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"A freelancer," I repeated.
Khell had retired? From MSA or from sex work? Was he working elsewhere, privately with clients, or had he moved on?
"I'm sure he didn't want you to have to partner with anyone else," Astraeya said, leaning forward.
Because I had told her only Khell. I chewed on my lip again for a moment, staring down at my hands. There was a bit of paint still marking my wrist from waking up early this morning and working on the walls of my studio.
It had been surprisingly easy to get through the week. I’d thought I'd be madly watching the hours pass, waiting to return to the cottage, but instead, it was almost like returning to normal. Booking the appointment was like taking “the end” out of the back of the story and allowing it to grow again. My time with Khell wasn't over after all.
But he was retired.
"Is he…back in construction?" I asked.
"I think so!" Astraeya answered, beaming at me. "It's cute he told you about that."
So he hadn't moved to another company. He'd just left this work. And I'd dragged him back. Or at least gently called. I hadn't begged him. Maybe Astraeya had on my behalf, though.
"Sonya," Astraeya said gently, catching onto my turmoil by now. "It's not uncommon for our partners to have an attachment to a client. To want to…be there for them."
But Khell had retired. He'd left MSA.
He'd quit the job that brought us together.
Was it really right to use an “attachment” to bring him back?
For a week, I'd felt that door opening, the words waiting, the canvas stretching to make room for more beauty. And now I knew—tonight would only delay the inevitable.
This would be the last time. My end with Khell had been the evening he left the cottage.
CHAPTER 21
Khell'ar
I paced the cottage floorboards as though I were threatening the walls around me, every step thumping, wood creaking. My eyes held the face of the clock in the kitchen, trying to force the hands to turn faster.
One month. I had waited, and my patience had paid off. Sunny had called the agency, asked for me again. Another day and I would've certainly broken, but the relief of the call soothed the fever.
Thank fuck for Astraeya. She'd marked me down as “freelancer.” If MSA really wanted to dig deeper, they might have had some concerns about why their recently departed former employee came back for the last client they'd booked. I didn't care. Sunny would be in my grip in minutes. And then…
I would have to break the MSA contract, tell Sunny the truth about the mating bond, and see if there was a chance for us, for me, outside of the cottage and the bookings.
My stav was already starting to pump like I was a sapling before his first good rut—constantly hard and clueless as to what to do with the new charge of arousal always simmering in his length.
Except I knew exactly what to do with my cock now. I just needed Sunny here with me. We had sixteen hours. I would remind Sunny exactly how much she liked being mine, and then I would find the way to offer myself to her as more than a partner in these carefully arranged meetings. I wouldn't rush. Sunny had instructed Astraeya to let me have control—of course she had—and I would use that permission to spoil Sunny with pleasure and kisses and care and my cock until she was soft and sweet and my good little pet.
Tires crunched on the dirt road, and my pacing turned to a rush to the window, long claws flicking the curtain aside. A bright yellow car bumped along the road toward the cottage. Sunny had driven herself this time.
My cock throbbed, wept in anticipation and I reached down, squeezing at myself, uncertain if I was soothing the ache or making it worse.
It was good she was alone. If Astraeya had brought Sunny here again, I would've slammed the door on the succubus' face. Not that I wasn't grateful for her calling me. But she didn't need to witness my hunger for my mate. That was Sunny's privilege alone.
Sit down. Don't terrify her, I thought, backing away from the window, moving toward the head of the dining table, forcing myself into a seat that faced the doorway.
Then again, Sunny liked to be a little scared. No, I would wait here, be the first thing she saw as she opened the door, and then—
The car stopped outside the cottage, and I held my breath, my claws digging into my thighs through my sweatpants. I hadn't changed into a costume this time. Neither of us would wear clothes long enough to make changing them worth it. I hesitated, my ears perked and twitching as Sunny opened and shut her car door, and then tore my shirt off over my head.
And maybe I would take off the pants too, let Sunny really get a good look.
