Authors: Stephanie Burke

Cherry Crush (10 page)

“Feathers?”

“They are beyond maturity and no longer needed.”

“You molted?”

“Something after a fashion,” he allowed, praying that the screaming would not start at least until he had time to explain.

“You toss off feathers?”

“Yes.”

“After sex?” Her eyebrow rose in an eerie simulation of his own favorite gesture. “All of these pillows, they are stuffed from your feathers?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him for a moment and then nodded as if confirming something to herself.

“Cool.”

Laney closed her eyes, trying not to chuckle at the shocked expression on his face. Her Chan was adorable.

“You…are unafraid?”

“Yes,” she said, her answer parroting his words from earlier.

“Don’t you wonder what I am?” He seemed more confused than upset.

“I assume some kind of bird…?”

“I am a Tengu.” He nudged her shoulder, and Laney opened her eyes.

“That explains the nose.” She nodded, then snuggled down against Chan, smiling as the feathers seemed to exude a heat all of their own. The bed was now perfect, a warm-scented nest that smelled of the both of them.

“And…and you are not afraid?”

“What do Tengu do exactly?” she asked, eyes still closed. “Because I am not up on my Asian ancestry and all of that. French or African is more my style. So if your story has nothing to do with turning people into blue birds or princes into white doves, or huge trickster spiders, you are going to have to explain it to me.”

“My family hails from Mount Kurama in Japan. My mother is partially Chinese from several generations ago and chose my name.”

“Um-huh.” Laney yawned, hoping that he would get to the good part.

“My father is named Sojobo, practitioner of Shugendo, teacher of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, antient swordmaster, and bringer of vengeance onto Tira no Kiyomori for….”

“Tengu, Chan?” she asked, cracking one eye open. Chan frowned, but then he fell short of the menacing glare he used on his students in the dojo. Maybe it was because he looked so damn cute and cuddly all relaxed from sex surrounded by feathers….

“My people are known as yokai,”

“Um-hmm.”

“Meaning demon.”

Laney blinked at that and then examined Chan’s naked body from bottom to top. “You don’t have horns or a tail.”

“My people are protectors, Laney,” he chided gently, relaxing a bit as he realized that this situation would not descend into screaming and tears. “I come from a long line of teachers and defenders. We are considered beneficial kami, revered nature spirits. There is my sire, Sojobo, from Mount Kurama. My cousin, Tarobi, from Mount Atago. Jirobo from the Hira Mountains, Sanjakubo from Mount Akiba….”

“What are Tengu, Chan?” Laney sounded a bit exasperated, so Chan left off describing his family lineage for now.

“We are kites and crows.”

“Kites and crows?”

“Big predatory birds, Laney. We are like hawks, falcons, and other birds of prey.”

“But you are human.” Laney looked as if she was considering the situation.

“Partially. Does that bother you?” He held his breath in anticipation of her answer.

“If you wanted me dead, I would be dead,” Laney spoke softly, a smile on her face. “And you have been nothing but kind and understanding since I met you, Chan. Besides,” she added, snuggling closer, “you love me. You could never hurt the one you love.”

And that was that.

Laney closed her eyes and readied herself for sleep.

“And when we wake up,” she added, almost in an afterthought, “you can tell me what powers you have, other than mind-blowing sex and endless pillow filler, and you can show me what a Tengu in flight looks like.”

Chan had no words.

But a bright smile illuminated his face almost to the point of glowing.

What did he deserve to have such a wonderful woman in his life?

“I will protect you,” he vowed, pulling her into his embrace before burying his face in her hair. “I will protect you from any that will hurt you.”

He recalled that the assailant was still out there with her keys and her wallet that contained her ID and a lot of her personal information. That thought brought a scowl to his face and a deep clinking in his throat.

“From any danger, I will protect you.” He placed her hand upon his heart. “This I vow.”

It was time to go hunting.

The End

Author Bio:

Stephanie was born and reared in Baltimore, MD. At the age of six she wrote her first poem and has yet to stop. Since the age of six she has won several speech writing competitions and written several plays and skits for the local NAACP youth group. While she was attending college at Seton Hill a teacher suggested she put her talents to good work and write a book.

This came after a disastrous semester in Engineering Math, definitely not one of Steph’s strong suits. After six years of marriage and motherhood Stephanie finally got up the courage to show someone her work.

Since then her biggest supporters have been her husband and sister. Stephanie, writes contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, and erotic romances, often with interracial and alien characters. Her biggest asset is her huge imagination. In addition to writing Stephanie is an amateur artist and a voracious reader.