37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Simon
Ihad Lucy, that’s all I needed right now.
I didn’t want to complicate my life any more than it already was.
Calliope had always stayed in the back of my mind through all of this. My mate was the most important. Now that I had her, I wanted to spend all my time with her and the future we would build.
Calliope would be fine without me. She would forget the time we spent and fill it with her mate.
With enough time, their bond would strengthen, and her memories of me would fade. Besides, I knew when I wasn’t wanted, especially after my transformation. Valpar made that clear. I was a competition for her time.
I understood that now. I didn’t want a male around my female, either. Lucy didn’t find Thorn attractive, or Sugha. She stayed with me in the tent even when I was asleep and took advantage of me when I could not move.
I nodded to myself. Yes, she found me far more attractive than those orcs.
When I changed, I was uncomfortable around Calliope. I wasn’t the same, not the same companion as I once was. I had thoughts and insecurities that grew by the day. I understood they needed their time.
What about my mate? What would she feel if Calliope wanted to hug me? Calliope was a hugger.
I felt nothing but friendship with Calliope, but my mate may not see it that way, or would she?
Maybe Calliope might hit me. I left her for many moons and did not show her I was well. She may think of me as dead.
However, Lucy would not budge despite much insistence that we should stay. She was determined to go and before I knew it, we were already on our way, trudging through the Wood, feeling like I was off to my death.
“Simon, why are you so glum?” Lucy ran and jumped on my back. Lucy had been running circles around me. Her energy was plentiful, and her feet were hard yet soft to the touch. She didn’t wince at the branches or roots beneath her feet. Instead, her movements were graceful, like a true faun dancing within trees.
“I am not sad, I worry. What if Calliope is angry with me?”
Lucy released her grip around my neck and slid down my back. She jumped in front of my path and made me stop. “You think she would hold a grudge for not seeing her?”
“I haven’t seen her in so long. Even less since I found you. You conquered my thoughts, heart, and body.” I wiggled my eyebrows and pulled her toward me. “She did the same with her mate when he came into her life, but—”
“Simon,” Lucy whispered and used her fingers to tickle under my chin. “I know little about her, but she kept you safe, was your best friend, and wondered where you were, as Sugha said.” She lifted a brow and tilted her head toward me. “Yes, I saw that memory where he told you that.”
My face heated.
“She will be very understanding, if not excited.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. Calliope was a kind soul, but I could not help but be nervous. What will she say when she realizes I can speak?
Lucy pulled me along as the Wood opened up a path for us. She swung our hands together as if she had no care in the world.
I brushed off all the worry and watched my mate in the new clothing I prepared for her for this journey. The short skirt and the top showcased her stomach and back. Yes, everything would be fine, everything would work out.
As we arrived at the cabin of Calliope and Valpar, the scene was serene. The orc had beads of sweat glistening on his forehead and was diligently tending to his horse. The rhythmic sound of my hooves stepped on the dead foliage.
The sharp scent of hay and leather wafted towards us, mingling with the earthy smell of the surrounding woods. Meanwhile, Calliope lay sprawled on a soft blanket, soaking up the light sources’ light.
“I cannot do this.” I gripped my mate and pulled her back into the Wood. The leaves and trees covered us, and the yellowcress masked our scent. Even with my scent covering her, I would not allow her to be smelled by any ogre. Somehow, the Wood knew that too because the thick woodsy scent covered us more.
“Simon, come on. She’s so adorable. I love her hair, it’s so pink and bright. Do they have salons around here? Or is it natural?”
Lucy poked her head out of the leaves to get a better look, but I pushed her head down to keep her out of sight.
“If I recall, it’s from a fruit she ate. Now, would you stay down and let me just—calm myself before we announce ourselves?”
Lucy snickered, and I felt her hand go into my pouch.
“You want me to calm you down?”
Goddess above!
“Mate, what are you doing?”
“Giving you the post-nut calmness you need. Now, be a good little faun and try to keep quiet.”
Her small hand wrapped around my semi-hard shaft.
“Always ready for me, aren’t you?” She stuck out her tongue and dipped it into the slit. She hummed quietly as she worked it around the tip. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on calming my racing heart, but Lucy’s playful antics made it impossible to concentrate.
“Lucy, we can’t do this here,” I hissed through clenched teeth, trying to push her head away. But she was relentless, her fingers finding their way deeper inside my pouch, holding and stroking my sack.
“Just a little fun before we face Calliope and Valpar,” Lucy whispered mischievously, her warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
I knew I should stop her, but a part of me yearned to give in to the pleasure she was offering.
She grabbed my hand and put it on her horns. “Use me, mate.”
I whimpered. I loved it when she called me Mate. It made it more real, made me fucking feral.
I also liked the word fuck , too.
As I thrust forcefully into her mouth, the sound of our heavy breathing filled the air. I observed her eyes welling with tears, glistening as they streamed down her face. The intense sensation of my cock sliding deeper into her mouth heightened my pleasure.
“You wanted this,” I whispered.
I observed her delicate movements as she gracefully lifted her skirt, revealing a glimpse of her soft, velvety skin. The sound of a gentle rustle filled my ears as she slid her fingers in between her pink folds. The scent of her arousal perfumed around us.
My mouth watered to lick up her slick. I didn’t want to let any of it go to waste.
“I shouldn’t let you touch yourself, but since our time is short…”
She hummed around me, causing my sack to contract. Since I did not fill my mate’s cunt this morning, this was going to happen embarrassingly fast. I watched as my thick, veined cock disappeared into her mouth over and over again.
I picked up the pace, hearing her cunt make a wet noise with her fingers. “I want you to come. Can you come for me?”
My mate sighed and hollowed out her cheeks, pulling the seed from my cock. I strained to keep my sounds at bay as I released my load and threaded my fingers through her hair.
“What a good little mate, so perfect.” I breathed out.
Lucy gave a tentative lick and rose, when suddenly the bushes shook in front of us, and a big smile and pink hair came into view.
“Simon! What a big dick you have! Holy cheeseburger!”
Lucy stood up, standing in front of me to hide me as I put everything back into my pouch. I waited for the inevitable, my mate’s jealousy to unleash.
I saw my mate’s wrath when I had bitten her many days ago. She didn’t like the idea that I was even friends with Calliope.
I waited for the standoff to end, ready to grab Lucy so she didn’t hurt Calliope.
“Oh my gods, it’s so nice to finally meet you!” Lucy jumped toward Calliope. I reached out to grab Lucy, but Calliope pulled Lucy into a hug as well.
“You must be Lucy! His mate! I’m so excited you are here! The Wood is all excited. It’s been the new popular gossip since me and Valpar got together. Let me tell you, he's so glad people aren't talking about us so much.
Valpar stopped just behind Calliope and stared down at me. “Thrilled,” he deadpanned. “Stop sucking dick on my territory and come eat.”
Lucy’s mouth hung open, and she turned redder than her favorite candied roots.
Calliope only laughed and tugged Lucy’s arm. “Isn’t Valpar the funniest? Come on, I’ll show you around. I’m so happy for both of you. So excited to have my best friend find a lady friend. And just so you know, he never had a goat lady friend,” she whispered in her ear. “In fact, he never had a goat rut. I had wondered if he had anything wrong with his pee pee, but couldn’t find a goat doctor to check it.”
“Calliope!” I groaned and slapped my face.
Calliope turned toward me, and her face softened. “You didn’t just learn how to come into your mate’s mouth, but learned how to talk, too? Hope it wasn’t all in that order, though, because that would be awkward.”
Lucy giggled and pushed Calliope towards me.
Calliope took several tentative steps, as I did. Once we were close, it was my turn to look down at her. There were so many memories I had of her looking down at me with a smile on her face, telling me about her days, what bothered her, and how much she wanted to fit in. Now, she had a mate, as well as I.
We both grew up in our own way.
“Why didn’t you stay and hang around with me?” She played with her fingers like she always did when she was nervous.
I grabbed her hand and held it in mine. “Because you had Valpar, your mate. You didn’t need me anymore.”
Calliope looked back at Lucy, who tried to give us privacy, but her curiosity was too great.
“I could have taught you to speak,” Calliope whispered. “I could have helped.” She frowned.
I leaned forward and tilted up her head. She gave me a sad smile. “I don’t care if you look like this now. I’d always loved you, Simon. You’re my best friend.”
I breathed in a heavy sigh and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
“I know I can be a bit of a lost cause sometimes,” I muttered. “You needed me as Simon the goat. Not Simon the faun.” Calliope twisted her lips and pouted. “If I was a faun when you met your mate, I would have come between you both. I would never want that. But now…” I held my hand out to Lucy. “Now I have a mate, too, and it won’t bother Valpar so much.”
Valpar grunted.
“Like I said, not as much.”
Calliope laughed.
“I have learned a lot about myself, and trust me, without you, I wouldn’t be where I am now. But I have also grown. A lot. My growth also led me to become who I was meant to be.
Calliope pulled back slightly, looking deep into my eyes. “I can see that. You’re different, Simon, in a good way. And I’m proud and so, so happy for you.” She glanced over at Lucy, who offered her a warm smile in return. “And in case you are wondering, I’m not mad you left. Once Sugha told me what was going on and that you’d found a mate, I’ve been planning a party!”
Lucy’s and my face dropped. “What?” we asked at the same time.
“Yup! A big ole party. Everyone is showing up tomorrow. I sent word to the entire tribe once I found out you were coming. Uncle Osirus won’t be showing up, but I heard Queen Clara and the big, bad wolf are coming. I can’t wait to see him.”
“You are staying away from him!” Valpar barked over the roaring fire. “That beast is insane! I’ve seen him fight!”
Calliope waved her hand in dismissal. “I’m gonna ask him to shift and see if he will fight some testosterone-driven orcs. That’s my gift to Lucy and her scientific studies.”
Lucy clapped excitedly. “That would be really insightful.”
Valpar and I groaned.
While Calliope and Lucy were becoming better friends than I expected, I didn’t think I was prepared for all the trouble they may get into.