Page 149 of Galaxy Circus Act One

I see Maxsim’s nose flare as the scent of my arousal drifts to his nostrils. I’m getting closer to my heat, and it’s getting harder and harder to control my desire.

“Nothing?” I hedge sheepishly, and his grip tightens. A moan is begging to leave my lips, especially since we were interrupted by the announcement. Maxsim knows what he’s doing to me.

“You weren’t admiring the pretty snake and his double cocks, were you?” He growls a little more, his jealousy stoking my arousal even higher. I try to shake my head, but it’s useless. He knows I’m lying, and his grip is just too tight.

“No,” I mutter, and his amusement changes to lust in an instant.

“Oh, you are a brat for lying to me. I will enjoy doling out your punishment in the form of my pleasure.” He releases my hair, and I shake out my mane before continuing my perusal of the crowd, being sure to skip over the naga and his two cocks. Truthfully, I’m looking for the little Earth girl. Maybe if I can study her closely, I can figure out what has me so interested, but she’s nowhere to be seen. I’m about to ask Maxsim if he can see her when two new people sit down next to me. It’s the merman and his sister, both in their human forms. I’m a little surprised that they are sitting at the same table as us. Everyone mostly avoids us, but I guess without Natalia around, we might be able to make more friends. I feel excited at the prospect and smile at both of them.

“Hello, ferocious ice kitty. Have you seen my little coolmy shell? She doesn’t seem to be here.”

I blink a couple of times, surprised that the merman is talking to me. He is another creature who hasn’t been particularly social, if the ship gossip is to be believed. His golden hair shines in the artificial light, and his green skin sparkles vibrantly. He preens when he sees me looking at him. “Ah, I seeyousee how magnificent I look in this light. I was hoping my little starfish would admire the wonderfulness that is me as well. I am thinking maybe the dim lighting of my cave made it so she couldn’t appreciate my brilliance.” He pushes back his golden hair as my mouth drops open.

Maxsim snorts not so politely on the other side of me, and I can see Trace, Sim, and Fuse are just as stunned as I am, but the arrogant creature doesn’t acknowledge our reactions. He just puffs up his chest and continues to look around the room.

“No, it won’t be hard to convince her to stroke my fins when she sees me in this light. It will be all she can do to control herself.”

He doesn’t even sound wistful, he sounds confident.

I try to form words to make a coherent sentence, but I can’t, and I don’t have to, because a blue hand on the merman's shoulder has him looking up into the eyes of Lila’s kraken mate, Caspian.

“You wouldn’t be thinking about forcing yourself on my mate, would you, fish?” His growl is almost as impressive as my alpha’s, and I feel my toes curl slightly. Damn heat hormones. Max’s hand comes down on my knee and stops my leg, which had been bouncing up and down. I grimace, but he just looks amused, thankfully.

“No, I remember consent is required, but how could she say no with all of this wonderfulness?” Nikos waves a hand up and down his body, and I spy Caspian’s hand tightening on his shoulder before the merman winces slightly. Clearly, he doesn’t like pain.

“Good, see that it continues.” Caspian releases him and undulates up to the front where he stands off to the side with the warlock.

I wonder what happened to the cyborg. I guess we will never know, and that might be a good thing, especially after watching what the warlock did to part of his harem.

The crowd settles into silence as William and Eric Adams enter the room. There’s no sign of John, and both the brothers wear scowls. This was not an unusual occurrence prior to Lila’s arrival, but since she has been here, they have been all smiles. What could have caused them to be so upset? I suppose we are about to learn what’s causing their distaste.

CHAPTER NINE

Lila

When I crack my sleepy eyes open, I have no idea what time it is or where I am, only that my body is surrounded by the most wonderful warmth and weight. Looking down, I see a pale, muscular arm wrapped around my waist, and when I lift the blankets, I notice a fair, muscular, naked leg is thrown over my own naked body. Huh, I’m naked. There’s no rising heart rate or low-key panic about being in this situation, though, so I instinctively know I’m where I’m meant to be.

I drop the blanket and snuggle back into the body behind me. It’s radiating heat like a furnace, and it’s a solid strength that gives me comfort.

Okay, Lila, think. What happened? What’s the last thing you remember?

I rack my brain. Everything is slightly foggy and like looking through a frosted mirror, but my memory slowly comes into focus. Mark and Susie, and that gaudy hot pink convertible. We were driving down the strip. Viggy! Okay, good, I rememberwhat happened, and we got him back to the circus with no international—or would it be galaxian—incidents.

Thank fuck for small miracles.

I was in the office speaking to my grandpas, and then… Saxon! So that solves the weight at my back. I must have bonded with the Vilaxian. Hmm, he’s a lot warmer and snugglier than I thought he’d be. I shuffle back even farther, like I’m trying to merge with him.

This feels so freaking good. Before Caspian, I was not a snuggly person. I was a ‘thank you for the orgasm but I’m out’ kind of girl. Snuggling leads to things likeemotionsand possiblesecond dates…ew—or that’s what I’ve always thought.

I was wrong.

Snuggling fucking rocks my world.

“If you keep rubbing that tight little ass against my dick, I’m going to think you want me to stick it in you.” The rumbly words behind me and the tightening of the arm around my waist has me stopping momentarily. Lost in my rambling thoughts, I hadn’t even noticed his cock getting hard. How I didn’t notice that pole thickening between my legs, I have no idea. I freeze, but Saxon grabs my waist and rolls me to face him. He’s grinning, and I’m momentarily lost in the gorgeousness of this man. Holy shitballs. No wonder he doesn’t smile often, he would start a fucking riot. I put my hand against his cheek, running a finger over his bottom lip, and it’s a struggle not to give into the urge to lean forward and bite it.

“Oh, Grandma, what big teeth you have,” I whisper, and his grin drops and he looks slightly befuddled. His brows pinch together while he searches my eyes.

“Grandma? Lila, are you okay? Fuck, maybe our bonding damaged your brain,” he mutters out loud, and I snort, moving my hand down his body and wrapping it around his dick.