Epilogue- Rituals & Raspberries #3
Charlie’s eyes flick between the three of us, clearly not sure what to make of this entire situation, before he scans the group of girls on the other side of the yard, very unsubtly keeping tabs on Gabbi. Like something is going to happen to her at a party surrounded by friends and Guild members.
I’m still not sure if I like Charlie, but Gabbi seems to have decided to keep him around, despite initially freaking out upon discovering he’s actually a chupacabra with an unhealthy obsession with glamours.
He growls, and I blink. Cian drops my hand and huffs, and I look at the source of their sudden irritation. Kier Darro is schmoozing with the women, standing there with all of his cocky arrogance on full display.
He’s got one hand resting on the back of the chair Gabbi is sitting in, but realistically, he’s not actually doing anything wrong. This time. I definitely don’t like him, but Ryn seems to have some weird truce with him, so I’m trying to be a good boy about it.
A slow smirk curls my lip, and I clap Charlie and Cian on the shoulders before starting toward the women and Darro.
I can feel the boys following close behind me, and I wonder briefly what will happen if Charlie boy gets territorial and agitated enough to make his glamour fail.
My sight flicks to Gabbi, who is watching us approach with very nervous eyes.
I cast a glance back at Charlie and make a face at the murderous glare he’s leveling on the Unseelie prince. Yikes.
Pretty sure Ryn would be upset if I let him murder the twat. Looks like it’s up to me to ease some of this tension. And the best way to ease regular tension? Make it sexual. Heh.
Taking a deep breath and hoping the fact that this is my mating ceremony will keep me safe, I swing an arm around Darro and pull him into a very awkward side hug. His arms flail, and he hisses, trying to angle his body away from me, leaving his long, elegant neck wide open.
I dart in, inwardly cringing while I continue on making my terrible life choice, and blow a wet and truly spectacular raspberry on his neck. He squawks—no shit, squawks, and that alone makes touching him with my mouth worth it, honestly.
Gasps ring out through the group, and Darro rips himself from my grip, panting wildly as he sputters with abhorrence. I grin, reaching into my pocket and pulling out an only kinda squished raspberry popover. He looks at the dessert with disbelief and blinks.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He’s trying to sound scary, but is falling short. Honestly, it’s kind of hard to be scary when you have another man's spit sliding down your neck.
“Sharing. Ryn told me to be a good boy. Good boys share.” I smile as brightly as I can, and fight the laugh building in my chest when my cheeks hit the underside of my exposed skull.
Darro’s mouth opens and closes a few times before he regains his composure and runs a sleeve against his neck, sneering at me with as much dignity as he can muster (which, let’s be real, isn’t much at this point).
“I’d rather eat shit.”
I can see Oliver's shoulders shaking out of the corner of my eye, and Cian is biting his lips to mask his amusement. Charlie’s eyes are locked on Gabbi still, his hackles clearly still up, but with less murderous intent in his eyes now.
I shrug, looking over at Ryn and inwardly breathing a sigh of relief at the shocked amusement on her face.
“Suit yourself, buddy.”
“I’m not your buddy.”
“Okay, pal.”
“I’m not—” He pauses and narrows his eyes before he casts a miffed look over at Ryn. She blinks, but otherwise doesn't respond. Squaring his shoulders, he runs a hand down his hair, nods at her subtly, then storms away.
Trissa snorts and mutters, “What a grumpy elf. Good thing he’s pretty, I guess.”
Kier, who had made it a few paces away, freezes, his knuckles turning white on his clenched fists, before he huffs and straightens, disappearing with a crack.
It’s silent for a beat before snickers and laughter break out.
Ryn shakes her head, walking into my arms with a smile on her face, “You’re insane. You know that, right?”
With a grin, I scratch my chin, “I was just being friendly. Like you said. Those popovers are the most delicious thing here, aside from you, and I’m not sharing you.”
Ryn tsks, laughter in her voice as she shakes her head, “Yeah, sure. Friendly.” She rolls her eyes, pursing her lips as she reaches behind me to grab something off the snack tray they’re all congregating around. “I would have thought these would be your favorite.”
She holds up a canapé, and I do a double-take. “Is that?”
“A peanut butter and banana canape topped with chocolate? Yes, yes it is. Trissa and Cian put in a special order with Ollie for you.”
I glance over at our friends, all watching us with amusement, and that tightness in my chest from earlier returns. All of the good things, here together, and all mine. Ryn holds the treat out for me, and I close my mouth around it, savoring the flavors as I swirl my tongue around her fingers.
I’m not sure whether to cum in my pants, or happy-cry. Honestly, maybe both.
Fuck, I’m a lucky bastard.