions have been shoved into a box. Standing up, she grabs my hand and leads me toward the door.

We weave through the hall and down several sets of stairs. Each area that leads us to the main entrance has me wanting to gnaw my hand off. Without Raev and Vex, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost. Are they having doubts?

When the main doors are opened by Alessand, Vera reaches for my palm. Possessively, she claims me in front of him and the other guard at the door. Outside in the middle of the field sits my dragon companion, like he knew I’d want to see him. He’d flown away days ago and I thought I may have seen the last of him.

Guess it’s good to be wrong.

“Is that Dormir from the legends?” she murmurs, awestruck. Her eyes are wide saucers and her hand clenches mine like she may faint.

I nod. “It is. He saved me.”

“Saved?” The word is full of exasperation. Turning her gaze away from the dragon, she peers at me. “What happened?” I run over the events in the lake: being dragged under, the connection to Dormir, and the way he protected me.

“He’s been with me since.”

“Raevar allowed you to get taken?”

I clench my jaw, wanting to de-escalate her anger. “You can’t blame him,” I implore, bringing her knuckles to my lips. Leaving a brief kiss, I hope my eyes convey my honesty. “He couldn’t have prepared for it.” She doesn’t seem convinced with those words. “Think of it this way, if the siren-lady didn’t drag me under, we wouldn’t have him.” I point at the dragon very attuned to the conversation we’re having.

Her attention goes back to my companion. He’s more poised, his neck extended as he trots toward us. I take the hand of hers I’m holding, reaching out to him. We leave our hands about a foot away, allowing him to choose whether he wants us to touch him or not. His head bows at her, the glint in his glowing eyes telling me he’s accepted her.

When we all connect with touch, our breaths collectively catch. In unison, we sigh as peace floods through the bond we share. He shows imagery of Vera. Her life, her conquests, the way she battles for her kingdom, and the things she’s sacrificed and accomplished in the name of her people.

Emotions glitter through, almost like it’s him telling her his own. Pride, anger, and a little worry.

“What does this mean?” she asks on a half whisper. I’ve not known her long, but I can say with my entire heart that her people matter to her more than her own life. Her fear shoots through me like a lightning bolt of anxiety.

Images float through once more—flowers. yellow ones that resemble sunflowers. The ones growing on her body. They glow, the petals almost like little lanterns in the dark skies. They shudder, spores of some sort dancing in the air. A loud exhale leaves Vera and I can’t decipher whether it’s awe or fear in the bond we share.

“What are those?” I ask her, wanting to know everything about her and her realm. She shivers, her shoulder bumping into mine. I wonder if she notices the way her vines don’t hurt me, how they encase me as if I’m already a part of her.

“Solenas,” she says in a rush, which are the flowers I mistook for sunflowers when I first got here. “They create an event that hasn’t occurred in many years.”

“Pollination?”

Still unable to decipher her emotions and her feelings toward our current conversation, I wait. Dormir lets the images of the spores flit through our minds once more.

“He’ll be able to show us. Won’t you?” Ver prods. He lets out a little huff like he’s saying of course I can.

Images float through and my body temperature rises, making my skin feel overheated and sensitive. Similar to the feeling I get while I’m at Vex’s watching people, my entire body seems to hum with arousal. Bodies rolling around in the glowing night, that misty substance the flowers give off almost smoking them out. Their bodies writhe. People of all pairings touch, fuck, and their bodies seem to shake as pleasure overtakes them.

I’m too focused on the way my body feels to even note Vera’s own. As I observe the images unfolding, I cannot help but notice how many individuals are engaging in intimate acts, succumbing to their desires. “Holy shit,” I whisper, my hand automatically going to my mouth. It’s so beautiful to see so many people losing themselves to their baser needs.

The flowers seem to move and grow as the sexual situations continue, and I realize this is what I wanted with Vex at the club. Having so many watch me and want me. These people don’t have any need for others it seems. They don’t see anyone but the pleasure and it’s something I need to experience too.

“This is what a pollination looks like,” Vera huffs with arousal thick in her voice. “I’ve never experienced one.”

I let out a happy sigh, remembering Raev explaining pollination. He told me about it, but I didn’t truly grasp the significance. Knowing now, I’m very glad he hasn’t experienced it. While I’m willing to share him with Vex and Vera, giving him to them since they’re all mine too, knowing someone could’ve had him this way would be too much. I’d probably have to hunt them down and do something unseemly.

“You’ve never...” I lose track of my thoughts on Raev and focus on her words.

She shakes her head, a tinge of disappointment hits the bond. “I’ve waited my entire life for one.” Her eyes shine a bit and she bites her lip as if to hold back her emotions. “One has to happen for me to get pregnant.”

“Oh,” I let out, a keen awareness of what she has wished for and never got.

She pulls her hand from Dormir, and I do too. Her hand reaches out to me, gripping my shoulders as she rotates toward me. “It’s not only my duty,” she tries to explain, her eyes leaking from emotion. “I’ve lived my entire life wanting children, but the time was never right and a person has never come... until you.”

“Would you want that?” I begin to ask, placing a hand over my chest. “With me?” I’ve never truly put thought into having children myself. They’ve never been on my radar. The thought of birthing them isn’t something I’m currently interested in. But raising one with her, with the others? That’s something I can get on the same page with.

Vera’s eyes harden, like she’s closing herself off to rejection before I can throw it at her. Almost like her words evade her, she closes her eyes. “Yes.”

One word, but the breath I let out, not knowing I held out of fear has me panting to catch up with my lack of oxygen. “Then why do you look ready to run?”

She shakes her head. “It’s not realistic, princess.”

Her words wound me, and I’m not sure if it’s some type of cultural custom or if she’s just not explaining enough. “Can you elaborate?” I don’t want her to give up on us before we’ve even had a chance to flourish.

Her hand slides down my arm purposefully, linking our hands before she guides me toward the forest. The trees welcome us, almost like they’re waving. Their leaves dance and some fall, shuttering out like little pieces of love offered. “How can you ask if I want a family with you when you plan to leave?” The words are wooden, almost stiffer than my spine.

“I-I,” I stutter. She closes herself off quickly, but I don’t let it slide this time. I reach for her hand and place it on my heart. “Feel that, corazóncito mío? The words come out gruff, heady, and full of promise.

“That’s my heart, an organ that used to only thrum to keep me alive to work as a Cupid, to do what my parents and siblings needed, and always did just that until I wanted to die.”

Once more her eyes water with emotion, and the hand of hers that I forced on my chest softens. “Now, however, it beats happily. It thrives. It’s full and that feeling is newfound love. For you, for Vex, and for Raev. You three are my new meaning. My happiness, the excitement in my veins when the world seems overwhelming. I’m not sure why I got three incredibly sweet and charming mates, but I thank Solera and every other goddess for giving me you all.”

Her lip wobbles as she stares at me. There’s so much there, fear, glee, and the most important... love. I drag her face to mine, hoping she truly hears me. It might be new, gentle, and not quite formed, but it’s there and I’m going to take it.

“I want this for you and I want this with you. I love you, Ver. I know it’s quick and shocking, but that’s how I feel and I’ll keep fighting for you to believe it.”

“Why me?” she whimpers in disbelief, her eyes scanning me for mistruths.

“Why not? You’re strong and confident. You know what you want, but you’re so damn scared of getting it and failing that you’ve run for years.”

“But we just m—”

“Not us, mi reina. Raev. He’s loved you since you met and it’s obvious he wants you too, deeply. Like me, he’s going to fight for you and wait for the moment you realize we’re not going anywhere.”

“But you said—”

“That I had a summer ‘fuck it’ list? I do. One important thing is a threesome, and I did that, but imagine adding a fourth?” I say, I’m sure my eyes twinkle with the mischief I’d like to create. “I have every intention to give my family closure, but I have zero belief I’ll ever go back. My home is here.” Bringing our mouths together, I press mine to hers and hum at the way she clings to me.

“My home is with you, Ver. And I know Vex and Raev feel the same. Let us love you.”

She whimpers and tears stream down her face, but she pulls back and nods. “Okay.”

“Okay? Good,” I soothe and take her mouth with mine. When my heart ramps up with desire, I pull back. Once again, Ver’s skin is sweltering.

“I think it’s time to stop denying what’s glaringly obvious,” Vex sounds out from behind us. Turning toward them, I note Raev standing there, eyeing us.

“Yeah, mi reina. Pollination is happening and rapidly.”

Well, shit.