Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
That got a giggle from him as he scampered to drape himself over me. “You’re ridiculous.”
Sometimes.
But it had him forgetting his worries and he was snuggled so close he was like a blanket wrapped around me…so I’d take ridiculous any day if it got me rewards like that.
“I’m not the one with a dirty browser history.” My teasing had him hiding his face against my shoulder and snickering.
When he finally got himself under control, he relaxed and went back to just cuddling. “Kenzie kept asking for books about stuff I didn’t understand. I had to look it up and sometimes I didn’t understand the written descriptions, so I had to find videos.”
He’d had to?
Stefan shrugged as he got used to talking about the curious subject. “There aren’t enough good educational sites. Most of them are terribly written. Flat-pack furniture comes with better instructions.”
It really must have been bad then.
“My poor confused librarian.” I laughed when he poked my chest. “You must’ve been shocked.”
“I was at first.” His tone was a mix of laughter and surprise. “Kenzie asked me the most interesting questions and I’d never thought about anything like the stuff he was reading.”
Kenzie had definitely opened the innocent librarian’s eyes.
“What do you think? Should I buy him flowers to thank him for corrupting you?” I was mostly teasing but Stefan’s head popped up.
“No, he’ll want to talk even more or everyone will think we’re in some kind of weird relationship with them.” Shaking his head, Stefan’s eyes got wider. “It will be like last month when everyone thought the lady mage who runs the bakery was sleeping with the man who fixes the cable when it goes down. She just gave him extra donuts and everyone was scandalized.”
Laughing, I nodded. “I heard they were having an affair, but it was just a thank you for fixing something because he did it under the table and wasn’t going to charge her.”
We lived in the craziest town.
But luckily for me, the librarian seemed to like it too.
“But how did you know that?” Rolling us so I was braced over him, I raised one eyebrow when he looked guilty. “How did you hear the good gossip? You barely hang out in town.”
Groaning as his cheeks went pink, he sighed. “People stand outside my office window all the time. It’s close to the sidewalk and kind of drafty, so I can hear everything they say.”
I had to laugh but he huffed and pouted. “But they kept talking around the dragon part, so all I got was weird gossip that didn’t make any sense.”
“Poor baby.” I gave him a smacky kiss and shook my head. “You’re just as big a gossip as the rest of them. That’s why you like it here so much.”
Nodding and wearing a silly grin, he didn’t bother hiding it any longer. “Yes, and there’s always so much going on…and once they all realize I know about the dragon and mages stuff, I’ll get all the good stuff.”
Adorable.
“Hmm, I might have to figure out some good ways to let you get the best gossip out of me.” As his eyes went wide again, I kissed his nose. “I wonder what kind of sexual favors I should trade for the story about why Ms. Candice can’t go into the bakery without all hell breaking loose.”
His mouth fell open. “She needed cookies last week and had to go all the way into the city because everyone would know she bought them from Walmart otherwise.”
He was the cutest thing.
“See?” I shrugged as he seemed to be considering how much the story would be worth. “I know what I’ve got.”
I did nearly everyone’s taxes and did the books for most of the businesses in town. I knew where every body was buried because no one could keep their mouths shut when they sat still for any length of time.
Stefan nibbled on his lower lip, staring up at me. “You have to tell me why Mr. O’Neil doesn’t like the smiley man who never orders anything but chicken tenders. No one will talk about it but everyone goes silent when they’re in the diner at the same time. It’s driving me crazy.”
I nodded decisively. “Deal.”
“Thank you, Master.” He threw his arms around me and hugged me tight. “You’re wonderful.”
A wonderful gossip was what he probably meant, but I didn’t point that out as he kissed my cheek and then pushed on my chest. “Roll over. Hurry.”
Because he needed a gossip fix only I could give him.
I was glad his need for me was so obvious, but I was a wonderful Dom and did as he…well, we’d pretend he requested. Since gossip was one of the things that were vital to life, I told myself I’d be generous and hope his bribe would be sufficient to distract me.