AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After two more rounds—oneher fault, one mine—and another shower, Bailey had fallen soundly asleep in my bed, cuddling up to me in a way that soothed my soul. I was, however, still absolutely wired. The sex magic I’d resisted out of propriety for so long had made a new man of me, and Bailey had given me a fantastic idea during our pillow talk.
Normally, my stronger magic came from the combination of imported, enchanted tea leaves and water boiled with my foxfire. With the Unseelie enforcers having destroyed every box of tea looking to extinguish my foxfire, I was out of materials. I cleaned the landing and swept away the heartbreaking waste of tea, heading downstairs to find they had stolen my keys after all. Behind the counter was a bit of a mess, but I hadn’t worked here for so long without knowing where everything belonged. A thankfully-untouched box held the object of my morning’s search: a small sample bag of green coffee beans a supplier had sent a month ago.
Bailey had pointed out, once she’d bullied through my stubborn coffee-hating bias, that a lot of my magic likely came from my foxfire. Icouldheat coffee water with my flame, but the inherently strong presence of coffee seemed to dampen my intentions. Using my foxfire to roast beans was a brilliant idea from my little vixen, and I couldn’t wait to try it. After all, just because I didn’t like coffee personally didn’t mean I couldn’t bend it to my will.
Bailey wandered in about an hour after I’d gotten a makeshift roaster created out of an old metal sugar canister and a power drill set on low above my open foxfire box. Her clothing was rumpled, yesterday’s outfit, her hair sweetly askew where it had dried wild. Her cell phone, which I’d gotten from her car at her request, was held to her ear. “Mhm. Yeah dad, everything’s going great! Mat’s taken such good care ofeverything.” She grinned at me, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. “I’ll call you later, okay? Love you! Give mom a hug for me.”
The tumbling coffee beans made an almost musical rattle as the can-drum turned, and I indicated my makeshift setup with a proud flourish of fingers as she hung up. “I think you were right, Bailey. I think this just might work. Just in case, I put in another tea order, but it’s nice to have a backup.”
She ran a hand through her hair, stepping behind the counter and tilting her face up in a wordless demand for a kiss. Thrilled, I bent down and gave it to her, warmth flooding me at the easy familiarity. She gave a huff of humor as she grabbed a mug, pouring some of the normal brewed coffee for herself. “Don’t look so satisfied. I’ve had a crush on you forever and my hard work of pining for years is finally paying off. This is my moment, damnit. Plus I’m probably still high on orgasm hormones.”
“I’m at your disposal if you need any more, little vixen.” I purposely slid a freshly-glamoured tail along her thigh as I moved past her. I’d gone through all the stages of grief at my amputated third tail while l was in the bathroom this morning, but I remained hopeful it could grow back with steady sex magic support from Bailey. “And I’m making some inquiries and formal complaints about those Unseelie today, by the way, but I’d like you to stay with me for at least a few days to be sure of your safety. I promise excellent dining, thorough fucking, and a deep massage for the inconvenience.”
“Oh no, notgood foodandsex.” She deadpanned into her coffee mug, breaking into a grin. “No, you’re right Mat, it’s smart. I’m perfectly happy to stick with you, as long as you don’t get sick of me.”
“Never, beautiful. You’re just my cup of tea.” I grinned as I flipped the closed sign back to open.
Bailey groaned and rolled her eyes at my terrible joke, but the begrudging smirk she tried to hide with it? Well, that was sweeter to me than all the sugar in the storeroom.
* * *
The end…for now!
* * *
Thank you so much for readingSecond Steep! If you’d like to discover what Mat’s foxfire-roasted coffee is capable of, as well as what the hell’s going on with that misplaced prince, don’t miss my full-length novelMilk and Honeywhich follows the enemies-to-lovers tale of Eli and Mel! For more unique / unexpected characters, including omegaverse balloon animals, fear-feeding polyamorous cryptids, and a door shifter, stop by my website,ValentineVerse.comfor a freebie story, titles, content notes, and more!
About the Author
An unapologetic book-huffer and devourer-of-stories, Vera Valentine has carried on a torrid love affair with the written word for nearly all of her 41 years. Grown in the diner-laden wilds of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and transplanted to North Carolina, she lives with her husband, eight cats, and two dogs, most of whom are house trained. An avid fan of the Paranormal Why Choose genre, she tossed her author hat into the ring in September of 2021 and never looked back.
A self-professed chaotic capybara, Vera can usually be found spending too much time on social media, chilling with fellow authors, or scribbling down ever-expanding plot bunny ideas in her trusty paper sidekick, the Bad Idea Book™.
If you’d like to stay up-to-date on Vera’s latest projects and preorders, stop by her website - ValentineVerse.com for information, links, newsletter signups, ARC opportunities, and more!
Also by Vera Valentine
The Carnal Cryptids Series
Unhinged: An Erotic Door Romance
The Holiday Hedonism Series
The Moriverse Series
MELDED
WREN K MORRIS
AL.X was designed to be the latest Pleasurebot in the Build Your Own Boyfriend line on A4-23, but when he shows signs of sentience, planet management considers reprogramming him.
To stay alive, he pretends to be an average android. At least until a very clever blacksmith catches on. She’s gorgeous and engaging, and she just might be AL.X’s last hope to stay as he is.
Aubrey left Earth to start a new life on A4-23. It may be melding a very particular set of parts for Pleasurebots, but she has a great union, kind coworkers, and an easy enough life.
At least she does until AL.X enters her workshop.
He’s the perfect specimen of modern engineering, with shiny muscular plates and violet eyes that seem to peer right into her soul. He’s also in danger, and Aubrey will do anything in her power to help him.
