Page 7 of One Night With the Herd

The blue roan Alaric indicates has dark hair, deep-set eyes, and a silver eyebrow piercing. His stance exudes cool nonchalance. The red roan beside him is the one with a thick ginger beard who flirted with Thea before the race. The two stallions are standing almost close together…but their body language angles away from each other.

Alaric is expressive with his hands, little flicks of his fingers emphasizing his gleefully whispered words. "Vincent and Magnus. Can't stand each other — or so they claim. Fucked at the last party. Been pissy as hell ever since. I might have told them both that the other was shit-talking them before the race…between you and me, kitty-cat? Bet you anything they'll fuck again tonight. Just you wait."

He emits a delighted sound that can only be described as a cackle. I stare at his shit-eating grin in astonishment. "…You're the worst damn gossip in the herd, aren't you?"

I let it slip without thinking. Thank the gods, Alaric isn't offended. His snort of laughter is equine and loud. "Ha! Excuse you, Kitten. I'm the best damn gossip in the herd. Everyone says so."

From a distance, Alaric looks like the epitome of suave masculinity. His dark, proud features evoke a noble warrior. I didn't expect him to be so…goofy. He's playful. He's a little camp. He's a shit-stirrer, apparently, and he spills the tea as merrily as an old lady peeking over a clothesline.

We are definitely going to get along.

I smirk. "Uh-huh. Are you sure that's what they say about you?"

"Yeah, yeah," Alaric scoffs. "Keep laughing. Just remember which stallions I point out to you, okay?"

"Why?"

His playful grin turns evil. "Because I offered them your ass."

That fast, the air between us shifts. I inhale sharply. Alaric squeezes my thigh. His fingertips are still infuriatingly close to where I ache, and the reminder makes me flush.

Alaric's smirk deepens, dark eyes dancing wickedly. "I told them they're welcome to fuck my mare's hungry hole. After me, of course. Kitten, they can't wait to breed you. Who do you think will look sexiest shoving into your little kitty-cunt?"

Sweet fuck. I pretend to ponder Alaric's question, stalling to get my thirst under control. "Hmm…so it's between you, the captain, and the angry lovebirds?"

"And more, if you can manage it. You see the bay with the bodyclipping?"

I glance at the centaur with decorative coat designs — the one who flirted with me before the race. He's moving his front hooves back and forth restlessly. The rapid taps on the hard floor pause when I catch his eye. He licks his lips and smiles.

"That's Leon," Alaric remarks. "Horniest motherfucker I've ever met. Just moved here last year, and I swear he's fucked his way through half the herd already. Still working on the other half. He's a heartbreaker, too. Vows he'll never fall in love."

I tsk. "Oh, he's doomed."

"Right?! That's what I said!" Alaric's delight makes my hypocrisy worth it. "He'll be a simpering mess when he falls. I can't fucking wait."

"If he's smart, he won't tell anyone."

"It's hard to keep secrets in the herd, Kitten."

I snort. "Especially with you around."

Alaric shrugs, unapologetic. "Bound to happen anyway. We're a tight herd."

"Yeah, you boys seem really close."

I glance pointedly around the room. Anticipation hangs thick in the air, hungry eyes watching the Six Studs and their mares getting acquainted — yet the centaurs are clearly just as aroused by each other. Stallions press close together, stroking each other's chests and arms. They murmur in low, suggestive voices.

I smirk at Alaric. "Orgies are good for herd bonding, huh?"

His cheerful grin holds no shame. "Hey, can't get much closer than that. Do we annoy the shit out of each other? 'Course we fucking do. But when push comes to shove, no one goes it alone. Everyone here knows the herd always has their back."

I don't really have a point of reference for what that must feel like. My family sucked ass. I ran away and joined Sir's pleasure agency to take control of my life, and it was the best damn decision I ever made. Sure, everyone at the agency is friendly, but we're not family. People come and go. At the end of the day, I look out for myself.

"What's wrong with going it alone? Gives you more freedom," I point out.

"Does it?" Alaric's earrings shift as he tips his head thoughtfully. "Many pulling together spreads the weight. That's freeing to me."

Elle's bright giggles carry across the room. She's flirting with her Stud like I should be doing.