Chapter 9.

Abigail.

I DROVE IN THE DIRECTIONof the diner with my breath lodged firmly in my throat and my hands gripping the steering wheel just a little too hard to be comfortable. Licking my lips in the silence, I tried to steady my frantic heart. Pascale was in my tiny little car, right beside me, his lovely fluffy silvery gray ears folded over as they touched the roof.

Does that hurt him? Should I ask?

He wasn't wearing any shoes, but he'd shoved his impressive shifter body into a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt again. I had to assume that certainly wasn't too comfortable. He'd likely feel much better if he were free and unencumbered by human designed clothing. But I wasn't about to tell him to strip, especially not here and now. My cheeks heated at the thought, and I cleared my throat, striking up a conversation to detract from the annoying twinge I was nursing between my thighs.

"So... you'd be super busy around this time of year, right?" I asked, knowing I probably sounded thick as a plant, but I couldn't cope with the silence or the ache niggling at me a moment longer.

"Yeah, too busy to be honest," he said with a sigh. "It's all stations go in the burrow. We even have extra shifters working in the lead up to Easter Sunday." He paused, then, gazing out his window at the stars before continuing. "I'd been hoping to catch up with you at some point. I wanted to try and get to know you better, but between the Easter hours, and the full-time bunny thing, I just haven't managed it. So, please accept my apologies there. It's not been for lack of wanting to see you... believe me."

I frowned at him, throwing a look over to the passenger side of the car. "What do you mean when you say, the full-time bunny thing?" I asked, returning my gaze to the road ahead.

I certainly don't want to become a roadside statistic.

He moved in his seat as though uncomfortable. "Well, the shifter thing," he clarified, his tone noticeably anxious. "I wanted to ask you out on a date, but assumed you'd rather go out with me when I looked like a man. This form is... not ideal." He blew out his breath in exasperation as he gestured at himself.

I glanced over at him again, flashing him a broad smile before looking back at the road. "I'd love to go out with you, anytime, Pascale." And I would. It had been on my mind non-stop, and I'd sought relief in my little pink bunny-earned toy on more than one naughty occasion.

He smiled, though I only caught a glimpse of it as I steered. "I think we should wait until after Easter," he suggested. "It would be best."

I sighed at the expected response. I hated that he had such clear issues with his beautiful Easter Bunny self. But I knew from years of living with my own self-doubt that what other people say doesn't change a thing. The change had to come from within. And obviously, he wasn't there yet, so I had no choice but to agree, albeit against my true wishes. "Yeah. I guess," I answered softly, unable to hide just how crestfallen I felt.

He turned his body toward me, his expression crumpled with confusion. "What do you mean, you guess? Don't you want to date the man, the real Pascale?"

I shrugged with a grimace. "Sure. Okay, whatever suits."

He groaned and pressed a large paw to his face.

I glanced over at him with a frown. "What's wrong?"

"You're driving me insane!" he said as if it were obvious, his volume raised.

"Me?" I scoffed at him in instant disbelief. "Hang on a minute, I'm not the one who doesn't like the whole rabbit thing. I'm okay with it! You have some serious issues to get over, Pascale. The real you is all of you and the sooner you accept that, the better." I heard him grump at me, but I didn't bother looking over at him again, I just focused on the road. I fucking hated feeling this confused.

Does he want me or not? Why is he actively trying to force me away from this part of him? And what is he so afraid of? It doesn't make sense. He's the freaking Easter Bunny!

When we reached the diner, part of me was insanely relieved to know that Pascale would soon be getting out of the car, and I could speed away in a huff and lick my wounds of rejection in peace. But then the other part of me was already as fragile as glass and sad that we'd be parting yet again. The conflicting emotions were hard to swallow and made me feel more than a little tetchy with irritation.

Before long I pulled up into the car park closest to the forest, away from the lights, and released the breath I'd been holding. "Well, there you go." I glanced over at him to prompt action.

He stared at me mutely with an intensity that didn't suit his bunny exterior at all, but what he didn't seem willing to accept was that I didn't see the fur and the cute nose, not really. I saw the man and the soul beneath it all; and it bugged the shit out of me that he was slamming on the brakes before even giving us a chance.

Was he just afraid of being hurt? We all are, buddy!

"Aren't you going to go?" I asked, gripping the wheel until the old leather squeaked beneath my grip. I'd definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone for him, if he couldn't do the same, then we were dead in the water anyway.

He continued to stare at me and didn't respond.

What the hell is he thinking right now?

Frustration built within me with every passing second that he remained in my presence, and I was fast approaching my limit, I could feel it like a pot about to boil over. "Look, it was nice to see you again, but I offered you a ride because I thought you were interested in me. But I was obviously wrong."

And so was Amery.

"So, can you just go, now, please?" I winced at the pleading tone in my voice, but I forged ahead regardless. I had nothing to lose at this point. We were clearly over before we'd even had the chance to really begin, and nothing I did or said mattered now. "I'm exhausted and getting embarrassed on top of everything else. Please don't make this anymore awkward than it already is." I tried in vain to regulate my breathing. I was almost hyperventilating now, my chest rising and falling with simmering emotion.

Pascale leaned forward, closing the gap between us, reaching for my face.

His paws were so soft against my skin that I closed my eyes on a hopeless sigh.

Holy shit.

"May I kiss you?" he whispered, his breath warm against my face.

A gasp tore from my throat and my eyes shot wide open. I could scarcely believe my ears. Was he going to try to get over his hang-ups and give this a chance? My heart raced and my whole body trembled against his touch. Without further prompting, I let go of the steering wheel and reached for him in return. Grabbing onto his hoodie, I tugged him as close as the car seats would allow.

He wasted no time. Pascale made his move, kissing me, hard and passionately, holding nothing back.

I couldn't help the shameless moan that emerged from me as the kiss went on and on for what felt like a perfect eternity. The fur on his face was softly scratchy, like a man with a full beard, and the heat that grew between us burned even hotter with every stolen moment.

I pulled away suddenly, breaking the delicious kiss, determined to take action and do the very thing I'd been too afraid to do before. "Will you come home with me?" I asked with a breathless intensity that thrilled me and scared me in equal and dizzying measures.

He stared at me as though assessing what I was actually asking, then nodded, his eyes blazing with the desire I'd be secretly been longing to see since I first met him. "Is your place far?" he countered.

I reached for the gear stick and released the hand brake like a racecar driver. "No. Two minutes, max."

My belly trembled with excitement as I drove us back to my house.

I can't believe this!

Pascale's hand slid over my thigh and gripped my knee in a sexily possessive manner.

The move made me regret wearing jeans tonight. I wanted to feel his paws on me—all over me. I wanted to know what it truly felt like to make love to the Easter Bunny, the man, the shifter, and the myth. I wanted to experience him in all his magical glory.

I pulled the car into my driveway and scrambled out, racing to the front door so I could unlock it before Pascale could change his mind. As soon as I pushed open the door, I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, holding me in place. My eyes slid closed as his lips kissed their way along my neck and nipped at my shoulder. It felt so incredible to be in his arms, and to feel his heat and strength surround me.

"Let me show you the bedroom," I said, pulling away to grab his hand and drag him inside. I managed to shut the door before us before pointing to the room to the right of the hallway where the master bedroom was located. The bed wasn't made and there were clothes strewn on the floor, but I didn't give a damn.

The fucking Easter Bunny is in my bedroom!

Pascale picked me up in his strong, fluffy arms and carried me to the bed where he placed me down gently.

I began to strip, wanting to get out of my clothes as fast as humanly possible and beneath the sheets. My erotic Easter dreams flashed like a movie stuck on fast forward behind my eyes and I bit my lower lip, aching with smoldering need and anticipation.

It's happening. This is really happening!

Pascale stripped off his hoodie, then stopped at his jeans, his gaze finding mine.

I raised an eyebrow as I shoved my own jeans off the bed and tugged at my t-shirt. "I hope you're not stopping there?" I asked, my heart hammering in my chest. What was he thinking? Was he going to deny me bunny dick?

He smiled and reached out to cup my face tenderly. "For the moment, beautiful. Just trust me, okay? If this is real, we'll have all the time in the world."

I nodded and threw my t-shirt onto the pile of clothes on the floor.

All right. Let's see where this goes!

"Lie back," he coaxed.

I did as Pascale asked, shuffling up the bed to lie on my back.

But a moment later Pascale reached for my thighs and tugged me down the mattress toward him.

I gasped at the feel of his soft paws on my skin, then raised my ass up as he grabbed my underwear by the elastic and tugged them down my legs and over my ankles.

My belly quivered with excitement.

He kneeled down on the carpet at the end of my bed and pressed open my thighs. "I have been wanting to taste you since the first day I saw you," he breathed.

"What..." I began to ask, but froze a heartbeat later.

Pascale set his lips to my inner thigh and nibbled his way up to my core, then licked my clit with one long, languid swipe of his tongue.

"Oh my, God!" I cried out, jerking with immediate pleasure.

Then he truly began to eat me. He slid both hands under my ass and lifted me up like a man starved, reverently bringing his meal to his mouth. He suckled at my aching clit, flicking his tongue over my hot flesh, teasing and working me from side to side in a maddening fashion.

I cried out as pleasure assaulted me. Flames of delicious heat flickered inside my pussy, making me ache for him in a way that threatened to burn me alive with desire.

When he moved his hands so that he could slide two thick fingers inside of me I practically sobbed with relief. But he didn't stop there. He pumped his fingers inside my wet pussy, all the while his lips, teeth, and tongue tortured my clit relentlessly.

My hands curled into fists, tightening in the sheets beside me. I moved to reach for his head, then pulled back, unsure of where I should touch him. "Oh... God..." I cried out again, my belly clenching tight as my orgasm built to pussy-quivering heights. I could feel myself racing toward the edge, but I didn't want to topple over alone. I wanted him to come with me. "Pascale..." I moaned, his name like a prayer on my lips as I arched my back and raised my hips.

He looked up and smiled at me. "I need you to come like this, beautiful. Let me devour you." When I offered no further protests he set his head back between my thighs, a man on a mission.

How was I going to argue with that? I couldn't, or perhaps it was more accurate to say I wouldn't. I released the clamp on my sense of modesty and allowed the sinful noises of my ecstasy to flow freely. I groaned and moaned, gasped and cried, making far too many carnal and inhuman sounds to count. If the Easter Bunny wanted me, there was no way I was going to hold back—not now.

Pascale nibbled and suckled, lavishing me with the wicked talent of his mouth, pushing me higher and faster than I'd ever gone before. Then with a final flick of his tongue and several deep thrusts of his furry fingers, he sent me flying over the edge and spiraling uncontrollably into a world of wild and unrepentant orgasmic bliss.