Page 96 of The Gathering
“That’s very kind of you. But goes against our King’s Code of conduct.”
“Oh,” she said, pleasantly surprised. And disappointed.
Just do it. Fuck her right now, she just begged, you cruel bastard.
His mind dragged him by the balls through an X-rated show. Her perched on the porch rail, legs spread wide. Foot on the arm of the rocker, grinding on his mouth.
“Huh,” she muttered, the sound of mild wonder.
“What?” he inquired, bringing his cup to his mouth to discreetly pant in it.
“Well…” she began, her fascination still blooming. “I just realized I’ve beenpro-merging all my life. I planned that guest bedroom specifically for companionship before I ever knew about the merging thing.”
He remembered the provocation question he wanted an answer to. “You asked what sort of girl I’d want to merge with. I am in fact required to merge very soon.”
“Required?”
He regarded her with a flash look. “Surely you know of the Belle Eveque?”
“Oh yes, everybody knows about her.” She sucked in a breath. “She convinced the leaders to marry! There was a rumor she’d also convinced the Creole Kings too, oh my God! The rumor istrue!”
He nodded. “It is.” He glanced at her, finding shock. And open hunger. Fuck, she was too much.
“So you have… plenty of prospects, I would imagine.”
“Endless,” he decided to say.
“How fortunate for you,” she said, her tone a perfect mask of mystery. “I suppose you would, being who you are. Do you want a young woman or an older one? Are you a virgin?”
“I am, yes. Are you?”
“Hmm,” she said, tea at her mouth. “Isn’t that obvious?” she said, tossing his earlier answer.
“As obvious as it is that I am, I suppose.”
“It isn’t obvious for you, you’re a man.”
He chuckled. “And there’s a difference how?”
“You’re in a greater positionnotto be a virgin, obviously.”
“Well, it only takes one person to merge with.”
“And I did say I never get visitors,” she reminded.
“But it only takes one.”
She stared at him and he foolishly dared to stare back. “So how will you do it?” she asked, cup on hold at her mouth.
“Do what?”
She set the tea down. “Merge.”
Heat burned through his veins, his gaze locked on hers like a rabid animal. “What particulars are you asking for?”
“What is your plan, your strategy.”
“I don’t have one,” he said, thrilled with their new game. “I didn’t pro-merge like you did, apparently.”
