By the Horns (Royal Artifactual Guild, #2)

by Ruby Dixon

“You can have my hand, and I’ll even throw in my tongue. I’ll wipe all that lotion off and mouth you good. Or you can have my cunt.” “Cunt,” he says immediately, and gestures to his thighs. “Come sit on me. I’ll make you feel amazing.”

“I’m warning you, I’m a heavy woman.” “You say that like it’s a problem. I like thick thighs.”

“Just take what you can and enjoy yourself.” The big Taurian manages a roguish grin. “I know I will.”

“More,” he agrees, rubbing bandaged fingers over my freed nipple. “Damn, but your tits are big. Gorgeous. I’m a lucky male.” “Perfect for those big hands of yours.” “Aye, you’re more than perfect.”

“Remember how I told you I felt one the other day? That I was tingly all over? And it only stopped when they moved the dead man out of the alley?” When she nods, I continue, rubbing my arms as if I can still feel the thousands of pinpricks. “Well, I felt another. Worse than before this time. I think I even know how he died. Someone cut his throat in the alley behind the guild hospital.”

Because I am. Infatuated.

Raptor doesn’t do anything halfway, I’m realizing. When he laughs, it’s with his entire body. When he smiles, it’s with pure, unfettered delight. And when he touches you… I take a larger gulp of my beer to drown such thoughts.

“Aye. Some Taurians are born with the god’s hand upon them. It means we have a knot always. It means we’re always fertile. We don’t go into a crazed rut like most do during the Conquest Moon. We’re always in rut. Always ready. Always…hungry.” He runs his mouth along the shell of my ear, making me shiver. “Some would say we’re cursed. Some would say we’re blessed.” “Definitely blessed,” I blurt out.

A Taurian who knots his mate has to hold them close until the knot goes down.”

“I should be testing you right now,” he says, voice hoarse. Slowly, he breaches my body with his thick cock. “But I’m trusting you, Gwenna.”

“How’s that feel, little bantam?”

He groans. “My good mate. My sweet mate.” His mate? I suck in a breath. Why do I love that so much?

“This is new for me, though. Knotting someone I like, someone I care for. I want it to be good for you.”

That I want nothing more than for you to be happy, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get that artificer sash on your shoulder, because what you want has become far more important than anything.”

Raptor to Hawk: I don’t think I’m cut out for this shit. Hawk to Raptor: I don’t think any of us are.

“Tell me your secret.” Her eyes fill with tears, and her entire body shakes. “I can’t. I’ll be killed if anyone finds out.” Now we’re getting somewhere. I fight the surge of triumph I feel, because it’s paired with the despairing realization that Gwenna has lied to me all along. “Finds out what?” She closes her eyes, and then opens them again, resolve on her face. “That…I’m a mancer.”

“You’re not evil,” I reassure her. “You’re the least evil person I’ve ever met. You’re just differently endowed.” She peeks out at me from under her fingers. “Like you?”

“I was knotted inside her at the time of Hemmen’s death,” Raptor drawls. “She couldn’t have done it.”

I blush fiercely. Hannai’s rocky bosom, this male makes me act all girlish and giddy with a single look.

“Fine, you want the truth? I’m obsessed with you, Gwenna. I want to attack anyone who even thinks of looking at you twice. I want to hug the shit out of you every time I see you. I want to flip your skirts up and lick your cunt until you squeal my name in that perfect way you do. I want to smile at you first thing every morning and be wrapped in your arms every night. I want you to be the most amazing artificer ever because I want your success. I don’t care if you’re a mancer or a maid or an artificer. I just want to be near you, breathing in the same air and hoping for a smile. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. So aye, you’re my mate…but you don’t have to be. If it’s not what you want, I’ll back off.”

I know because I’ve just been shown absolutely everything.

“No. I thought I’d never met a messier Five, but I’ve also never met a more stubborn one. I figured that would carry you all through, and I’m glad to see I was right.”

“So that’s it?” I ask. “That’s it,” my Taurian agrees, gazing down at me as if he could devour me whole. “Now we get to work, my pretty little Starling.” I like my name quite a bit when he says it like that.