Page 15 of Little Music of Night

“Not at all,” Ray said. “Quite the opposite. As for why we are here, we live here. Well, under the apartment building, really. And we were drawn to you, as we suspect you could be our mate, and well . . .”

“I couldn’t see you,” she said, nodding.

The curse.I wanted to tell her about the curse. But Ray had been so adamant we didn’t. I put my hands behind my back and started to pace, keeping an eye on both of them as they continued to chat.

“And the two of you are together,” she said. “Clearly.”

Ray nodded. “Yes. Erik and I are mates.”

“But you think I am your mate too?”

“Yes.”

She seemed to consider this, and the way her brows furrowed together amused me. I stopped pacing for a moment, studying her.

Patience had never been my strength. More than anything, I wished to take her back to bed and finally feast upon her. Share her between Ray and I and kiss every part of her. Find out if she could take our cocks at the same time.

Patience,Ray demanded in my mind.

Ah, yes. Of course he would hear those thoughts.Perverted phantom.

Shut the fuck up, Erik.

I smiled to myself as I started pacing again.

“It’s been a very overwhelming day.” Her voice was soft and even sounded a little faraway. “I’m sorry that I ran yesterday. I didn’t know.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Ignore Erik when he’s being unreasonable.”

I scoffed, but didn’t comment further.

“Also, did you really have to fuck in my bed?”

I stopped pacing and faced her. “Does it upset you? That I pinned him down where you sleep and had my way with him?”

Her cheeks were scarlet now. She was silent for one moment . . . two . . . “No,” she finally said. “But now I know I’m not dreaming.”

“We will refrain from doing that again,” Ray said.

“Unless you want us to.”

Christy’s eyes met mine and I was lost. Lost in their darkness, in the promise of salvation, in how beautiful she was. How lovely, a crimson rose blooming in winter, disrupting the barren cold with life.

“Do you?” I asked. “Do you want us to stop?”

“No.” She never looked away. “I don’t want you to stop. You have my consent.”

“We’ll get your consent tomorrow,” I said. “When you’ve got no champagne in you.”

“Perhaps you can join me for breakfast,” she said.

Ray nodded eagerly. “Yes. We would love to.”

I smiled and nodded in agreement. Ray could have whatever food she provided and I . . .

Well, I would devour her.

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