Chapter Fourteen

Tim

I nearly choked. Did Randy just call Burke a ho?

Maximus chuckled. Bull-a-hoe. Like out of control.

Does that happen often?

I was worried now. It didn’t sound good, and Crimson didn’t allow fights in Valentine. Stalks were too easily damaged. I imagined a bull could do some real damage.

It hasn’t happened since Burke became part of my pride. He calmed right down once he joined us.

I can see that, I said dryly. So what’s wrong now?

I don’t know. But I’m gonna find out.

I can go home if you want.

I didn’t want to interfere with pride stuff. I knew how hard Crimson worked to keep the Rhubarb calm in Valentine.

You are home, Twirlie. You stay right where you are.

Maximus’s rumbling declaration brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to sing out my happiness now I had the music in my head, but I could feel the worry coming from Maximus in waves.

This stalk is by your side, baby.

I felt my lion melt into a puddle of goo. Not literally of course, because that would be weird. Lions don’t melt.

Weirder than a lion and a rhubarb shifter fucking?

Maximus had a point.

Do you think the lion gods and rhubarb gods also fuck? I asked the question, because someone had to.

We’ll ask them, sweetheart. Once I sort out why my bull is having a meltdown.

“Maximus, get your brain above your dick,” Randy snarled. “We need you. And get dressed. No one needs to keep seeing your dirt covered junk. That’s just ewwww!”

Maximus roared, but it was more exasperation and maybe a touch of embarrassment. Who wanted anyone to point out their dick was dirty?

He hurried through a side door, and I spotted my clothes on a counter. How did they arrive here?

I’ll get changed too. I think you might need me.

Maximus unwrapped the jacket, careful not to spill the dirt, and I shifted into my human form. I stretched and rolled my shoulders.

“Do you feel any better?” Maximus asked, raking his gaze over my soil covered body.

“I do,” I admitted. “I’m going to need to sleep in the dirt tonight, but I can stand now. Look!” I twirled to show him, dirt flying everywhere, and did a little lunge to show off my pert ass when my legs didn’t collapse under me.

Maximus pulled me against him, and we pressed against each other, dirt to dirt, hot lion skin to sexy rhubarb. “If you need your soil at any point, you tell me, okay? No wilting on my watch!”

“Okay.” Did I sound a little breathless? I didn’t care. I’d wilt into his arms any day.

Some dirt rubbed off us while we got dressed, but we didn’t pay it any mind. Maximus was just wearing a pair of sweats. I got the feeling he didn’t do clothes if he could help it. What stalk wouldn’t be happy with that?

Before he led me into the kitchen, he stopped and fixed me with his amber gaze. “Burke is a bull. If he rushes you, get out of the way.”

“Is he dangerous?”

Maximus shrugged, which could mean anything. But he tucked me behind him as we walked into the kitchen. I didn’t want to end up as rhubarb puree, so I hid behind my lion and took my first look at the bull.

This was Burke? The big, scary bull?

I clapped both hands over my mouth.

Great Rhu, Burke was small, like half my size, and cute and brown, and I wanted to scratch behind his fluffy ears.

He currently had Ricky backed against the wall. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to eat Ricky or fuck him.

“Burke!” Maximus bellowed.

The bull turned and shifted into his human form. Ricky took the opportunity to rush over to me, grabbing my arms and yanking me forward.

Maximus growled menacingly.

My inner stalk twirled at his possessiveness, but Ricky didn’t take any notice.

“Twirlie, thank Great Rhu you’re here. I think the teeny-tiny cow wants to eat me.”

There was definitely something up with the stalk. I wasn’t sure if he was scared or turned on.

“And he smells like rhubarb!” Ricky exclaimed excitedly, eyes as huge as pan lids.

Maybe a bit of both.

“I’m vegan,” Burke muttered. “And I’m a bull, not a cow.”

I noticed he didn’t argue about the teeny-tiny bit.

“I’m a rhubarb!” Ricky snapped. “Vegans eat rhubarb.”

“It’s okay, I’m here.” I soothed, tucking him against my side and scowling at the bull. “What are you doing scaring my friend? Never heard of consent, fella?”

“I didn’t mean to,” Burke muttered. “He just smells like me. I was just sniffing at him, not touching. He smells like the best thing to walk the earth.”

I know how he feels, Maximus muttered through our link.

“He did a lot of sniffing,” Ricky agreed. “I thought he had allergies. He didn’t touch me. Just went all bull on the pink dude when he got near me.”

“Randy tried to sniff him,” Burke roared, his face nearly the same color as my stalk. “I had to protect him.”

I stared at him. We all stared at him. Ricky went a little pink, almost the color of Randy’s hair.

“Uh, Burke. Play the last few minutes back in your head,” Maximus said.

Burke was confused. “What do you mean?”

“You hit Randy for doing the same thing you were doing,” I said. “Sniffing Ricky.”

“That’s true,” Ricky agreed. “Randy wasn’t trying to touch me.”

He seemed to be trying to convince Burke, who let out a long snort.

Does he paw the ground when he gets angry?

You never want to see him angry, Maximus assured me.

“You need to apologize to Randy,” I said, before Maximus could. “He wasn’t trying to hurt your—”

I was cut off by a large hand slapping over my mouth. I squeaked and looked up at Maximus. His eyes implored me to be… quiet?

“What my mate means is we don’t solve problems by violence. We’re a peaceful pride. You owe Randy an apology now. Also, what happened to Leonidis? He has a split lip? Go do that and I’ll work out your punishment later.”

Punishment? Like whips and chains?

Maximus gave me the equivalent of an internal eyeroll. I mean, taking over their chores for a week. I save the whips and chains for my love life.

I wiggled in excitement. You’re my kind of lion.

Maximus growled. “I’d better be. I’m the only one you’ll have.”

Oooh, my heart!

Burke sighed. “Leon stepped between me and Randy, I’ll say sorry. But dude, you’ve gotta quit broadcasting your sexy thoughts to all of us. It’s unfair on us singles.”

“But you’re not sin—” I received another hand over my mouth. I nipped at it, and Maximus yelped.

Burke turned to Ricky. “It’s gonna get loud in about two minutes. Want to watch me grovel to my friend?”

Ricky gave him a surprisingly sweet smile and held out his hand. “Lead on.”

Burke took it and they left the kitchen.

Maximus pressed up against me. “You don’t spoil the surprise for them. They have to work it out for themselves.”

“Spoilsport,” I grumbled, but I reached up for a kiss. I was done teasing the others. This stalk needed his lion time.

We kissed for a long time. Maximus pressed me against a cabinet to a background of By Your Side playing in my head.

“Take me to bed,” I whispered.

“Who the hell stuck dirt in my new jacket?” Burke roared from somewhere in the house. “It’s ruined. Look at it.”

Maximus winced. “We might have to take a raincheck on going to bed. I’m in trouble.”

I leaned up and kissed his cheek. “ We’re in trouble. You and me. Together.”