7. Wren
WREN
“Are you sure you want to leave tonight?” Lark asks, and I shrug.
“I mean, yeah, I’ve got the key, and I just have a bag of clothes. Why not move in tonight?”
“It’s awful fast,” Lark says.
Pike scratches Frankie’s ears. “We don’t mind you being here.”
I chuckle and just shake my head. “I’m very grateful for you both allowing me to stay for as long as I have, but I can’t pass this up. It’s my own place, and you get your place back, and you can fuck everywhere you want and whenever you want without having to worry whether I’m around or not.”
Lark goes bright red, and I can’t help laughing. Pike tries to cover up his laugh, but joins me. He’s gotten to be less embarrassed about sex topics since he turned into an incubus.
I feel bad for being around when they’re used to having relations much more often than they are now.
“Anyway, I’m just gonna pack up my stuff and I’ll walk on over back to my new apartment.”
“Do you think you’ll be lonely?” Lark asks.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” I’m used to people bustling around my quarters in the Winter Court, and though the walls were stone, I still knew people were beyond my rooms walking around, doing their jobs at all hours of the night and day.
At Lark and Pike’s they’re always here, or Frankie’s always here, unless they’re at the club or they’re wandering about, shopping, or doing whatever cute things they do as a couple.
“I had an amazing three weeks with you two, but I think this is gonna do us good.”
“But I really enjoyed our ice cream afternoons,” Lark says, faking a pout.
Frankie lifts her head, and her tail wags so hard that it thumps against the wood floor.
We all chuckle because we know she knows with the word ice cream.
Well, Frankie knows a lot of words. I’m fairly certain she’s fluent in every language any of us have talked in her presence, and I’m not sure how that works.
I thought she was basically a dog but born into the hell realm, but I’m beginning to suspect that’s not how hellhounds work. That’s a thought for another day.
Frankie’s happy, Pike’s happy, Lark’s happy, and I’m happy.
Lark grins and pulls his hair over his shoulder when he starts to grin. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, cause, you know, I’ll be there for breakfast.”
I snort, and we both head to the bedroom that I’ve been using for the past three weeks.
“I really have enjoyed you being here,” Lark says. “It’s been fun getting to know you again. Like, really fun. I hate that we lost a decade of our relationship.”
My shoulders slump. “I do too, Lark, but if I’m being honest, I’m so glad you never had to experience being a courtesan. I think it would have broken you. As fucked up as it sounds, I’m glad you got kidnapped.”
Lark laughs. “That is pretty fucked up. But Drake wasn’t all that bad, at least not until the end. And then I don’t know what happened.”
Lark watches as I grab a bag from the closet and just stuff my clothes inside.
I don’t have a lot. Maybe a week’s worth of clothes and underwear.
Lark doesn’t know I go without underwear most times.
That’s because I’m not used to wearing it anyway, because I was always having to be ready as a courtesan.
Which, after three weeks of having no sex, I am horny as fuck.
I plan to go take a shower and rub one out as fast as possible. But I’m absolutely not telling my brother that. He would go bright red. Pike would just laugh, which I think is hilarious. These two were made for each other.
“Wow, it really didn’t take you long to pack,” Lark says.
“Nope, just a few things.” I lift my bag and shake it.
“Well, you’re always welcome back here if you need to.”
“And I appreciate that. And I will probably take you up on that offer if I need to.”
“Don’t rush home if you don’t need to, but we’ll always be here. I’m sure any of the guys are the same.”
I nod and sit on the bed. “You know, I think if Sparkle ever wants to move out, me and him could have a cute bachelor pad together. The apartment’s pretty big, and that bedroom is huge.
We could just section it off, and it would be like a little dorm, and we could share the apartment if he wanted. But I don’t think he’s ready yet.”
“I don’t either.” Lark shakes his head and smoothes the bedsheet.
“I wish he’d figure himself out, though when it comes to staying home, cause he complains about it, but then he dotes on the kittens so much.”
“He is such a good big brother, just like you.” Lark leans over and wraps me in a hug.
“Well, I appreciate that.” I stand and hold open my arms, and Lark jumps right into them for a hug.
Pike and Frankie watch us from the bedroom doorway. Frankie tips her head before bounding over and jumping up to join us. I don’t think she realizes she’s gigantic and she bowls us back into the bed before licking over both our faces.
We say our goodbyes and I head over to my new place.
It still smells like baked goods and I breathe it in as I hang my clothes in the closet, then stuff the rest in the dresser.
I haven’t had a dresser in three weeks. I haven’t had a lot of things in three weeks and I strip in the bathroom.
My reflection shows me a little rounder in the face than I’m used to, but it’s not bad.
I could use a few more pounds on me, it’ll help my muscles stand out a bit more.
I start the water and let it heat up. While I wait, I realize I don’t have any bathroom supplies and I thank Wick for having a four pack of toilet paper under the sink along with some fancy shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
Plus wash rags. There’s even toothpaste and a toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.
There are fresh towels in the linen closet.
Bless this demon for looking after me. I might shoot him a text about getting a bidet, but for now, I have everything I need to get started.
The steamy shower clears my head and my brain immediately shoots a picture of Talon wet from the rain weeks ago. When he let me borrow his shirt. His hair swooped over his forehead and water beaded in his beard. Of course, the wet shirt clung to his skin before he pulled the shirt off.
I press my forehead to the wall tile and stroke myself.
The man is sexy and I have no doubt he’s clueless.
I just know that beard would feel so good against my skin until it doesn’t and I want to experience that.
Fae don’t really have beards so I haven’t experienced beard burn yet and I really really want to.
I stroke faster and faster. Water sluices down my body. Just the thought of Talon on his knees in front of me makes me come. I paint the shower wall with cum. I don’t move for a long while. It’s probably fucked up to masturbate while thinking about him, but here we are.
I rinse my cum from the tile before I get to work washing up. There’s good water pressure, and the soaps left for me smell divine, almost rivaling Fae products.
Once I’m clean and dry, I throw on a pair of modest pajamas. Since I don’t have to prepare myself for entertaining anymore, I’ve taken to wearing comfortable night clothes and getting cozy. It’s such a refreshing routine.
I pad over to the couch and flop down with my phone in hand. There’s a flat screen TV on the opposite wall, but I don’t feel like watching anything.
Wren: Wanna hang at my place?
It doesn’t take long for the dots to bounce.
Sparkle: Sorry, helping Ferris with homework, then have to get ready for F&F. Wanna come watch me work?
Do I?
Wren: I think I’m gonna stay in tonight. Kinda tired after my first day.
Sparkle: I get it and you have early early mornings now. Get some rest.
Wren: I’ll see you in the morning.
Sparkle: Don’t you know it!
I settle into the couch while trying to keep my hair from touching the fabric.
Don’t want to mess up the furniture the first night I’m here.
My eyes droop. It’s not even late, but I’m so damn tired.
As I fall asleep, visions of the Winter Court play in my mind.
I haven’t thought about that place in days, maybe weeks, but as my brain quiets, I can’t stop thinking about every nook and crannie of the palace.