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No sense deflecting now. “Mating. I wanted to ensure that you could be mated. The dhara in your drink proved that you are.” It was close enough to the truth that I hoped she didn’t pick up on it.
Instead of anger or outrage as I feared, she…laughed.
“Well, you don’t pull your punches, do you?” she asked.
“Why would I punch you?” She baffled me at every turn.
Capricorn burst out laughing. So I knew it was a joke, but like her, understanding was just slightly out of reach. “No, I meant figuratively. Like, you don’t dance around your motives. It’s refreshing. I’m too used to people skirting around what they mean. It’s exhausting trying to be a mind reader.”
“You read minds?” Jalen said, aghast.
Capricorn erupted into full gales of laughter. It was captivating to see her arch back like a graceful bow, her taut nipples peaking against the fabric of her shirt. I bet they were a lovely bronze shade to match her golden skin. “No, and that’s the problem. It was just a figure of speech. A human habit.”
Jalen’s brow gathered into a furrow, and I knew that look. He was going to contradict her, and I signaled for him to stop. She wanted people to think she was human, and so I would let her. For now.
“So do you always check in with your would-be conquests to see whether they’re…mateable?”
“My past bed mates were orc kin or elves, so it was a given they could take us.”
She arched an elegant eyebrow at me. “But with me, you wanted to make sure?”
In more ways than you could imagine. She seemed to like my direct speech, and so I tried it on purpose this time. “It seemed efficient. No sense wasting time if that was not an option.”
As before, she found it amusing.
Who would have thought that a woman would prefer such direct, unflowered language? Capricorn was turning more and more into an impossible treasure that I needed to claim and hoard.
“I can appreciate that as well, especially since I’d been wondering the same thing,” she said. “So, in that respect, when exactly were you going to plan on throwing me over your shoulder and taking me upstairs to a vacant room? Like, if it’s within the next ten minutes, I should probably have Tia box this food up rather than eat it—”
I needed no more prompting. Encircling Capricorn’s hips, I slung her over my shoulder, anchoring my palm on her shapely backside. She laughed, the vibrations making their way into my hearts. I would keep this memory etched into my very bones.
I made my way toward the back stairs that led to the rooms above. Rothgar and Jalen would follow in our wake, I was sure of it.
“I’ll box this up for you,” a pixie called out from behind the bar.
“Thanks Tia! Can we have suite 17 please?” she asked.
“Honey, I will have that entire floor blocked off for you—have whatever suite you want!”
“Thank you!” And then to me, Capricorn whispered, “see, she hardly ever charges me for anything.”
I made a mental note to give the pixie as much currency as she would ever need to take care of Capricorn.
A short flight of stairs later, and I saw the suite that Capricorn preferred at the end of the hall. It was a suitable location, with independent access to the street. I would have picked the same suite if I had the choice.
I set her gently on her feet and took one step back from her. Even yielding to this much space was torture. But I needed her to want me—us—on her own. No influence, no pressure.
She was luminous, a faint glow outlining her features. Her soft green-blue hair framed her features and delicate shoulders as it cascaded down her back. I wanted to see it splayed over the bed.
She was perfect for me. For us. I knew it. Rothgar and Jalen knew it. But did she know it?
“You tell me what you want me to do, what you want us to do, and we take you over this threshold. If you do not, we’ll make sure you get a ride back to your home and ensure your safety. What will it be, little witch? Do you want to stay?”
Words were a powerful magic all their own. They kill. They heal. They bind. Especially if you meant them.
Capricorn’s eyes shone like liquid flame, and her voice was clear and sure when she said, “Yes.”
Chapter Four
