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I snorted, heaving myself up to check the curtains. “Waiting for what?”
“For me to be alone so it can crawl into my mouth while I’m asleep.”
“I don’t think spiders actually do that,” I said doubtfully, shaking one of the curtains and jolting a little when something small and black fell to the floor.
Beryl screamed, the bed shaking as she shifted frantically in place. I swooped down and managed to grab the spider before it got away, cupping my hands loosely together.
“Beryl, you wuss, it’s tiny,” I said incredulously, feeling its little legs skitter frantically over my palm.
She glared at me as I turned to face her. “I mean, of course it looks tiny in your gigantic hands.”
“My hands are proportionate to the rest of me,” I said pointedly. Except maybe they were a little big. My mom actually used to call me a puppy herself, saying how adorable I was because I hadn’t grown into my giant hands and feet.
“You have beautiful hands, Greid,” Beryl said impatiently, gaze darting to them repeatedly as I held the spider in my cupped palms. “Big, beautiful hands that are perfect for taking spiders far away from me.”
I laughed, heading for the door. “I’ll let it loose in the backyard.”
“The end of the backyard,” Beryl said hurriedly. “As far away from the house as possible.”
“Sure.” My mouth twitched as I added, “Although they do tend to migrate inside when it’s colder, and I’m pretty sure I’ve read that spiders always find their way back to where they—”
“Stop talking,” she croaked. “I’m never opening my window again.”
Chuckling, I headed down the stairs and through the kitchen, managing to get the back door unlocked with the tips of my fingers. After setting it free in the tangled jungle of my backyard, I went back inside and found Beryl hovering near the foot of the stairs.
“Is it gone?” she asked anxiously.
I grinned, making my way over and sliding my hands around her hips. She was a couple of steps up, so our faces were almost level.
“It begged to be taken back to the warmth of its web,” I told her solemnly. “It pleaded with me to think of its children. All those tiny, defenceless slings going hungry as their mama fights her way through a giant jungle full of predators to get back to them. The neighbour has a cat. Bet it stalks the yard looking for poor mama spiders to eat.”
“Shut up.” She gave my shoulder a gentle smack. “Don’t make me feel guilty.”
“Sorry.” I sobered, sidling closer to wrap my arms around her hips. “Want me to go check for any more before you go to bed?”
“As much as I enjoyed watching you bend over to look under the furniture, I’ll be okay.” She wrapped her arms loosely around my neck as my face spikes twitched. “Night, Greid.”
When she kissed me, I shut my eyes and kissed her back eagerly, but couldn’t help saying, muffled against her mouth, “Night, berry.”
She snorted, breaking the kiss and flicking my chin. “Night, greedy boy.”
“That’s mean,” I grumbled as my cock perked up, reluctantly letting go to watch her turn and head back up the stairs. “Be careful on the stairs,” I blurted. “It’s dark.”
“My weak human eyes will manage.” She waved a hand carelessly before disappearing from view.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Beryl
“Beryl, darling!”
I looked up from my phone to see Corva gliding toward me from the register at Deep Brew, tucking a credit card back into her purse.
“Hi, Corva.” I shuffled to the side so she could wait for her drink with me, dutifully lifting my chin for her air kisses beside either cheek.
“I was hoping to bump into you.” She nodded at my phone, pulling hers out of her bag. “We haven’t exchanged numbers yet.”
“Oh.” I couldn’t stop the beaming smile that spread over my face. Was she my first real friend? Well, aside from Greid, but he was more than a friend. He always had been. And I was friendly with everyone at the bar, but they were colleagues. We hadn’t hung out together outside of work.
