part0011

“ H ere.” Billy handed me a bowl of chocolate ice cream. “It’s the perfect breakfast after being up all night.”

“Thanks.” I had a hard time concentrating on anything besides watching him walk around in just boxers. “You’re the one who kept us up all night.”

I’d seen him like this before, and I’d appreciated the eye candy, but now that it was mine? I just couldn’t seem to stop watching him.

“My eyes are up here.” He sat next to me with his own bowl, his teeth flashed in amusement as he scooped up a large bite of his ice cream.

“Such pretty eyes, too.” I batted my eyelashes at him as he laughed.

“We still need to talk.” He leaned against the headboard, his feet relaxed on the bed as he took another spoon of the cool treat.

I had my own mouthful before replying. “Honestly, I’ve loved you as my best friend for how long? Being my mate just brings us closer and I’m excited for it. Now, I know you’re not thrilled, but… ”

Billy put the back of his spoon on my lips to silence me. “You’ve still got a bad habit of talking and not listening.” He raised his right brow.

I shrugged but motioned for him to continue.

“I freaked out. That’s on me. But it wasn’t because we’re mates. It’s because I never thought I’d have one. I’m thirty-five. Most goats find their mates in their early twenties. So when it snapped into existence, I freaked out.”

He set the bowl on my nightstand.

“I’m thrilled that my mate is my best friend. Am I happy that you have two more? No, but I’ll learn to deal.” His fingers ran down my cheek. “I love you and that love is going to evolve and I can’t wait for it.” His head bent and our lips met for a brief, tender kiss.

“You suck.” My face was on fire as I turned away from him to finish my ice cream.

“No, pretty sure you’re the one doing the sucking.”

I coughed, choking on the spoonful of frozen goodness until Billy banged on my back a few times.

“You’re an ass.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as I narrowed my eyes at him.

His lips twisted but he didn’t say anything other than to look smug. I shook my head, grabbed our empty bowls, dropped them off in the sink, and came back to curl against his chest.

His big arms pulled me close and kissed my forehead. “We will figure this out. It may just take time. In the meantime, I’m not going anywhere.”

As I lay with him, enjoying the delightful warmth, my phone chimed. Billy handed it to me. It was a text from my brother.

I blinked. It was the first time he’d voluntarily reached out to me in weeks. Billy noticed who it was when he’d given me my phone and squeezed my shoulders.

“Go for it. You need to talk to him.” His hands were warm.

I sat up, pulling away from my mates chest.

“I’ll be back in a bit. We need to talk about the other two in the picture.” Placing my phone on the dresser, I opened my window that faced out to the woods. I shifted and with a hop, I was running to a small clearing that Quinten and I used growing up to have sibling meetings away from mom or dad.

I let my fox take over. She knew where we were going. I needed to think.

Quinten had been so mad at me when I’d tricked Eirlys into drinking the potion I’d purchased from The Magical Rooster. Not because it had ended up making Eirlys have explosive glitter orgasms for a few days, or that it turned his dick blue, but because it had made Eirlys cry.

He refused to talk to me until I apologized. Even after that, he’d been avoiding me. Hopefully, today would be a way to give an olive branch to him and Eirlys. I was going to ask them to yoga with Maya.

Quinten was already there. He had a backpack next to him where he sat on a log. His eyes tracked me as I moved to sit in front of him. I sat and wagged my tail once.

“Hey.” Quinten patted my head like he usually did to annoy me. “Here’s a robe for you.” He pulled out the robe from the pack and tossed it on top of me. “Just yell when you’re dressed.” He turned his back to give me a sense of modesty that wasn’t needed.

The robe was soft. My feet were freezing but I grabbed the pack he’d left and used it to stand on.

“Okay. We’re good.”

Quinten turned around. He snorted loudly when he noticed I was standing on the back pack but he didn’t say anything.

“Thanks for coming, sis.” He sat down again. “Sit with me.”

“So.” I awkwardly plucked at the robes belt. “How much longer are you going to hate me? I was just so mad about the ch--” I choked on the word.

Quinten was quiet for several long moments.

“Eirlys is my mate, Cider. She means everything to me. I shouldn’t have told her about the chickens. I didn’t know that she and Jace would use that on you.” His hands rested on his knees. “She said you were working together now.”

Nodding, my shoulders slumped a little. “I may have gone overboard before, but she’s shown that she’s a good person. I was actually going to invite her to yoga. Why don’t you all come?”

Quinten bumped our shoulders together. “I love you, squirt. We’ll be there tomorrow morning.”

“Good. Maya and the kids will be happy to see you.” I rubbed my arm awkwardly. “Are we going to be okay, Quint? I miss you.”

My brother was silent for a few moments before he wrapped an arm around my shoulder, squeezing it. “We’ll be okay. It just might take a little time.”