Simon (Promised Mates of Monktona Wood #3)

17. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Lucy

As soon as I finished sketching out the roots, I took another bite. I was surprised by how sweet it tasted coming straight from the ground. I expected it to be something bitter and more earthy in taste.

Can I say earthy?

Bergarian-y?

I put the notebook down and saw Simon washing more roots. My interest piqued, and I leaned over his shoulder. “Where did you get them?”

Simon sat back on his legs; his hands rubbed down his soft thighs. An imagery flashed in my mind: my hands running through the soft fur as I dug my nails into the muscle. My insides fluttered.

Would he make whimpering sounds like he did the last time we touched?

Did he want to touch me again after that? I could be too much trouble now that we had that stupid ogre after us.

“The roots?” He broke me out of my thoughts.

I nodded eagerly. “Where do you get them? What plant do you look for, and where do you dig them up?”

Simon eyed me and tilted his head. “Why do you need to know? Whenever you want them, I’ll get them for you. You don’t have to search for food. It is my job to provide for you.”

He puffed out his chest to appear larger. Instead of looking big and tough, it made my emotional wall drop for him. He was so innocent and was trying so hard.

“No, silly. I want to know how I can find them so I can write it down in this book.” I pointed to the book sitting by itself on the rock. “You see, the whole point of me being here is to gather information about the Wood and send it back to the Cerulean Moon Kingdom. There aren’t that many people who know about the Monktona Wood, and most fear what is inside of it. Especially when there are nothing but ogres and orcs inside. I’m trying to give everyone an insight of what it’s like inside.”

Simon tilted his head and chewed the remaining root in his mouth. His thoughtful face was utterly adorable, and I wanted to squish his face together and say, “Who’s a cute wittle faun?”

But I wouldn’t. I didn’t want him to think I was being condescending. He was just—Simon.

“You did not come to the Wood to find a mate, then?”

I frowned. “I’m a human. While humans have found mates in Bergarian, I don’t think I would have one. I came from Earth with no ties to anyone. We just answered an ad on the internet looking for a scientist and somehow we were selected, as if it were fate.” I rubbed my lips together. “I came for a job, not because I was hunting for a forever partner. Honestly…” I paused as I tried to find the right words.

“I’ve never found anyone attractive to me. Who would fit my tastes? It’s hard for me to have a relationship with anyone because I don’t have… those special desires.”

Simon’s mouth was parted like a goat ready to be fed.

Alright, I can’t beat around the bush with this. He needs bluntness.

“Sexual desires. Sex!”

He continued to stare at me.

“What we did earlier! You, on top of me. Touching each other!” I covered my face. “I’ve never wanted to before.”

He gave me a toothy grin.

Ah, Skittles!

“And why would a goddess give me a mate anyway if I don’t have those feelings to do that?”

Of course, Simon’s excitement deflated.

My thoughts made my stomach churn. I would like to have a mate, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the thought that I could have one. I didn’t know what to look for, and I didn’t get to ask the queen those questions because I was too busy and excited to see shifters, fae, vampires, and the other lot.

Simon turned away and shoved the roots into his satchel. “Don’t you want to find someone? Not be alone? We do not have to touch if you do not want to.” He looked hopeful as he stared at me.

My lips tilted downward. I wanted to touch him.

“I sought no one before. It wouldn’t be fair to them. It’s natural for beings to seek contact, physical contact. Besides, I’m not alone. I have my father.” I picked at my red-stained dress. “We can care for each other.”

Simon shook his head. “Not the same.”

He was right, it wasn’t. I had never seen my father with a significant other since I was a child. My father believed he would never find the right woman for him, one that shared the same interests in science, enjoyed reading and exploring unknown places.

“It’s not. But he is my father,” I stated. “What about you?” I decided to change the direction of this conversation. I was feeling way too vulnerable. “Do you remember your parents? If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.” I placed my hand on top of his. He stared at it longingly and put his other hand on top of mine.

“I do not know them. I do not remember a lot of things.” His face went red, and he avoided my gaze.

More questions surfaced, but seeing how the light died from Simon’s features, I realized I should leave it alone. I didn’t want to see him sad, not after everything he had done for me. I’m pretty sure I slept a day or so because he had set up a base camp here around the fire.

Yet, I still wondered. I needed to know more about Simon, this faun that had me chomping at the bit, wanting to understand him and his sweet ways.

“I don’t know my mother,” I muttered under my breath.

Simon’s head popped up, and his gaze met mine.

“I don’t. I have never met her, but I know of her.” Was I really ready to tell him my story? It was a part of me I never shared with anyone. Everyone believed that my father had a relationship with a woman, and she gave me up to him. Or that she died, which was partly the truth.

“My father was on a conference trip in South Africa. It’s a place, back on Earth,” I added. Simon scooted closer to me and squeezed my hand tighter. “He wasn’t planning on leaving the hotel where the conference was being held, but since he was already in a new country he had never visited, he decided to go explore when he didn’t have a meeting.”

I smiled and remembered when he first told me about my history. It made me realize what a kindhearted man he was. A little eccentric at times but a wonderful man, nonetheless.

“My father…” my voice croaked, “was walking through the Port Elizabeth streets just after dark. He was warned not to go out after dark, being a tourist and all, but my father,”-I chuckled-“isn’t one to take heed of any warning.”

Simon scooted closer to me again, and I saw the warmth brimming in my eyes. “He heard a scream. A blood-curdling scream and ran straight toward it. When he got to an alleyway a few blocks down, he saw two thugs roughing up a woman. He charged right away; he didn’t care about his safety. When they saw my father, they ran, but the woman they had assaulted had been stabbed.”

Simon’s ears pulled back, and his arms wrapped around me. It felt good to be hugged. The only person I allowed to hug me was my father, but this was surprising. It was just like the night the ogre scared me.

I’m so screwed.

“Anyway, she was pregnant. Heavily. My father took her to the hospital, but they couldn’t save her. Her heart stopped beating, but they managed to save the poor baby inside her.”

Simon whimpered and pulled me into his lap. I didn’t stiffen, instead I laughed as I got up close and personal with his face. He had such soft hair on his cheeks. His nose was slitted, different from mine, eyes big and wide, but I could read his emotions like an open book.

“My father asked what was going to happen to me. They found out who the woman was, but she had no contacts. Judging by her clothes, she was poor and homeless. They told my father I would be just another child amongst others in a broken system. Being an orphan on Earth isn’t a good thing, Simon. It’s hard to find parents to love you. I’m sure there are others that have a great life, but the odds weren’t in my favor.”

Simon put his nose into my neck and took a deep breath. I tried not to laugh as his whiskers brushed my cheek.

“Dad adopted me then and there. Well, he said he would take me. It took months to get the paperwork right, but from the very beginning, he’s always been my father.”

“He is a good male.” Simon threaded his fingers through mine. “Without him, I would not have you.”

I felt a rush of emotions as Simon held me close; his sincerity warmed my heart in a way I never thought possible. His simple words meant more to me than he would ever realize. My father was a good male. Selfless, caring, and kind.

Would my father mind if I began to care for a faun who had those same qualities? A person other than my species?

Father had kept me away from men for so long, that I had developed a strange fear of other men and had never had much connection with men anyway. Now that I had met Simon, it was different. Simon wasn’t a man—or animal. He was a lot more than I gave him credit for.

As I gazed into Simon’s eyes, I saw a reflection of my own feelings mirrored back at me. It was a strange sensation, realizing how much we both had a physical and, dare I say, spiritual connection? I never thought of myself as spiritual. It was just the facts, but I couldn’t deny this. Despite our differences, we had forged a connection that ran deeper than I could have ever imagined.

With a soft smile playing on my lips, I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Simon’s cheek, feeling his warm fur beneath my lips. In that moment, surrounded by the crackling fire behind us and the soothing sounds of the birds chirping, I knew I was in over my head.

I was falling for him.

And I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop.

Simon’s back tensed up; his face flushed with a deep shade of crimson as I gently pulled my lips away from his warm, flushed cheek.

I tried to hide my smile, but Simon grew flustered and let out a long bleat.

Simon’s embarrassment made me laugh harder, the sound echoing through the quiet forest around us. I tried to compose myself, but every time I looked at Simon’s adorable red face, another peal of laughter bubbled up.

Finally, when I caught my breath, I reached out and gently touched Simon’s cheek. His fur was soft beneath my fingertips, and I felt a surge of affection for this gentle faun who had stolen my heart.

I hope you or your goddess won’t break it.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” He cleared his throat and coughed. “Here, I will show you how to obtain the root.” He took me off his lap, and I saw that his shaft had popped out of his pouch.

In the daylight, it looked impossibly larger, and since I had decided to embrace whatever connection Simon and I had, I couldn’t rip my eyes away until he turned his body to hide it.

This is for science, I told myself. Yes, for science.

One could enjoy the fruits of a well-endowed faun before he found his real mate.

“For science!” I squeaked, and Simon turned, his body looking every bit delectable with water trailing down his muscular body.

I covered my mouth and stood. “Yes, for science. I need to know how to retrieve it.”

Simon kept his problem hidden and nodded. “Come this way, I’ll show you.”