Backstage at the Freak Show (Harem of Freaks #7) - Crystal Ash Page 0,29
speak his language, see a friend from his past, and just be a regular, Romanian dude.”
Hunter snorted but a wry smile pulled at his lips. “He’s way too hot to be a regular anything.”
“You got that right,” I giggled, bringing my arms up to loop around his neck. “Anything else bothering you?”
“It was mostly that, feeling like we’re all here to celebrate being together and he just took off on us.” His hands dug into my shoulders, massaging gently. “What you say makes a lot of sense, though. I’m still kind of bummed and I miss him. But I understand better.”
“He’ll be back.” I pressed a soft peck to Hunter’s lips. “Do you want alone time with him when he’s back?”
“No.” His smile grew, golden eyes lighting up wolfishly. “But alone time with you and him, yes.”
“Done.” Our smiles touched, and then our lips opened up for a deeper kiss.
Our chests pressed together, hearts beating as one while our tongues mated and bodies heated. I had half a mind to get a quickie started right here, just a little warm-up for when our dragon returned, when a door slammed open and I jumped nearly a mile in the air.
“It’s just the kitchen staff,” Hunter laughed, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Sure enough, our hosts came out of the side door speaking in rapid Romanian as they tossed kitchen scraps to the chickens behind our villa. We waved and smiled, saying good morning in our clumsy Romanian before Hunter tugged my hand toward the woods behind the property.
“Oh no,” I said in mock despair. “A big bad wolf leading me to his lair in the deep dark forest.”
“All the better to ravage you, my dear.” He grinned and kissed my hand. “Raz and I found this spot the other day. It’s not far, but there’s a little clearing that’s beautiful.” He leaned close to my ear. “And private,” he added in a husky whisper.
“Oh, lead the way, handsome wolf,” I smirked back.
He kissed me once more before shifting. I ran my hand along the white fur on my husband’s back while he trotted at my side. When I scratched his head, he looked up with the same golden eyes full of love and adoration.
The Romanian wilderness was magical. It felt ancient and untouched as Hunter and I walked through, the air tingling with life and mystery. Not that I didn’t love being surrounded by my four husbands, but it was nice being alone with him. Just us and the sounds of the forest.
Goosebumps rose on my skin as the trees grew denser, blocking out the sun as the air grew cooler and damp.
Hunter nudged his nose against my elbow as I rubbed my arms. Cold? he asked with a soft lick and a whine.
“I’m okay.” I carefully stepped over a decomposing log, wishing for a moment that I wore pants instead of a dress.
My white wolf rubbed against me like a cat, offering warmth in his dense fur. Not much farther now, he promised. The sun will be out again in the clearing.
“How is it you already know me so well?” I joked, scratching over his head.
You’re my wife. He pressed his head into my side, tongue lolling out with a smile. My mate.
I paused in my walk to place a kiss on his snout. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that. Any of you.”
He licked my face before I could pull away. And we’ll never get tired of saying it.
* * *
***
* * *
I roused from my nap in the middle of the clearing to the beat of leathery wings.
“Raz’s back,” Hunter murmured sleepily. He’d shifted back at some point during our nap, and now my head rested on his human chest instead of his furry side.
The span of Raz’s dragon wings blocked out the sun as he made a slow, careful descent. I felt the heat emanating from him like he was a miniature sun himself. Steely gray eyes watched us stretch and come up to sitting. Raz shifted in midair, dropping lightly on his feet with a devilish smile.
“Little risky to fly out here, don’t you think?” I said with a frown.
“I was well into the forest before shifting,” he assured me, planting a fast kiss on me before moving to sit beside Hunter. “No one saw, steluta. Promise.”
“How was the city?” Our wolf curled into Raz, nuzzling and kissing the dragon shifter with all the affection and love of a puppy.
“Good,” Raz leaned into him,