Unexpected Sting by Viola Grace (free reads .TXT) 📕

She loosened thelayers until she could slide the robe off one shoulder. She had noidea why it set him off, but it did. Again.

She turned into his touch andprepared to rejoin the normal world in a few hours. Her cousin’swedding was happening in another day, and she had a few items topick up.

She could make some calls to domost of it, but for now, she was content to just celebrate beinghome with Arthur.

* * * *

Time blurred, and fourteen months aftermeeting Arthur, Stiila was sitting out with Nessa.

Nessa had her baby boy in herarms, and Stiila held her daughter.

“I have never actually worn akimono outside before. It’s kind of fun. I mean, it doesn’t looklike yours, but it is still nice.” Nessa laughed. “Love yourhair.”

“Well, Lord Rez wanted to beintroduced to Riida, so I told him that he was going to have tocome here for the introduction, so Mom Yua and Alfred came to geteverything ready for the visit.”

Orvis brought a tray of lemonadeand snacks. “There you go, ladies. Now you can breastfeed inpeace.”

The harpy crouched and strokedRiida’s soft dark hair. “She’s adorable.”

“Mom Yua is so fucking smug itisn’t funny. It apparently takes two women to get the hairright.”

Stovos was talking with Arthurand Alfred but suddenly stopped and looked up. Abrax and Leethastepped through the portal.

Leetha was about four monthsalong, and she made a beeline for her granddaughter. Abrax did thesame, but he came over at a slightly less eager pace. Riida hadspit up on him twice.

Stiila looked at her father andpicked up Riida’s hand, waving it at him with the evileye-repulsing bead on her little wrist. Abrax smiled and inclinedhis head in thanks that she was using his gift.

Leetha looked around. “Why somuch Japanese stuff? Isn’t Arthur North American?”

“He is, and his father wasEuropean, and most of his ancestors have been Greek. They havetravelled so much that the first society that let them settle inand offered them social acceptance, they jumped into it. Plus,Arthur is legitimately an oni, so the red ogres are a very specificspecies, with a specific clan structure and that involvestraditions of their country of origin.”

“Riida isn’t an ogre.”

The doorway began to open, andLord Rez stepped through. Arthur walked up to greet him. Stovos andAbrax were about to make their move when Stiila walked forward withher daughter, and she said, “Lord Rez, this is my first child,Riida. Riida, this is Lord Rez. He’s a kijin, just like youare.”

He reached out and touched thebaby, and she did what she always did when a stranger touched her.Baby Riida Orion screamed loud enough to shake the earth. Stiilachuckled and said, “My child has greeted you, Lord Rez.”

He blinked. “So it seems.”

“She does not like strangers.”Arthur smiled and tickled the baby’s chin. “If you want to keepyour head when she’s an adult, I would suggest a visit every fewyears.”

Lord Rez nodded. “She might notbe a bride, but if she truly is a kijin, she will be welcome intothe clan when she proves her power.”

“We will come for a visit to theclan on her twenty-first birthday for certain.” She looked at herdaughter and stroked the downy golden cheek.

Riida fussed, and Stiilastraightened, “Please, excuse us, Lord Rez. She’s about to make alot of noise.”

He nodded, and she headed backto the deck on the back of the sprawling house. She sat in herchair, worked her robes off her shoulders, and the little princessrooted around before latching on.

Stiila relaxed and held herdaughter away from the crowd but not parted from it.

The staff got the food ready,and a bit of magic got the back yard into a smooth and manicuredgarden with tables, cushions, and a bright pond.

Arthur came over. “Lord Rez isinsisting we share his table.”

Stiila sighed and got to herfeet. “I am going to need some help eating. She’s always hungrierwhen she uses magic.”

“Just like when we have movienight, honey.”

He walked with her as she walkedthrough the gathering with her child attached to her. Arthur helpedher kneel without losing Riida’s grip. Her little hand rested onStiila’s breast as she continued her meal.

“Lord Rez was wondering if youhad turned more bashful since you became a mother.” Arthur rubbedher shoulder blades.

“Not really. I just respect thatit freaks some folks out for me using breasts for their originalpurpose.”

Lord Rez cocked his head. “Doesit hurt?”

“No. Wait. You are a few hundredyears old. How do you not know what breastfeeding is like?”

Arthur sighed. “Male and femalesocietal divides. He literally hasn’t been able to ask. It isn’tappropriate for anyone to answer.”

The meal began to be served, andthe hard ache on her right side was trying to get herattention.

She winced and detached Riidawith a finger in her mouth and rotated her to the right side. Thelatch was always harder on the right, so Stiila exhaled again.“Okay, it hurts a bit. Kinda like when Arthur bites down, only morelocalized.”

Arthur laughed.

She covered her left breast andthen settled in.

“How long does she normallynurse?”

“Um, twenty minutes. If she usesmagic, it goes to thirty.” She smiled as Arthur held out a roastedtomato. The juice trickled out of her mouth, and she would havecaught it, but Arthur did it for her. He had ogred out and waslooking down at his daughter as he licked his lips. He turned hishand and stroked the downy cheek that was flexing as it sucked.

“Ah, the little one is starvingtoday.”

Lord Rez paused. “Arthur, youcan change at will? I thought you were restricted to transformingat night.”

“I am motivated to be with themas often as possible. I no longer wait and watch.” He chuckled. “Itis not possible when doing business, but here at home, I get halfthe time so that my other half can recover from his travels untilhe is also ready to take care of our wife.”

“I am not that insatiable.”

He gave her a long look.

Stiila grumbled. “Okay, notconstantly insatiable.”

He gave her a gold-eyedgrin.

“Fine. It is fairly constant,but I am not the norm. It is just me and my mom, aunt, and cousin,and another cousin, and wait a minute, I think I see thepattern.”

Lord Rez nodded. “That is anintimidating logic. A