My knees buckled, and I would have gone down if he hadn’t moved with frightening speed.
His arms wrapped around my torso, and he pulled me to his chest instead of picking me up like he usually did. Firmly pressed against him, I trembled and struggled to breathe.
“I’m sorry, Terri. Forgive me,” he murmured into my hair.
“For what?” I rasped, already imagining what he was about to do.
“Scaring you.”
My spiraling panic froze, and I managed to lift my forehead from his shirt. But no farther. I was too afraid of what I might see if I looked up.
“I don’t understand,” I said, staring at the fabric.
“I am very angry, but not at you. Never you. My anger is for the human males who have so little regard for the opportunities we fey would die to have.”
“Is your ex-husband why you fear males?” Groth asked. “Did he hurt you?”
I could hear the promise of retribution in Groth’s tone, and with wide eyes, I finally looked up at Azio.
“Wayne never hurt me. Well, he hurt my feelings.” I glanced at Groth, who stood nearby. “But Wayne never hit me if that’s what you meant.”
Azio’s hand moved slightly against my back.
“Tell us why we make your heart race and skin reek of fear,” he said, his tone once more calm and gentle.
I frowned up at him.
“I stink? Please put me down.”
He immediately complied, but I saw the reluctance in his expression.
“I like how you smell under the fear.”
I opened my mouth to address that but then shook my head.
“Okay…I feel like we’ve gone way off-topic. Can I live here with you guys for a while in exchange for the baby clothes?”
“You can live here as long as you want in exchange for nothing but your company,” Azio said.
“Oh,” I said, stunned. His answer was better than I’d hoped for. It bought me some desperately needed time because I was far from ready to proposition one of them to secure a place to stay. “Can the clothes be in exchange for feeding me then?”
Azio grunted, and I couldn’t be sure if it was in agreement or denial. Rather than pressing the issue, I addressed the more immediate question.
“Where should I put my things?”
Azio gave me a tour of the house while Groth trailed in our wake. It was a little nerve-wracking, but I managed without needing to stop. The kitchen was on the ground level with a living room, bathroom, and utility room. A larger family room, bathroom, and two bedrooms were on the lowest split level. And three bedrooms and a bathroom were on the highest level. Overall, it was a comfortably laid out, large house.
“You can choose which bedroom you want,” Azio said when we returned to the kitchen.
“Thanks. Is it all right if I shower?”
“This is your home now. There are no rules. You may do what you would like.”
I nodded and grabbed my things from the table. As soon as I started up the stairs, the movie began to play quietly again—a sweet romance. I paused on the top step to make sure my ears weren’t lying. They weren’t. Both fey were intently watching the screen as the woman spoke to the man.
“She looks at his eyes,” Groth said.
“She does,” Azio agreed.